I have 94 DB8 for 5 years now and i love it...but i always have thought about having 92-95 civic hatch as my 2nd car (my dream car since high school)..i came across with these 2 guys selling hatch:

1) 92 Civic SI with BAR(legal) B18C1 70k on the motor (done properly).Very nice and super clean black interior with JDM center console,arm rest and power window.The car originally was black but it was painted silver with $300 paint job and need minor body work.Clean title.Asking price $5000.It runs good

2) 92 Civic SI stock motor with 220K.It's RED colour (i prefer this colour) but need paint job.NO power window.Clean title.Asking price $3300.Runs good.

Which one would you choose? I am having hard time to make decision.

 

the first one if you dont like the color then you can change it but it sounds like that one is cleaner and will run better.

 

how do you know the first one was "done properly"

I'm always gunshy about buying cars with mods already on them. I guess if you really know what you're doing and can honestly evaluate the work done it's not a big deal, but I'd be careful with a swap, all sorts of gremlins could be in there.

$300 paint job? and needs body work? So just operate from the standpoint that they both need paint.

So is having the swap plus power windows worth $1700 to you? Are you willing to deal with potential problems the swapped car my have with the work done to it already? Those are the questions you should be asking.

Both seem a little pricey, but that's just my opinion and I'm on the other coast.

 

$5k is not too bad of a price for thgat first one but I'm sure you can do better.But $3300 for a stock Si with 220k is not even close to being worth it IMO. I think any 92-95 Civic with a really nice interior and minor body work would be something to jump on though for a reasonable price. Most have worn seats, carpet, dash and broken interior trim. I had to buy almost a complete interior for mine, but I did get a really good deal also. Think about things like the swap though, do you plan on doing one, if so can you install it yourself? Also the 1st one has power windows and probably locks if they used the Ex door panels, that right there is about $400 worth of parts plus the install which is not very fun when using the factory wiring.

I think you should keep looking, but out of the two choices I say the first one.

 

oh yeah forgot to mention..the first car has leather gsr seat but no a/c but the guy has all the complete parts for it (just need to be installed)..honestly i am leaning toward for the 1st car..yeah i do plan to do engine swap..so 1st car would save me time and money cause it has GSR motor already and beside the guy already legailize the swap anyway ..that's defenetly saves me time...i test drove it the other day and that thing flies.

 

No AC would be a total dealbreaker for me. Gotta have it. I can't show up at work all nasty like that.

 

It doesn't take a Honda mechanic to install and A/C system on a B-swapped car. And it doesn't cost much if you go to junkyard.

 

That's great, but I'm talking about it it came down to "car with AC" vs. "car without AC" there's no way I'm sweating it out.

 

Ok but obviously it wasn't anything that will affect his decision on the 2 cars, and plus the Si came with A/C, so what are you trying to argue?

 

go with the si, i love sunroof haha

 

Depending on how the AC was removed in the first car it wont be that hard to re-install the AC. If they completely ripped out the lines and everything under the dash I dont think I would want to pay 5k for a swapped EG on top of hunting down all the AC components from a junkyard and having to rip everything apart to install the AC. Just the engine AC components cost about 150... dont know how much everything in the cabin costs.

I would find 2 other options. If you arent in a rush you can find some good complete cars or even some shells to pick up. Motors are a dime a dozen in the So Cal marketplace... B18b/1, B18c/c1, B16a/a2, H22 etc etc.

 

I would really look over the first one and if it is legit and doen properly than i would go with it. just my .02 cents