i've got a 98 honda accord with a 99 F23A1 manual transmission under the hood (i know this is the stock engine). it has about 100k on the engine itself and car is a 4 door accord. but what i need to know is, is it even worth it to go out about sticking performance parts and upgrades on this car or would i be much more pleased with the end result from getting another vehicle ( a civic or something smaller)? i just want to know what someone's opinion on this is before i start spending money i don't have on my accord. thanks.

 

first of all you shouldn't spend money you don't have on anything ... and unless you plan on spending big bucks your not going to see any difference in performance in your accord ...

 

I dont understand what your getting at for the most part?
The Fseries engine isnt going to do some of the high-reving pulls down the drag strip like the Civics an Tegs you see most of the time.. They are (Fseries) strong engines and take kindly to mods.. Great engine for Boost.

IMO: The Accord looks better too.. Civics and Integras are nice cars IMO I like them but would never own one.. Execpt maybe a new 4dr SI..

If you build your car with good style and performance, quality, function in mind you will be happy with the result.. No the 4dr Accord will never carve corners like they do in the Indy cars but its most definitely a good fun spirited driving machine..

BTW.. You shouldnt be spending money you dont have on ANY car.. Teh ladies dont want no dude thats got a F&F car parked in their parents driveway..

 

plus the fact that ur car (stock and healthy) is faster than a civic (stock except si duh ha) anyway ha. so dont even think about buying a civic because its "faster" cus its not

 

U should really do some research on the f motor.. there is alot of ppl doing all motor builds.. alot of people dont think the f motor is a good motor.. but they have lots of potential.. to the OP look at bisimoto.net hes is a really reputable shop/tuner/racer that specializes in the fseries motor.. he has a f22a1 sohc non vtec motor in his honda insight drag car pushing 450+ whp.. thats just me but everyone has there own opinion

im gonna build my F

 

Then your path is set.... you've got no money right?

Actually, no money actually buys you something - time.
Time to decide what YOU want to do.
Time to figure where your future will take you
and
Time to start accumulating the money needed to play around with these things.

If you enjoy driving around in a disguised tin can, get a Civic. It would be ok for yourself and MAYBE one more significant other, but expect space to be at a premium, and the ride has challenges and doesn't lend itself to 12 hour drive marathons.
If you want to have something more substantial, stay with your Accord.

P

 

X2 Read and figure out what you really want to do and are capable of (hardcore F build, H swap, Boost the F, or a mild F build) and most importantly can afford

Just remember... accords > civics ;D

 

i mean yeah i was hoping yall were gonna tell me to keep the accord so thanks, but basically there is some work that is needed to be done with the car before i can even think about doing anything performance wise, i gotta get a egr valve, knock sensor, new brakes all around, o2 sensors (cat and engine), and my damn dash board clock doesn't work. so really thats why i was asking is the accord worth getting into. but thanks to all.

 

and yes i love the comfort of my accord, i had a s14 240sx not long ago and let me just say that road trips with more than just myself really sucked

 

Good choice staying with the Accord. You keep up with maintenance, and make careful choices on what you want to change and it will give you still more reliable years.

As a side note:
I and my significant other logged a one-way trip of 1300 miles over the summer with my 230k '97 SE. Took 19 hours traveling from New England to Enterprise Alabama and it never missed a beat. Two days later, turned aound and did it all over again.
You can't ask for more than that.

P

 

What you can do with not much money is buy some car cleaning materials and give it a basic detail job.

Hand wash it twice, use bug/tar remover if necessary, then wax it with something with Carnuba wax. Use Windex on the windows, inside and out, as well as the plastic in front of your gauges. Then use Rain-X on your windshield. Put some tire wax on your tires. Use Armorall on the dash. Vacuum the car with a dry-vac, then use upholstery cleaner on the upholstery and carpet, vacuum it up. Clean out the trunk, vacuum it out.

 

Stoner's Glass cleaner > Windex

 

Before replacing the EGR valve, make sure the valve itself is the problem. EGR problems on my 90 LX (297,000) have been related to the passages in the intake manifold being clogged with carbon, not the valve itself (still the original, still works).

Don't forget to clean the engine compartment when you're detailing. A low (1,000 psi) pressure washer works well. Not only looks better, you won't trash your clothes and get grease/dirt in your wife's washing machine after working on it.

 

Accords are great, inexpensive daily drivers but the 4-bangers are not performance beasts. You are far better off with modding either a V6 model accord, buying a junker performance vehicle and modding that, or getting an older GM/Chevy and modding that out.

Put money into the oil, regular maintainence, etc. Your car will hug you back.