Im really confused!! Whats the deal with the different engines and types of civics???

[the fonz]

Im going to UK this year and buying a new car, then shipping it back. Im looking for a decent, fairly quick acceleration civic, pref a 2door coupe.
I have a few questions if ne could answer i'd be very grateful:

1)In Oz the 2door coupe Vtec engines are called Vti or whatnot, whereas in UK the 2door coupes are SL or SR, is this the same as VTEC or not?
2)How much horses does a normal 96-98 Civic Vtec 3dr hatchback have? How much does the same model but 2dr coupe have? Is it the same?
3) Im currently lookin at a Civic 1.6i SR and a civic 1.6 LS? whats the difference? How much horses? Are any of them VTEC? If not then how much power are they lackin as opposed to the equivalent models but VTEC engines?

Im confused just writing this, i hope it makes sense to some one reading it. Thanks again people.
Peace. :thumbsup:

[ek4-guy]

one of the main things to consider is that jap an us spec cars are made to run on different petrol. Most of the time these fuels have a higher octane rating than Australian fuel. Thats half the reason for the higher hp figures so dont be surprised especially if you drive the car OS then get it back here an it doesnt have as much power an needs a tune cause it runs like shit on pulp

[jackosimm]

search a little more and you'll find a few of your answers.
Most in here:

http://www.ozhonda.com/forum/showthread.php?t=30977

[vtecchie]

All 96-98 coupes were VTi (SOHC VTEC) - As far as I know there is no 3D equivalent. In 96-98 there was a 3D VTi-R which was DOHC VTEC.

In 99-00, the VTi coupe was replaced with two different 2D models - a lower spec GLi (SOHC) and higher spec VTi-R (DOHC VTEC). I am pretty sure the 3D VTi-R was then discontinued.

So, VTi-R >>> VTi > GLi irrespective of whether its a 2D or 3D.

Sorry I can't help with the UK questions but hopefully that was of some assistance

[iamhappy46]

Hangon... Your going overseas to buy a car then ship it back from the UK?!?! I assume you want to have it registered as a private import, right?? Spend a year or two overseas and then have it exported back to Australia on your return...

Keep in mind that the costs involved with a private import are astronomical, as shipping/insurance, having the A/C decomissioned in the UK then refitted in Australia, having tyres fitted that are DOT approved upon arrival, the list goes on...

In all honestly, unless it was something that was only ever available in the UK(say a Ford Sierra Cosworth) then your wasting money.

I had a Nissan X-Trail GT(SR20VET) privately imported from Japan, it cost me a small fortune but it will hold its resale value.

IMHO, Doing the same for a UKDM or JDM Civic is likely to be a waste of money. Your better off selling it when you leave the UK, keeping the badges and fitting them to a Oz Civic.

[the fonz]

Ok thanks guys, yeah cause i was so confused.
So...vtecchie, All the coupe models of them years were v-tec engines? I hope so, then they'll go nice enough for me. Hope ur sure tho!!! :D

iamhappy46, I have been quoted for shipping cost....2200pounds, the main reason i wanna ship the car back, because im goin to have the car there for a year or more, and im going to do it up, then i wud want to ship it back as i would have spent a fair few punds on it. Plus....did u know the prices for cars have dropped a huge amount??? A'HA! LOL! Man i can get a 98 civic coupe SR (which i hope is v-tec..please someone confirm!!!) for 800pound man thats AU$1840 !!! So plus the actual payment for shipping is AU$6640, thats alot cheaper than if i payed for one here. Although i dont know much about the changes needed to be made eg cat, clocks, etc etc. My aunt shipped her Hyundai Terracan from here to UK and it cost her about AU$5500 and all she had to spend was a couple hundred, changing the clock from Kms, to MPHs...simple! So does ne1 know what else i would need to change to make it legal to drive in this country?
Much appreciation people. Peace.
Fonz. :thumbsup:

[the fonz]

Also does ne1 have ne suggestions of the type of civic to buy...i dont mind really, as long as its newish and is quick on the old acceleration...pref a v-tec engine.

[iamhappy46]

Shipping cost... I doubt they include insurance in that quote?? realise that if you don't have shipping insurance and the boat sinks, you not only loose you car but have to pay to have it salvaged from the wreck.

Here is a basic run down:
1) Own the car overseas for atleast a year(longer the better, proves sentimental value)
2) Establish ownership of ATLEAST the 2 previous owners to prove it is not a stolen/encumbered vehicle
3)Apply to Australian Government (DOT, Customs, Quarantine) to have the vehicle imported
4)Have the A/C decomissioned by a certified Automotive A/C mechanic
5)Apply to the UK equivalent of the RTA to have the vehicle 'de-registered'
6) Have the vehicle delivered by truck to the shipping yard and loaded into shipping container. Forget having it transported that far without a shipping container unless you want terminal rust upon arrival.
7)Wait a few weeks while Australian Government an@l probe your car for drugs, weapons, etc
8) Wait for all the relevant paperwork to go thru, pray that it does or it gets sent back to UK at your expense or crushed at your expense. Your choice...
9)Pay your stamp duty, GST and associated taxes they love to add at this point
10)Have the car transported by truck to either your home or a certified engineer.
11) Get the car Australian Roads Compliant with help from Engineer. Often involving: Emissions testing, A/C re-fitted, EPA and RTA checks, new DOT approved tyres, most of your UK mods will probably not pass the engineers checks cause they have not been ADR approved, etc etc etc

12) Register vehicle as a Privately Imported Vehicle. Find that when you go to trade it in, you won't get more than $500 for it because the car has no reputable history. Most secondhand car buyers will also avoid it.

That is why I believe that Privately Importing a Civic would be a waste of money.

[Civic Type R]

fonz, have a read of this page i made up. Hopefully it answers your questions.

http://www.dohc-vtec.com.au/pages/specs.htm

[VT3C]

some good points there IAMHAPPY but I dissagree with your statement that it's not worth it.. it depends.

2 UK made hondas worthy of consideration for a personal Import are:

1. EP3 civic Type R (3-door) - This is the ONLY way you can get an EP3 into Australia and re-sale value to a PRIVATE market would be exceptional.
2. EG6 Civic SiR-II (3-door) - there's a handfull of these in Australia and are arguable not very rare plus not much difference to a B16 swapped aussie civic.
3. Domani style Euro civic with the B18C (non type R) - this civic is kinda ugly and it's a 5-door but it's RARE to the rest of the world and it packs a B18C DOHC VTEC motor stock. it has a different front end to aussie "EK" civics of the same generation.
4. Accord Euro Type R - prob better to get the old model with the DOHC VTEC 2.2L than the newer model with K-series. this car also would hold great resale potential to someone in the know.

[iamhappy46]

VT3C: I suppose that if 'the fonz' did find these rare cars in the UK, it could be a worthwhile investment. I would only recommend bringing in a private import if it is something that is not otherwise available locally.

Buying a Civic in the UK, which would otherwise be a EK4 VTiR for example would be a waste of time & money. Buying a rarity, such as those listed of course would make it worthwhile. That is why I wrote the 3rd paragraph in my first post...

[Civic Type R]

Northern American EK4s come standard with D16Y and not B16A2 did you know ;)

[KB]

THat because D-series is better.

[vtecchie]

In Aus VTi and VTi-R are VTEC, I have no idea about UK models.

[the fonz]

Thanks for the info guys! Yeah but the thing is in AUS the cars have Vti- or VTI-R badges on them so u can tell without lookin under the hood, whereas in uk they jus say SR or LS oe wotnot! wot does that mean....sum1 do me a favour www.autotrader.co.uk (you'll find the cheapest cars there lol!) then look for honda civics, and type in keywords 2dr Coupe, then you'll see sum nice 2drs, that say eg SR SL, LS wot ever, tell me if ne of those are vtec models? thanks.