I said Si to the $100 Challenge

"Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig" (AndySheehan-StreetsideStig)
07/29/2014 at 17:21 • Filed to: None

A week ago last night, my beloved WRX wagon offered what would become my final test of loyalty and stupidity, and thankfully, I failed. The engine locked, probably the result of an all-too-common spun rod bearing, and I thought for the first time, "This really isn't a very reliable car."

It's a great wonder that the thought had never occurred to me, as in the three years I've owned it, I've replaced the center diff, the transmission, the radiator, the front seats, and countless other little elements.

Now, I'm not jilted toward Subaru. A plain old Impreza is probably a very reliable car, but it seems like the WRX, at least my year, was made more powerful without being made more durable, which seems the wrong way to build a fast car.

So I went to work looking for something else. It had to be cheap, reliable, and manual (settle down auto-elitists: Even you can't argue that cheap and automatic are a good combination), and I was going to pay cash. I'm sick of making car payments and carrying expensive insurance.

After a parade of Craiglist flakes, including a man selling a Festiva- a man who seems to be terrified of me after I asked him what trim level it was and never called back, and one shady dealership test drive of the world's worst (but still strangely appealing) '87 Pontiac Fiero with an Iron Duke; I found a 1987 Honda CRX with 183,000 miles for $1500. I probably wasn't going to buy it, right? It was carbureted. It had a little rust. It was impractical and had too many miles and was too old. And the right front fender was shattered from a deer impact.

But then the seller popped the hood and I gasped. In place of a giant Skoal can holding an air filter stood a bare throttle body labeled PGM-FI. "Yeah," the seller responded to my inquiry, "all the SIs were fuel injected."

I had seen the badge, of course, in the ad, but since the seller hadn't mentioned it yet, even in the ad, I'd assumed that it was a 5hp Ebay mod. No, this was a real Si.

At that moment, some valve tripped in my brain, like a malfunctioning thermostat, which directly routed all my common sense to my armpits, where I promptly sweated it into my Old Navy tee.

A semi-clean CRX Si for $1500? Of course I was going to buy it! I wasn't going to haggle with him at all! It was the deal of a lifetime! I could make a grand flipping it!

So I bought it. And I don't think, despite my wisdom-dissolving surge of emotion, that it was an entirely bad idea. I can restore and lightly mod it as I drive it, and best of all, it won't blow up.

But this was supposed to be cheap, right? My effort to burn off my debt and get a better footing. I can't afford to restore it.

So I'm setting myself a challenge. The repairs on my WRX, when averaged over the three years I owned it, cost me about $100/month in parts and labor. So I'm going to take that $100/month and put it into the CRX. The savings from my regularly scheduled WRX expenses - premium insurance, premium gas, and loan payments - will go toward paying off my credit card and eventually my student loan.

And hopefully, by the time I'm out of debt, the CRX will be worth at least some of the money I put into it, and I can either sell it off and use the money to hire someone to hunt down that man with the Festiva, or just keep a really awesome and reliable autocrosser.

It's in rough shape right now. The fender needs replaced, the valve cover gasket is sweating oil like I sweat good decisions, and each bushing in the car seems to be made out of an individual roll of Barbie's paper towels. But I think I can pull it off.

I may fail miserably and die of ramen poisoning, but I think it's worth a shot. Updates to follow. I might start a blog. We'll see.

DISCUSSION (32)

Ducky > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
07/29/2014 at 17:32

please keep us updated! this sounds like something i'd be very interested in reading

JGrabowMSt > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
07/29/2014 at 17:37

Ramen Poisoning doesn't sound so bad when you consider the best case scenario.

Desu-San-Desu > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
07/29/2014 at 17:38

I had the same engine in my '87 Prelude Si, I think. I know it had the same injection system. Good luck finding engine parts. :-P

Also, be sure to check all of the heater and water hoses. Mine blew a heater hose while on the interstate at night and by the time I knew something was up, the head gasket was gone and the head was warped. Bright side? I sold it after that for a 200% profit, hahaha.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > Desu-San-Desu
07/29/2014 at 17:44

My brother had the same issue with his old prelude. Great cars, but when they go, they go, there's very little hope of bringing them back.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
07/29/2014 at 17:45

I'm somehow disappointed in you for not buying the Iron Duke Fiero, and I'm not sure why.

JeffFurbs > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
07/29/2014 at 17:52

I'm still a delusional wrx owner. What year was yours? Sorry for your loss but here's to new gains!

banjo cat ghost of oppo past > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
07/29/2014 at 18:02

swe3et deal. Save up for a year and embark on a 220hp G23 swap and instantly be hated by every vtec owner. I also think they sound the best because they sound pissed off all the time instead of just above 6,000 rpm. Or do all that suspension stuff, I guess..

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > Desu-San-Desu
07/29/2014 at 18:10

Yup, I'd probably do a head gasket as a preventative at this point.

I had an 85 non Si, I loved that car, Although it was quite slow with the auto. Thing handled like a go cart and could fit into any parking space.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
07/29/2014 at 18:21

A first gen CRX or third gen Civic hatch are both cars on my "must own at some point" list. Good luck broseph

E92M3 > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
07/29/2014 at 18:27

I had an 87 (DX not an SI) in my younger days. I bought it for $800 woth 240k miles on it. 3 yrs later and lots of work (paint job, rebuilt carb, new seats, and wheels) I sold it for $3500.

reydelaplaya > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
07/29/2014 at 20:12

I just did a similar impulse buy when I bought my 91 Celica ragtop. My Jeep ZJ has been slowly bleeding me of extra cash what with gas mileage, various repairs over the years, and its latest desire to not run for more than about 1/2 an hour. I found this kinda cosmetically rough Celica convertible, consulted Oppo, and bought it the next day.

My plans are like yours - run it as a daily, fix a few of its cosmetic flaws, and once I've paid off my CC and student loans in a few years, drop it off at a good body shop and let them put a showroom shine back on it. By then, like your SI, it should be moving up the classic ladder.

Good luck with your new ride, dude! I know it's nice to find a little gem in the rough that's still serviceable and not trashed or thrashed.

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > reydelaplaya
07/29/2014 at 22:43

Thanks! I looked at a few Celicas myself during this process.

No, the CRX has not been thrashed. I'm only the third owner, and both owners before me were older folks.

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > Desu-San-Desu
07/29/2014 at 22:45

Yeah, it's the D15. I've noticed a cutoff after '88 with alot of parts.

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated!
07/29/2014 at 22:46

Thankfully, the head gasket, water pump, and t-belt were just done 20k ago.

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
07/29/2014 at 22:46

I was very oddly attracted to it, and I'm not sure why. Now we're even.

Desu-San-Desu > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
07/29/2014 at 22:49

Awesome. That's good to hear. =)

naallday > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
07/29/2014 at 22:52

more pics of her!! Pleaseeee

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > banjo cat ghost of oppo past
07/29/2014 at 22:55

Some power may come in the future, but I honestly like the band on the D15. I'm surprised at how quick the car feels for just 91 hp in 2k pounds. I'll probably just do an intake and catless exhaust and such.

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > E92M3
07/29/2014 at 22:55

That's the kind of story I need to hear.

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > JeffFurbs
07/29/2014 at 22:56

2002. That year seems to have alot of problems.

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > Ducky
07/29/2014 at 22:58

I will. I'm considering a blog all about it. Since I'm going month to month, I'd really only need to do one post a month. Maybe I'll do it on Kinja. It would be a great way to make sure I'm recording all my work and a solid record of everything for any potential buyers. And it would hold me financially accountable.

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > naallday
07/29/2014 at 23:02

In due time. Promise. I've wanted to capture the details, but I've been so busy getting it legal and ready for the inspection. And dealing with the WRX.

NinetyQ > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
07/29/2014 at 23:37

YES! Things I won't have to help you with right away!

Sadly I think I'd rather deal with those than all the bushings, suspension, and body work it probably needs.

NinetyQ > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
07/29/2014 at 23:40

Better look into whether that would really help or not. Sometimes cars use the exhaust back pressure for to create the precious-few torques your CRX already struggles to produce.

Also, Comrade Missouri would allow that?

NinetyQ > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
07/29/2014 at 23:42

You need to come up with a hashtag.

#TestarossaCRX (redhead CRX)?
#RedOnRedCRX?
#StreetsideCRX?
#CheapCRX?

JeffFurbs > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
07/30/2014 at 06:48

Ugh, every time I drive I have that fear. I have an '04 which was someone else neglected before I bought it. I looked for months and thought I found the best price to condition that I could afford. I've been fairly lucky thus far as long as you ignore the exploded timing belt pulley and bearing, and new axles, and things I've probably pushed out of my head. I just love driving it though, that's the problem. I just wish I could afford a new one

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > JeffFurbs
07/30/2014 at 08:13

The axles are just a maintenance item, but the TB pulley sounds really bad. My only advice is that you avoid driving it like a sports car most of the time. I drove mine pretty hard because I thought it could handle it.

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > NinetyQ
07/30/2014 at 08:15

I want to do #$100CRX, but that dollar sign kills it.

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > NinetyQ
07/30/2014 at 08:19

True. And Comrade Missouri can mind its own business.

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > NinetyQ
07/30/2014 at 08:22

Me too. Suspension stuff shouldn't be too bad, though.

JeffFurbs > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
07/30/2014 at 09:16

Yea the axles weren't so bad I agree. The TB pulley was my fault. I should've replaced them when I did my 100k mile maintenance but the money wasn't there for that extra little bit. I should have waited and done everything. I did luck out though and it didn't do any damage. It happened when I turned the car on and wasn't driving. I'm pretty good about limiting the sports driving, I more enjoy windy back roads then going as fast as I can. Most of the time... but yea I feel like at any day it can explode.

someoneatacura > Desu-San-Desu
07/30/2014 at 18:35

I don't think so. The Civic never used that range here (North America). His CRX has a D15 based engine.