Newbie with questions

[Dannyboymorgan]

hey guys,

I'm a newbie, so hey (I know i should have posted in the welcome one first, but it didn't look like a lot of people got replies so I thought i'd jump straight to it!)

I don't currently have an evo, I'm afraid to say i'm a Vtec lad, at current I have a Civic Type R EP3 Premier edition completely standard. But I've been offered by a garage to do a straight swap with a white eve 4 with 63k miles on it... few things I'm worried about...

1: I can afford to run the car with regards to insurance/fuel etc, but considering it's 1996 how likely am i to see stuff going wrong? Worst problem is it has no service history, however it's just been serviced with all bushes replaced because they were apparently rusty (would that mean theres a lot more rust underneath i can't see?)

2: I have done a lot of reading in old threads before i posted, and seen the crank walk issue. I'm ringing the guy later to find out what engine code it has, to see if it's already been replaced, if it hasn't should I stay away?

3: Is it worth swapping my EP3 for this evo? I know it's faster, and a joy to drive (test drove it already, didn't hear any knocks or any problems with the clutch) but obviously my car's a lot newer and I assume going to be a lot more reliable? However i need to spend £670 soon on a clutch for the civic anyways so...

4: Any other advice you can give would be great? I've looked up engine replacements if mine was to crank walk... looks like it would be £1500ish to get a replacement fitted - please keep in mind i know NOTHING of engines, i just love them! this car I'm looking at has already been tuned / dump valve / new air filter / decat / exhaust etc also! It's on the market at £4695

Cheers!

 

[fq-craigus]

ep3... brilliant car!!! miss mine sometimes.

anyways. imo the evo is the more fun car to drive, far more tuneable too so more miles per smiles. no service history scares some off but it shouldnt really, i do all my own servicing so no history with mine but i no its looked after. as long as you know what your looking at when you open the bonnet then you will be ok.

i personally wouldnt touch a 4 with a 4 engine for the reasons you have mentioned but again thats preference, some 4 owners will stand by their lump and say theres nothing wrong with them, i would say just be prepaired that it has more of a chance of failing but all being said its not the end of the world and you can pick up a V engine or later at a decent price.

ins will be down to area, ncb ect so do some quotes and see what they come out like. fuel......... well lets put it this way we dont buy these cars to get 500 miles to a tank (you will be lucky with 200)

as for straight swap if the dealer has offered you that then by the sounds of it your cars worth more..... so do with that info as you choose.

all that said you wont regret it so good luck with your choice

 

[paulgtt]

Welcome along mate.

Check the underneath thoroughly for rot, chassis legs are favoured places for rust.
(I got stung on my first Evo with rot that had been covered up)

A later engine is favoured but it does seem pot luck if the original engine goes, what power is it running currently?

A newer car doesn't necessarily mean a more reliable car, sure parts wear out but theres more bits to go wrong on newer cars!

Do you have a link to the Evo?
For the asking price I would expect loads of history and a pretty much immaculate car as its strong money for a 4 (unless its got a newer engine and running a good spec)

 

[Billy MR]

I wouldn't be having a 4 unless it has had a build.

Save ya money for a 5/6

 

[Dannyboymorgan]

Hey thanks for the replies!

With regards to the fact the dealer was happy to swap, that took a lot of persuading...! He wasn't going to do it, but i managed to change his mind by saying "Your sell a 55 plate civic easier than you will an evo 4" and he agreed the average joe bloggs off the street would buy a civic, so 2 days later he rang and agreed he would do it!

However after everything i've read I'm not sure.. maybe i'll just have to wait till I can afford a 7-8? They are my favourable ones, I just wanted to go turbo again after my old golf GTI that I tuned to hell.. and wanted 4WD.

The bit that i found today, I couldn't find the engine number on the engine... i'd looked online for where to look before I left, when i got there.. nothing was on it! And even the logbook said "Engine number: Unknown"

a lil bit worrying! :/

 

[Dannyboymorgan]

Here's the link to the car... see what you guys think...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...33tr/onesearchad/used,nearlynew,new?logcode=p

The only reason i was interested in this one is because of the straight swap situation, saves me selling mine.. i can get 4,500-5,000 for mine private, but only 3300-4000 on a trade in, so I'm getting a good deal since it's up for 4695, but depends if it's worth that much!

Thing is, I'm a novice when it comes to looking under the bonnet! :/

 

[Billy MR]

That's not a nice one, I'd wait until you save a few more pound.
Do not rush into buying a evo as it will turn out to a mines pit

 

[Dirtmatt]

If something looks to good to be true it normally is

Save and buy a later car bud, better spec on later cars. Got to ask yourself why they want to swap the evo for the civic.

 

[jawadarif]

Try selling you civic and cash buy. You have more more room to negotiate and you can know down on price especially private buyer

 

[ElDopesta]

Hi and welcome along!

If you are after an Evo, you will definitely be better off saving a little more and going for a V upwards.

I suggest that you read up on them as much as you possibly can in the mean time so when the day comes, you will know exactly what you are looking out for.

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[JapNOTCrap]

May seem daft but go on www.swapz.co.uk & theres allsorts on there that people will swap & take yours with cash too

 

[Dave Brennun]

Good info new boy.

 

[JapNOTCrap]

Like to help where I can Dave lol

 

[Dave Brennun]

Good lad.

 

[ElDopesta]

Good info new boy.

Kind of what you used to be like when you first joined us... :disgusted: :whistling: :whistling: :whistling: