Just wondering something...

[5thgen]

So, I'm gonna start this by saying this: I'm not bashing anyone, I'm just asking a question in an attempt to learn some reasons behind why people do certain things they do.

Ok, here is my question(s):

1) Why do you mod your Honda? (I get modding the S2k and an NSK, just not the Civic, Teg, Prelude, etc.)

2) Don't the loud exhausts annoy you? I ask because there are very few that I've heard that don't sound like crap (to me anyway) and I can't help but think that they annoy the drivers over time as well.

Again, not trying to start anything, just looking for some insight here

1) It is the dark horse / underdog syndrome for me.
Especially in this area, it is very unsuspecting. And at the track, 90% of the bolt on mustang/camaros out there could not even keep up by the 60'.

I don't think the car is fast....but it is much more though out and better put together than the bolton mustang/camaros (not specifically through production, but more the work I put into it).

Also....civics/integras (obd1 especially) could not have it any better. Most B-series transmissions will hold 500whp/350tq without issues. A stock motor can handle 350-400, IMO, reliably....for a decent amount of time.

The biggest reason they suck?....FWD
I won't argue that.....FWD blows if you are making the power.

And they are cheap to modify. If you are willing to learn the details...and do a lot of the work behind it.....can get good results for fairly cheap.

2) I like the sound of the open downpipe....otherwise the exhaust flows through a chambered "stock" muffler.

n/a 4cyl cars have a much harder time at not sounding horrible.




Why I may never? own a mustang....
I was basically building a single turbo setup for a friends (Shawn) mustang. It is a 99-00 cobra, with the 4v heads. We could not get the f***in driver side valve cover off! It was hitting the power steering lines...or it was hitting the hydraboost cylinder thing....

I was losing my mind.....It should be engineered a little better....at least for a valve cover. It is something you do take off once in a while. It really pissed me off.
Beforehand I was throwing ideas around in my head about getting a 03 cobra down the road......but man. Something as simple as that valve cover really turn me off from that.




***
I have some uncles and aunts that are not necessarily redneck....but definitely bled chevy/ford/etc.

I took a few of them out for some pulls....and the wtf looks on some of their faces was great. I think they respected it more because of the thought/work that went into it. And saw everything had a simple purpose on the car.

From my uncle Doug:
"If I end up dyin in this thing....don't tell anyone I was in a jap car!"

lol.

[Edison Carasio]

I love Hondas.

I've owned domestics and imports: I've owned a Chrylser, Ford and Toyota (a Geo Prizm to be exact, a GM badged Corolla), and I can tell you this: I love Hondas.

Honda for me is the perfect make for the most part. Cars produced during Hondas golden period (for me, 88-00) are amazing to an idiot like me. They are simple, well thought out, and most everything makes sense.

I have no desire at all to own a V8 powered car. I've known people with V8's, and like 5thgen mentioned, there's a problem when you get to a point where you have to drop an engine to remove a valve cover or a spark plug.

An entire Honda swap can be performed in a matter of hours in a parking lot somewhere with basic hand tools if the situation was dire enough.

And why would I want to mod a 2V, push rod V8 that gets 8 mpg? That's 1950's technology. I have a close freind that drives a SN95 GT, and I think "why did he buy this hunk of junk?" every time I get in it. It's not roomy. It's not fast. It's not even well put together. Interior panels feel as if they might break off, and body panels feel the same way.

I have no desire to own a V8 powered domestic car. It's just not for me. There's a reason why for decades, Ford only made 200whp and 240lbs wtq with their Mustang GT (in stock form) production cars. They were outdated technology. Yes domestics are making power from the factory in the 400hp range, but guess what? They are just not getting around to things like aluminum blocks and variable valve timing. Innovations HONDA had 20+ years ago.

And on your "loud exhaust" thing, I've heard plenty of domestics with crappy fart cans and euro tail lights. I can tell you there are at least 2 dozen Mustangs and Camaros in Granite City that look and sound like absolute shit.

[Devilchrono]

I love Hondas.

I've owned domestics and imports: I've owned a Chrylser, Ford and Toyota (a Geo Prizm to be exact, a GM badged Corolla), and I can tell you this: I love Hondas.

Honda for me is the perfect make for the most part. Cars produced during Hondas golden period (for me, 88-00) are amazing to an idiot like me. They are simple, well thought out, and most everything makes sense.

I have no desire at all to own a V8 powered car. I've known people with V8's, and like 5thgen mentioned, there's a problem when you get to a point where you have to drop an engine to remove a valve cover or a spark plug.

An entire Honda swap can be performed in a matter of hours in a parking lot somewhere with basic hand tools if the situation was dire enough.

And why would I want to mod a 2V, push rod V8 that gets 8 mpg? That's 1950's technology. I have a close freind that drives a SN95 GT, and I think "why did he buy this hunk of junk?" every time I get in it. It's not roomy. It's not fast. It's not even well put together. Interior panels feel as if they might break off, and body panels feel the same way.

I have no desire to own a V8 powered domestic car. It's just not for me. There's a reason why for decades, Ford only made 200whp and 240lbs wtq with their Mustang GT (in stock form) production cars. They were outdated technology. Yes domestics are making power from the factory in the 400hp range, but guess what? They are just not getting around to things like aluminum blocks and variable valve timing. Innovations HONDA had 20+ years ago.

And on your "loud exhaust" thing, I've heard plenty of domestics with crappy fart cans and euro tail lights. I can tell you there are at least 2 dozen Mustangs and Camaros in Granite City that look and sound like absolute shit.

Interesting and valid points somewhat. I'm with you the fact that I wouldn't try to mod a 2v Mustang as it takes way to much time/money to get them to make decent power. As far as the 2v pushrod car only getting 8mpg, my Vette gets an average of 23.5 if I keep my foot out of it, on a long highway trip, it gets almost 30. The new C6's get even better than that.

I'm not disputing the fact that domestic auto makers are playing catchup with some things now that the EPA is breathing down their necks with all these new regulations and things are gonna take some time to change, obviously.

And as far as the loud exhaust, I've already answered that on my end as well; yes, there are lots of exhausts on domestic cars that annoy the piss out of me too.

I'm not trying to attack anyone here, I just thought that this would be an interesting way to find out and learn why some people choose to do what they do when it comes to cars.

[Edison Carasio]

I think shitty sounding exhausts is just something the average idiot think makes their cars cool regardless of Honda, Toyota, Ford, GM etc etc etc. It's like a badge of recognition for a dumbass to have a farty exhaust on their car, be it a riced out Civic or a Escort or whatever.

[Devilchrono]

I think shitty sounding exhausts is just something the average idiot think makes their cars cool regardless of Honda, Toyota, Ford, GM etc etc etc. It's like a badge of recognition for a dumbass to have a farty exhaust on their car, be it a riced out Civic or a Escort or whatever.

This is also true. Saw a guy yesterday in a bombedout f-body that had different color mirrors and hood revving the piss out of his car with a really loud, shitty looking and sounding exhaust and he thought he was the coolest thing in the world until he killed and almost got run over by a diesel truck, lol

[Edison Carasio]

I guess I shouldn't say I would never own a V8, cuz that's wrong really. I'd run the shit out of a 5.0 swapped Focus.

[stolle]

i used to be a die hard chevy guy which is funny cause my first "car" was a 1979 jeep cherokee cheif (i got it for free and i hated it). it wasnt mine, but the other vehicle i drove was my dads 87 k5 blazer, i loved that blazer! eventually i traded the cherokee for an 83 s10 that was slammed, big mistake the engine blew then i bought an 87 s10 and dumped about $7k into in to it mostly on paint and body work after a hail storm came through and all the rust that followed i was pretty pissed, truck was ruined. i swore i would never spend all my money on "looking good" again.

i always wanted a crx then i stumbled upon homemadeturbo.com. then i realized i could buy a car for less than a grand and put a turbo on it for less than a grand and roll around and beat up on domestics so thats what i did! in the process i realized just how much better the hondas where, easier to work on, technology was way more advanced all around quality was just better and they where cheap! now i own 4 hondas 2011 civic lx-s, 05 civic si, 91 crx dx and a honda lawn mower .

best quote i ever heard came from my wife...

wife: "how many miles does your car have on it?" (talking about 05 si)
me: "about 75k"
wife: "doesnt seem like it has that many miles on it, still seems new"

if you knew my wife you would know she hates hondas, between seeing how my cars have held up and testing driving a civic she decided she wanted one before we even got it out of the dealership. now she loves her civic.

i have only really experienced gm products and honda and in my experience honda wins. in looks reliability, quality, mpg, cost of ownership everything. i guess it all comes down to being an enthusiast and latching on to and keeping with what you like. different people do different things ask a question like you asked and you will get a million different answers.

[thelastloser]

I love modding my car just to kinda make my and to fit me and as far as my loud exhaust my car came like that from the guy I got the car from he thought it was cool...I hated it at first and now I still want to take it off but I haven't got around to it but I can't hear it over my music so it doesn't bother me as much

[Devilchrono]

different people do different things ask a question like you asked and you will get a million different answers.

This is exactly why I asked the question though. I doubt I'll ever own a Honda and/or mod something that (to me anyway) doesn't seem to have a point in modding it. But in my quest to further my knowledge as a car enthusiast, I wanted pick peoples brains on this topic here. Some of the answer are what I was expecting and others have been a surprise.

I just hope people keep it in mind that I'm not trying to be a dick, I'm not trying to stir a pot or anything like that. I have no hidden agenda here, I'm just genuinely curious after a conversation I overheard between some younger guys last weekend and wanted to see what peoples opinions/reasons were is all.

[Edison Carasio]

I have to ask, not to be a jerk, why are you on a Honda forum?