Thursday 22nd August 2013

Honda Civic VTI: PH Fleet

To track or not to track, that is the question

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Another quiet month for the Civic but plenty more to talk about now after a few weeks in the job. Specifically there are two things; how we use our own cars, and the appeal of something older in a world of box fresh press cars.

Upgrade this or move on? Matt has a dilemma

Following some track tuition with Mark Hales and then a day competing in the Toyota Sprint Series, I may have been bitten by the circuit driving bug.

Is the Civic the car to explore this new-found passion though? Whilst the engine still feels fantastic and the brakes are far stronger than I expected (the kerbweight is identical to a GT86, which must help slightly), the other components feel tired. The suspension is crying out for a refresh, with some rather disconcerting creaks and general feel of sogginess permeating every corner. Some better tyres would surely help too.

I have no doubt the Civic could perform on track with some investment, particularly with that LSD as standard. However, there seems little point in throwing money at upgrading it when there are already track-prepped cars for sale with some useful modifications. You can see where this is going...

No amount of money can improve the looks!

In an ideal world, this would mean 'proper' cars with modern creature comforts for weekday work duties and then a little plaything for the weekend and hopefully some track work. Budget is still TBC at present as accommodation is a more immediate priority, but c. £3K opens up some interesting opportunities. See this Mk2 Golf for example, or this rather alluring Clio 172.

But the Civic continues as mine for now, and is still an enjoyable reminder of a simpler time of motoring when efficiency was mentioned in the small print rather than the sales pitch. Whether I remain so keen after the looming MOT remains to be seen.

And any tips on track projects will be happily received!

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Fact sheet
Run by: Matt Bird
Bought: May 2013
Mileage: 87,400
Purchase price: £795
Last month at a glance: The track day bug has bitten; could the Civic be out?

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Previous reports
Civic vies for attention with glossy press cars; loses
A new PH Fleet member that isn't an MX-5

[Oz83]

Two cars is always more expensive than one and you will be so bored on your commute. Just buy a set of bilsteins, polybush it, then take it on track. Job done.

[Garlick]

As I've said before Matt, I'll buy it for £500.

Go on, that's all it's worth

[mr2j]

I'm gonna agree say keep it and sort it but only because I have some misguided notion that tidy old civics will hold their value/go up in the next few years.

[jamespink]

Oz83 said:

Two cars is always more expensive than one and you will be so bored on your commute. Just buy a set of bilsteins, polybush it, then take it on track. Job done.

Completely agree, spend the money on making the Civic stop and corner and have a riot every day, on and off track. Personally I think the looks and colour will help keep your licence too!

[iguana]

Golf is mine & she's a cracker, price can be haggled & I'd take the civic in PX.

Can't say fairer than that!

[brasse]

I'm tracking my 106 GTI. Uprated brakepads, stock suspension and R888's. Keeping it stock and fresh is cheap and means everything is in balance. The engine doesn't out-run the brakes, the brakes doesn't fade and the suspension matches the performance, which is stock. If the car is crying for some love and care, i'd replace with better parts, but nothing hardcore. The VTI (and GTI) are slow cars and one doesn't need to go bananas with upgrades to make it something it isn't — enjoy it for what it is. I know of a few that have destroyed the balance which the GTI or Rallye has from the factory. Then they've used a lot of time and effort trying to dial everything into balance, then got tired and sold the car.

Edited by brasse on Thursday 22 August 12:17

[Craikeybaby]

Has anyone said MX5 yet?

Does it still need to do pizza deliveries or are you full time at PH towers now?

[Riggers]

iguana said:

Golf is mine & she's a cracker, price can be haggled & I'd take the civic in PX.

Can't say fairer than that!

It's surely all about this Golf, Matt. That Clio looks far too polished. Track cars should never look shiny.

[keith2.2]

Take it to a track evening and find out.

I keep having the debate with my "weekend" cars - I want to do this, I want to do that. I convince myself it'll be more "fun" if it's "better" on track.

Will it though? Or am I looking for excuses to spend money, and becomming obsessed with the idea of wanting to "surprise" people.

If you were given an empty track for the day - with just you on it - would you or would you not enjoy driving your car? I think give most people (on here..) any car and a track and they'll have fun.

Then you throw in the track regulars in their stripped out cars, their caterfields and their cut slicks and you realise that your car isn't as fast as theirs - and that somehow makes it less enjoyable.

It shouldn't.

Preventative maintenence - fine. Upgrade part rather than stock replacement? Yeah why not. But if it ain't broke etc etc.





Of course, this is me being an idealist. What we ACTUALLY all want is faster / better / stoppier / grippier...regardless of the above.

[JamesHayward]

Craikeybaby said:

Has anyone said MX5 yet?

Does it still need to do pizza deliveries or are you full time at PH towers now?

Just join the PH / Haymarket bandwagon and get an MX5. I could find / build you an awesome MX5 track car for £3k budget.

[Riknos]

keith2.2 said:

Take it to a track evening and find out.

I keep having the debate with my "weekend" cars - I want to do this, I want to do that. I convince myself it'll be more "fun" if it's "better" on track.

Will it though? Or am I looking for excuses to spend money, and becomming obsessed with the idea of wanting to "surprise" people.

If you were given an empty track for the day - with just you on it - would you or would you not enjoy driving your car? I think give most people (on here..) any car and a track and they'll have fun.

Then you throw in the track regulars in their stripped out cars, their caterfields and their cut slicks and you realise that your car isn't as fast as theirs - and that somehow makes it less enjoyable.

It shouldn't.

Preventative maintenence - fine. Upgrade part rather than stock replacement? Yeah why not. But if it ain't broke etc etc.





Of course, this is me being an idealist. What we ACTUALLY all want is faster / better / stoppier / grippier...regardless of the above.

Pretty much what he said ^

OP - Keep the car, replace tired components with upgrades, and enjoy a fun daily driver that you can track on weekends. Winner!

[Benjaminbopper]

Surely Dale's exploits at the ring are directly relevant? I've seen plenty of BMW's that remain road legal and track worthy, PH even has a great section for this!

Do it, lose the civic and indulge in your hobby!

[Bear Phils]

Keep it, new suspension (Koni's seem good value), bush refresh and a couple of strut braces should tighten things up. Plus some decent rubber.

[jason61c]

Explore your sexuality and get a mx5, spend 3k on it then be safe in the knowledge that it's still slow and dull compared to the VTI.

[Garlick]

£500...

[JamesHayward]

Garlick said:

£500...

MX5 track car for £2,450 and your Civic....

[Devil2575]

jason61c said:

then be safe in the knowledge that it's still slow and dull compared to the VTI.

Really?

[possibletowel]

do a dale and get a 328!

[4a4]

E36!

[aka_kerrly]

Devil2575 said:

jason61c said:

then be safe in the knowledge that it's still slow and dull compared to the VTI.

Really?

I can see where he is coming from, I was ultimately very disappointed with the VTI-s Civic having previously enjoyed an Accord Type R. The gearing and power delivery are not at all like the B18 fitted to the Integra which ruins the experience some what.

To make a VTI-s more entertaining would require the integra gearbox, LSD, uprated suspension and steering components at which point you ought to just buy a Integra!