2014 Honda Civic SI: The OppositeLock Long Term Review

"gabdere" (gabdere) 10/10/2014 at 16:59 • Filed to: None

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Hey all, I hope you are doing fine! I haven't been here for the past 4 months so I understand things may have changed a bit. For those of you who don't know me and to understand how I ended up in a Honda, here are a few good reads for you.

- !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . It contains a little background information on me.

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- !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . This is the most interesting, you don't want to miss it.

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Anyways, long story short I was in love with the GTI but it was a POS and I bought a Honda from my uncle at a very good price. Its been 5 months and a half and I'm starting to like it (just a little bit). I've done a few upgrades to the car :

-matte black roof wrap

-plastidipped the whole front, got rid of the crome

-painted the calipers

-dropped in a K&N air filter

-debadged the entire rear and got rid of the stupid VTEC stickers

-tinted the windows

-yellow daytime running lights

I don't have any recent pictures but follow me on instagram @gabdere to see the latest!

Exterior (6/10)

This is by far the biggest flaw of the current generation Civic. To be honest, it has almost the same front end as a 2006 and people don't realize mine is the latest model. I kind of like the rear but the front is ruining the whole car.

Interior (7/10)

The interior is a big improvement over the 2013 but is still not worth 27K. The seats are now two-tone but they still have this weird pattern. The materials are cheap and are already scratched (and you cannot believe how I take car of my cars, this is just not normal).

The car had 700 kms and there was a flat spot in the carpet near the clutch. The soft touch material on the front door do not carry over to the rear doors and the list goes on... I love the small steering wheel though.

Acceleration (5/10)

It just doesn't feel like 205 HP. Under 5000 RPM, its a normal LX Civic and that sucks. Compared to my DSG GTI, its gutless.

Braking (8/10)

I probably didn't do the appropriate tests to test the brakes, but they seem fine to me.

Ride (6/10)

Although the suspension is OK, the seats are literally shit. Needless to say you don't get any lumbar support ajustements, the seats get uncomfortable the more you drive and that's a big drawback for me.

Handling (8/10)

This car has a LSD and holly crap it's good. You're not gonna lose traction under acceleration, in the rain and when you take a corner it pulls you inside. This is something I'm going to miss in my next car. The traction control is not intrusive at all and that's a good thing.

Gearbox (5/10)

The gearbox is clunky. It has nice throws but some gears (I'm looking at you 2nd) are just hard to get into and to live with. The clutch is the lightest I have ever experienced and, honestly, it's unbelievably light. If you want to learn how to drive manual, go in a Civic SI.

Toys (8/10)

Full touchscreen display, i-MID, smart key with push to start, LaneWatch camera, rear view camera, auto headlights, auto climate, NAV, heated seats and sunroof. The whole entertainment system is ok, the touch feature is responsive and all-in it's not too laggy. However, there are very frustrating things. You cannot turn off the lady's voice when using nav, the volume knob is actually touch, there's no pause button when your iPhone is plugged in although there is a pause button when Bluetooth streaming. It's fine for a compact car, but it isn't optimal.

Audio (8/10)

I always thought Civic SIs had a great exhaust note and my car is not different and it's by far more aggressive than the GTI's. The stereo is also better than the GTI's with its 300 something watts.

Value (4/10)

The Honda Civic SI is a cheap car and at $27k we're all getting robbed. Fine you are getting all the toys I mentioned above but we're in 2014 and you're getting that in a 20K Forte. You're gonna get what you pay for : a reliable car with cheap materials, an outdated engine (to me) that you'll have to put premium in for some reason, a good fuel economy but minimal performance and an average design. You should really consider a Focus ST or a GTI or a WRX, those cars just feel much more premium and are way more refined.

Total 65/100

VeeKaChu > gabdere 10/10/2014 at 17:08

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You need these HFP Floormats , will cure all your carpet ills!

BarryDanger > gabdere 10/10/2014 at 17:57

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So when are you going to sell it for a better car?

RacinBob > gabdere 10/10/2014 at 18:57

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Just checked Honda's site, its $24,600 with Navi. $23,0100 W/O. I have an '07 twin to yours. Its great as what it is. Not a GTI in terms of torque. But didn't you have a lot of troubles with yours?

dogisbadob > gabdere 10/10/2014 at 19:11

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ooooo red seats! I hope these are available with the blue exterior!

dogisbadob > gabdere 10/10/2014 at 19:12

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no guns allowed!

dogisbadob > gabdere 10/10/2014 at 19:13

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Why would you take off the VTEC stickers? I mean, VTEC is the only reason you buy a Honda! You just took off 40 hp :(

Tom McParland > gabdere 10/10/2014 at 19:35

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I drove a '13 Si...loved the transmission but was let down by everything else. The problem is that it's not a "bad" car, it's that the competition in this price range is so good and that Honda could do better...but they refuse to.

Kanaric > gabdere 10/10/2014 at 19:41

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Honda at this price really should start offering turbos. However due to the LSD I would still pick it over many of its rivals like the GTI as a fun car. $27k feels like a lot, I have a feeling you have options I thought these were more like $23k.

Of course below 5000rpm it feels like a LX. This car is all about top end. You are used to a GTI which has a turbo which is the opposite experience in that regard. Drive an Integra Type R it would be far worse in this regard.

These cars still tear up autocross rather effectively. The 06-11 ones are going to be in HS and are probably going to dominate that class.

Torque Affair > gabdere 10/10/2014 at 20:07

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the car just needs more power!!!

Burrito de EJ25 > Tom McParland 10/11/2014 at 01:48

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You can get this Civic...or a base WRX. Why would anyone go for the Civic?

Burrito de EJ25 > Kanaric 10/11/2014 at 01:49

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For $27k you're knocking on the WRX's door. And the WRX just blew it open with a grenade launcher, knocking the Civic on its ass.

tim > gabdere 10/11/2014 at 10:50

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i have 2013 civic Si —-feels like 200hp to me . gear box is awesome not clunky like you say , smooth as silk, i smoke Gti's and Iwouldn't dream of taking off v-tech badges —-you have bad taste! seats are very comfortable .... i have driven mine on a 1000 mile road trip and me and all my passengers were very comfortable the whole trip. you are very negative about the Si . if you don't like it. Sell it and quit whining about the things you don't like because everyone I know that has one loves theirs. now go cry some more!

gabdere > Torque Affair 10/11/2014 at 12:11

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I mean 205hp from a NA engine is really good, they're really is something to do with this engine... Like a turbo lol

gabdere > Kanaric 10/11/2014 at 12:14

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06-11 with the K20 just feel more powerful... But the LSD is really something interesting in a car that offers that much power to the front wheels and that's why they're so good at autocross. Couldn't agree more with your post, but 2016 GTIs are coming with the performance pack that includes the LSD....

gabdere > Tom McParland 10/11/2014 at 12:17

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And why are they refusing? Because they know they're still going to sell cars because they're Honda.

gabdere > VeeKaChu 10/11/2014 at 12:19

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I know!! I complained at the dealer and still haven't got my new pair of mats...

gabdere > BarryDanger 10/11/2014 at 12:20

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Its a 2 year lease and being a student, it's really i mean really really cheap for a new reliable car. To be honest, insurance is the same as my 07 GTI and my payent is 36$ more each months

gabdere > dogisbadob 10/11/2014 at 12:22

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Yes they are. At first i wasn't sure with the red exterior because it's the the same as on the seats, but i went for it and tinted the windows so no more color matching problems. But i don't see why you'd get blue exterior and red seats, just doesn't go together with that shade of blue they're offering IMO

gabdere > Burrito de EJ25 10/11/2014 at 12:23

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I agree but the WRX still has an old school interior and this is were i spent most of the time so i want something interesting, but the WRX wins on any other point

gabdere > dogisbadob 10/11/2014 at 12:24

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Didn't want to be raced by kids in their 02 Civics

gabdere > RacinBob 10/11/2014 at 12:27

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Yes i had a lot of problems and that's when it became interesting to go for an Honda. Go over at honda.ca, base price in canada is $ 26,715 + $ 1651 delivery + PDI = $28,366 + 14,975% tax here, it comes in at $32,613

gabdere > tim 10/11/2014 at 12:28

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interesting...

Burrito de EJ25 > gabdere 10/11/2014 at 12:48

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The new WRX interior is a lot nicer than the one in mine. I mean, it's totally still utilitarian in design, but a funkier interior doesn't trump the WRX's drivetrain. For me, anyway.

dogisbadob > gabdere 10/11/2014 at 13:17

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EP3's are awesome. Probably the best British car ever sold here!

dogisbadob > gabdere 10/11/2014 at 13:18

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Blue cars with red interiors are awesome. The only way it wouldn't be as good is if it was a very light blue like ice blue

BlackLab > gabdere 10/11/2014 at 14:17

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I'd pick a GTI anytime. They look good - and drive really nice. I get that they are not as reliable but its not like driving a model A or something. All modern cars are fairly reliable when new.

I had a 96 Civic and I regretted buying that car - because I just never warmed up to the looks. It looked ugly to me then - and the modern civics to me look ugly now. Interestingly the Accord is the best looking Honda right now.

Bad seats, bad exterior - a nice gearbox can't make up for everything..

gabdere > BlackLab 10/11/2014 at 14:41

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The Accord Sport with the manual gearbox is actually really nice for cheap: twin exhaust, nice 18'' rims, bluetooth, fog lights, leather wrapped steering, projector headlights, rear cam and sunroof and it's the second cheapest Accord at $26k. This is value and it shows what Honda can do, now they need to do this to the Pilot, CRV, Civic etc...

gabdere > dogisbadob 10/11/2014 at 14:49

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I agree on blue car with red interiors, i always wanted a 335i with that combo... Although the Civic's blue isn't really nice and with that goddamn chrome

dogisbadob > gabdere 10/11/2014 at 15:22

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I like the Civic's shade of blue and it would be fine with a red interior.

I totally agree about the excess chrome. Most of it should be black or body color, and perhaps a red H logo.

Love Sosa > tim 10/11/2014 at 16:21

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you'll never even come close to "smoking" a gti in a civic. the mrk 1 gti could beat your civic

gabdere > dogisbadob 10/11/2014 at 17:24

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I did black and i did red on mine, black is def the way to go. Red seemed too busy

OutOfHere > gabdere 10/12/2014 at 23:25

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Bit harsh. I paid a discounted $22.5K for my 2013 Civic Si Coupe with Navigation, but not the summer tires. At $27K I agree with some of your points, but you can buy a Civic Si for a lot less than that if you shop around. If you paid sticker to your uncle, well....

titsinmymitts > gabdere 10/13/2014 at 09:39

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Where in the hell are you finding a Civic Si for 27K that isn't from Mugen?

I have only ever seen them at around 23K-24K.

titsinmymitts > Tom McParland 10/13/2014 at 09:42

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27K gets you:

Base WRX (maybe just a bit more cash..)

Focus ST loaded

GTI with a fair amount of options

Fiesta ST + winter tires and rims + summer tires and rims

FRS/BRZ

Genesis Coupe V6 base

2014 Mustang GT (heavily discounted at dealer lots)

Even if we rule out the coupes, you still have the Focus ST, GTI, Fiesta, and WRX to contend with. And all are better options in terms of outright speed and acceleration or torque than the Civic Si.

Tom McParland > titsinmymitts 10/13/2014 at 09:45

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Exactly...now you can get a fairly well equipped Si in the US for under 25k, but still it is pretty easy to find a nicely discounted FoST for that price as well.

titsinmymitts > Tom McParland 10/13/2014 at 09:47

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Hell, fully loaded ST3s with Recaros and nav/moonroof are going for 26K advertised around here.

The only reason to get the Civic Si is the reliability, which is second to none in this class. I myself have had issues with my ST, which has made me look at the Si a few times.

That being said, I'm not going to pay a 5,000 premium for an Si model which really isn't that much quicker than a base manual Civic under VTEC.

GTI MkVII > Kanaric 10/13/2014 at 09:58

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For ~27k you can get a GTI S with performance pack (LSD). They'll be hitting dealers in very early 2015. 220 HP, 258 tq, and an infinitely more refined interior.

Thunder > gabdere 10/13/2014 at 10:05

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The Honda Civic SI is a cheap car and at $27k we're all getting robbed.

Mine was $21K. Otherwise the same car described. At $27K there are other, better options. At $21, I couldn't find one.

The Civic Si does a lot well. It doesn't really do anything great, but the overall package is really good at the price point I found it.

gabdere > Thunder 10/13/2014 at 17:57

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Where you from? Let me guess, USA.

gabdere > titsinmymitts 10/13/2014 at 17:58

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At a Honda dealer in Canada, this is where i found it

gabdere > OutOfHere 10/13/2014 at 17:59

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Nobody is discounting a Civic SI in May when they are coming out. They don't have enough supplies for the demand, no discount to anyone in May

Thunder > gabdere 10/13/2014 at 18:28

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Correct.

We have limited options relative to many other locales.

Kanaric > GTI MkVII 10/13/2014 at 18:36

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That actually sounds good.

Kanaric > Burrito de EJ25 10/13/2014 at 18:38

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I had a '12 WRX and the interior was fine to me. IDK why people complain about it. Minimal interior should be an option in any performance car. Keeps weight and the cost of buying the car donw.

Kanaric > Burrito de EJ25 10/13/2014 at 18:40

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Well that depends on why you are buying the car. A good amount of enthusiasts who are into autocross would buy it simply because it's classed well and would be inexpensive to run. That and a WRX has open front and rear diffs which can cause people issues trying to do track work.

Burrito de EJ25 > Kanaric 10/13/2014 at 20:40

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It's not about a minimalist interior. It's about the build quality. You can use light weight, cost effective plastics. The problem with Subaru (in the past, anyway) is that my 2 year old WRX has developed more rattles than a 15 year old GM truck. And there are scratches on the window switches and arm rest. And I'm a careful motherfucker.

OutOfHere > gabdere 10/13/2014 at 21:20

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I bought mine over Memorial Day weekend...

I'm Abe Froman > gabdere 12/27/2014 at 18:23

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My GF's GTI-S has been a joy the last 4K miles:)

AeroSkipper > gabdere 04/28/2015 at 14:43

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I test drove the Si and it has the best gearbox I’ve experienced. You want to try a harsh first to second row? Drive my 2010 Saab 9-3, it feels like you are breaking something it’s so chunky. I suppose it’s personal experience, but every review I read/watch can’t praise the gearbox enough. I am considering the Si over the ST for my next purchase, though.