Tell me about EK Civics.

Nimzicki

Nimzicki

Nimzicki

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
2,639
Location
London
Hello,

I'm currently looking to sell my Celica, combination of wanting to move to London in the near future, some ***** breaking in to it, finances and having to park it in a retail car park every day have made me want to sell it on to someone who can give it a better home.

I should get between 5.5 - 6k for it and I would like to pocket a fair bit of that but I still need a car and I was just going to go back to a gen 6 Celica but I've always liked the look of the EK Civic. Unfortunately I know nothing about them and after a quick scout on Pistonheads they seem to go for rather high money for the age?

So if anyone can give me a quick run down on engine choices and how I tell them apart, any common problems, prices I should be looking at etc. that would be great. Also, which are the main owners clubs for these so I can do some of my own research :)

If anyone can give me a good suggestion for something in a similar price range, say 2.5k and under, preferably Jap and reliable please feel free to suggest :)

Cheers.
 
Quite a few flavours

VTi - B16 Vtec about 160hp stock
VTiS - Limited edition VTi, comes in a specific black colour and a few other cosmetics
EK - Type R - Import only, B16b engine, recaro seats all sorts of other extras
LSi - 1.5 single cam vtec about 130 hp

dont know about the other models
 
howler said:
Quite a few flavours

VTi - B16 Vtec about 160hp stock
VTiS - Limited edition VTi, comes in a specific black colour and a few other cosmetics
EK - Type R - Import only, B16b engine, recaro seats all sorts of other extras 185bhp
LSi - 1.5 single cam vtec about 130 hp

dont know about the other models
Click to expand...

VTI-S comes in Pirate's black, with a different gearknob, stitched mats and steering wheel, a factory bodykit, and rear spoiler. No power or handling improvements.

EK9 Type R whilst being awesome and iconic, would use all of your budget and maybe then some and so is out of contention.

The 1.4i is a 90bhp engine and is actually a very good unit and quite revvy.

1.5i comes in VTEC and non VTEC flavours, however don't confuse it with DOHC VTEC, this is VTEC-E and for economy improvements only. Both are 112bhp.

There is also a Jordan special edition which is yellow as you'd expect and based on the VTI spec. It has a yellow/black leather interior as well as a different body kit and perhaps some other cosmetic changes - no performance improvements however.

Some of the above may be wrong, I know a bit but the EK wasn't where my attention lay.
 
I think the EJ9 (1.4) would be painfully slow.

The EK3 (1.5) Actually goes reasonably well, is really quite economical and obviously lower tax band.

The EK4 (VTi) commands a lot of money (getting close to £3k for a good one) for the car you're getting IMO, they do go well, but I wouldn't listen to all the Honda hype, they simply aren't as quick as Honda owners would have you believe.
 
Get an import if you can, better engines, better equipment, and you won't be dealing with rust.
Ones worth going for are EK3 VTi
D15B 1500cc 3-stage VTEC, has economy, normal and power cams all at the same time. 130bhp and great fuel economy.

EK4 SiR
Much like the UK VTi version only the B16A has 10bhp more and it has better equipment, optional LSD.

EK9 Type R needs no introduction, will eat your budget.

When I say better equipment, I mean stuff like Auto climate, power folding mirrors, privacy glass, cupholders, armrest.

Nout wrong with UK ones I guess, but there are lots with rust, high miles, and barry mods. Watch out for smoking B series engines once they have over 100k miles on them, tend to smoke at high revs generally caused by shot valve stem seals.
 
Assuming its an EK9 import you are after......... there are so many really bad examples arround, but a few good ones. Buy off a forum, or go to a specialst to have it looked over.

Honestly, I can't justify the cost of a good one, better with an ep3 (although not as iconic)
 
You can easily get an EG6 for 2.5k, finding a nice one for that cash is more tricky but still nothing too challenging. Reason they fetch good money still is because they are still good solid cars and arguably the better drivers car than an EK. An 18 year old European hot hatch will be cheaper because they are unreliable rust boxes on the whole. You get what you pay for.
 
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