For $450 you're pretty much stuck with non-adjustable shocks and lowering springs.

I don't know what year/model civic you have so I'll asume it's a '96-'00. Either way, these setups are around the same price and performance for any model '92 to '00 civic.

Shocks:

Skunk2 Sport shocks. $300 Shipped on eBay. Seems like they can handle being pretty low but I've heard many mixed things about these shocks. Looks like a lot of people tend to run stiffer springs with these shocks. I'm personally not a HUGE fan of Skunk2 products but they aren't the worst.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SKUNK...Q5fAccessories

Koni STR.T shocks. $300 shipped on eBay. Seems like these would be better suited with a fairly mild drop and on some fairly soft springs. Probably ideal for a comfortable street car and if you aren't really looking for killer handling. Koni makes great shocks and has an amazing reputation, I always recommend them.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/KONI-...Q5fAccessories

Eibach Pro-Damper shocks. $300 shipped on eBay. I honestly haven't heard anything about these shocks. BUT, I do know Eibach makes some great suspension products and has a real good reputation. I have no idea how these shocks would ride but from their website, it seems these shocks can handle a fairly decent drop and fairly high spring rates.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/96-00...Q5fAccessories

Springs:

Tein S.Tech springs. $150 shipped on eBay. These are a very popular lowering spring.They offer a pretty good drop, around a 2" drop, a lot of people tend to like the stance they get from them. They also ride pretty smooth as they work well with stock and aftermarket shocks. These springs will do just fine with any of the shocks mentioned above. Although the Skunk2's might be the worst matched with these springs.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TEIN-...item3f06063b63

Eibach Sportline springs. $180 shipped on eBay. These have a decent drop, 1.6" drop, but are fairly stiff springs. You'll get better handling but the ride will most likely be more rough. For these springs I'd suggest getting the Eibach shocks since those shocks are probably better tailored for their own springs.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Eibac...item255fafb67b

H&R Sport springs. $190 shipped on eBay. Similar drop to the Eibach Spotline springs, 1.5-1.75" drop, but these springs are a tiny bit stiffer than the Eibach Sportlines. Any of the shocks should work well with these but expect a fairly harsh ride compared to the other springs mentioned.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/H-R-S...item1c138fa983

Progress Sport springs. $175 shipped on eBay. These offer a pretty mild drop, 1.5" all around. Progress is a great suspension company and has a good reputation. These springs have similar spring rates as the Tien S.Techs, they probably ride about the same but just don't lower as much. This would probably be the best street spring as they are soft and don't lower the car much. It would offer smooth handling, a little better performance over stock and you wont have to worry about scraping on anything. As with the Tein S.Tech, the Skunk2 shocks probably aren't the best with these springs.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/92-00...item1c1215e068

Skunk2 Springs. $460 shipped on eBay for their shock/spring combo. These drop the car quite a bit, 2"-2.2", and are very stiff. This is quite an extreme spring setup and probably not the most comfortable ride for a street car. If you want to maximize your handling for cheap, this might be a decent setup. I imagine the Skunk2 shocks offer a harsh ride with most other springs because they are probably tailored for very stiff springs like their own. These would probably offer the least comfortable ride out of all mentioned.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SKUNK...item3a5ef60f6c

Tokico Springs. Probably the cheapest if you can find them without shocks. These offer a very mild drop, 1.5" all around(similar to the Progress springs). They are very soft springs, a little stiffer than stock though. I do not know the spring rates but I have these springs on my daily driver. They offer a very comfortable ride on the street and with a mild drop I never worry about scraping on anything. They work great with stock shocks, the Tokico blue(OE replacement shocks) and would probably work best with the Koni STR.T.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TOKIC...item25602a1e65


A couple of other shocks are the Tokico HP and KYB GR2. These shocks are OE replacement shocks and would work well with the Tein S.Tech, Progress Sport and Tokico springs. These run anywhere from $200-300 for a set.

Hope that helps some.

 

I have a 94 Civic Ex

 

Yeah, still similar prices and specs for everything..

For '92-95 civics:

Skunk2 shocks: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Skunk...item5194aab85b

Koni STR.T shocks: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/KONI-...item35ad77071a

Eibach shocks: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/EIBAC...item518e57bbcf

Tein S.Tech springs: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TEIN-...item35aef67396

Eibach Sportline springs: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Eibac...item255fafb67b

H&R Sport springs: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/H-R-S...item2a0a2fd68b

Progress Sport springs: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/92-00...item1c1215e068

Skunk2 shock/spring combo: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SKUNK...item3a5ef60f6c

Tokico shock/spring combo: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TOKIC...item5d2cd59a8e

 

So if you had to pick a brand with 450.00 what brand would u pick in order have a good stance (low) and a decent/ comfortable ride? I like the stance now (finger gap).

I appreciate everyone feedback. I know this type of thread is probably beating a dead horse

 

If I were you, I'd go with the Tein S Techs and Koni Oranges. Thatll give you a good drop and still be comfortable on the street. Its the combo I'm going with, however I haven't ordered them yet...

 

whoops, sorry I didn't respond earlier. Yeah I agree with Shandles. The S.Techs are fairly soft springs yet they lower the car right around where you want it. Matched with the Koni STR.T, you'll have a comfortable ride that'll last you a while.

 

Im using koni oranges with stechs. I've had them for about 6 months, ride is close to stock, some noticeable handling improvement but not incredible. Tight 2 finger gap. lifetime warranty.

I love them, try THMotorsports if they are still on sale, and use the promotional code: Taxbreak2010. It was still valid last month. the oranges with that code cost about 245. i got my stechs for 160-180.

Only complaint i have is the drop on front right is slightly lower than the rest, probably because Tein didnt plan for the added weight of an auto trans.

But for the price, I am very satisfied all around. and if they ever blow i can replace them free.

 

yep, still 242 free shipping from thmotorsports with that code. But make sure you get 2 front and 2 rear, you have to select each shock individually, and they arnt the same listing its a bit confusing.

 

I hope my front isn't too much lower after I swap in my H22. Its only about 50 extra pounds tho, and I think an auto versus a manual is more than 50 pounds. More like a couple hundred.

sorrry, dont mean to threadjack.

 

even with the height difference, it looks/rides fine, its only like 3/4 of a cm lower on the one side, and with added weight from an engine it would be evenly distributed on both sides.

I just hope that the lower height doesnt prematurely blow the shocks. they are still going strong though even with the huge frost heaves here.