There are a couple 1st gens in my area that i could get for around 1k, and I was wondering what everyone thought about them for first cars. I would most likely not be modding it beyond perhaps a k&n. I've heard stories of great reliability in 1st gens (and NA 2nd gens). What do most of you get for fuel economy? I know theyre not the fastest thing, but would i be able to beat up on my ricer buddies w/ their civics? Thanks.

 

It'd take more than just a K&N, but yeah they are good cars.

 

for all practical purposes my 83 is my first car. Its been more than a year since i got my licence and it hasn't let me down yet. I get about 20mpg. You could beat a base civic, but don't bother with a SI, you'll lose.

 

very good first car. just be careful in the rain at first

 

but seriously, they are great first cars if you can do without some of the creature comforts that newer, larger cars have. my frist car was an '82 Rx-7 ... and it was the best! i drove an Rx-7 all through college ...

if you want to tangle with Civics, you will have your work cut out for you (because depending on which year Civic, you may actually have the weight disadvantage) ... i used to race my friend's '89 Civic Si and i could keep up with him. neither of us could pull on each other in a race, so it all came down to the start.

 

Well, the 83 and older are 8.5 sec cars and the 84's and 85's are 10.5 sec's with 12a's and 8.5's with 13b's.

If you were racing on an actual track, I'd put my money on the 7's (unless it's the SI). Civic's are notorious for lousy cornering and handling without expensive suspenion work. I know the 7's are a .86g car and some of those base civics are as low as .72. Your average luxury car is .78, the MX-6 (92 to 97) is a .92 and the RX-7 (3rd gen) is a .99.

The civic's will get alot sloppier in the corners, especially the slolum (did I spell that right?).

But I can guarantee, you will not find a running civic for $1000 that can beat a $1000 FB.

If you got the money for a Civic, then get a 2nd gen (7.9 to 8.2) or a 93 or higher MX-6 V6 (7.2 sec car)

 

My 83 GSL (bought for 1500 with a decent stereo) is, basically, my first car. Insurance isn't bad, it's decently as far as speed goes, and drives well.
It certaintly has made me learn a lott about it though, wasn't in too great condition when i got it. The engine went out at 191,000 miles, but it was an easy replacement with a $300 junkyard engine and has been running great ever since. I am very glad i got it

 

If you're looking for reliablity, my 2 cents is to look for a GSL-SE. I've owned bothe the 12A and 13B cars and both are excellent first cars (more on that in a sec) but the general consensus is the 13B in the SE is one of the more reliable rotaries, plus you get a bolt pattern that is easy to find rims for should you get the upgrade itch.

12A owners please don't flame, all SAs and FBs are great as far as I'm concerned.

back to the 1st car issue...

an RX-7 makes an excellent first car for one main reason: driving. Really driving.

Recently I took my car into the shop to get some work done and the mech almost creamed when he saw my car - and this guy builds dragsters. He began to sing the praises of the ReX, all related to sight/sound/tactile input when driving.

For a street car that feels like a weekend sportscar there's nothing like a ReX. The tach dances to the song of the engine and exhaust, the shifter is firmly connected to the gears as you schnick-schnick your way faster and faster down the freeways, only to pull tight turns at entertaining velocities on the lesser streets.

Let's face it; Hondas are well built, well engineered cars. But they're just cars. The shifter connects to the tranny via a cable, the engine is silent unless you put on a wet-fart aftermarket muffler... they're well behaved transportation.

But when you're behind the wheel of a ReX it's like your nerves grow into the steering wheel and pedals, and the car becomes an extension of you, the sleek, timeless lines of her body like clothing over you, waiting to move with you as you move, amplifying your commands into high performance in every sense of the phrase.

 

mmmmm

 

Its been my first car for about 6 months now, and I like it. Ill admit, Ive been a little rough on it at times, but shes held up. I love the look on the ricers that I run with when they realize that my car is 100% stock, has holes in the exhaust so it backfires like a *****, and has the seats ripped to hell, and I can still out run them . I love this baby. I actually outran a newer body style Vtec prelude with exhaust and some kinda body kit on the freeway the other day, and later on that week I paced an 80's style Corvette . These are some great cars. Theres a lot for me to desire with it, but its fun for now .

~T.J.

PS - The custom street-port turbo set up im devising will cure the "a lot to desire" part in due time