What to look for when buying 4th gen....

I've been thinking about buying a 4th gen hatch, I think the sedans are ugly. :D So anyways, what should I look for, what trim level? I want a hatch, 5spd, runs and drives fine but needs body work. What motor would come in it, what's the power range for it too? Also what would be a good motor to swap into it? Thanx

try to get one with some history with it so you can tell its been looked after, most if not all the hatchbacks always rust on the rear arches so you will more than loikely have to have them done as well.

CRX 88-91 dx D15A1 D15B2- 92hp

CRX 88-91 si D16A6- 113hp

civic 88-91 si D16A6- 108hp

civic 88-91 dx D15A- 92hp

civic 90-91 ex D16A6- 113hp

I think thats all of them in the US.

Originally posted by civic 16valver
most if not all the hatchbacks always rust on the rear arches so you will more than loikely have to have them done as well. body work is no problem, the car will go in the shop as soon as I get it to have the dents taken out, rust repaired, shaved, and painted.

and I was hoping to find one that some old lady has owned forever so that I know how it has been driven :D

Originally posted by Civicgurl
civic 90-91 ex D16A6- 113hp
Do they make ex hatches, or is that a sedan?

i done the same, mine is a 1990 D16A9 (137BHP) with 4 owners, FSH and serviced every 6,000 miles when i bought it, it was completely stock so i knew it had been looked after

Originally posted by kicker1_solo
Do they make ex hatches, or is that a sedan?
hmmm not shure about that? I know the si comes in a hatch....:confused:

Originally posted by Civicgurl

hmmm not shure about that? I know the si comes in a hatch....:confused: yeah, cause I have to have a hatch, cause the sedans just don't do it for me. :D
and I know the si and dx comes in hatchie.

why don't you have more powerful engines like my D16A9 over in america, I thought that you always had bigger engines in your stuff compared to us in the UK coz accordin' to your list earlier in this thread it doesn't appear that you have.

just wonderin' ;)

nope, over here in the good ole' usa we always get watered down products

but most of your stuff has f*%kin huge V8's when our are mostly 4 cylinders

Originally posted by civic_16valver
but most of your stuff has f*%kin huge V8's when our are mostly 4 cylinders
A lot of the American made cars have V8's in them, but almost all the japanese and european imports we get are weaker versions....i'm not too worried about it though cause I prefer a Honda 4 cylinder over a crappy Ford V8.

shows how things are different between our countries coz people luv V8's over hear coz they are rare in our cars and ound lush

Originally posted by mightytexn

A lot of the American made cars have V8's in them, but almost all the japanese and european imports we get are weaker versions....i'm not too worried about it though cause I prefer a Honda 4 cylinder over a crappy Ford V8.

That used to be the case but not anymore.

We actually usually get bigger engines than Europe because fuel is cheaper here and people drive longer distances. You don' t see a lot of tiny engine cars here.

For instance you can now get a Honda Accord here with a 240hp engine.

The smallest 4G Civic engine here was a 1500. We just didn't get the DOHC motors (bummer) until later.

we get an accord type r with around 212BHP and the most output 4th gen was 158BHP i think it was called a VTI and was a DOHC 1.6 vtec

and I think your right about the fuel and distance thing coz we get ripped off at 76.9p a litre of unleaded over hear and thats why we don't have big engines

cheerz

Ex is a sedan. Si will be a hatch. Si gets you better suspension, engine, much better seats and other stuff. I'd hold out for an Si.

Rust isn't a problem in Washington, even in Goldendale (I think).