[brucepick]

Yes - I'm starting to think you guys are right. Consider them all. That should make shopping much easier.

I did some research on the oxy sensor and cat converter for the HX. Yikes. The wide band Oxy sensor is well over $300, and the front cat is sold complete with manifold for about $700. So a non-HX, modded as below, is starting to look like a good idea. If/when those goodies need replacing, it's pricey. Any other version of the car could be more economical in the long run.

I do believe the coupe has the best aero of the 3 body styles so I think that will be my preferred body.

I've revised my thinking - any version including EX can be a candidate. Within my budget I may be able to buy one and cover the cost to swap in a '92-'95 CX/VX standard transmission. I'm pretty sure that would give probably lower rpm's than any USA-stock '96 - 2000 Civic.

If I do that I wouldn't worry about being hurt by the extra hp of the EX engine. As I understand that's due to VTEC, which doesn't really kick into high output till the higher rpms. With the taller transmission and hypermiling the car I'd rarely be using those hp. Instead it would "live" in the lower rpms where I'm guessing the VTEC will help by being better optimized for the low rpms when using them.

A Gen 6 EX with a '92-05 CX/VX tranny might be a nice combination of HX-like economy, power when wanted (but ya gotta downshift), and whatever nice trim features are in the EX. I think I could go for that if I find a nice one available for my price.