This is long and probably not worth reading so theres your warning.

I bought a 92cx with the intention of making it hybrid. My gf ended up buying a type r when her insurance company totaled out her old car. When I started driving it, I fell in love and soon looked for my own. At the same time, I wanted to start getting into HPDE's and thought this would make a great start to just buy the itr,sell the cx, and start learning to drive.

Well, I went to the expo and had a ton of fun. Learning to drive in HPDE, to me, is so much more fun to me then modding cars like I have done in my past. Though I like wrenching, spending all my time doing so got boring. The problem is I don't have time to go to many HPDE's. I will have the car on the track three times this year. Almost seems like a waste to me to have a good track car but not have the time to use it for its purpose. I mostly drive on the highway back and forth to school. 130 miles each way, every week. I am thinking that a b18c5 civic on the street will be a bunch of fun. and no, not streeting racing it. Just fun to cruise around and get on it once in awhile.

Going back to my cx, even though it was stock, I loved that car. I liked how small it was, even how it handled stock. It wasnt good or anything but it felt like I could drive its wheels off. The itr is a nicer car but looks are not important to me. Bang for the buck is something im more interested in. I could care less if I had a dented cx or itr.

So, which leads me to the point where I am not sure to sell the itr and buy another cx but this time, finish the project. Has anyone sold there itr for a hybrid and regreted it and why? I just feel like I might be happier with a faster, dented up, hybrid civic. At the same time, I want a b18c5 92cx w/brakes/suspen and not spend over 12K. I dont want the civic to turn into a 20K civic.

Please dont flame me I'm trying to make a decision I wont regret. Thanks.

edit for spelling.


[Modified by scott_k, 8:19 PM 10/7/2002]

 

More then likely, this will happen. People think, buy a civic hb shell for $2K, swap for $4K, etc. etc. But the quest for better handling will make that total skyrocket above your initial expectations.

 

I know what you mean. I watched my friend go from a 3500 complete swap to a 10K motor. But I manage my money better then him so I'm not too worried about that.

 

search for the "guess who got another ITR" thread

 

Yea, I was going to address that but didnt know his name. and I also wanted to see if there was anyone else out there. thanks.

my spelling is horrible, thank god for word.


[Modified by scott_k, 8:26 PM 10/7/2002]

 

xjohnx and i4...very recently

 

You sure as hell don't NEED a C5. Yellow Dragon has a B18C1'd CX for sale.... at least I think he's still trying to sell it. A little rust but seems solid otherwise.

 

Get a hatchcrap with a B series powerplant and boost.

You'll wonder why you ever bought an ITR in the first place.

 

From what I've gathered reading other posts, after you do a engine swap, brake swap, suspension, wheels, and a few things to the interior like seats and whatnot, its not much cheaper than a 97-98 ITR.

Do a search or ask the people on the hybrid forum how much theres costs.

 

But it sure is faster.

 

In the 1/4 mile no doubt. But on a road course?

 

Above comment applies to every aspect of performance.

ITRs are great cars, no doubt about it. Very nice platform with which to start.

The fact still remains it can't do anything a hybrid can't.

 

Hybrids are great, but I'll take ITR over hybrids anyday of the week.

 

CX w/ b18c5

 

My 99 Hatch with a 99 B18C5, full 00 ITR interior, misc part suspension, and other various stuff is pushing $17~18k.......and I haven't even gotten wheels/tires yet.

Reason why I'd rather have my hybrid than an ITR? Attention. Granted the Hatch will turn some heads, but if you put a fairly stock looking hatch on the side of an ITR, which one will get stolen first?

Had my 99 Civic Si stolen twice in a years time and didn't need the attention again.

 

"You can't make a silk purse out of sow's ear"

Even if you put a twin-turbo Ferrari motor in a hatchcrap - it's still a hatchcrap.

 

Not that I had an ITR... but I loved my GSR sedan and started to turn it into a track/autocross monster.... then it hit me....
car payments+mods+tracktime = way overbudget.
So I sold that car and got a CX for $2000, threw in about $10,000 worth of stuff and I am more than satisfied. In fact the car is even more fun to drive than I had expected, and its still quite a sleeper in my area because people here still think Hondas cannot be fast... there are too few fast ones around here .

So I think you will be happy as long as you stick with a budget.. like dont go out spending $1500 on jdm recaros when you can get a pair of sparco buckets for $600. Then dont go drop $1500 on huge brakes when you can go with fastbrakes/wilwood for half that. Get my drift?
***Only thing to worry about is the possible theft of your hybrid and not getting reimbursed for the **** you put in it! Now that could make anyone cry.

hatchy hatch hybrid (legit!) =
ITR = but cost too much!

 

Id love to build up a hatch with a B series motor. It would still be my beater though and the ITR is where I would put my serious money.

 

I never had an ITR, although I raced one in Solo II for a season ('97 stock ITR).

I really loved that car. In '99 bought an Si, since in April they weren't gonna have ITR's anymore (or so they said). Liked that too, but was a far cry from the ITR, even after I built the hell out of it.

My current daily driver, '92 Civic hatch, is nice. It's faster than an ITR but took a lot of work (which was alot of fun).

All in all, I like both for different reasons. The CX is scary fast, the '97 ITR was sweet right out of the box.

 

im pushing 20k in my 96 CX, and that includes the cost of the car.
Motor is still stock, but rebuilt.

An ITR hasnt pulled up beside me for a showdown, I refuse to drag race my car, although I may let a buddy after I get the motor more settled.

A little less then 1/4 throttle keeps me around 70/80 mph. I can pass slow cars in the fast lane by curling my toes I'll hopefully be doing my first HPDE the begininning of next year.

Would I trade this car for an ITR? Probably not.

 

Answer to your ? yes and no

Depends on your reasons for getting rid of the ITR. Mine had been hit a few times and the payments were starting to really get on my nerves. It made financial sense for various reasons for me to get rid of it.
One hatch I started got stolen (It had Apex'i N1 coilovers and a R motor). I agonized a little bit after entertaining going with another car manufacterer but I decided to build another C5 hatch.....and I'm glad i didn't go with any other car.

For about 13,000 I had a very fast capable monster (it would kill my old ITR any day of the week in any venue) and spent alot on my swap (close to 5200). Now they can be had for 4800 from Honda Motors online. That 13000 dollars includes my KYB AGX's and Neuspeed Springs, my Toda Spec B's and corresponding hardware to take advantage of them minus the fuel delivery + extra's (Custom made interior console to house the v-AFC, RSM, Autotimer, Sparco steering wheel etc). The only thing I needed was brakes and some more tuning (Maybe a few more suspension bars), maybe another 2000 in parts and tuning + cost of the car.

I went all out but I also spent smart (no 1500 coilovers for a car that will see a track that tests its limits maybe once a year, AGX's are fine for autocross). I also want to pursue other projects (Like a AWD turbo'd project) so I'm trying to keep the build under 15000 for a total package you can't beat that.

My car is fun to drive, I mean really fun to drive. Anyone who's every driven it has had a smile on their face from ear to ear. Without power steering and my Sparco steering wheel I get frequent references to my feeling like a go-kart.

I miss the sure footedness of my ITR. The ability to feel like you can do almost anything you wanted (Handling and brakes wise). my civic is fun @ the limit but it is no were near as forgiving as the ITR, and that makes it a double edged sword. I like having to make the car go where I want some times, other times (Usually when I forget I'm not driving my old ITR) it lets me know that this was once a commuter car.

If my car didn't get rear ended so bad or my dad didn't run it into a wall 3 days after I bought it brand new (He fell alseep) then I would've kept that car. It looked nice I still see it every now and again but its riced out now (People still ask me why I let go of the car and I was stupid to sell it because it looked so nice).

Life handed me lemons, and I made some damn good lemonade.

I can't really say one way is better then the other, but I can say this. I daydream about my ITR but I forget all about it when I fire up my hybrid.

Keep the R unless you'd be better off with out it (Wrecks like me, or high theft area, or note is some thing you can do without). The hybrid is not a bad alternative. Cost does add up but building is part of the fun. And you can do it in increments.

PS: I'm probably going boost next. I can't imagine what the response of the R motor and the Boost of a t3 hybrid will feel like but I'm sure I'll be happy.

[Modified by Apex i ITR, 12:30 PM 10/8/2002]


[Modified by Apex i ITR, 9:26 AM 10/10/2002]

 

im still trying to figure it out, i had a teg (not an R but still a teg) and i loved it, it handeled wonderful, stupid me had to have some bad luck and slide it off the road a total it, now i have saved basicly everything from the teg (including my built b18b) and have it all on a 93 dx hatch, i have only been driving it now for 2 weeks and i really am unsure yet if i like it, its fast but it still doesn't handle well yet. and i have bugs in it all over the place (still trying to figure some of them out) and so far i am without a radio or most of the interior, so for now its been a headache, but im hoping over the next few months i can sort some stuff out and get it handling better and feel more like the teg useto

a hatch is definatly a little more low key then an R, so if not stressing over it is a good thing for you then maybe a hatch is the way to go, good luck with your decision

 

brian,
u should have stayed with your roots...u should have bought another teg shell.... they are all over the place for about $500 more than you bought your hatch...and then me and you would have had to battle for the top teg in the club...sellout...how come you are never on IM?...ttyl

 

I love my hatch and bought it new.

I would also buy an ITR in an heart beat.

Both have their strong points and both chassis will grow on you.

In the end I would love to own one of each and maybe throw in an S2000 as a weekend cruiser for me and the wifey

The hatch I feel will always have a weight advantage which given the same setup's would mean better braking, acceleration and handling.

But if your trying to do something on a budget I think you wont be happy no matter what you end up with. Honda's arent cheap and eventually youll want to go faster, handle better change parts etc...which will cost more $$$ but if you are building a car for the love of building I think you will be happy with either as both as very capable platforms.

Hatch = scruffy underdog you gotta love

ITR = sweet blingin Honda goodness that looks the part

They are both Honda's

 

Where? Can you tell me where is a good place to pick up a decent EK shell?


[Modified by nEoMuGen, 9:05 PM 10/8/2002]