92 civic ex vs 90 accord lx

[hammad]

hi everyone

need a classic honda, which one is more sporty ?any milage estimates?

[LoneWolf]

Not enough info here.

The Civic will have a 4-banger, the Accord could probably have either a 4cyl or a V6. Either way, the 4cyl is generally a more reliable engine over the long run. Handling will depend on how hard the cars have been driven, though all else being equal, the Civic's shorter wheelbase and (I believe) tighter turning radius will give it a bit better handling. Also, are they stick, or automatic? Automatic 4cyl setups around that time aren't going to be very sporty, and will probably have a tendency to gear-hunt. Sticks will be much more sporty, but then you have to worry about how the previous owner treated the clutch.

The Civic will hands down get better mileage, as even earlier Civics have a reputation for taking gas in little sips. If you drive either like you stole it though, mileage is going to go down a fair bit from EPA estimates.

IMO, you're starting to get into an age range where the car you buy could have some real baggage though, even for a Honda. I'd look several years newer than the cars you have listed. If you're on a budget, do NOT look at the sportier Civic SI. Iinsurance rates will go up quite a bit for them, as the Civic, like the Acura Integra, is one of the most stolen cars around, even earlier models, plus parts take longer to get for the Si (unless you live in Cali) and cost more.


LoneWolf (Current owner: 1994 Acura Integra GS-R; former owner: 1991 Acura Integra RS)

[hammad]

hi

thanks very much for the info


civic 92ex standard airbag driver side ,standard abs ,sunroof, inline 4 vtech 125bhp 5speed manual ,108 ft-lb torque 32-36 mpg 103.2 inch wheelbase 2500lbs weight


Accord 90 lx 125bhp ,135 ft-lb torque 107 inch wheel base 2750lbs
5 speed manual 25-30 mpg.

can you please tell me more about suspensions and tunning (any links)
accord has a crash rate rating of 4 4 for driver and passenger while the civic has 3 3.

thank you very much.

[LoneWolf]

I don't know much about the Accord's suspension, but seeing as the Acura Integra is an offshoot of the Civic (albeit highly modified for performance and handling), I can probably make a good guess there.

1990-93 Acura Integra is referred to as the Gen2 series by Honda enthusiasts. You can get aftermarket rear shocks for it, but not fronts, so there isn't a lot of tuning you can do. I would guess that the `92 Civic fits into this category as well. Because the Civic is lighter than the Accord, it will get a bit more performance off the line. It may have a little bit different gearing ratios, but the best place you can find that kind of info is here:

http://honda-tech.com/

http://honda-acura.net/

The Gen3 Integras ran from 1994-2001. If the Civics are like them (and they should be fairly similar), these have a much more modifiable suspension, as they are 4-wheel independent double-wishbone setups. I have aftermarket coil springs and 4-way gas adjustable shocks on my `Teg, as well as an Integra Type-R rear swaybar, which increases the stiffness of the car by quite a bit and improves handling.

If you can't do the work yourself, you probably don't want to do mods, they suck up money, and in many cases, gas mileage (i.e., I have 17" wheels on my `Teg, and it has a definite impact on fuel economy). Often older parts that work fine (i.e., shocks) can be corroded to their mounts, making removal a complex process that requires a torch. Mods can also increase the maintenance cycle on the car itself, and you certainly don't want to do engine mods on a 10+ year-old car without doing a complete engine rebuild first, or you could drastically shorten the car's engine life. My car has no engine mods, and 156,000 miles on it. Kept in good shape, I should see 200,000 without a problem.

Finally, for the sake of all that is good and holy, don't add a coffee-can mufler, 2-foot rear spoiler, ground effects, lime green paint, or any kinds of flames. Contrary to what you may have been told, they do not add horsepower.

[Ian]

Finally, for the sake of all that is good and holy, don't add a coffee-can mufler, 2-foot rear spoiler, ground effects, lime green paint, or any kinds of flames. Contrary to what you may have been told, they do not add horsepower.

lol, but they make it look like you're going faster!

[hammad]

i fully agree with you that rear spoiler ,air dam and ground effects and any painting cant any horsepower in a 125bhp engine.

modifying suspensions and engine is also not good because i dont know how to do that,

1. at HONDA showroom they said that accord is more sportier ,more reliable,more comfortable and safe then civic . is it true in daily life

2.turning cycle of 92 civic ex is 32.8ft ,accord 38.1ft both cars are double wishbone front and rear.

3 NHTSA Crash Test Results rate 3 to civic for passenger and driver ,4 for accord ,while the civic has airbags and ABS what does it mean ?

4. can i use bridgestone potenza Potenza GIII tyres
http://www.bridgestone.com.au/tyres/pro ... s/gIII.asp (195/50R15) front and (225/60R15) rear . bmw m3 is a front wheel drive and make better traction with wider rear tyres and small front tyres.can the civic or accord do that.adding 15 inch tyres effects on the fuel economy or not.i have read that front spoiler increase downforce and stability but decreses the drag coefficent hence increases average mpg can i add a 5 inch rear spoiler .

[LoneWolf]

i fully agree with you that rear spoiler ,air dam and ground effects and any painting cant any horsepower in a 125bhp engine.

modifying suspensions and engine is also not good because i dont know how to do that,

1. at HONDA showroom they said that accord is more sportier ,more reliable,more comfortable and safe then civic . is it true in daily life

2.turning cycle of 92 civic ex is 32.8ft ,accord 38.1ft both cars are double wishbone front and rear.

3 NHTSA Crash Test Results rate 3 to civic for passenger and driver ,4 for accord ,while the civic has airbags and ABS what does it mean ?

4. can i use bridgestone potenza Potenza GIII tyres
http://www.bridgestone.com.au/tyres/pro ... s/gIII.asp (195/50R15) front and (225/60R15) rear . bmw m3 is a front wheel drive and make better traction with wider rear tyres and small front tyres.can the civic or accord do that.adding 15 inch tyres effects on the fuel economy or not.i have read that front spoiler increase downforce and stability but decreses the drag coefficent hence increases average mpg can i add a 5 inch rear spoiler .

ABS = Antilock Braking System. Very useful if you live in a climate where roads can get slippery. Instead of pumping the brake when you lose control, you press the pedal firmly to the floor. The car's ABS system pumps the brakes for you, far better than you ever could. It will produce a chattering feel from the brake pedal that will be unnerving the first time, but that is normal. May reduce your insurance costs, depending on your carrier.

The Civic, ironically (forgot to mention this) also has better front passenger room than the Accord or the Integra. The Integra actually has more front passenger room than the Accord as well. If you're tall, you'd do well to remember this (I am 6'4", with a 37" inseam; I need all the legroom and headroom I can get). Crash rating on the Accord is probably slightly better due to its size, but take in mind one of the reasons I bought my Integra: It's not just about crash absorbtion, it's about crash avoidance.

Reliability? That's BS. Both the Civic and Accord have good reliability rates. Sportiness? Better you drive them both to find out, though that statement flags on my BS meter too. It really varies based on engine, and in this case especially , their age and how they were driven. Without test-driving them, you won't be able to tell. I'd give the edge to the Civic with that tighter turning circle though; with stiff enough shocks/springs, it should corner quite adeptly. As for tires, choose the same all around if you can, after all, you want to rotate them to even out wear. The Civic should fit 205/50/R15's just fine if it has 15" rims. I used Dunlop Sport SP 5000's as a good all-season performance tire when I had 15" rims, and was very happy with them.

What is the mileage on both cars? The 4-cylinder Honda engines need their timing belt/water pump changed every 90,000 miles; an expensive, though routine repair, and if it isn't done when it should be, you're in big trouble (read: $1500 worth of repair from trashing the head and replacing destroyed valves). Make sure it's been done recently if possible. Valve timing should be adjusted every 15,000 miles as well; make sure this has been done recently (have a mechanic sign off on it, don't take the word of a salesperson). Have a mechanic check and make sure the seals are in good shape, and the clutches too.

[hammad]

thanks

i ll take car of that ,looks like i have to buy a civic

but my heart says Accord.