Hello there!

I've been reading this forum for some months now and I like it more and more each day that passes. I'm 18 and I'm from Portugal. The reality around here is very different from the US. Gas is very expensive, cars are very expensive (about $9000 for a '94 VTi) and we make very little money… But not everything is bad, food is wonderful, the roads are wonderful (ever seen Initial D? There's lots of Akina Mountains around here!), and there's loads of beautiful women. I'm in college, so the cars I drive are my father's. I love them like they're mine. Our machines are a '89 Ford Fiesta Ghia (used as a daily driver) and a '01 7th gen Civic sedan (used as a "weekend driver", if such an expression exists). I love our Civic, it is wonderful, but I also love the 5th gen, especially the hatch and the sedan. When I finish my graduation I'm looking forward to buy a 5th gen VTi and bring it to spec, put it like it was new, 'cause I love these cars. Hybrids are very rare around here (no one sells motors, if you you want a B15C5 you have to buy a ITR ) so the B16A powered VTi is a god send, despite it's heavy weight…
In Portugal tuning is much more show than go. One can see 50hp lowered, tinted windows with huge REMUS stickers FIAT's… and that's why I love sleepers!
There are no drag strips in Portugal, trackdays are starting to show, but they're expensive, something like $130 for an hour of driving. So here, when we want to have fun we pick a nice, twisty mountain road and set the right pedal loose, it's wonderful!
In general I like the cars that are posted here, they're just so clean. I love them!
Keep up the good job. I thought it was interesting to post the European line-up for the 5th gen Civic:

General description:
The '92-'95 model Civic was positioned as a high end solution to the European C segment, competing with Volkswagen Golf, BMW 3 Series Compact, Lancia Delta and others. In Europe owning a fifth gen Civic is a kind of luxury, a symbol of status and individualism. It was not marketed as a grocery shopper but as a fast, durable, low profile, sleek car. As you can presume not anyone and their brother has a Civic around here so it's very cool to have one (around here everyone and their brother has a VW Golf)!

Hatchback ('94 and later models):

EX
Engine type: ???
Displacement: 1343 cm3
Horsepower: 75 hp @ 6300 rpm
Torque: 10,4 Kgm @ 6100 rpm
Wheels: 5x13
Tyres: 175/70 R13
Wheight: 950 Kg (2095 lb)

LSi
Engine type: ??? (I think it's a D15 something)
Displacement: 1493 cm3
Horsepower: 90 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque: ???
Wheels: 5x14
Tyres: 185/60 R14
Wheight: 950 Kg (2095 lb)

ESi
Engine type: D16Z6
Displacement: 1590 cm3
Horsepower: 125 hp @ 6500 rpm
Torque: 14,4 Kgm @ 5200 rpm
Wheels: 5x14
Tyres: 185/60 R14
Wheight: 985 Kg (2172 lb)

VTi
Engine type: B16A
Displacement: 1595 cm3
Horsepower: 160 hp @ 7600 rpm
Torque: 16,0 Kgm @ 7300 rpm
Wheels: ???
Tyres: 195/55 R15
Wheight: 1080 Kg (2381 lb)

Sedan ('94 and later models):
Exactly the same specs as the Hatchback, but sold only in LSi, ESi and VTi versions. Yes, Honda says their wheight is the same!

Coupé ('94 and later models):
Sold only in LSi and ESi trim. Only the weight differs from sedans and hatchbacks:
LSi: 1015 Kg
ESi: 1060 Kg

I hope you like it. If you have any info on those ??? please post here.

I have some questions for a start, if you can help me.
From what I've seen here, most of you hybrid guys are running on 195/50 R15 tyres. Well, the B16A European Civic uses 195/55 R15, wich are a lot bigger, so tell me why do you use 195/50 R15? Aren't those too small for a 160++ hp car?
Another one: Is anyone thinking of droping a K20A ('02 CTR engine) in their EG? It would be the ultimate EG Civic, does it fit?


See you around!

ps: Sorry for my spelling, I'm not a native English speaker.

[Modified by KoRn_vIRuZ, 2:33 PM 5/6/2002]


[Modified by KoRn_vIRuZ, 3:04 PM 5/10/2002]

 

TTT because it's interesting.

Thanks for the info and welcome aboard. Excellent first contribution.

 

I agree with Korn_Viruz . In europe cars are marketted a lot differently then here in the US of A. There a civic is way higher then here. Here its more of a economy sedan while there its more of a midsize(kind of) . An Accord there is also higher then here. In Europe its considered a almost a luxury car while here its a midsize family sedan . So most likely the reason for that is that in Europe owning an automobile costs more money then here , so people drive small affordable cars that gas and insurance is cheaper for . Thats also why a lot of hatchbacks are designed in Europe where they are a selling success ? ford Focus = German , Honda Civic = Designed in Europe .....
Welcome to the board have fun . I love europe , going to Poland in about 3 weeks for a month . Cant wait .

 

Im goin 2 poland i juli !!! nice plaze !!! ;-) 2 a big honda meeting !!! was there last year !! werry nice !!!

 

About the tires...I'd use 205/50/15s if I were you. A little more contact patch, and a fairly good overall diameter for the speedometer.

Putting a K20 into an EG would likely require many extensive (and expensive!) modifications. Probably more trouble than it's worth. Turbocharging a VTi would be much more rewarding I think.

 

Welcome to the board,that was some very interesting stuff that you posted

 

welcome! love to hear about the civics in europe. i agree, i would use 205/50-15s its a much better tire for road racing. also concentrate on brakes, its very important to have good brakes if doing mountain runs.

 

Thanks for the replies!
You guys are cool!

 

If I'm not mistaken , I belive a Mazda 323 GTX turbo motor can be swapped into your festiva.

 

The difference between the 195/55 r15 and the 195/50 r15 tyres is the sidewall on the 195/50s is slightly smaller. I personally autocross my car, so a smaller sidewall becomes an advantage in terms of stiffness. the reason higher sidewall tyres are usually put on a car is for comfort, not for sporty response. i do believe that http://www.thetirerack.com has an explanation of this somewhere on their site. I do know they have the breakdown of what the numbers mean. If i can remember correctly it is 195(width/50(sidewall height-some sort of ratio) r15(radius of the inner rim). Hope this helps you out.