The one that got away (2000 honda Civic Si)
Author: Kai Her - October 3rd, 2024
What’s that idiom expression again? “When life gives you lemons, make lemonades?”
Growing up on the south side of Merced had a lot of it’s pros and cons. I remember easily befriending everyone in the neighborhood. There was a good mixture of culture and ethnicity in the neighborhood too. As a kid, I just got along with everyone. Perhaps it was because I would always tag along with my late older brother (Lue) to his friend’s house, whether, they were Hispanics, Caucasians, or of a different skin color. Lue just knew everyone and I was his shadow.
I prominently remember always playing basketball with Lue’s friends, our neighbor Andy and his basketball hoop, and getting into a friendly boxing match with Andy’s cousin around my age during that time. So cars were clearly not something I was too fond of. Like, I knew what a Toyota Supra (MK4) and a Nissan Skyline GTR (R34) was, but never cared much for them. I remember my life was meshed with bike rides around the block, whilst trying to collect all the 150 Poke’mon training cards that were released, and serendipitously bury myself at a neighbor’s house playing the Sega or Super Nintendo.
I was around 10 to 11 years old, if I can recall correctly. Of course, I knew what a Honda Civic was and memorized how it looked like, but never given much attention to it. At least not until Lue purchased his friend’s 2000 Honda Civic hatchback (Tafetta White); but this was four years later. However, my interest of cars remained stable throughout those years. I guess I was more focused on anime and video games during that time. Anyways, Lue’s Civic was an amazing little car. My brother purchased it somewhat modified with a OEM Si (EM1) front spoiler and grill up front, and some replica CTR parts to make up the rear end of the Civic. I thought it was a great looking car, and it smelled great too. It was Lue’s Civic that made me want to purchase one for myself after high school in hoping it will ignite our brotherhood to another level. However, destiny had it's own plan and Lue eventually traded the Civic for another (EM1).
Still determined to get a hatchback for myself for college, that idea didn’t materialize to how I wanted. Lemons were thrown to me and my family early in my adolescent years as Lue had to serve some time at county toward the end of my senior year in high school and he racked up a lot of bills and debt for my parents to pay off. When it was time for me to purchase a car for college, my parents couldn’t afford to help me purchase a hatchback, so they decided to loan myself Lue’s car and temporarily for my commute to the University.
Lue and I weren’t too energetic about the idea, but both him and I, including my parents had to make ends meet, so we feverously made lemonades out of our lemons in every chance we could. When Lue came out of county, we both utilized the EM1 whenever needed. I’ll end up using it more frequently because it was my commuter; on the other hand, Lue would usually take the Civic to get some beer and ciagrettes for himself or drive to a friend’s house. About two years of sharing the EM1, Lue decided it was a superlative idea to sell it. However, Lue was kind enough to share his profit. I mean, it only made sense, because I had to use my own work and financial aid money to keep up with the maintenance and occasional modifications. I later used the cash Lue gave me and with my parent’s help to finally buy my own car. That vehicle was another Honda Civic (EM1). Slowly turning those lemons and early experiences to teachable moments for myself.
Although I was only able to enjoy the EM1 for two years, it was the vehicle that rigorously mapped a way for me into the car community. The EM1 was unmodified and just recently repainted before my purchase and it still had all the matching vin numbers and panels, including the original B16A2 dual cam motor and matching transmission. You’ll know how difficult it is to find a Civic in that condition nowadays.
The Civic really allowed me to paint a picture of how it was to take care of a car, keep up with maintenance of a car, fixing and repairing, and especially learning how to “tastefully” modify a car the right JDM “Nnovation” way. Again, another moment of how I was able to make more lemonades! I just wished I was able to hold onto the Civic longer. Only my imagination can really tell how I would have evolve this Civic to be one of the cleanest around the central valley. Before NnovatioN, there was R Squad! :D
So, here is an old tale to reminisce and retell about “the one that got away.”
Like I have already mentioned, the Em1 was completely unmodified. I had the freedom to relearn from all the mistakes I made modifying my brother’s car. With my EM1, my vision was to patiently modify it dressed with authentic Civic Type R parts. I was fortunate enough to have Lue advised me what to purchase, and eventually, I’ll dig myself into Honda Tech, join the EM1 Crew forum, and constantly checking out build treads to supplement my perspective of how to modify the Em1.
I finalized my decision to modify the Em1 this way when I stumbled upon Joey’s (Stickydijoe/The Chronicles) picture of another Civic online. After researching and browsing through the internet looking at Joey’s site and coverages in the computer lab, instead of working on my biology labs, I was positive to utilize Joey’s platform as a mentor in guiding me to modify the EM1. Simultaneously, dreaming and wishing I’ll meet Joey one day or even get a chance to appear inside his blog or coverages.
You can clearly see, for a 22 year old adult at the time, I kept the Civic as clean as I could. I kid you not, I would give the Civic a waterless car wash (or spray wash) with a squirt bottle every time I take it out for a drive to the grocery store, or to the University. After it’s parked back safely inside my garage, I would give it another spray to eliminate the dust and debris it collected from the drive. It was not just a quick clean, I mean, I would literally wipe down the whole car, clean up the wheels, and put tire shine on the tires every chance I could. I would remember waking up an extra hour early to clean it before driving it to the University, letting Aimee know I am going to wipe down the car before coming over, and ensure it was dust free before a drive. It was my motto.
As much as I would have liked to modify the Civic as quickly as I could, I only worked part time as a reading tutor through work study at the university I was attending whilst sparing as much financial aid as I could to purchase something for the Em1 each semester. So, I did what I could to survive, paid bills, and modified the Em1.
I’m sure many of you early enthusiasts, like me, were also in the same shoes. Much of my funds from work were geared into saving it for car parts. It was tough to see many of my friends working full time and be many steps of me in their own builds. There were plenty of times where I just wanted to drop out of college and also work full time with my friends, just so I could modify the EM1.
Although that seemed like a good idea back then, I am glad I swam against the waves. With what I have now, being able to wake up happily to work and contribute to my community as a teacher, I wouldn’t alter it any other way. So, I guess it paid off in the end. LOL! Now I have the best of both worlds!
Around the early 2000’s, it was tough to acquire overseas parts. You had to have some connection or knew people in order to find authentic JDM parts. Most of my spending on my parts were from out of state. You just couldn’t find anything on Craig’s list (if you’re old enough to know what that is). Therefore, I’ll direct myself to Honda Marketplace to purchase my parts.
The Civic slowly involved as I diligently sourced CTR parts online, but my biggest purchase would have to be the CTR 5 lug conversion. I purchased the 5 lug suspension from an unknown seller out of the country. I was so desperate in trying to budget my funds efficiently. I recall purchasing the suspension through paypal as a gift. LOL! I sent over about $2,000 for the conversion and ITR wheels. I believe God was really on my side though, because it took about a whole month for all the parts to arrive to my house undamaged and as described and photographed from the seller. At a point, I thought I was being scammed because I never communicated with the seller after I sent the money. LOL!
The wait was horrendous! I remember counting down days and constantly checking the tracking status on the parts daily whenever I had some downtime or in between classes. However, when it finally arrived, the rotors were awful! They were covered in rust. I remember the whole conversion was almost equivalent to the amount of my financial aid and I didn’t have funds for new rotors…so I just resurfaced them.
Those moments were tough. Continually living through monthly paychecks just because of my obsession with the EM1. My goal then with it was to modify the car to where I felt it was ready to attend car shows; and it was well on it’s way here.
I wasn’t too confident with engine modifications so all that I did was added an Injen intake and a full GReddy Ti-C catback. I forgot to mention, when I purchased the car, it was near 200,000 miles already from the previous owner. However, we all know how reliable Honda motors are. The motor sounded healthy and I never experienced an oil leak than a replacement of a valve cover gasket just because I removed the cover to splatter some wrinkle red paint on it to resemble a Type R motor.
I couldn’t afford many Spoon Sports or Mugen parts at the time, so my to-go aftermarket parts were Skunk2. They’re great products, in my opinion. I purchased a used strut tower brace/bar and also ran the Pro Series S coilovers that were specifically for Integras and EG Civics. I ghetto rigged it and added washers just to run the coilovers. LOL!
With the Civic Type R Recaro Sr3 seats, the EM1 was nearly complete. Almost covered with Civic Type R parts (headlights, power folding side mirrors, thin side moldings, 5 lug conversion), the Civic sat perfect in my eyes.
I guess I didn’t know how well liked my EM1 was when Ek.Garage shared it on their Instagram account. Not being too familiar to Instagram at the time, a friend shared the post with me and it received thousands of likes. This was the picture they used, which oddly, is one of the bad angles I took of the Civic.
I tried dressing up the interior with as much Civic Type R parts that I could source as well. The cluster, the shift boot, and even the climate control was converted. Which was one the only mistake I made modifying the Civic. I had to trim down my air vents to fit the CTR climate control and then because everything was reverse, I just zip tied it to the dash brackets. It wasn’t on securely, but it sat flush, for the most part.
Little did I know that the S2000 AP1 steering wheel was already indicating to me my next car would be an S2000
In the early 2000’s, Neochrome was a very iconic color. Even a few aftermarket companies would at a limited time, offer their parts in that finish. When they did, I tried my best to grab them before they were sold out.
Like “xplicitly” exemplified here, my ASR brace I decided to run was in a neochrome finish, my lower control arms and lug nuts were also in the same finish. Who remembers BlackWorks Racing? I ran their control arms, camber kits, and lug nuts. Are they still in business?
From a completely stock Honda Civic to how it was before I lost it, I was humbly proud of how far I got with the car. It was a beautiful car and I wish it was still in my hands to toil with. Unfortunately, the build came into a terrifying end when I decided to drive it down to Northridge for a scholarship convention. It was my first and last trip down to Socal with the EM1.
On the way back from the weekend convention with college classmates and professors, the Em1 met a formidable conclusion as a Nissan Titan tackled the rear end of the EM1 with it’s bull bar as I was stopped at an intersection about to enter onto Grapevine. So bad, my rear window was shattered into pieces and my trunk was squished in like a hatchback. To add, I couldn’t afford to tow the Civic back all the way back to Merced (4 hours away), so I decided to just drive it like that all the way home. As bad as it sounded, the damage didn’t seem to affect the drivetrain or the EM1 at all. I safely drove it up and down Grapevine and all the way back up north to central California.
I badly wanted to find another Em1 and salvage whatever I could get off the car along with my insurance payout in continuing to build another Em1. After much thought and countless conversations with Aimee, it was best for me to sell everything I salvaged from the EM1, and used that toward the down payment of the S2000 you now see today.
I guess what I should have done was take the rental car that was provided for me to drive down to Northridge. Have I done that, who knows, I may still own the Em1 till this day and the S2000 may have never been a part of my life. The trajectory of my lifestyle may have been different and I may have never been able to meet my NnovatioN brothers.
I loved this car immensely and it was a joy to own! The Em1 is probably crushed by now. Last I heard, after I junked it locally, my friends would remind me they’ll see it at the junkyard stripped and cut into bits. Quite sad, honestly.
I know I was making lemonade though. The S2000 achieved a lot of my dreams I had for this Civic. Getting a wholesome Super Street feature, winning awards, and mentioned on The Chronicles blog, I couldn’t ask for more. From those achievements, I formed life-lasting friendship as well.
I recently picked up another coupe (not an EM1), earlier this year and I plan to restart from the Civic build where I have left off. With the resource and knowledge I have now, I cannot wait to see how I will execute this build.
Thank you for being patient everyone! I committed myself to post a blog or coverage on a weekly basis. However, after going out to shoot content at a recent meet and greet I attended with the NnovatioN brothers, those pictures were damaged and no longer retrievable. All because I thought it was ok to leave my camera inside my S2000 during a hot three digit weather afternoon when I went out eating sushi after the meet with the brothers. I looked at the pictures earlier this past week only to find out all those pictures are erased from my damaged memory card (from the heat, possibly) and I got nothing else to post.
That was why, I decided to go through my photo album to see what else I could post on here. As I stumbled upon these photos in my old Flickr account, I decided I’ll download them and write a blog about the car that really paved the way for me to be a part of this amazing car community.
It was an awkward moment writing about it because I remember a lot of things with the Civic from when I first purchased it until the day it was t-boned. I guess it’s plain to see when something or someone is important to you, you’ll remember everything about them, whether it contained good or unhappy moments.
A thank you to you all for your support! Don’t forget to check and follow my Instagram page for weekly updates from Xplicit Projects! AND, one last thank you to the Civic that couldn’t, but definitely could! May you rest in piece…or pieces.
