Rep Power: 314

Ok guys....I'm not quite sure what to do...

This is the back story..

I was rear-ended by a Ford Exploder (lol) last Friday, and the damage total is well over $5,000. SO...I'm out a car for about 3-4 weeks. Since I'm out a car, my friend has been letting me drive/ride in his 03 SI (EP3). Guess what...I fell in love...

SO.....that being said...and keeping in mind I've put a LOT into my car as it is...and I'm kinda partial to it, not because it's a coupe or anything, but because it's got all my blood/sweat/tears in it....AND I'M GETTING A GREAT PAYING JOB IN A WEEK.... ....

I now have 2 options:

1) I trade in my EM2 for a brand new 04 EP3 H.F.P. SI (Man they're NICE!!!) And I'm left with a 22k loan total....not bad, I'm not upside down in my current loan so that's not a big deal.


2) I take out ANOTHER loan, roughly 8k, for a K20A2 and labor charges. For a grand loan total (2 separate loans) of roughly $20k. Cheaper and faster, WITH all my suspension mods AND my blood/sweat/tears.


lease: I'm leaning towards the A2 in my EM2, because of sentimental value of the car, the suspension already being just about dialed in, and IT'S A GOOD LOOKIN CAR! But I REALLY like the new HFP SI (Body kit, suspension upgrades, CF interior) and of course the NICE seats (WAY better than my coupe seats), and just the overall RARITY of them in CO.

What do you guys think I should do? From an AutoX perspective. I'm not really interested in top speeds, etc. Just for AutoX ability.

BTW...would the A2/EM2 put me into SM or would I stay in STS? I'm not sure, and I should prolly search, but logic tells me that RSX-S's run in STS, so why wouldn't I? The ONLY reason I could see me being in SM is because my car is less weight overall than the RSX-S = the weight reduction stipulation. I dunno...input is welcome.

Thanks in advance for your HONEST/PROFESSIONAL opinions. (Boilermaker, Zzyzx....you guys know this ****...help me out here! )

 
Rep Power: 380

well For pure fun Factor, putting the A2 in your coupe will yeald a much better car then the Si, by being faster and more menuverable (Lighter with more power). However it will bump you to DM or SM, two classes that you have little chance in winning.

The Si (As much as I dont like the look of them) in STS... properly preped and driven could probably beat your coupe, at the national level..... well lets just say that there is probably a better chance of some one giving me a Brand new Z06 for Free, then the New Si winning a national tour. Locally however it could probably do Very well in STS, assuming you don't have any national level cars/drivers in your class. Grassroots motorsports did a test a few months ago pitting their 03 Si against the best car for the class, an 89 Si. the 89 was consistantly 1.5 seconds faster on course.

 
Rep Power: 314

Thank you for the promt reply!!!

Ok...so I gather from what you said:

The A2 will be fun, fast, and in DM/SM. But NOT win, prolly, lol. Well...I'm not too concerned with winning, so I don't really care about that. I just love to have fun and compete. I'll never be a national level driver, so that's not a big deal. I'm just a weekend warrior with dreams, lol.

The EP3 will fair better in STS, but ultimately slower and less fun (more weight/less power).

Hmmm....

If you had the choice I do....what would you choose? (I know, I'd rather have an 89 SI too, but I like the NEW civic's, and I HATE buying used.) So would you swap or buy the SI ?

 
Rep Power: 380

I'd run the coupe with the A2.... Just need to find out if you want to run DM or SM.... Slightly different rules..

It would probably fair better in Street modified. D-Modified is Highly Preped class.

 
Rep Power: 314

THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH!!!!

Stupid but true: You're opinion means a LOT to me!



I'll prolly end up runnin' the A2 in the coupe, that's what I was leaning towards anyway and the bling factor is "LIKE WHOA"!!! lol, but if anyone has any other good points of view...let's hear 'em!!!

 
Rep Power: 380

No prob man, we all started out as weekend warriors, Now I want to win at Topeka! national tour and Pro Solo..... May take a while...

 
Rep Power: 0

in your situtation, this is what id do, get a loan, Buy a K20A(thats right, as in the ITR K20A), then, buy the Si seats, since you like them. send the K20A's ecu to Hondata and get yourself the 8800(?)rpm redline. then get ready to have fun!

K20A+ 6 speed trans= ~$4500
Si seats= ~$4-600? depends how much you can get them for used
Hondata Reflash= ~$600

with that youre lookin at around $5200, an 8800 rpm reedline, 220 hp(~190 wheel hp), and one sweet *** ride.

if you want more power you can get an RSX CAI, Race Header(no cat), and a nice free flowing exhaust for about another $1000

thats what i would do if i could do it over again

 
Rep Power: 424

Ummm, I wouldn't be buying an Si for autox. Heavy, underpowered and a high center of gravity. If you want a new car and an autoX hog, get a Celica GTS, run it for STS and go at it. Otherwise, fix the Vic with a D17, or swap it and just have fun .

 
Rep Power: 0

You can swap in the k20a3 engine. Keep the 4 lugs.

 
Rep Power: 314

After even MORE research...

Yes the K20A3 is BETTER than the A2 for FI applications...which is ALWAYS a possibility in the future...so...hmmm....it's not a real pressing issue, I'm just having a mental debate...ya kno? lol


Boilermaker...I'd like to stay with Honda, but if I wasn't so stubborn a Celica would be nice. Then again...I'm 6'1" 270 lbs. and Celica's don't lend well to LARGE indivituals, lol.

Man..I'm just not built for AutoX am I? LMAO

 
Rep Power: 424

Ehh, I'm not that big, but 5'10", 215 isn't tiny either. I don't fit in an SRT-4 or I'd give it some consideration.
Not to be a pain and throw more **** into this, but if you're boosting.... K24 from an Accord. HAsport is working on the mounts. Or you could Frankenstein it with an A2 head, but now we're getting ahead of ourselves.

 
Rep Power: 314

AAAhhh...another good point...hmmm...

Well...after some more research, and sitting down with a big pot of coffee and making some calls. I've come to one conclusion. COLORADO SUCKS!!! Almost nobody will/CAN do the swap for me, and the ONE guy that CAN said it's one of the most difficult, and time consuming swaps out there. Total he'd charge me about $6,500 parts and motor and labor included. So the price is right, but he said he'd have to have the car for a minimum of 2-3 weeks. I asked WHY??? (People have done this swap in MUCH less time) and his answer is, "Yeah I COULD do it in a shorter amount of time, but I'm the only person in my shop (owns his own company) and he's got a TON of other projects on his table." He said, worst case scenerio...he'd have it for about a month, but it WOULD be done right, and he'd also do some Hondata tuning for me for free (Since this would be his first K20 swap into an EM2) if I chose to go with some o that ****. lol I dunno...I'm gettin' discouraged.

As of now...it's EP3 for me. But I miss my EM2 and it's only been a week, I guess driving a NEON will do that to ya, lol. (Rental car)

 
Rep Power: 380

I'd take the Neon Rental car over the Focus I had..... That thing felt like I was driving a sponge.

 
Rep Power: 0

Why not take the $8k, pick up a Teg GSR shell or theft recovery (HINT: E-bay has a couple), and build a pure track car? Keep the Vic as a daily driver and leave the Teg GSR for track days. At least that is my long term plan.

 
Rep Power: 380

If hes going to get an old Honda, Hes better off getting an 89 Si civic over the GSR.... Lighter and smaller wheel base = Faster/better handling car....

 
Rep Power: 314

Hmm...good idea...I like it.....


However....

1) I can't afford to insure/license TWO cars on my own yet.

2) I HATE buying a used car, you never know if the frame is tweaked or something like that.

3) I don't have a trailer to tow the GSR, if I WERE to get one, to and from the track.


So....in the future....YES I have the same plan, but for now...NOT going to happen. Good idea though!!!

 
Rep Power: 319

Hehe damn, im 6'2" 220 lbs & im thinking about getting a first gen Miata...hehe, thats going to be interesting. Damn, where all big guys, are there any short, skinny autocrossers here??

Have you looked into the any miatas yet?? You could get a first gen in good shape with a stock LSD for like 3 grand easy, & ive seen rebuilt engines selling for like 150 bucks. Theyre damn cheap cars to race. Throw on a turbo & they wont even be gay anymore

 
Rep Power: 380

Ya the owner of the car I co-drive... hes about 150 and a good 4 inches shorter then me, and I'm about 5'8" and 215... and I beat him by 2 tenths at our last local event!!!

 
Rep Power: 0

See...beauty of a track car:

1) Don't have to insure or license it
2) If you are mechanically inclined and have the storage...Used is the way to go
3) Uhm...ya got me there.

I saw in this month's Honda Tuning there is somewhere in Japan you can buy stripped RSX Type R for their One Make racing class for $13k. I wonder if Honda offers that here in the States?

 
Rep Power: 0

yeah, right


if they did, dont you think that you would see about 10 times more of them running around? i think the big reasons they dont is

1. federal law/safety requirements
2. not enough intrest(i.e. its a small niche in the states(IT being honda road racing, as opposted to the normal "ricer racing" and the all-mighty NASCAR) when compared to how popular it is over in the home land)

 
Rep Power: 314

1) Didn't know that...but makes sense...and I wouldn't need to keep it "street legal" hmmm....

2) I am mechanically inclined...but lack the storage...

3) Yeah..trailers are not cheap, nor do I have anything to pull it with. g/f has an XTerra but that thing's a DOG....so I dunno...maybe when I'm rich and can afford a cheap truck/trailer, I'll have a "Track car". lease:

 
Rep Power: 0

if its only/mainly for racing, you wont really have to worry about that kind of stuff

 
Rep Power: 0

well, im not an autox'er yet, but, im 5' 10" and about 118lbs

 
Rep Power: 424

.

It makes no sense to Autocross a race built ITR. First off... you're running Prepared or Mod at the least, in a front wheel drive car thats underpowered and overweight. You don't stand a chance.
To run it in some sort of classed event here, you'd need to find a class that has rules identical to the ones the car has been prepped for.... thats pretty unlikely, so you're stuck with a car you can use for driving schools and open days. Kind of a waste of money.
You still need to register the car, it gets registered as an off road vehicle (race only car), but the state wants money because you have it. Insurance, I don't know. You don't need collision insurance persay, but I wouldn't mind having myself insured in the car.

Ummm, you might not care, but I'd rather not put a car that's had a straightened frame (and when they straighten it it weakens it) into a wall/barrier/hay bail/tire wall at 90 MPH... but thats just me covering my own ***.

 
Rep Power: 0

well...it was just an idea. I know BMW offers M3 shells for raing purposes. The deal is you can't register the cars and actually get a license plate. Same thing with the ITRs in Japan.

I was thinking about the GSRs...but my buddy has a pretty decent CRX that he dodges cones with...that may be a consideration as well. Or the 89 Si...that is only if you are going to put together a pure track ar though.

 
Rep Power: 0

If you purchase a 89 si, the insurence wouldnt be that much. If you wanted to put insurance on it. You could just have it sit for a little while while you got parts etc. for it. Just throwing ideas out there.

 
Rep Power: 380

another good car for racing (Autocross or club racing) would be the 88 CRX si.

then there is the many versions of the Miata, all good. the 1.8 is the top contender for C-Stock, and the 1.6 would make a good ST2 car.

or..... Find your self a Neon ACR (ya I know its a neon) it was built for Club racing, had Koni adjustibles Stock, better tuned Springs and beefier anti-roll bars....

then theirs the old RX7s, (1st gen) they make good CSP cars, and are legal for the IT classes of Club racing.

So many cars, so little time/Money

 
Rep Power: 412

You are better off now with your co driving position than the rest of us. We need sponsors, but in order to get good sponsors you need to be a good driver with a good car. sigh, oh well

 
Rep Power: 314

Preach on brova Sponsorship WOULD be nice, but there's something to be said for the "weekend warrior" / "Do-it-yourself-er" ya know? I'm proud of what I've done, and I look forward to modifying the EP3 in the future. Again, I'm not gonna win any events, but then again, even with an 89 CRX I don't think I would either. lol Might as well have a good lookin' car, that's relatively fast, and fun to drive!

Thanks again for all your input guys!

 
Rep Power: 0

1. over in japan they made a class (in the early 80's to get intrest in the civic) specificly designed for one make/model. that eleviates the issue of meeting class rules...

2. what i meant was about getting a lemon or a car with a bunch of mechanical fits... obviously i would buy a car that wasnt "straigh"... what am i a fool?