B18C5-EH2

First of all I have a choice of cars:
1. 1990 STD Civic Hatch (red) with 180K miles. I currently own this car. Excellent condition body and paint wise, just slow as crap.

2. 1986 CR-X Si (white!) with 180K miles. Car is perfect body wise and has immaculate paint. One owner, never wrecked. Lady driven. She sold it to a friend with a blown headgasket and he has a spare motor for it. If I sell my hatch I'll get the 1986 CR-X Si.

So that's choice number one for you all. It's actually hard for me because I love the STD hatch, but the CR-X has A/C while my STD doesn't. The CR-X also has a sunrof and only weighs 1950lbs. with full interior! It would have 91hp and it would be a clean old school car.

Okay here's choice number two:

*IF* I keep the 1990 STD hatch, I have another choice to make:

1. Swap in a D16A6 with an Si tranny. I'd refresh the D16A6 probably with D16A1 pistons which would yield 11:1 or so CR and boost whp and torque. This would probably end up costing me like $500 to $600 total to do including motor, tranny, parts, etc.

2. Get a ZC full swap for $650 including engine, ECU, and tranny. Swap the ZC gears into an Si case and retain the Si FD so I have the closest gearing possible and still use stock Si/DX axles. 130hp or so and killer gearing is hard to argue with...

Let me add that this car is more of a daily driven car, so things like A/C do add some value believe it or not.

Adding A/C to the STD hatch will be a tad more difficult since it has NEVER had A/C in it. My Mom bought this car new in 1989 (1990 model) and it was never fitted with A/C at all. No A/C button or anything.

There could still be a few more tweaks for the 1986 CR-X Si too.

Like what?

Well, D16A6 pistons in STD size are actually .40 over for the 91hp 12-valve motor, but that would also put the CR up to 12:1!!!

Or I could find a dirt-cheap D16A1 with tranny and freshen it up and have a pretty mean 1950lb. full interior'd sunroof'd A/C'd 130hp bastard. The 130hp could come from ZC cams y0!

...But the 1990 STD also has pull with me since it's been in my family since new. It was my first car so there's some attachment there too. It's in killer shape too damn it!

Tough choice - you guys can help.

Thanks in advance!




[Modified by B18C5-EH2, 8:29 AM 9/5/2002]

B18C5-EH2

Just in case you need a visual aide:

1986 CR-X Si (imagine it's white):



And a hooked up 1990-1991 hatch:



Well?

tommyboy

Go with the Crx-Si, that car looks very clean and AC is something that I would kill for.

letsride

Will seating be in question? By this I mean will you ever need to carry more than one person with you?

My prefference would be the Rex because I like them more but as I said .... its only my prefference. Do the math on how much the various mods that you plan on doing will cost and that may help you come closer to a decision.


Not much help I know but just my $.02

B18C5-EH2

Let me alao add that those aren't the exact cars - just good examples in my opinion of each car.

As far as money for mods, the mods would be very minimal.

For the 1990 hatch I'd already planned to at least do some KYB GR-2 Silver non-adjustable struts and throw on some FREE older style Weapon R coil-overs. Yeah it sounds cheap and all, but this ain't my better car so I can skimp on the mods a bit, right? Ad to that a free camber kit form a friend and the car is lowered and still rides good because of new struts.

If I want to lower the CR-X I'll need to buy new front torsion bars because the ones in it are probably original. Those are $350.00 a piece! And rear struts with springs are like $300 more.

That's kind of steep...

BigZ88

My opinion is to go with the crx. I love em and wish i could have gotten one, but i kinda need a back seat since im always the driver now that my friend wrecked his accord and got a 93 lude.
Hey, either way ill trade you my 97 ex swap if you can give me one helluva deal on labor for my swap when i do it.

DevinW

I think I'd go with the STD hatch and see how much it costs to add AC. That's one clean *** rex, but you already own the STD, and it's already looking really good!

deez92

i would stick with the hatch, i've owned that rex and always felt it to be a girls car, no offense to any rex owners. my woman always looked better driving it, you know it's such a cute car. but she's alot hotter than me maybe thats why? try to find out how much it would take to bo the a/c and weight your options.

311

Keep the STD, swap a ZC in it, and live without a/c. You havent had a/c in any of your cars if i am not mistaken, so why start now?

B18C5-EH2

Okay let me state this again:

THE CARS PICTURED ARE NOT THE CARS I'M CHOOSING BETWEEN.

Those are just the first 2 pics I came across that I liked. It was to give those who might not know what the cars look similiar to an idea, that's all.

owen_the_soyboy

STD hatch
Because maintenance, mods and other stuff will be cheaper and easier to source, not to mention the STD will hold up better in any fender benders.

Yokohama

get the crx!!!

Apex i ITR

Thought you were just gonna drive this car Tom

Mojo-Jojo

I prefer the look of rex's immensely.

AC is also a plus in my book, even though neither of my two cars have had it.

E. Honda

80z Hondas suck, get a job

B18C5-EH2

Oh my GOD please explain this one before I rip you a new one?





[Modified by B18C5-EH2, 10:48 AM 9/5/2002]

singlecam screamer

i'd say keep the std hatch because i've always liked those hatches,and also crx is a little older and a little bit harder to get parts for but it also has a/c but in the end the decision is yours good luck with it

Chugger

id get the crx and having a sunroof and ac is a plus. ive head ac and a sunroof and i miss them immensly. its just something about the crx though.
just my opinion either you choose will be tight
lata
chris

Thrashin

id get the crx Tom. does it have all the options? armrest, wing, front lip, and alloys? get it, they handle great .

Suprdave

You ******* tool...Get a clue and a brain *****.

Suprdave


[Modified by Suprdave, 9:57 AM 9/5/2002]

sohc_boy

crx

dom93hatch

OT: What does STD stand for?

Mojo-Jojo

Standard.

Basically the old term for Dx.

dom93hatch

Sweet, thanks.

B18C5-EH2

STD is like a CX - it is not even as nice as a DX. Totally different cars if you've driven both.

From 1988-1991 there were 3 models of hatchback offered in the U.S:

STD - 70hp, 4-speed manual, vinyl seats, no side mirror, black plastic bumpers, basically the cheapest and most bare model out
DX - 88hp, 5-speed manual or opt. auto, cloth seats, color-matched bumpers in 1991, rear wiper optional
Si - (not offered in 1988) 108hp multi-point PGMFI, 5-speed, factory Recaro cloth seats, 14'' steelies as opposed to 13'' ones, color-matches bumpers (and mirrors in 1991), clock, tachometer, power sunroof, etc.




[Modified by B18C5-EH2, 11:23 AM 9/5/2002]