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I use Lucas fuel treatment with each oil change, I'm happy with it.

It's pretty inexpensive in larger bottles at Canadian Tire.

 
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if you just want something in a small bottle, handaaccessories.com now stocks BG 44K which is what most honda dealers use for "fuel injector cleaning service" and ive seen it in some auto stores too.

 
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EDIT: So looking at the pic i put this in the gas tank? Im only 3000km into my current oil change, obviously it doesnt go in my engine oil right?




K ill look into it, sounds like the stuff actually works? Ive been using motomaster ones at cdn tire and dont even know how to tell if its working.

 
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Yes, that's the fuel treatment I use.

 
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HA HA

 
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Damn, what an interesting topic we have here.
Philosophizing about life in a car forum!
Seriously, no sarcasm here.
Haven't finished reading all the post but it looks like we have all already been feeling the same in a particular moment of our life, including me. Reading this makes think wonder if I should swap the engine in my car or not since it's not the only problem, brakes, suspensions/ride issues.

 
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Now when I reflect back when I made this tread, a lot has happened since. Even though im still in the process of trying to be happy again with my civic (when I first got it, i was in love with the car and wasnt embarassed to be driving or seen in it).

In March 2012, I was this close to getting an 09 Civic SI but thanks to me making a thread on here about it and getting very good advice I was able to get talked out of the purchase cause it would have set me back for many years financially. If I didnt make the wise decision that Fri night and post it on here, i would have been driving an 09 Civic SI for the past 4.5 months. Time flies, hard to believe its already been 4.5 months ago.

i went through a pretty long and endless obsession for the Gen coupe and its now on the BRZ/FRS.

 
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I'm glad you made the right decision.
It's enjoyable to have a good car like that one, but it's not worth it if you're going to be heavily in debt. It's like you don't even own the car, it can be taken away from you at anytime.

Imagine if, although the chances are slimmer, the Civic SI 09, despite its age, had problems or simply issues that would leave you unsatisfied and frustrated as the one you currently have. Not only you would be in debt but the car would represent a big burden on you.

Honestly, the moment I started reading your topic, I really felt compassionate, because I have been experiencing the same thing, and probably still am. But I surely wouldn't dare to post it on the internet, I would feel miserable. It takes strength to be able to throw away your ego and open yourself like that and thankfully, it seems you did the right thing there

Sorry if my English isn't up to par, not my first language

 
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WHat civic do you have and what issues do you have with it? Are you not enjoying it and embarassed to be seen in it?

The 09 Civic SI forsure would have put a massive burden on me. I would be paying 30k for a car priced 17k over the next 7 years.

Now if I had gotten the 2011 Genesis Coupe, i would have been paying 38k for it over the next 4 years and that car was 22k. Plus i would have had a GPS on the car so the lenders would track where i am. Scary stuff.

 
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Yeah, in my case, I'm totally NOT enjoying it. It's mainly because of the engine. The reason why I chose a Civic was because of the smooth quiet high revving fuel efficient engine. The engine is so noisy and I've been told on this forum itself by ezone that I had a rod bearing knock thanks to a video I uploaded on youtube.

Alright, it would have been okay if it was just the noise, but because of that knock, it's causing the knock sensor to change the timing and that makes the engine feel like crap, there's no power, it's so irregular and I'm struggling when starting from a stop light, I'm being tailgated by other underpowered AUTOMATIC cars, mine's a manual and I can't outrun them. The reason why is because I absolutely have to shift a 3000 rpm, because after that, the engine will knock like crazy and there would be 0 power, it's that bad. I'm struggling even more when climbing hills and when carrying more than 1 passenger.

Putting aside then engine, the brakes, the suspension (already bad when stock) and the tires need to be replaced. The brakes don't stop wheel and it's even pulsating, the shocks were done for, especially the front, and the tires feel like I'm riding on rocks.

At least the car isn't bad looking, the paint is still in good shape, almost no rust, a little on the edge of the hood, few tiny paint chips, and that's it. Unfortunately, it isn't "accident-less", it has already been in two accidents based on the history reports, although it wasn't bad, I can now notice it when I look at the front end, the hood isn't totally aligned with the fenders and bumper, but I heard we can adjust the hood, so we'll see.

I would not say that I am embarrassed, but I'm not proud either, the car still looks good, but its looks are deceiving, it's not what you think it is until you drive it. I mean, the engine is probably the only thing we can be proud of when owning a civic putting aside its looks when the car is stock and mine doesn't even have the heart of a Honda because of it.

I would be say that I am embarrassed because its looks are deceiving. Let's say someone says: hey, nice looking car, how does it run? I would be like , know what I mean?

I haven't spend as much money as you on the car, the car can still be "saved" by investing some money in it but until now, the car has only been a burden on me. Everytime I drive it, it puts me in a bad mood, the car doesn't respond to my inputs and doesn't feel happy. So I'm still thinking if the car is worth an engine swap, a suspension/chassis upgrade and a brake job.

 
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i feel the same way but i know if i had another car, it would have problems also. owning a car in general is a pretty big burden and not really worth the cost or trouble unless you really need it.

 
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I don't know if it's the way I see or not, but it seems to me that some people are just so lucky, they buy a car, don't even know **** about cars, and they get a good car. It just so happens that their car is almost trouble free or they don't notice it after it breaks down several years later. They don't even devote a thought into the car. Car is just being used until it dies.

 
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well, i wouldnt exactly say "ignorance is bliss" when it comes to driving a car. there is only so much you can neglect before you run into major problems and even something that can kill you. you really do need to know quite a bit about cars not only to drive and operate them properly, but also to stay safe. the people that know nothing are the ones on the side of the road where the car physically will not move again, and is waiting to get towed to a shop for $1k+ of serious repairs. these are also the same people who will gladly pay the repairs and continue on driving the same way because its just another part of life, like buying groceries.

 
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Ya unfortunately, Im not enjoying it like when I first got it 23 months ago. I used to love the car, not be embarassed to be seen in it, seen getting in and out of it, liked getting upgrades on it. Now I get stressed just driving it or even thinking about it. Im really trying to just live with it and make it work but im having a really difficult time. I avoid being in busier areas like parking lots on a weekend and never park on downtown streets now where theres nothing but nice BMW and Benz and luxury SUVs parked. I will always park in a dead area where less traffic and people go through so less people see me. It puts me to shame and feel like crap. Every here literally drives a high end luxury car or SUV or BMW or Benz with big v6 and v8 300 and 400 horse power engines. Where I can barely even get up a hill keeping the speed limit.

I get gas now at dead gas stations where not many people can see me pull in and fill up or I go at odd times where no one will be there. I avoid taking people into my car (outside of mom) if I can. When they ask what I drive I just say "nothing great" I dont even tell them. If I have a date or have to take a girl into my car i will rent a nicer car if I have to.

For the suspension, I think its flat out horrid. I go over bumps and the car just doesnt handle it well at all. And I have news shocks in both front and back, maybe only 15k km on them if that. Some of the roads I go on and see and feel how the car responds and handles it and it just pisses me off and makes me put my head down in shame. At times it feels like im rolling in a lunch bucket.

I liked it at first and thought it looked good but now I think it looks like an ancient and very outdated car. I mean just look at it. This is not mine but you get the point for 01.

Theres tons of 7th gens in my city and almost every second car I will come across one exact same as mine and even same colour. I will always look at it to see how it looks from the outside when in motion. Its not a terrible looking car, far from it, but it hasnt aged well IMO. I know I might take a bit of crap from otehrs here. But honestly do you think this car has aged well? It looks horribly outdated and I cant get over myself for driving a car that looks so aged.

But when I see others with the same car but say a spoiler, I all of a sudden think the car looks actualy decent and not so bad afterall. I would have gotten a spoiler but at this point no way. A spoiler isnt going to miraculously make me happy with the look of my car.






Thats exactly like me too, I want a new car so bad like you wouldnt ****** believe. Id do anything for one. Ill even settle for a Hyundai Accent if i have to.

Post a pic of your car I just want to see it.

 
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just curious why you think it matters what strangers think about you or your car.

 
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I really wish I could answer that GB, I really do. Cause I dont care what strangers think about me in general or for the clothes i wear. If I can somehow overcome this and let it go, I know i will be able to like my car again.

 
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Having a car you can afford makes you much better than any jackass driving a bmw worrying about his next payment. enjoy it.

 
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i would drive a first gen civic if i knew it would be reliable, but line has to be drawn somewhere lol. older cars over 20 yrs just have too many problems. eventually i would like to not depend on a car at all. i can always rent one if i have somewhere to travel long distance. otherwise for town a moped would work fine for me.

 
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true but id assume majority of people who have nice new cars can afford them or have already paid them off by paying in cash all up front.

I dont like the gen coupe anymore or 09 Civic SI (when I see gen coupes they dont do anything for me anymore) but I would do anything for a BRZ or FRS. Anything, im desperate. Even a mits lancer evolution id do anything. Now THOSE are nice cars that I would be happy and feel proud to be in. I NEED TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN!

I really wish I could think like you. Even today im still browsing for used cars.

 
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i dont think so. most cars on the road are still owned by a bank. very few people can afford a car to actually go out and write a check. before you go buying an evo, you better be ready to at least double your gas bill, have money in hand for repairs (turbo engines are costly) and say hello to higher insurance premiums. frs and brz are the most overrated cars ive ever seen. its all marketing and no substance. after people figure it out, they will become obsolete like all the other new "fun" cars some design team dreams up in their spare time.

 
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If what you're mostly worrying about is outer appearance than fix it up? I see that money is tight for you, but just little things like this can be done every other weekend and you'll have something you love in the end. Black out some headlights, take off the emblems, and add a spoiler you like and it'll completely change its look. I honestly hated the civics headlights, but once I got them blacked out it totally changed the face of my car. I think once you do some outside mods that attract YOUR attention you'll be much more satisfied. Before I took off the emblems and got the headlights painted the car just seemed like every other one out there, but when I added my own touches it gave me PRIDE in my ride. Just my 2 cents.

My aunt used to be a saleswoman for Lexus, and you'd be surprised by how many people SERIOUSLY can't afford their cars, but still drive them off the lot the same day they walked in.

 
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I like the evo but no way i could afford it, 35k car...considering that $17,500 09 Civic SI would have given me $450 monthly payments...the evo would be double that. I just the looks of it especially the front end grill. Turbo is nice for passing cars and dual exchaust is nice for agressive look at the back.

Why do you think FRS and BRZ are overrated? Cause only 200HP? I havent seen one in person yet but I hear theyre real head turners and dealerships cant even keep them in stock.

If I did one thing that is cheap, I would remove civic tag from the back. I already removed the dealership decal like a year ago and looks better from the back. Adding lips would be the best benefit for the looks but that and spoiler is so much work - min. $100 shipped on ebay just for spoiler, lips are like $100 each, then have to take to shop prime and paint it...not cheap. Prob looking at 1k all in and might not even include installation. I actually think the car looks pretty decent when you add lips to it, even on stock suspension and 15" wheels. I see a few civics here like that and look decent. Ive seen a few stock but with 17" wheels on low profile tires and it looks funny.

I never knew you could black out your headlights, but wouldnt that affect your lights coming through and I think its illegal here. Can you post a pic of your car?


I wonder why, is it caue they just want a new car to show off?

 
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I understand that just a lip upgrade w/paint will cost probably what you estimate, but that's the point of the forums. You could easily install a lip kit yourself and save probably 100 some odd bucks. Do they need to be sanded beforehand? Spend some free time sanding and prepping and save yourself a another 100 or so. There's places to save money on labor while saving money for **** that might come up later. You've got the same problem as me lol. Once I get one part I need another to accent that one etc etc.. and you want to do it all at once. I think if you really want to keep modding just take a few parts and do what you can yourself one at a time. (side skirts one month, front and rears another month, etc) and you'll have yourself a nice pile of parts prepped and ready to go. Also, I know it sounds bad but you could always put on lips before painting them until you have the money to get them painted

BOH are different than tinting the headlights. BOH=painting the actual housing of the headlights, whereas tinting... well tints the plastic and kills light output. Here's mine

I'm never sure why anyone buys a vehicle that's easily 40k+ and can barely afford the minimum payments per month. Some people just like a shiny symbol to show their status.

 
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i dont get it either. i love that the civic is paid off (after 10 yrs, it better be lol) and i can have a bit of money on the side for repairs. the lip kit was one of the best mods i ever did and its something that will never get old or boring. ive had it since i think 2004 and i only had to change the front lip once due to massive rock chips. it always gets looks and really adds something extra. i always get people asking is it a new car, is the paint new, what kind of car is it and others lol. it has its fair share of problems as any old car would, quite a few actually, but its my sexy beater and i still like driving it. at night it looks like a luxury car with full led running lights and hid projectors. even a few well placed mods really help.

 
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Another way I think about car mods is that since the car is paid off adding 5k into it isn't as bad as going to get a new 18k car which will put you in debt. If you do the right mods dropping 5k into the civic will make it just like new and good for another 10 years and most likely look much sexier than anything new you can buy.

 
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I cant tell forsure but do you have a lip kit on yours? im guessing you have projectors? I have 55W HID Bi-Xeons but their just in stock housing. I have them adjusted low so they dont blind everyone. A long time ago, just after i got my HID kit put in, i did consider getting halo projectors but its not cheap. $200 at least with shipping plus to install and i dont know anyone whos actually installed them before.

So then i took my focus over to adding fog lights but then i didnt bother. I dont know, they would make the car look better but not sure if id really use them plus just more power strain on the car to power on 2 more lights when i already have 55W HID. Theyre still about $100 shipped on ebay. No way would i be smart enough to install them ha, ya right.

I would love a lip kit but i refuse to spend big money into the car anymore so looking for cheap mods because for more money id rather put into a new car. Like I changed my interior lights to blue LEDs for $10

I do like back grills and think cause my car is silver, it would add some contrast cause mine looks stupid now. I looked on ebay briefly to see if i could get one for under $50 shipped. I like the JDM black ones. But then you cant keep your honda emblem there, only bad thing.

Ive already dropped too much money into stuff like full sound system and konig rims, HID, window tint and 3M on front of the hood...none of that you get your money back cause no one would care for most of that stuff.

 
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No lip kit for me :'( I can never find one I like and when I do find one I see someone else on here has one that's better lol. Headlights are stock with DDM 55w HIDs. I could be wrong, but halo projectors are most likely going to be a waste of money. Morimoto mini projectors seem to be what everyone here will recommend to you for projectors. Also, retrofitting your own headlights makes them looks uber sexy.

I've got fogs installed on my car, but the button broke so now they are just for show. I got mine from ebay for like.. 50 or 60 bucks back in the day. I think it adds a nice touch to the front looks too which is why I wont remove them until I get OEM replacements someday.

I don't want to sound *******-y here but seriously it doesn't sound like you could afford a new car in the next few years so you should try to tweak what you already own and get rid of that unhappiness/stress you're worrying youself over.

Also, on the grill I have I've seen people attach a honda symbol to it. Just needs a little creativity. I'd sell you mine cheap if I could find a grill that I like lol.

 
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Civicnoobie i dont think we've ever seen a picture of your car...post one? And dropping 1k into your car so it'll be something you love is much better than buying a new car and being in debt. If i were you i would do the following-

1.De-bagde
2.Led lights throughout
3.Rsx rear sway bar
4.Ebay fogs (theres a DIY on here somewhere so install shouldn't be a problem)
5.Retrofit and black out your headlights (or you could buy some already retrofitted lights on the forums, they pop up periodically. Dont buy ebay headlights.)
6.Lip kit
7.Coilovers or new struts & springs (if you have the money)

You could do the first 3 for $50, the first 6 for under a grand and all 7 for around $1500-1800$. After that its a completely different car.

 
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Thaik,

just to prove my point, this is the car i bought 1 month or so ago - 1995 - the oldest one i do own - the others are 02, 01 and i still love them, even if they are not running or waiting for my garage to open up a space to do the job they require to be done...

Oh, i paid 4k for it and it;'s the fastest of the 3 to go around the corners
.
it have horrible paint, dings and dents everywhere, but runs great. TB/ clutch, etc are all freshly done, owned by a fellow autocrosser.
I always had well maintained my cars, but since my stay 1 1/1 year in canada, when i got back to US, i had to change TB/HG, among all the ancillaries parts (done in my garage, 2 months between stuff to clean parts to arrive, etc).
I drove my othe miata 01 during that time.
when finished, I thought - great, now the civic will stay for a while in the garage, and i can drive the miata that was parked for a year 1/2 waiting for me to get back.
Then clutch started slipping and i parked the miata a year ago, getting parts, disassembling, etc - still on jacks, since i was not actually feeling to do a large job again for a while.
have done all suspension refresh while i was at it, but still need to remove the trans completely (car is full of reinforcements, drive shaft, etc).
Then the vic wheel bearing started making the whoo, whoo...
reality check - am i gonna finish miata in time? Nooooo.... (shame on me...)
got this "new" one that runs solid, now i am going to the garage to try to finish the miata parked.
after that, civic will get in for the wheel bearing, so i will try to see what else need to be done.

(note: i have left enough dough to buy another 2-3 cars yet, so i can use this buffer to do all the fixes)
corollary - owning a car is a large burden. do never buy another one if you don't have left any to fix if anything happens. (they are expensive)
a bad looking running car is thousand fold better than a good looking one that does not run.
be prepared to keep them in top mechanical shape as much as you can - when 2-3 things happens at same time, yer in trouble.
I would not ever buy a car without having money buffer.

blacked out headlights?
here is mine (after so many years, i thought you would have noticed?)

 
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heh! better even - i always had pets, but since now i am single man living alone, i cannot have one...
i have tons of business travels, so can't be at home to care for them
example: dogs still need eat everyday and crap everyday. and be bitten and rolled over all the house's floors, runned after, etc, to be happy as well.
i could not keep a pet, for god's sake, even if i do need to have one.

so i don't - even if i miss dearly to having one to take care of...