Why do ricers in Honda Civics think their cars are so fast?

Question

I drive an M3 BMW and smoke these guys on the regular.

Answer 1

If you have a BMW M3, I'm so happy for you. You are in a different class. Why do you have to compare it with Honda Civic. It's a Japanese production class with sports option. Why only the Honda particularly the Civic? Why not other brands, make & models. Could it be you have some ill feelings towards Honda Civic owners. Insecurities? Be happy with what you have. You are lucky to buy a BMW M3. Maybe next question you would be comparing your BMW to a BMX. Cheers.

Answer 2

It is true I get mor Hondas challenge me to a race then any other type of car... particularly Civics... the Integra and RSX guys dont tend to make the challenge as often but I contribute this to The Fast and The Furious... I have been in the street racing scene since the mid 90s and right after TFTF came out the amount of civics seems to triple.

I drive a Dodge SRT-4 and I in no way will knock the Civic and say it has no potential for its day... but the people that tend to drive them are rarely car people! I can't tell you how many I have raced that assumed my car was a Neon and were baffled as to how I beat them because they "beat neons all the time"... a true car person can tell a car like an SRT-4 from a regular Neon... just as I (who is by far a fan of honda) can deduct the different between a Mazda 3 and a Mazdaspeed 3 or a Sentra and an SE-R or a V6 Mustang and a Mustange GT or for that matter a BMW 3 Series and an M3... the list goes on an on!

Answer 3

What is your definition of a ricer? Someone that upgrades an import car? Or someone that does everything "fast and furious" style?

Personally, I drive a 1990 Honda CRX. I have a lot of upgrades to it, and have under $3000 invested. It's all-motor and is actually a pretty quick car.

I have not lost many races because I choose my battles wisely.

I have raced against a few BMWs. The ONLY one that beat me was a 335i, and it wasn't by much. I haven't gotten a chance to race an M3, but looking at the numbers, I'd say it would be a pretty close match up.

I won't say my car is the fastest or the prettiest car on the road, but I put a lot of wrench time into it and for what it is, it is fast.

As for a majority of these Civic Ricers...they seem to be all in or just out of school and think an intake and muffler on a stock engine plus a body kit will make the car fast. (btw...no body kit on my car)

Answer 4

These cars are usually the person's first car. In most families, the parents don't drive fast even if they have a 'Vette or something, so when a kid (or older person) owns their first car and puts the pedal to the medal, that's the fastest they've ever been, even if it's in a slow car. That's why they think it's fast. I like all types of cars, but what i hate is the attitudes of some of those kids and the stupid moves they make in traffic. You have to remember, some people hate BMWs too. It goes in all directions. I've eaten M3s, G35s, 350Zs etc. in my '74 Dart, but it's a mild drag car so that's to be expected. I still like the cars and realize that although i can outrun them in the 1/4, they can outrun me on the highway or in the turns. If you see kids in their hondas with fart cans etc, just leave em alone if they're happy. However, if they'e racing around and putting people in danger, get the plate #s and report them instead of chasing them down and showing them who's the boss, because then you've just endangered more people and you're no better than the kid in the honda. Always encourage people that love what they do, but encourage them to take it to the drags, not the street.

Answer 5

Well it all depends on how modded their cars really are. I don't really understand the street tuner scene myself, but it seems like it's just a bunch of teens who want (what they think are) cool cars for cheap money. Since very few teens are given the opportunity to own a BMW M3 or something of those sorts, a Civic with a few cheap mods is probably the only thing that seems practical.

And believe me your M3 (although scary fast) would not beat all modded Civics/Integras/Accords/etc. out there. I've seen turboed tuner cars with as much as 600HP. Anyone can tune a car to make as much HP as they want. Sure it doesn't make them "nice" cars, but it gives average people the opportunity to own cars that are as fast as ones 4x the money.

Now the drift scene, on the other hand (for those who watch Speed channel or have seen Fast and the Furious 3), makes absolutely no sense to me. Costing money destroying tires just to slide a car around seems to me to be an incredibly stupid and wasteful practice no matter how much "fun" it is to some. At least street tuners have a purpose.

P.S. My '07 G35 smokes ricers on the regular too, and most people have no idea what hit them.

Answer 6

Because it feels faster the smaller the car your in. ha. But Ive seen a boosted civic hatch beat a stock dodge viper. The HP to weight ratio is better I guess. Your car stock has anywhere from 195 -321 depending on year. So of course you'll beat a riced out civic but that fateful day will come when you race the wrong one and you will wonder what happened.

Answer 7

When I was 18 I had a Honda CRX stock. Today's version of the ricer. Due to the sound of the engine, feel of the car, I thought I had the fastest thing on the road. But at times I realized I didn't.

Worse was going between two towns 100 miles apart at like 2am. Had it pegged out screaming at 130mph and headlights gained on me like I was sitting still. A MR2 pulls up next to me, jumps it a few times and just continues on like I am some old grandma doing 45mph.

Same reason you bought your M3, when you drive it, it feels fast to you. But give me a GS430 and I'll make you stare at my rear end non stop. Give me a 76' Vette big block, and I'll be out of sight before you hit 3rd gear.

Speed and sense is all relevant to the person, age and how their senses pick up such items. Its why you see some sitting in a Ford Taurus wagon doing 35mph but are gripping the wheel like they are going to die. Their senses are telling them they are going fast.

Answer 8

coz the look of car makes difference. Civics doesn't look like a piece of junk or a tin box like as american or german cars do. and don't compare mustang or m3 to civic. they are small and sporty and i think fast in their class, thats why every honda driver thinks that he can f__k up BMW or SRT-4. BTW i have 93 civic and it drives comfortable than german and its easy on my pocket too.

Answer 9

Depends on the driver.

Some just haven't driven something truly fast and don't know any better.

Others are guilty of "riceboy math" - the performance parts they've bought all claim things like "Up to 15 hp!" and they added all the supposed gains together to think they've got over 200 hp.

Then there are the ones who have stuffed an Integra engine in it, added a turbo and intercooler, and have put an equal amount of money into the suspension. The guys who own these cars think they're fast because they are.

Answer 10

If I can smoke a Civic in my 1989 Ranger with the STOCK 2.9L and Mazda M5OD transmission, they can't be that good. I smoke them when my box is full too. I had this one guy pissing me off, at the next set of lights, I smoked him and then at the next lights, he ended up pulling up beside me a few minutes later. And as a side note, front wheels "spinning" is not as cool as rear wheels smoking (and covering the area in smoke). I can tke many ricers in my Ranger, when I get my 351w into my ranger with a mated 5 speed out of a fox body 5.0L Mustang, and 3.73 gears. I think the 10" vented disc brakes on the front and 10" solid rear also make a nice touch.