Well i'm new here but i've been reading this forumfor a few days. I just gradutated High School and got my first car, A 2003 Civic EX. I just had a few questions. 1. From reading alittle the EX is alittle better than a stock LX or other models...um...why? 2. I want to upgrade the car alittle. I was thinking a good first thing would be an intake.Would you recomend this as a first upgrade?3. anyother suggestions, comments, or advise? Thanks everyone.

 

Yeah, the EX is a little better then the LX, for one it has a VTEC engine and other small options available. Intake is a good choice, I just put a AEM V2 in and love it. PM me for any questions.

 

Thanks alot Doug. I'll probably go with the intake.

 

Yeha, no problem. The EX also has body colored mirrors, body colored door handles, sunroof, and a couple other bells and whistles, along with the VTEC engine. So its slightly better then the LX

 

I didn't know other civics had differant colored mirrors and such. i thought they were all body-colored.
I was thinkin about either the injen or AEM short intakes rather than the CAI just cuz i'm not gonna really be racing. I just want to sqeeze alittle more performance outa the car without brakin my wallet. I ready the defintion of what a VTEC is but how does it possitivelyaffect performace in non-car person terms? I'm tryin to learn but seeing as how this is my fist car i'm not too knowlegable...yet. Thanks again Doug

 

Well the V2 is a Short Ram for the EX, but it is expensive.

 

Yes it is expensive. I priced it and its 300+. A regular short ram should still perform well though and its only 165

 

VTEC gives the engine a little more power higher in the RPM range by switching to a lobes on the cam that change the lift of the valves allowing more air/fuel mixture into the engine creating more power. This usually kicks in for us 7th gens around 5400 RPM to the redline. Below this VTEC line, it uses smaller lobes for better fuel economy. Therefore, you get more power throughout the RPM band while getting great fuel economy... basically it gives you the best of both worlds.

 

my 2k civic ex hasnt seen vtec in awhile.

i dont think shifting at 5500 is good for the motor, i shift at 3000.

just my opinion.

my ex had color matching mirrors (white) i replaced them with black ones from an SI, i like it better.

 

if u think that, when whats the point of having muscles and not using them?