Upgrading and Customizing the Honda Civic

The Honda Civic is one of the most popular and successful car models in the world. Many people regard the Civic as a good value for money, offering a combination of excellent performance, fuel economy, reliability and a good number of standard features. The Civic appeals to many people, from college students to elderly professionals because of its flexibility, dependability, and excellent performance. Because of the popularity of the Civic, it is relatively easier and cheaper to customize or upgrade this car due to the wide availability of Honda Parts and Accessories. Most Honda Civic owners are happy and content with their cars. On the other hand, many Civic owners would not mind a few alterations, either cosmetic or in the engine, to enhance either the performance or the look of their vehicles. There is a huge variety of options when it comes to enhancing the Honda Civic's performance or appearance.

If you want to upgrade, modify or customize your Honda Civic, you will find that there are many ways to do so. The three main reasons that Civic owners upgrade their cars are performance, looks and style. In terms of style and looks, you can transform your Honda Civic from a car that looks similar to thousands of other Civics on the road to one that could look like a completely different model. You can achieve this by installing performance body kits to your Civic. Body kits are accessories, such as bumpers, side skirts, and rear valance that you add on to your Civic to create a more muscled, aggressive look. Performance body kits give the Civic the look of a racecar. The drawback of performance body kits is that they can be very costly. However, body kits are merely cosmetic alterations. If you want your Civic to look good on the outside, then you must also want your car to perform as well as it looks. Interior modifications include everything from engine upgrades to audio systems.

Nevertheless, if you are on a tight budget, you can still achieve a fresher and more updated look for your Honda Civic without spending too much. There are inexpensive Honda Accessories you can use to create a more personalized look for your car. A new Honda Civic Bumper, either chrome or monochromatic, can certainly give your car a sharper facade. You can even add in a new Honda Spoiler for a sportier look. One of the best ways to customize subtly the way your car looks is by installing Honda Hubcaps or wheel covers. With the wide variety of designs and styles available, you can surely find the perfect set for that perfect look you envision for your car.

Honda Accessories are available in various auto parts dealers all over the country, However, there is an easy and convenient way to shop for Honda accessories and other Honda Parts without having to pay a visit to your auto dealer across town. Online auto parts stores now offer a huge array of Honda auto parts and Honda accessories. They offer everything from Honda A/C condensers to Honda Wheels. They also offer essential auto parts such as Honda headlights, Honda fuel tanks, Honda radiators, Honda grilles, Honda hoods and many other Honda parts. It is better to shop for auto parts from a company that knows its business thoroughly and is a known expert in the field. http://www.innerauto.com is a renowned source of useful and relevant automotive information. They offer a comprehensive resource of everything about the automobile – the systems, its history, and other relevant topics. The good news is that Inner Auto Parts now has an auto parts store offering high quality Honda parts and accessories. Now you can easily find the high quality affordable Honda accessories you need to customize or upgrade your Honda Civic.

Honda Civic Performance

When upgrading your Honda Civic, there are three basic things most people would like to do to gain performance, style, and looks. The first is a body kit. Next, most people want to add personalization to the interior. Last, we want to talk about engine modifications. These upgrades you may want to do in any particular order, depending on your personality. I started with my engine. I want my car to be a “sleeper”. When I add a body kit, then I’ll have the muscle to back it up. But it all depends on you. Let’s start with the body kit for your Honda Civic.

If you have a pre-1988 Honda Civic, body kits were made, but they are hard to find. There really wasn’t much of an internet, so the market was limited to larger cities or Japan. Today, you could search for a used Mugen kit and probably find one on the internet. For later Civics, there are a couple of good choices. Stillen and Greddy offer quality components. When purchasing bargain components, remember you may have to modify the kit for proper alignment. For example, the exhaust may not be exactly in the right spot. Rework time to your Civic may end up costing you as much as a higher quality kit. I’ve looked at the kits you can buy a piece at a time due to my budget. Adding the front air dam to keep the car on the ground, side skirts and a rear valance all at once can be a little imposing on the pocketbook.

Interior modifications may not impress anyone as you drive down the street, but if the car looks good on the outside, you’ll want that Civic sharp on the inside. A torn seat or other imperfections are a good place to start. Most people start with the radio. But if you have a newer Civic or Accord and the radio is already pretty good, what can you do to add your own style? Add some gauges. You can add a pillar mount gauges the A-frame that supports the roof. A company called Lotek makes nice gauge pods.

When you add the gauges, now you have interior style and you can keep better check on your motor instead of relying on a red warning light. The first thing to do is get a free flowing intake. Not only do these look good in the engine compartment, but also they help the car breath better. There are several to choose from, but I’m biased towards K & N Products. They fit perfectly and are completely washable. Be warned, you can here the engine breathing when you hit the gas! It’s so cool!

I hope these gave you a good starting point on what you can do with your Honda Civic, Accord, or Prelude. Personalizing your car makes it your car, not just another Honda.

What’s the new Honda Civic Coupe have to offer?

The 2005 Honda Civic sets the benchmark for reliability and resale value. Everyone seems to know this, but what’s new and what can you expect out of the new Civic Coupe?

The Honda Civic Coupe models range from the DX – Value Package, the HX – Lean burn machine, to the LX and the top of the line EX model. The DX model is the base Civic Coupe. It has the 115 hp engine and limited creature comforts. The HX is your high mileage lean burn car. The lean burn means you can get 36 MPG city and 44 MPG highway as opposed to the LX and DX 32 MPG and 38 MPG. The EX suffers a 37 MPG highway drop probably due to the more powerful 127 hp engine.

The EX gives you some little things like body colored mirrors, sunroof, memory seats, height adjustable seats, too, along with an illuminated ignition switch. Wheels are upgraded to 15” alloys and the EX also has a six-speaker system with a CD that can read MP3 files. While all these features are nice, most of the extra goes into getting the 16-valve SOHC V-tech engine.

Handling characteristics are based upon the double wishbone rear suspension and the 4 wheel independent suspension. This allows for better handling with the MacPherson struts in the front tied to a high steering ratio. Get ready to have some fun driving again. But don’t worry all models have front airbags. Most models are offered with front side air bags, too. ABS is standard on the EX, keeping the braking to a minimum, especially in wet or slippery conditions. Transmission is your choice of 5-speed manual, 4-speed automatic, or the continuously variable on the HX model.

The interior is ergonomically designed with wide seats and easily located controls. The front seats have deep side bolsters to hold the driver in place during aggressive cornering. But, they are comfortable for daily driving and hauling around 4 of your friends. The rear seats fold down to haul long cargo. A sunroof is available only with the EX model.

The air conditioning has a filtration system. But AC is an option on the HX model.

Honda offers nice factory options to customize your new car. They include a rear deck lid spoiler, wing spoiler, aero kit, splashguards, trunk mat, and my favorite, a trunk apron. It covers the bumper and open area when you are loading and unloading things from your trunk.

The new Honda Civic is one of the new classics or our age. Relentless reliability coupled with amazing resale value gives a good-looking care even more appeal to new buyers.

Save Gas With A Hybrid: 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid

Starting at $22,150, the 2006 Honda Civic hybrid is a great choice for any car buyer who seeks a safe, attractive, environmentally-friendly vehicle at an affordable price. Honda retooled the Civic hybrid to make it even better than before. Standard features include an 8-valve 4-cylinder gasoline engine, anti-lock brakes, front and side cushion airbags, a sleek, multi-tier panel and a top-notch audio system.

Like all hybrids, the 2006 Civic combines a gas engine, powerful battery and electric motor to achieve maximum mileage and reduced emissions. The 2006 Honda Civic hybrid can cruise using only its electric motor in particular driving conditions. This makes it a “full hybrid” vehicle. As far as gas mileage goes, the Civic hybrid gets 49 mpg in the city and 51 mpg on the highway. This is a slight improvement from the gas mileage of the 2005 model.

The 2006 Civic hybrid's electric motor produces 20 horsepower. The battery pack used for storing energy is 158 volts, increased from the previous year.

The 2006 Civic hybrid offers seating for five and is considered a compact sedan. Sleeker and more attractive than the 2005 Civic hybrid, the 2006 model is great for anyone seeking a sportier hybrid car.

As far as power goes, the combined gas engine and electric motor of the 2006 Civic hybrid produce 115 horsepower, an increase of 23 percent from the 2005 model.

If you think the 2006 Honda Civic hybrid might be the right car for you, the next step is finding a reputable dealership. You can search for dealerships in your area using the Yellow Pages or the Internet. It's a good idea to visit more than one dealership before deciding which one should have your business. Make sure your salesperson is knowledgeable and friendly without being overly aggressive. And always take a test drive to make sure the vehicle you think you want to purchase feels right to you.

Have You Seen the New 2006 Honda Civic?

I just got my first glimpse of a real live 2006 Honda Civic. Impressive, to say the least. Redesigned almost completely and despite the critics, the car looks good. The interior looks even better. Let me give you my take on the vehicle at hand.

I got in the car, which seems roomier than last years model. The first thing you notice is a two level instrument panel. Its all black, so hard to discern what is on each level. With a turn of the key, the lower dash illuminates with a center-mounted tachometer while the upper tier shows a digital speedometer. This allows a much cleaner looking console believe it or not and I was able to keep my eyes on my speed and the road at the same time.

The LX model I looked at was a 4-door model with a 5 speed manual transmission. It had the standard 140hp 1.8 liter 4 cylinder engine. But the new Civic DX comes standard with the features you need. Like all the airbags – not just the front ones. You get the side curtain and rear air bags as well. ABS is standard with EBD – Electronic Brake Distribution. It applies more braking power where it’s needed depending on your load. Power windows are standard now, but with the LX they added the auto up/down feature.

The LX also had a nice radio with 160 watts of power. Remote entry, cruise, 16” wheels – albeit with hubcaps – AC and power door locks.

The EX ups the ante to a nicer radio, 16” aluminum wheels, moonroof, and an optional satellite navigational system. 4 wheel disc brakes round off this model as the nicest of them all.

The Hybrid is different. It has a smaller engine, but with the big electric motor assist. You don’t have to plug it in or anything. It charges itself. The transmission is a continuously variable type. The dealer didn’t have one of these yet, but I hear they are a riot. 50 mpg and real getup and go power. You see, the gas engine and the electric engine can work at the same time. All the while you pass the gas station waving at your friends.

Finally Honda gave all the models the same engine, except the Si. Its going to have a 197 hp engine along with some other goodies and should be able to smoke the competition as always. I hope I have an opportunity to drive the new Civic Si.