Civic Si people....

JohnByers · **Posted:** Mon Nov 05, 2012 11:00 am

A co-worker who is looking for a commuter car that can help save him some money with his 81mile commute over his Mustang GT he is currently driving. I don't know anything about civics past about an EK model :lol:

Pro's/Con's about them? Major failures if any? What to look for on these. If this car has had three owners, should this cause any concern?

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=27601&endYear=2009&listingType=used&listingTypes=used&transmissionCode=MAN&doorCode=2&sellerTypes=b&transmissionCodes=MAN&maxPrice=14000&mmt=%5BHONDA%5BCIVIC%5B%5D%5D%5B%5D%5D&doorCodes=2&modelCode1=CIVIC&sortBy=derivedpriceASC&showcaseOwnerId=68447&startYear=2004&makeCode1=HONDA&extColorsSimple=BLACK&searchRadius=25&listingId=330909461&Log=0

Cliffnotes: '06 Civic Si 6spd coupe w/63,156

JamesShort · **Posted:** Mon Nov 05, 2012 11:11 am

Gotchas on the 06-08 is the 3rd gear synchros being sketchy. Do a few semi-agressive 2-3 shifts in it to see if it engages properly and doesn't pop out. Honda will Good Will repair it in *SOME* cases. Generally a long history with Honda or going to the original dealer is required. Otherwise, I think they charge about $1000 to pull the tranny and fix it.

On the 06-07 SIs, the struts can make a bit of noise and the 'fix' is new bumpstops.

On all SIs, the electric steering rack and sometimes loosen and cause a click so you have to loosen all the bolts and do a very even, iterative tightening of the 6-7 bolts.

The major downside to the SI is the terrible fuel economy. ~22 mpg if you drive like a grandma and ~18-19 mpg if you drive like Matt McGrain (both figures are city driving...maybe 26-27 mpg on highway trips).

They are pretty easy on oil so 6k OCIs are fine. Some consume pretty heavily and some consume nothing. Mine consumed nothing, but it was low mileage.

Axles are crazy expensive for the SI so make sure the CV boots are in good shape.

JohnByers · **Posted:** Mon Nov 05, 2012 11:27 am

Really, the mileage is that bad? I would have never guessed, thats interesting.

Thanks for the info James

Matt McGrain · **Posted:** Mon Nov 05, 2012 11:43 am

at James' comment on fuel. The engine revs to the moon and doesn't sound bad for a Honda. I got about 19 mpg around town shifting around 4k and on the highway with the cruise on coming back from Charlotte I think I cracked 30mpg just once. With a 200hp, high compression engine, you really can't expect much more I guess.

Honestly, instead of the Integra, the thought crossed my mind to get a coupe and call it a day in GS again without the fear of theft. They're great little cars with silky smooth gearboxes (albeit I had the 1-2 grind at >6500rpm shifting), K20 reliability with more torque than the B-series, not overly large tires to buy (17"), and a comfy interior with tilt/telescoping wheel. Some people really despise the high dashboard and loooong windshield but you get used to it, although you can't see the hood. Plus, they're easy to find used and stock.

Les Davis · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 2:04 pm **Posts:** 2059

JamesShort wrote:

The major downside to the SI is the terrible fuel economy. ~22 mpg if you drive like a grandma and ~18-19 mpg if you drive like Matt McGrain (both figures are city driving...maybe 26-27 mpg on highway trips).

Interestingly that is almost precisely the mileage I've experienced with my 4.6L Mustang GTs. What an engineering marvel Honduh has achieved, matching the mileage of a 3200lb 4.6L 260 hp 300 ft-lb V8 Ford in a 2800lb 2.0L 4 banger "economy" car, that's really quite remarkable.

Jeremy, tell your friend to not waste his time and continue enjoying his torque and great tailpipe noises, short shifting these cars helps with mileage a lot and is still fun due to the low end torque.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Mon Nov 05, 2012 12:11 pm

Damn I've got to get rid of that tune in my Mustang. I only got 20.5 going to and from CMP last month.

JohnByers · **Posted:** Mon Nov 05, 2012 12:12 pm

He has had some really strange and big time issues keeping it in the shop alot and he is scared of it.

And its John, Don't confuse us :lol:

, he's not that ugly

Matt McGrain · **Posted:** Mon Nov 05, 2012 12:28 pm

Oh yeah, Hanna Imports. They're two doors down from my shop here in Capital and while they have some pretty cool cars come through there, they also do bodywork (spraying for sure) in the parking lot next to their other vehicles on display. Guessing they buy a lot of crashed, near salvage titled cars fwiw..

JohnByers · **Posted:** Mon Nov 05, 2012 12:52 pm

Matt McGrain wrote:

Oh yeah, Hanna Imports. They're two doors down from my shop here in Capital and while they have some pretty cool cars come through there, they also do bodywork (spraying for sure) in the parking lot next to their other vehicles on display. Guessing they buy a lot of crashed, near salvage titled cars fwiw..

great info as well. Wanna go check this one out for me? :lol:

shawnwhipple · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 6:28 pm **Posts:** 603

Quote:

The major downside to the SI is the terrible fuel economy. ~22 mpg if you drive like a grandma and ~18-19 mpg if you drive like Matt McGrain (both figures are city driving...maybe 26-27 mpg on highway trips).

Wow I must have drove my 07 like a grandma's great grandma, I got 26-29 mpg in mixed driving.

jeremy gast · **Posted:** Mon Nov 05, 2012 4:56 pm

you do realize that we are two diffrent people right??????

Les Davis wrote:

JamesShort wrote:

Jeremy, tell your friend to not waste his time and continue enjoying his torque and great tailpipe noises, short shifting these cars helps with mileage a lot and is still fun due to the low end torque.

MartynWheeler · **Joined:** Mon Jan 02, 2006 9:30 pm **Posts:** 303

Les Davis wrote:

JamesShort wrote:

The major downside to the SI is the terrible fuel economy. ~22 mpg if you drive like a grandma and ~18-19 mpg if you drive like Matt McGrain (both figures are city driving...maybe 26-27 mpg on highway trips).

Interestingly that is almost precisely the mileage I've experienced with my 4.6L Mustang GTs. What an engineering marvel Honduh has achieved, matching the mileage of a 3200lb 4.6L 260 hp 300 ft-lb V8 Ford in a 2800lb 2.0L 4 banger "economy" car, that's really quite remarkable.

And, oddly enough, that's almost precisely the mileage I've experienced with my Lexus RX330 AWD SUV.

BriceJohnson · **Joined:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:33 am **Posts:** 2230

jeremy gast wrote:

you do realize that we are two diffrent people right??????

Les Davis wrote:

JamesShort wrote:

Jeremy, tell your friend to not waste his time and continue enjoying his torque and great tailpipe noises, short shifting these cars helps with mileage a lot and is still fun due to the low end torque.

You CCR people are all the same. . . :lol:

Steven Carter · **Posted:** Mon Nov 05, 2012 5:19 pm

JohnByers wrote:

He has had some really strange and big time issues keeping it in the shop alot and he is scared of it.

And its John, Don't confuse us :lol:

, he's not that ugly

sell that particular Mustang, buy another one. Maybe a Bullitt :stick:

, right Rodney? If you're going to get mediocre mileage at least get something that makes cool noises.

(As a reference, my WRX gets 24 city, 28-29 hwy FWIW. It doesn't make cool noises, though.)

Les Davis · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 2:04 pm **Posts:** 2059

Vincent Keene wrote:

Damn I've got to get rid of that tune in my Mustang. I only got 20.5 going to and from CMP last month.

Don't you have gears as well? Those are the likely culprit, my current Cobra gets teh shitay highway mileage with the 4.10s

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