So, yeah. I got a new car too (Update)

[JonnyBoy]

Yeah, my old buick crapped the bed and now I am excited to announce that a new JonnyMobile has been found and paid for. The lucky car is a 1999 Acura Integra GS-R, got it with the whole shebang. Leather seats, CD Player, 170 horsepower VTech engine, new tires, leather repaired, transmission fluid change, and recently passed inspection. Under is a picture. I plan on trying to get it painted soon, to...I don't know, maybe black. I'm not a big fan of the green.



What do you think?

[M3talhead]

I hope your friends dont mind riding in the trunk.....

[paigeoliver]

Never ever ever ever change the color of a car, especially to black.

Changing the color of a car severely devalues it, and only a true top notch bodyman can repaint a car black and have it look good. Its the single hardest color to do (at least according to all the car mags I used to read).

Easiest color is supposed to be bright yellow.

[Bones]

Yeah I will agree with paige on this one, not necessarily about black being any worse, but altering the colour is a major job and if not properly it looks like crap.

All the little spots like hinges and bigger places like engine bays make the job a nightmare.

Different story if the car was totalled and in pieces.

[Scott84]

Take out the orange fog lights or day time lights or whatever its called. put in white or something!

[danny_galaga]

yeah, a good paint job will cost you thousands of bucks and probably still come off after 2 years. id get used to the green. stay tuned for my 'got a new car' post (",)

[Bones]

yeah, a good paint job will cost you thousands of bucks and probably still come off after 2 years. id get used to the green. stay tuned for my 'got a new car' post (",)

Go a Kombi, you know you want to.

[danny_galaga]

Go a Kombi, you know you want to.

                             

[Stingray]

A good paint job will indeed run you somewhere in the $3000 US range to change the color. The body has to be 100% flawless for black, which adds quite a lot to the prep time. To do a color change correctly, the car will need to be almost entirely dissassembled, the paint will need to be stripped to the bare metal and you pretty much end up entirely rebuilding the car. As far as devaluing the car goes, that applies to classic collectables, a six year old Acura is probably already devalued as much as it's going to get (unless you totally rat it our or total it). However, it's not really the kind of car you want to spend the time, money and effort on something as radical and expensive as a color change.

Yes, you can go to one of those cheapie car paint shops. Remember that you do get what you pay for, and I will say I told you so.

-S

[Crazy Cooter]

Vtech is a phone.  V-Tec is what you have.

If you paint the car black, you'll not only not get your money back if you sold it, you'd get less than what it's worth unpainted.

The only thing you should do is get an alarm in it.  If you don't keep your eyes open, that car will be stolen within 6 months.  Integras topped the list last year for most often stolen.  Plus yours is a GSR with leather.  You're at the top of the top.

If you want to put money into it, leave everything the way it is externally and buy a nice turbo kit.  Have someone else install it and don't F around by "turning up the boost".  You'll blow the motor that way.

That's what I'd do.  In that order.

[SOAPboy]

Take out the orange fog lights or day time lights or whatever its called. put in white or something!

Or leave it stock and not be a ricer..

[JonnyBoy]

Yeah, after talking to a friend (who does autobody) he said just repaint it green. The poly is chipping on the back and so I'll need to repaint it regardless. Sorry for my ignorance (Vtech, V-tec). I already got the alarm thing covered. I'm hoping mine will be a bit less desireable because it's an automatic. I didn't get the car for speed, I got it because it was in my price range and had a reliable engine in it. Yeah, and I don't have many friends, no need to worry about fitting anybody in it. 

[AceTKK]

That's nice looking.  A little too small for my frame, but it should be a reliable and fun ride.  How much are those going for these days? 

-Ace-

[JonnyBoy]

I got mine with 50k for about 7k.

[Crazy Cooter]

Sorry for my ignorance (Vtech, V-tec).

Just wanted to correct you before some Hondahead skewered you.

An automatic won't make your car any less desirable (not much anyhow).  It's the motor, interior & rims that would go first.  The tranny is just usually pulled with the motor & sold as a set if it's a manual, as the motor alone if it's an auto.  With only 50k on it, a thief could have that motor sold for at least $1000 in the time it took to pull it out (about 4 hours).  Then they'd get another $1000 from other parts.  It could be stolen, stripped, and sold before you finished your work day.  That's why they get stolen so often (plus it takes all of 4 seconds to get in one).  The best alarm for that car would include a proximity sensor and an interior siren coupled with an alarm that doesn't simply "plug-in" to the stock wiring.  Every thief knows where Best Buy and other "high volume" stores like them install their alarms and how to circumvent them.  You can easily open the hoods on those things from the outside, so keep that in mind too.

You got a good deal.  Follow the manual in regards to upkeep and that car will last you for 200k miles easy.  They last that long even in the rust belt, but they look Fugly.  Be careful wih who paints it.  If you get a Maaco job it can cause more problems than it solves.  Watch for rust behind the rear wheels where the bumper meets the metal.

In case you can't tell... I like Hondas.

[JonnyBoy]

Thanks  Crazy Cooter. Could you reccommend a specific model of alarm? Price is not an issue but if you could suggest one that works well and won't cost me a kidney then that'd be awesome. Yeah, if I get a paint job I'll get the best quality one I can find. And since you made mention of how easy it is to snag one of these if you're a thief, I'm willing to do anything it takes to keep this car in my possesion.

[Crazy Cooter]

You'll find a ton of information on www.honda-tech.com.  There's a forum for for audio/security/video.  That whole site is really rough on newcomers, so make sure you search before posting.

[AlanS17]

If you wanna spend money on the car, I'd put a new stereo and speakers in it. I like JL Audio for lows, Infiniti for highs, and PPI for amps.

[usedelectronics]

You'll find a ton of information on www.honda-tech.com.

[missioncontrol]

I agree don't paint it black.............

nice car to small for me though...........

[Crazy Cooter]

LOL.

I am a moderator at Honda-Tech.

Are you a member over there?

Yeah, I only have about 5 posts though.  The search function will answer 99% of a persons questions.  I've got a '92 EX sedan that I'm turbocharging.

[SirPoonga]

A friend of mine has a red one.  He's on honda-tech all the time.
I like it

[ChadTower]

Well, at least I know now who to ask when I have questions about my Civic.

(1999 DX, 95k miles)

[HaRuMaN]

Lol...  I have a 1999 Civic DX with 188K miles... 

[ChadTower]

Mine was stolen twice before it had 8k on it and sat in effed up Title paperwork limbo for well over a year, maybe two years.

[JonnyBoy]

After reviewing all the posts on Honda-Tech, first thing that get's done is the alarm.

[ChadTower]

Forget an alarm, just leave your baby in it.

[JonnyBoy]

Well, at 16, if I have a baby then there is much more to worry about than getting my car jacked.

[paigeoliver]

Well, at 16, if I have a baby then there is much more to worry about than getting my car jacked.

You are 16?

Man, I wish my parents would have bought me a late model Acura when I was 16.

Heck, I am an adult and I STILL can't afford a late model Acura (Ok, yes I can, but the expense isn't worth the utility to me).

[Stingray]

When he said he wanted to get it repainted, and change the color as well, I knew we were talking about a 16 year old.

-S

[JonnyBoy]

Think again, the cost came out of my pocket. I have a steady job. Sorry sorry, I didn't know that it'd be illogical to paint it another color, not much of a car guy. Like I said, the reason I went with the acura is because I need a car with a good engine and it was cheaper than all the local civics.

[paigeoliver]

Blue book retail (and that photo is from a car lot) on that car is $11,000. Were you working before you turned 16 or something, or is it being financed in your parents name? (I got a truck that way when I was 17).

[ChadTower]

I got a car when I was 17.  It was a Pontiac T2000 with about a billion miles on it.  It lasted about as long as a tray of cupcakes at an Overeaters Anonymous meeting.

Top speed:  55 if I had the wind behind me and was parked on a flatbed truck going 55.

[JonnyBoy]

Nah, it was all me. I had money in an account for such a situation. I've been putting pieces of paychecks in it since I was 10.

[JonnyBoy]

Tomorrow I'll be picking it up, you guys want me to snap any pics?

[Bones]

Tomorrow I'll be picking it up, you guys want me to snap any pics?

That all depends.

Yes if you have a hot 16 year old girlfriend that will lay across the bonnet in a skimpy bikini.

[ChadTower]

Hey, maybe he has a hot 40 year old mom.  I'll go for that one.

[JonnyBoy]

She's 54, I'm afraid, sorry I can't help you out there. And the girlfriend situation is bleak as well...I can photoshop Tawny Kitaen and put whitesnake music in the background if you want me to.

[ChadTower]

The car will clear up the girlfriend situation.  At 16, if you've got a nice car, you could be Louis Anderson and still score.

[JonnyBoy]

Yeah but you know, if I'm not a meathead with a letterman's jacket the car doesn't mean a thing.