Oppo Opinions wanted

"Sn210" (sn210) 12/04/2013 at 11:29 • Filed to: None

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As some of you know, my current DD is an 08 civic LX Mt. It's a great little car; super reliable, great on gas, and insurance is cheap. There's only one major drawback... It's boring as hell to drive.

So needless to say, I've had the new car bug since I paid the Civic off a few years ago. The problem is that there are some major upgrades to my house that I want to make before I get any sort of new car. An updated furnace, updated kitchen, and a garage are my family's best interests right now.

At first I wanted to get a Bmw 335i or an Audi S4, but they command lots of money to buy and maintain. Then I was thinking getting something bigger with an American v8 like a Pontiac G8 or a first gen CTS-V. Nice examples of those two can be had for around the low to mid twenty thousand range. Regardless, I'd have a car payment that would delay my house plans and probably won't get approved by the wife.

I played around with the idea of sucking it up, keeping the Civic and getting a cheap toy, like a project Mr2. That hasn't happened because I don't have that garage I mentioned earlier...

Then this morning I had a revaluation! Why not just upgrade to a Si! 8th gen Si's would give me about 57 more horses, better handling, and more toys. I did a quick search and here's what I found:

No.1: 2009 with 41,000 miles. It's a year newer and 23k miles younger than my car. I figure I can work out a deal where I get a Si that's barely broken in for a car payment less than $200/mo for a few years. That's a payment that would not interrupt my saving plans for the house projects either. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

No.2: 2009 with 64,000 miles. This car is the same color and as my car, so I like it a lot! It's the cleanest looking of the group, and those 20,000 extra miles make it $1,000 cheaper than car No.1. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

No.3: 2008 with 47,000 miles. This car is the same price as, but a year older than car No.2, but has about 14k less miles. 2008 is the same year as my car and is the pre-facelift model which would be different from cars 1 & 2. This car is claimed to be owned by a 49 year old guy. It's also got some goodies on it, like a CAI and upgraded factory wheels. That said, it's also got some mods that I absolutely hate; like a-pillar gauges and center console gauges. I mean, how many gauges does this guy need! !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

No.4: 2008 with 85,000 miles. Sorry I couldn't post a picture of this one. The dealer's site and my phone aren't getting along. This car is the roughest of the four, but is priced in a way that I could get it without any sort of monthly payment. This dealership also offers tires for life. The catch is it's got 20k more miles than my current car, there's scratches and stuff going on in the interior, and it looks like it's got the wrong wheels on it for the year and model. By the looks of the red decals and aftermarket Nav, I'm guessing this was a trade in with some god awfully tacky wheels. The dealer must have slapped some 09+ alloys off a civic EX that they had lying around. But remember, I could probably get it for an even trade plus my year end bonus... and the scratched parts can always be replaced! !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

So what do you say?! Should I further look into this idea of trading my LX in for an Si? Should I suck it up and drive the LX for a few more years and get something better down the road? Which of these four cars do you think is the best bang for buck? Was this post way too long and you don't care about my first world problems?

Also, before you say Miata or v6 Mustang, I needs four doors because dog and maybe baby down the road... Plus I have to get the wife's approval!

Thanks!

wabbastang > Sn210 12/04/2013 at 11:37

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Solution!

A civic will alwa....zzzzzz.....zzz.....

TheLOUDMUSIC- Put it in H! > Sn210 12/04/2013 at 11:37

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NOOOOOOOO DON'T TRADE FOR AN SI. TRUST ME I KNOW!! I DAILY AN 08 LX 5MT, AND IT MAY UNDERSTEER LIKE HELL, BUT ITS ACTUALLY JUST ABOUT AS QUICK AS AN SI IN A STRAIGHT LINE. SRSLY PEOPLE ARE PULLING 60 IN LOW SEVENS EVEN HIGH SIXES WITH MINOR MODIFICATIONS. Also, how many miles you got?

I just rolled over 35,000, in an Alabaster silver model on steelies with hubcaps. Original, right?

Anyways, even if you get an Si, the R18 responds much better to boost, and the Si, is still only a Civic. And it's a lot heavier.

Brian Silvestro > Sn210 12/04/2013 at 11:38

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If you get the one that's the same color, you can take people for rides that don't know cars, then tell them you didn't get a new car. They'll have no idea what's going on! But seriously, Fiesta ST:

TheLOUDMUSIC- Put it in H! > Brian Silvestro 12/04/2013 at 11:40

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Nah, the Si's got another gear,and it has red gauges and more bolstered seats.

Brian Silvestro > TheLOUDMUSIC- Put it in H! 12/04/2013 at 11:43

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Didn't know the Civic had 7 forward Gears!

TheLOUDMUSIC- Put it in H! > Brian Silvestro 12/04/2013 at 11:44

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Er, I mean one more gear than he's already got.

Tom McParland > Sn210 12/04/2013 at 11:44

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8th gen Si s are quite nice. Some things to think about.

Stay away from the one with the rims! I don't mean to stereotype but that car was not owned by some 49 year old dude, but rather a young guy who maybe didn't mod it right. Not worth the headache when plenty of nice examples are available. Also, because these things tend to be driven hard, look for the cleanest example possible with preferably some type of maintenance history, usually found in a CarFax or other Vehicle History Report. Also once you have it narrowed down to one or two pay to have an independent mechanic inspect these cars. A $50-$75 inspection can a) give you some more negotiating leverage b) will raise a red-flag if the dealer is not cool with it c) will save you lots of money if something serious is found and d) give you a little piece of mind if everything comes back clean.

Also here is a handy test-drive guide that I really like.

Sn210 > TheLOUDMUSIC- Put it in H! 12/04/2013 at 11:45

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I just hit 64k and it's galaxy grey.

im not really interested in sinking more money into my LX though. I definitely don't want to turbo it. I plan on getting something better down the road but I was just thinking an Si might be a temporary fix to my boredom.

TheBaron2112 > TheLOUDMUSIC- Put it in H! 12/04/2013 at 11:46

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The Si has 7 gears? And the Recaros in the FiST are hugely bolstered. As a Fiesta ST owner, I recommend the Fiesta.

Brian Silvestro > TheLOUDMUSIC- Put it in H! 12/04/2013 at 11:46

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Oh! Sorry my bad. Still, I think the ST is the best choice in this segment.

E30Joe drives a Subaru > Sn210 12/04/2013 at 11:46

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Buy a motorcycle, keep the honda. For 3000-4000 dollars you can go faster on a bike than almost any car under 100,000 bucks. Good toy for nice weather days, and it'll keep the miles off your car. Also you'll fall in love with them.

Sn210 > Brian Silvestro 12/04/2013 at 11:47

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Not a bad idea, but I definitely don't want to go smaller!

Sn210 > wabbastang 12/04/2013 at 11:49

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Except I need a sedan, so an e46 m3 won't solve my problem. Also, that would be much older and (I'm assuming) less reliable than my current civic.

Brian Silvestro > Sn210 12/04/2013 at 11:50

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Yeah you're probably right, especially with possible children. This is the car that the wife would definitely approve of though, so if all else fails, you know where to turn!

Sn210 > E30Joe drives a Subaru 12/04/2013 at 11:52

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I'd love to for a toy, but the major flaw here is it won't get approved by my wife! I'm hoping an Si would be the most practical way to get a little more excitement out of my daily driving.

TheLOUDMUSIC- Put it in H! > Sn210 12/04/2013 at 11:53

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Well, if that's the case, then I would go for option #2. Especially if it is the cleanest. But, I digress; go to all of the dealerships and poke around, and feel for any sort of abuse on all of the cars. These are notorious for being hooned to death, so get a feel for all of your options, and then sleep on it for a day or two.

gbbts > Sn210 12/04/2013 at 11:53

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Go for your house plans.

Build a garage, buy yourself a cheap project car and hoon it.

At the end of the day you'll have made your wife happy. You will have a reliable car for the family that will not break the bank and a hobby wrenching and making you Miata(LOL) better.

cazzyodo > Tom McParland 12/04/2013 at 11:54

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Love the guide!

Oh, btw, my sister pulled the trigger on a 2010 Mazda3i a couple weeks ago. Had no idea until last week.

Tom McParland > cazzyodo 12/04/2013 at 11:56

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Congrats to your sis, I have a '10 3 as well. It is pretty nice.

E30Joe drives a Subaru > Sn210 12/04/2013 at 11:56

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I see... You could always do what I did when I got my first bike.

Parents said (mom said) "No way you're not getting a bike 0% that's never happening" but me being the young adult I was of 18 decided I could make my own choice, so I bought one, rode it home, parked it in the garage and left it there until someone said something. Told em it was already paid for and the title was in my name so there was nothing they could really do. So I kept it and it grew on them, cheap on gas, insurance, easy to work on, and best of all it didn't take up precious garage space.

Sn210 > Tom McParland 12/04/2013 at 11:58

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You bring up a good point, Automatch!
Payment for your insight:

Tom McParland > Sn210 12/04/2013 at 11:59

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No worries this is what I do :D

Textured Soy Protein > Sn210 12/04/2013 at 12:02

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Here you go, food for thought.

2010 Mazdaspeed 3 - 61k miles - $15,388

2008 VW Jetta GLI - 54k miles - $9,990

Sn210 > Textured Soy Protein 12/04/2013 at 12:09

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I thought about these, but I haven't looked into them yet...

Textured Soy Protein > Sn210 12/04/2013 at 12:14

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Might as well drive them and see which one you like. These cars are local to you.

Back in 2008, I bought a certified used 2006 Mazdaspeed 6. I test drove the GTI, R32, MS3, Si, and a few other things.

I was coming out of a Miata and while I generally liked the Si, GTI & MS3, I couldn't get myself to go fwd, and the R32 was too expensive, hence the MS6.

Chairman Kaga > Sn210 12/04/2013 at 12:21

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What's your daily drive like? There's no difference between a fun car and a boring car when you're stuck in traffic. In fact, "boring" cars tend to be more comfortable (cushier seats, autobox, amenities), so there's that to consider.

My approach was to save up a few grand and buy a toy car. Something to tinker with, drive on days when I know traffic will be light, to take out on dates, and after hours or over weekends. I still have my boring as hell but paid for, comfortable, and cheap to run and insure daily driver, and my persnickety but rewarding project car that fulfills my gearhead proclivities.

promoted by the color red > Sn210 12/04/2013 at 12:26

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Or just go ahead and buy the Jackson Racing supercharger kit. The Track Pack makes like 243 HP at full blast.

http://www.hondatuningmagazine.com/tech/1310_jack…

Stevo777 > Textured Soy Protein 12/04/2013 at 12:34

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Would have no problem with the speed 3, a buddy of mine has one, it's a fun quick little car.

(edit) I take that back, this car isn't in good shape cosmetically. but i would take a speed 3 over a jetta, unless the jetta was a TDi

Sn210 > promoted by the color red 12/04/2013 at 12:52

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!!! That's awesome! I think it would be cheaper to just buy one of these Si's though... The kit, the install, the speeding tickets...

Sn210 > Chairman Kaga 12/04/2013 at 12:57

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My drive now is all back roads :)
Also, I like your approach, and that will definitely become a reality but only after I build a garage a year or two down the road.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > Sn210 12/04/2013 at 15:52

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Go for No.2. It looks good, and I know these are fun to drive. Alternatively, look in to an MK5 Gti, since it's turbo 2.0 packs a lot more bottom end grunt

IJustWantMyZBack > Sn210 12/04/2013 at 16:14

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Just thought you might like to hear from a current 08 Si sedan owner. I have had mine for about 2.5 years now and have put approximately 35k miles on it. Its been a dependable car so far and I typically get 25 city 33 hwy. Here some things to consider, Honda recommends premium fuel so that's an added expense. Buy a 08 or newer. There were supposedly problems with the 07s. 09s have USB input for the radio if I recall correctly, not sure if that's important to you.
Second synchros have been known to be weak on these cars so be sure test drive. The only modifications I have installed were a CAI and a bike rack. I bought the CAI for the sound not any advertised performance gain.

Sn210 > IJustWantMyZBack 12/04/2013 at 16:54

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Thanks for the feedback! So you like it? Sounds like you'd rather have your z back...

IJustWantMyZBack > Sn210 12/04/2013 at 17:14

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Haha yea, I do miss my Z but not because I don't like the Si. The Si has been a great car for me and I definitely have enjoyed it. Good luck with your decision.

RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire > Sn210 12/04/2013 at 18:53

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Most opinions have already been covered by other people, but just wanted to say I have a RSX-S (similar engine and platform) with over 200k miles and it's been a good daily driver. If it were a sedan like the 8th gen Civic Si I could probably drive it without complaint until the world's oil reserves ran out.

GRawesome > Sn210 12/05/2013 at 02:34

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There's no car payment like no car payment! I would suck it up and drive it for a few years until you finish the house work. It sucks I know, but you will probably thank yourself afterwards. That way if there is any money left after the remodel you can put it all towards something really fun to drive.