yo dudes.

ok here we go: i got a 2002 honda accord EX (4 cyl) last january and i recently decided im gonna start buying some stuff for it to try and get a little more torque out of it, and im also very very new to the concept of what to start off with. This car is completely stock.

granted i dont want to spend too much money (i have 600 to spend at the time being, but more is coming)...
where should i start? i was thinking of getting a cold air intake filter from K&N to replace the stock.. would this be a good idea? if not, what should i look into? any other suggestions?

i know this is a very vague post but hopefully as i learn i can be more specific...

 

you can start off by reading "GUIDE TO BASIC ACCORDS" stickyed to the top of this forum.... that will tell you everything you need to know to start off.. as for your intake.. thats usualy something that every1 starts off with... you could either get a drop in k&n filter.. or you can upgrade to a whole cold air/short ram intake. many will debate which is better.. all i sugest is that you have a K&n filter for anything you get... and if you want to get an intake get it off ebay.. and just buy a k&n filter for it.... the ebay intake piping is just as good as any name brand..

 

auto or stick?

Intake is fine for now, but then id worry about suspension before going on to H/E. Unless you wanna boost, then i wouldnt get I/H at all.

 

yeah forgot to mention, my car is an automatic (i didnt get a choice in the car it was given to me)... im in college also so i cant afford to get a new car altogether, so i figured id get this one as nice as possible.

 

hmm in that case maybe you should forget the intake.. and get some new springs and shocks... im thinking thats my next move.. i think its more worth it to make the car handle better...

 

k ...
im reading the basic accord guide trying to learn as much as possible about shocks and my car in general.

thanks for all the help so far btw...

 

intake will help any car but if its an auto like mine suspension is way to go...start off with tires/wheel first for the most noticable difference.....

 

I'm auto and i'm suspension more than go fast cause Accords dont go fast as easy...

And a word of worldly advice, i'm in college as well. I'd save all the money i'm making now. After my 2nd year of college I have a totally different opinion of what I want to do with my life, I have a totally different project car, and my life is much easier just driving my car around and having it reliable instead of putting things on and breaking it. I suggest you dont spend more than you have to on your car, in a bit you might outgrow it and you could use that money after college to get an apartment, move for a job, get a new car, etc. You find out a shitload about yourself in college, and you might do better by waiting.

In the last year i've spent maybe 500 bucks on my car, and that's still too much from me.

Just my .02

 

thanks for that advice...it helped me neways...one prob tho is that like many other people once you start dumping money into ur car its hard to stop..any advice on that?

 

You just realize waht you need and waht you don't need.

I have 4g in the bank right now, and I could do a manual swap and turbocharge the car. But I know in a few years i'll buy a Civic that can run in the 12's for the same money. I also realize taht I already have a car, but i'll need an apartment to live in when I start working, and it'll be a lot easier to save my money now, have a stable first start into the world, and then use my MUCH larger (eh, by my standards) salary to do what I want with cars later.

I really enjoy my car now, and it's mostly suspension. After I got scammed out of1800 on a turbo setup, I just said f it. You also have to realize when you start spending 3 or 4 00 dollars to make an extra 3 hp, youd better be building a race car

Just think of this....when do the benefits no longer outweigh the cost? When has it gone past the point of being enjoyable to you to becoming an obsession?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by accordselux &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You just realize waht you need and waht you don't need.

I have 4g in the bank right now, and I could do a manual swap and turbocharge the car. But I know in a few years i'll buy a Civic that can run in the 12's for the same money. I also realize taht I already have a car, but i'll need an apartment to live in when I start working, and it'll be a lot easier to save my money now, have a stable first start into the world, and then use my MUCH larger (eh, by my standards) salary to do what I want with cars later.

I really enjoy my car now, and it's mostly suspension. After I got scammed out of1800 on a turbo setup, I just said f it. You also have to realize when you start spending 3 or 4 00 dollars to make an extra 3 hp, youd better be building a race car

Just think of this....when do the benefits no longer outweigh the cost? When has it gone past the point of being enjoyable to you to becoming an obsession? </TD></TR></TABLE>

This is really wise advice. I'm just now a freshman in college and over the summer i was planning on saving up and going turbo. About a half way through the summer i realized that i would barely have enough money and dumping all of the money i have into a car ill barely get to drive the next 4 years would be stupid. Plus i realized id need to have plenty of spending money saved up for this year. Needless to say, like selux, ive really rethinked things. Cars can still be a hobby even if you don't have one.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dmurphy2k3 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">. Cars can still be a hobby even if you don't have one. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I just chill on HT, and subscribe to Grassroots Motorsports, Honda Tuning, Car and Driver, DSport, and SCC. And just sitting back and not digging into my car, i've gotten several very good revelations....i've been able to change my mind without deeming a part I spend money on useless.....etc.

 

once the expense of spending on your car are not worth your opportunity cost, its just hurting you and not worth it at all... especialy when your not getting much in return... you, i and most people started off looking for more power.. but over time you see that it takes much work and money to get the results you want.. so you could save your money and get a project car... but since your starting you you could get a nice supspenion to hold you out for now.. and maybe some nice wheels..

 

thats is a really good idea and awesome advice... i think i wont spend much on this and save for when i start getting a salary (i might do a little to the suspension possibly, but not much if any)... plus yeah im going away to a different school in the spring that i wont be able to drive so i think ill wait. i can spend some time at school doing more research and finding out what i really want... so i dont get scammed...

thanks alot selux \ dudes
lot lot lots of help

and i hope to see you guys on this forum when i get a good job and can afford to seriously rock out my car ^_^



Modified by Rolo at 4:37 PM 9/6/2005

 

Just use this place as a source of info, you'll learn a lot and figure out more about waht you want. Dont be afraid to do basic work, but in college, dont go dropping 3 or 4 grand

You can at least do some work yourself on your car and use this forum to ask questions, and be able to maintain the vehicle so you can drive around in college. I'm cool now, since I have a car and the first years don't.

 

thanks cuz at the rate i was going it was turning into a money pit...i understand its a hobby but what a lot of people dont realize is that every hobby is expensive not jus cars. even r/c which i was into before i got my license. i think after a lil suspension stuff im done tho. jus want my car to be respectable.

 

Save some $$$$ and just buy some wheels. If you start doing suspension I feel I should tell you that if you do, do it right. I easily put over a $1000 into my suspension.
Started off with just lowering springs. and the cost just started adding UP and UP.
To do it right of course.
But in the long run, I did feel it to be a worthwhile expense.
Just think about what you really wanna do....
Actually how much cash you really really wanna spend..
my 2cents. GL

 

I think i am very similar to you. All i wanted is for my car to be respectable. When i got it it was bone stock and chrome hub caps! First thing i did was get some wheels and tires. 14 inch wheels to 17 inch wheels is a bg upgrade. I thought that is all i would need, but then i tinted my windows and did a little bit to my suspension. Before i knew it i had intake and exhast too. It is very addicing. I didnt think Id even take it this far. Hopefully soon ill reach a level of comfort.

 

I don't think anyone here can claim themselves as immune to the $$ problem. Like stated above some where the Accord is going to take a bit of cash to make it "fast". And its hard for me to say cuz i got lotz of car pride but its just not a race car. It never will be. So if that is what your looking for i would take the advice above, get I/h/E, maybe suspension, and then save your money for a more suitable race car. haha it really is hard to stop dropping money after you start.... nearly impossible. I couldn't stop unitil i actually got a hold of my new project (88 Mitsubishi Starion).