Mrs Huffer's 2003 Honda Accord LX

[Huffer]

We bought the wife a nice, comfortable and easy riding 03 Accord LX sedan.
It's an excellent car - interior is well put together, it gets 33mpg easily (full tank 17gal I can go 500miles (last 50miles with the light on) @ 65mph.

Exterior
The paint is pretty bad - it holds up well to the 10ft and 3ft test, but when we got the car the previous owners (2 of them) never waxed or really washed the car properly. I ran two claybars over that sucker and it's now a whole lot better - it felt like 1000grit sandpaper at first.

It's the LX automatic model, so it comes with nothing fancy - 15" steelies, no spoiler and the I4 2.4L engine, still makes a decent 168hp, which can still move the fairly bulky chassis around.

Interior
It blows the pants off any equivalent year Subaru Legacy. That was the clincher for us, and the fuel efficiency in a very comfortable package with better storage pockets and overall room than an 03-04 Legacy.
Backseat space is excellent also, and the rear seats fold down (unfortunately no 60/40 split) for long loads.

The CD unit is one of those "integrated" HVAC units but I've already found a site that has conversion kits to retain the HVAC control but that will allow me to install a 1DIN unit + extra cubby space.

Apart from the FWD, this is a way better car than the 00-04 Legacies we were looking at.

Plans
Exterior
I have some ideas to get the car up to "my" specs, first of which is to install window tint. I already de-badged the trunk (Accord & LX).

I'd also like to upgrade the headlights to projector style ones - at least ones with black-housings. I've thought about installing a rear wing/decklid spoiler too, but that's not a big deal at this stage.

Eventually, we are looking at a full respray of the paint to a deep metallic red. Wife likes red.

Suspension
The next thing to do will be to replace the swaybars to help prevent some of the body roll.
H&R make some nice swaybars in 22mm front & 28mm rear flavors.
Then it's suspension work, and I might just stick with KYB GR2's and Tein H-Techs to get a mild drop to tuck the wheels just a little. The H-techs have a 340lb front spring rate with a 200lb rear.

Along with the swaybars and springs I'm going to have to upgrade the tires & wheels, so we're thinking of 17" bronze wheels & decent summer tread, but I doubt I'll upgrade the brake caliper size because 15" winter/snow tread is cheap. Good pads and solid rotors should be enough to haul it down. Having good suspension will help too.

Powertrain
Eventually when the exhaust gives up we'll upgrade that too, starting header-back, but I refuse to end up with an Accord that sounds like a bumble-bee in a can. It'll be quiet.

Engine is running Castrol full synth 5w20, transmission is running Honda ATF.

Pics to come.

[subba]

i like the 03 - 05 Accords apacious, fast good on gas, look great, nice choice cant wait to see yours

[Huffer]

Here's some parts I'm looking at getting for the car:
Anzo Projector Lights


Ebay foglights


ABS lip spoiler


"Hiprospeed" Stainless exhaust header


Acura 2005 RSX 16x6.5" Enkei OEM wheels


And this is what it should look like with the H-Techs.

[sharky nrk]

they are good cars, both my parents now drive 7th gen accords. my mom traded in her '00 528i for her's. an '07 loaded v6 EX SE or whatever alphebet soup is attached to the title. It is dang near as nicely appointed as her BMW and far more reliable. My dad traded his truck in for an 07 LX SE, almost the same car as my mom's but the K24 instead of the v6 and no navi/leather. He drives his 30+ miles to work each day and truck gas prices were killing him

I am a closet Honda Accord lover, by little brother has an H22 swapped 5th gen with a suspension setup that would give most cars a complete fit on the track. Honda makes a good platform - if I wasn't driving my Subie I would be in a Honda

[subba]

la la la PikTuReZ

[Huffer]

la la la PikTuReZ

it looks like this one, but without the alloys. She's got hubcaps for now.

[Huffer]

I know this is kinda ricerish, but this has to be the nicest bodykit I've seen for this car, even beyond the HFP/Mugen stuff:






It's an FRP kit, so there's no way I'd ever run it in Ohio, but it's already got wife AND wife's girlfriends approval.

Imagine it in a wine red metallic.

[Reason]

Ricerish?? That is a clean kit. It's not too flamboyant at all.

[battman]

^^^agreed. I think if you have the right body kit, have someone who knows what they're doing put it on and make sure the color matches, you can make a car look awesome!

I am still down with the hondas, I just recently got a brand new accord for a rental in VA and that sucker was nice. Heated seats, yeah buddy!

[subba]

bodykits that are obviously bigger than the cars OEM dimensions = Rice

That kit looks really good.

[gil_ong81]

hey huffer,

how do you like the anzo lights? any comments on the quality and fit?

i'm thinking of grabbing a set for my bugeye.

[Huffer]

Hey Gil, no idea on the lights - I have yet to buy any as the stockers are fine for the conditions... they would be one of the last mods I'd do, as it'd really be just a cosmetic upgrade. Suspension and wheels/tires would be first.
It's a bit tough to mod two cars with her at school full time and me being the only worker.

But, ANZO lights look to be very good quality - and a number of manufacturers use them as OEM parts during collision repairs.

[gil_ong81]

thanks, huffer.

[Huffer]

Posting this for my own reference:

2003 Subaru Legacy – Interior Specs: http://www.motortrend.com/cars/2003/sub ... fications/

Internal dimensions:
front headroom (mm): 968, rear headroom (mm): 930, front hip room (mm): 1,303, rear hip room (mm): 1,318, front leg room (mm): 1,100, rear leg room (mm): 869, front shoulder room (mm): 1,369, rear shoulder room (mm): 1,361 and interior volume (liters): 2,588

2003 Honda Accord – Interior Specs: http://www.motortrend.com/cars/2003/hon ... fications/

- Internal dimensions:
front headroom (mm): 1,026, rear headroom (mm): 978, front hip room (mm): 1,387, rear hip room (mm): 1,359, front leg room (mm): 1,082, rear leg room (mm): 935, front shoulder room (mm): 1,445, rear shoulder room (mm): 1,425 and interior volume (liters): 2,908

[BE-Fresh]

That kit's nice, the front bumper could be a lil better. But with a nice drop and some 18s I think it would look hot

[Huffer]

So after all this time I finally managed to get some new wheels for the accord... For $50!
Riax Seca 16" with a full set of tires, currently gloss black but may change to a gunmetal color. Wheels look like this:

[Huffer]

Cleaned up the wheels today... looks like the previous owner really didn't have a clue about them. The outside face looks fine, couple of nicks and scratches, but the insides of all four wheels are caked with what appears to be road tar/stones. I'm not even going to bother with washing them, I'll just get the sanding wheel out.

Wife doesn't know I've bought them yet, one of them will be inside a large box on Christmas day. Whoohoo for Craigslist!

[chaksq]

Accords are nice well built cars. I recently did some audio work on a 1997 Accord my friend picked up, overall it went real well. I like your plans for this one. That bodykit looks real clean and provided you get it mounted and painted properly I bet normal people won't even notice, but will still make it stand out next to normal Accords. I really like those headlights you picked out, and the lip spoiler is a must. The craigslist rims look nice, can't beat the price.

[Huffer]

Thanks! We probably won't do the body kit but it may still geta a mild drop and tint.

[Huffer]

Mrs Huffer got the wheels today under the Christmas tree...I know she's pregnant but she CRIED happy tears! I love this girl. she's all excited now to tint the windows and can't wait for spring to put the new wheels on.

[Reason]

Spring?? Damn we want pics (at least I do :-) )

[Huffer]

For my reference:
Eibach Pro Kit: 4045.140 MSRP: $216 (Tire Rack)
Ride Height Drop (inch) 1.2 1.3

H&R:
OE Sport Spring 0.75 0.5 51804-55 $329.00
Sport Spring 1.5 1.3 51804 $329.00
Sway Bar Front 28mm Ø Adj. 70808 $299.00
Sway Bar Rear 20mm Ø Adj. 71808 $259.00

TEIN:
H-Tech 1.2 0.7 #SKA50-BUB00 $202.99 (ebay)
spring rate front/rear 302/224lbs/inch

[BE-Fresh]

Pictars please

[Huffer]

Pictars please

Of the new wheels? I'm not mounting them till spring. They'll have summer tires on them.
I had to spend a LOT of time cleaning them up though - the inside face was covered in road tar and stone chips, yet the outside face was surprisingly clean?!?

What's kind of neat is that now her tire size will match my stock one... so if need be I can always swap on a stock sized tire from my car.
These wheels are 5x114 and 5x100, but the offset is around 42 so a little high for a Subaru.

[BE-Fresh]

No I mean of the car itself lol. And what's this that it's better than most of the 00-04 Legacies?!?!?! I'm hurt...

[Huffer]

No I mean of the car itself lol. And what's this that it's better than most of the 00-04 Legacies?!?!?! I'm hurt...

it really is though... I test drove both and the Accord is simply bigger and more comfortable. It's more refined, but the lack of AWD hurts.
I don't have any pics of it really - it's simply a black sedan with 15" hubcaps. Just like any other Accord out there.

[BE-Fresh]

Better than a beige Camry haha

c'mon huffer, why you been avoiding pics this whole thread? haha

[Huffer]

c'mon huffer, why you been avoiding pics this whole thread? haha

[nomad666666]

Keep it in the family! My wife drives A 06 tribeca it made me buy my legacy My mom drives a honda I would drive my chevy or jeep before a :smt009 honad