PureDrive
Go Kart Champion
I also owned a Civic Si at one time recently (it was a 2007). The car felt much more direct and connected to the road and driving experience than the GTI. The felt smaller and lighter, which it is by around 200lbs. I actually really liked the interior of the car, as it felt like a driver-oriented cockpit. The tranny was pretty smooth and fun, but often got notchy in really cold winter and a couple of times I was not able to get into 2nd gear at all until the car warmed up.
The main issue I had with the car is also its biggest positive atribute....the engine and the power delivery. The car has really no power below 6,000rpms, where most of us do the majority of our driving. Even above the 6,000rpm range, the power is still not that impressive most of the time. Nothing like downshifting from 6th to 4th on the highway and still not having enough power to pass someone quickly. The engine is very fun at times, but having power around town and to pass on the highway is pretty darn fun too, and makes everyday driving easier and just generally more enjoyable. The Si is a fun car to test drive, but driving it day after day, you soon wish you had some useable power. You start to feel like an ass having to rev to 8,000rpms to stay with minivan traffic.
With all that said, I still think about the car from time to time. It was a fun car to drive agressively, spiritedly. It was fun to run it to redline and slice through a corner. Problem is, how often do you get to do that? My commute to work is 40 miles one way on the highway, then driving around town in stop-and-go during the day......stuff the GTI does very well, but does do it in a boring manner, imo. The Civic Si felt quick at times in the lower gears, but it was never fast.
I myself am starting to look at new cars again after owning my current 08 GTI for a year and half. I myself am just bored with the GTI. It is great and offers A LOT of features for the price, but the drive just feels disconnected and boring to me at this time. I want something more connected to the experience of driving. I want to be part of the experience and not feel like I am just being taken for a ride. Sometimes when driving the GTI, I feel like I am just playing a video game.
The cars I am looking at are the Mazdaspeed3, the Subaru WRX, the Mazda Miata, and I always have another Civic Si in the back of my thoughts...........
The main issue I had with the car is also its biggest positive atribute....the engine and the power delivery. The car has really no power below 6,000rpms, where most of us do the majority of our driving. Even above the 6,000rpm range, the power is still not that impressive most of the time. Nothing like downshifting from 6th to 4th on the highway and still not having enough power to pass someone quickly. The engine is very fun at times, but having power around town and to pass on the highway is pretty darn fun too, and makes everyday driving easier and just generally more enjoyable. The Si is a fun car to test drive, but driving it day after day, you soon wish you had some useable power. You start to feel like an ass having to rev to 8,000rpms to stay with minivan traffic.
With all that said, I still think about the car from time to time. It was a fun car to drive agressively, spiritedly. It was fun to run it to redline and slice through a corner. Problem is, how often do you get to do that? My commute to work is 40 miles one way on the highway, then driving around town in stop-and-go during the day......stuff the GTI does very well, but does do it in a boring manner, imo. The Civic Si felt quick at times in the lower gears, but it was never fast.
I myself am starting to look at new cars again after owning my current 08 GTI for a year and half. I myself am just bored with the GTI. It is great and offers A LOT of features for the price, but the drive just feels disconnected and boring to me at this time. I want something more connected to the experience of driving. I want to be part of the experience and not feel like I am just being taken for a ride. Sometimes when driving the GTI, I feel like I am just playing a video game.
The cars I am looking at are the Mazdaspeed3, the Subaru WRX, the Mazda Miata, and I always have another Civic Si in the back of my thoughts...........
... sorry but it's true.
