2003 Civic SiR
A few hours ago, my dad brought home a brand new Civic SiR with 830km on it. He borrowed it from a friend who had it as a loaner before his Pilot arrived. The first thing my dad tells me as he steps in the door is, "Jeff, you can't drive this car because insurance won't cover it." Well I took the key anyway, and took the baby out for a spin around the block. Oh yea, I didn't know how to drive stick. Well, I do now...thanks to driving around the neighborhood a million times in the SiR.
My impressions of the car. First off, it looks AWESOME in real life as compared to pics online. The interior is also very nice and Honda like. Everything is solid and all the buttons have a reassuring "click" to them. The seats are supportive, the front is spacious and roomy, although the rear seats might as well not be there. Visibility is far from exceptional when looking backwards thru the hatch, but it isn't really an issue. The steering wheel is very nice, it is a 3 spoke design that forces you to adopt a 2-10 hand position. Steering is very nice, it has just right amount of stiffness/power steering. The suspension is pretty nice, but not very tolerating. Even the smallest bump is transmitted to the steering wheel and can throw you off course. Basically, it makes the driver pay 100% attention while driving. It comes down to personal preference whether one likes or not. I like the engine; beyond 2000rpm, the engine is extremely smooth and free revving. It gives out a very pleasant whir that is quite subdued in the cabin, but that is due to good NVH insulation. Opening the window reveals that the engine isn't really all that quiet. The transmission is definitely different than your average car's. The gearing is damn close, and it demanded a shift every 2 seconds if you wanted to keep the revs under 4000 rpm. In fact, I run thru the gears so quick, I was left wanting a 6th gear. The throws are short, the gates are close, and the clutch only needs a tiny peck to switch gears.
All in all, this car has really surprised me. I wasn't expecting much, having already known the specs, and having seen the pics online. However, it is a blast to drive, and looks very sharp in real life. If you are even slightly considering this car, do yourself a favor and try it out.
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Didnt you buy a Prelude from them?
, anyone know when the 5dr HB civic is gonna come out? supposed to take on the MP5, Matrix, ZX5 etc. and it will look like a SiR cept with 5 drs
