Mods to increase the luxury/refinement of the lude?
Test drove a few cars recently, including the 350Z, G35 coupe, miata, and MR2, just out of curiosity for what the latest sporty coupes or 2+2s have to offer. I came back loving the lude more than ever.
I just found something I didn't like about each of them. 350 had a disappointingly buzzy tranny at idle, I realized that I don't like the heaviness of the 350Z and G35 cars (although handling is good and power is great, you are still very cognizant of driving a heavy car), miata and MR underpowered and overpriced, etc. Given it's shortcomings, I still found the lude to be overall juuuuust right. Although it too is heavier than we'd like, still feels smaller than the nissans, i love the low seating position and panoramic view, and I still think the handling is absolutely superb.
Not that I ever thought differently, but now I'm even more motivated to keep my lude forever. So! The only thing I've found missing as our cars have gotten on in age is that feeling of luxury/refinement/tightness in the newer cars. And as I've made mods I've shifted priorities from just trying to improve power to paying more attention to the things that actually improve my overall driving experience. I'm talking my Tein SS, cut down shifter with short shift adapter, my alpine stereo and sub, always keeping the interior clean--these are things that I notice every time I use the car and that put a smile on my face. Having done i/h/e, I think now what will make me enjoy my car most is trying to achieve an increased level of luxury/refinement/tightness, while keeping it a clean OEM style. This especially after all the rattles and increased sound we know have come with all our other mods .
So what are all the best mods to do this??? Doesn' t matter the category--mechanical, cosmetic, can be anything. Eg, what I'm thinking is...
SUSPENSION
- Tein SS (done)
- New suspension bushings (tighten up overall feel/precision of the car)
DRIVING INTERFACE
- S2000 steering wheel (on the way)
- Momo knob and lowered short throw shifter (done)
- Mugen pedals (just so ridiculously overpriced)
- Better seats (not racing, but nice leather with good support. thought the G35 coupe seats were great)
INTERIOR
- Hidden S2000 start button (in accord pocket with VAFC2, done)
- NTPOG chrome bezel mod (when i get the time)
- Auto-dim mirror with compass
- Accord trunk popper
- what other luxury touches for the interior are there?
NOISE REDUCTION
- RAAMmat of full vehicle (have done doors, will do whole rest of car, esp after my custom 2.5" straight through exhaust)
- JDM hood insulator (done, with marginal sound deadening results)
- Type S intake with resonator (from a CAI or short ram, +gain in low end)
AUDIO
- Alpine head, sub (done)
- Custom front door speaker pods (when I get around to it)
LIGHTING
- HID headlamps (have all the parts, will do when i have the time)
Of the above, I think probably the dynamatting and the suspension bushings will make biggest differences in user experience I'm looking for.
Anyway, after this long post, you get my drift....
I want that luxury sport coupe feel back, but even better!!!
- Dynamat of full vehicle (have done doors, will do whole rest of car, esp after my custom 2.5" straight through exhaust)
- New suspension bushings (tighten up overall feel/precision of the car)
These are the ones I'd go for. Stock replacement bushings, and 10 or 20 pounds of a faux-dynamat (the real stuff is a rip-off) . . . .
Quote:
- NTPOG chrome bezel mod (when I get time)
This is an easy one . . . give yourself an hour.
All the "input" mods are nice too . . . . pedals, steering wheel, and shifter.
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you forgot sport seats.........i don't like the 5g stock seats esp since i drive a 4g and its much more comfortable.......(i don't know if you have these or considering but i will throw out some) tint? better clutch/flywheel? i really like that civic si rear view mirror converison....
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nice, i like it crashandburn. believe it or not, actually have one already gotten as a gift, and again just have to install it. Will update the list with this, and also with the popper. Let me know how you ran the wires!
These are the ones I'd go for. Stock replacement bushings, and 10 or 20 pounds of a faux-dynamat (the real stuff is a rip-off) . . . .
This is an easy one . . . give yourself an hour.
All the "input" mods are nice too . . . . pedals, steering wheel, and shifter.
So it's the car's bushings that make that would make the steering "tighter" and feel more solid? I had really "loose" steering feel and since I replaced the cv boots it's gotten a little better.
nice, i like it crashandburn. believe it or not, actually have one already gotten as a gift, and again just have to install it. Will update the list with this, and also with the popper. Let me know how you ran the wires!
It needs (ignition switched) power & ground and then there are two wires that go to the temperature sensor which needs to be mounted in the front of the car. So you have to run some wires up the A-pillar and behind the headboard. To get the sensor wires to the front of the car, I went through an unused rubber grommet near the fuse panel on the driver's side. It goes behind the fender and I ran the wires over the splash trim in the wheel well to a hole near the driver's side headlight and on to the sensor position just under the license plate
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thanks for the wiring info crashanburn. actually, I'm most interested in how you ran them along the windshield and A-pillar... able to keep them hidden?
also, updated list to include going back to resonator and stock or Type S intake for noise reduction. I've decided to do a Type S with resonator swap for my AEM CAI. Should be a pleasant surprise going to this, and can hopefully get rid of that low end torque loss we've all gotten used to.
I totally agree with you, and think that your list is a great starting point to up the "luxury" feel for our Preludes
Have you thought about getting the OEM interior CF trim kit? It really brightens up the dull interior.
Also, how much did you pay for the S2000 steering wheel and where did you get it from? (I'm considering getting one)
__________________ 1998 Honda Prelude SS -- Gone..but not forgotten
"I will not look back; but I promise that I will always remember the good and bad times, all the things we went through together. You will always be in my memory and heart, the best I ever had. I miss you.. and Thank You."
true, true. but as it's my daily, i could never give up the added practicality of the 2+2. and i still love my lude. but you're right, it is exactly that feel of interior materials, sound, tightness, etc. that I'd like to approach. I'm really looking forward to the type S with stock resonator! Quietness with low end torque! woohoo!! seems going back to a restrictive intake might be a pity though, with my SMSP and 2.5" exhaust. i wonder how much these will be at odds. what do you guys think?
thanks 98base. I used one of those junk yard part finder sites that mass email all the junkyards for your request, and one place has what they say is an s2k wheel with airbag and cruise control switches. haggled him down to $215 shipped. we'll see if it happens. I'm skeptical. Asked for a pic of it to make sure it does have the airbag and switches (considering I guess junkyards are not supposed to sell airbags) before it's sent out, haven't gotten it yet.
... actually, I'm most interested in how you ran them along the windshield and A-pillar... able to keep them hidden?...
The wires are completely hidden (until they come out to the mirror). I pulled the A-pillar trim out and dropped the front of the headboard to run the wires. It takes a little time but not too bad -- just be careful because it's easy to scratch/bend/fuxor things if you get too exciteable with it.
Also, I would recommend saving yourself from my misery and go straight to an auto-glass shop to glue the button on your windshield. I went through three or four rear-view mirror adhesives from auto-zone, wal-mart, etc. and none lasted longer than ~3 months. Went to a real glass shop and it's stuck fine ever since (going on ~2 years now).
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I think this thread is great, the Lude has a luxury style look IMO if it's cleaned modded. But once you drive it in it's a little more noisy and less refined.
Of course, the notorious driverside rear shock knock is a problem that I am still battling. I am tempted to replace the entire rear collars, topmounts, etc. Through every single suspension setup I have had (Tein Basic, H&R Race/Koni, Honda Access, and now Ground Control and KYB AGX) it's been there. Never any better, or any worse. Tightened the rear sway bar, padded the rear cross-member underneath the back seats, replaced the collars, shortened the collars, etc.
Then of course when its under about 30 degrees I get that "crunching" sound when I accelerate from a deadstop. A few people have said that it's the front ball joints.
So it's the car's bushings that make that would make the steering "tighter" and feel more solid? I had really "loose" steering feel and since I replaced the cv boots it's gotten a little better.
Can anyone answer this, Im curious too, my steering feels loose and I want to know how to make it tight again. Power steering pump?
...i don't know if i'm right... but i thought that was from the steering rack... if so... i'm too lazy to replace it... or at least i can say, that would be a really big mod...
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Went to a real glass shop and it's stuck fine ever since (going on ~2 years now).
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