Newbie Questions (Buying a stock R in Spain)
03-23-2002, 05:11 PM
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Newbie Questions (Buying a stock R in Spain)
Guys, second time I post but first time I do a new thread. I have been dreaming about owning an R since 5 years ago I bought and very happily owned a 2nd gen LS sedan. Been reading off the web, the forums and dreamt about the car. Now, plans went the way I didn't expect and I ended in a country where 'tegs where not sold, Spain. Bought a Civic, partly because gas prices here are so cheap and I needed a beater (its a 1.5 5 door, a comfortable car and can do some spirited driving on it, but never like my old teg).
Anyway, 2 weeks ago, 3 weeks after I landed a job, I saw a classified ad for a Type R in the town I live! I haven't even seen one in the road for 6 monthes of travelling around europe (not UK) and yet, there she was. I had to see her. Well, its a '98 euro spec, red recaros, championship white (what else?), the car has 40k miles on it, is stock and in perfect conditions. Very caring owner who imported it from germany new, and is buying a new S2000. Got all check ups done at Honda. The motor feels fine, revs up smooth, turn on from cold at once. Seems to be taken well care off. Price is 14000 US Dollars, 16000 euros. Considering over 1000 dollars in audio equipment, the price is very well. The audio has 6 speakers and two woofers, but it is so well installed you can't tell it is not stock only by tweeters, woofers are not visible (I like this). Paint is very well, no dinks, just a little scratch in the front end from some flyin rock.
I am very happy and waiting bank approval for loan.
More pics at http://<a href="http://venturello.co.../integra/</a>, not very good quality, taken by owner. No pics of engine bay. Stock, its a bit dirty. Asked owner why, he told me he does not like to clean engines. It is clean for it to never has been cleaned, but its one of the first things I will do to it. The interior is in perfect condition, very clean, the beautiful red recaros show very little wear, since he had them washed before showing them... this car has been treated all right.
Several questions for the group. Simple ones I know...
1. What oil should I use? This guy been doing changes at large intervals, at Honda, using the oil they put in. I am one of those who love changing oil every 3k miles or less, and a good oil for performace. 5W40? Mostly hot weather from now till november, I live in Barcelona.
2. Seems to me doing any bolt on mods on the R is useless... the car already has one hell of an intake and exhaust system, and seen that the usual light mods (headers, cold air) are of questionable results in this car. What then, a good high flow cat? I am doing neither drag or xcross racing, mostly buying the car for driving down back rounds in the mountains, lots of curves. Will the R stock not give me enough for this, or will I have to work it up in suspension, etc, for it to be fun in what I want? (note: what I want is fun, and reliability, and I am not the wrench and under the hood guy, just basic car mechanic knowledge)
3. Maybe you guys oughta kill me for asking this. In all the cars I've had, I've had a sunroof, and I am going to really miss it. Is it doable to put one in the R? How much will it affect to rigidity that has been so tuned in this car and is supposed to be one of its attributes? Or is it more a weight issue?
4. Besides stock fog lights, which I want bad, I am looking into Xenon lights... are they worth it? Again I am doing to do mostly back road riding in this car, and I expect to do some of it at night. BTW I do not like Euro spec fog lights (round, cut into front bumper). I like more american fog lights, which go into the front air opening...
5. MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION: What should I look for in this (used) car I am buying? As R owners and enthusiast, what should I look that is weak at this mileage and could be near failure/replacement? Any signs I should look for that show that the prev owner has treated the car/engine bad? I will do a check up at Honda before buying it, but I want your input on this.
Thanks for all the help, I hope this one is a keeper and plan on keeping it stock and well cared for for long. Would love a black R but this will have to do for now
like it more than CW.
Best wishes, keep on driving!
Juan Miguel
pd. Already posted my sympathy on US R drivers for having their cars as targets of theft, but want to say it again. Take care of your cars, and see this as another indication of how much they are worth. I hope not to have the same problem here in Spain, but this car already was target or theft. They tried to steal the rear spoiler, and not being able to, damaged the car in the rear and tore the Type R sticker (not even bothered to take it, just tored it). Thus, the lack of sticker behind, which I want to get ASAP. The car seems not to have any other accident.
Its just hell that we cant feel safe owning the car we love. And its just stupid owners of a lot more expensive cars can feel safe parking them in the mall...
[Modified by Venturello, 6:15 PM 3/23/2002]
[Modified by Venturello, 6:18 PM 3/23/2002]
Anyway, 2 weeks ago, 3 weeks after I landed a job, I saw a classified ad for a Type R in the town I live! I haven't even seen one in the road for 6 monthes of travelling around europe (not UK) and yet, there she was. I had to see her. Well, its a '98 euro spec, red recaros, championship white (what else?), the car has 40k miles on it, is stock and in perfect conditions. Very caring owner who imported it from germany new, and is buying a new S2000. Got all check ups done at Honda. The motor feels fine, revs up smooth, turn on from cold at once. Seems to be taken well care off. Price is 14000 US Dollars, 16000 euros. Considering over 1000 dollars in audio equipment, the price is very well. The audio has 6 speakers and two woofers, but it is so well installed you can't tell it is not stock only by tweeters, woofers are not visible (I like this). Paint is very well, no dinks, just a little scratch in the front end from some flyin rock.
I am very happy and waiting bank approval for loan.
More pics at http://<a href="http://venturello.co.../integra/</a>, not very good quality, taken by owner. No pics of engine bay. Stock, its a bit dirty. Asked owner why, he told me he does not like to clean engines. It is clean for it to never has been cleaned, but its one of the first things I will do to it. The interior is in perfect condition, very clean, the beautiful red recaros show very little wear, since he had them washed before showing them... this car has been treated all right.
Several questions for the group. Simple ones I know...
1. What oil should I use? This guy been doing changes at large intervals, at Honda, using the oil they put in. I am one of those who love changing oil every 3k miles or less, and a good oil for performace. 5W40? Mostly hot weather from now till november, I live in Barcelona.
2. Seems to me doing any bolt on mods on the R is useless... the car already has one hell of an intake and exhaust system, and seen that the usual light mods (headers, cold air) are of questionable results in this car. What then, a good high flow cat? I am doing neither drag or xcross racing, mostly buying the car for driving down back rounds in the mountains, lots of curves. Will the R stock not give me enough for this, or will I have to work it up in suspension, etc, for it to be fun in what I want? (note: what I want is fun, and reliability, and I am not the wrench and under the hood guy, just basic car mechanic knowledge)
3. Maybe you guys oughta kill me for asking this. In all the cars I've had, I've had a sunroof, and I am going to really miss it. Is it doable to put one in the R? How much will it affect to rigidity that has been so tuned in this car and is supposed to be one of its attributes? Or is it more a weight issue?
4. Besides stock fog lights, which I want bad, I am looking into Xenon lights... are they worth it? Again I am doing to do mostly back road riding in this car, and I expect to do some of it at night. BTW I do not like Euro spec fog lights (round, cut into front bumper). I like more american fog lights, which go into the front air opening...
5. MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION: What should I look for in this (used) car I am buying? As R owners and enthusiast, what should I look that is weak at this mileage and could be near failure/replacement? Any signs I should look for that show that the prev owner has treated the car/engine bad? I will do a check up at Honda before buying it, but I want your input on this.
Thanks for all the help, I hope this one is a keeper and plan on keeping it stock and well cared for for long. Would love a black R but this will have to do for now
like it more than CW. Best wishes, keep on driving!
Juan Miguel
pd. Already posted my sympathy on US R drivers for having their cars as targets of theft, but want to say it again. Take care of your cars, and see this as another indication of how much they are worth. I hope not to have the same problem here in Spain, but this car already was target or theft. They tried to steal the rear spoiler, and not being able to, damaged the car in the rear and tore the Type R sticker (not even bothered to take it, just tored it). Thus, the lack of sticker behind, which I want to get ASAP. The car seems not to have any other accident.
Its just hell that we cant feel safe owning the car we love. And its just stupid owners of a lot more expensive cars can feel safe parking them in the mall...
[Modified by Venturello, 6:15 PM 3/23/2002]
[Modified by Venturello, 6:18 PM 3/23/2002]
03-23-2002, 05:25 PM
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Re: Newbie Questions (Venturello)
Congratulations on finding the R - I hope things work out for you... 
Here is a link to a Type R buyer's guide published in EVO magazine from the UK. It touches on some things to look for, etc. A pretty good read. The pictures are large enough to read and/or print...
EVO Type R Buyer's Guide
5. MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION: What should I look for in this (used) car I am buying? As R owners and enthusiast, what should I look that is weak at this mileage and could be near failure/replacement? Any signs I should look for that show that the prev owner has treated the car/engine bad? I will do a check up at Honda before buying it, but I want your input on this.
EVO Type R Buyer's Guide
03-23-2002, 05:30 PM
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Re: Newbie Questions (Buzz8400)
Thanks for reply Buzz8400.
3. Why not? I need arguments for this
4. Any www to get them?
5. Hope I can get some Simple Green here. Wont go any lower in price, maybe he saw the spark in my eyes and grin in my face...
Just wanted to post something else.
Before finding this car, I went very seriously looking into the new Civic Type R. It is quite more expensive (21k euros vs 16k). I dont like the exterior a lot, not as much as the Integra, and the interior materials are BAD for a car this cost. My parents have a 5 door new Civic, and the cheap plastic inside are all scratched with just 10k miles on it. The performance and handling seems to be a tad better than the integra... and it is new (factory warranty, etc). It has NOT been an easy decision, thrust me. I dont dislike the car exterior that much, and all the reviews I read are sweet as hell. Boiled it down to money in the end.
[Modified by Venturello, 6:30 PM 3/23/2002]
3. Why not? I need arguments for this
4. Any www to get them?
5. Hope I can get some Simple Green here. Wont go any lower in price, maybe he saw the spark in my eyes and grin in my face...
Just wanted to post something else.
Before finding this car, I went very seriously looking into the new Civic Type R. It is quite more expensive (21k euros vs 16k). I dont like the exterior a lot, not as much as the Integra, and the interior materials are BAD for a car this cost. My parents have a 5 door new Civic, and the cheap plastic inside are all scratched with just 10k miles on it. The performance and handling seems to be a tad better than the integra... and it is new (factory warranty, etc). It has NOT been an easy decision, thrust me. I dont dislike the car exterior that much, and all the reviews I read are sweet as hell. Boiled it down to money in the end.
[Modified by Venturello, 6:30 PM 3/23/2002]
03-23-2002, 05:43 PM
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Re: Newbie Questions (Venturello)
I miss a sunroof also.... But I'm not going to cut this car up due to resale value..
I doubt the sunroof would make much difference even weight wise, it's just not a go faster option... If buyers had demanded it ( like A/C ) Honda would have put sunroofs in... But the cost of the car had to be kept down somewhere..
Good luck with yours... And CW with red seats is phat... The hell with black ones.
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