Hey,
ok here goes...My 98 EX is dead after a ignorant hick showed his superb driving abilities which included slamming into the back end of my car....
ANYWAYS
I need some opinions/advice...I was going to try to get my hands on a stock SI, but after a month of looking I only found one SI stock and they wanted way way to much...So I was thinking either...
A) Get a 99-00 EX with a good body but very high miles and swap the motor with either an SI motor (B-series not the 02-above K series motor) or a GSR motor.

B) Shell out the extra cash and get a 02-03 RSX-S

Here's were I need some input...which route should I go? I have read in a couple forums that the K-series motors which have the i-Vtec are very gradual in terms of the Vtec kicking in...and I know the B series motors just scream when you put your foot down. I have also heard issues with the tranny on 02-03 RSX's. Any advice? I would rather go route A because I really like the look of the 99-00 civic coupes, but if I am going to end up spending a **** load on getting a swap done, maybe I should just go with the RSX? HELP ANYONE...and Thank you in advance!

 

there was a recall i beleive on the first year of the rsx. when you shifted from 3rd to 4th the syncros were effed up and the tranny would put you in 2nd causing a lot of rsx's to over rev and need new engines... i believe that has been taken care of.

i was in the same situation as you... couldnt make my mind up about 2 cars. i own a 96 ex and didnt know if i wanted to get a hatch or an rsx. i ended up goin with a hatch and i'm swappin a b18c1 into it. for me it was a better route cause i had the ex so i could swap all my stuff out and have a fully powered hatch, plus i had many aftermarket parts on the ex that were intechangeable too.

it's up to you and the amount of $ you wanna spend. do you want to shell out 12ish grand for the rsx? the type s has 200hp and a 6 speed tranny, or do you want to shell out 5 grand and drop an engine with 180hp and use the rest of the money to raise that number? i opted the ladder. good luck man, and have fun.

 

unfortunately...the rsx market here in wisconsin, to get my hands on a clean Type S is going to run me around $15k/on the other spectrum my EX is gone so it would be like $5k-$6k for a clean shell with high miles plus the motor swap...how much did you end up spending on the b18c swap?

 

A newer shell with high miles should be no-more than 2k. If it's clean 3k maybe.
And a b18c should run you around $3k. Unless you want lsd and really low miles.

This was how I started:
$500 wrecked shell + $250 body parts + my labor = $750.
LS locally w/ low miles + my labor = $2000.
$150 Tegra disks and $150 suspension locally = $300.
......................
Happy me for just over 3k
My car stops faster and out-accelerates an RSX. Plus I get revved at by all the pushrod and ricer guys in my area....
and we all know thats the sh*t

I've done quite a bit of work since then.... but you get the picture.

 

it's going to run me about 4200$ for EVERYTHING... The Engine, LSD Tranny, Axles, ECU, Shift Linkages, ECU Extension, and Engine mounts... I haven't made my purchase yet because i am buying other **** like headers, suspension, clutch, and flywheel. Im still in the process of swappin things from my EX to the hatch... I have the Cruise control and Exhaust to swap out yet, and some lil things then i can sell the EX and use the money for the engine. Good luck with your choice man...