I just bought a thing.

"anothermiatafanboy" (kvnkiley)
09/17/2014 at 21:45 • Filed to: None

I just bought a car and I am having terrible buyers remorse.

That would be my new ride. 2004 Civic Si. 76,000 miles. Clean carfax. $6200. Any and all stupid stickers have been removed and as soon as it becomes possible it will be returned to stock ride height. THE BAD: I tried to look the car over thoroughly and gave it a little drive...either I somehow didn't notice(impossible) or it started after I left or I never made it into third during the test drive, but it grinds sometimes going from second to third.

I am an irrational anxiety-prone person and this has me so upset I want to crawl under a rock and die. I don't know where I go next.

Be easy on me, Oppo.

DISCUSSION (39)

Sweet Trav > anothermiatafanboy
09/17/2014 at 21:47

It's a Honda, replacement parts are cheap.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > anothermiatafanboy
09/17/2014 at 21:48

On the bright side, it could've been worse.

f86sabre > anothermiatafanboy
09/17/2014 at 21:48

change the tyranny fluid and hope that helps it

Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD > Sweet Trav
09/17/2014 at 21:49

I don't know, it is an EP3. He may have to order parts since they didn't sell well here.

Dsscats > anothermiatafanboy
09/17/2014 at 21:49

It's okay, it should be an easy synchro repair. Until then, just granny shift and go slow. If it does need the whole thing replaced, throw in an RSX 6 speed. It'll make it 5x better any ways.

505Turbeaux > anothermiatafanboy
09/17/2014 at 21:49

private sale or dealer? I never touch a car that has been bestickered or lowered unless it is free. Just goes to show the previous care usually...then again I like to usually ride in stock whips. Anyhow, any local recourse to get that tranny fixed through the legal system? Bad shifter cable adjustment?

In a Mini; let them mock me as My Mini Countryman is higher than you > anothermiatafanboy
09/17/2014 at 21:51

BUT V-TEC MANE! DOES IT KICK IN YO?!!

Louros > Dsscats
09/17/2014 at 21:51

"Easy?" Pulling and disassembling a transmission is easy?

Sam > anothermiatafanboy
09/17/2014 at 21:52

Well, if you're handy, you can get a good transmission from a scrapper for about a grand. Other than that, it sounds like you got a pretty good deal.

Also, it could be much worse. I got my Porsche home and found out that the brake lights and headlights don't work. And the headlight motor nearly caused the car to self-immolate. So basically, don't feel bad.

Dsscats > Louros
09/17/2014 at 21:54

Come on man, I'm trying to comfort him. And compared to some other cars, it is.

Boxer_4 > anothermiatafanboy
09/17/2014 at 21:57

Like Dsscats said, it's probably the syncrhos. It looks like an upgraded set isn't too expensive part wise. I'm not sure how expensive labor would be. I'd try to find an EP3/Si specific forum to verify what we've said/part compatibility.

Raphmoe > Louros
09/17/2014 at 22:00

Just call the mad scientist to rip apart the block; might as well replaced the fried piston rings while he's at it.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > anothermiatafanboy
09/17/2014 at 22:00

I'm geuSSing it just just the shifter "linkage" that needs to be replaced. the linkage had been repalaced already on my 01 coupe, and because of that my shifter feels firm am precise. instead of all jiggly and grindy like my 91 civic did. seriously you could move the shitfer about a foot form side to side while in gear.

please forgive any typos as ive had one to many very stiff Bombay Sapphire GnTs.

Raphmoe > anothermiatafanboy
09/17/2014 at 22:01

Who/Where did you buy it from? If it's a dealer do NOT put more miles on it, the more miles you add up they'll say you did something.

If it's a private party, did you get a bill of sale?

Sn210 > f86sabre
09/17/2014 at 22:07

Id start with this, too. It should be changed at 60k, so it's possible it wasn't done by the po. Cheapest and easiest to try

DylanToback > anothermiatafanboy
09/17/2014 at 22:19

I wouldn't worry too much, probably half of the older Honda's I have driven have a bit of a grind. Worn synchros are quite common. You could try changing the transmission fluid, that occasionally helps a little. My old Accord used to grind a little when shifting into fifth; if you double clutch the shift there shouldn't be any grind. I had the car for 4 years and it never got any worse or had any other transmission problems of any kind.

anothermiatafanboy > In a Mini; let them mock me as My Mini Countryman is higher than you
09/17/2014 at 22:26

lol yes. Engine sounds nice.

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
09/17/2014 at 22:26

Excellent choice of gin I must say, but it's kind of wasted on GnTs when you mainly taste the tonic water and/or lime. I'd rather save a few sheckles and buy Tanqueray or some white label stuff.

anothermiatafanboy > Raphmoe
09/17/2014 at 22:26

private party. I got a very amateur bill of sale.

anothermiatafanboy > 505Turbeaux
09/17/2014 at 22:27

It was a private sale.

Raphmoe > anothermiatafanboy
09/17/2014 at 22:29

live and learn; I would avoid putting mileage on it and either get it towed to a mechanic or have a reputable mechanic take a look at it and diagnosis the problem. Sometimes, trained professionals are needed in cases like this. Best of luck, the EP3 is a great car.

anothermiatafanboy > Sam
09/17/2014 at 22:30

thanks man, I appreciate it! I have just been feeling so stupid for having missed this.

anothermiatafanboy > DylanToback
09/17/2014 at 22:31

When double clutching I did not experience any grind.

Übel > Raphmoe
09/17/2014 at 22:31

Sales are as-is, so neither of those would help unless he got it from a dealership with some sort of warranty, which is very very unlikely. Frankly, it's either his fault for not giving it a thorough test drive or it's unfortunate bad luck that it developed right away.

anothermiatafanboy > Dsscats
09/17/2014 at 22:33

I'm not mechanically inclined enough for that to be easy. But I do appreciate the attempt at comfort I'm feeling terrible.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
09/17/2014 at 22:33

duly noted. It is great gin. I have some cheap Gin too, but Bombay is the only gin that I really enjoy drinking. i'll have try Tanqueray for comparison.

Also by stiff I mean more than 50/50

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
09/17/2014 at 22:37

op gotta pee again.

anothermiatafanboy > Übel
09/17/2014 at 22:42

It is indeed my fault for not giving it a thorough enough test drive.

DylanToback > anothermiatafanboy
09/17/2014 at 23:33

That should indicate a problem with the synchro for that gear. The bad news is that it would require a transmission rebuild or replacement to get rid of the grind. The good news is that it probably wont be a serious problem for a very long time, if ever.

anothermiatafanboy > DylanToback
09/17/2014 at 23:51

Well that's making me a little less upset. I'm just so disappointed on myself. I should have done a more thorough test drive. Now I won't ever be able to shift aggressively into third?! It's an Si for Christ sake.

wafflesnfalafel > anothermiatafanboy
09/18/2014 at 00:14

Could just be old/low transmission fluid. I had a 01 Civic coupe with the 5sp stick and it started hanging up getting into 3rd at around 45,000 especially when cold. Turns out it just needed a flush and new fluid - worked fine til I traded it in.

Übel > anothermiatafanboy
09/18/2014 at 01:25

I've done the exact same thing :P Lived with a grinding 5th gear for a year and a half with no issues

Too many M's > f86sabre
09/18/2014 at 05:11

I'd want to get rid of that oppressive fluid as well. Get some good 'ole Democratic fluid in there.

f86sabre > Too many M's
09/18/2014 at 06:38

ha! Auto correct at it's finest

anothermiatafanboy > Übel
09/18/2014 at 13:26

5th would be easier to be gentle with or double clutch. I want to bang my gears 1-3 at least :(

bradleyjames518 > anothermiatafanboy
09/22/2014 at 18:34

You'll just have to learn to drive very smoothly - I destroyed the synchros for 2nd and 3rd in my T-Bird Turbo Coupe. You can get by smoothly without them.

PhiLOL (slowcarSLOW-MPGlol) > anothermiatafanboy
05/15/2015 at 17:37

I stumbled upon some of your posts, and after reading a bit, I’ve decided that you are me. Or were. I currently drive a Miata and love it dearly, but I need more room. I’ve weighed an EM1 against an EP3 against an Integra GS-R thousands of times in my head, yet am increasingly tempted by the cheap maintenance and insurance costs of a Crown Vic.

Please tell me how your EP3 experience has been. Our tastes seem to be very similar and I would love your feedback before I make my next car purchase.

anothermiatafanboy > PhiLOL (slowcarSLOW-MPGlol)
05/18/2015 at 13:09

Haha, glad to meet me! I mean you...same difference. Well, the EP3 has been good to me so far. But it isn’t quite in the league of those other two. Its kind of like a Civic EX+ Or Civic Sport Package. Its engine is just not quiiiite worthy of the Si badge. It has been dead reliable and I expect it to remain so, the interior is awesome (great steering wheel, seats, shifter) although as a side note the cable shifter as opposed to the mechanical shifter in the other cars does rob it of some of that snick snick rifle bolt Honda shift quality. Tons of room as well. Back seats comfortably hold adults, hatch area comfortable holds groceries.

The EM1 or GS-R are awesome cars. And their 8,000 RPM engines are still the stuff of my dreams. But they are absolute thief magnets and I would not want that anxiety. And they are getting on in age and prone to rust. I think when I save up a little money I will get my 8,000 RPM Honda, it will just be in the form of a 2006-10 Si or a RSX Type-S.

I cant think of anything else at the moment. But feel free to ask any questions Ill answer as well as I can.

PhiLOL (slowcarSLOW-MPGlol) > anothermiatafanboy
05/20/2015 at 10:30

A well-reasoned description of a well-reasoned purchase. Thanks for sharing that, really. I’m at the point where I’m going so far out of my way to rationalize buying an EM1/GS-R - a car with twice the insurance premium of my Miata, high attraction to thieves, equally high chance of rust, can’t fit real people in the back, drinks 93 octane, makes me look like a high school kid... all for a 30mpg car that’s 15-20 years old and has over 100k miles.

EP3s are still pretty expensive where I live. But if I found the right one, I would still absolutely consider it. I also regard it as a Civic EX hatch. Here’s what I’m talking about. It definitely seems like the more rational choice, and it’s still half the price of a FA5.