5 Regrettable Honda Civic Mods
Read up, Civic noobs!
There are many mods you can do to your Honda Civic, but some are better left undone. Here are five regrettable modifications for the Honda Civic, as told by Honda-Tech forum users.
1. Exhaust
Spending hundreds of dollars on either a no-name or custom exhaust is a common regret expressed on the forum, namely because the cost didn’t justify the lackluster gains. A lot of unhappy exhaust modders also claimed their custom exhausts were too loud and got them tickets. Several forum users wish they had kept their exhaust stock, so make sure to think long and hard before having a shop weld a custom exhaust to your Civic.
2. Body Kits
Forum users have reportedly regretted buying body kits that don’t end up fitting their Civics well and that get scratched or damaged easily due to their acrylic makeup. Even after improvising or tweaking a kit that doesn’t fit to attempt to make it passable, there’s no way to make it look as professional. Body kits have also been called a hassle when going over bumps and up driveways, and drivers didn’t like the extra attention from cops.
3. Headers
Some forum users regret spending money on headers, realizing in retrospect that they could have put the money towards a turbo setup instead to gain better HP. In particular, DC Sports headers were a regretful brand because of their cost and unnoticeable power gains. But if you’re going to buy headers, don’t skimp on them and be sure to do your research instead of buying a no-name brand.
4. Painting Interior Trim Pieces
Owners who have painted their dash a different color really regretted this decision. In some cases, this mod caused awful glare issues and almost always an ugly appearance when the trim surfaces started to crack. Quality paint jobs require several steps, like sanding and adding a clear coat, no matter what the surface. Trying to paint interior pieces as a DIY project is generally a bad idea if you don’t take detail into consideration. If you still want to go through with it, then it’s recommended to use a vinyl dye product or vinyl material instead.
5. Coilovers
The Skunk2 coilovers are a common regret among Civic owners on the forum, who claim they create too bouncy of a ride. Feeling like you’re going to fly out of your seat even while going over small bumps is going to get old fast. Overall, it’s recommended to avoid cheap coilovers no matter how badly you want to modify your suspension. Coilovers are not worth it unless you invest in a reputable, respected brand, which often means shelling out a few hundred more to achieve the kind of quality and ride you want.
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