Thoughts on Civic Si?

[irish44j]

I'm getting a bit tired of the Maxima with 150k miles on the clock and lousy gas mileage. Thinking about getting something a bit smaller and more economical, yet something that still handles well and has some go. I was thinking about 05-06 Audi A4, but they're more than I would prefer to spend (just bought an 08 4Runner and don't want to empty the savings!), and I really don't need Quattro anyhow as I have other snow vehicles

I'm just looking for opinions on anyone who's driven the Si (probably the sedan).

I hate to go back to a 4-banger as I love the max's torque, but at this point I just want a reliable daily driver that is still fun to drive and not too expensive. And in that class the Civic Si has alot of nice features (standard LSD!) and can be gotten for under $20k slightly used...

And I think it looks pretty good for a $20k car

Also keep in mind I'm looking for a car that I don't plan to modify in the near future (I have other car projects) - I just want something that's good from the factory...

thoughts?

[00MaxSE]

Wow, I would've never thought. I like them, but haven't driven one.

Ask Neil.
Pricing: Honda Keeps '07 Civic Si Under $22K
'02 Max to '06 Civic: downgrade?

[irish44j]

Originally Posted by 00MaxSE

Wow, I would've never thought. I like them, but haven't driven one.

yeah, me neither. that said, my previous car was an accord coupe and before that had an integra....both of which had FAR less problems than my maxima has, and had ALOT more miles.

I would get a new max, but I just don't like them, nor do I like the Alti or the Sentra..

Basically I want something that I can just enjoy driving to work in and not worry about. The Max is getting tired, it hardly fits in my parking spot at work, it gets terrible mileage (20mpg avg), and has high mileage where I'm gonna have to start replacing stuff again on it soon (even my illuminas have 80k miles on them, lol..)

Now that I have my Triumph project ongoing, I just don't want to drive a modded car around anymore, i guess



---

PS: just will keep it for 2-3 years. Eventually I want to get something along the lines of an S4 or IS350, but now is not the time for that kind of expense.

[AEMAXIMA01]

Are you going for a 2 or 4 door si?

[irish44j]

It would be a 4-door probably (I still remember why I got annoyed at always having coupes)...

That said, I'm just thinking out loud here. Spent a lousy 2 hours in traffic today in the max, remembered how annoying the long-travel clutch pedal is. Then had to dump $60 of premium unleaded into the tank and calculated 19mpg on this tank. One of my rear calipers is seizing up occasionally, I think I have a wheel bearing going bad AGAIN (replaced about 5 of them to date), and I can't get the damn Wilwood setup to stop making so much ****ing noise, to the point that I'm almost ready to put my stock brakes back on....

Also maybe I'm just getting old but my suspension setup is just too harsh these days on the lousy roads that I go to work on...not to mention the 50 different rattles all over the car that even the stereo up loud can't drown out.

The only things keeping me from going out tomorrow and buying a new car are
1. the engine....still love the VQ30 and it's flawless after 150k miles and puts a grin on my face every time I pass someone.
2. the amount of money I've put into modding this car, which is worth nothing on trade-in and de-modding is such a PITA.....
3. I really like not having car payments, except a few thousand I have to pay off on the new 4Runner within the next month or two...

Maybe I'm just jealous that my wife has a new $30k car and I have a 1990 Jeep, a 1970 Triumph, and a 150k mile tired maxima....lol.

[Godson]

Originally Posted by AEMAXIMA01

Are you going for a 2 or 4 door si?

I believe he mentioned sedan, which only makes sense considering they are nearly identical to the coupe with the exception of like 60lbs curb weight difference and its slightly longer also. My cousin has a 06 Si coupe and he has no complaints, only regret was not waiting for a sedan. The gauge cluster is funny, kinda two-tiered and dumb and the a-pillar design makes absolutely no sense.....its so long and I dunno,driving it i felt like i didnt have normal visability,weird. Performs well enough too, he's bone stock and ran a 15.3 something last summer and he cant launch worth a ish. I dont think your worried about drg racing it either though so probably dont matter but I must say as far as handling, its actual better than most cars Im familiar with...its real flat feeling, like its never doing anything you dont want it to do even when pushing it through corners that most FWD feel sluggish to me.




He bought his new and hasnt had any major issues with it to this point, 26k and some change and the worst problem he has had was some goofy issue where the rpms wouldnt drop when you would lift off the throttle...sounds weird but it woud kinda hang for a second, then drop down. Honda said it was something with the engines air emissions calibration. They had a service bulletin on it and Honda would reflash the ECU to suppoesedly fix the issue but it only did so at under 3500 rpms, not above. He drives all day in the city, its kinda annoying, but tolerable. From what Ive herd alot of other cars have a similiar issue,dunno.

[AEMAXIMA01]

Originally Posted by Godson

I believe he mentioned sedan, which only makes sense considering they are nearly identical to the coupe with the exception of like 60lbs curb weight difference and its slightly longer also.

Oh whoops, i missed that. Yea, the sedan is more practical, IMO. I know a lot of people on here don't like the vtec, but a honda is a honda.

[Godson]

Originally Posted by AEMAXIMA01

Oh whoops, i missed that. Yea, the sedan is more practical, IMO. I know a lot of people on here don't like the vtec, but a honda is a honda.

Yea, well if its not VQ, some people get all pissy. Yea the 60lbs and the added length are ok by me, and it adds soe legroom in the rear. My cousin is 6'2 and he says he's comfortable as it gets for him in smallish cars.

[!PrjctMax!]

I test drove a 4 door SI and a 4 door accord...two choices when I was considering getting rid of the Maxy...

The SI is VERY roomy for it's size. I'm 6'2'' and with the driver seat adjusted for my comfort, I sat in the back and still had a decent amount of leg room and my head did not hit the headliner while in back. The transmission is butter smooth, just like I've read and been told. BUT, there have been many issues with the 3rd gear popping out, and just the 3rd gear in general. Did a little bit of research on Honda forums and there is a handful of '07 with the problem and a specific amount with vin# range for the '08 4-doors.

Very comfy cloth seats with great support, decent trunk space, and pretty much all the fun little goodies you would expect to have.

Sticker was $22,500 with a $495 "protection package" which included wheel locks, a plastic trunk liner mat thing, and mud-guards......................

How about the $30,000 Mugen...

The only thing that I found goofy about the car were the mini windows in front of the main windows...

....why not just finish the Triumph and not waste gas in the Jeep?

[nismology]

Seemed nice for the money when I rode in one. Feels solid for an economy car. Only thing I really didn't like was how the revs like to hang in between gear shifts around town.




And the speedo.......

[MorpheusZero]

Rev hang was a problem but has since been fixed, factory reflash.

I drove a buddy's Si coupe when it was stock, I liked it and it was fun but even after the supercharger it didn't feel faster than my stock 4th gen 5 speed from the passenger's seat

That said, if you like rowing gears as much as I do the tranny is a joy to operate (close ratio obviously) and keeps the K20 in the powerband (~6-8k) when you want it to. HLSD puts the power down on corner exit, sorted chassis means it rides well/solidly and it's nimble even with stock suspension. Fun car to drive.

As for the speedo/tacho arrangement I liked it. Tach is the center of attention, speedo is up there for everyone to see how many speed laws you're breaking.

[NYPD-Arnold]

I think the new Civics are hideous inside and out. If I were you, I'd wait for the Lancer RalliArt which should hit in a few months. It looks infinitely better inside-out, much much faster, AWD, handle better, and should come with a choice of MT or AT. Cost should also come in at just around 20k.

[MorpheusZero]

I couldn't disagree more. I'm very fond of both the interior and exterior of the Si. The red/blue theme of the instrumentation is a bit flashy but that's not enough to deter my preference.

[00MaxSE]

Originally Posted by irish44j

yeah, me neither. that said, my previous car was an accord coupe and before that had an integra....both of which had FAR less problems than my maxima has, and had ALOT more miles.

I would get a new max, but I just don't like them, nor do I like the Alti or the Sentra..

Basically I want something that I can just enjoy driving to work in and not worry about. The Max is getting tired, it hardly fits in my parking spot at work, it gets terrible mileage (20mpg avg), and has high mileage where I'm gonna have to start replacing stuff again on it soon (even my illuminas have 80k miles on them, lol..)

Hmmm, I get 26mpg, 75% hwy.

[DaveVQ]

Josh...go german

[CoolMax]

Originally Posted by 00MaxSE

Wow, I would've never thought. I like them, but haven't driven one.

Ask Neil.
Pricing: Honda Keeps '07 Civic Si Under $22K
'02 Max to '06 Civic: downgrade?

Stalker!

I think Morpheus summed it up pretty well, although I thought the power was sufficient...but I can't justify putting premium in a 4-cyl Honda compact.

Josh, did you already sell the wife's Mazda3?
btw, Civics are teh ghey.

[LA02MAX]

Originally Posted by DaveVQ

Josh...go german

He said he wants reliability....my BMW and countless other German vehicles show that's more of a rarity than with Japanese vehicles...

I drove a 2 door Si, and I thought it was a great car. It's definitely gutless below around 4 or 5k rpms, but other than that I loved it. Nice stiff chassis, sharp steering response, excellent shifter, and a nice quality interior. The seat material is really nice (way better than leather...) and ergonomically, it's a little strange but it works...the only thing I didn't like was the sound of the engine. 4 cylinders just sound terrible. ha. You just need to weigh your options here: what do you care about more? Spending a bit of money on maintenance and keeping an older car, or spending a lot of money on a newer car?

EDIT: oh yeah, I forgot. Si's really don't get very good gas mileage. My friend gets about 23-24 city. I get higher in my maxima...

[phatboislim]

even thought i like the new SI's...id rather get a 00 si..that's just me

[liqidvenom]

Originally Posted by NYPD-Arnold

I think the new Civics are hideous inside and out. If I were you, I'd wait for the Lancer RalliArt which should hit in a few months. It looks infinitely better inside-out, much much faster, AWD, handle better, and should come with a choice of MT or AT. Cost should also come in at just around 28k.

i fixed that for you

[NYPD-Arnold]

That would be suicide for the car. I think the early reports have been wrong so far, the car is supposed to compete with the WRX. I'd say 24k is more likely.

[00MaxSE]

^
Indeed Poor man's EVO

[DaveVQ]

actually to be honest, you really won't find anything to fill that void. You probably are better off keeping the maxima. Whay would you do with the maxima anyways? Return it to stock or sell it as is?