2003 Honda Civic Ex

*****I have no mechanical background with automobiles.*****
*****I am not doing any of the labor or work on my own car*****

After doing some actual reading, I am still asking myself the same questions and was hoping for some feedback. I think I may have gotten in a little over my head.

1. I wanted a sportier look for my car. I'm not going for a low rider effect, just something that makes the car look a bit more aggressive and performance would be a plus. So I began reading about coilovers, struts and shocks. I came to a conclusion that Tein Basics would be best fit for my ride. I know this might be a gamble as some think that the ride is too stiff for dd but some dont. The reviews I have read seem to lead me in the direction that I would have considerable ride height drop (1.75 in F and R) give or take and also these would provide an upgrade for performance. I have also read from previous buyers that these coilovers provide a similar ride to the stock suspension but are fully adjustable. So, as of now I have already purchased the Tein Basic coilover kit along with the required 01' top mount bearings for proper installation.

*One thing that is starting to scare me is reading that tein dampers wear out much quicker with normal driving than a lot of other coilover set-ups. Did I waste my money?

2. I don't plan on racing this car, but do want to have a suspension that is properly balanced ie: I would like to have the proper parts for a correct suspension set up. I know that with coilovers one would also be interested in front and rear anti-roll bars for re-inforcement. I would like to be able to drive hard... just not on a race track. The hidden question in this small paragraph is, do I need to further upgrade parts like sway bars or will my car ride nicely and safely without?

3. 18'' Motegi MR-7. I know, played out everyone has em' blah blah blah. These are the wheels that I currently own (yes I know they weigh 24 lbs) but again I am not going to be racing so weight shouldn't matter. However, what came to mind was how well this suspension and these wheels are going to mesh? 18'' wheels seem to be pretty big for a car this small. I am looking for an aggressive look but also would like my car to be functional. I am assuming there is no way to tell if any fenders need to be rolled until the wheels and suspension are actually working together.

With everything that I hear about camber, toe, and alignment for every day driving how complicated and how much monetary investment am I looking at here?

This is a little bit of nervous and a little bit of excitement- I cant wait to do the install, but want to do it the right way if I am going to do it at all. I will appreciate all information provided!!!

 

1) They will allow a "sportier" look. I can't speak for longevity. Tein coils, in general, seem to use rather stiff rates, but nothing that should be unbearable. I wouldn't say you wasted it, just might not have made the most economical purchase for your goals.

2) You do not need additional parts. If it were my car, I would install the suspension, set the car to a reasonable drop, get an alignment (very important) and drive it for a bit. If there is still too much body roll and you are still willing to spend money to reduce it, then go get a larger rear swaybar. Why waste money before you know you want more than you already purchased?

3) 03 Civics use larger diameter tires than the pre-01 Civics. 18s aren't too terrible. Its yoru car, don't worry if others think the look is "played out". Just be certain to use the correctly sized tires for you car on them. If you provide the original tire size (I don't know it offhand) someone on here can recommend the correct size for 18s, if you don't already know.

 

You'll be fine with what you have. You don't NEED anti-roll bars. Lower the car some for the aggressive look, the lower center of gravity will help you some. This also all depends on your budget and what you're trying to do.

Do you want the same comfort? Have you looked at the Koni/GC setup (Lifetime Warranty)?

With suspension you are going to sacrifice some comfort for performance.