After reading many posts throughout my tenure on HT I am curious as to how many of the Accord owners are interested in practical performance over looks and sound? I feel like I am the only one who fights for the practilcality and "true" performance any modification will give.

I would also like to know where a lot of you guys knowledge comes from. We seem to throw out ideas and opinions like they are fact without any ones concern for the ideas origin. It would be good for all to have a background of those who we seek all this info from.

 

I get my knowledge from my own experience's. I also try and read and do as much research as possible.I hate the people who just jump on the bandwagon.They are just MORON's. And the people who think they need certain products(like a 6 puck unsprung clutch) when something else who do the job better(like an EXEDY organic).Just because one day they might have a use for it.Besides a paper wieght or wheel chuck.People need to think,but a lot don't.
IGNORANCE is a killer.But that is why I left clubsi, because of stupid punks who agree with the person with the most posts.Sorry for the rant.It just came out.

 

i much rather prefer performance over looks, thats hwy my car has all the dents and ings. hehe. but it will destroy pretty much almost all accord's out there. the rear seats were because i was bored, lol. but after the apexi vafc, and dyno tune, i am done because i am getting a new car, and the accord is going to be garaged for a bit. and i am getting a gsx-r 600. anyways, i am always in favor of performance rather than looks because everyone knows those altezzas give 15 hp, and the body kits give aerodynamics that add another 20 hp. LOL. latas

 

i am for performace over looks, this is evident by the hole in my front bumper from when some ***... hit my car a while back. but i do have my own personal taste's for appearance. like i dont like the altezza's but i did take the stock tail lights and remove that inner orange piece for the blinker... i just like little things like that most people wouldnt notice but makes my car stand out a wee bit and when i did that it wasnt about standing out it was becuase i thought the orange/amber was ugly. that also why i got clear bumpers. ive been doing research on honda's/cars in general for about a year now and ive only had my accord since august so yah its easier to learn if you actually have a real reference. its not like im rich or anything i work for my money to pay for my car maintance mods and all that and hey i do my own installs i figure if i cant put it on i dont know how it works and i dont understand it fully so i shouldnt use it so im gonna either learn it or do without.

 

Welcome Red Wing...... my reason for this posts is so there can be a clear line between who knows and who thinks they know. I am the first to admit when I am wrong but will offer any advice I can to someone's question if no quality input has been offered. I like to hear peoples experiences and first hand knowledge in their posts because it gives what they had to say some merit. Magazines are not a good quality resource for unbiased tried and true info, contrary to popular belief.

I put my car on the race course and have a knowledge of suspension setups, brake systems and various chassis settings. I am also as of right now researching the SOHC engine and everything about it, along with Honda's electrical systems. I purchased Helm's Shop manual and electrical manual for my car and intend on reading them from cover to cover. I learn more by doing though, that is why the track is a big draw for me. That is the true test of a product, if you do not cut it there you are quickly written off as junk.

 

For me, I prefer looks over performance. I'm pretty happy with my Accord's performance stock already, so I put my money into the show instead of the go.

 

I am more into looks than performance. I own the 5th gen v6, so I am limited. I give my help on subject matter that I know from first hand, a friend, or somewhere I read. I have learned a lot from ht more than any other board.

 

absolutely nothing wrong with that sometimes it is hard for others to admit that they don't know the difference between performance parts and show parts

 

I usually do a performance modification, then a cosmetic mod. That's just the way I am, I'm not into the whole sleeper fad, I spend a lot of money on my car and I want people to know that. Plus I like to attend shows and still have a car that can hang on the track. I've been around cars for the majority of my life, my father use to be a mechanic so I guess it's in the blood.

 

Good Topic Morgan.

I admit when I first started this whole thing I wanted a "show" car, rims etc, but when it came down to it and I became aware of the $ i would have to shell out so I could look "cool" I didnt think it would be worth it, it would still be a car that couldnt perform for **** despite looking fast or exotic. There is an EK hatch in my area here at home with about 15k invested (rims, suspension, shaved, custom paint, interior, stereo u name it, it has it) and it still has the DX crapola motor in it. I guess some people just enjoy driving a car that makes a visual statement. I prefer something that is fun to drive.

I got on Honda message boards about...5 years ago when I was 15 years old, anyone remember SuperHonda back then? It was a Bravenet style board then, like the Hybrid.honda's message board, and yes there was a time when SHO was the only place to go for good Honda info. Since then that has all changed.

I dont take everything for fact that i read, not even close, i read a topic like "my 6-puck clutch ruined my tranny" and take it for what its worth, i dont jump to conclusions that all 6-puck clutches are going to destroy the tranny, but when I see the topic a bunch of times over years and more often than not it causes damage over time then i draw the conclusion that it some instances a 6-puck can hurt the life of the tranny and is not necessary in most setups, it is not worth the risk for me to get on. You wouldnt believe what u can learn in 5 years of reading people's experiences.

That is basically my thought process on message boards. Some topics like the strange rumor that a Lude tranny is stronger than an Accord tranny i know is nonsense and I will just disregard it.

My own experience, talking to accomplished people in the field, message boards and working at Honda are basically where I learn. I dont have any subscriptions to import magazines or anything and I rarely buy them, maybe the occassional Sport Compact Car, they have been getting better lately.

Back to the original topic....I am now just concerned with performance. I have factory taillights and bumper lights, i just have clear corners, factory spoiler, eibach/koni suspension, intake, cat back, test pipe, upper strut bar, a cd player and 2 10"s in the trunk, white faced guages and an autometer tach. Other than the car being lowered and the NER northeastracing.com sticker on the side windows it looks pretty much stock. I have a DC sports short shift adapter sitting in my room and my immediate plans are to purchase an H22 (april) which i would like to turbo, and some new seats, probably Forza's (leather sucks!) and yes the car will still look the same then. My goal is a 13second accord capable of being daily driven. Right now drag is primarily my interest, but I am dying to put together a 1st or 2nd gen CRX to track/autocross. 1 thing at a time, maybe when i graduate and get a job in this **** economy I'll be able to afford one. But until then i'm enjoying my accord.

 

It is my intention to have the first Accord in the Honda challenge, and be realtively competitive

 

*ahem*

 

oh well second is good enough, now just for the licenscing part

 

im playing man, youll probably be in before me, this year may be a bit rough on the funds

 

same for me but I am going to sit down and budget in track days, it is the only thing I have ever done in my life that truly satisfies me.

 

I am about 70% show, 30% go... mainly for the factor that i get alot more satisfication for the buck's worth from look & sound, than performance. I'd love to have an H22 and FI in my kord one day, just gotta wait till I get a decent job. Besides, I'm a daily driver, give me a Skyline or NSX and I would probably drive the same way I do... shifting at 3K (to save gas).

edit: oh yeah, beside I already know how it feels like to drive a turbo car... had my Conquest TSi before this kord, and I bet it can outhandle (maybe outrun too) most of the Hondas here


[Modified by Stony TSi, 5:27 PM 1/8/2002]

 

My car looks like **** but I try to make sure all they ever see are my tail lights.

(when I'm not off course)

 

I would say that I am into a little of both. I go mainly for performance, but I like looks too. My car is not a "show" car, but I do enjoy taking it to car shows. That is why I have little things to make the car look better. I feel there can be a good balance, as long as the person understands what is for real performance, and what is simply for looks.

I have been modifying cars for over ten years now, and had a good background in muscle cars. A lot of my knowledge came from that. I have been playing with imports for about 4 years now. Over those years, I feel have I have a pretty decent knowledge of them. Most of my education comes from doing. I used to spend a lot of time running SCCA, and tried many different suspension setups. Lately, I have not had the time to race, either turns or straight, although I wish I did.

However, the Accord is probably going to be put up, and made strictly into a show/weekend strip car. I will not be taking it to a wild extreme, simply adding a couple of more "showy" parts. the car will look very much the same, but I will do a custom interior. I am starting a new project very soon, and am stopping with the Accord. As soon as some paperwork come sin from the DMV, I will be picking up a 92 Civic Si. That is going to be my new project. It will get the turbo, and a motor swap. The only thing I will do for looks, is the clear corners because I hate amber! LOL. The hatch will be my daily driver, and the Accord will come out whenever the hatch is in for repairs.

 

Well to be honest, after being on numerous board for the many months I have learned a few things. Most people on here just like I did those 2 years ago come on here and think well I always see these nice flashy cars on the streets and how can I make mines just as flashy or cool sounding. So they come on the boards asking, "so what do I do first questions" and just generally get on the hype train. Only few after a few years get really in to the performance aspect of the car and start making mods that count and start actually doing research...

After a while it all comes down to the person, how they feel about their car, and what they are willing to do... Some go the distance, some do not, and then some just park their car and start all over again after realizing that they didnt go down the right path in the first place.

 

That wasn't a cheap pop at me since I said I was parking the Accord was it?

 

Maybe.. hehe

 

Hmm. I don't know whether to or

 

Jason Kidd-
I understand what you are saying and agree with you. the problem is the import scene is not staying the same, it is growing extremely fast. Carlisle Import Show plans on having close to 50,000 people there in a weekend. With that influx of newcomers comes a lot of flashy thoughts and non researched ideas.
I am not saying that this is a bad thing at all, it is great, but it is up to us to keep places like Honda-tech from being drowned in useless posts about what should I do first and how does this body kit look. This has to be one of the most knowledgable and downright helpful boards out there and I plan on trying to keep it that way.
I race my car on road courses and a group of us from HT has been asked to go to Carlisle this year and run a brand new course in front of all of these newcomers, and even give rides. They choose us becuase frankly the import market is turning away from drag racing and moving on to road courses becuase the competition in drag is too great for a bracket racer.
We have an oppurtunity to be leaders within the import scene, wether large or small. people will know to come here to talk about rice or real performance. that choice is up to us.

 

Very true. But like most boards that I have seen. The times do come when all to most bases are coverd and it gets harder for reality posts as you would put it come forth. For instance for every new person that comes on this board they will be 10 new questions. For those of us that have been here or there for a while there will be 10 of us with about 1 good question. So you see we are outnumbered either way..

The only thing to do is not breed in mundane and try to come up with new avenues, new adventures, and new tricks.. However most of us here do not have the funds, nor time to make such ventures. And even if we did then we come under major scrutiny from our peers for being different or a waste.. Its a long hard road but so far so good.

Big James: I only jest because it was partly because of you why I even bothered with the swap to begin with. So to now hear you are moving on to those evil Civic's is somewhat disheartening, but you must do what drives you the best and as you said your Accord will not be lost just collecting more dust...

 

It's cool. I have not given up on the Accord. I still love the car to death. I am just kinda bored and want something else to play with for a little while. What I see happening is me ending up with a gutted hatch that I can not drive on the street, and then the Accord will come back out. Basically, I just want more toys!