My 2006 Honda Civic Si is driveable after a yr of blood, sweat and swearing | Tech Guess

Tuner automobiles have been my factor for so long as I can bear in mind. To overlook The quick and the livid; again in 2001 my buddies and that i had been fantasizing the way to make our sooner or later automobiles appear like what we noticed on grainy Greatest car clips downloaded at 56 kbps on a beige laptop tower the dimensions of a truck tire.

Honda Civics particularly have been particular to me ever since I used to be transported to preschool in Dad’s ’88 LX sedan. It was blue metallic, like each different automotive from the 80s, and remained within the household for many years.

Flash ahead to the mid-2000s and the eighth-generation Civic got here out close to the tip of my highschool days. My tastes ultimately matured past physique kits and blingy wheels, however the clear strains of the FG2 Coupe immediately suffocated me. As soon as I noticed that massive tachometer, lit pink no much less, I used to be screwed. Does anybody bear in mind this scene in Wayne’s World when he sees this Stratocaster within the window?

Both manner, I may barely afford the non-VTEC Integra salvage title I used to be driving on the time, so a model new automotive was utterly out of the query. You may see the place that is heading: in 2021, I lastly discovered myself in a position to begin a brand new venture and realized I may afford an eighth-gen Civic Si. As soon as my co-workers validated the decide as an awesome low cost candidate for monitor enjoyable (I nonetheless do not feel snug spending the cash on a brand new automotive), I went with the concept like my automotive expertise.

In terms of shopping for used automobiles, the prevailing knowledge is to purchase the cleanest, most stocked, least owned machine you will discover. However I wasn’t in search of an instance of a cherry that might grow to be a critical collector’s merchandise with cautious administration. I wished a automotive that I may take aside and attempt to put again collectively, then whip round tough roads and dangerous climate – a cheap instance that I would not really feel responsible about ringing or letting my canine ​​stink.

My solely actual necessities: 2006-2008 (the primary entrance finish design) Civic Si Coupe with out navigation and a clear title. Since Honda by no means made an computerized Si, I did not have to fret about narrowing the two-pedal automobiles off my checklist. There are compelling causes to concentrate on newer automobiles in case you’re purchasing for your self, however I am going to get to that in one other article.

After months of looking (the 2021 used automotive market was robust) I discovered such a automotive, and after I realized it was native with comparatively low mileage (109,000 – younger for a Civic of this classic), I kind of made up my thoughts to purchase it earlier than I even tried it.

As soon as I drove the 2006 coupe I discovered on Craigslist, I will not faux it was love at first sight. The automotive ran prefer it had a chilly, smelled bizarre and had clearly been painted fairly badly. Carfax reported half a dozen house owners – sure, BringaTrailer would reject this hooptie.

After a ’91 Civic Si, coloured like an previous rust apple, for nearly the identical value, and seeing no different good prospects within the used automotive market, I believed to myself heck – my objective was to enhance myself in DIY and this automotive undoubtedly wanted it.

Within the 14-something months I’ve had the black ’06 coupe I purchased that night time, the mission with it was all about creating my concept of ​​the Final Civic Si. Nicely , that, and having the automotive run and drive properly sufficient to be tolerated for an prolonged time period.

As you may discover, these attributes roughly match what the automotive comes inventory with. That is precisely the purpose – I am trying to set the automotive as much as have the identical manufacturing facility vibe, however with all its accented options only a hair nearer to ‘efficiency’ and additional away from ‘ compliant commuter automotive”. Like, possibly what the Civic Si would have been like if it had value 25% extra. And likewise be my winter drummer.

As I used to be simply speaking in regards to the fatigue of the Civic I adopted after I picked it up, there’s plenty of restoration that I’ve completed and can do. I am excited to share my trials, tribulations, and takeaways in our sequence of Automobile Diaries tasks this yr.

Because it stands, the automotive lastly runs and drives properly, however I am nonetheless in search of noises and doing plenty of repairs. My mission proper now’s simply to drive as many miles as attainable to actually get to comprehend it and take into consideration the subsequent part of optimization.

The primary duties I’ve completed to this point that I’ll share details about quickly embody:

I do know; knowledgeable mechanic would think about my checklist a breeze and I am not even right here to disagree. However I discovered rather a lot from these small tasks. If you happen to’ve ever questioned what you are entering into shopping for a bit of tough and low cost tuner automotive or wish to know extra in regards to the eighth-gen Civic Si particularly, you are in for a sequence of posts. enjoyable.

Within the meantime, I welcome any new details about these automobiles that you will have and may share within the feedback!