Prelude vs Civic Ep3?

[MindBomber]

Originally Posted by epicbeardman

Yes, but the K series in my car is weak sauce. I am just wondering whether it would be worth it to spend extra money on a k20a2, when I can just get a Prelude for the price of my Civic.

I guess the consensus is to keep the civic.

The cost of k-series swaps has come down significantly, if you took the time to search and wait for a good deal I'd be willing to bet that you can get a k20a2 swap for under $2000. Plus, you still have the k20a3 and you can probably sell that for $500.

[TypeRNammer]

Originally Posted by MindBomber

The cost of k-series swaps has come down significantly, if you took the time to search and wait for a good deal I'd be willing to bet that you can get a k20a2 swap for under $2000. Plus, you still have the k20a3 and you can probably sell that for $500.

Really? The transmission alone is over a grand, unless I'm not looking hard enough.
Posted via RS Mobile

[MindBomber]

Originally Posted by TypeRNammer

Really? The transmission alone is over a grand, unless I'm not looking hard enough.
Posted via RS Mobile

I've seen a couple swaps in that range locally, but I seem to have pretty good luck with finding cheap used parts.

[RabidRat]

Originally Posted by chucki

Say what!? I used to own a Prelude (5th gen) and I gave you a ride in it back in the day when I used to do autocross! Remember the red one? Yellow fogs? It was when you still had the Mazda 3. It wasn't a bad ride was it? Although I had aftermarket suspension installed at the time, I can honestly say the car handled very well even with the stock suspension.

I have an Ep3 now (FOR SALE btw), and I can tell you I miss my Prelude more than I will be missing this. Its not that the Civic is not a great handling car, but the engine of the two vehicles are so fundamentally different, it is hard to compare. When Vtec kicks in for the ep3 (if it qualifies as Vtec) at 2200rpm, it is NOT noticeable at all. It is only on the intake cam, and there is no special high-rpm profiles at all. The prelude however, when Vtec kicked in, you KNOW its working. Its a full vtec system with intake and exhaust timing and it feels completely different. The sound too, makes the experience two very different thing.

HOWEVER, given a choice back then, I think I will still stick with the ep3 because it is much MUCH better on gas, (burns less and only 87 vs 91 for prelude) and there is a noticeable difference in more low end torque on the ep3, which suits my everyday driving needs.

Go with the k20a2, you won't regret it.

Oh crap I should've known you're on here too hahahaha.

You're right though, that was pretty good =). I guess my other friend's isn't in as good condition then, because when I drove an EP3 shortly after, it was a big difference to me.

[twitchyzero]

i thought k20a swaps are usually over 10k...how come you can get k20a2's for a few thousand? it's not that much different, no?

[epicbeardman]

Originally Posted by MindBomber

The cost of k-series swaps has come down significantly, if you took the time to search and wait for a good deal I'd be willing to bet that you can get a k20a2 swap for under $2000. Plus, you still have the k20a3 and you can probably sell that for $500.

The cheapest I have ever found a K20a2 was for 2800 that was engine and trans and I didn't have the funds at the time so I couldn't get it. Where are you finding these cheap K20s??? haha

I guess I'll keep the Civic. I'm also thinking of a K24A2 instead of the K20. Any opinions on what would be better for the Civic?

[death_blossom]

Originally Posted by twitchyzero

i thought k20a swaps are usually over 10k...how come you can get k20a2's for a few thousand? it's not that much different, no?

k20a swap is over 10k for an EG or EK series civic. lot more labour and parts involved with a swap like that. for an EP3, it's easier since the mounts will line up perfectly and other stuff. heck, I'm sure you can re-use the stock 5spd if you really wanted to.

[TypeRNammer]

Either way, even if you swap in another motor, don't you need a k-pro to run the motor?

Second best option would be the k24a2. A bunch of people on ep hatch favor this motor.
Posted via RS Mobile

[RabidRat]

Originally Posted by TypeRNammer

Either way, even if you swap in another motor, don't you need a k-pro to run the motor?

Second best option would be the k24a2. A bunch of people on ep hatch favor this motor.
Posted via RS Mobile

Is the VTEC changeover noticeable on the K24 paired to a manual? I felt nothing driving a loaner TSX in 5AT haha.

[MindBomber]

Originally Posted by epicbeardman

The cheapest I have ever found a K20a2 was for 2800 that was engine and trans and I didn't have the funds at the time so I couldn't get it. Where are you finding these cheap K20s??? haha

I guess I'll keep the Civic. I'm also thinking of a K24A2 instead of the K20. Any opinions on what would be better for the Civic?

I guess I'm just lucky

But seriously, I've seen a complete k20a2 swap for $1700 and another K20a2 w/ a 6 speed for $2500 recently. The deals are out there, you just need to find someone who was to cheap to pay for collision

[spoon.ek9]

OP, you should consider keeping your current engine and doing the type r head conversion. the biggest flaw in your engine is the head. you'll need other parts (ie k-pro) to make it work but it has been done many times before.

Originally Posted by twitchyzero

i thought k20a swaps are usually over 10k...how come you can get k20a2's for a few thousand? it's not that much different, no?

Originally Posted by death_blossom

k20a swap is over 10k for an EG or EK series civic. lot more labour and parts involved with a swap like that. for an EP3, it's easier since the mounts will line up perfectly and other stuff. heck, I'm sure you can re-use the stock 5spd if you really wanted to.

^ truth! if you put a k-series into any EF/EG/EK/DC, it will easily surpass $10,000

[death_blossom]

Originally Posted by TypeRNammer

Either way, even if you swap in another motor, don't you need a k-pro to run the motor?

why can't you just re-wire the harness a little and run the stock k20a2 ECU?

[MindBomber]

Originally Posted by death_blossom

why can't you just re-wire the harness a little and run the stock k20a2 ECU?

You can run the stock ECU on a K-series swap, but if you go that route you need to have the car towed to a dealership to reflash the ECU so that it will start with the new key.

[TypeRNammer]

Originally Posted by RabidRat

Is the VTEC changeover noticeable on the K24 paired to a manual? I felt nothing driving a loaner TSX in 5AT haha.

Don't expect anything noticeable on the TSX, I think the engagement point is at 6000rpm.
Posted via RS Mobile

[death_blossom]

Originally Posted by MindBomber

You can run the stock ECU on a K-series swap, but if you go that route you need to have the car towed to a dealership to reflash the ECU so that it will start with the new key.

ohhhh, gotcha!

[snowball]

Keep the EP3, even though the prelude might offer slightly more fun in power for spirited drives, in the end you will always want some practicality to lean back on which the prelude doesn't have, the back seats are stupidly cramped and the trunk is tiny. EP3, more refined, better mileage, more practical and still fun.

[TypeRNammer]

If you guys see any 6 speed transmissions kicking around, LMK

[cheapskate]

The Prelude feels slow and bloated. The driving position is really bad also since you sit really low (like a celica) while the nose is really long so your view is really bad and it takes quite some time to adjust to that. I love Honda's and even with that bias I think the Prelude is subpar at best.

Your EP3 is a much much better car. It feels lighter, more peppy, the proportions are better (smaller = better handling), more modern design, and a hatch to boot.

[jack3d]

prelude because it looks sexy

[epicbeardman]

thnx for the responses. I will pass on the Prelude for now. Thinking of another car now: something RWD to learn to drift in. Call it a pipe dream or whatever, but I'd like to learn the mechanics of going sideways.
if you guys had an ep3 would any of you guys trade it for say, a 240sx with an SR20/ae86/soarer/old supra, etc etc? If i sell my ep3 , i can probably get 6-7gs for it, plus the money I saved up for a k20 get go towards a busted ass 240 and an sr20. Looking at the long term, it's going to take tons more money to get an ep3 to put out as much power as an s13/14/supra/etc.

[death_blossom]

if you are serious about learning how to drift, like really REALLY serious then buy a cheap 240sx. that way you can smash it up and stuff. cuz if you want to drift good, you're gonna be hitting stuff and breaking mechanical components fairly often.

[Shorn]

Originally Posted by death_blossom

if you are serious about learning how to drift, like really REALLY serious then buy a cheap 240sx. that way you can smash it up and stuff. cuz if you want to drift good, you're gonna be hitting stuff and breaking mechanical components fairly often.

i have one that i'm trying to sell cause i got a new car
asking 1000 cause its rusty + speedo is not working. other than that good to go. manual of course. and red!! if i don't sell it to this guy who's been asking for a while i'll sell it to you!

[annamaaae]

If you're trying to sell your EP3, i'll gladly buy it off you. I've been looking around for one.