Article: Buy It or Build It?

[dtb4u]

I'm putting together an article for a national import magazine and need you guys opinion. The question is if given a certain feasible amount of money, would you prefer to buy the factory tuned vehicle or start with the base of the same chassis and build from there. Let's use the US Spec EK Civic Si for example and lets say we have about $10K to spend. Would you simply try to find decent used Si or start with a EX Civic and build from there? Discuss...

[Jasoniswatching]

Personally:factory Si. More reliable.
To follow the adage from the South: "If it ain't broke don't fix it."

[Snoopy]

i'd find an 92-95 ex for dirt cheap and use the left over money to build it the way i want

[00civicsiboy]

I would take the ex and mod it. With 10k, a lot can be done, as long as the car is somewhat decent shape.

[dtb4u]

Do you guys believe the modified Civic will out perform the factory tuned car in basic track criteria: Braking, Accelleration and Cornering?

[SFAL]

Ill take the EX anyday. B16's blow. Id spend $5000 on the Civic ex, sell the motor and trans for $500, and have $5500 to spend on a turbo B18C1.

[04'Si_Hatch]

Originally Posted by Jasoniswatching

Personally:factory Si. More reliable.
To follow the adage from the South: "If it ain't broke don't fix it."

agreed, factory Si all the way

[gurusan]

I'd prefer to start with the base...I mean mostly everything will be replaced anyway.

[VwtoHonda]

They way I look at it, you can buy an ex and do everything to it to make it an si.... It still wouldn't be an Si.... Buy it, and build on that haha. But I would take my Si over an Ex, just because when someone ask.... is that a civic.... You can say, na, it's an Si, haha....Si FTW

[dlt85]

Si's are pretty cheap anyway with clean titles, and most of them have some sort of tasteful mod already done. Parts, labor, intangibles make swaps a little tougher and more costly than magazines and whatnot project (all of us ain't expert DIYers. This is not even including the SMOG HEADACHES you might face depending on what state you are in . And you can't find an EX in electron blue .