Hatorade

The Story:
Last week, I finally said goodbye to my 1995 Honda F3. It was a super fun weekend ride but with insurance, Bill 203, and having to wear glasses inside my helmet it too impractical.

Now, I still have an 01 Si. Problem is, its auto (FTL), so its super boring and super slow, esp on weekend jaunts or even just in the city. I've really been mulling over buying a manual car since I was 16, but it always seemed impractical coz my sister needs to drive it too. But now that my bike freed up a little cash, I'm open to spending a little bit on a weekend car that I can do some time trials at a track, and just have fun kicking around in


The reqs:
The sad thing is, I'm also a fairly poor mechanic. I can do cosmestic stuff, take off bumpers, relays, PNP stuff, take stuff apart, but otherwise, I'm a pretty terrible mechanic. Having said that, I probably wouldn't be able to wrench my own car --> which leads me to restruct some choices in my next car.

In general, I'm looking for a cheap to run, fairly reliable, not too much work, type of car, that I can have fun with around a track. My budget is fairly low (~$2,000) since I might not be in the country by next year and I don't want to sink too much $$ into this car. However, I'd spend more if I can partially recoup it later.

The ladies:
Given that, here is what I've been looking at. I've been trying to do research myself on here and on Hondatech/civicforums but I figure I'd ask you gurus directly. Here are a couple I've been looking at.

$1500 89 Lude with H22 swap
http://www.torontocivics.com/tccv5forums/t151913/

$4500 94 Teg with H22 swap
http://www.torontocivics.com/tccv5forums/t151957/

$850 90 EF Si (with torn up body...lol)
http://www.torontocivics.com/tccv5forums/t152007/

What is your opinion on these? I mean, This will be my 1st manual car. I don't know how to drive stick but I'm banking on the fact that I can pick it up since it'll be easier than a bike.

Should I stay away from swaps if I'm not able to fix it by the side of the road? Is there a way to properly test these cars without compression tests and the whole shebang?

Am I too unrealistic? I'm open to all comments or suggestions! (if you think I should go for something else). I just don't want to spent 4~5k on a SOHC that's barely faster than my EM2.

I appreciate your responses! Thx TCC!!

Trybal

So you want a fun 5speed that will cost little, not have a problem and you might be leaving the country in the next year? That's a bugga.

I'm guessing you have your mind set on the lude? lol

Hatorade

sorry, have to clarify! I "might" be doing grad school, but Toronto will still be home, esp during summers. Its also why I don't want to drop $8,000 on a car that I might not get much use of after this year.


I'm actually equally open to anything. I put the EF up coz If i can get it for $5~600 or so, its worth it to kick around in. I'm just worried that a swapped H22 is going to break down on me all the time...unless there's some way to properly test how reliable a swap is? or how correctly its done?


^^^ Do any of the cars look reasonable (based on ad, info and price)??

DumbasSi

I wouldnt buy any of those cars you posted. They are all very old and the H22 is hardly the most reliable Honda engien out there. Also, its not the easiest swap to perform, so I would be wary of that.

I had an 03 Civic and a 98 Si and I can say that the 98 Si was a million times more fun to drive then the 03.

If your budget is 4-5 g's you can easily find a very nice 96-00 Si. Thats what I would buy. Not some 15 year old bucket with a swap. If the SOHC Si got boring, you can easily swap a B into it.

Hatorade

Good point! Thanks for pointing that out. I guess the whole auto + SOHC thing left a bad taste in my mouth. The 00Si sounds good, I've seen a tonne of them around, are they good track machines stock??

I also found this: Integra 1998 GSR - Toronto Acura Cars For Sale - Kijiji Toronto

but I have no idea how i'm going to test drive it...

Trybal

Can never go wrong with a GSR...a little nicer than a SIR. You'll like it.

Hatorade

yea, a lot of the SIRs seem pretty overpriced (~$7k)

Tips on what to look for? He said no rust (but i'll be checking under the car anyway). Anything else specific for when I go see the GSR?

thx dude!

DumbasSi

Yeah, call your insurance company for a quote. They are one of the most stolen vehicles.

What kind fo track? Drag, auto X, road course. I wouldnt say they are a good track car, but they would be very, very easy to modify them to do better.

Hatorade

What kind fo track? Drag, auto X, road course. I wouldnt say they are a good track car, but they would be very, very easy to modify them to do better.[/quote]

Thx for the tip on insurance! I heard 2nd vehicles + 25 yrs old clean driving record should help w/t SF. Will 2x check!


I was thinking road course, the single file, no passing, beginner type track day. Do you do track?

Any tips on what to look for when shopping a GSR??



thank you!!

T-MacK

I would'nt buy any of those cars.
If you have a $5000 budget then start looking somewhere'else. You can find a'lot more updated car then those.

Hatorade

I was shopping for an Ep3 until I realized I might not be in TO all 12 months of the year. There's a white one on Trader for $9.5k....sweet....how are you liking it??? Do you track it??


Also, any tips on how to shop for a GSR??



thx dude!!

T-MacK

If you don't no what to look for besides the obvious, take the car to a mechanic you can trust and let them give you an opinion. Don't impulse buy when your buying a car, you'll regret it big time.......you don't want to be stuck with a lemon. Do your homework before you buy and be smart.
Car with a valid safety and e-test is a good start.

T-MacK

I love my EP....I've only seen 3 of them in my city. I would'nt have bought one without liking it. My EP is my DD that I take my kid in.....so no I don't track it. Thats what the EG is for.

Hatorade

Yeah I plan to go see the car first, than if everything checks out, bring it to iGarage...pay Ivan or someone there to test drive it. Sux...I HATE not being able to test drive cars...HATE HATE HATE!


Looks kinda like a box on wheels eh?
I like it too...so unique! wait...i have a noob Q, why SOHC non-vtec?
What track events do you plan on doing this yr?? is there one for TCC?

T-MacK

My ZC is built from the ground up and runs a 13.8" on street tires. I dd a K and everyone and there dog has a B swap, not to mention I'm a big D-series fan. It feels good beating b swaps at the track and letting them see the little D under my hood.

rick10

I always like the 92-94 civic hatch back. I think is one of the best looking hatchbacks out there and they are so easy to mod. They are also very light

A 95-99 integra goes around 3-5 gs


Other option you may want to check if you really want some power

Probe
240sx
jetta vr6
golf gti
celica
prelude
accord ( not sure if they come in 5 speed)

Its hard to tell because it seems like you dont really care about the year of the car so you can get any of the above for 2-5 gs and they are all very powerfull cars. If you think the si has not ***** then get a vr6 or a gti. Get a v6 instead of a 4 cilynder and just save yourself all the mods you would have to do to a 4 cilynder to be as powerfull as a 6.

Since this may be your weekend car you dont have to worry much about the gas.

Check this car ,300 HP the guy says he spend over 45 k and he wants 8500
300 HorsePower Civic

rick10

check out this one too

97 civic dx with B16 v-tec 170hp cheap

swap b16 motor already and the guy claims to own a mechanic shop comes with rims

here is his ad

Asking for $3000 FIRM. Has intake, 16 inch rims,2.25 exhaust, tein suspension, 2 way pager alarm compustar worth $500 with keyless entry. Has new water pump & timing belt, new oem clutch.
The car needs 1 windshield for safety and 1 tire. Needs some minor paint on the body, but no accidents.

I would prob take a look at it for that price if i need it a car

T-MacK

What about the 95???

Hatorade

dang...i wish i could do that...like on hondatech when people take apart their whole block and build it up from scratch...that's skill right there!!


thx for the suggestions, yeah I kinda want more umph in my car, the em2 is super slow. but i would prefer to stick to Honda get that DOHC VtaKK

thx for looking it up, i'm kind of looking for something unswapped due to reliability concerns and my lack of wrenching ability (FTL!!!)

------------------------------------------

I just called the GSR owner, he tried not to mention it, but I got him to tell me that the B18 burns oil at V-tec. From what little i know, this is fairly common...but would this be too expensive of a machine to buy and run?

I am buying this for track/weekend so I'll be reviving to Vtec for sure. is there anyway to fix this? (rebuild??)

or will this mean I will most likely have to swap in a OBD2 B18C? b/c along with labor, that will be an extra $5k on top???!!
B18C-R OBD2 96+ Spec Motor Swap (LSD) | Your Price: $3,999.99 | Password JDM

Its listed for $5k, if I know the stock b18 burns oil, how much should i offer? car has no rust and has 194km (prolly need timing belt and water pump soon)

advice greatly appreciated!!! <--and badly needed too!

thx all!!

D.T.P

Do NOT get a vr6!! my civic has towed multiple vr6 jetta's. they are pain in the ***, expensive to mod and brake down too often. little things are always big things which end up costing an arm and a leg.
ex: me and my buddy got cars at almoust the same time. we both make approximatly the same money. i spent 500$ more on my car and i have done a lot of things to mine. while he's been fixing his and other than subs/tires/grill/f lip he hasnt done anything else. trust me, they are fun to drive, but pain in the as$.