Honda vs. the fast and the furious...

http://www.azcentral.com/business/articles/0325hondacivic25-ON.html

"For years, Honda kept a hands-off attitude to the Civic customizing craze,
generally avoiding a direct marketing appeal to young enthusiasts, a group
sometimes referred to in the industry as "the fast and furious," after a
movie with that title that celebrated the import-car street-racing culture.
In 2001, Honda redesigned the Civic and made it more family-friendly and
sedate, which in turn left the tuners feeling slighted."

"Last summer, at an import-racing event in Irwindale, Calif., the crowd
booed when the announcer mentioned Honda."


Well, I guess I never had a problem with legitimate Civic tuners (although
I've never understood it) but it seems you're all moving on. But can you
take the ricers with you please?

Ricers, Honda doesn't want you! Honda doesn't support you! Your ill-fitting
body parts, outrageous spoilers, and obnoxious exhausts are spoiling their
image of refinement and perfection. Honda ask that you to go f up another
kind of car (I personally recommended the Ford Focus) and leave the poor
Civic alone!

Honda, listen to Car & Driver when they note that the Civic is becoming a
POS and START MAKING IT BETTER...
http://caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=15&article_id=2505&page_number=5

Well, actually they only called it a "loser".

That is all.

 

I agree with you on some aspects. but don't forget about the people who
don't care about 4 ft. aluminum wings, neon lights, and fiberglass parts.
the people who actually have real Honda engines, not worthless sohc engines.
the people who spend time and money on extracting power from they're dohc
vtec engines. I spend all my money on building power not show cars. I hate
show cars. I believe in keeping Hondas true to they're naturally aspirated
origins. oh yea, the fast and furious is such a stupid fuckin movie.

 

Uh, the article or my comments? Kinda vague there.

Yes, I know. I thoroughly looked over and test drove the DX, EX, and Si
coupe when I was shopping for my car. I also looked at other similarly
priced '99 makes and models. But I think I made the right decision. My Si
has given me perfect servicing for almost 5 years / 70k miles and it's fun.
Still feels as tight as the day I drove it off the lot. No complaints at
all.

You said it! ;-) To whom I have no idea.

 

I can appreciate that. I took a ride in a modified Honda for the first time
in my life just last month and it was pretty darn quick.

The story: While at Honda getting my oil changed, I was admiring this '90
CRX Si because it reminded me of my '89 CRX Si. While I never modded my CRX
(purchased new), I had to trade up just 3 years later for a '92 Civic LX
automatic as the speeding tickets had begun to pile up. It worked, LOL!
Anyway, this CRX had my Civic Si 1.6L 160hp engine transplanted but with a
little more hp and that car really moved! Maybe a little loud and stiff, but
it was quick.

I'm just tired of all the rice. When did this crap start anyway? And when
will it ever end?

Anyway, I still appreciated my CRX Si for what it was, as well as my '86
Integra LS 5-speed coupe (bought used). But I always hear the same crap, "If
you're not going to tune your Si then sell it for a lesser model." WTF?
Maybe I like it the way Honda engineered it! It already has plenty of
performance to me (for a sporty econo-car). Why would I want to void my
warranty on a new car? And now that it's no longer new (though it still
looks it), I'd rather it just remain reliable and dependable (besides being
fun).

Eh, that last bit of ranting wasn't aimed at you Lex. ;-) I'm just ranting.

 

Uh, no. I just like Honda Civics and I hate what's being done to so many of
them. Apparently Honda does too.

But I've liked Hondas / Civics since the early 80s, way before the rice fad
(at least in my neck of the woods - deep South). Though not technically a
Civic, the 1st gen Integra has always been my favorite. I was stunned the
first time a co-worker drove up in his new Integra (red LS 5-speed coupe). I
had never heard of Acura and didn't know it was a Honda. Unfortunately, I
couldn't afford a new one in '86, though I would have probably bought a
Fiero instead. Well, no Fiero in '89 so I bought a CRX Si. First Honda.
Great car.

Hmm. Is that a compliment or sarcasm? In any case, I think it looks pretty
nice in a conservative kind of way...
http://www.cvol.net/wheels/civic_si.htm

Well, no Civic is really "fast" IMO. I bought the Si because it didn't cost
much more than the EX coupe (I wanted a coupe for more interior space up
front). I really didn't consider another LX or equivalent because I wanted
moonroof again. Besides, I liked the Si's alloys.

I really haven't noticed that more Si's are riced vs. other Civic models. Of
course, I can't tell what many of them actually are unless I look closely
(badging is sometimes removed or deceitful). I think more coupes are riced
vs. sedans.

LOL!

 

Follow-up..
========

The first Hondas that REALLY caught my attention...
http://www.velocityjournal.com/ip/stk/4142.html
http://www.velocityjournal.com/ip/stk/4143.html

They may look dated today, but in 1986, these cars were sharp!

 

Mark, that's the most redicoulous piece of crap I've ever heard. Sell the Si
and get yourself a DX. It's much less powerful, more economical and safer.
Damn hypocritical ricer boys!

--Viktor

 

Your comments on the ricer boy family and tuners. Those ARE your comments,
aren't they?

What do you mean why? You just said you don't like ricers and have no idea
why tuners do what they do. Most Si's are driven by ricers. Is that why
you're worried so much about your image as being part of the ricer family?
Jeez, don't get so uptight. It's just a ricer thing...

Yeah, the DX looks like crap but Si looks so damn good it's hard to believe
the whole ricer family is not driving one. For us non-ricer non-tuners boys
we go for the DX since it's very iconomical, not powerful--who needs a fast
car anyway, right?--and it's safe. Poor Si thing, it went in the wrong ricer
hands and ended being the biggest ricemobile ever...

Me neither, I'm very confused right now...

--Viktor

 

ffs, just beacuse u have a good, fast civic doesnt make u a ricer boy. im 18
and i have a black 1999 civic 1.6 VTi - i bet u think im a ricer boy huh?
160bhp. no one i know that mods has a decent car, all clios and novas. i
hate ppl who mod their cars - i always think why dont u save the money u
spend of the 18inch rims, huge bore and full body kit and put it towards a
good car LIKE MINE.

Min is unmodded apart from the factory extras of course. never will mod it
either.

 

Well, I certainly never said otherwise.

A 1999 civic 1.6 VTi??? I have no idea what that is. In the U.S. for '99, we
had the Civic DX, LX, EX, HX, Si and CX. But no VTi.

Sounds sweet. But like I said earlier, I have no problem with Civic tuners.
It's all the rice that bothers me.

It's oh so rare but it is cool to see a legitimately fast Civic that's kept
a sleeper.
--


Mark
'99 Civic Si

 

Here in the States, Civics are really shitty. The best handling stock Civic I
ever driven is a 91 sedan. The 92-95 handle poorly. 96-2000 are in the same
boat, literally. I got motion sickness driving a friend's 96 on a long trip last
week. They lean like a kayak on open water.

Honda Civic in the States are not good. They're only more reliable than others.
The only good Honda is the S2K. It's really good on clean dry road. On damp and
dirty roads, rwd on it makes it so suck to drive.

I got cut springs on my Civic. On long trips, I like it more than S2K. On errand
runs, S2K is better.

 

Hey Mark!

Seems like you're in a ranting mood this week. Is the time change getting to you?

About the new POS Civic, I would agree with you completely except for the fact that
the coupe can really take a hit in a crash situation. The new Coupe makes a great
car for a spicy image but conservative intent (a good combination for a reliable
woman). For myself, I'd take the older sure footed Civic and resign the new one to
the ladies.

l8r,
Pars

 

True. Is souping up a car a ricer boy thing? The only time I think "rice
boy" is when I hear someone say that the new yellow top battery they put in
the car makes their car go faster, or something similar in context.

huh?

Who cares if you're 18, and yes, I think you're full of rice.

Rice is good. I like rice. Yum!

What does legitimately fast mean? Are tuners that make their cars fast
legitimate? Do you still not understand why tuners do what they do? I don't
get you, Mark. You seem confused.

They definitely look conservatively fast. Back then I'd buy one if I could
afford it. I still can't afford one today so what am I talking about.

--Viktor

 

to you?

LOL! Hey man. It's nice to see some of the old-time regulars still around.

I do like the new coupe's styling (exterior and interior) even if it has
softened up a bit. In some areas, the interior makes mine look Mickey Mouse.
I've always appreciated the Civics' safety record. But I've seen some
unHonda-like fit-and-finish flaws on both new Accords and Civics that has me
worried. QC needs to be raised up a notch, IMO.

Does Crush ever stop in and say hello? ;-)
--


Mark
'99 Civic Si

 

Confused. Disillusioned. You name it.

In 1989 I bought a new CRX Si. One year later my best friend bought a new
Acura Integra. Another friend bought a new Accord EX coupe. At an Atlanta
engineering company I worked at, there were new Preludes (late '80s, very
early '90s), Integras, Legends, Civics, Accords. Mostly new or nearly new,
and a few older ones too.

Thinking back over all of these Hondas at that time, I don't recall a single
one being modified (cosmetic nor performance). For whatever reason, we
appreciated Hondas for what they were and the way that Honda engineered
them. Fast forward to 2004 and it's hard to find an unmolested Honda on
ebay. It's usually Civics that get the worse of it, but Accords get the
treatment sometimes too. At least most people have the good sense to leave
the higher-end cars alone like the S2000 and NSX, as well as other higher
end Hondas and Acuras.

Of course, I'm referring to cosmetic "enhancements" more than anything.

My how times have changed, eh? ;-)

 

Yeah, but I never liked the pop-up headlights. When the gen2 came out in
'90, then I was interested.

Still got my '91, bought new. It's bone-stock.

--
TeGGeR®

The Unofficial Honda FAQ
http://www3.telus.net/public/johnings/faq.html

How to find anything on the Internet or in Usenet Groups:
www.google.com
www.groups.google.com

 

There ya go!

Now that's a good point. Why does "fast" have to look so, well, obvious?

Remember the '80s phrase "Q-ship"? It meant a car with much more power and
better handling than stock, but that looked totally factory-original. All
go, no show. Much more tasteful. The cops never knew as long as you didn't
put the pedal down. Sort of the descendant of the base '64 Chev Bel Air
409.

--
TeGGeR®

The Unofficial Honda FAQ
http://www3.telus.net/public/johnings/faq.html

How to find anything on the Internet or in Usenet Groups:
www.google.com
www.groups.google.com

 

Sorry, '62 Bel Air. Typo.

--
TeGGeR®

The Unofficial Honda FAQ
http://www3.telus.net/public/johnings/faq.html

How to find anything on the Internet or in Usenet Groups:
www.google.com
www.groups.google.com

 

Times have changed I guess. Wouldn't you appreciate the availability and
comparatively inexpensive part cost for performance upgrades? I definintely
do. Cosmetic, that's another story. To each their own.

I bet. People still do but they try to get some more juice out of the lower
end hondas so they can compete with the higher end--S2k, NSX, you name
it--with much lesser price than the higher end cars. Not everyone's got
money hanging out of their pockets, and performance upgrade on an underdog
is the way to go for the lower/middle class families.

Again, availability and price is what makes this possible. If you'd look in
the technology, it's the same, things change because there's an availability
of resources and they're not as expensive.

Maybe that should tell Honda something. If you don't want to see a molested
honda maybe the stock should come with more power. If a bunch of stuff is
put for show then I agree, a lot of people overdo the flash mods and it
starts looking like a clowned box than anything else.

Some mods I agree with are clear corner lights, maybe HIDs or something that
improves visibility, etc. Body wings, spoilers and fart pipes that are there
just for show get me mad, but hey, to each their own. If you got the money
do what you want with it, I wouldn't care.

Read above. Civics are less powerful than the accords. Accords come with
reasonable power for everyday driving so they don't need to be modded as
much to gain some "get-go" power.

Why would you want to mod an S2K, NSX or Acuras? They've been highly tuned
up, specifically made for recreational use, and already got enough "go-get"
power, especially the S2K and NSX. They've been made aerodynamic already so
you don't need to put wings and whatnot. They look cool too. But not
everyone's got the funding, and let me tell you, insurance ain't cheap
either on those beasts!

Well, true, everyone want to be like big pappa NSX. Too bad not everyone has
the cash to afford it.

They've definitely changed but I think it's for the better. Of course, there
are always the idiots who do cosmetic changes for show more than performance
and for me those are the rice boys. I mean you gotta get some girls right!

Anyway, I keep my honda's stock. The reason I stick to honda is that they
are not as bulky as some other cars, they are comperatively aerodynamic, and
most of the time they drive smoother than other cars in their class--forgot
to mention they are cheaper on the pockets

I agree with you though, most of the cars out there are just show and no go.
I dream to see some tuned up civics that really do what it advertises on
that big front windshield!!

--Viktor

 

Cool. Yeah, these were really sharp. Never cared for the last gen but I
liked the first two...
http://www.franksimports.com/2UNZ956.html
http://www.franksimports.com/3ROC727.html

I still like this one though...
http://www.franksimports.com/3VHU484.html

But this one never grew on me...
http://www.franksimports.com/3DVW499.html


As far as your other posts in this thread, you are someone who really
understands what I'm trying to say. ;-)