8th Gen Civic Si

Hello All, The other thread about the WRX, Pilot and Civic Si as well as teh article on the RSX finally pushed me to ask about them. I have been interested in the sedan version since they first came out in 2007 or so. I have searched here but found hardly anything about them.

Why are they not as popular (here) as I expect them to be? Is it because of the Madaspeed3, cobalt ss, wrx and other boost mobiles (Cheap speed) as well as the TSX, M3 etc.

In my research, I have not found anything bad about them except for rev hang and the 2nd and 3rd gear synchros (for the early years i believe.) And if you are a buyer, they seem to hold their value pretty well (which is bad).

On paper it is pretty compelling; it can seat 4 people comfortably enough, it is reliable, It is good on gas, it is new enough that you will not be fixing stuff every quarter, it can play if you want to, it is safe enough and has enough amenities to be a pretty decent DD.

I can't think of anything else that does the job better if reliabilty, fuel economy, safety and fun are pretty high on your requirement list and don't have the room for a miata or other fun car. An NA mazda 3 is pretty close but it doesn't rev to the moon (which I find very exciting).and doesnt have an LSD even though it does have torque

I can see i am rambling so cliff notes, what do you all think of these cars?

My girlfriend daily drives a 2007 coupe.

It's a nice car. Not crazy powerful, but fun to drive. It's comfortable and roomy. She also gets 25MPG's in just about 90% city driving.

I made sure to do my homework on them before she bought it and it seems they are pretty bulletproof. Lots of guys were getting to 100k on basic maintenance. My GF's has the funny synchro for 3rd gear, it pops out if you try to lazily put it in gear. However, it will take 8K RPM shifts no problem. Apparently some have had luck in getting rid of the issues just by changing to real good tranny fluid.

Another thing to look out for is E36 M3ty clearcoat. My GFs is starting to get sunfade on it and it barely has 65k miles. There's a class action lawsuit out against Honda for it. Some people were getting fade while the car was still even under factory warranty.

I hate working on it, but since I don't need to that often I guess it works out ok. My GF also didn't like the way it performed on the factory tires in the snow. She hasn't bitched since getting a set of Winterforces.

Must be worth something, because it was the car she had to have after test driving: countless Caliber SRT4's, a Mazdaspeed 3, a Neon SRT4, a manual Tiburon GT, 2 06-07 WRX's, an auto G35X sedan, a manual 330Xi, a manual Mazda 6 s, a manual G6 GTP, a manual Scion tC, a manual 4dr Jeep Wranger, a couple of manual Saab 9-3's, an R53 Cooper AND an r56 Cooper S, amongst others....

You summed it up about value. They are hilariously overpriced.

Here in the real world, you can buy a brand new SI for $21k. Orrrrr, you can buy a clapped-out 6 year old 100k mile SI that has been jumped daily by a sideways-hat-pants-on-the-ground type, needs clutch, salvage title, bald tires, mailbox-in-the-grille no-extra-charge for $13k.

I tried for a couple of months to find one reasonable, but I ultimately realized there are great cars that have depreciated more that will offer a ton more enjoyment for similar money. Like my $10k BMW 330i ZHP which sold new for $49k.

You would get your monies worth in laughs though, just by joining Honda-Tech and posting once a week or so.

I never found my 08 Si sedan to be a "fun" car. It never felt like a Civic either, too damned big. The A-pillars will block everything, if you're doing any city driving prepare to stick your head out the window when cornering as to avoid pedestrians. I owned it for a year and was bored of it after only a few months. Every Honda fan boi I knew drooled over it even in its plain silver stock wheel appearance.

On the plus sides, not many IMO,fuel economy was great on long trips averaging 35 a bit. One tank saw 38. It made cool noises, it was really comfortable on a 1,000 miles drive. You can also use the dashboard as an office desk.

I loved mine, wish I still had it, hence that post I made. It was very comfortable as a daily driver, was a great autox vehicle, and it was amazing in the one HPDE i did with it. Lots of room, quality interior, good MPGs, it just doesn't have a lot of torques or hp. Some of the most comfortable seats I've ever sat in. That's one thing the 9th gen lacks.

Worst mistake was upgrading to the 9th gen. Like others have said the used value is ridiculous, but it's because of how bad Honda did with the 2012. The cheap ones have been beat to hell my boi racers. I saw one at a dealership this weekend with close to 70k miles and they wanted $17k for it! A new one is like $21k

I never had any issues with my 8th gen as well. The front brakes had to be replaced under warranty and I don't understand why, it was after the HPDE I did with it.

In reply to DirtyBird222:

Between multiple runs on The Dragon & one local mountain run my front pads were wiped out at about 30k.

Do you drive with your other foot on the brakes all the time? There was some sarcasm in that statement about my brakes lol. I had about 12 autoxes and a PDX on that car plus about 20k before they went which is pretty good in my opinion. But in my time at Honda as a tech I would see cars that I regularly worked on (8th gen Si) put 80k on their car before the brakes even went into the red.

The repository of knowledge and experience here is simply amazing. I appreciate all the input/insight/experience. It seems that the major negative is the price. For a good one in my neck of the woods you are looking at e46m money which is almost unacceptable in my book--reliability and reasonable gas mileage not withstanding.

I test drove a 2009 with about 53k for 16k. That is like 5 NA miatas. Nice car, but 12.5k will be what I think it should be worth--even though book value says otherwise. Looks like I have to let depreciation do its thing. I did like the way it reved though. It felt like it could easily rev another 1k. The party ended too quickly once it switched over to the higher lobes(if that is what it does). It also felt somewhat over damped. I dont speak suspension fluently but that is what it felt like--not bouncy, but busy ride. Still enjoyed it though.

I had a 8th civic si for a while, mine was an 06, the first thing I did was replace the plastic clutch master clyinder for an omni racing unit, god that was a good driving mod. Hybrid racing shifter bushings with that really make it a fun to bang gears in car. The k series really responds well to breathing mods like headers and cams, skunk 2 makes a nice header as does buddy club and toda racing. These are very fast cars, for what they are, and there's a few people over at 8thcivic running 12s with cams and supporting mods. Other than the beautiful engine the car has a very stiff unibody, but still feels a little unbalanced. It didn't seem to like to transition smoothly, and mine really had a bad problem with brake fade when pushed to the ragged edge(using oem pads and rotors). Still when its all said and done would I buy another? Shopping for one now. I still regret trading mine in for my mr2 spyder.

In reply to Onetrillionrpm:

A low 15sec FWD car is going to need a bit more than cams and supporting mods to get into the 12s. Now some big boost would be more reasonable.

I do think that a supercharger would have probably changed my opinion of the car in the performance department. I just wasn't willing to dump over 3k on something for a car I wasn't happy with.

MA$$hole wrote: In reply to Onetrillionrpm: A low 15sec FWD car is going to need a bit more than cams and supporting mods to get into the 12s. Now some big boost would be more reasonable. I do think that a supercharger would have probably changed my opinion of the car in the performance department. I just wasn't willing to dump over 3k on something for a car I wasn't happy with.

Over at H-T, big boost is a "supporting mod".

Those guys are like the B5 S4 crew. Everyone is running 500 at the wheels, nevermind the fact that it costs 4x the price of the car to get it there and most of them still live at home. eh.

hotchocolate wrote: The repository of knowledge and experience here is simply amazing. I test drove a 2009 with about 53k for 16k. That is like 5 NA miatas. Nice car, but 12.5k will be what I think it should be worth--even though book value says otherwise. Looks like I have to let depreciation do its thing.

First, you are right, it is amazing.

Second, might be a long wait for reasonable depreciation. By the time they are 12.5k, they will have been seriously wrecked or ragged within an inch of it's life or both. Just order a new one for $21k, or get something with better used value.

The 2007-2008 Si sedan is on my list along with 1st gen TSX and NA Mazda3 hatch for a next DD. The used prices are crazy and the private party is as high or higher than a dealer. Believe me, I'm on CL and autotrader alot. FWIW, a new 2013 Si is actually $23,505. That's the most basic without any accessories and destination fee. I just "built" one on their website.

http://www.8thcivic.com/forums/autocross-sanctioned-drag-racing/201147-omg-12s-si-all-motor.html

12.8 @ 108. That was with slicks and open header with a 3" collector.

I ran something like a 14.86 in mine with just the cmc and a better shifter

I know they respond great to boost too.

There's another thread out there where someone got 300whp out of a NA k24, goo!

I had an RSX and considered an 8th Gen Si, but I hate the space jellybean looks.

Went with a Legacy GT instead. Paid the price...

The 8th generation of the Civic SI suffers from the same problem as all other generation: Over-Priced. They are great cars, but like others have said, not worth what people want for used examples.

But honestly, if you are interested in an 8th gen Civic Si, I will tell you to go have a look at a B16 Sentra Spec V. If you can stomach the questionable looks, it's a very similar car to the Civic. Both very practical, reliable, comfortable and spacious for DD duty. Engines that like to rev. 6 speed with LSD. More sporty than sports cars. And you will pay several thousands less for a similar used example. And the insurance is cheaper. And it's a lot more invisible to the cops. And with all the money you will save, you can make it a lot faster than a Civic SI.

In reply to Onetrillionrpm:

That is a very reputable source. I enjoyed this discussion on 500hp... And 700hp NA Civics.

I think I'll start shopping for a Civic if speed is this easy.

J308 wrote: In reply to Onetrillionrpm: That is a very reputable source. I enjoyed this discussion on 500hp... And 700hp NA Civics. I think I'll start shopping for a Civic if speed is this easy.

That's another reason not to buy a Civic Si. Do you really want to be associated with people like that?

Their resistance to depreciation reminds me of the MINI and 2ND gen Odyssey. Used ones were more than new ones.

About the SE-r, I have not cared for them since the b14. Maybe it is time to overcome my prejudice. Might as well look at a corolla Xrs as well. I am a Toyota fan boy, so that is ok :-).

My $.02: In my recent quest I found several Si's in good shape with 100k miles for $10-$12k. $10k is pretty close to blackbook. Personally, I hate the digital cluster, and a TSX or TL is a lot more car for the same money, but YMMV. Or, as mentioned earlier, an E36/46.

hotchocolate wrote: The repository of knowledge and experience here is simply amazing. I appreciate all the input/insight/experience. It seems that the major negative is the price. For a good one in my neck of the woods you are looking at e46m money which is almost unacceptable in my book--reliability and reasonable gas mileage not withstanding. I test drove a 2009 with about 53k for 16k. That is like 5 NA miatas. Nice car, but 12.5k will be what I think it should be worth--even though book value says otherwise. Looks like I have to let depreciation do its thing. I did like the way it reved though. It felt like it could easily rev another 1k. The party ended too quickly once it switched over to the higher lobes(if that is what it does). It also felt somewhat over damped. I dont speak suspension fluently but that is what it felt like--not bouncy, but busy ride. Still enjoyed it though.

don't know where you live ( it's not in your profile) but here locally ( WNC) there's a '01 BMW 325 ci manual transmission for 13k (71k miles )

I live far from there in the land if 10k lakes. :-) which is another reason the si interests me.

I've driven 2 (and a later RSX-S), and I just never found them enjoyable. HATE (loathe, despise, what other synonym can go here?) the dash, the sight lines suck (a-pillar) and the lack of any usable torque down low sucked.

Now, if you're playing and you like to rev it (a lot), it was fine. I just found it tedious. That and the high revs on the interstate.

I just found the 2.4 Forte SX to be a more enjoyable (overall) car. More usable torque where it needs to be, low cruising rpms on the interstate, good sightlines etc. Plus, it doesn't carry the crazy resale price tag of the Si.

I was thinking about the si until I realized that 1st gen cts-v's, evo 8s, and STIs are all in the same price range.