Author Topic: CD Article: 2006 Honda Civic Si (Read 7013 times)

Autos_Editor · « **on:** October 03, 2005, 11:57:28 pm »

You may discuss our cover story of the day in this thread....

First Drive:

"Arguably the car that started the whole tuner-car craze in North America, the Civic Si coupe..is back with a vengeance," says Laurance Yap. "Most impressive of all is the new drive-train," he says. But the interior "may be just a little too weird for driving-enthusiast types.." he muses. More...

AVToller · « **Reply #1 on:** October 04, 2005, 12:36:01 am »

I hope those camera angles are simply unflattering.

si · « **Reply #2 on:** October 04, 2005, 12:44:14 am »

Looks like a great quick little safe well built fun car. Still no word on whether or not it has an AUX input standard?

mdxtasy · « **Reply #3 on:** October 04, 2005, 12:57:59 am »

Optional 18" rims? The S2000 has 17" only. That is one big round bum.....maybe a wide angle was used. I'm sure this will sell....either in sedan or coupe.

genetik_freak · « **Reply #4 on:** October 04, 2005, 01:19:54 am »

Honda just pumps out winners after winners. Redesigned Accord, new Odyssey, all new Ridgeline, and now the all new Civic. Thumbs up to big H.

Traum · « **Reply #5 on:** October 04, 2005, 01:44:40 am »

Laurance made a very good point about the price of the new Si:

Quote

If Honda can keep the price of the new 200-hp Si under $25,000 - a price that the old 160-hp Civic SiR hatchback eclipsed while not finding as large of an audience - it'll not only have a winner on its hands, but it'll return itself right to the top of the sport-compact heap.

In addition to price, the street cred factor of the car will also heavily depend on aftermarket support. Given the loyalty of Honda's following, I don't see any problems in that department though.

-Rick

wing · « **Reply #6 on:** October 04, 2005, 08:38:02 am »

Quote from: mdxtasy on October 04, 2005, 12:57:59 am

Optional 18" rims? The S2000 has 17" only. That is one big round bum.....maybe a wide angle was used. I'm sure this will sell....either in sedan or coupe.

I wouldn't want anything larger, the ride would be horrible and the cost of tires

KolosOnline · « **Reply #7 on:** October 04, 2005, 08:38:29 am »

High Canadian dollar or not, there is not a chance that this car will come in under $25K... Only the Spec V was able to pack that much drivetrain "goodness" into a car for that price and that was a piece of garbage! This car has to be priced more than a base RSX or else Acura sales will suffer.

Why did they make it look like a Saturn Ion? (Some pictures of it look good though, but I don't know why). I think people will stop bashing the hatchback's looks now...

I've had both '00 SiR and the '04 SiR hatch (with a Spec V in between). Both of those cars were great. I'm sure this new one will be good too.

-KolosOnline

JSCC · « **Reply #8 on:** October 04, 2005, 09:03:46 am »

My guess is $28995.

mark · « **Reply #9 on:** October 04, 2005, 09:30:27 am »

I think its going to be a winner. Not that I'm in the market for a car, but this is making me think. A not too expensive car to zip back & forth to the train station. I often miss the sound and feel of a VTEC engine surging toward 8000 rpm.
I'd have to see how it actually drives, although Yap's impressions are generally on the ball, and he's driven a lot more expensive machinery than I ever have.

froggy · « **Reply #10 on:** October 04, 2005, 09:33:26 am »

Great car!!

Though I am afraid the insurance costs are going to be prohibitive b/c of the demographic group it caters to... Time will tell...
It will be on my list in 4 years (such a long time....) of cars to consider.
One question though, if it is priced at 28-29 k as some people think it might be (and it probably will),
would not it be better to purchase a 2-3 years old S40 T5 AWD (that is when they can be that old

) for probably around the same price?

Howswedeitis · « **Reply #11 on:** October 04, 2005, 09:37:03 am »

I don't know but this car is gawd awful ugly. Looks like a glorified Toyota Paseo (funny that's what the Acura RS looks like). That steeply raked windshield with those huge windshield wipers (are they the kind found on
early 90's GM minivans ie Transport) where the windshield wiper pivots are found below the A pillars?! These designs look good on paper but leave something to be desired in the real world. I don't think Mazda, VW etc have anything to worry about. Sure Honda fans will like it although I think it's squinty eyed look is not gonna win over many others. To my mind the Mazda 3 and new VW Golf (wish we had the Euro Spec Ford Focus) make the Honda look well like a glorified Paseo!

sirAQUAMAN64 · « **Reply #12 on:** October 04, 2005, 10:34:57 am »

I'm thinking $24,5-26K for the base Si. If I had to pick a solid number, $24,995.

Shnak · « **Reply #13 on:** October 04, 2005, 10:40:58 am »

Quote from: Howswedeitis on October 04, 2005, 09:37:03 am

I don't know but this car is gawd awful ugly. Looks like a glorified Toyota Paseo (funny that's what the Acura RS looks like). That steeply raked windshield with those huge windshield wipers (are they the kind found on
early 90's GM minivans ie Transport) where the windshield wiper pivots are found below the A pillars?! These designs look good on paper but leave something to be desired in the real world. I don't think Mazda, VW etc have anything to worry about. Sure Honda fans will like it although I think it's squinty eyed look is not gonna win over many others. To my mind the Mazda 3 and new VW Golf (wish we had the Euro Spec Ford Focus) make the Honda look well like a glorified Paseo!

You may be right about the look, but you're wrong when you say that Mazda and VW have nothing to worry about... you'll see about twice if not 3 times as much new Civics as Mazda3s on the roads from now on... just watch.

sirAQUAMAN64 · « **Reply #14 on:** October 04, 2005, 10:48:56 am »

Yeah, I think it'll take the market by storm as well.

Slowly people will warm to it who don't think it's cool already.

The Civic is very well positioned from a handling, futuristic/cool looks, performance, decent room (trunk is small-ish), and economy perspective. Then there's price and packaging...

Really, can't see how it could faulter. Honestly. I'm pumped about them myself.

mdxtasy · « **Reply #15 on:** October 04, 2005, 10:52:30 am »

I agree with Shnak and SAM...this thing won't be on the lot for long. Honda dealerships are going to be very busy because of this one model alone. Great gas mileage. Good interior. Fresh exterior. Great handling. Good price. Honda badge.

Shnak · « **Reply #16 on:** October 04, 2005, 11:06:58 am »

SAM, have you seen the new Civic from up close? If so, how is headroom? With the heavily slanted windshield, I would think that headroom is a bit less than it was in the previous Civic, no?

KolosOnline · « **Reply #17 on:** October 04, 2005, 11:17:31 am »

Back in the day, a Prelude pushed $30K for less performance (although it was a really refined car). A base RSX is $27K with a Type-S around $35K. This car has to be put dead-smack in the middle to protect the sales of the Acura models.

The SiR hatches were over $25K due to them being manufactured in the UK instead of Michigan or Ontario.

Insurance rates will be disgusting for this car. My '04 is rated as a 2-door sports car with a high theft rate.

sirAQUAMAN64 · « **Reply #18 on:** October 04, 2005, 11:24:44 am »

I'm prepared to be surprised by low pricing. I look at where the coupe tops out at, and see how aggressive Honda is and how hungry they are to retain their youth buyer, and I think the $24,5-26K price is doable.

Shnak, I wanted to but have been very busy of late. From what I've heard and what would be logical, the interior really isn't any larger but it will FEEL larger. The more airy windshield positioned further away would make me more comfortable and airy inside. I'll have to try it on for size soon.

Shnak · « **Reply #19 on:** October 04, 2005, 11:36:14 am »

Quote from: sirAQUAMAN64 on October 04, 2005, 11:24:44 am

Shnak, I wanted to but have been very busy of late. From what I've heard and what would be logical, the interior really isn't any larger but it will FEEL larger. The more airy windshield positioned further away would make me more comfortable and airy inside. I'll have to try it on for size soon.

Well it's hard to FEEL comfortable when my head is in the roof... driving the previous gen Civic really wasn't comfortable for me since, like it is the case with most cars, I had to recline my seat way too much just to clear the roof... I suspect it won't be any better with the Civic.

Btw, the new Sonata is just as small as the previous Sonata... it's quite disapointing when you can't even find a comfortable driving position in huge boats like the Sonata...