BaT $22,750 2000 Civic Si Buyer's Statement

"davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com" (davesaddiction)
03/29/2018 at 11:19 • Filed to: None

As Road & Track said in its 1999/2000 Civic Si buyer’s guide, “Finding a completely unmodified Civic Si is, for about the fourth or fifth time, not going to be easy. Speak with any well-informed Honda fan, and they’ll likely tell you that you’re hunting unicorns.” I was 18 years old when I read my first magazine review of this car, I remember it was referred to as the “NSX’s kid brother”. I was driving a Geo Metro at the time, and I can’t describe the feeling of lust I had for this vehicle. I remember sitting in a red example, just like this one, at the Honda dealership a week after reading that review. I was sitting in the object I desired more than anything at the time, and I couldn’t find a way to acquire it. They stopped selling it by the time I was actually on the market for a new car, which was many years later. I’ve thought about that red Si at least once a week for the last 18 years.

The car represents inspiration to me. It’s art. It’s something I can see in my garage that will make me smile in the morning before I head to the office. This type of inspiration means that everyone wins, especially my clients, friends, family, and anyone that has any interaction with me. I promise that this car will pay for itself tenfold that way. A small dream acquired.

As for the money, this is as close as anyone will ever get to actually purchasing one of these brand new off the lot. It’s a time capsule. Even one of the last examples here sold for ~$15k, with triple the miles, former body panel damage, modifications, etc. The delta between that example and this one is about $7k. That’s a pretty small price of admission for what it means to me, to release myself from the hunt, to know I purchased the very best version of this car that likely exists in the world today, and most importantly to experience the inspiration I described above. It’s a bargain. :-)

How can you argue with that?

DISCUSSION (27)

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
03/29/2018 at 11:29

That’s BS. If he were honest his statement would be:

HAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA $22K for a 2000 Civic. I’m made!

PartyPooper2012 > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
03/29/2018 at 11:29

Give that man his money back. He deserves his Unicorn.

Hopefully all the rubber/plastic is still in good shape. Otherwise, he is going to be molesting that unicorn for a little while.

promoted by the color red > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
03/29/2018 at 11:29

I’M RICH, BITCH!

promoted by the color red > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
03/29/2018 at 11:30

NGL I’d do the same thing for the right Integra GS-R/Type-R but I spent all my money on another car.

Dogsatemypants > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
03/29/2018 at 11:30

Well good luck guy.

The man has passion, but 22k for a civic si seems a bit cp to me.

BeaterGT > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
03/29/2018 at 11:31

But will he drive it?

GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
03/29/2018 at 11:36

That’s pretty awesome.

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > BeaterGT
03/29/2018 at 11:37

i certainly hope so

itschrome > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
03/29/2018 at 11:43

Some day this will be me and a super low mile super clean 2003 Seville STS

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > BeaterGT
03/29/2018 at 11:48

Based on his other comments, yes.

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
03/29/2018 at 11:49

20 years ago...

As Road & Track said in its 1969 Camaro Z28 buyer’s guide, “Finding a completely unmodified Camaro Z28 is, for about the fourth or fifth time, not going to be easy. Speak with any well-informed Chevy fan, and they’ll likely tell you that you’re hunting unicorns.” I was 18 years old when I read my first magazine review of this car, I remember it was referred to as the “Corvette’s kid brother”. I was driving a Nash Metropolitain at the time, and I can’t describe the feeling of lust I had for this vehicle. I remember sitting in a red example, just like this one, at the Chevy dealership a week after reading that review. I was sitting in the object I desired more than anything at the time, and I couldn’t find a way to acquire it. They stopped selling it by the time I was actually on the market for a new car, which was many years later. I’ve thought about that red Z28 at least once a week for the last 18 years.

As for the money, this is as close as anyone will ever get to actually purchasing one of these brand new off the lot. It’s a time capsule. Even one of the last examples here sold for ~$55k, with triple the miles, former body panel damage, modifications, etc. The delta between that example and this one is about $20k. That’s a pretty small price of admission for what it means to me, to release myself from the hunt, to know I purchased the very best version of this car that likely exists in the world today, and most importantly to experience the inspiration I described above. It’s a bargain. :-)

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Dogsatemypants
03/29/2018 at 11:50

I wouldn’t spend it, but what price can you put on inspiration/joy/a lifelong want fulfilled?

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
03/29/2018 at 11:51

Exactly.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
03/29/2018 at 12:08

We shouldn’t shit on people for shelling out for their dream car, regardless of what car it is or what they paid. Even if we really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really want to. The less I think about this specific example, the better. Because I really, really, really, really...

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/29/2018 at 12:16

Haha!

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
03/29/2018 at 12:24

Uh...okay???

Does this person not realize that they do not owe ‘The Internet’ any reasoning for their choices whatsoever, beyond, “I wanted to buy it, and I can afford to do so.”

And even then, that’s still being overly generous. They wanted one. They had the money. They bought it. We don’t need to know anything else.

gettingoldercarguy > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/29/2018 at 12:29

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1986-toyota-4x4-pickup-3/

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > gettingoldercarguy
03/29/2018 at 12:31

If that’s not a penny more, then it’s a steal compared to what that would go for around here. Then again, you know it won’t stay that low...

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
03/29/2018 at 13:51

Yeah, he definitely didn’t owe anyone an explanation, but it was nice of him to share his motivation as an enthusiast to buy it.

It was just in the comment thread on the sale page (he’d made other comments as he’d been bidding), so it’s not like this is some special response he wrote to the Jalopnik article or something. He just wanted to share his story with this car with the BaT community.

functionoverfashion > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
03/29/2018 at 13:55

When I was in high school, I drove a thoroughly exhausted 1985 Honda Accord, 5 speed. At the time, I wondered why there weren’t any classic Hondas around, or really any Hondas that weren’t used up and thrown out. I thought the car was great, and didn’t really get that people used them as appliances, buying a new one when the old one broke too much. But here we are, classic Hondas with real value; and not just the NSX. How about that.

I mean, I now know that there’s a real following for classic Japanese cars even in the US, and partly, in 1995 Japanese cars just hadn’t been popular here for long enough for a real classic market to exist; at least not on the East Coast. But all the same, Hondas that were new as I was thinking these thoughts, are now valuable as collector items (more or less) in the right condition, to the right buyer.

Some of the rarity of this one is, of course, the very fact that it wasn’t modified, or even driven at all; unlike most Hondas, and that’s part of the reason that there aren’t a lot of classic Honda barn finds like there are Mustangs or something. And at the same time, it makes a pristine example all the more rare.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > functionoverfashion
03/29/2018 at 14:01

‘90s Honda was definitely peak Honda.

I had a ‘91 Accord 5-speed - great little car, but not as sweet as my ‘88 Acura Legend!

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
03/29/2018 at 14:29

Which I get and am not necessarily condemning. But it also comes across as someone desperately trying to rationalize their purchase via public forum.

I am glad he bought the car he’s wanted for so long. But I don’t have any expectation of a reason why he or anyone else decides to buy what they want to buy.

gettingoldercarguy > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/29/2018 at 16:35

Last few minutes of auction right now. Going for a lot more.

functionoverfashion > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
03/30/2018 at 09:44

It could just be that he’s excited and wants to share his story. I bought a boat this past summer that was the exact, perfect boat for me (and now my family) that I’ve wanted since it was so far out of my reach as to be a total pipe dream; about 17 years. I couldn’t wait to share pics of it, and a little background, on the forums. And I shared it here, too.

He might be feeling a little defensive, too, in this case. But that’s just part of it, I think.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > functionoverfashion
03/30/2018 at 11:02

I never meant to imply he wasn’t allowed to be excited about his purchase, nor that he couldn’t share his excitement with others.

My only comment is that writing that much, to me, feels like he is trying to rationalize his purchase via public forum. He wanted that car since forever. That was the best example he’s seen. He bought it because he could afford to do so. He does not owe us anything explaining his choices.

functionoverfashion > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
03/30/2018 at 12:35

I’m with you on that; I think it’s maybe... a little of column A, little of column B?

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > functionoverfashion
03/30/2018 at 13:26

Another way to think about it...

Do the mid-to-late-life-crisis Boomers who pay ungodly amounts for old ‘Murican muscle and Mopar cars at those insipid TV auctions ever feel the need to justify their purchases?

He shouldn’t have to either. Want to share your excitement in buying the car you’ve dreamed of owning forever? Sure. That’s like, what, a single paragraph about how you wanted one, were poor, now you’re not so you bought it. Cool. Enjoy your dream car.

That thesis paper we got treated to is a bit rich. Also the online car community sucks now. That he felt he needed to defend his purchase is sad.