All-Rounder

I have taken up a new job that requires me to drive 60 miles round trip in Chicago and burb's traffic-infested motorways. Take into account the nasty winters we have, and I'm not so sure my highly modified 2000 Nissan Sentra SE would fair.

The Sentra SE was a very limited 2-year production model that had the last SR20DE engine - an overbuilt iron block 2.0 liter, which could take a beating in pounds-per-square-inch. It was then turbo charged to create a maximum of 250 hp to the wheels. It will be hard to find a factory-stock replacement car for it.

A few cars were in the running. I rounded up a few in the same price range, but not all exactly in the same playing field. The Mazda Mazdaspeed3, VW GTI, Honda Civic Si, and the Mini Cooper. The last that was counted out very quickly were leftover 2007 stock of Subaru's WRXes. Since it is now December 2007, there were no 2007 models of any cars from any of the manufacturers.

The 2008 Honda Civic Si
When it comes to street performance, no other car needs an introduction like Honda's Civic Si. The original rice rocket that all the young kids wanted has grown up with the same kids. The Si became a more and more substantial vehicle with every generation. It's hard for some to remember the original tin can we called the Civic Si. It is also to note that the hatchback Sis were not very received here in the states.

So here, the Si came back as a coupe. Along with a new style, it seems to be fairing better. Honda have also released a 4-door version of the Civic Si, which is the first compact sedan Si. While I noticed the 4-door seem to offer a bit more room in the rear, I prefer the 2-door coupe styling, and have decided to be selfish and ruled out the 4-door in my consideration for the next car purchase.

Styling
Honda seem to take Toyota's Celica's design to the next level, combining sharp lines with a sleek shape. The front nose of the Civic Si is much shorter than most cars, but because of this, the dashboard is deeper into the interior to provide the much needed protection from a front-end collision. This gives the car a very futuristic look. While there are some who hate the new Civic style, I personally love it.

The headlights and grill melds well with the rest of the body while the hood, roof, and rear end seem to have been formed with one pen-stroke. The side profile is best described as a sleeker version of the RSX. One can describe it as the Integra that should have been. It has a lower stance than the RSX and have a deceptively longer body thanks to the shorter hood. Just like the GTI, you can't say you're "special" if you don't have your badge labeled on the front grill. In this case, the red "Si" emblem is proudly displayed in the front, not just the rear.

Speaking of the rear, the rear end reminds me of the Del Sol from back in the 90s. It's plain, but still seem like a part of the new design without distractions. If you get the Si in red, the tail lights look fine, as it blends in with the rest of the rear end. However, in any other color, the tail lights seem to end unexpectedly towards the trunk lid.

Interior
The interior seem to blend well with the exterior's message of "we are from the future". The dash is very long and pushed forward towards the windshield. This is probably necessary since the hood is so short. This also gives the driver the feel of vast space in front of him. The entire dash seem to have a very slanted feel to it, sloping downwards. The standard stereo controls have a cheap feel to it, but if left alone, look very impressive as it molds into the dash. Overall, the interior screams of plastic, but seems more upscale compared to the previous generation Civic.

The gauges continue the "future" feel, as most of them are digital displays. The only analog dial you see is the tachometer at the bottom where you would traditionally see gauges. The digital speedometer, fuel gauge, and water temperature is displayed above the steering wheel. While looking weird initially, it was very comfortable while driving, and feels more like a heads-up display. You will not have an excuse to speed anymore, however. As for the only analog gauge, the tachometer looks cheesy with its gradient red and large "Si" lettering. A little subtlety would have been nice.

The seats are pretty comfortable and seem to hold you very well in g-force inspired maneuvers. The rear seats doesn't leave much leg room, however. The 4-door version of the Si does have a bit more room, but can still be cramped for most people.

Aside from the futuristic look and design, the Civic interior feels like a Civic interior. Cheap plastic interiors seem to find its way into every Civic I've driven (1999 and up).

The 350W 7-speaker AM/FM CD with MP3/WMA and subwoofer actually sounds just as impressive as it is on paper. At least, much better than any factory stock solution I've heard. It's good enough for me to not consider purchasing an aftermarket solution. The bass is punchy enough for my kind of music (alternative rock), while the treble and mids seem to have been delivered to my ears without too much muffling.

The Drive
I wasn't expecting much from the 197 hp Si, but power delivery caused much more excitement than I anticipated. Power comes on strong after 6000 RPMs and continues to the 8000 RPM redline! If it's not the power I am feeling, it must be the thrill of listening to the motor scream at you when reving so high! Whatever the case, it will cause your heart rate to rise with every shift of the gear. I find myself trying to keep the engine high enough like a drug addict finding his next fix (huh huh... get it?). There is a distinct kick once you hit 6000 RPMs, but before that, the Si feels tame, but smooth.

Power delivery impressed, but so did handling! The previous generation of Si were known to handle well, and this generation did not disappoint. Thanks to the standard LSD and sport-tuned suspension, it seems to turn on a dime on mid-speed corners. At high speeds, the Si is very confident without being too scary, but surprisingly, did not seem like it want to plow. This is one of the most neutral feeling factory front-drive I've driven since the last generation Integra Type R! Steering inputs were effortless and seem to communicate road conditions well.

Speaking of steering, the steering wheel needs to be mentioned. It continues the futuristic feel by having the area where you grab on to seem to float in front of you! The spokes are recessed to cause this effect, and it is very effective.

The brakes are just as impressive, and I felt no fade from a few fast laps in a large empty parking lot (same one I used to test the GTI's handling). Nose dive was almost non-existent on panic ABS-riddled stops. However, I was able to modulate it to the point before ABS kicks in, as well.

The accelerator, however, felt like a pedal from one of Logitech's video game controllers. It has a very short distance to travel from 0% throttle to the floor. Punching the pedal does not have that satisfactory feel of natural resistance. While the Civic Si is now drive-by-wire, the new GTI (as well as my brother's old GTI) is also drive-by-wire, and both of them emulates the natural resistance of a gas pedal that was connected to a cable.

Honda did get the shifter feel right, as it feels almost as good as their S2000. It was not notchy, and feels well gated. The throws were very short for a factory stock car, and is fun to row through the 6 very short gears. Thanks to the short gearing, you can keep the revs up high, which is a good thing since the engine only comes alive over 6000 RPMs.

The peaky nature of this car is very nostalgic to the earlier VTEC powered Si. The obvious difference in cam profiles shifting at 6000 RPMs seem to verify this. Even so, being the only naturally aspirated engine in my round up, power delivery was satisfying and smooth (at least from 6000 RPMs and up).

Driving normally, and you'll feel that the Si is under powered. Thanks to the low torque rating, the Si feels very lethargic on the street. This can be a good thing if you wish to have something that is more comfortable when driving to work. However, the harsh suspension doesn't help you here as you can feel almost every bump on the road. It's not quite as bad as the Subaru WRX STI, but definitely noticeable when compared to the GTI.

Because of its excellent handing when performing, you'll be very confident in accident avoidance when on the road. Just don't get into a situation where you may need to accelerate quickly unless you are a quick shifter.

Conclusion
The Civic Si is the cheapest in my round up. The standard features are very generous which includes ABS, LSD, and a 350W 7-speaker AM/FM CD with MP3/WMA playback and subwoofer stereo system. The base price is 21,750 for all of this. The only option is the navigation system with XM radio and a digital audio card reader that raises the price to a still-affordable $23,500. Even with the navigation system, it's cheaper than VW GTI's base sticker, and only slightly more than the MS3's nearly $23,000 base sticker.

To top it off, the Civic Si only weighs 2800 lbs, while the GTI and MS3 comes in at 3100 lbs. The power deficiency is made up by the weight. However, when compared to the MS3, you really can't make up for nearly 70 hp. Then again, the MS3 is the only car in my round up that sticks out like a sore thumb when it comes to power. However, since it's in the same price range I have set my budget on, it's in the running.

Overall, the Civic Si is a tremendous value when it comes to performance. When it comes to performance, the Civic Si and Mazdaspeed3 is far ahead of the GTI. However, the price is right with the Si, especially when the Navigation system still doesn't break my bank account. Does raw power really beat all-round agility? I'll find out when I visit a Mazda dealer!
Amount Paid (US$): 21,750
Condition: New
Model Year: 2008
Model and Options: 6-speed