Here is my weekend/free-time car; sometimes I take it to my long-drive far away work, but usually that is for my "work car", a 1992 Chevrolet Cavalier that runs strong at over 250,000 miles (had to say that).
Features:
- Automatic climate control
- 4-way anti-lock brakes. Powered brakes of course.
- Cruise control
- Power moonroof
- Heated front leather bucket seats (rear seats are leather to )
- Power front seats (driver has memory)
- Leather steering wheel with radio controls. Electronically powered, tilted and telescoping steering wheel. Power steering obviously.
- Dual front air-bags
- Power windows
- Power and heated mirrors
- Aftermarket alarm system, with remote entry that lights the interior. Remote trunk release also.
The interior is in pretty good shape for a 10year old car. There is a small tear in the rear leather seats on the side (by the door), and a slight buzz/creaking noise on harsh bumps at the front-right pillar. I recently replaced the carpet because of stains (from snow I suppose), and it gave it that new chemical smell (ie: new car smell); using floor mates of course. The fake-laminated wood looks glossy and is still in shape, buttons are still present also. The radio controls worked excellent with the crappy factory Bose audio system, but since I changed the receiver they no-longer work; there is a way to configure them, but why bother? The right mirror wont heat either, but the left does; I'm not lazy though, I use the ice scrapper.
Call this Honda build quality? I suppose, but I also think it was well cared for as well.
Performance aspects:
- 3.2liter SOHC 24vavle V6
- 200hp @ 5500rpm / 210 ft.lbs @ 4500rpm *new-ratings, minus age and plus performance parts*
- Front wheel drive
- 19/24mpg EPA rating, I measure 17/25mpg average. Eh, someone around there.
- Tachometer on 4-speed automatic
- Factory rear wing (it gives downforce)
I'm not familiar with what this engine has been used in, or how long it has been revised, but I know it is smooth and has good power. No, it's not really powerful, but I can merge into traffic with no, or little fear. I'm approaching 80,000 miles on the vehicle, and it still shifts and runs like new. The previous owner took well care of it; a mechanic if that matters; synthetic oil changes every 2,000 to 3,000 miles, transmission serviced, everything maintained. I feel fortunate to have a ageing car that was considered "part of the family"...seriously, it was.
Oh yeah, it still gets its synthetic oil changes
Aftermarket/additions:
- Performance chip - installed by previous owner
- Cold air intake - Weapon-R, installed by me
- Window tint - professionally installed, ordered by previous owner
- Super white bulbs - installed by me
- Gold plated front grill frame - installed by buddy
- Lighted window switches - installed by me, gives a decent blue-light glowing effect.
When I put in the cold-air I honestly wasn't expecting much. Boy, you can't hear it, but you can sure feel it, not enough thoughThe super white bulbs work great! They look like HID's to me. I kind-of regret having the front grill-frame gold plated, but it's deal able.
Lighted window switches. I found this online, so I decided to try it out. Fairly easy, except you have to take off the door-panels, which is not easy in a Acura. They add a nice settle blue-glow to the interior, now I need to find a face gauge that matches it.
Car Audio:
- Pioneer double-din CD/Casset/AM-FM radio
- CDT Eurosports component speakers with front-image enhancer.
- 12" Renaissance (Moral Acoustics) Connon subwoofer
- USaccoustic amplifiers
- Dynamat sound deadening in front doors, and trunk.
- 1.5 cubic foot sealed box, polly stuffed.
Yeap, the factory system was Bose. If it's Bose, there must be no-lows, ok sorry. The CDTs reside in the front-door factory location, and simply sound excellent. The front-image enhancer (called something else now?) is where you add another set of tweeters and passive-crossovers; I have the extra tweeters located in the pillars (it's a tad more complicated than I put it). This system is designed to bring the music level up to a "up-front stage level". Don't ask me how CDT did it, but it's quite concert like! No rear components or co-axiles, since I find them useless. The 12" Connon subwoofer is fanatic; it plays my typical soft-mellow music with precision and clarity; if I put in a more faster beat CD it plays them tight and clear *laughs at Audiobahn*, even at it's 2mm one-way excursion! Sound deadening material eliminated any trunk rattle. My audio is for sound-quality purpose only, no "boom-boom look at me" junk.
Am I happy? Yes, it's a good, respective, safe and comfortable cruise car for my free-time/city traffic (I live in Indianapolis); however, I some day want to own a true sports car. The cars weight and soft-biased suspension show itself in turns; the steering is not tight and performance accurate. It's a 4-speed automatic. The engine, a respective power, but not really on the fun and crazzy side that I wish to have some day. Well, it could be worse, I could be driving a Cadillac Escalade
There you have it, I suppose I gave quite a bit of details, a shame most people don't
I can't seam to upload very well with my dial-up, plus I keep going over a "file size limite". This is the only picture I can get up *shrugs*
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Originally Posted by Nigel
