Hi, I just bought a 1997 Honda civic coupe manual from a guy in the airforce, and im wanting to fix it up and make it into a realy nice car with some decent hp. The car has 166,000 miles on it but everything works as it did when it was brand new. There isnt anything wrong mechanicly and im wanting to get peoples opinion on what i should do. The interior is also in mint condishion and the owner before me never smoked or anything. The car is in GREAT shape and only has some small body nicks and scratches. So, here is what im already planning to do, I want to A. Get a new Carbon fiber hood, because the one on it has some denting and paint chipped from someone shutting a tool in the hood when it was being serviced. B. The fender has a small dent in the right side and i want to replace that also. Im also planning on getting it re-painted by macco or someplace. I would like to get a body kit, spoiler, and some other upgrades aswell, but i just wanted to see if anyone had some suggestions for me. Here are some photos of my first car.

 

 

Keep it the way it is.

IMO, drop it on a set of springs, nice/decent wheels in your eyes, and add a SiR front lip.

 

Congratulations, and welcome.

By the looks of things, I think one of your first investments should be a set of snow tires.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Padawan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Congratulations, and welcome.

By the looks of things, I think one of your first investments should be a set of snow tires. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes i am buying snow tires this weekend, just going to shop around.

 

Nice. I like car shopping.

 

put some hella 500 on that front bumper some good tires. and go have a blast

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by OversteerMotorSports &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Nice. I like car shopping.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah i payed $3000 for it, i think i did well as long as some horribles problem are hiding secretly.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MugenManR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">put some hella 500 on that front bumper some good tires. and go have a blast </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah i do want to get some new lights, but what i realy want is a tachometer.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by kyle1223 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Yeah i do want to get some new lights, but what i realy want is a tachometer.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Get a cluster from a 96-00 Civic EX yay

 

IMO ex or Si cluster. Or if you got deeper pockets CTR etc.

 

nice buy.. IMO ide say leave out the body kit.. drop it.. get a nice set of rims.. then wrap them rims in some good snow tires.. then have fun..

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by kyle1223 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Hi, I just bought a 1997 Honda civic coupe manual from a guy in the airforce, and im wanting to fix it up and make it into a realy nice car with some decent hp. The car has 166,000 miles on it but everything works as it did when it was brand new. There isnt anything wrong mechanicly and im wanting to get peoples opinion on what i should do. The interior is also in mint condishion and the owner before me never smoked or anything. The car is in GREAT shape and only has some small body nicks and scratches. So, here is what im already planning to do, I want to A. Get a new Carbon fiber hood, because the one on it has some denting and paint chipped from someone shutting a tool in the hood when it was being serviced. B. The fender has a small dent in the right side and i want to replace that also. Im also planning on getting it re-painted by macco or someplace. I would like to get a body kit, spoiler, and some other upgrades aswell, but i just wanted to see if anyone had some suggestions for me. Here are some photos of my first car. </TD></TR></TABLE>

im not telling you want to do with your car, but since you are asking for opinions

first of all, NO BODYKIT!!! please dont do that to the poor civic.

here what i think you should do, drop it on some nice coilover so you'd be able to adjust your ride height, and get some good shock if you dont want your car bouncing all over the place.
get some nice wheels, if your ball'n id say go with some bronzes mf-10. if your not, rota circuit 10.
front sir lip, type r grill painted same to match your car and call it day. as far as motor goes, only way to get some real power out of that single is turbo it.
or, drop a b18c1 (gsr). you'll feel the difference.

 

nice ride ... i want to get one of those soon

 

Man that is clean. Start with a nice suspension setup and some good wheels with all season tires. Then you can focus on little engine ****.

 

CLEAN RIDE... keep it clean and add a nice sir lip, sir headlights, ek type r mirror, type r grill on it and add some white volk te37 with some good suspension..it'll look awsome...don't rice it out.. i wish i have a coupe..

 

LOL sorry I have to laugh at you......BUUUT what exactly do you have to fix up that looks like it just rolled of the showroom floor lol. And since it was owned by somebody in the armed forces im pretty much convinced all it did was roll of the showroom floor and then get parked for 364 days out of the year.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ek_civic96 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">CLEAN RIDE... keep it clean and add a nice sir lip, sir headlights, ek type r mirror, type r grill on it and add some white volk te37 with some good suspension..it'll look awsome...don't rice it out.. i wish i have a coupe..</TD></TR></TABLE>

Sounds like you'd like him to make your ideal car instead of make up his own mind.

To the OP -- nice find. Just remember, maintenance is, above all, key. Never let a problem go unchecked because you'd rather add some other modification. Take good care of her, and modify her the way you see fit.

While I do recommend against aftermarket spoilers and bodykits, this is not purely based on aesthetic. They usually fit poorly, and are made of poor quality materials. Keep it OEM, if only for reliability.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Syndacate &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">OMG, looks like every other stock 97 DX I've seen!!

WHAT GIVES? WHAT'S THE CATCH??</TD></TR></TABLE>
I dont intend to be an *** but ??????????

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Syndacate &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">OMG, looks like every other stock 97 DX I've seen!!

WHAT GIVES? WHAT'S THE CATCH??</TD></TR></TABLE>

He's excited because it's his first car. He's a trial member here and doesn't know the rules. Lay off, and let him have his cake.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Eran &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

He's excited because it's his first car. He's a trial member here and doesn't know the rules. Lay off, and let him have his cake.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Aight aight, I'm done here then..

 

Yellow Fogs and SIR Lip

 

Tips

1: Learn how to spell.
2: Body kits and spoilers do NOT add horsepower.

 

drp it some wit some tien springs.. get some rims prob some 14 or 15.. will look good guarantee you... oh yea and some good snow tires..

by the way good deal on the car looks like its in really good condition

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by b16a1eg6 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Yellow Fogs and SIR Lip
</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm sorry...but that car looks so bad that it makes me wanna punch a baby. Was it orginally a ford bronco with a civic front end? Is he going to go offroading later? That's not an SI-R lip. I think its a fake mugen lip or something.


<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rleonekc &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Tips

1: Learn how to spell.
2: Body kits and spoilers do NOT add horsepower.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I would stay away from body kits as well. But HP isnt EVERYTHING. Sometimes, having some form and style is nice too. Just as long as it's kept in check. By me. Cuz im always right about everything