Ok my mind is fucked up.....
For sure I want to start autocrossing next year and I have had my heart set on driving my 99 SI. Recently I have been seriously thinking of selling my Civic to help save up for buying a house. I still owe around $14,000 on my car and I pay around $350 a month with 4 more years to go on my loan.
Is my Si worth the $$$$ keeping it for autocrossing? Only basic mods have been done, aem cai, h&r springs, slips, comptech header, thermal r&d. I have been thinking about getting a 89-91 Si hatch or 92-95 hatch. All thoughts, opinions or flames are greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Dave



[Modified by 99MRSI, 7:57 AM 12/12/2002]

 

probably better to keep it since i dont think you could get $14K for it.... besides if youre just having fun or still learning it matters not what you drive.

 

it really doesnt matter what car your chose. But i would personally sell the Si and take a slight hit rather then paying $350/ month for the next 4 years....i would get the ef Si


[Modified by DesiEg, 10:24 PM 12/11/2002]

 

So are you saying "I need to sell my 99 Si to buy a house, but I also want to autocross?"

If that's the case, do what you've got to do to buy a house if that's your goal. You can autocross in just about anything, esp if you've never done it before.

If you do sell it, replace it with something that's easy to maintain if this is your new daily driver.

 

Actually, if it's in good shape and the miles aren't too high, you probably could get the $14 grand for it. For some odd reason, they command a pretty penny on the used car market. You should see what some used car dealers are selling well used ones for. In some cases, it's been HIGHER than the original MSRP on the car, back in '99. ($17,445)

 

Exactly. I love my car.... but I think I would be much happier with NO car payment and an older hatch. Keep the advice coming......thanks

 

dude...yeah def sell the car then and get the house and an old skool hatch....you will be so happy w/o car payments and with a hatch

 

The issue is interest. For the difference between your current payoff and the total of payments over the next four years is about $2500 - enough to buy a budget hatch. The issue for most of us is liquidity - having the cash available to buy the new car but, at the end of four years you can have either:

1. The Si paid off (value ~$10k?) and no money in the bank, or...
2. The HB paid off and $16,500 in the bank, plus the interest you will earn - assuming that you bank the $350 rather than buying **** or beer or something.

Assuming a sensible depreciation of both cars over that same time, your assets with option 2 will be significantly higher than for option 1.

You can autocross pretty much anything.

Kirk

 

Not sure where the market is at right now on those Si's, but I had an EBP Civic Si that I bought new in 2001 and only kept for about 5000 miles. I sold it for $17,500 which is just slightly less than what I paid for it. Don't expect to get that much out of yours necessarily, but do some research to see what they are going for. There are plenty of guys that are looking for those cars, and they are somewhat rare.

For autocrossing, your Si isn't a bad car, but if you really want to get hardcore, you can't do much better than an early to mid 90's Si hatchback...although the good ones are a real biatch to find!!! Trust me on that one, I'm looking for one right now.

If it were me, I'd start looking for a Civic hatch, and in the meantime try to get an idea what your car is worth. Once you find/buy a hatch, put your Si up on AutoTrader.com.

PS - if you sell your Si, sell it stock, not with all the mods on it.


[Modified by Brett@SoloRacer.com, 3:18 PM 12/11/2002]

 

I was in the same boat as you a couple of years ago. Sold my 98 Prelude SH and bought a house and a beater G1 Teg for autocross. Since the recent housing boom around here the house is now worth $60,000 more than what I bought it for, the Teg is all paid for and I swore I would never again waste money on a new car (I owned 9 new cars in the previous 15 years)...

Now i'm looking for a new project car. Still undecided between a CSP Miata, a DSP E30 325is, or P2 (different local Prepared rules here) EG hatch with a b-series...

Definetely buy the house and ditch the Si even if you have to take a hit below the balance of the loan...

 

I did fairly well locally with my 2000 Civic Si. In STS trim with only polyurethane bushings, short shifter, and camber kit missing.

I gave Chris Shenefield a run for his money at two events this year too Only .2-.4 seconds behind him on a 50-60 second course. But I think with a little more development and money I should be in the top 10 (hopefully) at Nationals in 2003. Wishful thinking eh?

But then I drove his car and smote his best time

 

I know I won't be able to buy a house and pay off the Si.
I am looking at it more like saving me $14,000 by selling it, that money I would pay the next four years can go in the bank and towards house payments. If I lose 1,000 or $2,000 by selling it, thats better than losing $14,000 and having NO money in the bank. Keep opinions coming....




[Modified by 99MRSI, 7:58 AM 12/12/2002]

 

You owe $14K on the car. If you sell it you "might" be able to break even. You will then need to buy a car. If you want it to be reliable and you want it strong enough to auto-x figure you will have to spend $8K+tax tags etc. You will have to finance it at used car rates - figure 7% So you could keep your payments the same and pay the car off in about 30 months or keep the period the same and pay 250 per month for 4 years. Either way you are only going to have an extra $1200 per year to put towards the house. Keep your Si!! You have already taken most of the depreciation hit.

Regards,
Alan

 

I am only looking at spending 3-5,000 on the new hatch.

P.S. Ain't she perdy...





[Modified by 99MRSI, 8:44 AM 12/12/2002]

 

Is this the NEW HATCH you're looking at? or is this your Si.. (I can't tell if it has a trunk or not.)

I would recommend a CRX or a hatch and perhaps swap a b-series in it or whatever or buy one that is already modded because you can buy a crx or hatch with either a turbo'd engine or b-series swap already in it for a good price.

Since you "know" hondas already you could easily fix the problems of the new car where the previous owner may have overlooked. (rebuild head, put in LSD)... I know I have a GREAT time autocrossing my CRX with azenis and poly bushings and suspension.

The handling and "quickness" of such a small car is GREAT FUN!.

A CRX or Hatch or NEWER EK hatch get's my vote.

 

Oh that photo above is my SI couper, the trunk is hiding. And a plus is I just found out that I owe $12,885 on my loan, not $14,ish.

 

You should be able to get $14,000 for that car easily. I own a 00 Si as well and I would say go for the EF. I recently drove a 90 EF Si in an autocross and with just a little suspension work and better tires, possibly some simple bolt on mods, that car could easily beat a 00 Si. Of course, my 00 Si is almost stock but, like what everyone said, autocross is about the driver, not the car.

Of course, the EF won't be as nice as the 00 Si but they're not that bad.

 

A guy is coming down on sunday to check out my Couper......hopefully it will sell.

 

sellout

nick, who rocks a coupe

 

Im not a sellout yet........the guy never showed! DOH!

 

Definatley getting an EF Si, checking out some this week. I'll let yall know how it goes.

 

Rodney, who rocks a coupe too
If you do keep it, might i suggest the comptech sway bar. Good luck with your plans.

 

Just to update those who don't care. I did end up buying a 1990 Civic SI....
Link: https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=378507