the problem with automatics is that their not really made for the extra horsepower...so they basically turn into grenades...auto transmissions hate heat...they are actually very fragile.....so when you tear on em they heat up and start burning stuff up....the best thing about hondas and acuras is that aauto to manual swap is actually a very easy and affordable thing to accomplish...just look it up www.honda-swap.com or www.honda-tech.comdont listen to anyone else. import power... i myself am i vw guy but i messed around and blew up plenty of hondas in my past..just look on forums that are made for honda and acura...their full on tons of info basically anything you can think of.so for right now...get some real nice plugs and wires....you got the k&n so thats good.... and get a decent exhaust system..maybe a header...at that point youll be a typical ricer but your pretty limited with that auto trans...once you do that swap you can go with bigger cams...turbos....port and polish heads and intake...its limitless...