Test Drive : 2006 Honda Civic Si

[Team2000]

Soooo I was a little bored today and wanted to see what all the hype was about and decided to go test drive the new civic Si.

Well... I dunno, currently as my daily driver I have a 2000 SiR, so I was pretty excited to go do this. Now so my thoughs do not start to get jambled let me start with this.

The car is over all an excellent car... BUT I felt like it had been refined a bit to much.

Let me explain, the car looks and sounds awesome ( Kinda, the VTEC is not that strong but then again it does not have an after market intake on it ) however, it is a quick and fast car, it just does not feel like it. I found it to be refined, in some good ways the car has FAR less road noise then any other civic, and the seats are awesome... on the DOWN side though... you punch the gas... and well.. it feel like a turbo has to spool up first before it goes and because of that you dont get the "punch" that my car gives...

************* SKIP THE ABOVE AND READ THIS AT LEAST ***********************

I raced an RSX-S ( in a close environmant with proper safty equipment *wink wink wink* )

We did a pull from about 80km/h and then another from 100km/h and another 70km/h one. As far as I know the RSX-S was stock and what not, was a 2004ish I would guess.

The RSX-S pulled on me all but one time... but it was a slow pull.. the Si was not that much behind... he did not really get more then a car lenght ahead of me, and keeping in ind it was the first time I drove that car... so my shifting would not have been pro.

Anyways, all in all it is a sweet car, but I think for the race car feel I want for now I will stick with my 2000 SiR and mod it more till I want a more refined car... I just want to FEEL the road and power not slip into it and not feel it.

 

[Declectic]

so when you tested the car... you raced an RSX-S???

thats banans man....

I'd like to say it like this.. think of it this way... and i'm glad you brought this up to by the way about the RSX-S..

now.. we all know that the RSX-S is suppose to be the quickest USDM honda/aucra... well now... the new Si is out... and its as fast as an ACURA! crazy... not really suppose to be that way.

but now you have to think about this... everyone talkin smack on the RSX-S when it first came out... the ITR with b-series was faster.. and it's about even with the GSR.. maybe a little faster.. but that would be expected... well people finally started putting I/H/E on these k-series.. that the gains were far more effective on the motor than they would be on a b-series.. its just crazy...

so with that in mind... doing the same thing to this potentially WAY better motor (the k20z3) inside a civic (they can't just make this car MORE powerful than an Acura, it would defy the purpose of their organization environment and structure as well) it's got what the RSX-S comes with... STOCK (but like i said slightly better, stock LSD, 6spd,e etc..)

so IMHO... the power plat form is definately there and I feel its where it should be.

Looks is definately subjective, more so the people that hate change than others.

IMHO, when i first saw it, I LOVE THE FRONT END, hated the rear end.. and the interior, was skeptical... once you sit in the drivers seat, pictures sudeenly dont do it justice. the rear has started to grow on me.. meh.. iono... not much out yet... maybe the drag spoiler by siebon?

anyways, thats my take

good job being able to race during that test drive

 

[42Steps]

The next car I own (in quite a few years when I have money) is going to be either:

• Mazda RX-8
• Nissan 350z
• Honda S2k (used)
• FG2

Now for the FG2 to be with a list along with an AP1, RX-8, and a 350z really says a lot.... It is an EXTREMELY well thought out, engineered, refined, and implemented vehicle.... From the engine to the suspension to the exterior styling to the drivetrain to the creature comforts, everything has been taken account of.... I am sure it is a very nice Daily Driver, and an excellent weekend funtime as well....

I haven't been able to take a test drive yet, and I probably won't be able to for a while, but I am sure when I do my resolve to own one will only strengthen.... 8)

IMHO, when i first saw it, I LOVE THE FRONT END, hated the rear end.. and the interior, was skeptical...

I agree with this, except I have always liked the rear end as well, for some reason... Can't quite put my fingures on it, but its just very sleek.... 8)

 

[Team2000]

The front end is crazy, I love ti as well.. the back end does need some time for me to start to like, but I think this car lowered with a kit will look PIMPAGE, well I have a magazine that had about 9 of them all kitted and done up and they were sweet. I just hope they hurry up and get something to speed up that "Drive-By-Wire" for better throttle response.

 

[ItsAnEP3]

how the hell do you race another car when you have a salesman riding with you???????

 

[Kihun_Cha]

wow.. dis is awesome review.. da hells dis?

 

[01S2K]

I have to agree with the man though.

The 06 SI is a worthy successor to my EM1 but it is not such a good car that I am willing to trade in my car and go into a ton of debt to get one.

If I had my car paid off I would keep it and get a 06 SI and have the best of both worlds.

All through 7th Gen I worried what I would get if my car was stolen or smashed or I want to get rid of it and now I don't have to worry which is sweet.

 

[ReggieSD]

i think the new si has got the performance the rsx-s has almost in every way...but when honda was on the boards designing that si, those si designers were more than likely restricted not to top the rsx...so the people who made it tried to do everything they can to make it "almost there" but "not really"....then they sneaked in an lsd. imo the 06 rsx-s probably got screwed when the 2 (si and rsx-s) were being designed and planned out. i actually like the style of the rsx better than the si but for the performance part and price...who wouldn't pick the si over the rsx?

 

[Team2000]

how the hell do you race another car when you have a salesman riding with you???????

Was just my initial impressions of the car not a review dude I think the car is a sweet car but like that other guy just said, for now it is not worth going in debt over from a 6th gen Si to a 8th gen Si... nice car, but not for me right now.

The sales man did not come with me. I will try to take it out again with a video camera.

 

[Sprecher]

I took the new 06 Si out for a test drive a couple of weeks ago with out the salesman. He had two conditions.

1. Keep it under 10 miles.
2. Don't beat the crap out of it.

 

[Team2000]

Did you pay heed to those rules? I also took a mustang out for a rip but the sales guy came with me and told me how to drive. I am going to try and go again but video tape it this time.. and maybe not listen to the guy.. ahaha if I do I will post it here

 

[Declectic]

that outta be interestingT!!!

 

[gearbox]

the drive by wire throttle makes the starting acceleration lag.

 

[BlackHopeDC5]

now.. we all know that the RSX-S is suppose to be the quickest USDM honda/aucra... well now... the new Si is out... and its as fast as an ACURA! crazy... not really suppose to be that way.

are you sure?

i always thought those v6 accords were supposed to be like the top

well under the NSX which isnt being made anymore

 

[Declectic]

are you sure?

i always thought those v6 accords were supposed to be like the top

well under the NSX which isnt being made anymore

haha, alright dood... i guess i meant to imply with CIVIC & INTEGRAS lol

 

[King Bob]

Soooo I was a little bored today and wanted to see what all the hype was about and decided to go test drive the new civic Si.

Well... I dunno, currently as my daily driver I have a 2000 SiR, so I was pretty excited to go do this. Now so my thoughs do not start to get jambled let me start with this.

The car is over all an excellent car... BUT I felt like it had been refined a bit to much.

Let me explain, the car looks and sounds awesome ( Kinda, the VTEC is not that strong but then again it does not have an after market intake on it ) however, it is a quick and fast car, it just does not feel like it. I found it to be refined, in some good ways the car has FAR less road noise then any other civic, and the seats are awesome... on the DOWN side though... you punch the gas... and well.. it feel like a turbo has to spool up first before it goes and because of that you dont get the "punch" that my car gives...

************* SKIP THE ABOVE AND READ THIS AT LEAST ***********************

I raced an RSX-S ( in a close environmant with proper safty equipment *wink wink wink* )

We did a pull from about 80km/h and then another from 100km/h and another 70km/h one. As far as I know the RSX-S was stock and what not, was a 2004ish I would guess.

The RSX-S pulled on me all but one time... but it was a slow pull.. the Si was not that much behind... he did not really get more then a car lenght ahead of me, and keeping in ind it was the first time I drove that car... so my shifting would not have been pro.

Anyways, all in all it is a sweet car, but I think for the race car feel I want for now I will stick with my 2000 SiR and mod it more till I want a more refined car... I just want to FEEL the road and power not slip into it and not feel it.

let me address some of these comments based off of my experience with my fg2 please note I never even rode in a 00si (Sir canada) so I can not justifiably compare te two cars:

1st, the turbo lagishness : I felt the same thing until I realized that when running this car you should keep the revs above 6k at least if you want to really get on it so if you are at 4k rpms and you want to punch it and go you wont feel much unless you drop it into 2nd and then it f**king goes. I have chirped the tires form first to second then from 2nd to 3rd then from 3rd to 4th so the power is there you just have to be brave enough to get it.

2nd, the refinement issue : I totaly agree with you here it dose feel a little over refined, it scares me more in a corner than my em2 did. I attribute most of the fear with inexperience with the car but a lot of it comes with the lack of feel from the car. Its to smmoth to quite there is not much warning be fore the rear breaks out and slides. Iam sure I will get used to it and lowering it and changing the rims will make it just as jaring as my em2 was but for now I will just have to get used to it.

 

[Team2000]

That is one thing I do like about my car, the fact it needs to be revved, that it begs to be revved. Everytime I let somebody drive my car I tell them, okay, you have to rev the snot out of it.... and they are used to a cavy or some other domestic standard and they rev it to 3000 RPM... it makes me laugh. I relise what you are saying about the car needing to be revved, but the feel of my car beeing punched at under 4000RPM versus the New Si did not compare.. I do relize the car is not broken in, or over broken.. lol seeing it is a demo car.

I am actually starting to THINK more about jumping over to the new Si, I will have to test drive it a few more times though.

 

[King Bob]

I hear ya, I am sure the 06 Si has a lot to be gaind from i/h/e and a good tune, I mean its classified as a low emmission vehicle, thats computer magic right there.

 

[gearbox]

just gotta wait for hondata to work it. then throw on some boltons and tuning it will get better. someone needs to figure out how to "tighten" the dbw system too.

 

[Team2000]

just gotta wait for hondata to work it. then throw on some boltons and tuning it will get better. someone needs to figure out how to "tighten" the dbw system too.

Yeah, for sure, I am sure that with time some person some where in the world will find a work around for that and make it have a quicker response.