562vert

My ex trimmed ek has a 5 speed and it runs good It is still stock height and the p/o put one of those 00 fronts on it and a new "decent" paint job no other mods on the car... My first instinct is to drop the car and get some rims and tires for it ..But I plan on keeping this car for years and Im really thinking about having a quality alarm with gps installed on the car first...While im new to civics im not new to cars..i had a 66 convertible vw bug stolen and stripped to the bone form me back in 2002 and more recently my 88 toyota pickup was stolen in september of 2012 and i found it intact in watts a month later.... So i could look good with my car lowered and rims or i could buy a quailty alarm with gps and have a shop with a good rep install it for me..what did you guys do first to your cars or what should i do?

Logan_Gibson

Get an alarm, also I have been following this. Its helped a good bit, as well as checking out other peoples builds and learning what parts are quality and what are not.
https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-civic-del-sol-1992-2000-1/building-your-dream-car-101-a-3102979/

562vert

thanks ill check it out

HondaPartsHero

Not to discourage you but you're getting ready to invest money into something that will more than likely get stolen, and according to your track record will most likely get stolen. An alarm won't do you any good when they pull it up on a flat bed. That aside I'd get an alarm, keep it stock and put the money into a good insurance policy.

jdm_phunk

+1 security first. Before doing any mods. Already had one of my civics taken, as everyone knows civic's are among the easiest to steal.

Emeraldbomber

Hondas are the #1 stolen car in the world. That being said get an alarm and a damn good one. Many different switches and bugs to deter thieves and dont make it look super flashy.

Welcome to the honda world!

dirty19

iTrader: (1)

This is the first user who wants to invest in security first that i have seen.
Common sense prevailed here.
Find the best alarm you can get for the money you have in the budget you know if a thief wants your car he will get it.

562vert

Yea i try to use commn sense in life...and learn by my mistakes of the past ... i never had a car a popluar as a civic and i think i will be going to do a quality alarm/ first t..dont get me wrong ..i have plans for my car to be a nice driver but i want to secure it first

93hatchd16z6

take out the handles and shade them no key hole no steals lol

gzes

A crowbar will easily fix that. But yea get good security

redm3turbo

if a good thief wants it....they get it, lol.
A guy I used to work with in Jersey City lost a TL type S (with extensive mods) that was parked in fenced in yard, and he had a good alarm, no steering wheel, and no battery in the car, lol.
I assume it was one of those repo style tow trucks that nabbed it.

PerfectionIsKey

What everyone forget's about alarms is , it's not IF the theif get's it because if a theif want's it he can get it. IT'S HOW LONG THEY HAVE IT, that matter's. a good GPS system will solve that instantly. you get messages that your car is being taken almost INSTANTLY and it constantly gives you updates on where your car is.

hwyix

iTrader: (1)

You need to move! I am probably older than you ( cough cough ). I have had one car stereo stolen ( in 1990 CRX year 1991 @ SF state ). I have a window or two broken, pocket change/cds stolen. That is it. You have had three WHOLE cars stolen! Take your $2000 and move to the other side of rail road tracks.

Or take the money from selling the civic + $2000 cash you have and buy something else ( not an accord/camry/pickup I know they're boring but thief like those cars also ). Probably something with a low resale value so there is very little market for thieves. Maybe 7/5 series bmw, SUV.


My friends on the drag race forums say fox mustangs or just as bad for getting stolen.

beecee18

Bullets....

Buy bullets!

PerfectionIsKey

SF State as in San francisco? FUUUUUUUUUCK THAT bay area is holy **** bad for stolen cars lol. I'm modesto so i have no room to talk either xD We were #1 for like 10 years. Really if you just garage your car, take all your change/ipod/cd's ect out of the car, and get a GOOD alarm+GPS and really your pretty much safe.

hwyix

iTrader: (1)

My friend was checking out SF state to go to school. She was not even enrolled. Back in early 90s cd players where rare. I know funny now but back then it was big upgrade for a car.

562vert

Yea yall Bay area dudes love those fox mustangs for some reason...Im 30 so i was aware of the crack houses in my hood growing up as a little kid of the late 80s and comming of age in the mid 90s... Im a car guy and cars are apart of me , so selling my car isnt an option. Ive owned 10 vw bugs since 1998 and 10 more non v dubbs .. living in long beach me getting a civic was bound to happen even eventually i always admired a cool looking civic even tho i was reppin old skool vws since 8th grade (1995) I an alarm with gps will be first for me... I got the car already..no need to rush thanks guys for the replies and..i still would like to know what did you guys did first

kingyeddi

iTrader: (2)

BOOST

hwyix

iTrader: (1)

Good luck.

Can you do a GSR swap for $2000? If not I would sell your car, plus 2k and buy one that already has it. Hatch with a GSR swap is very fun car to putz around in.

The power to ratio of gsr/civic and the amount tire you can put under the car for the weight of the car === fun.

hwyix

iTrader: (1)

If I did not already have my civic/gsr I would buy this one in heart beat. This one 2x nicer than mine.
1996 Civic hatchback BAR'D Clean title $5300.
http://hondamarketplace.com/showthread.php?t=3109032




If $5300 is little to much what do you think of green?
1992 Honda Civic CX/Hatch. LS Swap BAR'd w/Video - $3500
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/3573848813.html

ozh_hawaiian

after an alarm, i personally would get a good suspension set up! buy a set of coilovers that have spring rates to match the type of roads you drive on... suspension was the best money i spent on my eg8... nice smooth ride never gets old, and its priceless watching other guys cars bounce all over the place on their shitty coil sleeves... dont know what prices are where you live, but a nice set of si's or ls mesh wheels can give your car a stock look that is clean at the same time...

grumblemarc

iTrader: (4)

In order,

1. security-as much as you can afford.
2. suspension-good handling is what I focus on first
3. brakes & tires
4. everything else

markward90

I agree with grumblemarc ... Security,suspension, then cosmetics

jbpnoman

Before you worry about any upgrades, you should be doing a full tune up. Get your security on point, then start flushing all of the fluids, and replacing every possible wear item. You didn't say anything about mileage, but assuming you're in the 140k-180k range, that means oil, coolant, brake fluid, pads, rotors, clutch fluid, water pump/t-belt/tensioner/thermostat, valve lash adjustment, balance, alignment.

Make sure the car is running at 100% before you go trying to upgrade it. A full, comprehensive alarm system, complete tune-up, and a koni/GC setup should tap out that $2k budget pretty easily.

grumblemarc

iTrader: (4)

Yes. Before modifications are even attempted a strong foundation to build off of is automatically assumed. If you try to mod a broken down car all you will succeed in doing is make the problems it has that much more worse.

Never understood how these kids start these build threads with these bucket cars and attempt a serious "build".