What options do i have to upgrade my '03 civic ex?

Question

it's an automatic and i've been told that some turbos and/or superchargers won't fit easily so i would like some more info before i made a decision. i would still like it to be daily driven( around 250-300 hp)

Answer 1

Oh boy! Why don't you trade it for an 06-08 Si? Those have more potential and they are manual which is a lot better. I say you will be wasting money trying to upgrade your automatic Civic EX.

Get an Si, seriously.

Answer 2

Why would you even waste your money? Not only is it a civic, but an automatic civic ex. To even get close to those numbers you would need to put a completely different engine in there, and have it built to handle any kind of boost(block sleeved, etc). Why not get a car that's already moderately fast and make it faster instead of dumping a bunch of money you will never get back into a car that wouldn't be very fast? Then you can use the honda as a second car.

Answer 3

Well all the bolt ons will only give you about another 20hp so without turbo or supercharging, you will not come anywhere near your power goal.  Work on suspension and brakes while saving for forced induction.  It will be costly but it's the only way to get to your goals.  That or sell and start with something like a WRX and have about that much power to begin with.

Answer 4

You want to nearly triple the horsepower but still have a daily driver, and its an automatic!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

I think your in the wrong car.

Answer 5

not only would a turbo not fit but a Honda Civic is only rated to take 5.2 PSI of boost and you would blow your engine with a turbo charger, I know this for a fact, a guy at my school put a turbo in his honda and wasn't even a month before the engine block cracked.

Almost all mods are going to require a Protune. There is no way to get to 250 HP without a Protune.

Start with the basics. Cat Back Exhaust, Headers, Intake. And then move on to the more powerful upgrades (all of these will require a tune) High Pressure Fuel Injectors, Cam Shaft, Performance or Reflashed ECU, Aftermarket Throttle Body...that should be more than enough to get you started and drain several grand from your pocket.

Answer 6

300 horsepower bottom of the line civic ex lets see, id dump about ten grand into it and have it modified to take an old 454 chevy engine under the hood