im new and starting to get into cars but have nobody else that can help me. but im trying to find a nice hatchback thats worth my money to buy and learn to build everything up. need some help plz

 

Not to be too obvious but the thing I did was check the craiglist and 2 local online sites pretty much all the time...I put shortcuts on my desktop and checked them all about 10 times a day for many months...because nice cars at a good pricego really fast so you want to get in first...some cars I called for sold in one day.

I bought mine from a private seller so I saved a lot compared to buying from a dealers lot...then take a look at the car, maybe ask for a test drive, give the person a deposit and bring the car to a mechanic to have it checked out...if youre lucky you can get a 1996 hatch for a few thousand bucks (96 is first year of the 6th gens)...get something with around 200,000km if youre lucky (125,000miles) more miles wont matter if the car is well maintained and the owner (preferably only one owner) has all receipts...

But 100% dont rush, take your time so you are familar with all the prices and get a car fax VIN check done on it...in the summer the market picks up and cars go for more, so hopefully something nice will come along soon and you can get a good deal...read this forum too a lot and youll learn about what to watch for, and pick up general knowledge as you are shopping for your Civic...

 

It depends on where you live. But keep on looking online and like he said take your time. Hatches are the hardest to find

 

hey thanks for your help. I found a couple of hatchbacks. Now i just have to get a job to start getting that dough in my pocket. How did u start to learn about parts, and engines and all about cars ? like i try reading stuff but that aint working. any other approaches ?

 

Thats the way to learn, read and read and read again. search this website up and down and you will learn a lot

 

This is what I did, but I am far from an expert, LOL... :but it was all reading...

1 - Buy the Haynes repair manual...they cost about $15 from Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Haynes-Repair-...312&sr=8-2


Chapter 1 tells you exactly how to perform a tune-up and maint work - other chapters show you where all the other parts are, and how to repair things, or at least give you an idea of what the mechanic does...(online there areall kindsof free pdfs available too...)

2 - Go to Goggle and type in "honda civic forum" and find all the forums, then read every DIY/Tutorial (if you can, theres a lot), like people installing lowering springs or struts, or bars, putting in a clutch...people take pictures of their work, and its often pretty clear...this forum is good, civics arereally popular so there aremany other forums too...just spend all your time reading those, and the FAQs on general tech info...

Basically just read up the forums until you get your car...

3 - People on this forum are really helpful and with that assistance as well as the manual, and tutorials already online you could learn/do a lot...probably in the summer your local YMCA or college has nightschool courses in general interest auto repair, my area had one that lasted amonth or two, only on Sunday, and they took apart a car...so maybe look into that...dont worry, it starts off really general and anyone can go pretty much...

4 - For part codes if you want to want to find a factory part number check out this site it shows all schematic parts...
http://www.hondapartscheap.com/southbay/jsp/home.jspyou could get an idea for prices, or check out this site tosee junk-yard prices, many people get parts from there...http://www.car-part.com/index.htm

5 - For engines, it depends what car you have...I have a 7th gen d17a2, so all I know is that one, LOL...but this site easily lists all generations and engine codes for quick reference... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Civic ...or ask people what gens are the best for what you want to do...but obviously older ones are cheaper...people like 6th gens, not so much 7th gens as mods are limited...

Good luck on getting your car, you can get a nice one for around $3,000 or so I think all in, even much less if you really look around wait and get lucky...until then read and post on the forums...