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when you're reading a tuner magazine...

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Old Aug 19, 2005 | 06:36 PM
  #1  
Steiner's Avatar
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when you're reading a tuner magazine...

For those of you who read tuner magazines regularly, do you find yourself skipping anything related to Hondas? Maybe now and then something about a tweaked S2000 will grab my attention, but for the most part I've got absolutely zero interest in reading about B22 swaps, turbo Integras, a B18 CRX, etc.

And if I'm not the only one, why do tuner magazines keep running these stories? Is is the late-30-something editors who introduced themselves to the tuning scene behind the wheel of a Honda, or is Honda still deserving of the ink. Sure we all know they make the most reliable piles of affordable boredom on the roads, but performance?
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Old Aug 20, 2005 | 01:02 AM
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i dont read tunner magazines , if i read one, i dont think id be impartial toward any brand.
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Old Aug 20, 2005 | 05:46 PM
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That is exactly what I do. Skip...way too boring. I'm so sick of Hondas and Acuras where I live. I guess being original isn't important here.
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Old Aug 20, 2005 | 05:48 PM
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I only look at cars that cost over $30,000 from Factory. :p
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Old Aug 21, 2005 | 10:51 AM
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Maybe because the marjority of the readers have that platform?
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Old Aug 21, 2005 | 11:07 AM
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I find the lack of info, and the lack of aftermarket parts for the 8, make reading about how easy other cars are to mod.......frustrating
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Old Aug 21, 2005 | 11:23 AM
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I find the lack of info, and the lack of aftermarket parts for the 8, indicitive of how difficult it is to improve on a good design from the getgo. Marketing to us is relatively unrewarding financially and therefore tuners (and magazine editors) go after the truly wanting folks...aka the cheap rice market.

It actually makes me feel good that I don't have to totally destroy my (street worthy) car ... and my wallet... to get decent performance...it's basically already there... I can just take it to the track with a couple 1000's worth of suspension and tire mods and toast 90% of what in those mags and billed as "hard core tuning" with barely a sweat.

It's not how many mods your car has that counts...it's how your car can actually perform all-around that counts... unless you're just into bragging rights at the local show and shine meet (not that there's anything wrong with that )
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Old Aug 21, 2005 | 11:29 AM
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Originally Posted by Spin9k
It's not how many mods your car has that counts...it's how your car can actually perform all-around that counts... unless you're just into bragging rights at the local show and shine meet (not that there's anything wrong with that )
I'm an old guy...who could care less what bling factor my car has...I just want more power from a FI system that won't blow up my engine :D not that much to ask :D

So I'm waiting........
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Old Aug 21, 2005 | 11:54 AM
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Originally Posted by dannobre
I'm an old guy...who could care less what bling factor my car has...I just want more power from a FI system that won't blow up my engine :D not that much to ask :D

So I'm waiting........
100% with you...hell Mazda could sell me a new RX-8 in a heartbeat...maybe 2006 or 7 if they would just FI the car for heavans sake...maybe only 50 or 75 RWH with a warranty I'm not (too) greedy or was that Greddy!
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Old Aug 21, 2005 | 01:32 PM
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Agh, gritting my teeth through a tuner magazine is absolute torture. Some of the worst publications ever. It doesn't help that they tend to only talk about shitty Civics with engine swaps instead of something with some REAL (and USEFUL) power. Great, your CRX has 899 WHP. Good luck getting any real performance out of it aside from dyno numbers and maybe a sort of okay drag time.

Last edited by Rhawb; Aug 21, 2005 at 01:34 PM.
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Old Aug 22, 2005 | 08:14 PM
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Originally Posted by Rhawb
Agh, gritting my teeth through a tuner magazine is absolute torture. Some of the worst publications ever. It doesn't help that they tend to only talk about shitty Civics with engine swaps instead of something with some REAL (and USEFUL) power. Great, your CRX has 899 WHP. Good luck getting any real performance out of it aside from dyno numbers and maybe a sort of okay drag time.
I know what you mean. Sometimes I wonder if these magazines are writing articles for normal people or for the staff at another magazine. How many people put together their 500whp+ cars based on the recommendations of a magazine? My guess is that most find a professional tuner shop.
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Old Aug 22, 2005 | 08:31 PM
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Honda's are great tuner cars as they are cheap, reliable and can be fast. Not my cup of tea but I can see why they will always have a big part in the mags.
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Old Aug 22, 2005 | 09:07 PM
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I'll read just about anything that I haven't seen done or used before. But if it's just another bolt on civic, yeah, i'll gouge my eyes out before i read it. I have been reading a **** load of old porsche tuning stuff lately. Some badass old cars running around.
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Old Aug 22, 2005 | 11:56 PM
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I only read mags that feature RX-7, RX-8, other Rotary Engines. Anything about Hondas except S2000 is already boring and redundant. Everyone's done everything to it already, there's nothing to be excited about. Plus, after seeing how much power they're making and all that, a thought still lingers in my head, "It's still a FWD Civic. I could never get excited about driving a fast Civic."
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Old Aug 23, 2005 | 12:10 AM
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Id be pretty excited to get a change to drive the civic Type R. That thing can outcorner a lot of RWD cars, check out BMW nismo monster unleashed for reference :p
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Old Aug 23, 2005 | 02:20 AM
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I love Hondas. Always have, always will. They pioneered the variable valve timing that everyone else is using now.

I've owned 5 Hondas/Acuras and have never been stranded once. The '93 - '96 Prelude VTEC kept up with same-generation Mustangs off the line with a 2.2L NA engine. The 1997 Integra Type R dominated SCCA Touring Car racing with no engine mods, exceeding 100 HP/liter and still getting 33 MPG on the highway (from personal experience).

My '03 Acura CL Type S 6 speed is one of 3400, is smooth, powerful, luxurious, torquey, and driveable in poor weather without snows. We've seen one example of a stock CL-S6 on drag radials pulling a 14.1 quarter mile.

The only car that broke into my Honda/Acura loyalty is the RX-8, for reasons that everyone on this forum is familiar.

I can understand people getting tired of reading about yet another hopped-up Civic, but give Honda their proper respect - they took the tuner industry to a new level, and have done amazing things with small-displacement.

(by the way, I defend the RX-8 on the Honda/Acura forums too!)
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Old Aug 23, 2005 | 08:18 AM
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Sport Compact Car, Grassroots and RX are the only mags for me.
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Old Aug 23, 2005 | 09:03 AM
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Hey, I'll read just about anything that catches my eye, granted that civics usually don't, but if I see some crazy interior mods AKA carputer, lcd's, playstation, gps, ect, hell the interior doesn't count as honda anymore.
Engine swaps got old a long time ago on the honda scene. but aparently it's the only way that a civic can get better performance. Every once in a while you will find something worth reading. but for the most part. thy have already done everything three times.
Every one and their brother (including myself) have had a tricked out honda.
Still, when you have them its good CHEAP fun, just prefer driving than sitting around reading about it.
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