I would demodify the accord.. The accord already does everything you need it to do, you have a good idea on how well it's been maintained and you're already comfortable with it...
I'm with you though, I wouldn't want to drive a car like an M3 that much, especially being out in MD where the roads are terrible especially in the winter.. You will
the first time you get behind a salt truck and it sends salt chunks everywhere all over the front of the car.
You could probably keep the coilovers (depending how rough they are), ditch the body kit and put some more conservative wheels on the car and be done with it.