Hey guys,

Here is my dilemna... I really want to fix the Civic Wagon and continue running in H1. The motor needs some work to say the least. I have a true love/hate relationship with the car. However, I have my eyes on a well used Type R in Chicago that I am considering selling the wagon and buying the Type R for H2. My question is, should I spend the time and effort on the wagon and hope the bugs go away or get rid of the wagon after fixing the motor and try my luck with an H2 Type R that would need full race prep. Any thoughts, suggestions would be greatly appreciated.... Thanks.

Eric Rosen

 

Financially, the wagon is the better choice. A motor rebuild and some other problems are cheaper than buying a $12,000 car that needs another $8,000 in prep.

However the bar has been raised in H1, and from a competition standpoint the H2 ITR may be a better choice.

Who the hell would buy that wagon anyways?

 

The wagon is an icon that should not die.

Go wagon

 

I love that wagon...his and Yoshi's are making me check autotrader and recycler every week for a cheapo wagon where my almost-H1 sohc motor can reside

 

Get the ITR.


Modified by Jason Franza at 7:19 AM 5/29/2003

 

I am pretty sure he just meant better as in "Level playing field".

Deep breaths.<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Jason Franza &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Yeah, us H2 guys just hold everyone up. No competition here...</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RacerBowie &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I am pretty sure he just meant better as in "Level playing field".

Deep breaths.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Nevermind. It's early, and I'm cranky. Pay no attention to the man behind this monitor

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Financially, the wagon is the better choice.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

RJ. you know I love ya' man. But I disagree.

I would love to get Eric back in H1, a ten car field would be kool.

However, from the point of view of resale after 'all is said and done' a real ITR ex-race car will forever have a strong resale value. The powerwagon on the other hand is a very specialized piece of equipment. This specialized piece would again beckon a unique' buyer.

For sale:
H1 1987(?) Civic powerwagon with B18c5 engine.
or
H2 1998 Integra Type R ex-race car.

The Teg is MUCH easier to liquidate and get MOST of your money out of. The civic on the other hand.............

Good luck either way and get back on the grid ASAP.

John- who has been looking at racing costs differently lately.


Modified by JohnW at 1:14 PM 5/29/2003


Modified by JohnW at 8:43 PM 5/30/2003

 

bring the H1 wagon back to life.

 

I'd choose the ITR. Pull the motor from the wagon and other parts and sell what you dont need for the H2 ITR to help offset the price a little.

The wagon was a neat idea, but it seems as though a lot more time is being spent trying to fix it, rather than racing.

G'luck.

 

Of course an ITR has a better resale value, but he would eventually have to sell a race-prepped wagon, in some state of tune or disrepair, either way. Better to lose money selling one race car than lose lots of money selling two race cars.

Question to ask yourself: will the wagon ever be reliable, and will it ever be able to compete in H1? How much money and time would that cost? If you're not confident in either, and you're commited to compete in this series, then its better to cut your losses now and start with something fresh.

 

I would probably go with the R for a couple of reasons:

1) Easier to be competitive in H2 - results are more dependent on driver's skill versus vehicle design.
2) H2 cars are more reliable than H1 cars - Much closer to stock
3) The wagon is the ultimate hybrid - nothing is stock on that thing - tougher to fix, troubleshoot, etc.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Financially, the wagon is the better choice. A motor rebuild and some other problems are cheaper than buying a $12,000 car that needs another $8,000 in prep.</TD></TR></TABLE>



<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JohnW &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">However, from the point of view of resale after 'all is said and done' a real ITR ex-race car will forever have a strong resale value. The powerwagon on the other hand is a very specialized piece of equipment. This specialized piece would again beckon a unique' buyer.

For sale:
H1 1987(?) Civic powerwagon with B18c5 engine.
or
H2 1998 Integra Type R ex-race car.

The Teg is MUST easier to liquidate and get MOST of your money out of. The civic on the other hand.............</TD></TR></TABLE>

good point there too...

hmmm... I'd go with the ITR but only because I hate having an R that doesn't get raced. I'm so lame, racing the R would be so much more fun. (covers the Si's ears)

someday, someday...

 

i agree with JW....a ten car h1 field will kick but....and i bet we hit it by mid season....wow....that is gonna be sooo freaking cool.....

i'd have to go with the itr.....if i had the money i'd be driving an itr...rolling jason warren and corey!!!! little poke at the h2 guys....seriously....h2 is a strong strong field.....h1 is becoming stronger once we all get the bugs worked out...

i think the itr will be an easier car to drive.....remember just don;t bring your wagon woes with the itr!!!!

 

Bring it Eric!

 

I'd hate to see the wagon go, as it just kicks so much ***...but the pain in the *** factor of the ITR would almost definitely be lower.

 

Well I think I am leaning towards fixing the wagon...It will be a lot cheaper. I have everything finally sorted out and this last fix will be much quicker than building a new car. My new hope is to get the car ready for the July Hyperfest, but once again that is a big maybe. Thanks for all the imput guys.

 

I thought we were gonna have to do a remake of the UPS commercial and get Jackie Stewart to plead with you "Eric, just race the wagon. People love the wagon!"

The wagon ownz.

 

na, screw it, put a cage in the M3 ;-)

 

Eric,

I know your pain! It is a tough choice. However, your problems as I remember lately are just motor related now. You have shaken out most of the other problems.

Just like our problematic Shopping Cart, we got all the other bugs out and even had a reliable motor setup. The problem is letting none racing people work on race cars.

It seems to me someone like Chad or James Evans would be a good place to turn to sort out the engine. You seem to have a handle on the rest of the car.

Having said all that I bought the Type R and am racing H2! So what do I know??