44 replies to this topic

[87RedSI]

I believe you're right Scott.

So many kids nowadays want to just go fast right out of the box. Bolt on here, bolt on there, done. When they make a decision to pick a 1G/3G, they're buying it for the name. But to get what you want out of these cars you have to have a certain degree of patience and know-how, which most people don't, especially those un-familiar with later gens. Instead of being looked at by how they perform, the basis is money spent (to most, this is a factor). Having the lack of support these cars do, they just become a money pit, and for the something-teen kid that picks one up they're stuck in limbo. I think the best way to say it is as it has already been stated, "True enthusiasts only", because no kid with a short attention span and a shallow pocket is going to consider it as anything but a 20 year old car.

I wished I hadn't bought my 92 Civic hatch. I thought maybe I could make something unique out of it, but quickly lost that point a few months later when my town was swarming with 'em. Knowing what I know now about cars and process, I could have built a nice door slammer 1G/3G. I find these cars as more of a challenge. When you build something that takes more time, effort, and patience, you gain a deeper respect for what you have accomplished. Not that the Civic couldn't be that, but I'd rather be different.

[DarkHand]

So many kids nowadays want to just go fast right out of the box.

I agree, that's where the fault lies. Kids are used to new cars that are seemingly maintenance free. When everything is new, cars basically ARE maintenance free in their early years. ANY 20 year old car is worn out and will need lots of money to keep it going.

That '07 Civic will be just as much trouble to keep running in 2027 as our cars are now. A little perspective goes a long way.

Edited by DarkHand, 24 January 2007 - 10:19 AM.

[kakabox]

BOTTOM LINE.. dont race what you drive, and drive what you race!!! and dont use a 20 year old car as a daily driver/commuter and expect for it to run like a 2007 with no quirks..

1...If you want a 1g/3g CRX/civic as a TOY/PROJECT by all means HAVE ANOTHER CAR for daily driving.. SCOTT DOES, I DO, AS DO MOST PEOPLE that never say their cars are piles of shit also do...

2...I hear a lot of crx owners complain.. "mine always breaks down, or burns the clutch, or bends the valves.or blows the headgaskets.." what you dont tell us is that you bounce it off the rev limiter 7 days a week every time you drive it, and jam it into gear and pop the clutch like your in a 69 cutlass 442 4speed at the dragstrip...."

3...or my crx has all kind of electrical bugs!! but what you fail to tell us is ... "well a fuse blew and I used some soldering wire to replace it" or "I spliced and jimmy rigged all kinds of wires cause i was too lazy to do it the correct way"

4...If you buy a $500 crx expect a $500 crx nothing else..
5...To all people!!!! take the time to check your fluids daily/at the end of the day..it takes 5 minutes at most!I do it every time before and after I drive mine I do it to every car I own..!! If you have a exxon valdez oil leak FIX IT yes you will spin a bearing eventually if not fixed, If you have a overheating problem FIX IT ASAP dont let it go for weeks then bitch how you blew a headgasket..if the clutch has 100,000 miles dont moan about it going out..
6....99% of bitching is caused by OPERATOR ERROR/LAZINESS , or bad inspection upon buying the car,improper maintenance,... all the people that complain about the problems their car has..sit back and think...was it my fault???? yes some things can happen but thats th 1% lol...

Yes...yes...yes...yes...yes...and yes!

I concur 100% on all points; number 1. being the most important to be able to enjoy these "kakaboxes" (pun intended!).

IMO, the 1/3g's are great hobby cars to learn how to fix, maintain, and modify. However, it's very hard to do that if you have to rely on it for a dd. Follow 'rule' #1. above and you'll enjoy your 1/3g much more. I would never consider buying the typical used 1/3g w/o already having a reliable dd.

[d15a3power]

I agree, this needs to be a 2nd car, also the warning label could add:

BE PREPARED TO DO RESEARCH, ASK QUESTIONS, AND ABANDON ANY PRE-CONCEIVED NOTIONS. HONESTLY ASSESS YOUR MECHANICAL SKILLS, BUDGET, AND GOALS FOR THIS CAR; THEN PROCEED WITH DUE DILIGENCE.

I'm happy with my car, BTW.

[funkmaster]

I love my CRXs. That said I would never have a 20+ year old car for a daily driver no matter what the make and model. My 85si has just over 125K miles on it, and I still really dont trust it as an EVERYDAY driver. OLD STUFF BREAKS.

I really like the fact that these cars arent as easy to mod as later hondas. It makes them unique which is very important to me. EVERYTHING has been done on every civic 88+ and who really cares anymore?

Also I agree with one of the above posters. There is almost no other car that is easier to work on than a 1G/3G. Everything is simple! With a FSM and a decent set of tools there isnt much you cant do. About the only things that can be a royal pain in the ass on our cars is: Rust, changing T-bars (if its the first time), and getting that damn bitch pin out of the shift linkage!!!

[87MugenProCR-X]

I used to use my old white 87 CR-X as a daily driver for 3 years. 240,000 miles the only problem i really had was the ignition wire harness was faulty. Keep it maintained and it will run forever.

Julian

[DarkHand]

Keep it maintained and it will run forever.

No argument there. The problem appears when you take a more 'world-weary' car and expect to do a few hours work to turn it into one of the reliable well-maintained ones that do last forever. That's where alot of people get disillusioned or realize they're in over their head.

I also believe that any non-pristine Honda you're going to try and learn on needs to be a second car as well. When we first got the Civic I was hamstrung by the fact that it was our family's ONLY car... I couldn't really do much to it without risking our entire livelihood. When I bought the CRX, I pulled it into the garage on a Friday night and did my first de-vac... Because of the fact that I wasn't worried about not having the car running on Monday, I was able to learn more about these cars in that weekend alone than I did in 2 years with just the Civic.

Edited by DarkHand, 24 January 2007 - 02:56 PM.

[JEFFtheJ00la]

about the cars not lasting long thats bulshit. ive beaten the hell out of every 1g/3g ive owned and they LOVED it. i used to offroad an 86 crx si and ragged on the engine and its still fine. its in my sedan now. runs beautifully

[syko_tek1]

I love my 1g CRX my DD with 257,000 miles and my3g CIVIC with 160,000 miles. Sure I have to work on them some times but they are different and fun to drive. Anyone who owns one and does not enjoy it should not have it and they should sell it to someone who wants it along with it's problems (like everyone said they are 20 years old).

Edited by syko_tek1, 24 January 2007 - 03:26 PM.

[badpenny]

No, no warning. So jeff can still be tha J00!!!.

Although, I have drank more since I have owned my 3g.




But alcoholism runs in my family.

[a3h87]

its about the maintain.mine has 145 thousand miles no tune up and still runnin like a champ.

[Madkore]

We got the shitty engine and the fault lies there.

I love my engine! There is nothing wrong with our engine other than the fact that it's not a twin cam 16 valve motor.
I probably put out close to 140 to 150 HP.
Looks stock, but does rock.
My Civic is as quick as my 97 BMW M3 was.

2...I hear a lot of crx owners complain.. "mine always breaks down, or burns the clutch, or bends the valves.or blows the headgaskets.." what you dont tell us is that you bounce it off the rev limiter 7 days a week every time you drive it, and jam it into gear and pop the clutch like your in a 69 cutlass 442 4speed at the dragstrip...."

My engine has over 55,000 miles of revving to 7500 RPM constantly.
Seriously, I beat the crap out of my engine any chance I get.
It will cruise at 6000 RPM.
It passes California Smog.
It probably runs high 13s to low 14s in a quarter mile.
It gets 30 MPG at 80 to 85 MPH with a 4.93 final drive.

If you build it properly the first time, then you don't have problems.

3...or my crx has all kind of electrical bugs!! but what you fail to tell us is ... "well a fuse blew and I used some soldering wire to replace it" or "I spliced and jimmy rigged all kinds of wires cause i was too lazy to do it the correct way"

I have over 245,000 miles and I don't have electrical problems.
And I installed an Si fuel injected engine complete with an Si harness and computer.
Hell, I've only blown a couple of fuses in the last 22 years.
I still have some of the original tail light bulbs in my car.

The key is regular maintenance, and fixing problems when they FIRST occur, and fixing them the right way the FIRST time.

Like we always said at the dealers, 'Why do you always have time to fix something right the second time, but you don't have the time to fix it right the first time.'

Fix it right the first time.

[katulu]

my 86 si has 144k on it, beat most of its life, and I have had NO engine probs, and the car has NEVER left me stranded anywhere (cept for the one time I ran outta gas, but that was my fault, I was trying to run the tank low so it would be easier to drop the tank to fix the rusty floor, and I guess I pushed my luck a little bit)

original engine/trans
I did replace the clutch and did a tune up on it
replaced the exhaust since the old one was rotted out


overall the car has been one of the best I've owned, and better on gas than every new saturn I drive for work,(seems quicker too, with the exception of the sky redline) too bad I need to have a larger vechicle for the family

Edited by katulu, 24 January 2007 - 06:46 PM.

[gustav129]

Consider a young person who wants to become part of the "Honda scene" and by chance his selection turns out to be a 1st Gen CRX or a 3rd Gen Civic. Picture the disapointment on his face when he learns that his new aquisition is completely different from the cars he sees in all the magazines and there is little to no aftermarket support for his car.

Maybe our old cars should come with a label: "WARNING! This car is not like the other Hondas. You will have to scrounge in junkyards or fabricate your own parts to make this car go fast. Not recommended for the imagination challenged."

Scott

That's exactly what happened to me. But I have been into International Trucks and Scouts for a couple years, so I have been used to this whole thing for a while. I guess I wanted something easy for once. But now I look back at it, and I am glad, because I am different from all the ricers in town.

To tell you the truth, if it hadn't been an Si, I wouldn't have bought it. I had a '97 Dx and wanted to trade it in for a 99 Si. But, it was totalled in 99, so no Si for me. Then again, I also wouldn't mind getting a newer Civic also. Maybe make a new tradition: '87 Si, '97 Dx, '07 Si. See a pattern here?

[DEIVIONCRX]

none of the honda fan boy racers have any idea honda made cars before 1988, i garente if any of them opened the hood on a 1g civic or a N600 they would just shit themselfs and go cry to mommy