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Hey everyone, I'm an artist with no mechanical experience who needed a new car and found a great one for sale a few days ago.

I just picked up a 1997 Honda Civic EX, cause 4 doors is better for hauling my hockey equipment! It's a 5spd manual so I learned how to drive it in the last 2 days and now it's my commuter... and I'm absolutely in love with it. I don't think I'll go back to automatic ever unless I have a knee replaced or something.

Here she is:
http://imgur.com/oVo41FR

Basically, I just want to stick around and learn all about upgrades and repairs I can do myself! I've never done anything like that before and I'd like to start. I have no real desire to increase performance so much as I l'd like to push the envelope on fuel economy as much as I can.

Nice to be here

 
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Welcome to the forum!!

Keep up with maintenance and you will be good.

 
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Looks clean! welcome!

 
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Thank you!

I want to get all the supplies I need to do oil changes myself. I'm looking at a floor jack, jack stands, a funnel, a pan and some sort of ratchet set correct? I know it will be an investment but I think it's worth it.

Do you all recommend any sort of brand or set for a casual maintenance person like myself?

 
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For casual maintenance I would recommend Craftsman tools. Maybe a little more expensive than some, but ive found them to be pretty good quality.

 
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^ Craftsman is what I use and I would say they are the best for the DIY'er. I do have ransomed other tools from Stanley and Kobalt and those are nice as well. A jack and jack stands you don't want to cheap out on.

Jack, stands, funnel, and a ratchet/wrench set is all you will need. Spark plug socket is helpful for tune up's.

 
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Best thing I ever bought when starting to work on my car-extending ratchet from Amazon for a cheap $20. Kind of expected it to break right away but it held up even as two socket extensions broke and it gives you so much more torque on those rusted bolts.

 
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Fantastic everyone, thank you. Looking at a craftsman ratchet set, extending ratchet, spark plug socket, strap wrench, drain pan, funnel and some nitrile gloves.

I'll get a floor jack and jack stands another time - not brave enough to consider taking my wheels off and screwing with my brakes or anything like that yet!

The advice is very much appreciated I'm very excited to learn all of this. I'm going to attempt to replace the cabin air filter this month, too.

 
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Well howdy partnet welcome to the furms...