2011 Honda Civic Si - VS. - 2011 Honda Accord?

[Vikas]

Originally Posted By: d00df00d

At a bare minimum it's a heck of a lot more masculine than, say, a Mini Cooper S or a Volkswagen Golf GTI...


Why not add few more cars to your "girly" list? VW Bug, Mustang (NOT-GT) Convertible, Toyota RAV4?? Let us try to offend as many drivers as possible

- Vikas

 

[d00df00d]

I didn't say those were girly. Just less masculine.

But seriously, I actually don't think "masculine" and "feminine" are good ways to describe cars. I also think it's silly to be worried about the image that a car projects when you're trying to decide whether to buy it. I was just trying to get the OP to look at it from a different angle.

 

[JMac101]

I didnt mean to offend anyone but I was just saying more women own civics than accords

 

[gathermewool]

Originally Posted By: d00df00d
Originally Posted By: gathermewool
What about the Si is practical?

Comfy for two, can seat four, well built, decent on gas, cheap to buy, cheap to own, easy to drive, easy to park, etc...


Originally Posted By: gathermewool
I owned an '07 for a year and couldn't stand it. I hated to trade in a car so new, but I just couldn't be in it for another day.

If you're the type to end up with an STI, I find that totally understandable.

Originally Posted By: gathermewool
The car was relatively comfortable, but visibility was poor and I was, at 6' tall, very cramped. It was the coupe, so that might have had something to do with it. The car was fun to drive, but I had to ring it all the way out to 6-7k RPM just to get any life out of 'er at all. I would also only get 27 mpg combined, with just over 30 on the highway. I could deal with the lack of torque if it were exceptional in the twisties or really good on gas. It was good in the twisties and just ok on gas

Sounds like you had pretty high hopes for a ~$20k car IMO...


Originally Posted By: gathermewool
Come on; it's a sub-compact!

Is it? I thought the Fit was a sub-compact...


Good catch - I meant compact, not subcompact. Regardless, I would expect more out of a high compression 2.0L while just putzing around town at lower RPM's.

My ex has a Fit and I've got to say that I feel like I have more room in it than I did in the SI. The visibility is loads better, too. Have you driven one? I can't say that at 6' it can comfortably seat two; maybe two smaller people, but definitely not two 6'+ people. I have zero issues with claustrophobia, but the cabin in the SI coupe seemed very tight and a bit too cozy for my tastes. I subsequently test drove a 4-door and what ever the difference was in height was noticeable; however, the car was still too cramped.

I didn't mean to come across as bashing the SI. For what it was, it was great. I've heard nothing but good reviews from every one and, if it's your kind of car and you find it comfortable at your height, then it's a great choice for a cheap little S2000 clone. I'm sure with a little more time I would have gotten used to the high-revving motor.

Doodfood is right that the high-torque, high boost attitude of the STI is more what I crave. The extra head room is what made the trade easy, even though I lost money (duh).

Back to the OP: if you're sub-5'10" or love cozy little cabins and crave high-rev shifting, love the sound of i-vtec kicking in (it does sound really cool, I'll admit,) and love that such a little car can bring so much to the table, then the SI is a great choice. Just listen to your instincts on the test drive. If it seems too cramped on a short test drive, then it'll only get worse.

 

[chrome]

The Accord is competent, but will never handle like the lighter Civic. I have the 7th gen Accord with HFP suspension and 20mm rear sway, and whilst it is a good improvement, the car never feels nimble.

But, it is a good highway cruiser, relatively quiet (depending on tires) and surefooted, and more spacious (seeing you have kids to ferry). Ultimately, buy the car that fits your needs.

 

[d00df00d]

Originally Posted By: gathermewool
My ex has a Fit and I've got to say that I feel like I have more room in it than I did in the SI. The visibility is loads better, too. Have you driven one?

I've driven the new Si in both coupe and sedan form, and also a first-gen Fit. I'm 6' 2". I had no issues whatsoever with the amount of room. But then again, I'm used to my car, in which I barely fit, so I probably have an opposite bias to yours. :]

I found the Civic's visibility to be just fine. I actually had a worse impression of the Fit's because that huge A-pillar was right in my face all the time.


Originally Posted By: gathermewool
I can't say that at 6' it can comfortably seat two; maybe two smaller people, but definitely not two 6'+ people.

Yeah, but what compact car can seat two 6' people one-behind-the-other comfortably?

A friend of mine has an '06 Civic EX sedan. He's taller than I am and likes to keep his seat way back, and I could still cram behind him if I had to. Comfort is another story, but again, this isn't the right thing to ask from a car like a Civic.

 

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted By: JMac101

My car will be my choice and my money will be spent on it, but what are your opinions?


I might suggest getting a used car you like and start saving some cash, having 20 or 30K in the bank makes house and mortgage shopping alot more fun!
If you can save a good amount and still get the car then go for it, but stretching to make insurance and car payments isn't a good financial position to be in for very long.

 

[bigmike]

If you're driving it, who cares how comfortable the back seat is? This goes along the same principle of having a guest room at your home. You purchase an uncomfortable, small bed so they don't stay more than a few nights.

 

[Schmoe]

I went through the same thing when I got the 06 Accord. If you can swing it, get the V6 Accord. Night and day difference to the 4 cylinders. The 2011 models will be the last until the 2012 "new" Accords come out. I never buy first year production model anything. The Civic just wasn't "all that" if your used to something a little bigger. But I will say, for the money the CRV we got dollar for dollar, had all the creature features of that of the Accord, and my wife really likes it. Maybe give that a try. I'm right at 6 feet tall and plenty of room for me.

 

[JMac101]

Thanks. I think I would like the excitement of the Si but I think I want the comfort and power of an accord more.
Thanks for all the help and advice to everyone.

 

[Mr Nice]

Quote:
Get a stick shift EX Civic and get 40+ mpg and still pretty fun and super reliable.


Yep. My Civic EX has been trouble free and 40 MPG is very easy without even trying. I've had the car up to 122 miles per hours and it was very smooth.

You can get a super good deal on a closeout Civic.

 

[ItsuMitsubishi]

Late as usual on this but the Accord is a more reliable and practical vehicle than the high strung Si. An Si would be fun for a while, but the novelty of a motorbike engine in a car can get old, quicker than it's 0-60. If you have responsibilities and do a lot of driving, Accord all the way.

 

[MrCritical]

#1. Never by a car based on monthly payments.

#2. Does the SI require premium fuel?

 

[gathermewool]

Originally Posted By: d00df00d
I've driven the new Si in both coupe and sedan form, and also a first-gen Fit. I'm 6' 2". I had no issues whatsoever with the amount of room. But then again, I'm used to my car, in which I barely fit, so I probably have an opposite bias to yours. :]

I found the Civic's visibility to be just fine. I actually had a worse impression of the Fit's because that huge A-pillar was right in my face all the time.


Maybe you have very long legs and an unusually short torso then! Haha. To put my concern in context, I traded my ’06 WRX for the SI because the SI seemed like a more-fun DD that would net me better mpg (since I put a lot of miles on my cars.) The test drive was great, the first couple of months were ok, but it wasn’t until after driving multiple long-distance trips that the cramped-ness of the SI got to me. Maybe, like you said, it was the fact that I was going from a relatively roomy WRX to an SI, but I just couldn’t take it any more. The fact that my head was only a couple of inches from the roof with the seat lowered all the way - down, not back; I don’t like driving with the seat tilted down, gangsta style - eventually got to me.

My ex has the second generation Fit, solved the A-pillar problem by splitting it up and using a section of glass to help visibility. Also, rear seat room, from what I remember of a first gen I test drove as well, is much improved, and could most likely fit two (2) 6’ people front and back! No power in the Fit though. May be another relative comparison, but I always laughed when I stomped on the gas peddle in the Fit and nothing happened but louder noise coming from the engine bay. haha

Maybe, again, I was spoiled by the great relative visibility in my WRX and now in my STI, but the Civic’s was sub-par to me. The rear curtain air bags combined with the rear sloping section, as well as the relative position of the driver’s seat and head rest made rear and rear corner visibility pretty poor, IMO. I try to always rely on mirrors and keeping an eye on my surrounding to be safe, but, with the SI, making that last minute over-the-shoulder check was pretty tough.


Seems like the OP is leaning toward the Accord. For my tastes, and if those were my choices, I’d pick the Accord, too. I really did like the Civic for some things, but not as a DD, and especially not for the number of long distance trips I took. All depends on what you want and what you feel comfortable in.


The SI does require 91 due to its high-compression engine, but I've heard of guys running regular with no problem. *I* would recommmend using 91 always, since the ECM will most likely retard timing to compensate for the lower octane fuel, costing you your savings in gas and maybe exposing the motor to intermittent detonation if you switch between different octane levels often.

 

[Audi Junkie]

I initially looked at the Civic, but got the Accord because my goat couldn't fit comfortably inside.

Also, coming off a RSX, I found the Accord Coupe to have more space, more power and got the same mpg.

 

[gathermewool]

Originally Posted By: Audi Junkie
I initially looked at the Civic, but got the Accord because my goat couldn't fit comfortably inside.

Also, coming off a RSX, I found the Accord Coupe to have more space, more power and got the same mpg.


What ever gets your goat...in the car.