Honda Civic - Loud Engine and Slower Acceleration

Over the past few days, I have noticed that the engine on my '99 Honda Civic is much louder then before, particularly when accelerating and the car feels slower/sloppier, so I need to push gas pedal more to get the same acceleration.

Any ideas on what to could be causing this or what to check.

Thanks,

The first thing to check is the exhaust system (pipes,muffler, catalytic converter) for any obvious holes. If the bracket that holds the muffler to the frame is loose. Grab an impact wrench and snug it up. Make sure all the piping is snug and fitted together. That would explain the load engine noise. I would also check the transmission fluid level. Another option is too look for a loose spark plug. One scary possibility is your oil level. If you are dry, your engine may be about to seize. There could be a lot of reasons for the symptoms you described. But this should give you a starting point.