Making this car more raw?

[damage]

This car is my extra "fun" car that needs 4 seats in case my dailies ever break down. Usually my fun cars in the past have been 2 seat sports cars (gt3, gt4, gt3rs, r8, 570s, etc) but I've got 2 kids that always need to get driven around these days, hence the 4 seater need. My criteria was something with 4 seats/doors, manual, handle well, holds value, and cheap. So that's the background...

Now.. how do I make this car feel more raw? It drives way too mundane. The engine responsiveness feels sluggish. Any way to liven that up? In the manual porsche world, you can get a lightweight flywheel and that lets the engine rev freely and fast. Is there such a thing available for this engine? I plan to get a tune to at least give this car some more grunt. Other mod plans was to get the motor mount to get more feedback and supposed responsiveness. I also was thinking removing some of the sound deadening. I've already unplugged the stupid fake engine noises. I'm still on the fence for exhaust also. I haven't seen anything that looks good, lightweight, and doesn't sound like a flappy lawnmower revving.

Or am I chasing a dream here?

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[hotgrilleceleste]

I feel like peoples expectations for this car are insanely unrealistic. It’s a front wheel drive honda civic, it’s not a Porsche gt3 lol. I think things like taking out sound deadening to make the car something it’s not is a bad move. A tune seems like a good idea but besides that idk just get a different car.

 

[damage]

I feel like peoples expectations for this car are insanely unrealistic. It’s a front wheel drive honda civic, it’s not a Porsche gt3 lol. I think things like taking out sound deadening to make the car something it’s not is a bad move. A tune seems like a good idea but besides that idk just get a different car.

TOTALLY agree it's not going to be close to my previous cars. I'm ok with that. Just trying to spice this thing up as much as I can. Forgot to mention I have an intake too so at least there's some amusing noises when driving around.

There's not a whole lot of good cars with 4seats/doors, lightweight, manual that drive well. Next best car would maybe be the M3 but I can't stand the beaver toothed front end and not a big fan of BMWs in general.

 

[hotgrilleceleste]

I think it just doesn’t feel like a raw or analog car; the throttle response is slow and the steering lacks feedback, I think most new cars are this way and it’s just the nature of how they are.

 

[atlcivic]

This is my plan, some of which I’ve already done. Rear motor mount (prl or wunderladen is enough), prl intake, OEM+ exhaust such as apexi/remark, Acuity 4 way shifter, slave cylinder delay valve delete, cmc damper bypass. I don’t know if there’s even any sound deadening to remove lol. In fact I’m going to add some as I feel the actual mechanical bits may be more audible over the tire noise.

 

[damage]

I think it just doesn’t feel like a raw or analog car; the throttle response is slow and the steering lacks feedback, I think most new cars are this way and it’s just the nature of how they are.

Yeah i'm wondering if it's the engine or the turbo lag. I’ve had a turbo car before but this is pretty gutless before boost.

This is my plan, some of which I’ve already done. Rear motor mount (prl or wunderladen is enough), OEM+ exhaust such as apexi/remark, Acuity 4 way shifter, slave cylinder delay valve delete, cmc damper bypass. I don’t know if there’s even any sound deadening to remove lol. In fact I’m going to add some as I feel the actual mechanical bits may be more audible over the tire noise.

What does the cmc damper bypass do?

Also forgot I have the acuity gas pedal mover. It’s now closer and same level as the brakes.

I was going to do their shifter too but the stock is already better than anything out there under $300k IMO.

 

[hotgrilleceleste]

Yeah i'm wondering if it's the engine or the turbo lag. I’ve had a turbo car before but this is pretty gutless before boost.



What does the cmc damper bypass do?

Also forgot I have the acuity gas pedal mover. It’s now closer and same level as the brakes.

I was going to do their shifter too but the stock is already better than anything out there under $300k IMO.

I'm guessing it’s a combination of throttle by wire and turbo lag.

 

[cryptolime]

all you need is a good RMM. Wunderladen or PRL are my go-tos.

 

[atlcivic]

Yeah i'm wondering if it's the engine or the turbo lag. I’ve had a turbo car before but this is pretty gutless before boost.



What does the cmc damper bypass do?

Also forgot I have the acuity gas pedal mover. It’s now closer and same level as the brakes.

I was going to do their shifter too but the stock is already better than anything out there under $300k IMO.

Removes the damper that prevents vibrations from making their way to the clutch pedal. From what I’ve heard the impact is subtle but I may still do it. Stock shifter is fantastic but I hear acuity is even better and my goal is to improve feel as much as possible so why not.

 

[Nikw91]

Intake (turbo spool and bov noise)
Downpipe (deep throaty sound and more power)
Rear motor mount (no wheel hop/better shifting)
Jailbreak/Tune (Way more power. Burbles too)
Detent springs (1000% better shifter feel)

Those 5 things makes the car sound and feel completely different.

You can do all that for under $2,000 and it will feel Completely different, just like what you envisioned.

 

[Nothing]

TOTALLY agree it's not going to be close to my previous cars. I'm ok with that. Just trying to spice this thing up as much as I can. Forgot to mention I have an intake too so at least there's some amusing noises when driving around.

There's not a whole lot of good cars with 4seats/doors, lightweight, manual that drive well. Next best car would maybe be the M3 but I can't stand the beaver toothed front end and not a big fan of BMWs in general.

Consensus is that you can spend no money (fuse pull) to $3500 on a titanium exhaust, but the sound potential is limited due to the headifold design. Open intake will get you sounds, but overall OEM can support modest power gains with a tune. Tune can also take out some EPA throttle lag.

Engine mounts, rigid collars for the subframe. If you like NVH, then poly bushings.... Same for lightened flywheel, not sure how well it plays with turbo engines, more familiar with that on NA engines. A lot of people move to 18" wheels to make potholes more manageable, but you'd probably want to stay with 19s.

Get a tune and see how you like it. Seems to be the biggest single change up to 400hp, maybe with a turbo.

 

[AZCWTypeR]

I've installed stiffer (or solid) steering rack bushings on previous cars to improve feel, though I've not seen any mention of these on the FL5.

 

[Nothing]

I've installed stiffer (or solid) steering rack bushings on previous cars to improve feel, though I've not seen any mention of these on the FL5.

My guess is the platform isn't old enough for people to demand that over other things. If you can find harder durometer or poly bushings, go for it and let us know. I am surprised how much people complain about damper harshness or heavy steering on R+. Road feel is okay for a street car, I'm glad the controls are still analog and only power assisted.

 

[TchnoZ33]

This car is my extra "fun" car that needs 4 seats in case my dailies ever break down. Usually my fun cars in the past have been 2 seat sports cars (gt3, gt4, gt3rs, r8, 570s, etc) but I've got 2 kids that always need to get driven around these days, hence the 4 seater need. My criteria was something with 4 seats/doors, manual, handle well, holds value, and cheap. So that's the background...

Now.. how do I make this car feel more raw? It drives way too mundane. The engine responsiveness feels sluggish. Any way to liven that up? In the manual porsche world, you can get a lightweight flywheel and that lets the engine rev freely and fast. Is there such a thing available for this engine? I plan to get a tune to at least give this car some more grunt. Other mod plans was to get the motor mount to get more feedback and supposed responsiveness. I also was thinking removing some of the sound deadening. I've already unplugged the stupid fake engine noises. I'm still on the fence for exhaust also. I haven't seen anything that looks good, lightweight, and doesn't sound like a flappy lawnmower revving.

Or am I chasing a dream here?

Ummm…why didn’t you just get a carrera 4s or turbo…?

 

[AspecR]

Here’s what you need to make it more raw:

1. Rear Motor Mount - Hasport 70a, Torque Solutions or Wunderladen. PRL is too soft for what you’re looking for.

2. Spoon Rigid collars helps with maintaining alignment under load.

3. Hondata with their base tune or a custom tune which will clean up throttle response and get it to rev cleanly to redline.

4. Acuity, Hybrid racing or WK complete shifter to improve shift feel.

5. RV6 or TSP high efficiency downpipe, RV6 front pipe and the valved exhaust of your preference. Personally I’d go with the Magnaflow exhaust but 90% of FL5 owners settle for inferior quality on purpose when it comes to exhaust system idk why.

6. Hardrace Front Lower Arm bushing in conjunction with the Cusco full suite of Power Braces.

Add whichever reputable intake tickles your fancy, Top it off with a more aggressive alignment by removing the strut pins and that should get a decent step to being more raw.

if that doesn’t improve the raw feel for you, maybe you should be building a race car lol.

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