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So far I have:

K&N FIPK
Neuspeed F/U strut bar
RSX-S rear sway bar
eBay R/U strut bar (at home but not installed yet)

I have strict rules for mods for my car, however:

1. It must improve performance in some way (acceleration or handling). In other words, no "just for looks" mods.

2. It can't change the outward appearance of my car very much, if at all. In other words, no exhausts unless a) it gives good gains, b) it doesn't look very different from stock c) it doesn't sound very different from stock. And since such an exhaust doesn't exist yet, I don't want exhaust mods.

I was thinking about lowering my car, which is supposed to greatly improve handling, but that's expensive for springs and shocks. So, probably not. Plus, that would change the outward appearance of my car kind of.

I think my next mod will be new tires. These firestones have hardly any traction on dry pavement, and even less when it's wet. But I don't have too much money... any suggestions? I've heard good things about Kumho Supras or something. I'm keeping my wheels stock size.

So if anyone can think of anything they would recommend for me, please let me know. Maybe one of you know of something I don't.

Oh yeah, and it has to stay legal. So no hp header .

Thanks,

IronFist

 
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man your hard to please. But i would get some lowering springs and then wait till your shocks blow out. And you can get lighter rims than what you already have. Will improve your acceleration

 
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DIY: Gas Door Lightening

 
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Next time post in members rides....That is where this post is going.

 
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exhaust...duh

 
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Some decent tires that won't blow your checkbook away are Bridgestone FR390is. H rated, decent tread, get the 195.60.R15 tho. Slightly wider than stock, and won't throw your spedo outta whack. That's the rubber on my Civic and I'm pretty impressed with them so far.

So are the "fearless" passengers that grip the dashboard in terror as I scream around residential corners at 70kph

I also hate disengaging the cruise on our twisty BC roads.

Bridgestones GOOD!.... Firestones BAD!

 
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lower it
springs

 
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I agree. Either springs or exhaust

 
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Hmm. Thanks for the tire suggestion. I will check into that.

I don't want to get just springs because riding around on stock shocks and aftermarket springs only lasts for so long.

IronFist

 
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To stay legal you can't put a header on? WTF? There some kind of law in Illinois about that?

Dood. . . a header and exhaust will certainly improve your HP numbers. I've noticed a great gain with both of mine. You're really not going to get any more power out of that engine unless you do SOMETHING about the exhaust end of things.

Handling, well. . . that's a different story. Suspension mods are not cheap, however. But merely adding a lower rear tiebar (even a $20 ebay special) will help. . . as well as the Neuspeed lower front x-brace. But, some progressive rate springs (even H&R OE, which shouldn't lower your car at all) will do a lot to improve the handling. Lowering, though. . . that'll also lower your center of gravity, further-improving the handling characteristics of your car.

Why no changes that are visible? At some point there will be some very subtle, yet noticeable, changes to your car if you plan to better its performance.

Hiding mods from someone, in particular?

 
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i would say to lower it

 
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Get some forged rims (15" if you insist)
Get some decent tires (Potenza RE950s are awesome)
Redo the suspension (shocks & all)
Redo the exhaust (i/h/e)
Tint your windows (doesn't improve acceleration, but keeps the interior temp lower during the summer and helps prevent fading of the fabric)

 
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polyurethane bushings in the suspension, make an improvement. I put em in mine, works well, bit stiffer on bumps though. Cheep to get but can be costly if you can't DIY

 
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Yukonart said:
To stay legal you can't put a header on? WTF? There some kind of law in Illinois about that?

I said to stay legal I can't put an HP header on, because they're not carb legal. HP and Kamikaze headers give the best gains (supposedly), but neither is carb legal. Supposedly the legal headers, like DC sports, suck.

Yukonart also said:
Dood. . . a header and exhaust will certainly improve your HP numbers. I've noticed a great gain with both of mine. You're really not going to get any more power out of that engine unless you do SOMETHING about the exhaust end of things.

What kind of header did you install? And as for exhaust, I just don't want a big, cop-attracting exhaust. And I don't really care about exhaust sound just for the sake of having a cool sounding exhaust. If a 4" tip would give +20hp, then fine, I would put one on. But since they don't, it's not worth a huge decibel increase to get +2 or 3 hp, IMO.

But, some progressive rate springs (even H&R OE, which shouldn't lower your car at all

Stiffer springs that keep the car at stock height? That wouldn't require new shocks, right? How much are those?

White2k2ex said:
Tint your windows (doesn't improve acceleration, but keeps the interior temp lower during the summer and helps prevent fading of the fabric)

Does it keep the temp down? Maybe I should do that then. I'm usually hot as hell anyway, especially in my car. How much does this usually cost?

Thanks for the suggestions!

IronFist

 
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Yeah tint would be a good choice. Mine was only 154, check out my pics. You could save up for some Teins. MugenRacerX is selling his rims,check them out.