MotoringFile Review: Honda Civic Si

Interesting to hear your impressions. The numbers for the SI are INDEED more impressive than the GTI…especially the weight. And although looks are a matter of taste, I agree, it is a good looking car.

Let’s hope the next gen MINI follows the lightweight route as well.

weird your Civic looks much more ‘conventional’ than ours we get a hatchback version in Britain that looks like something out of a 60′s sci-fi film!!! Google it and see!

Nice review, I like the bullet style – it looks like a tank next to that MINI! I personally think the design is a bit conservative. check out the version they’ll be getting in europe:

http://www.eurocarblog.com/post/246/honda-civic-type-r-concept-first-pics

perhaps a bit far in the other direction!

My biggest question is…what were the blind spots like? Those A-pillars look a bit too sloped to see around.

I could never describe that wedge as “good looks”!

To me, the really odd thing about the new Civic is how much it looks like a Saturn coupe, especially from the rear. The Saturn is not exactly a hot seller, so I’m not sure why Honda would use that design for inspiration.

If you just look at the performance vs price, the Civic SI beats the MCS and the GTI dollar for dollar.

For what I use my MINI for, it can’t be beaten, agile, fun, cool looking, and practical. No other sub compact coupe can sit four 5’7″ people in relative comfort, other than the MINI. The Civic’s back seat doesn’t have enough head room.

So I went in to a Honda Dealership in Canada with my brother this week to test drive the Honda Civic Si.

I drove up in My JCW and bro pulled up in his Jetta – the exact dempgraphic and target market honda is going after with the Si.

After wandering around the showroom for 30 minutes, waiting to be assisted, we approached the front desk and asked for help.

We asked the young sales rep to test drive a Civic Si. He looked at us like we were from anohter planet.

The young arrongant saleman told us we simply would not be able to drive one. He the ego of a Ferrari Salesman – yet sells $18,000 cheap japanese cars.

He told us the dealership only recieves one Si a month (and it’s a high volume dealer). They did not have one to DEMO as they are a buy then drive car. WHAT? This is a honda we are talking about here. He acted as though Si was the nicest Italian exotic going. So basically he asked us to order one up – then when it arrives if we like it – we can buy it.

It’s hard to sell a product that the client isn’t allowed to drive – let alone see or sit in. We told him he was on crack and he can shove his Honda where the sun doesn’t shine.

If all Honda dealership’s behave this way – they won’t be selling many Si’s period.

Maybe I have just been spoiled dealing with MINI over the past few years. When I want to take a MINI for a test drive – a JCW nonthe less – they photocopy my license and throw me the keys. They don’t even come along for the ride unless I insist. If only all dealers could be like my MINI dealer life would be a good place.

Long story short – Honda wouldn;t let me drive a Si so the MINI gets the Knockout punch in the first round. GO MINI!

Civics generally enjoy good resale values, but they can’t touch the resale value residuals of the MINI. The other day I saw a new ’06 Civic Si loaded for about $20,800 window sticker. Nice car, but man looks cheap. You can see the cost cutting in certain areas of the vehicle.

It is sad to say that the Civic is currently the best looking product they are selling here. It seems to me the Civic Si is a much better buy than the Acura RSX Type S, sans not taking into consideration the longer warranty coverage in the Acura.

Anyone else catch the mistakes on the Honda webiste comparison?

Check it out, they have the base price as $23K, and they state that a Limited Slip Diff is NOT available, and a manual trans is NOT available! Nothing could be further but the truth!

RM2k5

I won’t even get into my ‘arrogant Honda salespeople’ rant…I’ll just second what Sean said. Then again, Honda salespeople have ALWAYS had an attitude problem, and many dealers got in trouble several years back for their markup policies.
Whatever. One or two per dealer per month is ludicrous…but since when does Honda have to care? It’s interesting that they consider the Si to be a ‘halo car’ (bring people into the store, then sell them something else), that’s usually reserved for cars like the Viper and other untouchable machines…

Top gear moved the MCS off subzero a long time ago, I guess they just didn’t bother updating their website. Personally, I don’t need a second “expert” opinion to tell me how cool or good looking my car is, I can do that myself.

Still, there is no denying that the SI is a very attractive product, or the Honda dealers won’t be so arrogant. Hell, they were like that even for the last generation hatch back Civic SiR, won’t let me go for a test drive longer than 10 minutes.

Then I went up to the MINI dealership and they threw me the keys and asked me if 45 minutes would be enough.

As good as the Civic is, I can’t imagine wearing a Civic hat and smile everytime I look at the car.

I, too, find the looks to be lacking.

Blah… its a civic in the end. It’ll be branded as a High school kids first car. That or a person can cant afford anything else. Even if its a Si…its a “Civic” in the end. I have zero interest. Personal Preference…

The reason they’re not offering a hatchback in the US is because of the horrible sales of the last Civic Si, a hatchback. Americans more or less prefer coupe and sedan styles. Dodge is going out on a limb with the Caliber and not offering an entry level sedan or coupe in all of the Chrysler group.

I have to admit it when I’m wrong. My girlfriend wanted to see this car so I went along nose firmly in the air. I have to admit it was a nice value at $20,000k. Not bad at all.

Great car if you don’t mind not being able to see the hood or fenders of the car as you drive because of the 3 foot wide dashboard. It seems to be the “blind spot” that no reviewer wants to talk about. I personally like to be able to see where the front end of my car is. Makes it easier to park and make safe lane changes.
But who cares about stuff like that these days….right?

The Mugen version is 5 times the car . I traded my fault ridden R56 Cooper S for the FN2 Type R.