Thursday 7th November 2013

Honda Civic VTI: PH Fleet

Matt has discovered something his 1998 Shed and a Porsche GT3 have in common...

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So the Civic maintains its status as faithful steed in the face of faster, louder and more orange temptations. It starts fine, runs beautifully and the only strange noises emanating from it are my musical choices.

Great road, not such a great car

But with its role now transformed from daily pizza dropper to occasional weekend wheels, I want to spend some money on it. I know I'll see nothing of the cash back and there are far more suitable foundations for a track project, but there's a rather strong emotional bond between me and Shed Civic now, so it could be sticking around. Having Dan rave about his Goodwood track experience in his lightly tweaked Eunos, then feeling the Civic wallow its way around Silverstone during the Britcar Sunday Service, sealed the deal.

A quick trip down to TGM Sport in Fleet established a plan. It won't be an out and out track car, but an upgrade of things like springs, dampers, bushes, discs, pads and hoses should make it a far more enjoyable road car and slightly more adept on track. The slightly scabby paint can remain untouched.

Rather out of its depth here too

Unfortunately, that was a few weeks ago. With a couple of unexpected bills and the onset of autumnal gloom, creating a track car for next summer has plummeted down my list of priorities. But 2014 promises a lot.

In other news, R471WLW faced the MOT tester's beady eye in October. It wasn't a huge surprise to find it failed, but it was to discover the reason wasn't for something lurking out of sight. Instead it was the permanently illuminated SRS (airbag) light, as dash warning displays have of course joined the test recently. The initial fear of having to replace the SRS unit at c.£300 soon subsided when a quick flash through a diagnostics machine switched the light off. It hasn't returned since either. Strange.

The guys here should be able to help though

All four tyres are now matching Continental PremiumContact2s. There has been no night and day transformation, but the added confidence of knowing all four contact patches are of a decent quality more than makes up for it. How long they'll last on track is another matter...

Just a final fleeting mention for that engine (again) too. Since the last fleet update, the only other car I've driven that revved beyond 8,000rpm was the 911 GT3. Obviously they're not comparable, but revs are hugely exciting. Many of the turbocharged cars I've driven recently have been fantastic, but the same enjoyment can't be derived from using them. Another reason why the Civic may be staying! Just kicked in indeed.

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Fact sheet:
Car: 1998 Honda Civic VTI
Run by: Matt Bird
Bought: May 2013
Mileage: 87,911
Purchase price: £795
Last month at a glance: MOT passed, when to start with the track prep?

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Previous reports:
Is the track the Civic's place to shine?
Civic vies for attention with glossy press cars; loses
A new PH Fleet member that isn't an MX-5

[CliveM]

For less than a grand there's got to be a lot you could do to make it more fun on the road. Looking forward to reading this...

[DanielSan]

MeisterR coilovers, geo setup, updated pads, discs and fluid. Add an exhaust/induction kit for a bit more aural pleasure and Job jobbed.

[HorneyMX5]

I've just bought my first Vtec in the shape of a FN2 Civic Type R. I now wish I'd bought one years ago. Amazing engines!

[BoyRacerChaser]

I frickin love hondas had loads now from the CRX, ITR, s2000 and now a DC5. They are the nuts for daily driving without compromise. I mean you can have scoobys and evos for 0-60 times but once these get going there isnt much in it and they return sensible MPG!

Win win.

a lot of the time the hondas are usually quite good road cars in standard guise, but for track work they respond really well with a decent set of coilovers and geo as previously mentioned.

If you want real power you have the ideal base for a turbo conversion with a B18C4, where you will double the BHP quite easily.

[mr2j]

I want one of these. I was trying to suggest one to my girlfriend as a first car but her dad will insist heavily upon something German and diesel, despite the fact that she'll only really be pootling around town and will wind up clogging her DPF every few months and despite the fact that he won't learn from his own experiences with his TDI barge costing many arms and legs to run including a new engine just a few weeks out of warranty (DPF-related self-destruction, neglect).

Still, arguments cannot generally be won against the stubborn man that wants nothing more than to pump diesel into his VAG and proudly jingle his pocket change for all the world to hear.

Long live little revvy petrol engines.

[britsportscars]

Honda make some great engines, the K20A2 in my old Civic Type R was awesome. Yes if you get caught in the wrong gear a TDI will blast past, but you will be having far more fun! I'm sticking with Vtec, I love the F20 engine in the S2000 too. Probably peakier than the K20 but the top end is even better.

These engines will die out and one day & people will wonder where all the non turbo'd fun cars went.

[disco666]

Dashboard warning lights will be the death of many otherwise good cars.
They are the enemy.

[bigaoi]

Take the bulb / led out ? (might mask a genuine problem though).

[vx220]

bigaoi said:

Take the bulb / led out ? (might mask a genuine problem though).

IIRC inspector has to see bulb illuminate once key is turned, then go out to show no faults?

[boma]

Not often do I get an excuse to post pics of my old VTi wagon!! Sold it to a mate with 120k on about 10 years back, and pretty sure he sold it on with 170k and just a clutch in between...

These are still such great cars, with a very little bit of sorting, and I really miss my old one which serverd as daily work mobile, occasional track weapon, and probably one of the biggest Q cars on the road. Just the slightly dead feeling to the steering (compared to a teg), but still accurate and placeable.

Mine ran Eibach springs, KYB AGX adjustables, had the resonator box removed, and the best possible mod you can do for performance - swap in a short ratio Integra Type R box, which literally transforms straightline acceleration (2nd tops out at 55 instead of 65+, and leaves you within spitting distance of an ITR over standing 1/4).

Track pics are the chicane at Donny, one getting it right, one getting it wrong...

Edited by boma on Tuesday 8th July 00:40

Edited by boma on Wednesday 19th November 03:13

Edited by boma on Wednesday 19th November 03:14

[FussyFez]

I run an aerodeck vti as a daily.

Love the grandad looks with warm performance. Catches many a diesel turbo off guard.


Turbo conversion on its way for ~300bhp