looking to buy an EK civic hatch: tips?

Hi guys,
i've been driving my mazda 6 for about five years now, its got genuine kenstyle kit, rims etc etc but i've lost my grad. finance job, and i want to get a smaller, more efficient fun car.

always been a honda guy at heart, but a bit lost on the models.

question 1
i'm looking at a '99 cxi. from what i have read, it has no tacho, no vtec, and no power windows. is it easy to get oem tacho, and power windows fitted? should i consider other models (EK4 too expensive for its age DC2R also expensive)

question 2
i found a clean example with 130,000k on the clock with rego and rwc. is $6000 too much to pay? what else should i be looking at (potential problems?)

question 3
would a CXi suffice? i'm worried i will be missing the creature comforts of my mazda 6. i really would like power windows and a tach at the very least ( i still cant drive manual properly), and no i wont be stripping it out to make it a track car.

any suggestions or recommendations you have would be really helpful! many thanks.

question 1 :
id suggest you just go gli, they have all those options that you are missing, and to answer your q. its not that expensive to get power windows and oem tacho, but ull be doing a little shopping and sometimes patience!

question 2: sounds about right, if your fussy just check all the panels are straight and such, common problems with a ek i wouldnt know.

question 3:
have you thought about an accord? or an eg? sounds like your car is simply for driving/crusing, id suggest look into a ek/eg as it sounds like your budget is around that area too. and since ur after features.
gli >cxi

man get a gli better brakes and more features in the car like power windows even sunroof, i got a cxi i wish i went for the GLI or EK4 only if i knew lol

gli ftw

and dc2r's and ek4s are dear for a reason, it's a sellers market as a good one with low miles is near hard to come by :D

it all depends on what you want out of your EK...

motor upgrade in mind or sticking with the SOHC???

grey interior EK1 or black interior EK4???



rear drums or rear disc brakes???

what colours the interior on yours ryan?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Riviera

it all depends on what you want out of your EK...

motor upgrade in mind or sticking with the SOHC???

grey interior EK1 or black interior EK4???

no sunroof EK1 or sunroof EK4???

rear drums or rear disc brakes???

what colours the interior on yours ryan?

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ay man u can get a GLI with a sunroof

If you have enough money do a EK9 conversion

Hi,
Welcome to the forum~

well yea im sorta in the same position as you, in terms of finding the right car.
The problem was thate notice is that you can get a 97-99CXI for around 5-5.5k sitting on 100,000-140,00km, your like wow. i question myself why would i get a later model eg gli when u can get a newer model ek cxi for a better deal in terms of price, km's etc...

I've decided to stick to the badge gli or greater even though it could be cheaper or more expensive; because it already comes with all powers options and tacho and if lucky oem sunroof :D !

btw, theres a vti sellin on carsales right now, black check it out if its within ur budget

kcokla pretty has much summed it up for you

note, eg gli produces 77kws on paper. ek gli produces 88kws on paper. ek cxi produces 88kws on paper (redbook.com)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Frankie

ay man u can get a GLI with a sunroof

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okie dokie edited lol

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Riviera

it all depends on what you want out of your EK...

motor upgrade in mind or sticking with the SOHC???

grey interior EK1 or black interior EK4???



rear drums or rear disc brakes???

what colours the interior on yours ryan?

---

grey colour tone in my coupe (goes well with the armrest :D)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by atenza

Hi guys,


question 1
i'm looking at a '99 cxi. from what i have read, it has no tacho, no vtec, and no power windows. is it easy to get oem tacho, and power windows fitted? should i consider other models (EK4 too expensive for its age DC2R also expensive)

question 2
i found a clean example with 130,000k on the clock with rego and rwc. is $6000 too much to pay? what else should i be looking at (potential problems?)

question 3
would a CXi suffice? i'm worried i will be missing the creature comforts of my mazda 6. i really would like power windows and a tach at the very least ( i still cant drive manual properly), and no i wont be stripping it out to make it a track car.

any suggestions or recommendations you have would be really helpful! many thanks.

---

Mate I bought my CXi about 18-months ago and I only realised after making the purchase (I was in a hurry!) that the GLi would have been a much better option for the slightly more exp price tag.

In relation to your questions:

Question 1: You are right. It doesn't come with any of the 'power' option which the GLi does. I installed an OEM tacho on mine just last week and it wasn't difficult at all. I suppose if you enjoy working on the small little things on your car the CXi gives you that opportunity (I'm looking on the bright side here!)

Question 2: I bought my 2000 CXi with 95,000 on the odometer for $7,500 and 9-months rego on it. It was in a really good condition and I've never had any issues with the mechanical side of things since I had it.

Question 3: I do miss the small little things that make a car comfortable (I used to drive an 1990 Accord and it's got better options!) and if you used to drive a Mazda 6 then you should expect quite a step down from what you used to have.

I suppose it really does depend on your budget. If you can't afford that little extra for a GLi, could you sacrifice some mileage (as in get a cheaper GLi with more mileage) instead?

While the CXi or the GLi aren't exactly performance car by nature I've been more than satisfied with my purchase, albeit the lack of better rear brakes and power options. However as I said, it also gave me that opportunity to work on the small little things that would make my drive more enjoyable, which is great.

OEM sunroof on gli's are rare.

1) New cluster with taco will cost you under $100. Power window conversion $200ish + installation. Exhaust tip $50ish. Doing a CXi to GLi conversion is not worth the trouble imo

2) Id pay around 5-8k for a cxi/gli depending on its condition and what it comes with. Just do thorough check and spot the obvious.

3) CXi is tolerable, it wont have the same comforts as your M6 though. You might as well go straight for a GLi. The price between the two are relatively marginal, just gotta be patient and look around.

the next daily I buy will def be a EK that comes factory without ac, power wondow and mirrors, I want bare nessesities :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Riviera

okie dokie edited lol

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lol just corecting it for ya

thanks so much for the useful responses. i have been a part of ozm**daclub and every thread is full of useless diarrhoea and smart asses who think they know the answer to the meaning of life ;) :honda:ftw!

point 1
i'm starting to lean towards the gli now, but my budget is quite small- is the main difference between the CXi and Gli the power options? (windows, mirrors, tacho, brakes,and possibility of sunroof) i believe the engine is the same, however?

definitely willing to do the work myself. i saw someone put a hrv cluster in their ek and it looked nice! carpet not so worried. i will change it to EK9 style with recaro once i find the right car

point 2
and spot on to whoever thought i would use it for cruising/daily/mucking around i have a budget of 5-7k for a stock example, willing to put another 5k into it to style my needs :D would this change the need for a gli over a cxi? engine conversion if the d16(?) dies

point 3
i also like the updated bumpers (facelift?) of the 99-00 models. if i were to go for a gli or ek4 vtir i believe i would have to change all the bumpers/funders/headlights wouldnt this add significant cost to the package? my bodykit on my m6 costed a fortune!

great responses so far.

Point 1: If you see here the CXi and GLi is the same in terms of its engine. The GLi also comes with additional front passenger airbag, rear disc brakes, a front stabiliser bar on top of the power extras you mentioned.

Point 2: If your budget is 5-7k I'm certain you can get a GLi around the 7k mark. Look up redbook/carsales and there's a couple there for sale. The additional 5k seems a lot if you're talking about styles alone (to me at least)!

Point 3: It'll cost you $$$ anyhow. With my facelifted CXi I'm also looking at CTR lip kits, grill, headlights etc that is already looking at burning a hole in my pocket. Not to mention all that Rudd goodness that's coming in...

EK VTi sedan, has comforts lol

Just get a 99-00 model, too much hassle/cost/time imo to do a facelift conversion

Quote:

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Originally Posted by atenza

thanks so much for the useful responses. i have been a part of ozm**daclub and every thread is full of useless diarrhoea and smart asses who think they know the answer to the meaning of life ;) :honda:ftw!

point 1
i'm starting to lean towards the gli now, but my budget is quite small- is the main difference between the CXi and Gli the power options? (windows, mirrors, tacho, brakes,and possibility of sunroof) i believe the engine is the same, however?

definitely willing to do the work myself. i saw someone put a hrv cluster in their ek and it looked nice! carpet not so worried. i will change it to EK9 style with recaro once i find the right car

point 2
and spot on to whoever thought i would use it for cruising/daily/mucking around i have a budget of 5-7k for a stock example, willing to put another 5k into it to style my needs :D would this change the need for a gli over a cxi? engine conversion if the d16(?) dies

point 3
i also like the updated bumpers (facelift?) of the 99-00 models. if i were to go for a gli or ek4 vtir i believe i would have to change all the bumpers/funders/headlights wouldnt this add significant cost to the package? my bodykit on my m6 costed a fortune!

great responses so far.

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point 1 :
yes the engine is more or less the same.

point 2:
if your willing to put 5k EXTRA, ontop of a muck around/daily, id suggest just getting a car worth 10k, much better and mroe worth your money.
of course if ur planning to make it significantly faster, like a ek9 or whatever, then fair enough, but 5k jUST to make it more suitable for ur needs of a daily/muck around is wasteing your own money in my opinion


point 3 :
the conversion is cheap compared to your m6 body kit, its not that hard either, im getting the impression your going for comfort and looks over power and capability so i reakon getting the vti sedan as someone mentioned is more owrth your while,
saves you money time and youve got all you want in 1 hit.
if your doing it for the fun of DIYing and the learning advantages and the general enjoyment of doing so, fair enough, but the price ur willing to put in mirrored by what you want, you could do alot more with your money in my opinion,

with all the work your considering doing to the car you may aswell just get a EK4

or a prestyled CXi or GLi if its predone really its gunna cost you less
you never get the return for how much you spend, so if sum1 has
already spent the cash on items that you want to spend money on
theyre most likely only guna get a quater the value back...

unless its genuine spoon/mugen parts etc...

point 1 - id just go GLi cause its already got the gear... i dont reckon power windows
and a tacho are gunna make it much different in price... youd probably see
$400 difference...
point 2 - D16 dies - another D16 or B16...??? $800...? and $2500+
point 3 - your lookin at roughly $1300...

CXi and GLi only have the SOHC no-tec
you could probably pick a B16A+box up for $2500
but without it being VTi or VTi R you will then have to upgrade the
looms ECU lalala, while your at it you may end up rebuilding the motor before
dropping it in... not knowing what other problems you may come across
under the engine bay it could potentially lead to a $4000 job...

rebuild kits for B16A = $540 top and bottom seals, and timing belt
rings and bearings = $280
fluids and wat not = $400...
*3 bottles brake fluid...
*2 bottles of Oil one for run in one after run in...
*other stuffs, nuts bolt....
Engine mounts = $200
Drive Shafts = $378 Passenger and Drivers

and many many more... it all adds up, i know... cause ive just done it lol B16A
640kms into the run in atm....

hey dude,

some of the mods your lookin at are pretty expensive.

ek9 carpet is around $650 brand new. i dont wanna know how much brand new recaro sr3's would cost.

i know you probably need a car pretty soon but honestly patience is the key..

just follow general tips on buying a new car. check for oil leaks where it's parked, blowing smoke on start up, overspray on windows from dodgy smash repair jobs..

it sounds like you mainly want the car for looks so obviously you'll need to pay more attention to the panels and body work..

GL mate