Help get me started!

[trey713]

Hey everyone, im 14 and i want to start a plan for when i turn 16 and get a Civic. I dont know much about cars, I can name just about any car I see. But I dont know any specs. and if I do, I dont know what it means.
I'll mostly want to design the exterior, but I'll want to turn it up a bit too. My dad will be able to help me out a lot, considering his dad was a mechanic. But he mostly does work on motocross bikes. But i want some advice and help from people who are specifically obsessed with their civics.

So basically I just wanna know:

1. Where should I start (what type of civic)
2. What are the different engines and which ones are better (em1, em2, and so on)
3. What is the most important and usefull parts to buy for more power and horses
4. And when i look at the pics of tuned civics, they never have more than 17" rims, why dont people put on bigger rims?

Thank You for helping
Trey

 

[2NRSTV]

1. It doesn't matter which one you get, because a swap will be imminent. Just make sure it is as stock as possible. You don't want to be going and fixing someone else's f**k ups.
2. There are a plethora of different engines that can be swapped into Civic's 60+ D-Series Engines, 20+ B-Series Engines, 14 H-Series Engines, 6 J-Series Engines, and 20+ K-Series Engines; all of which have different purposes but there are only a couple engines worth swapping into your bay. There are no real better engines, just engines better at doing certain things. Do the research, take classes and look at the engine specs to find out what will best suit you
Also, coding such as EM1 and EM2 are for chassis. Check the "Civic Specs" link at the top of the page to help decipher what chassis codes mean.
3. Most useful parts are anything that will help the engine breathe better like intake, exhaust, header, supercharger, and turbos. And most importantly, a tune. A proper tune will make or break your hope for power. Don't forget a proper suspension. There's no use in going fast when the car can't handle it.
4. 17" wheels will rub on most Civic's. 16's are the biggest most Civic's can take. Also, bigger rims equals more rotating mass and that will rob power trying to rotate heavy wheels. It will also screw with your speedo.

Hope this helps.

 

[rayaccord101]

^ pretty much summed it up. Dont worry your still 14 by the time you'll be able to drive you'll know what you want.

 

[slwrthnu]

Buy the most virgin civic you can ha. Make it your own. Don't be one of the people that wants it all done for them and acts like its bad ass when they have no idea what they have.

 

[trey713]

Thanks everyone. I have a better understanding now.
But i dont know what generation to go with, I eeither want a 6th, 7th or 8th

 

[oddeb707]

5th gen hatch ftw.