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According To Ar

A.V.

Ar’s 2000 Honda Accord Coupe EX V6

Welcome! Here’s a quick intro to my pride and joy, a classic 2000 Honda Accord EX V6 in Nighthawk Black Pearl. This Accord came fully loaded with premium features: power windows, automatic climate control, a sunroof, anti-theft security, and a complete leather interior.

I purchased this beauty in 2019 from the original owner, an older gentleman who had kept it in pristine condition. At the time, it had around 150,000 miles, but by 2024, it’s over 250,000 miles—and yes, I drive it daily. Even with the modifications, it’s still a comfortable, reliable ride.

What sets this Honda Accord apart is the swap I’ve done on its engine and transmission. I upgraded the stock 3.0L V6 to a 3.5L V6 from an Acura MDX for better power and performance. I also replaced the 4-speed automatic transmission with a 6-speed manual transmission from an Acura CL Type-S, featuring factory LSD. This upgrade makes every drive an absolute thrill.

Interested in more details? Keep reading to dive into the modifications and see what else makes this 2000 Honda Accord unique!

Exterior

When I first got my 2000 Honda Accord, I wanted a clean, OEM+ look, so I started with an OE-style lip kit. Over time, I upgraded to a Wings West rear and side skirt kit and added an 01-02 Accord OE-style front lip for that perfect balance of style and functionality.

Some other standout mods include an AIT Racing carbon fiber rear windshield spoiler, aftermarket fog lights, smoked headlights, 6500K LED bulbs for enhanced visibility, AVS rain visors, and an AVS hood bug deflector for added protection and style.

Check out the list below to find where you can buy the same parts. Keep in mind, though, that some of these items have been discontinued, so you might need to look for used parts to complete the same look!

Also, there are very few links at the moment because it’s very time consuming to place the links here, however I will start to add them over time. Thank you for your patience.

Interior

For the interior upgrades of my Honda Accord, I went with a Kenwood double-DIN stereo for a sleek look and enhanced audio control. I paired it with JBL 6×9 speakers in the rear and JBL 6×6 speakers in the front door panels for rich, full-range sound. For high-quality treble, I chose Rockford Fosgate 1-inch tweeters with a preamp, ensuring clear, sharp highs. The subwoofer is a simple 10-inch—possibly Kenwood, though I’ll need to double-check the brand. To reduce rattles, I lined the trunk with sound-dampening material for a cleaner sound experience.

For added style and fun, I installed an LED matrix panel in the trunk, perfect for displaying custom messages and animations. I completed the setup with a Skunk2 shift knob and a Hybrid Racing short shifter for a more responsive and engaging driving experience.

Engine

Now, let’s talk about the heart of the car! When I first got my Honda Accord, it came with the stock J30A V6 engine, producing 200 horsepower. This was paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission, which, to be honest, was a bit underwhelming and prone to issues. At around 200,000 miles, the transmission started showing the dreaded slipping problem, so I had it rebuilt, hoping for better reliability. Unfortunately, the rebuilt transmission only lasted a year before failing again.

At that point, I was ready to give up and sell the car. But something inside me pushed me to go for a 6-speed manual swap. After some research, I found someone who had everything I needed—engine, transmission, clutch pedal, lines, and more. Even better, they were offering me an amazing deal. So, I decided to take the plunge and had the car dropped off for the swap.

Three weeks later, I picked up the car with the new setup—and that’s where the real fun began! Engine work included the following:

Suspension

Let’s dive into the suspension mods! As soon as I got my Honda Accord in 2019, I upgraded to a new set of Function & Form Type 2 coilovers. These came with adjustable ride height and dampening, giving me more control over the car’s stance and handling. I kept these coilovers until mid-2024, when I decided to swap them for a brand-new set of BC BR coilovers. The difference in ride quality was immediately noticeable—BC coilovers provided a much smoother, more comfortable ride. Plus, with 32 levels of adjustment, I can fine-tune the dampening to suit my preferences perfectly.

Between 2019 and 2020, I overhauled the suspension components, including tie rods, ball joints, upper control arms, steering rack, and axles, ensuring everything was in top shape. In 2023, I installed rear camber control arms from Megan and front upper control arms from TruHart, further improving the handling and stability. To this day, I’m still impressed by how comfortable and responsive the ride is, even with all these performance mods!

Wheels & Brakes

Between 2019 and 2024, I experimented with a few different tire setups on my 2000 Honda Accord. I started with some off-brand, generic tires, but quickly upgraded to Falken Ziex tires, which worked well for daily driving until they eventually wore out. After that, I tried Continental ContiSportContact 5 tires and absolutely loved them. With a tread rating of 240, they offered great performance and were one of the best-priced tires around.

When it comes to wheels, I made several upgrades over the years. I initially swapped the stock 16-inch wheels for a set of 18-inch MST MT07 wheels, which are SSR replicas. However, I soon grew tired of the look and traded them for a set of JNC NT03 replicas. Not long after, I swapped those out for Work Meister replicas, but eventually sold them as well. Currently, my Accord sits on Enkei Kojin 18×9.5 wheels with a +30 offset and 225/40R18 tires. There’s a slight stretch to the tires, but thanks to fender rolling and some inner fender trimming, there’s no rubbing issue.

For brakes, I upgraded from stock to AEM 2-piece rotors paired with 4-pot calipers. Unfortunately, the AEM rotors wore out, and after extensive searching, I couldn’t find replacements due to AEM being sold off. So, I swapped in Acura RL 4-pot calipers and paired them with 350Z rotors, all made possible with Fat Four Customs’ brackets. I also upgraded the brake booster and master cylinder for improved braking performance.

Thank you so much for making it this far into my blog! I truly appreciate your interest. In my opinion, the 6th generation Honda Accord is one of the most underrated vehicles in the car enthusiast community. It offers a perfect blend of performance, comfort, and reliability, yet it often gets overshadowed by other models like the Honda Civic or more popular platforms. I believe the 6th-gen Accord deserves more attention, especially for those looking for a stylish and capable ride that can be easily modified and personalized.

That being said, I completely understand why some might gravitate toward the Civic or other options—everyone has their preferences and priorities when it comes to cars. However, if you’re someone who appreciates a slightly more refined and spacious driving experience with plenty of potential for upgrades, the 2000 Honda Accord is a great choice.

If you have any questions or thoughts, feel free to leave a comment below—I’d love to hear from you!

3 responses to “Ar’s 2000 Honda Accord Coupe EX V6”

  1. Zamir Bazeil Avatar
    Zamir Bazeil

    how would I go about programming the ecu? It’s my first time working on cars and I can’t seem to wrap my head around it

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    1. A.V. Avatar
      A.V.

      The ECU is not programmable. You need to figure out which wire to pin or de-pin.

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  2. Evan V Avatar
    Evan V

    Hi, eventually I plan on getting my V6 01 manual swapped too, but I want a professional to do it. Where did you go to get it done?

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