If you had a choice...

Which completely bone stock (model and year please) Civic would you own as a daily driver (nothing newer then 2000)? You would probably want to look into bracket racing, auto-x, rally-x, and putting stupid amounts of kilometers on it every year as part of the equation. I also just realized you might as well throw the Integra in there as well. Annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnd go!

Is the RWD manual sportscar version a possibility

aussiesmg wrote: Is the RWD manual sportscar version a possibility

Have you ever bought a Miata in Canada? One with 140K+ miles on it goes for at least $5K. A Miata is not practical enough for me either (I need hatch space). Mabye in another year or two, we'll see!

'99 hatchback, swap all the type R swag on there. Job done.

Budget?

Big difference between an Integra Type R and a 1500S.

I know they're not very popular, but I'm partial to the EP3s ('02-'05). I just like the way they look.

MCarp22 wrote: '99 hatchback, swap all the type R swag on there. Job done.

I like the EK Type R a lot, but I'd go with a K-series swap and leave the exterior and interior as close to stock as possible, simply because anything Type R-related is a theft magnet where I live (stupid Hon-duh boyz).

Case in point: One of my friends tried to turn his hatch into a Type R clone. The very same day he put the front valence on the car, it got stolen. Next day, the whole car. Police found it two days later gutted and torched. Poor kid ended up having to quit his job because he couldn't get to it. Shiny happy persons.

ReverendDexter wrote: Budget? Big difference between an Integra Type R and a 1500S. I know they're not very popular, but I'm partial to the EP3s ('02-'05). I just like the way they look.

Well, lets assume $6K or less. You can get any 1999 Civic or older for that much (hence why I said 2000 or older). I mentioned practical, and while I am sure a type r can be practical, I don't believe it fits the definition. I also said bone-stock, so while I appreciate everybody suggesting what they'd do to the car, that comes LATER ;)

BTW, I am fairly easy to please, I thought my 1985 CRX was the funnest thing on two wheels...

92-95 Si

My $0.02

jwdmotorsports wrote: 92-95 Si My $0.02

Weren't there differences (weight, options, etc) between each year? I need specific years!

99 SIR and every theft deterant you can get for it.

I'd either go for an Integra GS-R or an EK-chassis hatch. I test-drove both before I got my Subaru and I really liked them both, but the GS-R was pricey and the hatch got sold.

-Integra GS-R: A step down from the ITR, it's a bit heavier but you still get plenty of motor at 170hp. I would go for the two-door since I don't taxi people around much, but IIRC Acura also made a four-door version if you need that convenience.

-EK-chassis hatch. Lots of cargo room, light, pisser gas mileage. IIRC it has about 106hp. In the US there's two models: The CX (strippo model) and DX (has a radio and A/C). For a daily, I'd get the DX. If I had to taxi people around, I'd go with the Civic EX sedan since it has more power (127hp) to make up for the weight increase.

Of course, with both, I'd also invest heavily in theft-deterrents and debadge/badge them as lesser models.

the 92-95 si is nice, but demands a premium...

I got a EK DX model.. Its good, but needs power. But.. I'm toying with an FSP build.. .after the baby comes and money gets less tight.. (HA HA!) The DX sedan swap will get you some Rpm's as it has a lower final drive and keep you legal for FSP. 103hp.. ugh

but. 46 mpg on the highway is easy to do.

HiTempguy wrote: BTW, I am fairly easy to please, I thought my 1985 CRX was the funnest thing on two wheels...

Out of the cars that I have driven on four wheels, its not far off... probably about fourth on the list... Which is impressive because the top three are Miata E30 and Z06.

Never had a car on two wheels. Yet.

ArtOfRuin wrote: old. -Integra GS-R: A step down from the ITR, it's a bit heavier but you still get plenty of motor at 170hp. I would go for the two-door since I don't taxi people around much, but IIRC Acura also made a four-door version if you need that convenience.

I know somebody who, a little while back, spent a lot of time looking for a GSR that had to be in good shape and not some modified rice rocket. (Always a bad choice) I do not know how much he paid for it, nor do I want to know, but if it broke $6k I would not be too shocked.

At this point, meaning 2009, a nice GSR is a unicorn.

I wouldn't mind having a four door '88-91 model. Nice and low key. Then pay a visit to Endyn and pick up one of their sorted B20 engines... although we're blowing right past $6k with that :)

noisycricket wrote: I know somebody who, a little while back, spent a lot of time looking for a GSR that had to be in good shape and not some modified rice rocket. (Always a bad choice) I do not know how much he paid for it, nor do I want to know, but if it broke $6k I would not be too shocked.

I actually have a line on an unriced 92 GSR, as well as a 94. Both for under $4500, both in pretty decent shape. At the same time, I can get up to a 99' DX or CX hatch for about the same price, or a 92-95 si for under $4K (these are all none rust buckets).

I'd love to get a GSR, I'd REALLY want to shoot for it. But being so rare, I think I could settle for an Si no problem. And of course, I have owned a 1994 CX and it was pretty friggin' quick. So nimble, just wish it was nicer!

$4k could buy you a rusty Audi 200 with the 20v Turbo, a Coupe Quattro or other "small chassis" car with engine/drivability issues, and maybe even leave enough change left over for you to mate the two...

(Man, it's a lot of fun playing with other peoples' money!)

92-95 Eg Vx with some sort of swap or an Ek cx stripo hatch model with just some springs, swaybars and good wheels/tires. On the other hand, I could finance a couple Escort Gt's for $4k

92dxman wrote: 92-95 Eg Vx with some sort of swap

Theres a high mileage (but mint shape) one that runs awesome for $2k obo in my hometown. Whats so special about doing a swap into the VX though? I thought they were mainly special because of the motor?

The VX was made with ultrathin (instead of merely superthin) metal stampings. It also had aluminum 13" wheels!

It's like having a Type R without the added bracing. Or the power. Or the gearing, or the stickers...

Eh? What I'd want in a daily driver is completely different than what I'd want in a rally-x car, which is quite different from what I'd want in a bracket racer.

What is the question?

foxtrapper wrote: Eh? What I'd want in a daily driver is completely different than what I'd want in a rally-x car, which is quite different from what I'd want in a bracket racer. What is the question?

Either you've never been a student, or you're acting like an adult who forgets Not everyone is allowed to have more then one car (or 4) at a time, even though I try my hardest to litter my parents driveway with cars 2 hours away and then have one to drive. I'm still on a "one car only unless I'm flipping the other" budget and timetable. I want a car thats fun to drive, doesn't have to be setting FTD. I get my kicks racing other cars

Can't believe nobody's mentioned the late 70's models '78

Either an EG Si hatch.. (D16z6 i think). It'll move decently, probably get low 16s, high 15s out of it with a good driver stock, it handles GREAT, and has a very liveable interior. Usually weighs about 2400lbs.

Or a 92-93 GSR. DB-chassis, lighter than the DC2s, better transmission (YS1), and the B17 is my personal favorite B-series. Kindof gutless down low, but with the short gearing in that thing, it doesn't matter. Hit VTEC and hold on for dear life. This is the most dramatic split personality car i've ever owned. GREAT ergonomics, and handles very well considering the weight distribution.

You can expect it to weigh around 2700lbs, maybe a little less. Easy low 15s, 15.0 flat stripped with a good driver bone stock.

I would consider many sins to get another 92-93 GSR. Far superior car to the later GSRs, in my opinion.

I have been driving a 2000 cx hatchback with a b16a swap for a little over three years now, its been reliable and fun. tons of hatch room is also a plus. a big rear sway bar made a world of difference. if i had to do it all over again... id probably still get an EK, even though when i first started looking to get a civic years ago my initial plan was for an EG (92-95). the only problem i have had was a bad remanned axle and recently it was smoking white out of the tailpipe in very large thick amounts (not water, oddly it smells like gas and oil instead of coolant) so its kind of got me stumped at the moment.

93celicaGT2 wrote: I would consider many sins to get another 92-93 GSR. Far superior car to the later GSRs, in my opinion.

THAT.

FWD Hondas don't even do anything for me and I'd love to have one of these. If by some miracle you find one worth owning.