2013 Civic Si

[jigen]

Handling is pretty good, understeer is present but not overbearing. I would imagine it being not so hot with anymore power.

All traction control can be turned off from one button.

I agree about most Honda interiors as well. This one is nice.

 

[Hounds]

jigen, Smart GF. She made a wise decision in choosing a Honda Civic Si with that exceptionally well-developed 2.4L motor. That car and (as previously noted) the 6-spd. MT Accord Sport are among the best, if not the best, values for money in the marketplace these days. With even a modicum of care, your GF can look forward to years of exceptional service from her new car. Well done!

 

[charbaby]

I'd like to see some new comparison testing by the major mag's and CR on the new Civic and the competition. Just want to see how the new Civic is fairing with the stiff competetors.

 

[Mykl]

Originally Posted By: Char Baby
I'd like to see some new comparison testing by the major mag's and CR on the new Civic and the competition. Just want to see how the new Civic is fairing with the stiff competetors.


Yeah, as much as I've been a fan of the Civic Si for it's reasonable performance at a good price that still maintains classic Honda reliability.... the competition in this particular segment is really tough.

The last two choices left on my list in 2009 when I got my GTI was that and the Si. I chose the GTI because it was a drastically nicer car overall, but that has a lot to do with the Si being near the end of it's model run and the VW being 100% new and redesigned.

If I needed a brand new car right this second it would probably be between the Focus ST and an Si sedan.

 

[glock19]

Originally Posted By: Mykl
Originally Posted By: Char Baby
I'd like to see some new comparison testing by the major mag's and CR on the new Civic and the competition. Just want to see how the new Civic is fairing with the stiff competetors.


Yeah, as much as I've been a fan of the Civic Si for it's reasonable performance at a good price that still maintains classic Honda reliability.... the competition in this particular segment is really tough.

The last two choices left on my list in 2009 when I got my GTI was that and the Si. I chose the GTI because it was a drastically nicer car overall, but that has a lot to do with the Si being near the end of it's model run and the VW being 100% new and redesigned.

If I needed a brand new car right this second it would probably be between the Focus ST and an Si sedan.


The MKVII GTI with the E-LSD and DSG looks like it's going to be awesome. If I hadn't just bought my Subaru this year I would be buying a new GTI when they come out.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: Mykl
If I needed a brand new car right this second it would probably be between the Focus ST and an Si sedan.


I haven't driven a Civic SI, though I'd love to. You probably know as well as I do, though, that the Focus ST is a seriously good machine. I suspect the Focus is just a hair larger than the Civic, and the ST is available as a 5-door hatch only, yes? That's a format (5-door hatch) that the Civic doesn't offer, at least in North America, unfortunately.

I'd like to see Honda develop an SI version of the Fit. It and the Fiesta ST would be direct competitors. And like the Focus ST, the Fiesta ST is a VERY nice small hot hatch. I'd like to see more performance versions of these B- and C-class cars.

 

[gofast182]

Originally Posted By: dishdude
Sharp looking in white with those wheels! Did you happen to take a look at the Acura ILX at all? I believe the higher end ones have the SI powertrain.

It has the same engine but no LSD, costs more, and the interior quality isn't any better than the Civic after the '13 updates. The ILX is a poor model that should not exist.

 

[gofast182]

Originally Posted By: Chris B.
25mpg? My 2012 Accord V6 gets 27mpg and I hammer it. The Civic should do much better.

Sweet looking ride! Got any pics of the interior? Is the dash hard plastic or padded? Enjoy the new ride!

I'm sure once it's broken it there will be an improvement. On the highway they should expect well over 30mpg.

 

[jigen]

It's rated at 22/25/31 so we will see. Seems to be hitting those numbers now and that's with pretty aggressive driving.

 

[Vikas]

Will it be faster than circa 2000 5-speed Maxima? Maxima has under 200HP and is larger car but could be similar in weight as cars have not been on a diet for the last decade. Is the Si under or over 6 seconds?

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: Vikas
Is the Si under or over 6 seconds?

Edmunds got 6.9 seconds 0-60 out of it. But motortrend got 6.1s. Not sure why such a big difference.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Edmunds got 6.9 seconds 0-60 out of it. But motortrend got 6.1s. Not sure why such a big difference.


Probably lauch style.

Frankly, I'm more a fan of the 5-60 times than 0-60 times. 5-60 represents what is more typical, and highlights an engine's flexibility (or lack of it). Engines with good low-end torque typically have small differences between 0-60 and 5-60 times. Engines that need more engine speed to create max power will benefit from a drop-clutch launch at 4000 rpm or similar on a 0-60 time.

Edmunds was likely engaging the clutch somewhat smoothly trying to keep wheelspin at bay. Motor Trend may have revved it to 3000 and side-stepped the clutch or something. I think some magazines call the 5-60 the "street start" time, and I think it's more appropriate for most vehicles.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

For some reason, I thought SI was coupe only.

 

[vintagegz]

Own a 2013 Si myself, great enjoyable car. Looked at the GTI but not a fan of VW , Honda resale down the road I personally feel is much better value for the dollar. And the original LSD with VW operated on the front brakes, great way to overheat those if using the lsd a lot as when driving in a slippery road snow storm. At leat Honda gives you the real thing!

 

[Mykl]

Originally Posted By: glock19

The MKVII GTI with the E-LSD and DSG looks like it's going to be awesome. If I hadn't just bought my Subaru this year I would be buying a new GTI when they come out.


Yeah, the next GTI looks like it's going to be fantastic. If it were here it'd definitely be on my list of cars to look at, but I've been told that the ST is an awesome car if you like some tail-out hooligan action, as I do.

To be honest, I'm a bit frustrated with that part of owning a GTI, not being able to wag the tail going into corners is a bit of a let-down. Mechanically the car is perfectly balanced, and it's really easy to slide the car around, the problem is the non-defeatable stability control always ruins the fun.

Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
I haven't driven a Civic SI, though I'd love to. You probably know as well as I do, though, that the Focus ST is a seriously good machine. I suspect the Focus is just a hair larger than the Civic, and the ST is available as a 5-door hatch only, yes? That's a format (5-door hatch) that the Civic doesn't offer, at least in North America, unfortunately.

I'd like to see Honda develop an SI version of the Fit. It and the Fiesta ST would be direct competitors. And like the Focus ST, the Fiesta ST is a VERY nice small hot hatch. I'd like to see more performance versions of these B- and C-class cars.


Yup, I haven't driven either a new Si or an ST just yet, so that would probably be the determining factor. On paper though, I think the Si is certainly worth consideration.

It would be really cool if Honda gave us a tweaked version of the Fit. The Sport model is already pretty sharp, just give it a bit more under the hood.

 

[Mykl]

Originally Posted By: vintagegz
Own a 2013 Si myself, great enjoyable car. Looked at the GTI but not a fan of VW , Honda resale down the road I personally feel is much better value for the dollar. And the original LSD with VW operated on the front brakes, great way to overheat those if using the lsd a lot as when driving in a slippery road snow storm. At leat Honda gives you the real thing!


So two things about the electronic LSD.... first, it is actually pretty effective. I would say it's worth maybe 75% what a good mechanical LSD would offer if you use it right (I would still prefer a mechanical LSD, but this isn't really all that bad). The main thing is that the feedback you get when it's operating is a lot more subtle than what you get with a mechanical LSD because you feel almost nothing through the steering wheel when it's working. So you have to pay attention and not get too greedy with the throttle because the car has enough power to overwhelm that inside brake making the system useless.

The second thing..... you're not going to overheat your brakes using them that way. The only time I got the brakes hot enough to start to fade was after running flat out down the entire 50ish mile length of the Cherohala Skyway. Even wear isn't much of an issue. I have nearly 70k miles on the front factory pads and I make use of the electronic LSD every time I drive the car (I subscribe to the "Italian tune-up" method of keeping the intake valves carbon free).

 

[gofast182]

Originally Posted By: Mykl
Originally Posted By: vintagegz
Own a 2013 Si myself, great enjoyable car. Looked at the GTI but not a fan of VW , Honda resale down the road I personally feel is much better value for the dollar. And the original LSD with VW operated on the front brakes, great way to overheat those if using the lsd a lot as when driving in a slippery road snow storm. At leat Honda gives you the real thing!


So two things about the electronic LSD.... first, it is actually pretty effective. I would say it's worth maybe 75% what a good mechanical LSD would offer if you use it right (I would still prefer a mechanical LSD, but this isn't really all that bad). The main thing is that the feedback you get when it's operating is a lot more subtle than what you get with a mechanical LSD because you feel almost nothing through the steering wheel when it's working. So you have to pay attention and not get too greedy with the throttle because the car has enough power to overwhelm that inside brake making the system useless.

The second thing..... you're not going to overheat your brakes using them that way. The only time I got the brakes hot enough to start to fade was after running flat out down the entire 50ish mile length of the Cherohala Skyway. Even wear isn't much of an issue. I have nearly 70k miles on the front factory pads and I make use of the electronic LSD every time I drive the car (I subscribe to the "Italian tune-up" method of keeping the intake valves carbon free).

I was considering a '10 GTI at one point and one of the things that made me shy away is the thought that if the rotors were warped even slightly that would make the operation noticeable and annoying.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: gofast182
I was considering a '10 GTI at one point and one of the things that made me shy away is the thought that if the rotors were warped even slightly that would make the operation noticeable and annoying.


Both Cadillacs I used to own had excellent traction control systems that acted as electronic limited slip devices and they worked great. I used it all the time on those cars. There are certainly drawbacks to mechanical LSDs on FWD cars (which is why they're relatively uncommon). Truth be told, I'd rather have it via the ABS than via a mechanical device in a small and light FWD vehicle.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

I'd rather have the electronic "software locker" on a front driver than an actual mechanical limited slip.

That would have some serious negative affects on winter handling. As in ... the car is only going to want to go straight when power is applied.

 

[gofast182]

Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
Originally Posted By: gofast182
I was considering a '10 GTI at one point and one of the things that made me shy away is the thought that if the rotors were warped even slightly that would make the operation noticeable and annoying.


Both Cadillacs I used to own had excellent traction control systems that acted as electronic limited slip devices and they worked great. I used it all the time on those cars. There are certainly drawbacks to mechanical LSDs on FWD cars (which is why they're relatively uncommon). Truth be told, I'd rather have it via the ABS than via a mechanical device in a small and light FWD vehicle.

I just figured you'd notice something like a slightly warped rotor more since a sweeping turn would result in a prolonged period of engagement.