What would a DC5 be like at 10 years old and 80+k Mileage?
Discussion
I really want to get rid of my 2 year old BMW e92 and buy a s
tter to run about in as I do minimal mileage now (however far it is to the shopping centre and back + an occasional drive).
Only thing that bothers me about a DC5, despite its reputation for being brilliant, is the fact that its 10 years old and most have 80-90k on the clocks.
Which gets me thinking, are they best left alone now, or would they be reliable enough to have a bit of fun in. What would a clutch feel like at this age? Even a Honda must feel pretty used and abused by now.
Struggling to think of something else to look at that wont break. FN2 civic maybe?
tter to run about in as I do minimal mileage now (however far it is to the shopping centre and back + an occasional drive). Only thing that bothers me about a DC5, despite its reputation for being brilliant, is the fact that its 10 years old and most have 80-90k on the clocks.
Which gets me thinking, are they best left alone now, or would they be reliable enough to have a bit of fun in. What would a clutch feel like at this age? Even a Honda must feel pretty used and abused by now.
Struggling to think of something else to look at that wont break. FN2 civic maybe?
MikeGoodwin said:
Yeah i dont doubt the engine and stuff but its the age and mileage. Would they be sound mechanically or would they feel poor?
My friend just sold his DC5 after owning it for a number of years (and he got an S2000 instead after I talked him into joining me 
) and I drove his and it still felt tight as a drum. His was a 51 plate so late 2001 / early 2002, was a fresh import when he got it, and after driving it I would struggle to disbelieve it wasn't a 5 year old or younger car. They genuinely are robust, plus the fact that the average Joe wouldn't own a DC5, only enthusiasts will, so they'll be taken much better care of them more mainstream cars. Do it. Or get an S2000 instead
Riknos said:
My friend just sold his DC5 after owning it for a number of years (and he got an S2000 instead after I talked him into joining me ) and I drove his and it still felt tight as a drum. His was a 51 plate so late 2001 / early 2002, was a fresh import when he got it, and after driving it I would struggle to disbelieve it wasn't a 5 year old or younger car. They genuinely are robust, plus the fact that the average Joe wouldn't own a DC5, only enthusiasts will, so they'll be taken much better care of them more mainstream cars.
Do it. Or get an S2000 instead
Well you say that but then browsing the PH classifieds I see a lot of them what have been ruined with black wheels etc, or supercharged to s ) and I drove his and it still felt tight as a drum. His was a 51 plate so late 2001 / early 2002, was a fresh import when he got it, and after driving it I would struggle to disbelieve it wasn't a 5 year old or younger car. They genuinely are robust, plus the fact that the average Joe wouldn't own a DC5, only enthusiasts will, so they'll be taken much better care of them more mainstream cars. Do it. Or get an S2000 instead
t. Theres a red one for £10k. Which is a bit steep. I might just get one and run it for a year or so. Just want to enjoy driving again. Last time I checked the insurance is bat s
t. I'm 25 and hopefully it wont be so bad now, any place best to check?hi i have had my dc5 for 7 years now on a 51 plate , its on 170k miles some kms tho , i done a few track outings in it and its my daily drive , clutch went around 98k but not too dear if u find a specialist eg: TGM sport in fleet top blokes ,end of the day u wont go far wrong with one , just keep eye on oil level hth.
I have a 2003 DC5 which has 90k miles on the clock. It still drives as good as the day I got it. As long as it has a fiull service history and has been well looked after you should be fine. Clutches aren't that expensive to get changed so I wouldn't let that put you off. Check the forsake section on the dc5 owners club, the cars on there are very well looked after by enthusiats.
I have a 2002 on 78k and it drives brilliantly. The chasis should be good providing it has been properly undersealed. Water getting in the boot is a problem, and o2 sensors going is common which is £120 a pop.
Service stuff is the same as the uk civic, so isn't particularly expensive.
Insurance is the biggest bd, so it's worth phoning round specialist insurers, as it won't be listed on comparison sites, but you should still expect to pay a premium.
Service stuff is the same as the uk civic, so isn't particularly expensive.
Insurance is the biggest b
d, so it's worth phoning round specialist insurers, as it won't be listed on comparison sites, but you should still expect to pay a premium.RicharDC5 said:
Just to add, I've heard the standard suspension setup isn't very good, so many have got aftermarket springs and a setup to improve the ride/handling. So don't let that put you off.
However, I guess it depends on personal preference / roads you drive, as my friend did the above, then regretted it and went back to standard springs. MikeG88 said:
Riknos said:
My friend just sold his DC5 after owning it for a number of years (and he got an S2000 instead after I talked him into joining me ) and I drove his and it still felt tight as a drum. His was a 51 plate so late 2001 / early 2002, was a fresh import when he got it, and after driving it I would struggle to disbelieve it wasn't a 5 year old or younger car. They genuinely are robust, plus the fact that the average Joe wouldn't own a DC5, only enthusiasts will, so they'll be taken much better care of them more mainstream cars.
Do it. Or get an S2000 instead
Well you say that but then browsing the PH classifieds I see a lot of them what have been ruined with black wheels etc, or supercharged to s ) and I drove his and it still felt tight as a drum. His was a 51 plate so late 2001 / early 2002, was a fresh import when he got it, and after driving it I would struggle to disbelieve it wasn't a 5 year old or younger car. They genuinely are robust, plus the fact that the average Joe wouldn't own a DC5, only enthusiasts will, so they'll be taken much better care of them more mainstream cars. Do it. Or get an S2000 instead
t. Theres a red one for £10k. Which is a bit steep. I might just get one and run it for a year or so. Just want to enjoy driving again. Last time I checked the insurance is bat s
t. I'm 25 and hopefully it wont be so bad now, any place best to check?But anyway, how exactly is a car "ruined" by black wheels? As long as they're the right size, it can't ruin the car. It might not be to your taste, but that's a different issue as beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all that...
Hi MikeGoodwin
My thoughts of DC5's. As a bit of background I came from an Almera GTI, then an Audi S4 then to DC5. I currently have an E92 335i.
I tell you it was a big shock going from Audi build quality to Honda's, but then they are completely different cars. The thickness of the paint on the Audi was probably as thick as the Hondas body panels!
Having said that the Honda was the most exciting car I've owned. You'll love its Steering feel and it's nibbleness and lightnss. As an every day drive the harsh suspension gets to you after a while. It is a car with split personalities. Below 6k it is very underwhelming, but over 6k, it's like a rocket and screams! Problem with this is you have to drive it like it's stolen to get the best power out of it. The thing costs peanuts to run in terms of fuel, I regularly got 300+ miles out of the 55 litre tank, and on a run to Yorkshire and back got 38mpg! One thing to bear in mind is that Japanese parts are rather expensive compared to German ones.
Personally I prefer the low down torque of my current car which is more accessible more of the time, but I am nostalgic over the handling and that lovely steering of the DC5, but not the Cabin noise on the Motorways. My wife hated it
My thoughts of DC5's. As a bit of background I came from an Almera GTI, then an Audi S4 then to DC5. I currently have an E92 335i.
I tell you it was a big shock going from Audi build quality to Honda's, but then they are completely different cars. The thickness of the paint on the Audi was probably as thick as the Hondas body panels!
Having said that the Honda was the most exciting car I've owned. You'll love its Steering feel and it's nibbleness and lightnss. As an every day drive the harsh suspension gets to you after a while. It is a car with split personalities. Below 6k it is very underwhelming, but over 6k, it's like a rocket and screams! Problem with this is you have to drive it like it's stolen to get the best power out of it. The thing costs peanuts to run in terms of fuel, I regularly got 300+ miles out of the 55 litre tank, and on a run to Yorkshire and back got 38mpg! One thing to bear in mind is that Japanese parts are rather expensive compared to German ones.Personally I prefer the low down torque of my current car which is more accessible more of the time, but I am nostalgic over the handling and that lovely steering of the DC5, but not the Cabin noise on the Motorways. My wife hated it
I sold my 14y.o. DC2 earlier this year, with 90+k on the clock. Up until last Autumn it had been perfectly reliable*, then within 6 months I'd changed the clutch, the B-pipe and an engine mount. It was also suffering from rusting rear arches (TADTS) and needed the 2nd timing belt change.
OK, the DC2 is a generation older than the DC5 (and I'd argue probably slightly better built / engineered because of it), but as above the DC5 is still a well-built car. I'd buy carefully, and because it's an import check carefully for rust / underseal history, but I wouldn't shy away from one because it's 10y.o.
* Rear hubs grumbling the year before, and rear trailing-arm bushes done 3 years ago being the only "non-service" maintenance it had required in 13 years and 85k.
OK, the DC2 is a generation older than the DC5 (and I'd argue probably slightly better built / engineered because of it), but as above the DC5 is still a well-built car. I'd buy carefully, and because it's an import check carefully for rust / underseal history, but I wouldn't shy away from one because it's 10y.o.
* Rear hubs grumbling the year before, and rear trailing-arm bushes done 3 years ago being the only "non-service" maintenance it had required in 13 years and 85k.
hondafreek said:
theboyrob said:
Would it be silly to buy a DC5 when I already have an S2000? Would love one in the garage. Sorry for derailing the thread!
Do it mate, I have both at the moment, both so different.I ran a DC2 with an S2000, and now drive an FD2 (DC5+, in character).
...and the S2000 vs the FD2 is an interesting one - S2000 is the more characterful and 'fun' up to 8/10ths, but you don't get the "friendly vibes" to properly push it (bracing improves this, as do aftermarket dampers) beyond that. Conversely the DC5/FD2 feel a little frustrating when driving at a more moderate pace, but are the better cars when "on it".
Can't comment about track driving...arguably it should be the Type Rs, but I've a suspicion that with space to play with and to recover any mistakes the S2000 would actually come alive more on track.
2 questions:-
- do you need rear seats?
- do you want a convertible roof?
...and the S2000 vs the FD2 is an interesting one - S2000 is the more characterful and 'fun' up to 8/10ths, but you don't get the "friendly vibes" to properly push it (bracing improves this, as do aftermarket dampers) beyond that. Conversely the DC5/FD2 feel a little frustrating when driving at a more moderate pace, but are the better cars when "on it".
Can't comment about track driving...arguably it should be the Type Rs, but I've a suspicion that with space to play with and to recover any mistakes the S2000 would actually come alive more on track.
2 questions:-
- do you need rear seats?
- do you want a convertible roof?
havoc said:
I ran a DC2 with an S2000, and now drive an FD2 (DC5+, in character).
...and the S2000 vs the FD2 is an interesting one - S2000 is the more characterful and 'fun' up to 8/10ths, but you don't get the "friendly vibes" to properly push it (bracing improves this, as do aftermarket dampers) beyond that. Conversely the DC5/FD2 feel a little frustrating when driving at a more moderate pace, but are the better cars when "on it".
Can't comment about track driving...arguably it should be the Type Rs, but I've a suspicion that with space to play with and to recover any mistakes the S2000 would actually come alive more on track.
2 questions:-
- do you need rear seats?
- do you want a convertible roof?
Thanks for the info. I don't really need 4 seats but they may come in use at some point. For track use it looks like I may prefer the dc5 but for tours I may prefer the s2000 with the top down. I'm going to look at a dc5 this weekend so will see how I feel about it. I will see if i can have a go in a s2000 before I purchase and compare them. Having both seems like the only option! ...and the S2000 vs the FD2 is an interesting one - S2000 is the more characterful and 'fun' up to 8/10ths, but you don't get the "friendly vibes" to properly push it (bracing improves this, as do aftermarket dampers) beyond that. Conversely the DC5/FD2 feel a little frustrating when driving at a more moderate pace, but are the better cars when "on it".
Can't comment about track driving...arguably it should be the Type Rs, but I've a suspicion that with space to play with and to recover any mistakes the S2000 would actually come alive more on track.
2 questions:-
- do you need rear seats?
- do you want a convertible roof?
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