2006 Honda Civic Si

[imported_Skold]

OK, so I'll be buying a new car in the next 12 months or so. We want a coupe that's sporty, reliable, and looks good. So far, I'm considering the Mazda3, Scion, WRX, Eclipse, 350Z(pricey), but mostly I'm pretty fixated on the '06 Civic Si.

My price range is approx. 18-25k

My previous cars:

1 '84 Pontiac Fiero (LOL)
2 '89 Honda CRX Si's (Most fun)
1 '02 Subaru WRX (Fastest and fun but not as agile as the CRXs)
1 '03 Toyota 4Runner (Family hauler)

Some criteria:

-30 or better highway gas mileage
-no convertables
-no 2 seaters (I know...the Z is 2 seater)
-Coupe highly preferred over 4 door

There just doesn't seem to be anything that touches the Civic Si given my criteria. The Eclipse looks good but I'm not sure about reliablility and it's heavy and not too agile I hear.

What are y'alls opinions?

 

[Tu13erhead]

Originally posted by: Skold
Some criteria:

-30 or better highway gas mileage
-no convertables
-no 2 seaters (I know...the Z is 2 seater)
-Coupe highly preferred over 4 door

There just doesn't seem to be anything that touches the Civic Si given my criteria. The Eclipse looks good but I'm not sure about reliablility and it's heavy and not too agile I hear.

So did you forget to include "reliable" and "not heavy" and "agile" in your criteria?

 

[Ryan]

Personally - I can't wait for the 4-door Civic Si that's coming out - it's gonna be hot

 

[Nikamichi]

If you had the most fun with a CRX, why not look at the RSX? It's within your price range, and you can get a Type-S w/all the standard options for under 24k.

 

[hysperion]

Originally posted by: Skold
OK, so I'll be buying a new car in the next 12 months or so. We want a coupe that's sporty, reliable, and looks good. So far, I'm considering the Mazda3, Scion, WRX, Eclipse, 350Z(pricey), but mostly I'm pretty fixated on the '06 Civic Si.

My price range is approx. 18-25k

My previous cars:

1 '84 Pontiac Fiero (LOL)
2 '89 Honda CRX Si's (Most fun)
1 '02 Subaru WRX (Fastest and fun but not as agile as the CRXs)
1 '03 Toyota 4Runner (Family hauler)

Some criteria:

-30 or better highway gas mileage
-no convertables
-no 2 seaters (I know...the Z is 2 seater)
-Coupe highly preferred over 4 door

There just doesn't seem to be anything that touches the Civic Si given my criteria. The Eclipse looks good but I'm not sure about reliablility and it's heavy and not too agile I hear.

What are y'alls opinions?

Buy the civic si, throw some nice 5-spoke rims on it.....get some performance tires.......and you're good to go .......if you want to mod it you can get some Type R parts.......just make sure you don't rice it up with a wing and all that garbage.......

 

[JulesMaximus]

If you're looking for 30mpg you can forget about the Civic Si and the 350Z. You'll get more like 23 from the Civic and you'll be lucky to get 20 from the Z.

 

[chuckywang]

Uh...where are you going to buy it? I can't find a single Civic Si on a lot.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: chuckywang
Uh...where are you going to buy it? I can't find a single Civic Si on a lot.

There are a bunch of them around here but dealers are asking markups of $1k to almost $3k on them. I had a sales dork at one dealer spouting off all kinds of stupid bullshyte about the car to me when I stopped in to look at one. I made him unlock it for me so I could check it out and I pressed the clutch in to move the shifter between gears and he actually told me that Honda recommends you don't do this. I told him he was a moron and left. Stupid lying fvck.

 

[fbrdphreak]

In last month's MT, or what is it C&D?, they did a head to head of the Mini, Si, and the GTI. Si got 2nd, mainly because it had zero low end power.

Personally I wouldn't bother with the Si. It drinks premium, you've got to rev the sh!t out of it, and its just not impressive otherwise IMO. Also as someone mentioned, they're hard to get and thus you will not get a good deal.

The Mazda3 & Scion are going to be sporty, fun to drive, and get great mileage when you drive nice. But the other cars will be leaps & bounds ahead in performance. Did you consider the Acura RSX? Much better looking than a Civic IMO and I think the new ones use the 2.4L engine. The new WRX is super fast, it has the 2.5L block & from what I hear is underrated from the factory. Avoid the Eclipse, boat with 260+HP FWD, ugh.

You could see about a used GTO 350-400HP, low 20's city, high 20's hwy

If you value economy over sporty, get the Mazda3 or Scion (My vote is for Mazda 3).

If you value sporty over economy, look at an RSX, WRX, or maybe like a used G35 Coupe.

 

[Strk]

A used 2005 Subaru Legacy GT Limited is within your price range. It's not a coupe, but it's faster than most of the cars on that list and has just about everything you could want in a car. The mileage is in the mid 20s, but I think 30+ is a bit optimistic for a performance version of a car. I'd say the big problem would be the Legacy's need for premium, although so does the WRX.

The Civic Si is also a pretty nice option. It's pretty powerful, quite the handler and it's pretty cheap. The Mazda3 is also really nice. It is slower, but it also costs less.

 

[AbsolutDealage]

What about the Mini? It seems to fit the bill for your criteria, and I hear they are a blast to drive.

 

[rootaxs]

Since fast was not in your criteria, may i suggest the Honda Fit? It's a small econobox, gets great mileage and is plenty of fun to drive. Seeing as you once had a CRX you probably know what it feels like driving a larger "go kart".

It's not fast by any means, and the looks are subjective but at least test drive it for the fun of it.

 

[imported_Skold]

Lots of great advice...thanks.

The RSX is actually being terminated by Acura this year due to the Civic Si being basically superior except for a few luxury features and is a couple thousand less MSRP. Also, my mom just bought a brand new RSX-S so that's out

I had a WRX and it was very nice performance wise...I just wasn't too impressed with the looks and they are quite expensive to maintain. I ditched it after I wrecked it trying to be a rally stud on the snow covered mountains in Colorado (I live in Houston where we don't see snow).

I'm not buying for probably just under or over a year so Civic Si availability shouldn't be a problem.

My wife refuses to get a used car so a used G35, GTO, etc is out. She totally wants an Eclipse and I like their looks but yeah, I heard they are boats on wheels. I have the final say anyway. I may test drive it to give it a fair shake.

I'm looking forward to seeing the Mazdaspeed3. It may be a candidate by the time we're buying. The Mazda3 is still a strong possiblilty. The Scion is too...

Any other ideas?

 

[imported_Skold]

rootaxs, I think the FIT is out. Yes, the CRXs were like driving large GO-carts but surely not like driving a FIT. I haven't even looked at them but I don't think they are what I had in mind...

add semi-fast to my criteria...

 

[fbrdphreak]

If you can get over the coupe thing, the Legacy GT sedan is a smoker. 250HP 2.5L H-4 turbo 0-60 5.3s, AWD, nice handling, well loaded (leather, heated seats, etc), rated 19/25 for the 5-speed manual but from what I hear 20/27 is reasonable.

I hate the way it looks, but Pontiac G6 coupe? V6, good mileage, coupe, cheap.

 

[evenmore1]

I thought that the RSX was just Acura's version of the civic?

the Mazda RX-8!!! kidding...too poor mpg...I dunno, maybe get a Mitsubishi Eclipse?? The Civic has better mpg though...

 

[AMDZen]

Originally posted by: Nikamichi
If you had the most fun with a CRX, why not look at the RSX? It's within your price range, and you can get a Type-S w/all the standard options for under 24k.

Because you can get the Si for less, which has basically the same engine but handles better and has better standard equipment

 

[imported_Skold]

You do present some good alternatives phreak...I'll look at the Legacy GT a little more but I was under the impression they were high twenties/low 30's price wise. They do look nice though.

I'd consider the Pontiac but my wife wouldn't. She has certain hangups and it's not worth my while to fight them.

If I had my way completely, we'd be getting a Solstace or Skye

 

[Nikamichi]

Originally posted by: AMDZen

Originally posted by: Nikamichi
If you had the most fun with a CRX, why not look at the RSX? It's within your price range, and you can get a Type-S w/all the standard options for under 24k.

Because you can get the Si for less, which has basically the same engine but handles better and has better standard equipment

Yes, but a higher resale value since it will be off the market soon (a la the Prelude).

 

[fbrdphreak]

From what I hear, new LGT Limited's go for $25-26K. The non-Limited (cloth seats, lower trim level) I hear you can get for $24K or so. I'd splurge for the Limited myself

 

[AMDZen]

Originally posted by: chuckywang
Uh...where are you going to buy it? I can't find a single Civic Si on a lot.

Exactly. This is going to be your problem.

And trust me on this because I've been looking at buying one for about 6 months now. If you want one, go to a Honda dealership and put a down payment on it. Make sure you tell them exactly what you want, and make it clear that you don't want any extras. They are trying to sell them with too many other dealer installed options to make their margins go up. Chances are you will just have to live with it and get a few dealer installed options. Because if you don't, some dealers will flat out send you packing.

Good luck, and even if you do get one, plan on waiting at least 3-4 months from now. And perhaps a little longer depending on your area

 

[MisterJackson]

I saw one on the road the other day for the first time (silver) and it made me do a double take. Can't say a honda's ever made me do that before (except an NSX, but that doesn't count ).

I thought it looked impressive stock, and didn't even mind the faux wing spoiler, but thought the wheels looked a little small on the body. That's easily remidiable though.

I also expected to see some young girl or guy driving it, but it was an old lady.

 

[AMDZen]

Originally posted by: Nikamichi

Originally posted by: AMDZen

Originally posted by: Nikamichi
If you had the most fun with a CRX, why not look at the RSX? It's within your price range, and you can get a Type-S w/all the standard options for under 24k.

Because you can get the Si for less, which has basically the same engine but handles better and has better standard equipment

Yes, but a higher resale value since it will be off the market soon (a la the Prelude).

Thats not true at all, look how hard it is to get an Si. RSX are a dime a dozen, Si will have a much better resale value - trust me I know

 

[deejayshakur]

Originally posted by: Ryan
Personally - I can't wait for the 4-door Civic Si that's coming out - it's gonna be hot

that makes 2 of us.

 

[Nikamichi]

Originally posted by: AMDZen

Originally posted by: Nikamichi

Originally posted by: AMDZen

Originally posted by: Nikamichi
If you had the most fun with a CRX, why not look at the RSX? It's within your price range, and you can get a Type-S w/all the standard options for under 24k.

Because you can get the Si for less, which has basically the same engine but handles better and has better standard equipment

Yes, but a higher resale value since it will be off the market soon (a la the Prelude).

Thats not true at all, look how hard it is to get an Si. RSX are a dime a dozen, Si will have a much better resale value - trust me I know

I understand what you're saying, but not everyone has an RSX Type S.