by "RightFootDown" (rightfootdown)
Published 10/05/2017 at 09:16
by "RightFootDown" (rightfootdown)
Published 10/05/2017 at 09:16
No Tags
STARS: 1
Hey guys, Josh here. I’m considering an inexpensive car for a daily driver so I can put the Skyline GTR in the garage. I was originally thinking of something like another E46 M3 but after driving Seanny Ice’s (RFD’s resident master technician and oh-so-valuable asset) 2005(?) Corolla S around for the last few days I’m starting to think a smaller and cheaper 4 cylinder car would be fine.
Buying another RWD coupe like an FRS or M3 is just too similar to the GTR so I’m looking for another experience.
Enter the Civic Si.
Compact. VTEC. Nimble. VTEC. Inexpensive. VTEC. What’s not to love?
Sean’s Corolla S has that 2ZZZZZZZE engine. It reminds me of my GSR ownership. Only with less valve lift and blue lights flashing.
What I’m looking at is the 2006+ Honda Civic Si. My requirement is as far under $10k as I can find with as few digits on the odometer as possible. Most tend to have 80k + miles and I’m okay with that. I’ve found that for an 08 model year, 80k is right around $8k.
So, Oppo. Can you talk me out of it?
"Party-vi" (party-vi)
10/05/2017 at 09:25, STARS: 3
If that interior is like the interior on my wife’s ‘11 Insight, just get a Fisher Price pedal car and strap a Briggs and Stratton engine to it.
"interstate366, now In The Industry" (interstate366)
10/05/2017 at 09:32, STARS: 2
The black, blue, and grey ones tend to have paint issues.
"Tripper" (tripe46)
10/05/2017 at 09:39, STARS: 0
I can talk you out of it, but I don’t want to. Like party-vi, I don’t like the interior, and the engine is buzzy. It’s one of those cars that I don’t like, but I know damn well that it’s a great car so I can’t talk you out of it with a clean conscience.
"themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles" (themanwithsauce)
10/05/2017 at 09:39, STARS: 1
The problem with getting a honda civic si is that after you buy it, you end up in a honda. And if you buy something else, you don’t.
I’d say go bold. REALLY bold. Get a mitsubishi mirage. You can probably get one new or nearly new for the price of the civic Si. Is it a better car? NOPE! Not even close. But that’s the inherent beauty of it all! The bar is set so low, the mirage can’t let you down! Get a white one, paint it in ralliart colors, and get some mudflaps for it and yank the handbrake every time you turn the wheel.
You’re welcome.
"Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever" (rustanddust)
10/05/2017 at 09:41, STARS: 1
I’m probably not the guy to talk you out of it.
I’ve been dailying an ‘08 Si sedan for the past seven years. I don’t get up every morning looking forward to driving it, I don’t go for drives on the Parkway as often as I used to, but it’s a good car. Given it’s price point, it handles well, has enough power to get out of it’s own way, and has been pretty damned reliable (brakes and oil changes only, no major service required in the 70k I’ve put on it).
"crowmolly" (crowmolly)
10/05/2017 at 09:42, STARS: 0
I had a coworker who bought one new and drove it for a while. He loved it but I remember two issues:
1.) Paint is thin. His was black and chipped very easily.
2.) Some funkiness with the manual trans and grinding.
"vicali" (vicali)
10/05/2017 at 09:46, STARS: 0
Don’t get a blue one.. the clearcoat failure is real.. look along the roof at the rear window..
http://oppositelock.kinja.com/thats-a-wrap-1784530188
"Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras" (jegoingout)
10/05/2017 at 09:47, STARS: 0
06 and my 07 have a gluttony of issues..still buy it
Clear coat fade will happen (hood, roof, trunk)
2nd and 3rd gear grind
Cmc and slave cylinder failure
The rough weirdness of 2nd gear
Buy it
Buy it
Buy it
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
10/05/2017 at 09:48, STARS: 1
Why would I talk you out of it? Sounds like a great idea! Ive heard great things, although as a caution its always good to avoid the first couple model years of ANY car. That gen civic was new for ‘06 so I would definitely avoid an ‘06 or ‘07 but other than specific known issues, the ‘08+ should be good.
Im thinking about one as a daily too. I dont particularly like that gen civic in its standard pedestrian form, but I think the extra bits the Si gets would change my mind.
"awmaster10" (awmaster10)
10/05/2017 at 09:52, STARS: 2
8k you say? Maybe consider a first gen tsx with a stick. Better handling, much higher quality, more power, more sophisticated, and still has a small motor and bulletproof reliability.
"HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles" (hondasfordsvolvo)
10/05/2017 at 09:54, STARS: 0
While these aren’t my favorite generation of Civic, if you’re buying it to have something newer, more reliable, and cheap to own, it makes totally sense. But if you can find a well cared for stock GSR, go with that, they’re still way under the 10k price range.
"William Byrd" (thedriver)
10/05/2017 at 10:00, STARS: 0
I’d love to see you DD a reliable car for once! :)
I think it’ll help you relive some of the GSR days, I know I miss some of the light high revving fun that I had back in the late 90s, early 2000s.
Styling-wise, I like the sedan better then the coupe.
"Nisman" (nisman)
10/05/2017 at 10:14, STARS: 0
Do it man. I just sold mine with 135k and it was a fantastic all around car.
"Rock Bottom" (rockbottom81)
10/05/2017 at 10:27, STARS: 2
I drove the absolute shit out of my 2008 Si sedan for over 100,000 miles and loved every minute. No exaggeration. I bought it brand new when I lived in Kansas, brought it to California when I moved there, and drove it to Michigan where I live now. It was the best car I ever owned (out of about 25) and would 100% buy another one. I bounced it off the 8,200 rpm rev limiter every single time I drove it and it never missed a beat.
If you buy one, get some Koni Yellows on that thing ASAP. I replaced the factory dampers with Konis at about 80,000 miles and was super pissed I hadn’t done it sooner.
The factory nav is kinda wonkey, but acceptable. The seats are terrific, even on coast-to-coast road trips (which I did). The ride was perfectly acceptable stock and with the Konis.
Best damn car I ever had. Even better than the Corvette I replaced it with. I work for a major car company that’s not Honda, and all my coworkers (and management) are sick of hearing me compare our cars with my old Honda. “You know what car wouldn’t have (pick an issue)? My old Honda.” seriously, that car’s memory is gonna get me fired.
"ToyotaFamily" (robbav35)
10/05/2017 at 10:29, STARS: 0
What a lot of other commenters said, engine is buzzy, transmission isn’t really ever smooth (especially 2nd and 3rd), crappy paint, etc...
That said, ever thought about an RSX or TSX? Bit nicer interior on them.
"TheHondaBro" (wwaveform)
10/05/2017 at 10:31, STARS: 2
“after you buy it, you end up in a honda.”
Sold.
"Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner" (gavinharter30)
10/05/2017 at 10:48, STARS: 0
I’d get it
"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
10/05/2017 at 10:51, STARS: 0
I’ve only driven an ‘08 Si sedan and it was pretty fantastic. The manual is perfect, the power was adequate, it was better than a regular civic without any downsides. My friend still has that car and still loves it 5 years and many, many trouble-free miles later.
"Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner" (gavinharter30)
10/05/2017 at 11:09, STARS: 1
“I bounced it off the 8,200 rpm rev limiter every single time I drove it” is there a ricer in the oppo community? Illuminati confirmed
"OmerCarrothers333" (omercarrothers333)
10/05/2017 at 11:31, STARS: 0
I once had a 2010 Si sedan, damn I miss that car.
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
10/05/2017 at 11:35, STARS: 0
The 2004 Corolla S doesn’t have a 2ZZ. That’s in the 2005-07 XRS.
As for the Si, I like it a lot. It has an LSD which is a Very Good Thing™. I think the 09-11 facelifted 8th gen sedan is the best. The 8th gen has a slightly hotter version of the K20 motor (the 9th gen makes the same numbers on paper but its VTEC y0 is less advanced and there are a few other things about it that are dumbed down). The sedan is more practical, and I the sedan styling improved with the facelift. But an 06-08 is fine too.
"RightFootDown" (rightfootdown)
10/05/2017 at 11:39, STARS: 1
“If you buy one, get some Koni Yellows on that thing ASAP. I replaced the factory dampers with Konis at about 80,000 miles and was super pissed I hadn’t done it sooner.”
++1 There are those certain mods/upgrades that need to be done ASAP so you can get the most enjoyment out of ownership.
"Amoore100" (amoore100)
10/05/2017 at 12:12, STARS: 0
Dammit, I hate you—now I want one. It’s probably gonna be dead reliable (we just dropped $1.6K on the XC70 because European car maintenance) and easy on gas, not to mention incredible to drive. I say go for it 100%, if the circumstances were right I’d do it myself. That was the last amazing generation of Civic, and I’d so love to create a sleeper—some Hybrid wheels, body kit delete, Si underneath :3
"Rock Bottom" (rockbottom81)
10/05/2017 at 12:15, STARS: 0
Lol, I’m gonna have to put a Super Medallion cat-back on my jeep now! haha
"Jason Spears" (shadestalker)
10/05/2017 at 12:56, STARS: 0
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