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Comments
But a majority of the people I know who are > 30 wouldn't be caught dead in a hatch. In the Celica/RSX/Cougar hatches, it is not so much a problem. Just not the Metros/GTi/Si hatches.
So, the 1970 guideline is pretty accurate.
Don't get me wrong. I like the Si but at least I know what other people perceives it as. To me, it will be (once I buy it) a cheap commuter for me on my daily 60miles trip to and back from work. That's all. It is afterall just a car that depreciates daily. Unless of course I buy a rare 2000 Si and I might be able to sell it for more than what I paid for it :P and we all know this is the truth, don't we now?
They wanted about $17.5k out the door. Or at least they present to me as if it is out the door. I know they'll throw in the doc fee ($40 in MI) at the last minute just to make extra $$.
$17.5k is a good price considering the invoice price. But it is late in the year and the Si as we know is not selling. 03s are here. Will see how long they'll stick to their guns.
Fortunately for me, I'm not desperate to buy yet.
Again, the hatchback of the C230, 381ti and RSX are VERY DIFFERENT from the hatchback of the Si/GTi/Metro. Can't you tell?? The c230 and RSX look almost like 2 door coupes as well as the defunct Cougar except they all have rear wipers.
Btw, you can't call that half baked c230 a real MB. The inside seats are comparable to a Neon. Seriously! Who would buy a c230? It's a wannabe car.
The prices are genuine and include destination. No way would I pay more than $16K for a Si.
Now, I suggest you print this page and show it to your friends who are *brand* minded. Those who drives Bummer and MB. See what they think of hatches and if any of these look any different to them? Do they convey the feeling of CHEAP?
Photos courtesy of Edmunds.
00 Metro:
00 Civic Hatch
SI:
Daewoo Lanos
Also, just underneath the 03 SI ad. I can almost read what it says "V6, AUTO, MODEL#xxxxxx"
Obviously the SI is 4 cylinder w/ a stick. But I'm not willing to go to Chicago just to buy a Civic, though it is 4hrs. away.
The Si will go 130 mph, has four wheel disc brakes same as Acura RSX, weighs the same as the RSX, has electric steering, great seats and is available for $16K right now which in my opinion makes it a bargain. Compared to the RSX and other sporty similar cars the Si shines.
Yes I know this for a fact.
In anycase, the reason why Metros and Daewoos came up is because of the similar of their looks and I just want to make the point that the SI, looking from a far looks pretty much like any other hatches out there. Something which anonymous post disagrees.
Back to our regular scheduled programming...
Just read your post. That's an awesome price for an 03. Thanks again for the info. I just need to wrestle the Honda dealers here in Metro Detroit some more.
Please communicate with me by email if you'd like to discuss off topic issues that are policy related. Believe it or not, I'd be willing to listen to your side... and discuss any problems you're experiencing here. Revka@edmunds.com
You can also contact our Town Hall manager: sylvia@edmunds.com
And now back to the subject of Honda Civic Si / SiR. Thanks for your participation.
Revka
Hatchbacks & Wagons Host
Where abouts are you at Crikey?
The fine print on one of the dealership here in metro Detroit says you have to give up the special AHFC financing in lieu of the dealer cash. However, I do believe it is all too late now. I believe the 1.9/2y, 3.9/3y etc. financing terms ended 10/31.
4 hours isn't too far to drive if it's a car you want and the price is right. And look at it this way, at least by the time you get home the break-in period will almost be over and you won't have to baby the car as long. Those first few weeks were a drag when I had to shift at 3500 RPM every time.
You and I know that the SI looks way better than the Metro or Lanos. But you got to admit the previous CTR in JapAN has always been a hatchback and it looks like the 00 Civic Hatch. Now that bears a strong similarity to the Metros.
I'm not trying to put down the SI. I like the styling despite it looking like a Metro or mini-Odyssey. But at least I admit the average joes and janes (and I do have a lot of those where I work - big 3 auto maker) will not know the difference from a CTR (if it is sold in US) from a Metro let alone the SI. But I don't care.
4 hrs. isn't far to drive. Chicago is about 280 miles away. Maybe you can give me a ride to Chicago? No? The problem is how the heck do I get there? Bus, train, plane?? Seem so much hassle just to save $460 on the dest. The price in metro Detroit is $15988 + dest. Price in Chicago is $15995 w/ dest.
Ok.. now I don't have a car officially. Strange feeling.
i like the old one better even though the nw one has better performance ... the 2003 looks wayyy tooo ugly for a 16 k compact.
anyway ... just my $.02
Anyway, I'm happy to report I got the car for $15,995 (this price includes destination). No DOC fee which is the first for me buying a car in Michigan (usually it is $40). Floor mats included ($70). So, the car is actually $15,535 + $460 dest + tax + title + plate transfer (from my previous car).
I had to settle for white though since that's the only color it was left.
Almost didn't buy it coz' of this buzzing sound coming from the steering column and glove compartment. The other car has a buzzing from the glove box. Sounded like a typical cheap JapANESE car. I was so used to those sounds when I had a 97 Civic. A big change from my 01 A4. But we figured out what caused the buzzing. Promptly removed the offending culprit (plastic sticker).
Car is a little buzzier than my A4 but it's ok. Almost half the price of my car. What can I expect in terms of insulation, right?
Will be my beater to drive to work from now on.
To hamproof - Congratulations on your new 02 Civic Si! We look forward to hearing about your delivery experience. Happy Motoring!
Revka
Hatchbacks & Wagons Host
When I did this in the SI - put the car in reverse, give it some gas and release the clutch and as the car is moving back (say 3-5mph), step on the clutch and release the gas - I hear this whinning sound coming from the transmission. It helps if you lower the windows and be in the quiet surrounding. I brought it up to the sales guy but he said it's normal. I told him to try it out on another SI and the same noise could be produced. He said all manual trans. Honda makes that sound.
It is hard to describe the sound, but it sounds like "wear(ng)-wear(ng)-wear(ng)-wear(ng)". Like how you'll say wearing but w/o the i. Like wang wang wang. Not too loud but you can definitely hear it. Could someone try it out and let me know? Otherwise, I'll have to try it out on the 03 SI coz' this dealership had 2 02 SI left and both of them made the same sound.
(Knock on wood) my car has been very tight! No buzzez except the right rear speaker ( pop cover off with small screw driver and tighten down the screws) and my driver seat when turning right pops. wierd but nothing to scream about.
Happy motoring and keep those RPM's below 4K!
Thanks for letting me know. The last manual car I drove was an 01 Audi A4. There's no sound when I reverse. So, it was a surprised to me that the salesperson says it is a common Honda 5 speed trait. I don't believe there was a sound when I reverse the 00 S2000 I was considering. But it was drizzing and I probably didn't pay too much attention. I asked my friend who has a Prelude (98??) and he says he doesn't remember hearing any sound in his car. But he has driven only Hondas and Acuras stick. So, maybe it is ingrained in his mind already.
But since I was coming from driving the A4 the last 2 years, it sounded strange to me.
BTW it is mr.:)
But I would want to know what is causing the sound though. Saying it is normal doesn't ease my concerns. Though it may not be a problem, I would like to know what the heck it is.
My friend who has own Honda/Acuras doesn't remember the sound I described to him. I guess if you are so intuned to hearing it, you might think it is normal. I didn't hear it in my A4. So, I asked.
I tried to do it last night upon driving home w/ the 02 SI I bought. I decided to use the ACC Cigarette Lighter fuse location (15A). But taking this out renders the lower cigarette outlet useless. I thought maybe it is for the upper cigarette outlet which I didn't pay to get installed. I wish I had though since it would make it easier for me now to use my V1 w/ the remote display.
But my long term solution would be to hardwire it. I've a spade type connection on the V1 hardwire kit. It doesn't really fit in the fuse slot of the SI. So, even if I want to, I can't use that fuse location.
Any DIYers out there who has an easy way?? I would hate to take out the trim and tap into the moonroof which btw, I think is a 20A from the fuse description. But I've seen people doing it this way.
Last thing, how easy or hard it is to buy the extra cigarette accessory and DIY for the outlet on the dash?
The drive home (about 60 miles) was in some light rain. I got to say I'm pretty impressed w/ the Si handling. Even w/ all season in the wet, I could take on ramp at about the same speed I usually do w/ the A4. The A4 being AWD + summer tires. So, in that aspect it is good. But as the winter months approach, I might not have as much confidence as I had w/ the A4. Will see then. Winter tires might help as I've a set for the A4.
The ride is a little stiffer. I'm surprised. But I think I might get that impression because the cabin is not as quiet as the A4. When I'm going 80-90 driving home, I felt the car was going fast. At those speed in the A4, it didn't feel so fast. Also, I could feel irregularies on the road in the Si. I guess the A4 has better sound deadening material and insulation. But hey, the A4 cost me $28k.
The interior lighting is not too bad. I like the orange color though I wish the contrast is a little better. And yes, I did turn it all the way up. In the A4, it is white and red lighting. It looks really cool at night coz' everything lights up red. But I can live with it.
I was disappointed in the halogen lights on the Si compared to the auto-leveling Xenons on the A4. But it is no comparison. One is halogen and one is high intensity discharge. On dark roads, I was struggling to see. The rain didn't help matters either. Wipers were bad. Kept streaking and making noise. I guess unless you have HID, you don't realize what you are missing. Since I've had it for 2 years, it'll take me some adjusting to do. Rain-X and new wipers will help solve the wiper problems. But I've to think about the direction I'm gonna take on the headlights. HID kits are about $500-800 on the Si (I believe) or I could get bulbs (not the fake painted silver/blue ones) for about $75.
The floormats are really nice on the Si. But I bought a set of WeatherTechs for $80 (front and rear). It was sad to see the Si wording being covered. Now, I'm looking to buy some cargo liners and some sort of cargo net. Makes it easier when I do grocery so things don't go flying around.
And I also de-badged. A common practise among euro car drivers. I took away the Civic lettering naturally. It looks pretty neat w/ just the H and Si.
In all, I hope this car will serve as my beater for years to come unless I can get a job closer to home. 18k/year is a little too much to put on a car (Audi) that requires EXTRA TLC.