BarracksSi -- Washington, DC

[BarracksSi]

Almost entirely stock, obviously [well, becoming less so, as of last Friday, June 25th!], except for a few things --

No more i-VTEC stickers;
A couple USMC-related insignia;
"Euro'ed" front license plate;
Type-R style shift knob;
CTR boot (thanks raiyo);
Occasionally, rubber floormats;
Original 1986 Si badge from my old car (its rear window was busted in a smash-n-grab, and the badge was left by the curb);
Rota C8 16" wheels, 205/50-16 Kumho 711 tires;
RSX-S rear sway bar;
Mugen Sports Suspension;
Carbon fiber Mugen-style rear wing.

* I just got this wing from Civicvtec1ps, and it bolted right on. Really changes the look of the car, I must say. You'll see the original pic, taken about a month ago, at the bottom of this first post.

The wheels & suspension all happened during May, and I tell ya, the car's a blast to drive now. It was fun before, but in the words of 97 TYPE-R 312, "What was once your 'baby' is now going to be your 'bitch'."

:D

Leland Jordon
Sgt, USMC
Marine Barracks, Washington, DC

http://img66.photobucket.com/albums/v201/BarracksSi/Members%20Ride%20June%2004/Wing-Left-Front.jpg
http://img66.photobucket.com/albums/v201/BarracksSi/Members%20Ride%20June%2004/Wing-Left-Rear.jpg
http://img66.photobucket.com/albums/v201/BarracksSi/Members%20Ride%20June%2004/Wing-Closeup.jpg
http://img66.photobucket.com/albums/v201/BarracksSi/Members%20Ride%20Pics/artsy-shot.jpg
http://img66.photobucket.com/albums/v201/BarracksSi/Members%20Ride%20Pics/mmmmMugen.jpg
http://img66.photobucket.com/albums/v201/BarracksSi/Members%20Ride%20Pics/knob-n-boot.jpg
http://img66.photobucket.com/albums/v201/BarracksSi/Members%20Ride%20Pics/iPod-install.jpg
http://img66.photobucket.com/albums/v201/BarracksSi/Members%20Ride%20Pics/HotwheelsEP.jpg
http://img66.photobucket.com/albums/v201/BarracksSi/Members%20Ride%20June%2004/Wing-Right-Rear.jpg
http://img66.photobucket.com/albums/v201/BarracksSi/Members%20Ride%20Pics/rear-right.jpg

[silver ep]

Lookin clean, nice work!

[oogy-boogy]

Nice ride....Great to see another EP suffering through the snow.....

What the heck is that thing next to your ac controls (on the right)?

[BarracksSi]

Originally posted by oogy-boogy
Nice ride....Great to see another EP suffering through the snow.....

What the heck is that thing next to your ac controls (on the right)?

Heh -- that was the only real snowstorm that I was in town to witness.

The thing on the dash is a Marine Corps emblem, the "Eagle, Globe, and Anchor". This one is the kind that's used on our barracks covers ("hats" to most of ya). I Dremel'd the mounting post off its back and used doublesided tape to put it on the dash. I had considered drilling a hole and screwing it down, but I didn't want to scratch up the silver finish of the dash.

I still have the original EGA that my senior drill instructor handed to me, too. Right now it's in the pocket under the radio.

Here's some closer pics of the Marine stuff on the car --
http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/wetoddimage.wtdr/wMzQ3NDU3NnM0MTNkZmQzMXk1NDE%3D.jpg
http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/wetoddimage.wtdr/wMzQ3NDYwNnM0MTNkZmQzMXk1NDE%3D.jpg

Oh yeah, the snow that oogy mentioned:
http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/wetoddimage.wtdr/wMzQ3NDY2NnM0MTNkZmQzMXk1NDE%3D.jpg

[IceD out N CALI]

nice ride. any plans to lower it?

[BarracksSi]

No, no plans to give it a drop. Too many streets in DC are beat to hell, and I don't want to sacrifice the ride I've got now.

Plus, I may get into autocrossing in the near future, and I'd rather putter around in the stock class until 1) I get better than the car, and/or 2) the warranty runs out and I have cash saved up for some suspension mods.

What's surprising me these days is that I've almost forgotten to save up for audio gear. I enjoy how the motor sounds so much that I forget that I've turned off the radio. BUT, I start missing having a sub when I put in certain loud music.. lol

[IceD out N CALI]

yeah I understand. the ep at stock height is pretty comfortable ride too:)

[skooba]

Originally posted by BarracksSi
No, no plans to give it a drop. Too many streets in DC are beat to hell, and I don't want to sacrifice the ride I've got now.


dammit leland lol, i knew your car was stock and i just got in some neuspeed race springs brand new, but since i got a 90+ speeding ticket in a 45 i dont know how well my finances will hold up and i was gonna offer to sell them to you....... oh well, if you are ever interested just IM me sometime....

steve

[BarracksSi]

LOL...

Arrrgh, don't tempt me... the way I'm thinking now, my first suspension mod would probably be a rear sway bar. I'm reluctant to change springs from what I hear all the time about lower springs blowing the stock shocks. If I got lower springs, I'd be getting aftermarket shocks at the same time.

Anyone in the area have a dropped EP that I can ride in when I get back from Dallas next month so I can learn what it's really like? ;)

[golferjn]

nice car man. those are some cool pics

[BarracksSi]

Thanks -- looks good when it's clean, doesn't it? I'll have to get the bumper dings fixed, though. :(

[skooba]

so tempting lol........ $110 to your door :p

[BarracksSi]

Dammit.. lol... nooooo...

*trying to lose my wallet*

[Suk02Si]

Looks sharp;)

[97 TYPE-R 312]

Originally posted by BarracksSi
Arrrgh, don't tempt me... the way I'm thinking now, my first suspension mod would probably be a rear sway bar. I'm reluctant to change springs from what I hear all the time about lower springs blowing the stock shocks. If I got lower springs, I'd be getting aftermarket shocks at the same time.

Anyone in the area have a dropped EP that I can ride in when I get back from Dallas next month so I can learn what it's really like? ;)

Feel free to hit me up. I'll show you my Mugen Sport Suspension setup. I agree about changing the shocks with the springs, that makes the Mugen or TEIN setup a better buy. I sell both, but have Mugen in stock too.

-Victor

[Driftin SI]

Looks great and Semper Fi :)

[02TafWhtSi]

Nice black EP ;)

[BarracksSi]

Originally posted by 97 TYPE-R 312
Feel free to hit me up. I'll show you my Mugen Sport Suspension setup. I agree about changing the shocks with the springs, that makes the Mugen or TEIN setup a better buy. I sell both, but have Mugen in stock too.

-Victor

Will you be in Manassas this Sunday the 16th? Hm? Hm? :D

[down_shift]

[salutes]

[BarracksSi]

Looking back, I notice how I didn't want to do a drop or rims.

How things change.. lol ;)

[staticflo]

How much of a drop does the Mugen give? I have seen other cars and thought it wasnt enough of a drop for me but on your car it looks great....

[BarracksSi]

It's about two fingers lower than stock, which should be 1.5". Just right, I'd say.

[ecsahs3]

i dig your ipod set up. it's clean. :D

[BarracksSi]

i dig your ipod set up. it's clean. :D

Thanks --

It'll get cleaner tomorrow. I'm going to route the audio cable through the center console and into the cupholder area.

It'll probably change by the end of the year, though, with Alpine's interface. I'll finally have a good reason to replace the stock head.

[onEswEEtEp3]

http://img66.photobucket.com/albums/v201/BarracksSi/Members%20Ride%20June%2004/Wing-Left-Front.jpg
:tongue: Dude Silver c8's looks freakin' CLEAN on your car!! I always see c8 or c10 on bronze.

[BarracksSi]

lol... "Clean" is why I went with silver. I really dig bronze, and was set on getting them in that color, but I thought of what I liked to see when my car was washed, and the bit of sparkle-ness that I get with silver just wasn't possible with bronze.

You should see how many Photoshop files I made with different colors & wheels. The decision to go with silver C8's wasn't an easy one, but I'm glad I made it.

[krnbimmafrik]

hey i was wondering.... what company is that mugen style wing from? and where did u buy from... im looking for one.... and is that a mugen badge i see on the wing? where did u buy that? thanks bro

[BarracksSi]

I'm going to say that Showstoppers has the wing. I honestly don't know the manufacturer -- I bought it from Civicvtec1ps, here on ephatch.

The Mugen badge, I should note, isn't on there at all -- I Photoshopped it into the pic just for fun. I can't honestly drive around with a Mugen badge on a pseudo-Mugen part, although I'm pondering getting that badge since I've got the suspension. The replica wing has the recessed spot for the badge, too.

King Motorsports sells the badge - http://www.kingmotorsports.com/product.asp?product=105

[04typer]

bump-nice ride

[civictype_r04]

I like it looks really clean.

[BarracksSi]

Wow, it's been a while, hasn't it?

Here are some current pics, although I haven't done much to it in two years (been saving up for whatever I decide to do about the motor) --

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v201/BarracksSi/Members%20Ride%20Sept%202005/Sept05EP3Pics3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v201/BarracksSi/Members%20Ride%20Sept%202005/Sept05EP3Pics4.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v201/BarracksSi/Members%20Ride%20Sept%202005/Sept05EP3Pics1.jpg

I miss my Rays.. :mcry:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v201/BarracksSi/Members%20Ride%202006/Rays200602.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v201/BarracksSi/Members%20Ride%202006/Rays200605.jpg

In action:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v201/BarracksSi/Autocrossing/ai_06_4_stx_073.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v201/BarracksSi/Autocrossing/Picture21.png
:mcool:

[BarracksSi]

Exhaust; Fujitsubo RM-01A, JDM spec, installed using an OEM Type-S header & catalytic convertor with some O2 sensor wire extensions from Casper Electronics:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v201/BarracksSi/RM-01A%20Install/RM01A1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v201/BarracksSi/RM-01A%20Install/RM01A2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v201/BarracksSi/RM-01A%20Install/RM01A13.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v201/BarracksSi/RM-01A%20Install/RM01A6.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v201/BarracksSi/RM-01A%20Install/RM01A12.jpg

And the FIRST picture ever taken of my car with the new exhaust installed :mwink: :
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v201/BarracksSi/RM-01A%20Install/PhotoTicketFar.jpg

[MEAN IRISH GUY]

hahaha is that a traffic photo?

[BarracksSi]

hahaha is that a traffic photo?

It sure is. I installed the exhaust on, I think, Wednesday before Labor Day, went out of town for that weekend, then drove back home on Labor Day. Turns out that "090505" is the date, Sept. 5th, 2005, at 1529 (aka 3:29 PM). I think I got busted for a 36 in a 25 or something like that; nobody drives 25 on that street anyway. :mmad: :mbiggrin:

[MEAN IRISH GUY]

It sure is. I installed the exhaust on, I think, Wednesday before Labor Day, went out of town for that weekend, then drove back home on Labor Day. Turns out that "090505" is the date, Sept. 5th, 2005, at 1529 (aka 3:29 PM). I think I got busted for a 36 in a 25 or something like that; nobody drives 25 on that street anyway. :mmad: :mbiggrin:

thats in dc right? where is that?

[BarracksSi]

thats in dc right? where is that?

It was on M St SE., a block or so east of S. Capitol, right by where the Nats stadium is now. It was a portable speed trap, and although I rarely drive on that stretch, it was the only time I've seen one there.

[BarracksSi]

Hadn't updated my car since 2008, have I?

If any of you watch the EPHatch group on Facebook, you might've seen me sell my EP a couple weeks back. It was a great fifteen years with the first car I ever bought brand-new and made into my own car (even though it was heavily influenced by the original Mugen EP). Although my new FK7 is much more civilized inside -- and Robotech-wild outside -- I miss the fun little egg.

Got a CR-V for my wife the same day, too. Still can't believe we blew nearly sixty grand in an afternoon.

(trying to add attachments in the new forum software but the quota is amazingly small.. like, 87 KB-small...)

[playap07]

Congrats on your new purchase! Did you get the FK7 in the SI trim?

Someone needs to upgrade the forums photo protocall! I should be easier to post pics this day in age.

[BarracksSi]

Congrats on your new purchase! Did you get the FK7 in the SI trim?

Someone needs to upgrade the forums photo protocall! I should be easier to post pics this day in age.

I think the FK7 is specifically the new '17+ hatchback, and they don't (and won't) have an Si trim for the hatch (the Si was announced a couple days ago as being for the coupe and sedan; they're doing the Type-R on the hatchback exclusively).

I got the Sport Touring model -- top-of-the-line among current Civics with all the goodies. Thinking back, the EP was the top-line Civic, too, but the only driving aid it had was ABS. Now I've got built-in Garmin nav, CarPlay, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control (freaky how it works), lane departure warning, road departure mitigation (the steering kicks back at you to keep you on the road), rear camera, rain sensing wipers, side view camera, automatic headlights with automatic high beams, multi-mode CVT (with a "manual" mode that makes a CVT less annoying for an enthusiast like me), proximity auto-unlock and auto-lock, a 500-something-watt stereo with a sub (ehh... sounds okay), heated seats front and rear...

[playap07]

I think the FK7 is specifically the new '17+ hatchback, and they don't (and won't) have an Si trim for the hatch (the Si was announced a couple days ago as being for the coupe and sedan; they're doing the Type-R on the hatchback exclusively).

I got the Sport Touring model -- top-of-the-line among current Civics with all the goodies. Thinking back, the EP was the top-line Civic, too, but the only driving aid it had was ABS. Now I've got built-in Garmin nav, CarPlay, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control (freaky how it works), lane departure warning, road departure mitigation (the steering kicks back at you to keep you on the road), rear camera, rain sensing wipers, side view camera, automatic headlights with automatic high beams, multi-mode CVT (with a "manual" mode that makes a CVT less annoying for an enthusiast like me), proximity auto-unlock and auto-lock, a 500-something-watt stereo with a sub (ehh... sounds okay), heated seats front and rear...


Damn, thought they would of atleast has a hatch SI model... no bueno

Sheeeesh, the FK7 sounds like it super technologically advance! I like some of those advancements but the lane assist stuff sounds like it there to help the shit bag drivers that love to text drive, do make up, not pay attention or better yet be faded and drive. Great Job on Honda none the less, enjoy the new Civic sounds like its a pretty smooth chill ride!

[BarracksSi]

Damn, thought they would of atleast has a hatch SI model... no bueno
The Si coupe looks like it'll be the best choice for fun backroads driving and autocrossing. Lightest chassis of the new generation and smallest overall.


Sheeeesh, the FK7 sounds like it super technologically advance! I like some of those advancements but the lane assist stuff sounds like it there to help the shit bag drivers that love to text drive, do make up, not pay attention or better yet be faded and drive. Great Job on Honda none the less, enjoy the new Civic sounds like its a pretty smooth chill ride!

It's weird to turn on all the driver assist functions and let it nearly take care of itself.

Situation: stop-and-crawl rush hour traffic on the parkway.

Tech: Turn on LKAS (Lane Keep Assist), ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control), and keep the other stuff on, too (lane departure warning , road departure mitigation [yanks on the wheel automatically], and anti-collision [beeps AND hits the brakes]. Set the cruise for, say, 65 mph.

Results:
-Your car follows the one in front of you at the same timed interval ALL THE TIME. The distance increases with speed (as it should) but you'll always be about 1.5 or 1.7 seconds behind. You can also set it to follow closer or farther; I think there are four different settings for the interval.
- If your car can "see" the lane markings, it will auto-steer. Which is freaky.
- As traffic slows down, so does your car. If you've set it to do 65 mph but traffic is only doing 15, your car will do 15.
- If (or when!) traffic stops, so does your car. If it stops for more than a second or so and your dashboard says "Stopped", your car will NOT begin moving again on its own -- even if traffic starts going again -- until you tap the gas pedal. Then, it will resume following the car ahead of you.
-*- [b]Important: If you try to take your hands off the wheel and let the car "autopilot", it will warn you, then it will disengage itself. You MUST be touching the steering wheel. This also makes sure that, if the car auto-shakes the steering wheel (lane or roadway departure), it can grab your attention.

Drawbacks:
- It's not autopilot. That's okay; the world isn't ready for millions of autopilot cars yet.
- It's very tempting to stop paying attention to traffic.
- It cannot know about any traffic beyond the car in front of you. It doesn't look far enough ahead to see the sudden slowdown that's happening 300 yards down the road. It only reacts to whatever the car in front of you does, so it can't predict whether to ease up and begin braking unless the car in front of you starts slowing down. Even then, it's reacting more slowly than I would prefer, so it ends up braking and re-accelerating harder than I would myself.

I now understand what a traffic engineer friend told me: If you have several cars in a row using today's autopilot and adaptive cruise systems, they will start doing a "rubber band effect", where the third or fourth car in line begins suddenly braking and suddenly accelerating and suddenly braking, over and over again. Unless the cars can all communicate with each other and "agree" on an average speed, they'll be stuck driving half-blind, merely reacting to the car immediately in front of themselves.

All that being said, and maybe because, long ago, I've relented to DC traffic and am in no hurry to get anywhere when it's busy, driving with all these systems engaged became more relaxing. I don't need to constantly be choosing whether to gas or brake; I only need to monitor what my car is doing. It's one less thing I have to worry about when all I want to do is get from A to B.

What I don't like is where this march towards autonomous cars is going to leave the drivers. When these systems don't work -- which is when it's very crowded, or the weather sucks, or the roadway is poorly marked -- the driver needs to have full understanding of what to do. I think that the less often a driver is in charge of a vehicle, the more they get out of practice, and the less they'll be able to handle dangerous situations.

[playap07]

Those are some insane results. Thanks for taking the time to put it in a scenario for better understanding, sounds like these new adapative cars are the way to go for that busy city life. Hopefully this will end people running into the back of taxi cabs. lol I remember my mom ran into a taxi a long time ago when he slammed on his breaks to pick up a customer lol oooh the 90s.