Honda's Civic Si is a solid performer right out of the box, but as we all know, there's always room for improvement. We can go and slap on a turbo and a random set of springs, but that may void this new car's warranty, and as you likely recall, our goal for this car is to keep it street legal and keep its warranty intact. Our friends at Penske Honda offer a host of Honda-approved go-fast goodies that will improve our Civic's performance while keeping those disapproving looks from Honda's service department at bay. Of course, not all dealers will stock these parts, nor will all dealers honor your warranty if you install these parts on your ride, so be sure to talk with your Honda dealer before installing anything on your car. Follow along as we install a HFP suspension kit, Fujita F5 intake and Velox wheels on to our Civic.
Break it Down
MSRP
Honda HFP Suspension: $800;
Fujita F5 Intake: $233.00
PROS Tighter handling; engine now makes cool "vroom vroom" sound
CONS Hard to find any flaws with mods this easy to install
VERDICT A very easy way to improve the handling and power while still maintaining a sense of civility on the street.
Also Installed:
We gave our Civic Si over to Derrick "Goggles" Yee so that he could install a Tanabe exhaust (available only through Tanabe) and Seibon carbon-fiber hood (you can purchase this at Penske!) onto the car. Additionally, Velox chipped in a set of Zeta5s to change the look up. We would have gone with a full cat-back exhaust for the Civic, but no one makes one just yet. Perhaps that will be our next project. Goggles was too lazy to snap pics of these installs, but if the concept of unscrewing a few bolts is too tough for you, perhaps you should put this magazine down and pick up Highlights: For Children instead.
 Begin by raising the car up...  Begin by raising the car up on jack stands (we used Penske's lift) and removing the front wheels. If you're lucky enough to have access to a lift, save yourself some time and remove all the wheels. Raise the Civic's hood, remove the windshield wipers and plastic cowl so that you can access the top of the front shocks. |  Loosen the three 14mm bolts...  Loosen the three 14mm bolts on top of the strut assembly. Disconnect the brake line and ABS sensor. Use a 10mm wrench to do so. |  Remove the 17mm (top) and...  Remove the 17mm (top) and 19mm bolts; now you can remove the shock assembly. |
 The HFP suspension is great...  The HFP suspension is great as it comes pre-assembled, saving you a lot of time and hassle. As you can see, this strut has a big "L" on it. This means it goes on the left side. |  To install the shock assembly,...  To install the shock assembly, just reverse the steps. Loosely install the top nuts to keep the shock assembly in place. Take care not to move the CV boot too much or else it will fall out, and that would be bad. Hot tip: Use a jack stand to prop the shock assembly in place. |  As you go to reattach the...  As you go to reattach the ABS sensor, take care not to twist it--you'll really mess up your brakes if you do. The HFP kit comes with new 17mm and 19mm bolts. Use `em to replace your old ones. Now it's just a matter of tightening things down. Congratulations! Your left front suspension is done. Now let's move to the rear of the car. |