Technical Topics specific to the Hatchback body - NOT where you post pics/build specs of your car.
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By JDM_22
#111089 Ok, Im looking to buy my first car soon, although im only 15, I want a little side project to work on :). Im really fancying an eg hatch at the moment. However, it will need to be a small engine capacity, due to insurance costs. Im going to an auction soon to see what I can find, does anyone have advice on what to look for. (I mean briefly, engine, mileage etc).
And do you reckon it would make a good first car?
Last edited by JDM_22 on Fri Apr 17, 2009 9:52 am, edited 1 time in total.
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By 94egmike
#111179 any rust..frame damage. body looks straight..
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By 92egdxhatch
#111185 im 17 and my hatch is my second car....i would say an eg hatch would make a great first car they are easy to drive
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By 93cxhb
#111200 look around for a cx hatch if you like the hatches it'll be the best on your insurance its also the lightest as far as i know you can always swap later . look for any damage bring a magnet if you want always an easy way of finding heavy bondo. good luck
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By Graham
#111205 My eg is my first car, got it when i was 17. Its been great - cheap to fix when you crash it... :lol: good fun to drive and looooooooooads you can do to them 8)

Definetaly go for it, buy a base model and build it up over time!
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By JDM_22
#111209 What kind of mileage? Cause i struggle to find anything under 80k over here (uk). I need to find an old man with one :P Thats sure to be good condition.
By kir1
#111211 i wouldnt worry too much about mileage, 80k miles would be low for the year and hondas go for ever
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By Chance
#111233 A hatch would definitely be a great first car. If you find one thats under 100k miles thats perfect. My fist hatch was a CX with 160k miles and I rocked that stock d15 up to 200k miles, never had any problems and it still ran strong (40+mpg) when I sold it!
GL with your search :thumb:
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By JDM_22
#111476 I want to spend about 1,000 GBP (ish), that converts to about 1,477.80 USD

(no converter used there)
However, that bee enough for me to get a decent example and some minor modifications?
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Also, something which has come into action recently www.UkScrapScheme.co.uk
Which means my potential buys are being crushed as we speak! :x
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By Chance
#111591
JDM_22 wrote:I want to spend about 1,000 GBP (ish), that converts to about 1,477.80 USD
However, that bee enough for me to get a decent example and some minor modifications?

I would say somewhere around...1,000 - 1,350(GBP) to get one in decent condition to start as a project. Not sure how much they go for there but here (US) for a decent one depending on what state, they go for $2-3k usd (1,350-1650 gbp)

JDM_22 wrote:Also, something which has come into action recently www.UkScrapScheme.co.uk
Which means my potential buys are being crushed as we speak! :x

Dang that sucks...
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By Classiccarsrule85
#112188 I wouldnt of gotten that even if it was a eg i could get....just for the meer fact that its been quite modified....

Id look for somethign that isnt really modified all that much may be really hard now a days but that little ole granny who still drives her hatch around. im sure dosent have a header, cai, and exhaust on it i mean those are ok mods. but once you start getting into stuff that involves wires. i wouldnt go for that car unless you absolutely knew the people since wires are hard to trace and if they have added stuff well you get the picture.....

My first car was actually a 1985 bmw 635csi and boy was that a awsome first car kinda was stupid with it though and wrecked it but im smarter sorta now and own a 1995 civic cx which i think is definately a great first car and then some....youve at least hit half of the good hondas to work on and be a great first car the other set is the 1988-1991 civic/crx though those tend to be rust buckets at least where i live almost every one ive seen or had has had more rot than just the rear wheel wells....but yea id get yourself an eg let it be coupe, sedan or hatch they all are great first cars and see what happens. My first civic i bought with a blown head gasket it was a 4dr sedan 5spd and it was a nice car just the previous owner had chopped the front springs only screwed up the hood and thats about it....

So really id look for any 92-95 civic for your first car because i know from experience if its something you really want and you spend a fortune on it for your first ride. if something ever happened to it you'd be so freaking depressed. kinda like i was.....well anyways thats why i mentioned looking for a coupe or sedan since they are definately cheaper than hatches and at least sedans are really never that highly modified unless the people who own it love the car very much.....

Just my 2 cent rant.....
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By Samri
#112189 yeah down here in the states finding one isn't the hard part you see them all the time it's finding one at a decent price i just bought my second one it cost me $2500 and had a salvage title

but as far as a good first car, i think they would make a good first car, my first car was an 83 subaru gl hatchback, man that thing was ugly as sin but i could drive around all day on 3 dollars (back when gas was around 90cent a gallon), and it had so many problems wrong with it, i either had to learn to fix cars or learn to write a check, let's just say i still don't know how to write a check :thumb:
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By zeppelin101
#112217 I tell you what mate...

I'm selling mine next month buy mine!

It's a bit rusty in parts and wants a timing belt but it's:

A 1.3 DX, so tiny engine, great on fuel, very light
Got 64k miles

And the best bit...

I don't want much for it ;)

It was my first car too, it just wants a bit of TLC really and I wager you can probably buy my car, and fix it up for under your 1k budget.
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By colpitts
#112292
zeppelin101 wrote:I tell you what mate...

I'm selling mine next month buy mine!

It's a bit rusty in parts and wants a timing belt but it's:

A 1.3 DX, so tiny engine, great on fuel, very light
Got 64k miles

And the best bit...

I don't want much for it ;)

It was my first car too, it just wants a bit of TLC really and I wager you can probably buy my car, and fix it up for under your 1k budget.



ding ding ding.. sounds like we have a winner.