I found a 96 silver DX for sale about two hours from me for 1,500 with 170,000 miles. It has some damage to the front end from a deer and it looks like the back bumper is in pretty bad shape too.

My plans for this car is getting a 99-00 front end conversion (since most of the front will need replacing anyways), dropping in a b16 or b18 (haven't chosen yet), getting a new paint job (leaning towards electric blue pearl), and eventually boosting depending on how the motor holds up.

I personally think this is a good steal but I would really appreciate some input from all you guys that have been down this road before. The only thing that I'm really concerned about is the 170k miles. Also, what makes the DX different from the EX?

 

170,000 miles isn't necessarily a bad thing. Some hondas with 170,000 miles will start to show need for new bushings and such but mine for example is mint condition underneath for the most part.

If you're swapping the engine anyway the mileage of the chassis should be a concern. Just look for rust or any undercarriage wear and tear.

For $1500 you could probably find a high mileage un-wrecked car though. Just make sure there's no frame damage if you're set on buying the wrecked one. Hard to tell without pictures of the car as to how bad the wreck was.

 

As you can see its just some minor damage. I'm assuming the frame and such is fine unless they got a new bumper.

 

goood start to me

 

Looks easy to do what you what. Might as well blindfold yourself to make it interested. Looks like a good start.

Cough Cough B18 cheap turbo build?!?!?!

 

Personally I wouldn't pay 1500 for it, but it's not a bad car....
It would be a great start for a project.

 

If the hood won't close theres a chance the whole front support will need replaced. You have to be careful with cars that hit deer because they can easily not cause that much damage to the outside because the deer is soft but the weight of the deer will still cause some of the underlying supports to get bent up.

I'd have a body shop check it out first.

 

talk him down to atleast 1200... if not spend ur money on a car with less damage trust me you will find one if u have the CASH

 

Yeah that's another thing I'm kind of nervous about. But I have some friends in the auto body business and they have access to a chassis alignment rig so it should be an easy fix if necessary.

 

thats not bad offer him like 1000 and the difference between a ex and dx is a dx has no power windows no sun roof and i think no ac but im not sure about that the ex is basically fully loaded

 

Yeah I haven't decided yet. From what I'm seeing B16 is the engine of choice when it comes to budget turbo builds, but I still really want a B18.

 

Oh, well in that case ill take a DX over an EX. I don't want that crap anyways. Just extra weight/problems.

 

I do not know where you live but i bought a Crx with a rebuilt b16 with 57xxx miles on it for $1200, for 1500 you should definently talk him down in price offer 1000.00 and up it a hundred at a time do in person and show him some cash people see cash and jump for joy works everytime bro.
-Eric

 

This is at a dealer though. So its already pretty cheap.

 

OKAY PROJECT RATHER GO WITH THE EX THO

 

Def not a good deal with all that damage. I just bought another winter beater 95 civic ex coupe black on black with 160000 2 owner clean title for 1200.00. Absolutely nothing wrong with it beside a good tune up.

 

agree with being able to find cheaper car in better shape. GL

 

Alright, well it was worth a try. Guess ill keep looking. Thanks for all the help. If anyone knows of any EK civics for sale in the midwest I would really appreciate it! I want to start my project asap.

 

All about what you're into. I have an ex...and some days I wish I had a DX. My sunroof haunts me, it hasn't caused me problems yet *knock on wood* but it's like 50 pounds of unnecessary. Yeah the y8 is cool and all but if you're only spending 1200 or so *if he can talk 'em down* then you'll have a bit more to spend on a swap

I would go for it, but as mentioned above, if the hood won't latch then there's a possibility more than just the hood needs replacement. I honestly can't imagine fixing this car structurely would cost more than 200 dollars. Paint is a whole 'nother story.

 

not just sunroof , power everything , bigger disk brakes and sway bars....right?

 

...but usually you can't find an EX for under 4000...I guess it's what you plan on replacing/upgrading, maybe it's just me because I really really don't want my sunroof. It's easier to put sway bars on and whatnot than take out a sunroof, weld it over, fiberglass, sand, filler, sand, primer, base, clear, then find a dx roof liner to cover the big hole that leads to nothing that you now have.

 

Or just get a carbon fiber insert lol.

 

Just to clarify, an EX comes with power windows, locks, steering, sunroof, mirrors, a SOHC vtec motor, slightly bigger front disc brakes, a front sway bar (no rear) and probably a few other useless knick knacks I'm forgetting.

On the DX, A/C was optional, mine has it, it's really the only option I care about. Things some people may not like on the DX are mainly no power steering, windows, locks, mirrors. Adding sway bars is pretty simple and quite frankly, having only a front one on a FF car like the EX doesn't really make much sense.

At the OP, I don't think that car for $1500 is a bad deal, if you really want to get a project started, make sure there isn't structural damage, try to talk them down and pick it up!

 

Lol...I don't race so the weight savings isn't that big of a deal...it's just kinda like a mole on your leg or something I guess...you don't want it there at all, but you don't want to put the time and money in to get rid of it, and if you could have started without it you'd be much happier.

Back on topic though...OP...if you can get somebody from a body shop with a good eye to put it on a rack somehow or take a good look at it to make sure there is no major damage then I'd go for it. Even if there's a bent rad support or subframe that's both under 100 dollar fixes. Even if you bought it and decided you didn't like it you could probably make your money back or part it out and make more.