Hello!
Ive been looking around for the past 3 months for a new car (I currently drive my moms Nissan Rogue). My goal for a car is to have something I can make look good but still keep clean and simple and is reliable. Japanese cars were an obvious answer to most of the question.
I commute 20+ miles a day and I would like to get at-least 19mpg in a car. Ive looked at 350z's and Lancers, but Hondas have always interested me as I've always heard they are like legos in terms of modding them. I really like the look of the old civic hatches and there are some really nice ones with 100k miles or less on them I might just buy. Before I do buy the car there are some questions I have.

I want to make this car quick, maybe around 200-300 hp.
I don't want to rice it out, (sleeper status most likely)
I can do most modifications myself, no need to go to a shop for anything except maybe transmission work.

1) Can I achieve this HP on an automatic transmission? (manual is not an option considering the amount of city traffic I have to deal with)
2) What type of engine/turbo should I get?
3) What other parts need to be changed?
4) Around how much will it cost?
5) Which Gen Civic hatch is best? Which trim?

 

Please read the FAQ that is stickied at the top of this forum.

The majority of your questions have been answered a great many times and is documented in the FAQ.

 

All your goals are achievable, but it really depends on how deep your pockets are going to be.

1) I don't know much about the Honda Autos.... but trying to get performance out of a Auto, you'll need to add Shift Kit (think Trans Go) and upgrade to Heavy Duty clutch packs. You'll also be advised to run a Trans Fluid cooler.

2) The JDM B18C out of a 98+ Integra Type-R makes 200hp from the factory. 200 HP on an All Motor and being street-able is very easy; but 300HP on pump gas probably won't happen. With a Turbo build, I'd say 300HP on Pump gas is easily achievable. And then there is also the potential for a K swap (factory came with 160-220HP).
- MPG really depends on the build of the motor; More Power = Less MPG. A stock JDM B20B in a 99 Hatch using a B18B ECU and LS (manual) trans nets me around 35mpg when commuting 30 miles a day (speed ranges from stop & go to 65mph; when I drive my Tacoma to work says that my average speed is 30-35mph over the trip).

3) Pick a motor and trans combo first and then figure out parts needed.

4) Budget: $4k with a +/- of 50% over/under runs in costs. It really comes down to: Do you buy a wrecked parts car? Do you piece part everything together? Or do you buy a 'Just Add Motor Complete Swap Package' kit?

5) I would say that 90% of the differences in the Hatch is looks. So which hatch looks best to you? You can take a Cheaper trim level and make it a Luxury car by swapping parts around.

 

 

The 5th gen Si models had a slightly larger fuel tank than the other trims, I'm not sure if the same is true for the 6th. You also can't retrofit a sunroof from an Si model to a non-Si, if that's something OP cares about. Otherwise though unless you're dealing with K swaps EG/EK chassis differences are pretty non-consequential.

Personally since this is your first build and I'm assuming you have a budget to keep in mind, I'd recommend a B20V setup with a B16 or ITR transmission, bonus points if you can get an LS 5th gear in for better highway cruising and MPG. Would be a relatively easy build, "set it and forget it" in terms of reliability if done right, and can be done fairly cheap. Would easily get 30+MPG combined.

 

Chance, thanks for the 5th Gen sunroof clarification (limited knowledge of 5th Gens). I know more about the 6th Gen stuff.

As far I know, non of the 96-00 USDM Hatches came with a Honda Factory installed sunroof. If you want a Honda one, you'll need to find a EDM hatch and snag the roof skin, frame & headliner. Most people end up installing an Aftermarket unit.

For the 6th gen fuel tanks, they all have the same 11.9g cap.

 

Can you elaborate what the challenge is on the 5th gen regarding this?

I understand there isn't a whole but I assumed you could cut the roof from the Si and weld it onto a non Si...

I was thinking about doing this but have decided to scrap the Si shell anyway.

 

I could have put a citation, but essentially yes you CAN retrofit a sunroof onto a non-Si 5th gen, but it would require you to do what you mentioned (cutting and completely re-welding the roof skin, getting the full sunroof assembly with rails, motor, glass, gasket, etc...). It'd basically cost a boatload to do, especially if someone wasn't doing the labor themselves, and at that point it would be far easier and far cheaper to just get an Si to begin with.

There have been a lot of issues in the past of people just pulling the sunroof assembly and trying to cut a hole in a non-Si roof, which always leads to leaks since there are no proper drain channels and the roof wasn't designed to hold the extra weight or seal the gasket. I've actually never seen someone do a PROPER sunroof retrofit on a non-Si, only people that make the halfway attempt and then post about water coming into their cabin a few weeks later.

 

Okay, yeah, I understand completely.

My CX had a manual flip up sun roof, not the motorized moon roof Honda puts on Si's and it had no problems, but it was also professionally done and just a pane of glass on hinges and a push up lock hinge so weight wasn't a factor. Much cheaper option than doing the above gambit or even the knock off job you have witnessed over the years.

 

Agreed