Who has moved from EK9 to DC5?

[Gee]

I found one thread here, but the person in question never really owned the car for a considerable about of time and sold it.

Currently my mods are:

Engine Performance

-B18C engine conversion
-98 spec JDM header
-Denso iridium spark plugs
-NGK Blue up rated ignition leads
-Mugen TwinLoop exhaust system

Engine Styling

-SPOON ‘socks’


Suspension & Chassis

-SPOON rear strut brace
-HardRace engine and transmission mount set
-Cusco Zero II coil overs

Brakes & Drive train

HEL braided brake lines
HEL braided clutch line
ACT Street lite flywheel
Tewiga master cylinder brake stopper


Interior

-MOMO steering wheel
-OMP drivers harness

At the time of purchasing the EK9 I was also looking at DC5's, but I never wanted to folk out the extra 3k or so for one.

Now I am not sure if I have made the right decision.

I love the EK9, but every time I see a DC5 it makes me think. I know the EK9 maybe more 'raw', but the DC5 is still a great car in it's own right, looks sexier and is more modern looking and 'should' have a better quality interior too (never sat in one).

The K20 engine is great, lots of low down torque, responds better to mods than the B18C and returns good economy due to the new i-VTEC system.

Also, if I got one in silver it may not look as 'boy racer as the EK9 does in champ white.

The only other major things I would have planned for the EK9 is:

New brakes setup
Hondata S300 + tune
Hi flow cat
New rims

All this will come to a few thousand pounds, which if I used towards after the sale of my EK9 I could get a DC5.

So I am in two minds what to do now.

What do you think?

 

[ecksjay]

they're quite different cars mate, designed and built for a different time. yes, it will feel newer, better put together, but it'll still be a very harsh daily driver, if thats what you're intending it for.

if you can get the money for yours, then buy one, they are very good cars. i couldnt personally justify spending that much on one, as i was happily chasing one the other day, but if you want something a bit larger and more refined, then go for it.

 

[K1ryu]

i know where you are coming from i like the DC5 also i like the EK9 i was at one stage thinking of selling both of my civic to buy one. then came to my senses that i could use use the ek for daily driving and my EG6 for weekend and project car that will be garged and taken out or do work on it. i love to slap the people that put us on the same list as the boy racer as this is not true.

in regards to whether to keep the ek9 and get the DC5 this is really down to you, why done you do the pro and con for the ek and dc5 and you will see the results what ever you do good luck

 

[Gee]

they're quite different cars mate, designed and built for a different time. yes, it will feel newer, better put together, but it'll still be a very harsh daily driver, if thats what you're intending it for.

if you can get the money for yours, then buy one, they are very good cars. i couldn't personally justify spending that much on one, as i was happily chasing one the other day, but if you want something a bit larger and more refined, then go for it.

Newer and better put together is a bonus for me. Yes, it would be a daily drive but I don't find the EK9 harsh so I definitely won't find the DC5 harsh as an every day car as it is more refined.

For me it is not all about speed. Because you can chase one down in an EK9 is not everything to me. It's the intended purpose and package as a whole.

Like my first post, the K20 responds very well indeed to bolt on modifications and a tune so once fiddled with it would become very fast in it's own right.

i know where you are coming from i like the DC5 also i like the EK9 i was at one stage thinking of selling both of my civic to buy one. then came to my senses that i could use use the ek for daily driving and my EG6 for weekend and project car that will be garaged and taken out or do work on it. i love to slap the people that put us on the same list as the boy racer as this is not true.

in regards to whether to keep the ek9 and get the DC5 this is really down to you, why done you do the pro and con for the ek and dc5 and you will see the results what ever you do good luck

Ideal situation mate, but at this point in my life I don't have the space to keep two cars unfortunately.

I know ultimately it is down to me, just looking for opinions thats all

EDIT:

Posted the same thing on itr-DC5 and so far got an interesting post:

I went from a black EK9 to a DC5 and I missed the EK9 the whole time until I went FD2. I modded my DC5 as far as you could go, bar cams and it made the car truly excellent but cost quite a bit to get there. I think your spec EK9 would be quite a bit quicker than a stock DC5. You can't beat that double-wishbone setup feel too. Doing the fast road / lower-spring setup on the DC5 helps a lot but not completely.

As said, its not all about speed but this does give some food for thought.

Ps. This is not an immature EK9 vs DC5 thread, so please no bashing. I thought it would be interesting to post some not biased posts from DC5 members too.

 

[Ryany]

This is a very interesting thread, I havnt either cars but was lookin at gettin an EK9 but then every so often I find myself lookin at DC5's and thinkin for that extra couple of grand....
My main problem is my dad as his into cars mainly German BMW's, VW's ect. and his buying part of the car(i'm paying him back) but I keep thinkin that a DC5 would be alot easier to convince him into gettin as he hates boy racers and I no exactly what he say and think when I say i'm investing that much in a civic he wont understand what they are.
Sorry for taking over thread, dont think I had any input but think you should go for a DC5 if that counts for anything. More Rare aswell which is always a bonus!

 

[PADDYEK9]

I have a b18 ek9 & my brother has a dc5.I would have bought a dc5 2 years ago if i could get insured.The ek9 is definately "rawer" but for a daily drive i would definately have the dc5.I dunno where people get the impression that it would be harsh for a daily drive.Ive driven my brothers dc5 loads of times & the ride is perfect for daily drive.It wont be as fast as your b18 ek9 Gee but there such a nice drive.Just said id give you my opinion.

 

[Gee]

This is a very interesting thread, I haven't either cars but was looking at getting an EK9 but then every so often I find myself looking at DC5's and thinking for that extra couple of grand....
My main problem is my dad as his into cars mainly German BMW's, VW's etc. and his buying part of the car(I'm paying him back) but I keep thinking that a DC5 would be a lot easier to convince him into getting as he hates boy racers and I no exactly what he say and think when I say I'm investing that much in a civic he wont understand what they are.
Sorry for taking over thread, dint think I had any input but think you should go for a DC5 if that counts for anything. More Rare as well which is always a bonus!

Glad you find it interesting, more comments from a DC5 owner below.

I have a b18 ek9 & my brother has a dc5.I would have bought a dc5 2 years ago if i could get insured.The ek9 is definitely "rawer" but for a daily drive i would definitely have the dc5.I dunno where people get the impression that it would be harsh for a daily drive.Ive driven my brothers dc5 loads of times & the ride is perfect for daily drive.It wont be as fast as your b18 ek9 Gee but there such a nice drive.Just said id give you my opinion.

I don't really get the feeling that my EK9 is 'fast' at all. Not straight line fast anyway. But I used to own a turbo charged car before, so the torque and power delivery differences between the two might be why. I really need to flex the car against others to see what it is really all about.

Anyway, I'm sure with a few choice modifications and a K-Pro the DC5 would be pretty nippy?

Here is another comment from a DC5 owner, which makes sense. Instead of buying a near stock car and mod myself, try and get something that already has good proven modifications done.

Got to say Id stick with the ek9 against a standard dc5, however if u managed to get one with kpro and fast road setup id go for the dc5.

 

[haitch]

If your patient, there are normally plenty about with fast road/basic mods & Kpro for £8.5k. Wasting your time with other peoples views, go get a test drive.

Its a bigger car, feels bigger, visibility for parking is not as good as the EK9, tyres are more expensive as will be your insurance.

Best to sell yours then buy rather than px imo, but still worth trying a couple of dealers, but you will probably only get a standard model on a px, then you have to start all over again £££££££.

 

[Gee]

Getting test drives around here is easier said than done.

When looking at DC5's before I got the EK9 I visited a few dealers.

They would not let me test drive the car unless I bought it...er WTF ?

I asked for a passenger ride then up the dual carriage way around the corner from one dealer and they said no to that too.

I told them they are crazy if they think I am going to buy a car without at least seeing the dam thing move but they said the sell cars all the time this way.

Oh well.

 

[y3Lo]

think how many they would sell if they did offer test drives

sounds like bull, surely nobody would buy a car without test driving it first, well not many people.

 

[ek9ricer]

i went from ek4-dc5-ek9...i liked them all, the dc5 is a much more mature ride, k20 bloody awesome i had intake exhaust n it was quick, it jst cost alot to mod but should b bit cheaper now i had d dc5 5yrs ago, but in the end i always wanted a ek9 n when it came up since its rare in australia i snapped it up straight away. gave the dc5 to my misses n she loves it, i miss the dc5 when driving the ek9 n miss the ek9 when driving the ek9 lol...you'l happy with both i reckon...but u seem like a mature guy so i think dc5 will suit ur needs...

 

[haitch]

Phone up a private sale nearby...show up, look around the car, ask a few questions, show your license & insurance, get a test drive...easy.

Do not tell them you are just 'thinking about it' lol.

 

[babyface]

Had a thread like this up myself a year or so back and still have mine now. The dc5 is definately a more comfortable car, however, your b18c ek9 will definately be faster (even though speed isnt why you want to change, thought id mention it anyway)
The dc5 is a nice car, however, it just doesnt have or give you that same feeling as in the older ek9 and dc2. If its for comfort, interior etc, then you should get one. Should sort of, sort out your boy-racerish image get a black one.
Quick Q: do you not find the b18c much faster than the b16b?

 

[CAL]

i think your wanting a new car mate. ive had a ek9 and my mate had a dc5, drove it loads of times. its so much better for a daily drive car. ek9 is for the track.
the dc5 looks so much better 2

 

[jase_87]

the person in 'question' was probably me

even though i only had my dc5 for 9 days i did over 400 miles in it, drove on various road types & conditions

its a brilliant looking car & the interior is very nice. defiantly more refined than the ek9. ride firm, but what do you expect?!?

personally i just didn't like the way it handled. although it was completely standard! i px my ep3 for it, which imo is a brilliant car for a 1/3 of the price (yes i know its uk not jdm)

so if you want something more grown up, get an ep3 around 5.5-6k spend roughly £1500 on suspension kpro etc etc

just my 2 pence worth................

oh by the way, the ek9 is the most fun

 

[Tmus]

Just Do It

 

[Gee]

i went from ek4-dc5-ek9...i liked them all, the dc5 is a much more mature ride, k20 bloody awesome i had intake exhaust n it was quick, it jst cost alot to mod but should b bit cheaper now i had d dc5 5yrs ago, but in the end i always wanted a ek9 n when it came up since its rare in australia i snapped it up straight away. gave the dc5 to my misses n she loves it, i miss the dc5 when driving the ek9 n miss the ek9 when driving the ek9 lol...you'l happy with both i reckon...but u seem like a mature guy so i think dc5 will suit ur needs...

Haha, can't win eh!

Both are great in their own right.

Phone up a private sale nearby...show up, look around the car, ask a few questions, show your license & insurance, get a test drive...easy.

Do not tell them you are just 'thinking about it' lol.

I never told them I was just thinking about it.

This was before I even had an EK9 and my heart was set on a DC5. I called them up about it, went to look at it and asked all the right questions.

Asked for a test drive and point blank refused. Asked for a passenger ride and point blanked refused so then though f*ck em. Not buying a car from here!

Had a thread like this up myself a year or so back and still have mine now. The dc5 is definately a more comfortable car, however, your b18c ek9 will definately be faster (even though speed isnt why you want to change, thought id mention it anyway)
The dc5 is a nice car, however, it just doesnt have or give you that same feeling as in the older ek9 and dc2. If its for comfort, interior etc, then you should get one. Should sort of, sort out your boy-racerish image get a black one.
Quick Q: do you not find the b18c much faster than the b16b?

Hi mate,

Thanks for you input.

The B18C is faster yes, easier to drive low down too due to more torque. How much faster I would not like to say because the delivery is different from the B16B, the VTEC cross over is not as agressive so it fools you.

You wouldnt go back to B16B after having a B18C thats for sure, would be interesting to know how driving an EK9 with B16B would feel to me know.

Anyhow, check my car thread here or blog in my sig for my thoughts between the two.

i think your wanting a new car mate. ive had a ek9 and my mate had a dc5, drove it loads of times. its so much better for a daily drive car. ek9 is for the track.
the dc5 looks so much better 2

Yeah, I do feel like a want a newer car. I moved from a 96 to a 98..not that much of a jump but still the EK9 is miles ahead in build quality, interior etc than my old Starlet turbo.

the person in 'question' was probably me

even though i only had my dc5 for 9 days i did over 400 miles in it, drove on various road types & conditions

its a brilliant looking car & the interior is very nice. defiantly more refined than the ek9. ride firm, but what do you expect?!?

personally i just didn't like the way it handled. although it was completely standard! i px my ep3 for it, which imo is a brilliant car for a 1/3 of the price (yes i know its uk not jdm)

so if you want something more grown up, get an ep3 around 5.5-6k spend roughly £1500 on suspension kpro etc etc

just my 2 pence worth................

oh by the way, the ek9 is the most fun

Cheers dude.

Wouldnt have an EP3 though, just too common for me and I don't really like the styling either.

Cheers for all the input guys. Not even had the EK9 a year yet! So might be an idea to hang on for a little while longer and have some real fun with it.

Just Do It

 

[haitch]

My comment wasnt directed at your previous encounter with the garage salesman, its just easier to get a test drive at a private sale, everybody lies - its part of buying & selling, always expect to be messed around.
But being refused a test drive anywhere is beyond being messed around, its plain stupid.