Observations from driving a regular (non-si) civc for 3 days

[Team_Mclaren]

So for the pass 3 days i have been driving in a 06 civic sedan because i swapped cars with my cousin for the weekend. And I absolutely hate the car. The shifter is soft and has no feel. The steering is slow and dull. Suspension is soft but not comfortable. It has no power. The engine is noisy. Overall fit and finish is bad as well...

Now i have driven other cars in the same segment and the civic is definitely one of the worst. I even like the old fit much more than the civic.

I have also driven the Si which imo is milessss better than the regular civic since it has a different engine/seats/tranny/suspension/audio system etc etc.

And finally for all the civic tuners out there, why would you not pay 3-4k more for the Si? Yet you spend thousands on mods on a civic that's so inferior to the Si?

this is not really a rant, just an observation.

[tentacles]

Wait, are you saying that just buying a faster car in the first place is better than dumping buckets of cash on rice and JDM decals into a slow car?

I refuse to believe it.

What modification can you do to a Civic that's better than just selling it to some chick and buying a WRX?

[black13]

I just don't understand why anyone would even mod a civic. If you want a fast car, there are way better choices out there.

[D'z Nutz]

Originally posted by Team_Mclaren
The shifter is soft and has no feel. The steering is slow and dull. Suspension is soft but not comfortable. It has no power. The engine is noisy. Overall fit and finish is bad as well...

Have you actually driven the Si? These comments still apply.

[max_boost]

haha

Civics are ok if strictly used as daily commuter. I have zero expectations for them other than they are good on gas and get me from A to B.

Si is much better and I do agree, if you are going to buy a Civic and mod, do yourself a favor and just start with the Si.

[2EFNFAST]

How much are Si civics nowadays? I remember somebody once saying something stupidly crazy, like 30+k?

[Gabe182]

17k for base 26k for SI (without fees or taxes) So yea probably almost 30 for the SI.

[Team_Mclaren]

Originally posted by D'z Nutz


Have you actually driven the Si? These comments still apply.

Yes i have, and imo its a whole new car.

Originally posted by max_boost
haha


Si is much better and I do agree, if you are going to buy a Civic and mod, do yourself a favor and just start with the Si.

THIS

And the Si is not that much more, if you want are somewhat non-base civic you will be paying around 25k anyways. A new Si is <30K otd.

[Hakkola]

I've been saying this for years. I had an 06 civic sedan and it was the biggest piece of shit I ever drove, the stupid VW beetle sized dash/counter whatever you call it was shit, the fit and finish was awful, and don't get me started on the enormous blind spots.

[88CRX]

Vince you're such a hater

[4doorj]

I actually prefer the base civic over base lancer/ mazda 3 /impreza
Very roomy. I'm a big fan of the 8th gen civic.

Also I can see why a lot of people would not spend money for the Si. To a lot of people 5k is a lot of money.

But yes after owning a base civic I'm sure most of them will end up regretting not getting the SI. I know quite a few people that have. Even I did the upgrade from LX to SI.

But I definitely see your point in spending mod money and your car won't even come close to the funness of the SI.

[Darkenergy]

Originally posted by Hakkola
I've been saying this for years. I had an 06 civic sedan and it was the biggest piece of shit I ever drove, the stupid VW beetle sized dash/counter whatever you call it was shit, the fit and finish was awful, and don't get me started on the enormous blind spots.

It seems that cars nowadays all have huge blind spots though.

[johnboy27]

I have had an 06 civic for a year and a half now and love it, for what it is of course. The only things I did to mine were an intake and soem rims. I bought the intake because it was gonna cost me 50 bucks for an air filter from honda a couple times a year and I got the intake for 200 with a washable filter. I bought the DX over the SI because I wanted fuel mileage, I drive across Canada every year. This year I spent 490 bucks on gas for my round trip of 10,600 km's.I have put nearly 40,000 km's on it and all I have had to do were oil changes, no mechanical work what so ever. Personally, I think that is pretty good.

[QuasarCav]

What is your DD, OP?

I ask because I usually drive a Miata in the summer and it's absolutely ruined most other cars for me. Nothing can communicate the road nearly as well and even "performance" oriented cars like the WRX and Civic Si feel like school busses.

[heavyD]

I'm underhwelmed by the latest generation of Civics as well as it seems every year since the EG years that Honda has removed more and more of the fun factor and personality the old cars had. However I don't think they are bad cars and IMO the reason they don't feel special any more is that the rest of the industry has caught up. In the 90's the alternatives were nothing more than cheap commuter appliances. Now other manufacturers offer economy cars that are just as refined and some not as bland. Honda IMO has followed the Toyota business plan of late which is why their lineup is bland and boring. Hopefully the recession is a kick in the ass to get back to building a little fun into their models and maybe even a replacement for the Prelude or Integra.

[911fever]

they are terrible cars, just garbage. just like a client i had last week who wanted $13k for his 06 Civic DX/auto base base, no options whatsoever.
I can only give him like $9k, resale isn't as good as people think.

[xLostx]

Original Post Removed. (Please read the Forum Rules and Terms of Use before posting again, or risk getting banned).

[n1zm0]

granted the normal base civic (or anything under Si for that matter) was never supposed to be something fun since its life began 35 + years ago imo, but it seems common with most of the N.A built honda's since '00 where the fit/finish and general build quality is noticeably sub-par and more apparent than the J VIN'd hondas.

even acuras, after working there for 4+ years you come to notice the certain exterior unevenness in body panels/interior trim etc everyday, ELs and TLs specifically, MDX's somewhat as well.

The most recalled models were the ontario/ohio built stuff from what i noticed during my time there.

edit: i forgot to say that i would however, rather drive a civic as a rental car next time than a new focus (top of the line) or sentra, i just drove both to and from Vancouver (my car's not finished), my gf of all ppl noticed the focus's forever struggling engine and shitty seats and the sentra's attempt at 'feel the engine power/make it fun' with that bs made in mexico CVT tranny... neither ever again nor do i recommend them to anyone!

[rc2002]

Originally posted by n1zm0
N.A built

That's the problem right there. There is a significant difference in quality between Japanese and North American built cars.

[heavyD]

Originally posted by richardchan2002


That's the problem right there. There is a significant difference in quality between Japanese and North American built cars.

I don't believe the difference is that significant at all unless we are talking about Mexico. The worst Honda I owned build quality-wise was my delsol VTEC and that car was made in Japan.