I drove my Friends civic numerous times and i feel that my Oz handles far better then his 2000 Ex~

 

Having driven both, OZ and ES, I didn't notice a huge difference as far as handling went... but, that's me.

 

Rims and Tires make the best difference. I am almost embarassed to drive my car on the stock OZ's. They are ugly and they roll bad making the handling terrible. I bought some 17's with 205 40z Kumho's on them for about a 1000 bucks. Not only did it make the car look better it also completely changed the handling. I can come off the freeway and hit a corner at about 35 mph, put it to the floor in 2nd and go around it sideways in a flat skid with the tire barely barking. I dare anyone to try that with the stock OZ's, I bet the tire will roll off the rim or you will just spin out. Anyway http://www.wheelmax.com has reasonable prices on their stuff. Rims and tires over springs and sway bar if you had to make a choice, of course if you got the money get it all.

 

When looking to buy my first NEW car, I had pretty much narrowed it between an 02 Civic EX, and an 02 Lancer OZ. I felt the lancer handled much better, and the nail in the coffin for the Civic was... NO FREAKING HEADROOM. (Off-topic note. Being 6'3" is a great way to eliminate potential car purchases. Civic, nope. Mazda, nope. Toyota, nope. Mitsu, Ahhhh!)

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Does anyone know if there is a difference between the stock OZ and ES tires? I have an ES and the stock tires (Yokohama 620 radials 185/65-14 I think) are pitiful esp. during acceleration. I almost always have to nurse it going into second gear or I WILL spin.

Wheel and tire upgrades are high on my upgrade list.

 

My OZ came with Goodyears and I have them on for winter and that is all they are good for. I think they use what ever they got laying around, some had Yokohamas and others had Goodyears like mine. The goodyears are TRASH I have like 3000 miles on em and they show wear.

 

i went to wheelmax and got new rims and tires for about 1100...i upgraded to the yokohama AVS ES100 and they are AMAZING...the car sticks to the road like no other...here is a pic..

 

i had the toyo proxes and i did not like them 1 bit. they look sharp and all but they just dont provide the wet traction I need like a set of Dayton ZRs. dayton tires, not rims. if i ever saw a lancer with like 144 daytons i would probably vomit.

 

i agree goodyear tires is shyt...coz of those tires...i had my first accident...and the rain too heheeh..or maybe i jus braked too late hahah o wellz anywayz...i still think the oz has better handlings then civics

 

The difference between headroom between the EX and the Lancer is only around 1". I doubt there was that much of a difference. Besides, that makes you barely more than an inch taller than me.

As for the handling characteristics I'd take a stock OZ any day. The fact that you drive an ES with narrower and even crappier tires and with no sway bar could be part of the reason you feel it does not handle well.

 

Yes, but you can raise and lower the height of the seat on the Lancer... that make a difference?

Seriously, though, this is all saying the same thing: the civic out handled the Lancer due to the newer better tires and bigger wheels. Simple as that. Tires/wheels are NOT a minor upgrade, and should not be chosen simply for eyecandy.

 

Well Hobie, its probably because with my spiked hair, I'm more like 6'4". And I don't want to drive a car that ruins my doo, everytime I hit a bump. When I drove that car, my head was on the roof, plain and simple. Either way, I'm glad I didn't turn lemming and buy a Civic.

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sway bar makes a huge difference. even upgrading the stock OZ to a stiffer one made my handling noticeably more improved. if you don't have the money for new tires/wheels, go for the sway bar first. you will notice the biggest difference. than think about springs and strut brace, along with bigger wheels.

 

Well, see, my thought is, you go from the ground up. You improve the rubber, the rim-width, and then start working on the harder stuff, like shocks/springs, then you start reinforcing the chassis. Speaking of which, out of curiousity, anyone thought of doing some spot welding on the chassis, and reinforcing it that way?

 

The head room difference in the Civic and Lancer may only be 1" on paper but I have seen it first hand, my friend drives his dads 2002 civic and he is 6'4" 360 he literally has to push his neck out and down to drive it. When I pick him up he sits comfortably in the front OR back seat of the lancer and that is all he talks about is the headroom difference.