I'm new to this site, and just read over everything that's been written. I figured since unlike alot of you (it' obvious) who are talking about ALL of these cars as though you've driven them all, yet never really even owned one - that I should post a reply.
I've been a devoted HONDA fan for over 10 years now. My last one was a 1998 Civic LX. I put a racing clutch in it, and some aftermarket Intake/Exhaust work, then some lower profile tires, and then actually did some ametuer racing with it for two years at Auto-Crossing events across Ontario. I LOVED the way my Civic handled, and the fact that with 106 HP, I cleaned any automatic Sunfire GT/ Chev Z24, as well as countless RT Neons, even some beat up Mustangs/Camaros. This is ON TRACK RACING. Also, I've beaten more than my fair share of most anything in it's class doing light to light racing around North Bay, Ont, Sudbury, and Toronto - all cities I frequent regularly. I've done my share of Highway Drags as well, beating most domestic competition, since most late model domestics are Governed at 170ish...lol. My Civic was governed at 190Km/h.
I wanted a 'racy' car for my new vehicle this year. My Fiance and I looked for something affordable, yet raceable, and did alot of research, and in January bought our New Car. A Black 206 Chevy Cobalt SS Supercharged, with a Black Leather interior. It cost us $26,102 + all the taxes and crap, down here in Southern Ontario. We were 50-50 to be honest. She wanted this Chevy, I wanted the new '06 Civic Si.
My argument was that it was "Honda-Horsepower", meaning in the past, you couldn't compare Domestic to Honda/Import. But like I said, I did my research. There is almost 1.5 Seconds difference 0-100 times. Bu to be honest, the difference was the interest rates at the dealerships. 6.9% at Honda. 1.5% at Chev. A HUGE difference.
Long story short, I bought my SSSC instead of the Honda, and I'm glad I did. I've SMOKED brand new Mustang GT's (automatic GT's I'm assuming) I've SMOKED a Porche Boxter (newer model), and a Grand Am GT all new cars, and all on the 401 just outside Toronto. A 2005 Civic Si (Black, very nice) tried to race me as well, and I BLEW past him when I hit 228km/h still in 4th gear. In town, I've lined up next to an SRT which was dead even, countless Civics, Preludes, and Accords of all types, even V-6 models, and embarressed them all badly. Z24 owners seem to know better, and don't even try. Trucks all new models, of all sorts, some quite sporty looking. Mustangs, and even a Sentra SpecV - who didn't stand a chance.
There's a bottom line to all of this long post which I'm trying to make...
If you aren't driving something with a tuned 6 or an 8Cyl, or something brand new and small, with MORE THAN 220 HP, or something that cost you MORE THAN 35k (even if YOU built it yourself) , don't try to race the next SS Supercharged you line up against. You're gonna get your car handed to you. Call it torque, call it HP, call it cheap, call it what you like - it eats almost anything I've lined mine up against, and the list is LONG!! I'm still a huge Honda fan, but even their Preludes weren't any match, and on paper, light to light as well as top end- I'm gonna eat an RSX-S sometime VERY soon!!
