Nolah.. that's the reason for driving 14 year old car.. No need to bother with finance companies and monthly payment! Can mod all you want. Still a lot to do on mine.. I think engine wise, still a long way to go... a lot of optional parts that don't increase improvement that I want (because I like to tinker with the engine, and seeing some bling in my engine bay is what makes my day!)
So far.. I think I already spent about 25-28K on extra parts. (been driving the D series for a while too (ahem.. one day! First three gears were fun, but there was nothing on the fourth and fifth!), then immediately just converted to B-series). Also recently changed all rubber mouldings and stuff (almost 1K also there).
So.. everything works almost like new... except it will forever be tagged as an 'old car' (haha!). Still.. considering the age and all.. No new sub-80K car can beat the pickup (and high rev power) of a B16A. I wonder how a low spec'ed B20B will do if I put it in? I expect a lot better low end torque, so it might even be more fun to drive!
Still, consider if you buy EG for 25-26K, plus with conversion and mods.. still won't hit the 50K mark. So if you don't bother about the 'new car' status.. why not? I also kena infected from my cousin. He owns a civic 2.0, but you see him driving his B18C EG hatch most of the time. His civic 2.0 became his sister's car already now. He just says the EGs are just fun to drive... and I tend to agree, after owning an old school EG myself.. The 2.0 is quite powerful, but just not powerful enough, and handling is just not comparable (even with koni adjustables and eibach springs). It's because the last double wishbone suspension ended with the EK models, I think. Those are probably what makes the old school hondas such fun to drive.
Depends on your choicelah.. for me.. if it were not for the fact that the Datsun 240Z was hard to get and repair (even worse, the parts!).. I'd be a nissan owner already. That's like.... my favourite classic car, man!
The fact that there is quite a number US people are die hard honda fans, parts are still made for the B-series, incl. the head, the block, etc. (
I just love old-school stuff. I'm just weird that way. With new cars costing 100K++, I don't see the reason why I cannot spend 2/3rds of the money to spice up an old car. With the K series able to fit in the EG engine bay.. Booyaka!
p.s. Only the engine bay looks clean, BTW.. I couldn't care less about the outer look. ROFL! (absolute sleeper!) Got soo many times tahan'ed by roadblocks, but with a 4 door without wings and stickers.. they usually just check the roadtax and licence. Even the JPJ doesn't pandang so much (unless I hit the 3.5K mark, then the sound from the bordermax will make the JPJ suspicious!) Sleeper also means you have to drive casually most of the time, and 'rempit' only on highways and clear roadways, else people will start to notice.