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Thread: Opportunity on a Donor Vehicle

  1. #1

    Dr_Snooz's Avatar
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    Opportunity on a Donor Vehicle

    Sooooooo... my brother is selling his Type-S RSX. It's pristine, not hammered to hell like most Type-S' out there. I mean, like pristine. He could park it on a dealer's lot and you wouldn't know it wasn't for sale. It's super-clean and drives like new. It's the sort of car I won't find again.

    As I've mentioned before, my plan for the Red Car is to do a K20 swap. Because I'm in California, I need to swap over so much that I have to buy a fully working donor car. I can't just buy a JDM long block and wing it. Because my brother's car is so nice, I can swap over a lot of other stuff too, like brakes, seats and anything else I can make fit. It's the perfect donor car. Honestly, I'll feel bad tearing it apart.

    I'd have to finance it, which I don't want to do, but I could swing it.

    Good stuff, right? The problem is that I'm watching Biden dynamite the economy, so I'm more than a little concerned about my employment prospects in coming years.

    What do you guys think? Should I take a leap of faith on the perfect car or hunker down and see how bad it gets first?
    Dr_Snooz

    "I like to take hammers, and just break stuff, just break stuff." - Beavis


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  2. #2


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    Re: Opportunity on a Donor Vehicle

    Sounds like to good to pass up deal. Known car in the family. Be a good driver too for a while until you buy a new Civic Type R.
    1988 Lxi owner since August 1995
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  3. #3

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    Re: Opportunity on a Donor Vehicle

    What year RSX? if its an 05/06 Id recommend pulling the trigger as its an lsd away from being identical to the JDM type R. Sounds like its too nice to be a donor car lol, but I had one and honestly I wouldn't care if they were all parted out, the quality of the chassis is a smear on Hondas name, as is everything else from that era. God I do miss that stock k20 vtec sound... just put an rbc intake manifold on it and listen to the symphony.

    Oldblue... I have no intention of k20c1 swapping my beater accord, don't even put that in my mind, even if thats not what you meant, you still put it in my mind. Those kind of thoughts will keep me up at night.

  4. #4

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    Re: Opportunity on a Donor Vehicle

    As much as i would like to see this project I cannot recommend financing a project even for a good deal. Sorry, call me a party pooper.

    What if you got a cheaper K20 parts car. Did all the work for the engine swap then later down the road if you found a RSX Type S then you could swap the engine and tranny without much work.

    1988 Honda Accord LSDX-I

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    Re: Opportunity on a Donor Vehicle

    I have reservations about cutting up a pristine rsx but for sure jump on it

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    Re: Opportunity on a Donor Vehicle

    Thats kills me that your car still needs to pass smog...is there ever and exemptions? I thought my IH Scout 2 were exempt there now?
    1988 Lxi owner since August 1995
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  7. #7

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    Re: Opportunity on a Donor Vehicle

    Quote Originally Posted by conozo View Post
    As much as i would like to see this project I cannot recommend financing a project even for a good deal. Sorry, call me a party pooper.
    It's a great point, but I'm being coy. The car will be my daily for a long while first. Seeing that I can't get parts for the A20 anymore, and the trans keeps getting more *interesting*, I can't kid myself that it's a reliable daily driver. My only real option to the RSX is to drop $2k+ on an engine rebuild for my '93 Accord. Money will be spent either way. I'm only choosing whether it's on this RSX, another old Accord in my driveway, or something else entirely.

    Quote Originally Posted by Oldblueaccord View Post
    Thats kills me that your car still needs to pass smog...is there ever and exemptions? I thought my IH Scout 2 were exempt there now?
    As with every other shining example of government stupidity and overreach, we can only wait for society to collapse before anything changes.
    Dr_Snooz

    "I like to take hammers, and just break stuff, just break stuff." - Beavis


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  8. #8

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    Re: Opportunity on a Donor Vehicle

    I dropped by a car lot today, just to see what else is out there. Answer: nothing. For the money, the RSX is my best choice by far. The only real choice now is whether to buy the RSX or rebuild the engine in the '93.
    Dr_Snooz

    "I like to take hammers, and just break stuff, just break stuff." - Beavis


    1989 Honda Accord LX-i Coupe, 240k miles, MT swap, rear disc swap

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    Re: Opportunity on a Donor Vehicle

    I wouldn't finance anything that you're going to take apart and remove the value of immediately. Like others have said if you can find an RSX that was hit in the back for cheap then maybe. Probably just finance the RSX if you need a car and drive it seems like the best choice. What sector do you work in that you're afraid of your job prospects? I work in commercial building automation and we haven't seen anything slow down, business is only picking up. Granted my field is one that you can call recession proof since everyone in Arizona needs HVAC in their commercial building. But I worked more overtime during COVID than ever before.
    dead white and blue

  10. #10

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    Re: Opportunity on a Donor Vehicle

    I'm in IT now, but having lived through the Obama years taught me there's nowhere safe when criminals and rats run the country. We'll all being going to the camps soon enough, so it's moot really.

    The car will be my daily driver first, probably until I pay off the loan. Although it would be hilarious to dismantle it and have the lender wonder where it went. I might send them pics of the carcass for a laugh. Repossess this! ROFLMAO!

    You know it happens.

    The big deal for me is that the car is pristine, 6-speed manual, low miles, showroom perfect. Everything I want and need. If I pass it up, I will never find another equal to it.

    It will be a stretch but I'm going for it.
    Dr_Snooz

    "I like to take hammers, and just break stuff, just break stuff." - Beavis


    1989 Honda Accord LX-i Coupe, 240k miles, MT swap, rear disc swap

    Shop manual downloads available here: CLICK TO VIEW

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    Re: Opportunity on a Donor Vehicle

    alright man good luck.
    dead white and blue

  12. #12


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    Re: Opportunity on a Donor Vehicle

    Quote Originally Posted by Dr_Snooz View Post
    I'm in IT now, but having lived through the Obama years taught me there's nowhere safe when criminals and rats run the country. We'll all being going to the camps soon enough, so it's moot really.

    The car will be my daily driver first, probably until I pay off the loan. Although it would be hilarious to dismantle it and have the lender wonder where it went. I might send them pics of the carcass for a laugh. Repossess this! ROFLMAO!

    You know it happens.

    The big deal for me is that the car is pristine, 6-speed manual, low miles, showroom perfect. Everything I want and need. If I pass it up, I will never find another equal to it.

    It will be a stretch but I'm going for it.
    Holds the phones there buckshot!

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  13. #13

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    Re: Opportunity on a Donor Vehicle

    ROFL! Yeah, CARB would LOOOOVE that! LMAO!
    Dr_Snooz

    "I like to take hammers, and just break stuff, just break stuff." - Beavis


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    Re: Opportunity on a Donor Vehicle

    Yeah I guess its not CARB approved is it!

    its a pretty big motor it seems.
    1988 Lxi owner since August 1995
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  15. #15

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    Re: Opportunity on a Donor Vehicle

    Dude the thing is freaking massive and I am scared to pop my hood and look at all the hoses. Its like a late 80s Mazda under there.

    Scoots though.

  16. #16

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    Re: Opportunity on a Donor Vehicle

    Well I made a solid, respectable offer and was rejected. He wants well over high Blue Book for the car. He may get it, but it won't be from me.
    Dr_Snooz

    "I like to take hammers, and just break stuff, just break stuff." - Beavis


    1989 Honda Accord LX-i Coupe, 240k miles, MT swap, rear disc swap

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  17. #17

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    Re: Opportunity on a Donor Vehicle

    Now I have to figure out what to do for a daily driver. The 4g is in good shape. It needs rings and has a lot of dents, but is otherwise is good. It would be a great car to learn body work on because I don't really like it. I might start a build thread here for it. Even if it is off topic. Then I can complain about it and not offend any fanatics. The thing really irritates me. Mostly because the troubleshooting sections in the manual are garbage. I'd have better luck diagnosing problems with a divining rod and loose feathers.
    Dr_Snooz

    "I like to take hammers, and just break stuff, just break stuff." - Beavis


    1989 Honda Accord LX-i Coupe, 240k miles, MT swap, rear disc swap

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  18. #18

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    Re: Opportunity on a Donor Vehicle

    I'm really curious what this RSX looks like because afik there is no real market for them, they're just a sports car. I sold my for $8k 3 or 4 years ago and that was doing really well, granted it probably had a lot more miles, but mine was still low. Well I hope he gets something decent from it.

  19. #19

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    Re: Opportunity on a Donor Vehicle

    It's solidly in the KBB Excellent category, more toward the top end. It's had some obvious minor body work, so it's not quite at the top. Here's a random pic he texted me.



    I'll see if I can get the listing for you.

    KBB reports values of $8700 - $11,300 for the miles, but he saw someone asking 13 somewhere and so that's what he wants. Like I said, he might get it, but not from me.

    At this point, I'd rather pay off my truck and buy more Bitcoin. If I put a new engine in the Gold Car, I'll be good for a few more years. By that time, I'll probably want to Tesla swap the car anyway.
    Dr_Snooz

    "I like to take hammers, and just break stuff, just break stuff." - Beavis


    1989 Honda Accord LX-i Coupe, 240k miles, MT swap, rear disc swap

    Shop manual downloads available here: CLICK TO VIEW

  20. #20

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    Re: Opportunity on a Donor Vehicle

    Tbf I have no idea what cars go for out in Cali, wouldn't be surprised if cars sell for $2k higher just because. It doesn't have the A-spec package, so that kind of works against it too, but overall looks super nice.

    Now this is the part of the post where I heckle you to invest in Dogecoin. Do it. Imagine the swaps you could have once you're a millionaire.

  21. #21


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    Re: Opportunity on a Donor Vehicle

    meanwhile just up the highway you've got stuff like this, 2002 Acura RSX Clean Tilte & LOW miles - cars & trucks - by owner -...
    dead white and blue

  22. #22

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    Re: Opportunity on a Donor Vehicle

    I know right? His is that clean, a Type-S and a few years newer, but yeah. It's already a stretch for me and if he wants well over top dollar, he'll have to find it somewhere else. Hell, I can buy this for a lot less and they'll probably deal too.

    Used 2011 BMW 328i Coupe for sale in FRESNO, CA 93710: Coupe Details - 570821678 - Autotrader

    Dr_Snooz

    "I like to take hammers, and just break stuff, just break stuff." - Beavis


    1989 Honda Accord LX-i Coupe, 240k miles, MT swap, rear disc swap

    Shop manual downloads available here: CLICK TO VIEW

  23. #23

    Dr_Snooz's Avatar
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    Dr_Snooz

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    1989 Honda Accord LX-i Coupe, 240k miles, MT swap, rear disc swap

    Shop manual downloads available here: CLICK TO VIEW

  24. #24


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    Re: Opportunity on a Donor Vehicle

    6 speed with no mods...thats 2 pluses.
    1988 Lxi owner since August 1995
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    Now running E85.

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  25. #25


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    Re: Opportunity on a Donor Vehicle

    400 Bad Request

    Even better.

    EDIT: link is good goes to cargurus web sight!
    1988 Lxi owner since August 1995
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