Modified Civic or Accord..

[primouomo]

Hey, I originally wanted to buy a Prelude (1997+) for about $8,500-9,000 but even though that's feasible, I've dumped the idea because maintenance (and insurance) is meant to be quite expensive because it's considered a sports car.
So somebody has advised me to buy an Accord or even Civic; they said maintenance for an Accord is only a bit more expensive than that for Fords/Holdens and Civic is pretty much the same. They advised if I bought a (fundamentally) stock Civic that I could just make modifications to the body kit and suspension and it would probably still be cheaper overall.
So i'm thinking of either doing that or buying an Accord (not the 3.0L engine one) - for either i would get whatever year I can get for under $9k and one that has done less than 150,000kms. So I just wanted to know what you all would do.. What advise and insights can you give on both of these cars (their lifetime, maintenance, things to look out for, best years to get .etc.)? Also it would be great to see any photos of how any of you have modified your Civic! Thanks in advance.

[shadou]

it would be great to know what models you are interested in.

[primouomo]

oh.. well i'd want a sedan and I guess what I can get get for that price range.. how do the models differ? what would you suggest?

[EK1.6LCIV]

soo many variables, different engines, exterior styles, you name it lol

[interfooler]

Get a CD5 accord.

[zero_1234567890]

CD5 accord. they have a great look, great interior, lots of performance potential, lots of space and every drive is a pleasure really.
You could get a cd5 with probably 200,000 for around $5k i think or less. The accords are more spacious and more of a family car than the civics but the civics definately take less juice. cd5 is the way to go though :P!!!!

[primouomo]

But isn't it a bit risky to be buying a car that's done 200,000kms (i hear hondas have their timing belts changed every 100,000km/s too)? That and why opt for the 5th Gen over newer models? And why over the Civic? i should mention that this would be my first car! haha

[zero_1234567890]

my cd5 has done an easy 250,000
as long as theyre in good condition had regular services these cars are great
it also wrote off a brand new commodore a couple months ago and only got a bit of dinting.
i pretty much prefer the look of the 5th gen. but i can tell you from experience it is a great car and they are stylish :P
its my first car and im really happy with it, rapes everyone of mmy friends camrys or utes lol
http://www.ozhonda.com/forum/showthread.php?t=112384
oh and te money you save if you buy a 94 accord instead of an 09 is heaps which you can put into the car, obviously not too much performance if youre on your p's but the basics, intake, exhaust, audio whatever else steering or a body kit whatever

[primouomo]

Obviously I don't know much about cars, so is there some online shop or something that could give me an idea of costs of bodykit parts for Accord or Civics? Also are these sort of things that I would probably need to get a mechanic to add a bodykit (since i'm not really practical when it comes to cars)?

[4age8u]

But isn't it a bit risky to be buying a car that's done 200,000kms (i hear hondas have their timing belts changed every 100,000km/s too)? That and why opt for the 5th Gen over newer models? And why over the Civic? i should mention that this would be my first car! haha

not at all i my old corolla 4age had done 390,000ks and it was still going bloody strong and revving hard.. 200,000ks is nothing

[zero_1234567890]

Firstly check ozhonda private sales because they do flow through a lot of cosmetic parts for hondas... lol
otherwise http://www.bodykits.com/ and www.wickedbodies.net have a big range of bodykits but are in the U.S im pretty sure so if you just find the model you like and google aus it.
http://www.carmate.com.au/ is good to and ozAccord i know sometimes has bodykits

[JohnL]

If you want to modify the car in any way, Civics would be the path of least resistance just because of the readier availability of the bits and pieces to make Civics handle better and go harder.

The suspension and go faster parts are available for Accords, but you may well end up having to source many from the USA. Or, like me you might end up making your own modified bits and pieces, but I suspect this isn't an option for you...

One thing in favour of getting an Accord is that very few will ever have been thrashed, and many seem to have been very well serviced etc by their middle aged owners (like me, except I do thrash mine a bit...). On the other hand, many Civics have fallen into the hands of 'enthusiastic' younger blokes who drive them pretty hard, and not all maintain their car all that assiduously. My CB7 Accord now handles very well indeed, way better than any stock Honda I've ever driven (way better than almost any other stock car I've ever driven), so it can be done if you really want.

[zero_1234567890]

but civics are so stereotypical....
accords there are less and they are sexy as :P
civics are sexy too but it really depends what youre looking for...
it is harder to get genuine parts for accords in australia but i got pretty much the whole front end of panels for a third of the price of genuine parts.
keep in mind if you are on p's you cant really do engine swaps or forced induction etc...
you can really only do the basics...
cd5 accords with a cold air induction and an exhaust are easily enough power for a first car and it will beat all your mates, especially if you make it a bit lighter. first cars really should not have too much power and even without it youre about 95% more likely to crash on your p's. accords i know from experience are safe as can be and can be crashed or whatever and still live on. civics i would guess cant take a beating as much, as there is always a civic in the wrecker and i have seen equally as many accords on the road up here but never in a wrecker.

[primouomo]

yeh but i'm assuming you've owned it for atleast a fair portion of those 390,000kms..

and zero_1234567890, i'm not really an "enthusiastic" driver so i'd be happy with the engine and all the parts being stock.. i'm just thinking more about the exterior/look of the car.

[zero_1234567890]

I have only owned my accord for only about 20,000 kms out of 260,000 and i know that the previous owner thrashed it for a fair while but it still has not a single thing wrong with it.
and i also knew pretty much nothing about cars before i got it but i have learnt a lot and nothing has died thus far... 200,000 is nothing really

[primouomo]

I'm going to try and test-drive 2 or 3 Accords and Civics and I think that will help me decide which to opt for. I've only test-driven one Accord (can't remember what year it was, but it was pre-2002 for sure. I wasn't really impressed with it, but then I guess i'm used to driving my mum's 2001 Ford Laser lol so I guess any bigger car would take getting used to.
But right now i am leaning towards the Civic.. It'd be better for petrol, about the same size as the lazer and i'd be happy if I could make the front of a sedan look like:
http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/2258/186933597039829fd0e9ar5.jpg
It's like the prelude - looks sporty/stylish - and not like some hoon's done-up/drag-racing car haha. Thanks for the help! Any more advice is appreciated!

[primouomo]

So where would I get bodykits for Civics? I live in Geelong, Victoria.

[V73C]

that pic you posted of those civics dont have a body kit on, its just a front lip.

gives it a nice clean simple look. i wouldnt go with a fibre glass bodykit.
stay OEM

[primouomo]

ahh I thought the front lip was just one of the parts of a body kit haha. Yeh I prefer it that way - it looks more like an original manufactured car model as opposed to some done-up car. What and where would I get it to look like that pic? I'm trying to see if that lip style is widely available around here and what prices would be like..
Also what do you think the Prelude headlights would look like on the Civic? and roughly what would I expect to pay for metal fabrication to make that possible?

[JohnL]

and nothing has died thus far... 200,000 is nothing really

My CB7 has done about 280,000km, and doesn't burn any oil...

Keep in mind that Accords are set up very softly, the springs and dampers are not built for speed. A set of Koni Sports ('yellows') makes a huge difference, as does a stiffer rear anti roll bar, but another issue is that the stock wheel width is only 5.5", which is too narrow even for the stock 195 tyre.

A good and reasonably cheap option is to use Prelude wheels which are 6.5" wide, much more suitable for 195 tyres or 205.

[Riviera]

H22A Turbo or ITB + Coilovers + brake upgrade and wheels - CD5 accord

[Raztaz]

What and where would I get it to look like that pic? I'm trying to see if that lip style is widely available around here and what prices would be like..


You will need the lip roughly $150, the Grill roughly $60-70 (unless u want OEM for like $300), foglights price will vary dpending on where at what you get and the headlights you can do a DIY.

[primouomo]

Ah ok. Thanks for all the advise everybody!

[V73C]

ahh I thought the front lip was just one of the parts of a body kit haha. Yeh I prefer it that way - it looks more like an original manufactured car model as opposed to some done-up car. What and where would I get it to look like that pic? I'm trying to see if that lip style is widely available around here and what prices would be like..
Also what do you think the Prelude headlights would look like on the Civic? and roughly what would I expect to pay for metal fabrication to make that possible?

id just leave the lights as if, i dont think the longer lights would suit the civic at all. with the fabrication, it could cost abit. just spend the money on mods

[Raztaz]

id just leave the lights as if, i dont think the longer lights would suit the civic at all. with the fabrication, it could cost abit. just spend the money on mods

what longer lights are you talking about?
The ones in his given picture are stock headlights on 99-00 facelift models, just the red one has black housing

[primouomo]

Nah I was talking about fabricated for lights of the 1996+ Prelude like
http://liveimages.carsales.com.au/duc/car/private/5621164.jpg