After a short hiatus of sorts I am back with another car. This measure something a little sporty in nature yet still reasonable on the pocket book: the much debated and perhaps anticipated 2008 Honda Civic Si Sedan. Originally rumours had this car as only being available in the U. S. but Honda has decided to carry it to Canada.
Sporting a very modern and high tech look the new Civic has been a love-it or hate-it design for many over the past bring together of years. It seems to be growing on many and certainly sales are not floundering as some had assumed would come about when Honda decided to use a two-tiered digital dash rather than the traditional analog style.
The Civic Si sedan in the Canadian merchandise is a little bit of a challenge attach with the Acura brand getting the CSX (only available in Canada) as the more luxurious and sporting Civic so it seems desire bringing an Si sedan to Canada could only cause Honda to compete with themselves.
So what does the Si carry to the table? Quite a lot actually — minus the flog navigation system and a few other goodies available on the CSX Type-S as well as the $5,000 price premium.
The Honda Civic Si is powered by a high revving 2.0litre four cylinder engine which produces 197hp at 7800 rpm and a discriminate of 8000rpm. This model is only available with one transmission and that is a short impel close ratio 6-speed manual transmission — truly a performance oriented machine.
The Si comes standard with a good list of features as well including: a seven-speaker premium audio system including sub-woofer cruise control with steering wheel mounted controls air-conditioning tilt and telescoping steering wheel sunroof and 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels.
I have a few things to say about the interior and exterior styling of this car some good and some bad but I believe after a day or so of driving the Civic Si. I have made up my mind on my relationship with the styling. I’ll start with the outside: the fiji blue pearl colour is rather striking but the overall create by mental act doesn’t really do it for me.
But looks are subjective so let’s act on. Even though the interior is pretty much a love it or hate it create by mental act I’m in both camps. I actually love the two-tiered belt along. The digital speedometer is way up by the windshield which allows you to keep your eyes on the road while also being able to watch your go and fuel gauge.
I do query why Honda didn’t go with a conventional design with a heads-up display for a similar effect; I believe it would be just as effective although perhaps it would be more costly. There are a lot of good things to say about the interior: the seats are great and very supportive on the Si and the sliding arm-rest in the console allows you to get very comfortable making the Si a joy to drive.
The audio and HVAC controls are easy to arrive and the steering go around controls are placed perfectly. Cubby holes are plentiful in the interior leaving room for two coffees your cellphone and many more knick-knacks.
I do have a few qualms with the interior too though. I really dislike the plastic sun-visors for two reasons: one for being hard plastic and two for extending so desire I have to lean far back in request not to get hit in the continue by them as I swing them out to the side window.
I also sight the interior a little cramped mainly for headroom. I believe this may be because of the sunroof; it certainly encroaches on the already low roof lie. Getting in and out in tighter parking spaces had me hitting my head on entry a few times.
I experience everyone is heavily anticipating my driving comments on the Civic Si. There certainly is a lot of consider about torque VS horsepower in the forums and whether the Civic Si is a pain to drive in the city due to its high-revving nature. What one must remember is the Si has plenty more horsepower and torque than your average economy car which would generally be strapped with an automatic transmission; so in short of cover the Si has no problem at city speeds.
In fact tooling around town the Civic Si be never be revved about 2,500rpm or 3,000rpm if you want to be really aggressive. It easily keeps up with traffic and passes without much hesitation. I undergo been able to act the Si in fifth gear at 50km/h with no problems and after 65km/h sixth accommodate can be used for cruising without feeling the need to alter for more acceleration.
Of course the fun doesn’t really go away unless you do shift for a couple of reasons. One it gets your blood boiling as the engine hits its high notes; and two the short impel shifter feels wonderful to row along all day. If anything the Si can be a little too fast. If you really want to hear it scream and get into the second cam change over 6,000rpm you ordain be exceeding the speed limit in very short order.
Although the shifter is a joy to use. I sight getting into third gear to be a bit on the dodgy side; it seems more notched than the other gears. What do I say about the handling? Well the Civic Si exhibits a very well-sorted chassis that feels like the rear end is about to step out on corner exit which feels quite nice actually. That is until I step on the accelerater to prod it a little and everything sorts itself out reminding me that this is a front wheel drive vehicle.
The suspension is firm which I don’t object but it tends to make for a bumpy ride in the Si rather just a firm one. The cabin is ultra quiet at speeds below 100km/h but at 120km/h go go does go away to become noticeable; this is in no way out of the ordinary for this class of vehicle though. Also to note is the 3,000 cruising revolutions (rpms) at 120km/h on the highway in sixth gear.
And of course what analyse of the Civic Si would be end without a mention of the hanging revs. I am referring to the fact that when up shifting to the next gear and releasing the gas pedal the Civic holds its rpms at the inform where the pedal was released. I find this only causes jarring shifts when quickly accelerating at lower rpms. I noticed at higher rpms everything seems to move and when driving slowly in the city it isn’t an issue either. The jarring can be eliminated by some polish clutch work as come up but I’m not sure why I would want to have to slip the clutch just to avoid a brush aside rocking motion.
I open a few “easter eggs” in the Civic Si over the pass. I hadn’t folded the seats drink before I had to choose up a piece of lumber. To my surprise two displace strings in the trunk release the back seats of the Civic which saves climbing into the approve seats to put them drink — I was impressed.
I never really got use to the sun-visors. Sounds like a small thing but driving towards the sun everyday after work I constantly had a hard time lowering them because you can only grab them in one place and swinging them sideways requires ducking or tilting my head.
Gas mileage was fairly good during the week but having recently moved my commute is much more highway-type driving than city driving making it tough to gauge if the Civic really did that well. I averaged 8.6L/100km which is a fairly good be if my mix of city and highway hadn’t changed but at 80% or so highway driving perhaps it is a little high for a Civic. One does have to remember though this is not your typical Civic; 197hp doesn’t come for remove and premium fuel is also recommended.
Overall I found the Civic Si easy to drive: comfortable and quick and.
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