Best Year?

jacktarjacktar Band Wagon
in General Civic Wagon Discussion
Hi all, just joined as I have recently discovered the Civic Wagon, and am seriously in the market for one. I browsed and searched through the forums for the last couple of days, picking up a lot of info here and there (still have more questions though)

I looked at an '85 today but I think it had the carbed EW1 engine, so I am not considering it, even for the $600 the guy was asking (body in very good shape for the year, but I've seen better interiors at the junkyard)

I found 5 others listed locally, one for each year from 1988 to 1991. I am really only looking for 5 speed (and the best mpg) any suggestions on the best year? I have heard that some are reporing hwy mpg in the 40's .. second queston... is that mpg accurate and realistic or just an empty boast

I am seeing prices for running wagons from $900 to $2700... and the middle of that range seems reasonable. ANything specific I should look out for? The only thing I know is to watch for rust inside the wheelwell, and I think the hatch hinges.

Thanks - I look forward to going from a wannabe to a legit owner by this weekend.

CHeers, :?:

Jacktar

Comments

  • wagodizzlewagodizzle Council Member and EDM expert
    best year? well, at this age it really doesnt matter. they all had the same engines (1988-1991). its all preference. 1988 had some exclusive colors for the RT model. also the DX and RT had a different cloth material then the 89-91's. it was more of a velour vs. the newer models' tweed. rear LCA's were also different (easy 'fix' should it be a problem for future suspension plans) and the doors are lighter due to less crash-absorbing material :P

    main difference that people seem to gripe about are that the 90-91 had auto-belts. personally i dont mind them at all.

    the 90-91 had a mild freshening when it came to some interior parts (smoother gauge cluster for example), the front corner lights didnt have screw holes anymore and the bumper lenses were clear.

    gas mileage: it all depends on how YOU drive and how you maintain your vehicle. the absolute best mileage i ever got was 46 MPG when i was touring across the flat lands of Indiana taking it easy doing about 65 mph. my average ranges from 34-36, and that includes highway and city driving split about 50/50. worst mileage i ever got was 29 MPG.

    i may point out i have a 2WD model (with MPFI conversion, 2.25 in catback exhaust, performance header, 8 inch wide tires, lowered about 4 inches and front lip), also i am a pretty relaxed 20 year old guy with the occasional high revving spirit.

    the 4WD model will get your average mileage in the 20's to low 30's. i usually read people talking about getting 26 average with 32 on the highway.

    so it all depends!
  • HaydzHaydz Moderator
    The '88 is lightest

    The USDM '88 RT4WD had a slightly less powerful D16A6 with 78.3Kw vs. the 80.5Kw of the 89-91 models

    RT4WD is obviously heavier...

    Other than what Martin said that pretty much sums it up as far as i can think.
  • bam-bambam-bam Council Member
    '88 models also have a year-specific clutch and flywheel (20mm smaller than the 90-91) and corresponding oddball transmission.
  • TooRandomTooRandom Band Wagon
    bam-bam wrote:
    '88 models also have a year-specific clutch and flywheel (20mm smaller than the 90-91) and corresponding oddball transmission.

    :?: what about the 89's? 2wd and the rt4wd.
  • wagodizzlewagodizzle Council Member and EDM expert
    89's were the same mechanically as the 90-91's.
  • White&NerdyWhite&Nerdy Senior Wagonist
    For that reason, I'd have to say 89. None of the one model year weirdness of the 88s, yet also lacking the decapitation seat belts of the 90-91. And I'm not just saying that because I happen to own an 89. :lol:

    To me, the ultimate wagon is an 89 manual RT4WD with no rust.
  • noahrexionnoahrexion Wagonist
    White&Nerdy wrote:
    For that reason, I'd have to say 89. None of the one model year weirdness of the 88s, yet also lacking the decapitation seat belts of the 90-91. And I'm not just saying that because I happen to own an 89. :lol:

    To me, the ultimate wagon is an 89 manual RT4WD with no rust.

    If it weren't for the one awesome - only available in 88' - one off silvery blue metallic color of 88's then I would agree with nerdy that 89's trump all. Although if any modding is in the future then things like clutch, RLCA's and corner lenses can all be swapped over for new(er) parts just like the other models.
  • RockVegasRockVegas New Wagonist
    noahrexion wrote:
    If it weren't for the one awesome - only available in 88' - one off silvery blue metallic color of 88's then I would agree with nerdy that 89's trump all.

    I've got a silvery blue 89:

    19.jpg
  • wagodizzlewagodizzle Council Member and EDM expert
    thats the blue that was produced up to 91. the blue noahrexion was talking about is this one:


    504.jpg
  • RockVegasRockVegas New Wagonist
    Aaaah, that's a cool color. Kind of a gun metal blue...
  • MondiVTECMondiVTEC Wagonist
    i wanted to know that answer to that questuion as well...thanks for helping me out too
  • theidealonetheidealone New Wagonist
    Not sure about the wagons, because Im new to this as well, but I have an 89 Civic SI.

    Speaking Civics, not wagon specific:
    88-89 is the same, minus the transmission and rear LCAs. The seat bolt patterns in my hatch (89) is narrower than 90+. Making it hard to find seats, due to seat belts being on the floor, rather than in the door. With the seat belts being in the door, there was more support causing more weight in the 90-91.

    The 88 had funny eyelet lower strut mounts, for the LCAs, where as 89-95 share the same rear LCA and lower strut mount.

    The 88 had a 21 spline transmission, and 200 mm flywheel.
    The 89 had a 20 spline transmission, and 200 mm flywheel.
    the 90-91 had a 20 spline transmission, and 212 mm flywheel.

    So to sum that up, the 88 is an oddball transmission. The 89-91 share the same transmission, but the 89 has the oddball 88 flywheel. SO, you can only use an 89 clutch with an 89, unless you swap to a 90-91 212 mm flywheel (which is what I have done with my 89 SI).

    Other than that, it was all aesthetic. Seat patterns, color options, side moldings, corners, bumpers, tail lights (I forget that 88-89 had 4 bulbs, 90-91 had 5), etc.

    Good luck in your search. Im hunting for one myself. Im leaning towards ANY 88-91 RT4WD. I have learned with my ED, that it is a much smarter decision to look for the model/body style you desire, in clean and rustless condition, rather than year specific. You can change a lot between years. Such as my 89 ED rocks 90-91 sidemoldings and bumpers. :)
  • bam-bambam-bam Council Member
    That sounds about right, and the same thing I've found in the wagons.

    but...I have seen 3 different clutch disc diameters. I have one out here somewhere with the 90-91 spline hub, but between the diameters of an '88 and a '90-91.
  • quartersquarters Council Member
    91' Canadian model, no auto seat belts up here.
  • Dave_MatthewsDave_Matthews Band Wagon
    What about milage in an automatic "91 wagon?
  • 1RMDave1RMDave Band Wagon
    i'd say 88-89 in usa cause i hate the auto belts. But i'd like 90-91 up here in canada.
  • ej918ej918 Band Wagon
    good to know. in the process of lookin for a wagon to get here in socal
  • ej918ej918 Band Wagon
    glad i looked at this post. def don't wanna get auto seat belts, so i guess i will stay away from 90-91 model. thanks
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