I read the reviews. But I like your opinion.

Do you think the 2013 (9th Gen) Civic Si is worth it's name? Si have already meant something special in the Honda family. For those who have driven an Integra or ITR, how do you compare it? I don't mean numbers, but does it offer that same "Honda Feeling," you think?

Will this 9th Gen Civic Si be "special" 10-15 years from now?

 

the SI lost its way back in 2002.
may even be earlier.

 

I like it

It's not a Type R, but it's certainly still a fun to drive Civic that moves quite a bit faster than other Civics and doesn't sacrifice comfort or features. Thats what Si cars have always been.

 

Was just reminiscing about the good old days and the time my brother-in-law got his civic reposed!

 

I test drove the new Civic Si last year and felt like it was really hit or miss in a lot of areas. The interior is very nice and I love the separate trip computer screen in the dash. The gauges are fantastic as well. The problem I had with it is that it is S-L-O-W! Maybe I've been spoiled by 300+ hp cars for the past 5 years but I really couldn't believe how little power the Si seems to have. The VTEC changeover amounted to little more than the engine just getting a little louder but it didn't give any perceptible kick in the pants or anything. I've had two 4th gen Preludes and I remember them having a noticeable kick when VTEC engaged and I really missed that in the Civic. Not to mention the use of hard and cheap looking plastics and seat materials throughout the cabin.

Honda has really lost its way in recent years IMO...

 

no kick because not DOHC.

 

Si had always been HIGH rev engine, and felt more like a FWD S2000

New one just does not rev high enough and has became too soft for Si.

Si should be renamed to TSX/ILX Coupe.

 

the ILX has the more potent 2.4 than the Si....

Honda, you're weird.

 

Current Si is a FAR cry from the previous gens.

It's maybe not even worthy of the Si badge.

 

And yet, it has the most power an Si has ever had. I know, lets drive a CTS-V and then a FR-S and knock the FR-S. Isn't that because of i-VTEC? Haven't they integrated VTEC to change throughout the entire power band instead of a single crossover point?

 

it has to deal with SOHC and DOHC.
Do you remember feeling it in your RL?

 

Hard to say how much it could be felt. It definitely didn't pickup like when the butterfly valves opened up at 3500 RPM. With how much the 2 ton vehicle was already accelerating at 5400 RPM, it definitely didn't "kick", but you knew when you hit it.

 

^right, its not as pronounced as a DOHC H22 prelude engine

 

My last car before the 09 TL was an 08 Si coupe. I had it on the HFP suspension, progress RSB (it rode awesome and cornered on rails, LSD was a huge help in this regard)

It had intake, HFC header, and invida q300 exhaust. Originally tuned on cobb accessport, then i switched to hondata flashpro.

Awesome car, just a joy to drive. Clutch was light, shifter precise. good power throughout the range. rev'ed to 8600 rpm. got 28mpg combined. Huge trunk, rear seats would fold down. For a small car it had amazing utility.

Loved the car, but moved on. Just a pleasure to drive.

 

2013 is a different car.

 

my Si had DOHC, stock the high RPM cam was set to come on at 5800 rpm. you'd feel a 'kick' of power as it came on. This was by marketing design.

You could increase your power area under the curve by lowering the engagement point to ~4200-4300 (with proper supporting mods to increase airflow)... You wouldn't feel the kick, the transition was seemless, and it continued making more power all the way to redline.

Those with FI would lower the engagement even more, down in the 3200 rpm range...

 

yep, it has the k24, and the bad part of it is that it has a cast in plant exhaust manifold = no ability to swap out for a better flowing header... The header was the #1 best power mod you could do for the k20, let it breathe and roar.

The flip side is the cast in place manifold makes FI a bit easier i believe.

Has 170 tq but redline is 7k or so.

I'd rather have the modability of the 8th gen over the 9th gen.

 

oh and to answer the OP, buying a mass produced civic as a collector car is foolish. The 8th gen had a wildly overpriced mugen edition which was just a ricey body kit that the forum people were convinced was collector worthy.. I snicker at that. people paid 30k for a 198hp civic with a body kit.

I was 20k OTD.

 

I just watched this video yesterday. Hope this helps.

 

I'll just link today's Autoweek review of the 2013 Civic Si coupe here: http://www.autoweek.com/article/2013...n=awdailydrive

 

I feel like the Si has stayed pretty much the same since 2006. And before that the 2006 Si was a replacement for the 2002-2006 RSX Type-S. The RSX Type-S and Civic Si has had ~200 hp since 2002/2006. The Si was good back in 2006, but others have caught up and surpassed it since then.

 

This Si is faster than the Preludes. The difference is the Si has more torque down low, so the VTEC crossover is not as pronounced. If anything, the Prelude VTEC crossover was set too high, it should have been another 1000 rpms lower.

 

Have any of you even driven the new one yet? It's completely different animal (driving manners). To be fair I was expecting not much, probably like everybody else, but I was more than surprised. The best way I can relate it those who haven't is this newer car with lower end torque is more analogous to an AP2 S2k, whereas the previous car was more of a screamer like the AP1.

It's definitely just as/if not quicker than my 2nd gen Type-S and driving back to back with my sister's 2010 TSX it really would blow that car away (and I suppose it should). Styling for me is still incredibly sub-par, as is interior layout (both subjective). Overall fit and finish isn't bad at all though.

I will also be honest that I haven't driven any of its competitors besides a GLI Autobahn, but it is very neutral through the corners, overall a very solid daily.

 

I've driven the 12 and 13 Si models. Coupe and sedan. That sedan really tempts me sometimes..

 

How would you compare it to your S2k? I drove the coupe, would never buy it, or any coupe based sedan I wouldn't think.

Just watched the MT review and he pretty much hit the nail on the head, Lagos should have been on TG US, but that's another matter for another time. Another matter for another time is if VW made a Jetta GTD and brought it stateside, they could take my money quite easily

 

The Si vs. S2K

Well the Si is quieter, smoother riding, more comfortable, revs less, has lighter steering and a lot more features and interior technology.

It's a great car, like any FWD 4 cylinder 'sporty' vehicle, it makes a lot of compromises but you can also live with it. An S2000 is not for everyone.

You really have to drive the new Si to understand it. It's the perfect car for some people, for people who have money and garage space, they can get a more sporty and/or practical vehicles. Thats how I did it.

 

Of course, apples to oranges. As said in the review it is refreshing to rev-out a NA motor though.

 

It is, it does sound good. It does have lots of useable torque for a four cylinder. You can keep it in 6th gear on the highway and still pass people and go up mountain passes. It's the same in my S2000, 6 and 7% grades on I-5 aren't an issue at all in 6th gear.

 

I think you pretty much said everything that is wrong with the new Si.

Si should be Louder, stiff, less comfortable, revs a lot higher, heavier steering and less features but focus more on power and handling.

Si shouldn't be for everyone, as you can tell it only comes in Stick. So there should not be compromises made, just like S2k.

 

Louder, stiffer, less comfortable, higher revving, heavier steering and less features/technology than an S2000?!?

What the fuck are you smoking?

 

I think Honda wanted to make the new Si more DD friendly.

 

to the regular Civic.
not the S2k!

 

Where are you getting your info? The 2.4L in the Si is a DOHC engine, all Honda K series are.

And the engine in the Si and ILX 2.4 are identical....

 

Except thats not what an Si has ever been about. It's always been the top trim level Civic with a dose of sport.

It's not a Type R, now there you'd have a point.

 

from my imaginary friend.

 

lol.

Haven't driven a new Si but after having owned a TSX with a very similar K24 it just didn't have the same spirit of the 1.6, 1.8 or 2.0L high revving engines of past Honda's. Nor can it be expected to. It was an engine mostly designed for use in a mid size sedan or small SUV. And then pulled out of the parts bin by bean counters and stuffed into an 'Si'.

I still get goosebumps thinking of the VTEC changeover in my 98 GS-R.

 

Except the Current Si is A lot softer all around than previous years.

Or you may say a lot less hardcore than previous gens.

The 2006-2011 Civic Si IMO was already near the borderline of not being an Si.

2012+ just became a comfortable DD. It is still a nice car and somewhat fun to drive but i dont think it deserves the Si badge.

 

and what the fuck are you smoking?

 

The Civic 9th gen is a great car - and I drive one regularly. Driving-wise, it is not what I would call boring, at all.

My only gripe about the 2013 Si; its fuel economy should be better.

 

I've drove the new ones.

They are slow.