Am I ever going to find one?

[stevo1210]

Hi Everyone,

Not sure where this thread should go... but... I'm just looking through the paper and the net to find an EK Civic in manual, under 200K KMs that's anywhere from $3000 to $4000 in Sydney and hasn't been trashed. It's for a friend of mine, not me.
I've had a look at a few in that range and EVERY single one looks to have been trashed. The sellers seem pretty dodgy to be honest. Patchy service history or the classic "this car belongs to my aunty/cousin who isn't here".
We're looking for a bone stock, non modified car. At the moment we're looking at the CXI model which is the utmost basic Civic spec there is. :p
And one more question... do Civics blow their head gaskets easily? nearly EVERY single Civic that I've serviced from the EG/EK era with a D15/16 engine for my friends has had a silently blown head gasket. By blown I mean the coolant is bubbling at idle and when you accelerate the coolant goes everywhere!
But the question still stands, do decent Civic CXIs in the $3000-$4000 range exist or should we be spending $5000-$6000 for a decent example of a 15 year old Civic? (Honestly I'd just go buy a much newer Camry or something with $6000).

Thanks.

[FAITHLESS]

Generally, If a CXI isn't modified, it hasn't been thrashed. The engine is not enjoyable to thrash like a B series is. More importantly, you should be worried about whether the car has been serviced regularly. D series can take a good beating but no engine likes to be neglected.
Barely ever heard of head gasket problems with D series or Honda for that matter.
You should be able to find a decent EK1 for under $4000 quite easily.

[stevo1210]

More importantly, you should be worried about whether the car has been serviced regularly. D series can take a good beating but no engine likes to be neglected.


Since I'm more of a car electrical person and not a mechanicals person, I think I'll make a recommendation to get a private inspection for $197 from NRMA etc. Will these people be able to determine if a car has been serviced well or not... or can sneaky sellers still hide things with a major service before a sale?

[FAITHLESS]

There are always clues as to how an engine has been treated. I think it's kind of like being a detective haha.
If you're good enough you can find out alot about the engines history and how worn it is. You can't find out everything but you can get a pretty good picture without opening the engine up. Sellers can definitely hide things pretty well, but most of the time there are still a few signs that it's not all they say it is.
Even something as simple as upon your first time ringing them, say "Hi, I'm ringing about the CAR you have for sale". Don't say the make, and if they umm and ahh about what car you're talking about, you know they're a dealer trying to pass of the shit cars they can't sell at the dealership privately. Thats just one example, but it doesn't have to be all mechanical inspection. Play with the seller and you often get an idea about what they might be dishonest about.
After you feel they are legit, then get an inspection for the car.

[ctx]

Stevo does this look suitable for you?

http://www.ozhonda.com/forum/showthread.php?171699-Honda-Civic-ek1-WHITE-CHEAP!

CXi, 170,000kms, 10 months rego and supposedly no mods. $3000

[JDM DC2R]

Always talk to the owner. Always meet them at there house. Also inspect car when cold. Not been run for 3 hrs or so.
Ask person before u inspect any thing broken or damage on body. If they say no and you find things. You no there lieing about alot more.

And always do the normal. Exhaust smoke color check. Oil colour. Coolent colour. Oil level. Spark plug condition. And test drive from cold.

Also compare distances between panels and from tires to fenders to see if cars chasse is bent or in been repaired.

Also get a dc4 they go alot cheaper and run alot better

[EKVTIR-T]

Stevo does this look suitable for you?

http://www.ozhonda.com/forum/showthread.php?171699-Honda-Civic-ek1-WHITE-CHEAP!

CXi, 170,000kms, 10 months rego and supposedly no mods. $3000
Not exactly clean

dodgy painted moulds,general rough look imo

I wouldnt buy from an enthusiast site if looking for a standard civic,rather try my luck and get one from a regular person/girl/lady thats never been tampered with

others will disagree Im sure but yeah my 2cents


OP just be patient and keep scouring carsales etc.

[stevo1210]

Also get a dc4 they go alot cheaper and run alot better

DC4 as in integra? I thought they cost heaps... cause it's an Integra!

[Indie]

DC4 as in integra? I thought they cost heaps... cause it's an Integra!Not really. DC4s are very good value. I'd recommend one.

[Jasemas]

Check gumtree

[JDM DC2R]

Not really. DC4s are very good value. I'd recommend one.

Yep.....

[DreadAngel]

Pretty sure Integras being a 'sports coupe' would be a big insurance hit though no?

[Daveho1]

sorry to jack but i went to have a look at a dc2 last week cause the guy was selling it cheep, for a week befor hand i knew i didnt have the money to buy it but if it was ok then i would have found a way, anyway went to have a look and wow worst car ever, it didnt have an o2 sensor for F**** sake but that being said i think cars go in cycles for lack of a better word. for example 3 years ago you could have got a fairly clean sr20 s13 for 3-4k but now that everyone wants one cause they are percived as cheap the prices go up and no longer are cheap.
but long story short just keep at it one will pop up eventualy then after you buy more will show up too.

[void-]

the right one will pop up dude...hang in there

[Indie]

sorry to jack but i went to have a look at a dc2 last week cause the guy was selling it cheep, for a week befor hand i knew i didnt have the money to buy it but if it was ok then i would have found a way, anyway went to have a look and wow worst car ever, it didnt have an o2 sensor for F**** sake but that being said i think cars go in cycles for lack of a better word. for example 3 years ago you could have got a fairly clean sr20 s13 for 3-4k but now that everyone wants one cause they are percived as cheap the prices go up and no longer are cheap.
but long story short just keep at it one will pop up eventualy then after you buy more will show up too.As somebody who was trying to find an at all clean S13, I strongly disagree with this.