2001 Honda Civic 1.4 Sport & Honda Accord Type-R
Discussion
Hi all, first post after lurking for ages. I'm 19, live in Cheshire and spend too much money on Hondas.
Picked my Civic up nearly 2 years ago, after using my 6N Polo whilst on my provisional. VWs had never really been my kinda thing and I'd always been into Jap stuff, so was on the lookout for an EK Civic. Had to be a facelift in either Supersonic Blue or Lightning Silver. Missed out on a Lightning Silver for about a grand by a few hours, local too. A few days later I saw a Supersonic Blue on ebay, in Grantham, one of the very last made being on a Y plate. I've seen EP shape Civics on X plates so mine would have been one of the last.
The reason I wanted this colour: (ignore the swirl marks
)
All the time I had it, I was absolutely desperate to modify it but insurance would have been too expensive, so I just put up with the standardness until I could insure mods, which was around October I think. So £700 later:
MeisterR Zeta R coilovers and 15" Rota Grids with Yoko Paradas. All secondhand, from a turbo EG Civic that was being broken. Made so much difference to how it looked and drove. It's still a bit understeery if you REALLY push it, but it's miles better than standard. Still rolls though, even when the coilovers are on full hard. (adjustable damping) Uprated ARBs are needed methinks.
Had gained an OEM Honda mid-wing by this point too.
Love how it looks with no front plate...
3 wheeling:
There's another pic somewhere of the big chunk of ground that it ripped out just after I took this one:
A bloke I work with got an absolute shed of an Ibiza TDi, got a text off him asking if Volk/Rays SE37Ks were worth anything and asking if I wanted them (dont know why they were on that car, they're worth more than that car was!) - here's the result of that:
They're 17" though which is too big for an EK, my Rotas are 15" and it drives so much better on them. Looks amazing IMO on the Rays though....
Also got some Bi-Xenon projector retrofitted EK9 Type-R lights from a K20 converted EK, along with wind deflectors and import plates. Headlights are absolutely epic, they give a completely flat beam pattern so aren't blinding, but visibility is amazing. Also really like the look of them and they're the only set in the UK, possibly worldwide.
Sums it up:
Civic is getting pretty tired now, rear arches are rotting nicely, paint is getting a bit shoddy, loads of suspension bushes are knocking, etc.
A couple of months ago I was offered an Impreza for £1000 so got an insurance quote. Obviously it was stupid money, so I tried some other cars that I liked. ITR DC2 came in at £2.5k, couldn't afford to buy one though. DC2 Integra SiR that I could afford to buy, was £14k to insure despite being slower and less desirable to thieves. Loads of silly prices came through, over £10k for a 1.3 turbo Starlet Glanza V but £2k for a 300ZX Twin Turbo.
Tried an Accord Type-R and it came in at £1700, so was straight on the hunt for one. Always liked them and was mega happy I could insure one. Looked at a few, including a crash damaged shed for £3k...
Started to go off the idea and was looking at MB6 Civic VTis, in hatch and Aerodeck form, just because they'd be incredibly cheap VTEC fun. Until I realised the hatch was £3k to insure and the Aerodeck £2k....
Accord hunt was back on, I was after a Vesuvio Red pre-facelift, had seen one on a forum that kept getting it's price dropped. It had a leaky footwell caused by corrosion on the bulkhead, but it was a very good price, red, and had a full Honda history. And 171k miles
Went to see it, and ended up putting a deposit down...
3 days later my mate took me to pick it up, here's the obligatory motorway services shot:
Couple of days after that I took it upto the Evo Triangle with a couple of lads I know from the Civiclife forum. Performed brilliantly and I love the way it handles. Was a brilliant day and perfect to get used to a new car.
This passed when we stopped for pics:
Was really pleased with how it compared to the EP3 (55k miles IIRC), they were identical on acceleration and I have no doubts the Accord would be just as good at cornering, if not better.
With my mate's MX5 at Japfest 2 on the Civiclife stand:
That's me, the funny looking thing in the Superman top:
Really happy with how it comes up after a claybar, couple of polishes and a few coats of wax. This was done by me, not the place in the picture, I was only there for a local meet. It's not mint, but from a few feet away it really does scrub up well. Front end is the worst.
Facing a bit of a dilemma with it tbh, paid shed money for it and there's a fair few faults developing. Remember that leak in the footwell? Turns out it's starting to rot on the bulkhead. £1000 to repair. Dash out, loom out, brake master cylinder out as it's in such an awkward place. Gearbox is whining - input shaft on it's way out. No evidence of the dreaded 5th gear synchro being fixed in its life, so that's a £400+ bill I'm expecting at some point. Clutch release bearing has started rattling. Never had a clutch in it's 173k so that WILL go soon. Not massively expensive, still £2-300 that could be better spent. Engine is getting tappety and I keep getting paranoid about it, thinking I'm hearing rod knock now and again. Uses a fair bit of oil, but I'm not too worried about that yet, VTEC Hondas do use it. My head's saying break or sell it but I won't be able to bring myself to do it. Especially with it being one of 6 (possibly less) S plate ATRs left on the road. Quite attached to it already (only had it 3 weeks) but I wish I could make it a bit less standard...
Realistically it needs £1500-£2000 spending on it to make it spot on, something which I'll probably end up doing. And then the mods can start Not going to do anything too drastic, mind.
Need to find a way of getting my 4x100 SE37Ks onto the 5x114.3 Accord hubs as they'd look EPIC, and would be a good size for the car.
Which brings me back to the Civic. It's stashed on my drive awaiting some love, I have pretty big plans for it over the winter. Already miss driving it even if the Accord is technically better, in pretty much every way.
This arrived in the post the other day and is the first part of my plan for the Civic, a very vague clue as to its fate....
Picked my Civic up nearly 2 years ago, after using my 6N Polo whilst on my provisional. VWs had never really been my kinda thing and I'd always been into Jap stuff, so was on the lookout for an EK Civic. Had to be a facelift in either Supersonic Blue or Lightning Silver. Missed out on a Lightning Silver for about a grand by a few hours, local too. A few days later I saw a Supersonic Blue on ebay, in Grantham, one of the very last made being on a Y plate. I've seen EP shape Civics on X plates so mine would have been one of the last.
The reason I wanted this colour: (ignore the swirl marks
)
All the time I had it, I was absolutely desperate to modify it but insurance would have been too expensive, so I just put up with the standardness until I could insure mods, which was around October I think. So £700 later:
MeisterR Zeta R coilovers and 15" Rota Grids with Yoko Paradas. All secondhand, from a turbo EG Civic that was being broken. Made so much difference to how it looked and drove. It's still a bit understeery if you REALLY push it, but it's miles better than standard. Still rolls though, even when the coilovers are on full hard. (adjustable damping) Uprated ARBs are needed methinks.
Had gained an OEM Honda mid-wing by this point too.
Love how it looks with no front plate...
3 wheeling:
There's another pic somewhere of the big chunk of ground that it ripped out just after I took this one:
A bloke I work with got an absolute shed of an Ibiza TDi, got a text off him asking if Volk/Rays SE37Ks were worth anything and asking if I wanted them (dont know why they were on that car, they're worth more than that car was!) - here's the result of that:
They're 17" though which is too big for an EK, my Rotas are 15" and it drives so much better on them. Looks amazing IMO on the Rays though....
Also got some Bi-Xenon projector retrofitted EK9 Type-R lights from a K20 converted EK, along with wind deflectors and import plates. Headlights are absolutely epic, they give a completely flat beam pattern so aren't blinding, but visibility is amazing. Also really like the look of them and they're the only set in the UK, possibly worldwide.
Sums it up:
Civic is getting pretty tired now, rear arches are rotting nicely, paint is getting a bit shoddy, loads of suspension bushes are knocking, etc.
A couple of months ago I was offered an Impreza for £1000 so got an insurance quote. Obviously it was stupid money, so I tried some other cars that I liked. ITR DC2 came in at £2.5k, couldn't afford to buy one though. DC2 Integra SiR that I could afford to buy, was £14k to insure despite being slower and less desirable to thieves. Loads of silly prices came through, over £10k for a 1.3 turbo Starlet Glanza V but £2k for a 300ZX Twin Turbo.
Tried an Accord Type-R and it came in at £1700, so was straight on the hunt for one. Always liked them and was mega happy I could insure one. Looked at a few, including a crash damaged shed for £3k...
Started to go off the idea and was looking at MB6 Civic VTis, in hatch and Aerodeck form, just because they'd be incredibly cheap VTEC fun. Until I realised the hatch was £3k to insure and the Aerodeck £2k....
Accord hunt was back on, I was after a Vesuvio Red pre-facelift, had seen one on a forum that kept getting it's price dropped. It had a leaky footwell caused by corrosion on the bulkhead, but it was a very good price, red, and had a full Honda history. And 171k miles
Went to see it, and ended up putting a deposit down...
3 days later my mate took me to pick it up, here's the obligatory motorway services shot:
Couple of days after that I took it upto the Evo Triangle with a couple of lads I know from the Civiclife forum. Performed brilliantly and I love the way it handles. Was a brilliant day and perfect to get used to a new car.
This passed when we stopped for pics:
Was really pleased with how it compared to the EP3 (55k miles IIRC), they were identical on acceleration and I have no doubts the Accord would be just as good at cornering, if not better.
With my mate's MX5 at Japfest 2 on the Civiclife stand:
That's me, the funny looking thing in the Superman top:
Really happy with how it comes up after a claybar, couple of polishes and a few coats of wax. This was done by me, not the place in the picture, I was only there for a local meet. It's not mint, but from a few feet away it really does scrub up well. Front end is the worst.
Facing a bit of a dilemma with it tbh, paid shed money for it and there's a fair few faults developing. Remember that leak in the footwell? Turns out it's starting to rot on the bulkhead. £1000 to repair. Dash out, loom out, brake master cylinder out as it's in such an awkward place. Gearbox is whining - input shaft on it's way out. No evidence of the dreaded 5th gear synchro being fixed in its life, so that's a £400+ bill I'm expecting at some point. Clutch release bearing has started rattling. Never had a clutch in it's 173k so that WILL go soon. Not massively expensive, still £2-300 that could be better spent. Engine is getting tappety and I keep getting paranoid about it, thinking I'm hearing rod knock now and again. Uses a fair bit of oil, but I'm not too worried about that yet, VTEC Hondas do use it. My head's saying break or sell it but I won't be able to bring myself to do it. Especially with it being one of 6 (possibly less) S plate ATRs left on the road. Quite attached to it already (only had it 3 weeks) but I wish I could make it a bit less standard...
Realistically it needs £1500-£2000 spending on it to make it spot on, something which I'll probably end up doing. And then the mods can start
Not going to do anything too drastic, mind.Need to find a way of getting my 4x100 SE37Ks onto the 5x114.3 Accord hubs as they'd look EPIC, and would be a good size for the car.
Which brings me back to the Civic. It's stashed on my drive awaiting some love, I have pretty big plans for it over the winter. Already miss driving it even if the Accord is technically better, in pretty much every way.
This arrived in the post the other day and is the first part of my plan for the Civic, a very vague clue as to its fate....
Edited by Jaaack on Sunday 28th July 03:45
Edited by Jaaack on Sunday 28th July 04:15
Butter Face said:
Civiclife fweiiinnndddd
Porker?John Boy 616 said:
Do not let the accord die
It's very unlikely, I do love it. I think the only thing that would make it happen is major borkage, or if there's any more rot other than the bulkhead. I'm almost certain it won't get stripped, I get way too attached to my cars 
Bahh! Your gearbox will be fine...
Just start budgeting now mate, I'd get money together for the gearbox and clutch, get that done.
Then I'd get the rot sorted out...
The engine is FINE! And the rest of the car is spot on!
Guarantee you'd get bored of the Civic in standard form now, even if it doesn't empty your wallet in fuel.
You get the above sorted out on the Accord and it'll be perfect!
Just start budgeting now mate, I'd get money together for the gearbox and clutch, get that done.
Then I'd get the rot sorted out...
The engine is FINE! And the rest of the car is spot on!
Guarantee you'd get bored of the Civic in standard form now, even if it doesn't empty your wallet in fuel.
You get the above sorted out on the Accord and it'll be perfect!
Trouble is, the insurance is due in a month tomorrow, I have about £450 to my name and don't get paid until the 15th, rinsed my insurance savings money by buying it...
Need to give it a decent service too, thinking Motul oil and Hamp filter from Tegiwa for £36 looks good. Might put some Amsoil in the gearbox to try and quieten it down for now too. It'll be a shame to stop the full Honda history but makes more sense in the long run.
Need to do the valve clearances too as its getting noisy, never done them on an OHC engine before, only pushrod engines so I could do with finding a guide...
Need to give it a decent service too, thinking Motul oil and Hamp filter from Tegiwa for £36 looks good. Might put some Amsoil in the gearbox to try and quieten it down for now too. It'll be a shame to stop the full Honda history but makes more sense in the long run.
Need to do the valve clearances too as its getting noisy, never done them on an OHC engine before, only pushrod engines so I could do with finding a guide...
shakindog said:
The best colour too top choice. The ATR is amazing but getting on in age now. I have a phase 1 in red on a t plate could do with a fair bit of work to make it mint.
Like you I probably will shell out as they are worth it just for the smile factor.
Do you have a thread on it?Like you I probably will shell out as they are worth it just for the smile factor.
Tried to do the rear discs and pads today, found (another) siezed slider, and snapped it trying to free it. BALLS. So I'll have to get driven round by mates tomorrow and try to source one.
PM me bud and I'll email you tomorrow about the bulkhead bud. I've fixed about 30 6th gens (including my own!) and it should cost you no more than £300 providing you do the stripdown yourself...Don't worry though it's definetely not needed for you to remove the dash or loom so ignore that!
You can find a brief rundown here.
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=47&t=1119575&mid=165162&nmt=Mild+restoration+project+%2D+Accord+VTEC
You can find a brief rundown here.
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=47&t=1119575&mid=165162&nmt=Mild+restoration+project+%2D+Accord+VTEC
Whipped the spoiler off today to see how it looked, I'm 50/50 on it, looks a lot sleeker and longer/lower without it but I do like it with the spoiler too. I'd have to source a bootlid that never had a spoiler if I end up going spoilerless.
Civic got caught in some torrential rain while I was breaking the brakes on the Accord today. Moved it afterwards after a bump start and it felt so weird to be back in it! Not driven it or even sat in it for a couple of weeks and I remembered why I love it so much. Feels SO low after the Accord, and the controls are MUCH lighter. Miss the noise and pops and bangs too!
Can't get the idea of an EG Civic or MX5 out of my head, might end up with another old Japanese crate in the next few months!
Civic got caught in some torrential rain while I was breaking the brakes on the Accord today. Moved it afterwards after a bump start and it felt so weird to be back in it! Not driven it or even sat in it for a couple of weeks and I remembered why I love it so much. Feels SO low after the Accord, and the controls are MUCH lighter. Miss the noise and pops and bangs too!
Can't get the idea of an EG Civic or MX5 out of my head, might end up with another old Japanese crate in the next few months!
MAJOR UPDATE:
Er, actually, it's been sat on my drive since the end of September as a load of consumables have all just said "NO" at the same time. Plus I may have got bored one Sunday and gone to view an EG6 Civic VTi and put a deposit on it
Got the cambelt and tensioner done due to a rattly tensioner in the middle of Sept. Drove it around for a week or so and then took it to Santa Pod for Japshow. Did 6 runs up the 1/4 mile, best time was a 15.3 which is pretty good considering the 175k, knackered wheel bearing, dying clutch, sticky calipers etc. But the noise that I thought was the cambelt tensioner rattling returned halfway through the RWYB day at the Pod. Hope it's not actually the tensioner as I don't wanna have to spend another £300 getting it done again.
Few pics from the 'Pod:
That Leon was rapid, absolutely mullered me!
Started it last weekend for the first time since October and was gutted to find mould all over the Recaros, front carpets, seatbelts and steering wheel Left it running with the aircon on all day, swapping between hot and cold every half hour to try and get rid of as much bacteria as possible. It kicked out a bit of smoke when revving it too, hoping that's just due to it being sat. Really need to get that bulkhead sorted though as the windows have steamed up again so the water must still be getting in.
Intending on taking it to the Nurburgring in August, and then on to Honda Euro Meet. A lot of issues to fix first though. 2 knackered shocks. Leaky brake lines. Leaky fuel lines. Knackered wheel bearing. Weak clutch (might as well chuck a lightweight flywheel on too). Snapped drop links. Sticky calipers. That f
king bulkhead. Plus I also want coilovers (which will sort the problem of the 2 knackered shocks), a K&N Typhoon, manifold, decat and catback, big brakes, and possibly some wilder cams and a remap.
Plus I've gotta pick the EG6 up in a couple of weeks time!
This thread is going to focus on the Accord from now on, there will be another made for the Civic when work starts on it. And the other Civic when I pick it up...
Er, actually, it's been sat on my drive since the end of September as a load of consumables have all just said "NO" at the same time. Plus I may have got bored one Sunday and gone to view an EG6 Civic VTi and put a deposit on it
Got the cambelt and tensioner done due to a rattly tensioner in the middle of Sept. Drove it around for a week or so and then took it to Santa Pod for Japshow. Did 6 runs up the 1/4 mile, best time was a 15.3 which is pretty good considering the 175k, knackered wheel bearing, dying clutch, sticky calipers etc. But the noise that I thought was the cambelt tensioner rattling returned halfway through the RWYB day at the Pod. Hope it's not actually the tensioner as I don't wanna have to spend another £300 getting it done again.
Few pics from the 'Pod:
That Leon was rapid, absolutely mullered me!
Started it last weekend for the first time since October and was gutted to find mould all over the Recaros, front carpets, seatbelts and steering wheel
Left it running with the aircon on all day, swapping between hot and cold every half hour to try and get rid of as much bacteria as possible. It kicked out a bit of smoke when revving it too, hoping that's just due to it being sat. Really need to get that bulkhead sorted though as the windows have steamed up again so the water must still be getting in.Intending on taking it to the Nurburgring in August, and then on to Honda Euro Meet. A lot of issues to fix first though. 2 knackered shocks. Leaky brake lines. Leaky fuel lines. Knackered wheel bearing. Weak clutch (might as well chuck a lightweight flywheel on too). Snapped drop links. Sticky calipers. That f
king bulkhead. Plus I also want coilovers (which will sort the problem of the 2 knackered shocks), a K&N Typhoon, manifold, decat and catback, big brakes, and possibly some wilder cams and a remap.Plus I've gotta pick the EG6 up in a couple of weeks time!
This thread is going to focus on the Accord from now on, there will be another made for the Civic when work starts on it. And the other Civic when I pick it up...
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff