1997 Auto Accord vs 2000 5-spd Civic

[RandomFact314]

I put my 2.2L Accord on Craigslist to trade because the 21mpg was killing me... I heard a lady say her Ford EXPLORER gets 20mpg -_-

Anyways... After alot of shuffling through stupid corvettes I got an offer for a 2-door 2000 Civic, 5-speed....

Looked up MPG on FuelEconomy.gov and saw the 5-speeds came with 3 engines:

Non-VTEC: 27/33 (30mpg)
SOHC VTEC: 25/32 (28mpg)
DOHC VTEC: 22/29 (25mpg)

His is the SOHC VTEC

Said everything works fine and it doesnt leak anything... Everything works on my Accord (mostly) and doesn't leak

Mine has 168k of pizza deliveries under its belt and his has 180k or who knows what under its....

Should I trade?

BTW... Mmmmm if would feel so good to be back in a 5 speed :P
The 5 speed would let me hypermile alot better too

[cleanspeed1]

This is a no brainer if the car checks out ok. Get the Civic. I have an Accord and I thought the mpg was just a fluke, but these things are guzzly on the gas. But I got it for no money and it runs great. If I had to do it all over again, it would be a 5 speed Civic.

[PaleMelanesian]

Originally Posted by RandomFact314

The 5 speed would let me hypermile a lot better too

Yes.

VTEC means it's the EX model. One big reason it has a lower rating is the gear ratios run it at higher rpm. Around town that's no big deal but on the highway... OY!

[RandomFact314]

Originally Posted by PaleMelanesian

Yes.

VTEC means it's the EX model. One big reason it has a lower rating is the gear ratios run it at higher rpm. Around town that's no big deal but on the highway... OY!

So its loud on the highway is what your saying? Cuz im not entirely sure what you mean

[cleanspeed1]

They are geared kinda low, so the cruise rpm is a little high.

[PaleMelanesian]

I'm saying the gear ratios KILL the gas mileage on the highway. If it had VX-style gears to run 2000 rpm the mileage would be significantly higher than the 3000 rpm it does run. That's one of the ways basjoos' Aerocivic does so well.

Showdown: testing RPM vs. MPG at a fixed speed - MetroMPG.com

[d0sitmatr]

Originally Posted by cleanspeed1

This is a no brainer if the car checks out ok. Get the Civic. I have an Accord and I thought the mpg was just a fluke, but these things are guzzly on the gas. But I got it for no money and it runs great. If I had to do it all over again, it would be a 5 speed Civic.

my old accord (96, 2.2L non-vtec-5spd) averaged 31mpg hwy, but I have no clue what it got in the city as it was mainly used to commute to visit my mother 2 hrs away, and I only had it in my possession for a short time before giving it to my mother as a temp car while her's was down.

all that aside, it is a no brainer as long as the cvcc is in comparable condition as the accord. I wouldnt mind the miles so much as long as the trans is in good shape and the car has been taken care of.

[RandomFact314]

Ok guys... Went to the guys house today and checked out the Civic....
First of all he said it was a EX VTEC but I dont think it was... Im no Honda engine expert but as far as iv seen all VTECs have that same stereotypical squarish valve cover with the plastic peace in the middle that covers the spark plugs... This engine's valve cover looked like the F22B2 in my Accord... Maybe you guys know better than I do....

So about the car:
1) I noticed it had Greedy Headers on it (no a big deal to me) looks pretty :P

2) Has a stupid 3in. exhaust on the back but I figured I could put it on Craiglist to trade straight up for a non-rusty stock one and I'm sure 1000 teenagers would be all over it

3) Has some HD Radio thing in place of the original tape/cd player. It doesnt fit, it doesnt match the color scheme, and its basically rigged in there and just dangling in the dash. Can put it on Craigslist, trade for stock.

4) Has angel eyes headlight, they look sexy but the wiring looks like it was done by a 9 year old.... None of the wires are wrapped or crimped... Just twisted together and laying there

5) Cold air intake (who cares) again... Put on Craigslist to trade for stock straight up and teens jump all over it.

6) Missing the cigarette lighter thingy to charge GPS... I absolutely have to have one b/c I deliver... Im sure its easy to put a new one in...

7) Rigged tweeters all over the car... I will have to rewire those out

8) Lowered like 2 inches with "bouncy" coil overs..... Yeah that kinda sucks

There were a few other minor things... He said the trans was hard to get into reverse but IDK, I would have to test drive it myself and see.

New brakes, tires, tune up.

gosh why does every idiot with a Civic think they should rice it out? Still thinking about trading though... 30mpg sounds great

[TheEnemy]

Two things that raise a flag with me

1. Make sure the suspenssion isn't seriously messed up. I have seen some lowering jobs that wound up doing serious damage in the long run.

2. How many miles did he drive it, I wouldn't be supprised if he totaly thrashed the engine.

At least do a compression check on it before you trade

[d0sitmatr]

from everything you have said, Id be inclined to pass on it.