Honda Civic VTI questions! A little new to the whole car scene.

[smoetyjim]

Hey guys,

im getting my first car in a few days, if it all goes planned out. having the car checked on friday by a motorshop place to see if its roadworthy and if its all in good condition. price of the car is rouughly 6 k

well here are the specs, not too sure if im getting my moneys worth or whether its an old car that will die out in the next yr or so, just some opinions would be greatly appreciated

its a EH Honda Civic VTI

Year: 1992
Engine: 1.6L 16V Twin-Cam Fuel Injected <---- What does that mean? Because a 1.6L is relatively slow right?
Transmission: 4 speed auto <--- bah if it was a manual, itd be perfect, is it possible to modify the car so that it can be a manual?
Odometer: 186 000 km

Features:
Aircon
P/Steering
P/Windows
Full alarm system
16 Fiegen Allow Wheels
Full bodykid from jetspeed bodykits - front bar, rear barm boot spoilet, talon sideskirts <---are they any good?
Sports exhaust
Dont know about any cd players or stereos etc.

Umm, just a few things, is it possible to make it a tad quicker without spending a huge ammount? Because a 1.6L does sound awfully slow. How much does a standard turbo cost to add on to that? just wondeing

Lol, i know it must sound like some doof doof car, but it looks pretty good.



Thanks in advance for anyone who can answer some of the questions and just give an overview of the car.

[Benson]

1.6l isnt too bad. Cant expect much from it. Will get u from A to B

As for mods, i reckon save up enough money and do a b-series engine transplant. You can do the cheapo mods like intake and exhaust for the time being. Mayb do a manual conversion if u really hate auto, but it could be exxy.

IMO get rid of the body kits, they look ugly on civic, stock body kits with the additional aftermarket lips looks hot

[taizon]

hey..
6k is around the price these cars are going for.. could get it alil cheaper.. try to bargain with them..

If this car is a VTI.. then it's not a TWIN CAM .. it's actually a SINGLE CAM with VTEC.. also a VTI also comes with SUNROOF..

by lookin at the specs u listed it seems this car maybe an SI CIVIC.. theres no way u missed seein the sunroof unless u forgot to write it down.

BUT>>>>>> u should double/tripple check what model civic this is.. as they may have just said its a TWINCAM .. but these specs may also be a GLI .. which is actualli a SINGLE CAM

If u want something a lil quicker in a lil civic, u should go for a manual car.. The TWINCAM (DOHC) SI .. or the SINGLE CAM (SOHC) VTI is the way to go for that extra power.

About changing to a manual transmission.. dont waste your time. just find a car that is already manual.. saves alot of time and hassles.

[smoetyjim]

i mean what does 16V twin-cam fuel injected mean?

I think theres a sport exhaust on there so yeh, how will air intake increased? wait does it increase acceleration or something? and how much do they cost?

[smoetyjim]

thats the car, so not to sure about the model and that, ill check tomorrow when i go see it.

[EuroDude]

16V twin-cam fuel injected means that it has 4 valves per cylinder (4cyl) and has Fuel Injection, which uses a computer to inject the fuel into the cylinders instead of using the older slower less fuel efficient Carburetter system. Twin CAM (or DoubleOverHeadCams) means it has two CAM's, one that controls the Intake Valves, the other controls the Exhaust valves. A Single CAM engine controls both the intake and exhaust valves using one CAM, which is less efficient ans slower, unless it has VTEC.

The EG/EH came with two 1.6L engines, one is a Twin Cam (DOHC) non-VTEC and the one you are looking at is the Single CAM VTEC engine. Both output similar power, which is about 96kw (127hp).

In terms of power to weight, the 1.6L pulling around 1000kg is decent for a first car, and is actually similar to the performance of the new 2007 Civic Sports (it has a bigger engine but its heavier).

The 5speed manual is your best option since the 4AT is slower. An Auto->Manual conversion requires many parts including the ECU so its going to cost more than the car is worth unless you can find a cheap front half-cut, but the labour will be expensive.

IMO you should ditch that car and look for another EG/EH with a 1.6L + Manual Tranny.

If you want it quicker, a common cost effective mod is to upgrade the intake and exhaust, an aftermarket ECU, and get it tuned.

A turbo would cost $6000 or more, but on a car thats worth less than $5000, you are better off spending $10,000 on a newer EK model with a B16A (DOHC VTEC) or Integra DC2, or even a 92-95 Prelude Si

[smoetyjim]

the ad the came with it says exactly what ive written down. it doesnt have a sunroof. so its a 1.6L single cam vtec? or?

what does vtec mean and the twin-cam fuel injected? whats the difference?

[smoetyjim]

btw, its hard to find like certain cars and that. ive been looking everywhere. i found a decent honda civic manual hatchback for 4 grand, it was 1996. but it was a fakie on the internet. lol arg.

[EuroDude]

VTEC = Variable CAM timing
Read this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VTEC

DOHC/TWINCAM
Read this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DOHC

Fuel Injection (EFI)
Read this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_injection

[smoetyjim]

lol, ive been trying to find definitions. thanks!

cmon peeps! more opinions!!!

[smoetyjim]

so whats the better out of the 2? single cam vtec or twincam

like which is faster? or soemthing about when it hits higher speeds it becomes fast or somethign?

[EuroDude]

Both are quite similar.

The DOHC Si engine is a bit torquer at the lower revs so its more suited for everyday traffic. Compared to the SOHC VTEC VTi engine which is powerful at high revs during the VTEC range, which activates around ~5000rpm(?) or so.

If you want the best of both worlds, you would want a B16A DOHC VTEC found in the newer shape Civics.

[smoetyjim]

and the car ive posted is a what engine?

[EuroDude]

Its the Civic VTi with the 1.6L SOHC VTEC 96kw


If you want the DOHC with no VTEC, you need to find a Civic Si

[smoetyjim]

if the car could be reduced down to 5 k, would itt be a reasonable deal?


ive searched the major car sellers, carsales carpoint etc. most of the civics are around 6-7k and mid 90's with around 190 000 + km. and theyre private sellers. mine should sound better compared to them right?

[smoetyjim]

mm just a questioin, how do u know its a VTI with vtec? lol, u either know ur cars or u work with them :P

[EuroDude]

Its a 1992 model so yes $5000 is reasonable.

Plus its almost done 200,000km so you are up for an expensive Service, including a new Timing belt which will cost $400-$600 to replace.

[smoetyjim]

it still has about 10 k km left? lol, so overall the opinion of the car is?

[EuroDude]

There are many variables, for instance the gearbox could be in bad shape and need a recondition which is very expensive ($2000+), or the engine may be giving out smoke requiring a recondition.

You can get it checked out by the NRMA for a small fee to ensure its in good shape.

I wouldnt pay more than $5000 for it though.

[smoetyjim]

but yeh, getting it checked out by a motor person shhould be fine and if he says its all good, should be alright. i mean it does look like a doof doof kinda car, but it goes good lol.

if i was to put intake in it, how much damage is that? and wat does it increase?

[akusuma]

another way to make sure that it's a vti is open the hood. if you say vtec on the engine, then it's a vti model. the si model which is dohc has a different layout compared to sohc engines (gli, gl, breeze or vti).

you can also check the engine number, if it says like d16y it's the vti, if it's like d16a its the si.

can check them from redbook website

[taizon]

without the Sunroof. i dont think this is a VTI

take a pic of the engine bay. and post it up!

[EuroDude]

Near the gearbox at the front of the engine is the stamped engine code, you should see something like D16A8xxx for the Si, and D16Yxxxxx for the VTI.

If it says D15xxxxx then its the slower 1.5L

[smoetyjim]

so which is the better out of them?

btw, how does intake change the speed or acceleration? and how much does it cost?

[mocchi]

so which is the better out of them?
i like si + vti. theyre both good
imo si = torque at lower rpm
vti = torque at higher rpm



btw, how does intake change the speed or acceleration? and how much does it cost?

compared to stock intake, aftermarket intake has more suction surface thus will give better airflow, also possibly reduce intake air temperature (CAI).
colder air has more oxygen for combustion with fuel thus giving it more power.


wiki - Intake (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intake)
wiki - Cold Air Intake (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_air_intake)
wiki - Short RAM Air Intake (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_ram_air_intake)

theres different type of intakes as explained in one of OZhonda thread under Noob section. - refer to here (http://www.ozhonda.com/forum/showthread.php?t=42865)

both has its own advantages and disadvantages.

how much? = $ebay.

[EuroDude]

Even with a great Air Intake, you wont notice much performance difference since it only increases power by one or two KW at high revs. In fact you may lose some torque at low RPM if you use a Short RAM intake.

To really notice a performance difference, you need a larger exhaust system and get your ECU retuned+reflashed

[Vidospace]

Its the Civic VTi with the 1.6L SOHC VTEC 96kw


If you want the DOHC with no VTEC, you need to find a Civic Si

Gee where do I start on this one! The VTi only came out in 1993 (about mid year). ALL VTi's have a sunroof. All are SOHC Vtec (D16 engine)

[smoetyjim]

hey tahnks for all the feedback. just a question, are there cars for sale on this forum and where abouts are they located?

[smoetyjim]

OMG

ON A BROWSE OF THE TRADING POST I HAVE THE ADVERT! I DIDNT KNOW IT WAS VIA THE INTERNET AS WELL. I HAD GOTTEN THE ADVERT FROM UNI AND THOUGHT HE HAD JUST ADVERTISED THERE. BUT IT IS

NOT A VTI, IT SOME "EH JDM"

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

http://www.autotrader.com.au/iteminfo/adnumber_WB2152904331_loc_locRZSQregtAVSCdistRZSQG old+Coast%2fHinterlandAVSCstateRZSQ4AVSCregRZSQBri sbane+and+South+East_maxp_6000_off_2_sect_Automoti ve_sort_otRZSQ1BJDZfdRZSQSearchDisplayPriorityIndA VSCotRZSQ1BJDZfdRZSQFirstPublished_sqt_0_srchby_mm bsRZSQMakeAVSCsrchbyRZSQmkmdlAVSCmkdlsRZSQHondaMRF XCivic_stpg_1_subs_Used+Cars_

[smoetyjim]

Should I confront him? On the paper ad he printed out on uni, it said VTI

but on this it says something else. how much should this car really go for?

[incoming]

ad reads like an Si
doesnt mention VTEC anywhere
judging by the colour of interior its an Si
VTi's came with dark grey cloth

as for JDM... the bonnet is black lol

[smoetyjim]

ok, what does JDM mean? ive spoken to the guy and he said he had the bonnet painted a black in the last year so....

how much do you reckon is reasonable for something like that?

[akusuma]

http://www.redbookasiapacific.com/au/vehicle/prices.php?key=HOND93BU

that should give you an estimate price. The car has a bit mods, that might add its value if you want those mods :p

[akusuma]

JDM = Japan Domestic Market

Based on the redbook value, I think it's quite a fair price if all the condition is good. And like I said before, if you like those mods, then go for it. You might be able to get it for 5500.

[smoetyjim]

i mean for its km and the age and stuff?

[smoetyjim]

wat does japan domestic market mean?

[incoming]

in NSW that would be pretty cheap
Si avg $7000-$8000

JDM means it got jap parts
the guy selling is full of shit
he says JDM only cos his bonnet is black
in japan they mod their car to a certain style and ppl copy it and say my car is JDM

u should really be in the NOOB section with all the questions
search and then ask if u cant find what ur after

[smoetyjim]

wats up with a few of the guys saying it isnt worth 6 grand?
so a good buy in other words if i decide to get it?

[smoetyjim]

how much does it usually cost to get a spoiler taken off ur car? or can it be done urself? and someone please answere the question above.

[phil3842]

just a quick q. wot is the difference between a vti and a vti-r. coz i am looking at buying the following and don't know the diff

http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars/private/HONDA/CIVIC/details.aspx?__Ns=pCar_PrivateSpecialFlag_Int32%7C 1%7C%7CpCar_ImageCount_Int32%7C1%7C%7CpCar_LastMod ifiedDate_DateTime%7C1&Make=HONDA&State=Victoria&R=836521&state_id=82&__No=20&distance=25&__Dx=mode%20matchany&trecs=43&Model=CIVIC&__Nne=20&__N=4294965322%2082%204294965250%20834%20285%20257&__Ntk=CarAll&silo=1003&keywords=vti&__sid=10F1E221B5D7&Cr=16&__D=vti&seot=0&__Ntt=vti&__Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial

[Vidospace]

again this should be in the noob section, but the VTi is a single over head cam engined car (with Vtec) and the VTi-R is a twincam AND Vtec engined car.

[akusuma]

IMO, yes 6000 it's a fair price. It is not very cheap, but not expensive considering how hard it is to find a good one. Just make sure that everything is in good condition.

VTI = SOHC VTEC
Comes in 93(late)-95 Civic (EG) and 95(late)-2000 Civic (EK)

VTIR = DOHC VTEC
Comes in 95(late)-2000 (EK) only

EG VTI comes with factory sunroof
EK VTI does NOT
EK VTIR comes with factory sunroof

[smoetyjim]

wats in a 91 then?

[kazam]

yo dude 2 be honest, i got a Manual 94 Vti, which is SOHC Vtec, its only dun 93000 k's, sunroof, 1 year rego, full log book history serviced evry 5000ks, 1 lady owner, perfect condition and i paid 6000 4 that, your getting a car dun double my k's, 3 years older, probly bin thrashed for the same price?, i reccomend that you try bargaining with the guy a bit. and its kindah scarey your buying a car, and u hardly no nething about them... how do u no it has Vtec if its Vti? not my place 2 say, but i think this should be in the noob section.......

[aimre]

^^^
True that

My VTi was $5700 with 68,000 on the clock. Full dealer stamped log book etc etc. She just had a few bits of paint missing here and there. lol

[VT3C]

erm just a couple of points:

VTi was not released in australia untill 1993.. there are NO 1992 VTi's.. The Si was released late 91 through 92 and was superseeded by the VTi in 1993. The VTi's also had a moon-roof as standard.. so if no moon-roof.. it aint a VTi.

Also if you want a manual gearbox - buy a manual !! dont bother converting it - for the cost of auto-to-manual conversion you could do a B16 swap and a converted maanual will never be the same as one from the factory.

and FYI a riced up 92 Si should be worth LESS than a stock example with similar KMs

[smoetyjim]

fair enuf. but the trouble is finding something like what u guys have in queensland or southeast queensland for that matter. all of the car sites online have civics ranging from 6k and up but theyre for like 1987's and shit.

the cars u got for ur price is just not possible on the sites such as carsales, drive, trading post etc etc.

how did u guys find urs stock?

[DreadAngel]

smoetyjim, hunt around and be patient, some people have waiting a good half a year or more to find their ideal car. You should read up with some of the information around Ozhonda to get some basics down. As for both kazam and aimre, they're were able to get their cars good :) People love to advertise VTi for more than 8K atm.

[smoetyjim]

lol, ive been hunting around for a while :( and when i came across this car, the one thats been discussed throughout the thread, i was initially attracted to it straight away. because for a decent look hond civic to be under 6 k. was surprising.

well someone has to begin somewhere in respect to knowing about cars and their features. i probably wouldnt have gotten as much feedback had this been in the noob section.

[aimre]

smoetyjim, hunt around and be patient, some people have waiting a good half a year or more to find their ideal car. You should read up with some of the information around Ozhonda to get some basics down. As for both kazam and aimre, they're were able to get their cars good :) People love to advertise VTi for more than 8K atm.

If i sell mine, ill be putting mine up for that much :):)
But i got mods.... good ones too

[DreadAngel]

If i sell mine, ill be putting mine up for that much :):)
But i got mods.... good ones too

Hahahaha, go aimre rofl! Tell smoetyjim how long to wait till a good VTi is up for sale :p

[smoetyjim]

sigh..dont u wish that ppl with vtis just hurry up n sell them ?

[hayashi_1986]

Trust me, it's well worth the wait. Being impatient in buying cars could be a serious mistake. Generally, a mechanic will check a car to a certain point, and they'll tell you what's wrong and how to fix it plus the cost of it all. You can choose to ignore it, and regret it hard later. Or, you could sit back, take a breath and take a little more time.

Personally, I rushed into buying a Breeze (91 Hatch w/D13B Carb.) and it turned out real shit afterwards, simply because the engine seized (IOW, it died in the arse). From then on, it was pretty much a money pit. A new engine (D16Y1 SOHC VTEC for your reference), new tank, pump and lines (Fuel System EFi), which set me back around 2.2K including the engine drop.

Looking back, I do regret rushing out and buying a car, and I especially regret spending 1/3 of what the car costs to fit that new engine. SO, be smart about it and look a little more carefully before buying a car. Go to the guys place, take a real close look at it, drive it around, check for oil leaks or weird burnt oil smells coming from the engine bay, check for blue or black smoke (either is bad) and make for damn sure that it hasn't been in any frontal or rear accidents.

I later found out mine had been in 2 seperate accidents, one in the front and one in the rear. Keep in mind, this was my first car, and I was so eager that I overlooked a lot of the evidence that showed it had been in a couple of bingles. First, the front area under the bonnet where the suspension top mount bolts stick out was slightly crumpled (You'll see that it's on both sides of the car roughly in the center if looking head on). Second, the rear hatch seals once taken off, reveal rust spots from a badly done bog and paint job (the bog had also cracked from not being sealed and treated properly). Third, there were numerous oversprays that I chose to over look simply because I thought they were minor (being optmistic here...try to be more a pessimist when looking at a second hand car, coz it pays to look at what bad about the car rather than good). Later I found out the the front bumper was actually red, turned white with a respray. None of the bumpers sit flat, which I also stupidly overlooked (now it doesn't sit at all after I hit a tree branch at Dandy Mountains :p ).

Anyway, there's a heap of other stuff to look out for when buying a car, and if anyone else has anything to add for people to realise that buying a first car is serious s**t, add it here...and then move it all into the NOOB section. :wave:

There's my two cents about buying a second hand car.

[aimre]

Hahahaha, go aimre rofl! Tell smoetyjim how long to wait till a good VTi is up for sale :p


Well i wanted a new car for my bday, in may, so i was looking for a car atleast 2 months before this. Now i got the reciept for my car, and its dated 24/11.

So it took me 8ish months id say to find a decent car.

btw i wasnt looking just for a vti, i was looking for a DECENT car. Just so happens this VTi popped up. Heck i ALMOST bout a gli a few months earlier for 5,500. Hell wouldnt i have been dissapointed if i got that instead

[kazam]

sigh..dont u wish that ppl with vtis just hurry up n sell them ?

dude, trust me, i was looking for a car for almost 7 or 8 months, and towards the end i was getting so friggen bored of it i was ready to just about buy anything that had an engine in it.. but finally i found the car i have now... and from everything else i had looked at, this has by far been the best car i saw over that whole 8 months... so belive me the longer you wait, the more you learn about the cars you wanna buy, and in the end its all worth it..
patience is the key :p

[smoetyjim]

hey, well due all of ur responses, i dceided not to get that car and continue waiting on for a "better" deal. i found out today that the car was sold a few days ago to a dealer. so the car is now currently on sale for 9 k. farkk..

[DreadAngel]

Well i wanted a new car for my bday, in may, so i was looking for a car atleast 2 months before this. Now i got the reciept for my car, and its dated 24/11.

So it took me 8ish months id say to find a decent car.

btw i wasnt looking just for a vti, i was looking for a DECENT car. Just so happens this VTi popped up. Heck i ALMOST bout a gli a few months earlier for 5,500. Hell wouldnt i have been dissapointed if i got that instead

Man you would've been pissed bro! I got mine for 7+ so its okay I guess... not as good as your steal hahha