6th Nov 2008, 22:41
The Civic is a good handling small car with pretty decent power and a HUGE list of after-market performance products available. The fuel mileage is also very good.
However, after a really awful experience with a Civic I don't feel good about recommending them. Ours was starting to have some very expensive problems at only 40,000 miles and totally self-destructed just before 100,000 miles. We've owned a number of domestics and never had any trouble with any of them, including several that made well over 200,000 miles. I doubt we will buy anything other than domestics now. With 100,000 mile warranties they are basically worry-free.
9th Nov 2008, 23:20
Many of my friends who did put some bolt-on performance parts on Honda engines, and you can bet that these engines are not reliable anymore, but money pits depending on the modifications, and it will be the same for any engines, Americans or imports.
To the one who wrote that he can travel many hours in a Honda Civic SI with a bit of comfort feeling, true that it is not a Cadillac (and some of them are not that comfortable anymore!) and true like he wrote that the Honda is best in its class, but I think this car is also best in its class for asking too much dollars for being not that comfortable and not that fast. You don't have to buy a Corvette to go faster than the Civic SI, for cheap you can buy an old comfortable four door police cars and more recently a big pick-up truck and also some.. Cadillac!!, I mean CTS-V or XLR, which will go fast with class and comfort and no bolt-ons but not at the same price I confess, but no Honda in any class will match them! Corvette is another class which I will never buy, too uncomfortable!! But very very fast and you get what you pay for! But a Civic Si, I don't think that my money would be that well spent.
I have tried one, and and after half an hour trip (which my friend showed the supposedly potential of that car) right away, I told myself there is no way I am gonna buy this little car for that price, even when car's magazines are trying to get ourselves to believe that's a good buy.
I suppose the only pleasures you can get with these cars is at the pump, and the looks you can get from teenage crowds. But cruising in a trip for hours across USA in this box. FORGET IT!
21st Nov 2008, 16:13
Hmmmm.
I drove from Texas to Massachussetts in my 2006 Si. It wasn't that bad. Granted, the seats are kind of stiff and the suspension is stiff, but come on. It has cruise control and all the basic creature comforts that a typical modern car has. If you want uncomfortable try an old British sports car!
As for the Si's performance, you get what you paid for. You get a new (ish) car, Japanese build quality and reliability, and 100 hp/liter. I may be biased as an owner, but this IS a fast car. A Mustang GT costs in the neighborhood of 30 grand, while the Si comes in at around 20. If you put that extra ten grand into modifying that Si it would tear the lungs out of most cars on the road.
6th Jul 2009, 16:34
I have a 2006 Honda Si. I am a Vietnam vet so that tells you how old I am.
I love this car. I owned a 72, 340 slap stick cuda, I ordered it over there. My Civic Si would eat it for breakfast. That cuda was fast, but could not handle like the Si, it runs great and gets 30 miles to the gallon. My cuda on its best day only got 10. I feel very safe in this car at any speed.
Six air bags plus electronic steering and great tires does the trick.
I also question some people's body size. If you weigh 250-300 lbs, then you need a Honda Accord V6 with a six speed.
8th Jul 2009, 16:09
My family has a 1970 Challenger R/T (a "Vanishing Point" clone). There is no Honda on the planet that will come close to staying with it. As for safety, our dear friend also thought she was "safe" in her 2005 Acura (a Honda with 10 grand tacked on) until she hit a Ford F-150 and died when the "crumple zones" crumpled all the way back into the driver's seat and crushed her. The F-150 was driven home by its uninjured driver.
27th Jul 2009, 00:19
I have a 1994 25th anniversary Trans Am 5 speeds and it will "eat" the Civic SI for breakfast, dinner, supper, about everyday, for take-off acceleration, speed, comfort, and long term value.
And the new 2010 Camaro SS and maybe the V-6, will take both of us for deserts like a piece of cake in almost every aspects but fuel economy.
He should have had a 1970 model year for his Mopar, as they were the last year for high compression, high horsepower engines, from the "not anymore" big three, he would have felt a big difference, but again, not for gas economy... But for now, and I don't know for how long, true American muscle cars are back!
He should try the new Challenger, Mustang GT, or like I did with the new Camaro SS.. My 2 cents!
14th Aug 2009, 01:25
Hondas will run well over 200k with regular maintenance, that's why YOU DO NOT SEE HONDA suffering like GMC/CHRYSLER and other domestic cars. I admit it isn't as fast as I thought it would be, but honestly you get what you pay for. Like someone said above, 4cylinder + front wheel drive = economical car.
Besides look at society today, I cannot drive 2 minutes without seeing another Civic on the road. Prius/Civics are owning all other cars in their class.
29th Jan 2010, 13:50
Great gas!... BORING BORING BORING to drive and over priced... It doesn't have any power, is good for warm areas, drive around town and kids. If there is snow, it would get stuck! No matter what kind of tires you have.
I love Honda's, but my 2008 was very disappointing, invest in a 97 Honda, it's better.
30th Jan 2010, 18:36
I have an '08 Civic. Slow? Yes (But I wasn't looking for something ridiculously fast either.) Reliable? Very. Good gas mileage? You bet. Bad in the winter? Not at all. I live in New England (we've got some pretty bad winters here in case you weren't aware.) I've never gotten stuck, not a single time. I've slid a few times, but that can happen in any car. But I've never once been stuck. I've actually passed many SUV's that are stuck spinning all 4 wheels trying to get up hills. I still have the stock all-season tires the car came with on it. I'd even be willing to say that this is probably the most stable car in the snow that I have ever owned, and being well into my 60's, I've owned my share of cars over the years.
6th Nov 2008, 16:04
I own a 2008 Honda Civic Si, and so far I have put 14k miles on it. It has held up very well so far, no problems what so ever.
For those of you who are disappointed in the car, do your research, compare with all the other cars in it's class and then look at the prices. This car handles extremely well for a Civic (went faster through the slalom than the Dodge Viper, look it up).
The acceleration is decent (not fast); for those of you who complain that it isn't as quick as you thought it would be, they offer many performance parts for this car, some that do not even void your warranty.
This car is not a Cadillac, it has stiff suspension, racing seats that are made to hold you in place. I have take numerous 6-8 hour trips in this car, for what it is, it's pretty comfortable in my opinion.
Remember this is a Civic, if you want performance go buy a Corvette.