Honda Civic....... More than a great set of seats?
Written: Apr 29 '03 (Updated Aug 28 '05)
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Pros: Quick acceleration, Seating, Fun factor.
Cons: Price, Warranty, Availability.
The Bottom Line: Dear Honda. Give me an attractive design, 20 more horses, and at least a 60,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty, then call me.
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| shoplmart's Full Review: 2003 Honda Civic 2 door |
The Si badge of honor has made its appearance on and off the Honda Civic over the past 15 years. These 2 letters mean quite a few things to the Civic cult following, most notably the dramatic increase in performance versus the base trim levels. The Civic Si has always been the epitome of the popular shtick "pocket rocket," perhaps even inventing the entire idea that an economy car did not have to be boring.
While the 2003 Civic Si still boasts some of the same attributes as the original, the 2003 Civic Si has undoubtedly made some dramatic changes over the years. The 2003 Si looks nothing like the ordinary Civic's (as they once did), and for the first time the Si has topped a base MSRP of $19,000 in the United States. For the '03 model year the 1.6 4-cylinder engine that once powered the 1999-2000 Honda Civic Si is now gone and in its place is a 2.0 DOHC 4 banger boasting the same 160 horsepower rating that the smaller 1.6 did. Thanks to the increase in torque with the larger 2.0, the Si's performance is a bit easier to live with. Only one transmission is available; a 5-speed manual, and one body style is available; a 2 door hatchback.
Driving Impressions:
The Civic Si might not have improved its 0-60 times over the past 5 years, however the 2003 Civic feels faster than its predecessor, especially when stabbing the throttle in top gear. When accelerating under full throttle you still get that small Japanese racy exhaust note as you did with the '99-'00 models, although there is incontestably more of a calm with the current generation Si's sound effects. Don't get me wrong, the 2003 Si is anything but quiet when accelerating up those freeway onramps with the pedal to the metal, however '99-'00 Si owners might find the sound emitted from the new Si's dual pipes to be a bit too tranquil.
Honda has always done an excellent job keeping torque steer to a minimum with most of their FWD production cars, the Civic Si is no exception. On full throttle take-offs the Si keeps in line, only showing slight signs of torque steer. Even with the 5-speed manual's shifter being oddly placed at the lower center stack of the dash (below the climate controls), it is very easy to reach, offers short throws, and good gearing; there are no huge jumps in gearing when up-shifting under full throttle.
No car can truly be a legitimate pocket rocket if it does not also offer excellent handling and braking in conjunction with good acceleration. The Civic Si definitely does not disappoint in this category. Like the older Si's, the 2003 models show very little signs of body lean/roll, and offers a tight ride with precise steering. Braking is also above average. The 4-wheel disc brakes coupled with 4-wheel ABS offer no fade or excessive vibration under excessive use.
Driving the Civic Si on the freeway is where I am most impressed. Unlike many cars similar to the Civic Si, i.e the Chevrolet Cavalier Z24 or the Mazda Protege 5, the Civic Si is kept almost totally devoid of engine and wind noise at high speeds. Even with the engine turning at approximately 3,500 RPM at speeds around 65 MPH, the Si does a great job keeping engine noise isolated under the hood, not in the cabin. The Si's ride is anything but soft, although the driver and all passengers should not have any problem with their dental work when driving over rough freeway bumps, or as California drivers experience, those sometimes annoying freeway road reflectors.
Thanks to the Civic Si's relatively low gearing, the car has access to much of its power in top gear. This is very helpful when performing quick passing maneuvers, and when tackling steep hills. The Civic Si rarely has to be down-shifted on those 5% inclines, and can keep a steady 65-70 MPH speed on even 7% grades in 5th gear. If you live in a mountainous area, i.e. Western Colorado, you should have no problem with those steep inclines during trips back and forth from Denver to Grand Junction.
Fuel Economy is good, although not great by any means. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Civic Si at 26/30 MPG, this is getting dangerously close to what the EPA rates the 400 horsepower V8 powered Corvette Z06. It does well in its class however, providing almost 5 more miles to the gallon than the comparably powerful Ford Focus SVT.
Interior Accommodation:
The interior of the Honda Civic Si is your proverbial mixed bag. There is so many positives about the Civic Si's interior, yet there is just as many negatives. On to some positive notes, the Civic Si boasts some of the best feeling plastics in its class. Compared to cars like the Ford Focus ZX3, the Si feels superiorly solid (minus the cheap interior door handles). Ergonomics are first class, everything is in reach of the driver, and the gadgetry is all logically placed. The driving position is excellent, which allows for easy access to the HVAC controls, stereo controls, shifter, etc. Some negatives include the overdose of titanium accents. This theme may look good in some cars, however the Si's dash is too small to be overdosed with this titanium theme. The Si's dash fascia would have looked much more attractive if Honda laid off the titanium accents. The end result with the Civic Si is more of a tacky look than a sporty one.
The Civic Si has always came fairly loaded with standard amenities, for the 2003 model year nothing has changed. Some standard noteworthy amenities include an excellent sounding 6-speaker/single CD player, a very cold AC, CC, 4 cup holders (2 up front, and 2 in the rear), a leather wrapped steering wheel, leather shifter, power moonroof, dual front air bags, and much more. For a list of all standard and optional equipment visit www.Hondacars.com.
Seating is excellent. The Civic Si offers some of the most supportive front bucket seats in a vehicle this side of $25,000. The Civic Si offers both excellent lower and upper body bolsters to keep you planted in your seats during aggressive driving. Not once did I feel like I was going to slip out of my seat into my passenger's lap, or that my body needed to use the door itself as support. The front driver and passenger seats offer 4-way adjustments which allow good driving positioning. Rear seating is 60/40 split bench which can sit up to 3 adults.
Head and leg Room is both adequate in the front and the rear of the Civic Si. Like most cars in this class, the Si is more of a drivers car than a passenger hauling tank. Thanks to the hatchback design versus the popular slanting coupe design, the Honda Civic Si offers plenty of head room for all occupants.
Exterior Innovation:
There is no confusing the body styles of the regular Honda Civic line-up and the outcast Civic Si. Unlike the rest of the line-up, the Si is a hatchback; a Si body style which harks back to the mid 1980s. The 2003 Civic Si's design may be a conventional hatchback design, though it looks anything but conventional. I'm usually very open minded about innovative automotive designs and most of the time a car's design will grow on me over time; not been the case with the '03 Civic Si. Over the past year, the 2002-2003 Civic Si still reminds me of an all electric vehicle project gone terribly wrong, not the fun sporty car that it is. "Ugly" is a very harsh word to use, though if I were to use this word to describe any car for the 2003 model year, I think the Civic Si would make a great candidate.
Price/Warranty:
The Civic Si has a starting price at a little over $19,000. Since the Si comes with all available amenities as standard equipment the price tops at close to $19,000 as well. If you want side impact air bags expect to shell out another $300. As with almost all Honda vehicles, the Honda Civic Si comes with a stingy 3 year/36,000 mile bumper-bumper warranty.
Final Thoughts:
If you like driving cars that offer tons of fun warped up in a small package, you should enjoy the driving experience offered from the 2003 Civic Si. The '03 Civic Si definitely sticks to its roots as being a pocket rocket, however I can't see myself paying $20,000 for this car. With a stingy warranty, less than desirable looks, and performance that can be purchased cheaper, I suggest looking elsewhere.
If you are in the market for another pocket rocket, you might want to check out my review on the 2003 Hyundai Tiburon V6
-Happy Car Shopping
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): 19,500
Condition: New
Model Year: 2003
Model and Options: Si, 5-speed manual
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