The GTI weighs about 300 lbs more than the Si, and you can feel it, but both cars feel like they handle really well (based on test drives in both with no salesdrone present). I found the Civic's steering to be better weighted and all of its mechanical linkages feel much more direct, especially coming straight out of the Miata.
The Civic has an LSD and the GTI doesn't, and most reviews say you can feel the difference on the track. You don't notice it on a test drive. What really sold me on the Civic is that it feels like it's carved from one piece of billet. There's a tightness to everything that is very impressive. It actually felt a lot like a higher-strung version of the RX-8, despite the fact that the two cars share virtually nothing in common.
S.
'02 Berlina S2k
J's 60RS, K&N FIPK, AUT CF cooling panel,
JDM sidemarkers, S badges, BYS emblems,
Mugen TP, 11.7:1 CR, Comptech Header,
Hello Kitty Mugen badge
Oh yeah, and when you decide that you want to do some HP mods, the K20z responds extremely well. I'm shooting for ~205whp w/ bolt-ons, and ~225whp once I get the Hondata K-Pro and get it tuned. What makes the Si a little better to mod than the RSX is it's air flow sensor; it automatically adjusts air flow for basically any mods on the fly.
'02 Berlina S2k
J's 60RS, K&N FIPK, AUT CF cooling panel,
JDM sidemarkers, S badges, BYS emblems,
Mugen TP, 11.7:1 CR, Comptech Header,
Hello Kitty Mugen badge
My Si won't have nav, so the differences really do come down to the RSX's lack of an LSD and the Civic's lack of leather seats. I asked several dealers about the Type-S, but nobody had one they could sell me. I think the Integra has finally reached the end of the line, as there are just a few lingering on dealer lots now. It's a sad day for the sport compact enthusiast community.
I would have happily considered the Type-S if more of them had been available. The old GS-R (circa 1994) was one of the coolest cars I ever drove. The Si reminds me a lot of it, only with a flatter power curve.![]()
Adam, we should compare notes at the next meet and greet.
S.
The lack of LSD is my only complaint. It will be $1k for me to add a Quaiffe when I'm readyThe 06's will be the last RSX's ever, sadly. There are rumors of a 2dr TSX coming out that will be it's replacement; Acura is trying to be more separated from Honda and the RSX was sacrificed for that. The Si's are a great continuation of the line though; they had just come out and were still marked up way too much when I got the RSX so I didn't even go look.
The RSX leather seats are extremely comfortable and you don't slide around nearly as much as you would think. I love the bolstering in them; the only reason I would ever replace them for a race seat would be for weight savings. Other than that, they keep you planted. The Type-R's in Japan come with cloth Recaro's that are very similar in shape, everybody seems to upgrade to them.
I'm getting a baseline dyno run next Wednesday if the shop isn't too busy. The K20 is a very nice engine indeed; I was expecting the typical Honda "peak" engine feeling on the test drive and came away very impressed.
I'd love to check out the car when you get it. I've only seen a handful on the road and haven't gone to the dealer to see it up close.
'02 Berlina S2k
J's 60RS, K&N FIPK, AUT CF cooling panel,
JDM sidemarkers, S badges, BYS emblems,
Mugen TP, 11.7:1 CR, Comptech Header,
Hello Kitty Mugen badge
All this Honda talk has insprired me to say that if they would make a TSX with a S2000 drivetrain, I'd buy it in a heartbeat.
Thomas![]()
V-to-the-Dub
Adam, does the RSX have Honda's stability control program? Apparently all the 2007 SIs will get it (mine is an 06), and I can't really see why. Other than Miatas and one Nissan Pickup, I've driven FWD cars my whole life and have never felt like stability control was necessary. Apparently you'll be able to turn the feature "off" but who knows what that means. Does that mean it re-activates whenever the antilock brakes kick in? Or does it mean you can turn it all the way off and leave it off?
S.
'02 Berlina S2k
J's 60RS, K&N FIPK, AUT CF cooling panel,
JDM sidemarkers, S badges, BYS emblems,
Mugen TP, 11.7:1 CR, Comptech Header,
Hello Kitty Mugen badge
'02 Berlina S2k
J's 60RS, K&N FIPK, AUT CF cooling panel,
JDM sidemarkers, S badges, BYS emblems,
Mugen TP, 11.7:1 CR, Comptech Header,
Hello Kitty Mugen badge
I admit, one feature I'm jazzed about is the Music Link. It ain't cheap, but the thought of being able to access my entire iPod library through the head unit is sweet.
S.
Yeah, another thing that the Type-S didn't get but the rest of the 06 line did. Oh well, the Bose sucks anyway and I would have upgraded the factory system regardless of what was in there. Oh, and I don't have an iPod, lol.
'02 Berlina S2k
J's 60RS, K&N FIPK, AUT CF cooling panel,
JDM sidemarkers, S badges, BYS emblems,
Mugen TP, 11.7:1 CR, Comptech Header,
Hello Kitty Mugen badge
I'm probably way late here, but I can highly recommend the Acura TSX.
Speed
yeah- about 3 pages late. he bought a new Civic SI way back on page 6.
nice car.![]()
Wow. Honda just released 2007 Si prices, and new owners will enjoy an $800 price increase just for the privilege of having VSA stability control installed standard at the factory.
Makes me all the more happy my 2006 is on a truck somewhere between here and Houston.
S.