BlueEyes

haha, let's hope that doesn't happen to mine. My experience has been that the Type-R is the faster car on the track. The car continues to blow me away, and it really is a blast to drive.

The other thing I love about it, 4 tires, toolbox, and all other necessities for a track day fit in the hatch with ease.

More_Revs

29k for an Si?? That's a rip off...my brother got his for 20k w/o Navi.

I wouldn't say the RSX is better than the Si though. I think the RSX, bring Honda's first strut suspension car, has some setup problems. Don't forget RSX and the last Civic Si are based on the same platform too. The new Si is suppose to improve on that.

Ike

Anyone that says the RSX is better than the new SI has no idea what they're talking about. The Civic has a better suspension, better brakes, LSD, better seats, and various other tidbits that are an improvement over the RSX. Go drive an '06 RSX Type-S and then a Civic SI back to back, there is little doubt which is the better car handling wise and all around.

VikingDJ

Agreed, and I never thought I'd say this, but I was sitting in one last month in showroom when waiting for my S2000 to get inspected and oil change. It was Black. That car actually looks really nice. I never thought I'd say that about a Civic, but it really is a good looking car IMO. I like it more then RSX in looks. Very cool for a Civic.

mike0615

yup, honest to god. 29k. deal said that white SI in SoCal was super rare, blah blah blah. 29k, i don't know if this matters, but it was a 4 door.

ike: maybe ur right, if u put it that way, the RSX is discontinued, and the new SI is new. but how the hell in the world is it that u have driving EVERY SINGLE car in the world? that puzzles me deeply.

Ike

Well, in this instance I drove the RSX when I was cross shopping cars when I got my WRX. I drove the SI when looking for cars for my fiance. She is still holding on to her Altima, but it will finally be gone this summer and I'll be damned if she doesn't get a car that I want to drive as well. There are plenty of cars out there that I have driven, but even more that I haven't

mike0615

so how hard did u push both cars when u where testing them?

Japan8

Altima coupe?

VikingDJ

Well I went on Honda and built a 4 door SI Sedan. with navi. I added every single option and accessory available, and the MSRP came out to $27681 (Original MSRP for the Civic SI 4 door is $23835. I didn't miss anything including all of this. If $29000 includes sales tax, then he either added a bunch of meaningless accessories, or he overpaid. The fact is, you can get for for $21k without navi. If you wanna get eveyer single option and accessory known to man and pay full msrp in the process, with tax i guess $29k is possible. However, he wasted his money, and got taken for a ride. lets build an RX8 with every conceivable option and accessory and see what the MSRP is shall we. LOL

EXTERIOR [Edit]
Wheel Locks $54
Splash Guards $95
Door-Edge Guard $70
Car Cover $225
Half Nose Mask $75
Moonroof Visor $135
Front Under Spoiler $349
Side Spoiler $589
Fog Lights $325
INTERIOR [Edit]
Cargo Net $45
All-Season Floor Mats $115
Trunk Tray $105
Auto D/n Mirror W/ Compass $229
Auto D/n Mirror Attachment $49
Interior Gauge Trim Kit $239
ELECTRONICS [Edit]
Honda Music Link $189
Y Harness Adapter $15
Music Link Attachment $10
8 Disc Cd Changer $435
Cd Changer Attachment $134
Bass System Kit $315
Bass System Attachment Kit $49

rotary crazy

the SI is better than the rsx, but the ITR is better than the SI in terms of performance, at least in my expirience

Ike

The times I have driven the RSX pretty hard since they just tossed me the keys. The SI not so much since they didn't even want someone to test drive it in the first place so a salesman came with me. Even so, the little I was able to push the SI it was pretty clear to me it was the better car.

CarAndDriver

The last two years of the RSX Type-S were supposed to be the best of the bunch. It should be quicker than the Si.

Ike

It seems the Type R is little FASTER in the tests thus far, but it's almost the exact same engine so I don't know why you would say "it should be quicker".

mike0615

I see, i've been in my friends SI and i can give testimony to its speed. i haven't been in a RSX yet so i can't really give a good comparison. i was just going by the numbers on paper. plus the RSX i seen on the track, but there was no SI there at the time. so. i'll take your word for it.

CarAndDriver

I thought when they made the final changes to the RSX Type-S for 2005. They upped the HP to 210 so maybe a tad quicker. According to C&D....

2005 Acura RSX Type-S
Vehicle type: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 4-passenger, 3-door coupe
Price as tested: $24,140 (base price: $24,140)
Engine type: DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, port fuel injection
Displacement: 122 cu in, 1998cc
Power (SAE net): 210 bhp @ 7800 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 143 lb-ft @ 7000 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Wheelbase: 101.2 in
Length/width/height: 172.4/67.9/54.9 in
Curb weight: 2848 lb
Zero to 60 mph: 6.2 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 16.6 sec
Street start, 5-60 mph: 6.9 sec
Standing 1/4-mile: 14.9 sec @ 95 mph
Top speed (drag limited): 136 mph
Braking, 70-0 mph: 181 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.86 g
EPA fuel economy, city driving: 23 mpg
C/D-observed fuel economy: 22 mpg

Ike

Yep, and the RX-8 was once rated at 247 hp... It's the same engine.

Ike

Forgot to mention, the 2006 RSX was rated at 201 hp @ 7800 rpms and the Civic SI is rated at 197 @ 7800 rpms. All that comes down to is SAE test variance most likely, or maybe a slightly different intake or exhaust.

eforer

Civic si has the LSD the acura doesn't, makes a surprising difference. I love driving my fiancee's is, for the money its tough to beat. To touch on the whole GTI thing, when we looked at the GTI, the dealer didn't have a single car on the lot with a sticker price under 26 grand. Volkswagen seems to create a base price version of all its cars which never actually appear on lots. I liked the civic better anyways.

Aznxkaiser

Not promoting street racing or anything, just found this on Youtube.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=s0KzU8QGm8Q
Probably driver error on the RX8 though.

Rhawb

I have no idea what everyone's arguing about right now - I'm assuming that you're arguing, but I bet if I go back I'm right. I know this because Ike has posted - but I'm going to make this post no matter how out of context it is.

I just drove an SI tonight, and I wasn't surprised nor blown away, it's about exactly what I expected. Quick, somewhat bland, and well built.

Performance-wise, the engine is quiet with a light growl when you get on the throttle. It gets going well enough, but it feels a decent bit slower than the 8. This may be because I never really stomped on it, but under normal driving and even some lightly spirited stints, it seemed a bit less eager to take off. Handling was okay...ish. It was responsive and the feedback was passable, but there seemed to be a certain vagueness and lots more body roll than I was expecting.

As for the interior, I liked the seats, they're comfy and supportive and keep you from fighting to keep your butt in place. For some reason the dead pedal placement really stood out to me as being fantastic - it was in just the right place to hold you in your seat while keeping your leg comfortably bent. Gauge cluster was a bit odd, but I ended up liking it at the end of the drive. It's almost like a heads up display. Interior quality along with fit and finish were top notch, as expected.

All in all, now that I'm looking for a slightly more economical ride since I'm going to be doing a lot of driving in the near future (plus the 8's lease is up), it wouldn't be a bad choice. It's a decidedly average, unoffensive, sporty(ish) car. I could see myself driving it, but I know I would hate the type of attention it will draw and I would have to stay FAR away from their forums. I have yet to drive the other two cars on my list - the MS3 and the WRX - I planned on looking at the GTI as well, but the sketchy reliability has scared me away. When I do get my hands on those other two, I'll let you guys know how they compare.

CarAndDriver

^ Keep us posted. The new GTI 5DR is sweet. I wonder how this latest generation of Rabbits will fare reliability wise. The design has been out in Europe for awhile so hopefully the bugs have been worked out.

eforer

I wasn't super impressed with the GTI when I test drove it with my girlfriend. I thought the balance on the si was better and although less torquey, once in the power band generally more responsive.

Both of these cars new are going for outlandish prices in certain parts of the country. There are dealers in california making SI "clones" which have the appearnce of being si's without any of the go fast stuff to accomodate all the rabid teens chomping at the bit for the oversold si out there. Its lunacy. We got her car, an 06 si with 15k on it for 17k, along with a very favorable trade on my mercedes that landed us 4k over my payoff. All and all it was economical used, but I think very overpriced beyond 20k. The GTI prices were off the wall for cars on the lot. Really not worth it.

Ike

When I drove the GTI they were ready to deal right then and there, and this was shortly after it came out. I really don't thinik they're selling all that well and theer are deals to be had. I actually liked it quite a bit and the reliability issues might not be there since it's made in Germany while the previous gen. was made in Mexico. It may end up sitting next to my car in the garage this summer. It will be a manual if that happens, the DSG while very well executed bored me to tears.

CarAndDriver

The Si will be a theft target the minute it arrives in your driveway.

Rhawb

That's one of the things I'm afraid of. I'd be much more apt to buy it if I wasn't going to be nervous any time I left it alone. It's looking like I may just end up with the MS3 simply because there are no other cars left - WRX is looking too expensive, SI and GTI are sketchy, so unless I can manage with a Miata, it's probably the MS3.