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Comments
So if you are looking for a Coupe, make sure it's not crooked. :lemon:
Is the rear right (diagonally opposite the front driver side) side noticeably higher up than the rear left/driver side? It should be, if the front left is lower..
Any time you make a change to 1 corner, it affects the other 3. Make sure the car is on completely level ground next time you check it out. It's very hard to find level ground anywhere unless the car is up on an alignment rack.
Many times the car will look slanted because the spring is compressing more on one side because of weight transfer when the pavement is uneven. That's normal. But if it's notieceable all the time on one side only, then there is a problem.
All Hondas have a "rake". This means they are angled and lean more towards the front. They do that on purpose but I won't go into it here. Even my Integra had a 1.5 deg. rake when I bought it new. When you get out of the car the front driver side is usually what you look at, or when you approach the car you approach it from the driver's side. So you 're naturally looking at that side a lot more than the passenger side. Start checking both sides at different parking lots or whenever your car is parked to make sure the other side doesn't start looking lower as well. But as far as front to back goes, the front of all Hondas will be lower than the rear, unless you have sagging springs and old shocks in the rear, as well as worn out bushings which doesn't happen till 4-5yrs later.
'06 Civic LX coupe
'11 BMW 335i coupe xDrive
'13 Honda Accord sedan (wife's car)
It depends on what you consider "getting more for your $$" means. Everyone has different wants. I sure wouldn't want a SI and have to buy premium high octane gas for it over the next TEN years! I don't think that's much of a bargain, -for me anyway. Thanks, but I'll take the EX Coupe that runs on regular, and enjoy my gas $ savings for years to come!
Strumelia
P.S. Harry why would you want or need to switch off your trunk light? -just curious.
'06 Civic LX coupe
'11 BMW 335i coupe xDrive
'13 Honda Accord sedan (wife's car)
For SI vs EX, besides differences in car prices, gas grade & gas milage, the insurance premium will also be different.
I have not seen any switch in the trunk on my EX Coupr except for the seat release latches. There is no mention of a switch in the manual.
As to the Si and its gas octane requirements, here is what the 2006 Civic Coupe manual says:
"All models EXCEPT the Si are designed to operate on octane number of 87 OR HIGHER. Use of a lower octane than 87 can cause a persistant heavy metallic rapping noise that can lead to engine damage.
Si MODEL ONLY: designed to operate with octane of 91 OR HIGHER. Use of a lower octane gasoline can cause metallic knocking noises in the engine and will result in decreased engine performance. Use of gas with octane less than 87 can lead to engine damage."
So it sounds to me like you can use 87 octane just fine in the EX and not have engine knocking, but putting 87 octane in the Si is likely to result in engine knocking noises and decreased performance.
Again, I myself wouldn't want to have to buy 91 or higher octane gas for the life of a car- not at the high and unpredictable gas prices these days!
strumelia
(1) The rear windshield is equipped with heating elements & can keep the rear view very clear (both at night & in cold rain) without any rear windshield wiper.
(2) I can switch on the trunk light by opening the trunk & I can switch off the trunk light by closing the trunk. Besides, there is actually a switch on the lock which I can press & turn off the trunk light when the trunk is still open. In case if you wanted to lock yourself in the trunk but want to read a book inside (strange scenerio, but no problem for the new Civic), you can simply flip open one side of the backseat & you can actually read a book INSIDE the trunk!
There is actually a lever INSIDE the trunk which you can pull & open the trunk from INSIDE in case your friend (or mafia)lock you in the trunk. NO KIDDING.
Sorry to tell you, your guesses are all WRONG.
Beside using different grades of gasoline, the SI (city 22/ highway 31 mpg) also get much lower gas mileage than EX (city 30/ highway 40 mpg).
On top of the price differences between SI & EX, the insurance companies will certainly jack up the new "SI" car insurance premium because of the 42% jump in HP (from 140 hp to 200 hp)....no matter if you can really make use of those extra ponies during your driving or not.
Strumelia
P.S. thanks for letting me know about the light switch on the trunk lock, I didn't know that! -I did already know about the "mafia" open trunk latch from the inside...
Hey B.A.,
How do you know that trunk light REALLY turns off when you close the trunk?...how do we know our refrigerator lights REALLY go out when we close the fridge door?....
one of those eternal Mysteries of Life....
strumelia
The EX Civic Coupe is a lot smoother & quieter than I thought. Initially I bought the car because it has EVERYTHING I ever wanted(sunroof, alloys, premium MP3 HiFi,....etc. etc.) & the gas milage is great. But I had so much fun driving the car (especially reviving the smooth iVtec) that I do not care about gas milage anymore.
By the way, I installed the "interior trim kit" & it really look nice.
P.S. The switch to the trunk light is the black rubber thing on the trunk lock.
"If SI specified premium & you put regular, the engine will "knock" & eventually get ruined. "
This is absolutely not true! Complete FUD! I am planning to buy a Si and will run regular in it.
Let me tell you why I had a GSR Integra that said premium only. It ran fine on regular. I have a IS300 that says premium and it runs fine on regular. The electronic knock sensor adjusts for the octane and there is no noticable difference in power.
Insurance true, will probably be higher.
soon to be double cruis'n in 6th,
MidCow
True!
"But I had so much fun driving the [Civic EX Coupe] car (especially reviving the smooth iVtec) that I do not care about gas milage anymore."
Well if you don't care about gas mileage, maybe you should have waited for the Si - it would have been even MORE fun reving its smoother and more powerful iVtec!
On the other hand, if you have to pay (1) thousands more for the car, & (2) thousands more for car insurance, (3)& you have to pay extra on premium gas (3) & it only gives you city 22/highway 31 mpg to start with,.....etc., etc. You can no longer afford to revive all you want (no matter how smooth & powerful the engine can revive!
It is only simply arithmatic & basic economics!
Go ahead & put Regular gas when the car maker had specified Premium. If you like, you can also put diesel in your GSR Integra & IS300 and I am not going to stop you.
But I have a E320, & I only put Premium because thats what Mercedes had recommanded. And for my new 06 Civic Coupe EX, Honda had suggested Regular & thats what I will follow.
So much for learning anything worthwhile here.....
The knock sensors can only do so much. They can retard the timing and reduce the power and prevent the really bad knockings from happening. But they are reactive and will retard timing, after the microphone detects knocks. So some knocks slip through and cause engine damage. And all of this to save 10c/gallon (approx 1 $ per fillup) after paying thousands more for the car and also in insurance ?? :confuse:
I understand that in such a high compression engine, the couple of dollars save upfront from cheap gas, will be lost with lower mileage (and power). So from an expense perspective, it is a wash and you are also damaging your engine. :sick:
BTW, I still own a GSR and have had lightly mentally challenged gas attendants put regular in my Integra after instructing them to fill it with Super. It is true that I didn't experience power loss (but I didn't race the car either) under 6K RPM, but when VTEC engaged around 6K RPM I could feel the power loss. Peak power in the GSR comes at 7600 RPM. The statement someone made about their GSR and no power loss with regular gas must have been at low-mid range RPM's. I have also been in touch with Honda engineer and race car driver Ken Woods over the years and he told me it was foolish to try and go into VTEC (after I did it) and high RPMs on regular gas. Basically he summarized it in saying that once in a while regular gas is ok if you take it easy and don't redline the motor, but prolonged use should be avoided and especially during the break-in period, otherwise premature valve damage will occur down the road, and your car's motor will not break in properly in the early stages of its life and when you do put Premium in it and try to go fast, damage will occur to the rings and various bearings in the motor.
'06 Civic LX coupe
'11 BMW 335i coupe xDrive
'13 Honda Accord sedan (wife's car)
What ruined it for me was getting in and out of the car. The height of the door is too low for me. I had to lower my chin to my chest to get in and out of the car without smacken my head into the roofline. Of course once inside the roof is nice and roomy.
So tall folks watch your heads getting in or out of this car!
strumelia
p.s. I like to think of Harry driving around with people reading in his trunk. Is there a plug outlet in the trunk where one could plug in one of those "Little Bitty Book Lites"?
And if you all would actually read your manauls it is acceptable to burn regular unleaded (87 octane). Damage only occurs if you use less than 87 octane. Look at #172 which is straight from the 2006 Coupe manual.
Cheers,
MidCow
(1) True it will cost thousands more.
(2) Maybe just my age and driving record, but it will be a couple of hundred more for 300k with 1 million umbrella.
(3) Probably will be less with Tanabe Cat back and AEM cold iar. But will have awesome sound, awesome acceleration and put a smile on my face everytime I shift at redline.
(4) probably will burn premium, but if you carefully READ the manual ( see post #172) regular can be used. Damage only occurs if you use less than 87 octane.
It will be like my pocket rocket CRX Si and My Integra GSR that I had previously. It likes to be reved (as in revolutions).
Simple and arithmetic are not match for the emotion and fefling of being push ed back in your seat with a mere flick of your left foot
This will be my commuter car so I can more fully enjoy the Houston traffic snarls.
Cheers,
MidCow
No one said anything about diesel, that would be idiotic. Either read you manual or read post #172. It reduce effective horsepower by 7-10 Hp, which is barely discernable to most drivers.
Yes, I agree follow what the manual says, but It also pays to read the manual carefully and accurately. I would bet dollars-to-donuts that the your E320 manual recommended 91 octane but that an octane 87 or higher was acceptable.
Cheers,
MidCow
You do seem to know a lot more than anyone else here and you probably won't learn much more, but hey thanks for your inteligent comments.
Motor on,
MidCow
According to Edmunds.com, Si Coupe uses Premium. They never say it is acceptable to burn unleaded Regular.
In #172, strumelia said :Si MODEL ONLY: designed to operate with octane of 91 OR HIGHER. Use of a lower octane gasoline can cause metallic knocking noises in the engine and will result in decreased engine performance. Use of gas with octane less than 87 can lead to engine damage." He never said it is acceptable to burn regular unleaded for a SI coupe.
Major gas stations have at least 3 grades of gasoline : Regular (86 octave), Midgrade (89 octave) & Premium (91 octave). For each grade difference, they add 20 to 30 per gallon.
Buying a performance car and treating it as a economy car is senseless.
You want pushed back into your seat, then get a real muscle car, like my 1967 Dodge RT 440 375 HP, THAT will push you back deep into your seat.
And yes, it takes super duper high test flammble liquid
But driving under traffic & speed limit, I feel more comfortable (& affordable) owning my E320 + a new 06 Civic Coupe EX 5 speed manual.
If I really wanted the emotion & feeling of being pushed back in my seat with a mere flick of my left foot, we have a BMW locked up in our garage.
"Fuel Requirements" :
Use ONLY PREMIUM unleaded meeting ASTM standard D439 : THE OCTAVE NUMBER POSTED AT THE PUMP MUST BE 91 MINIMIUM.
Next time I go to Honda, I will tell their boss to fire all their staffs (including all designers, researchers & prove tester) & put you as their head of technical advisers. LOL....
Now when I autocrossed my friend's E46 M3 that goes to 60mph in 4.8sec, that was a much better rush and it was definitely harder to pull yourself forward from your seat. That felt more like muscle car acceleration like I was "thrown" back into seat or "glued" to the seat while accelerating at WOT.
The Civic Si is no speed demon or a dragster and it won't feel that way. It might at first if everything else you 've driven was much slower, but that feeling diminishes over time.
My brother came over to my house in '98 to tell me he was done breaking in his Integra Type-R and invited me to go for a ride to show me how "fast" the car was. After we got back he asked what I thought. I said to him: "did you forget the drag races at the light back in the 80's when I had the 400hp '71 Nova SS, and all the Corvettes, Camaros and Dodge Chargers we beat? Now that was a fast car". He thought for a second and said "oh yeah" with a grin and never again spoke of how "fast" his car is. I felt bad for him so I told him how impressed I was with the stiff chassis and its superb handling which was like no other car I had been in at the time and that was the truth. I mean really, speed is not everything. It doesn't do it for me anymore. I 'd rather have a exceptionally good handling car than a fast one. That to me is more fun. A good handling car is in fact a fast car.
'06 Civic LX coupe
'11 BMW 335i coupe xDrive
'13 Honda Accord sedan (wife's car)
18x7.5 -K racer .
Anyoe want to see picture ?
I can send to you
Http://www.koyaracing.com ">
I would love to own a high end Porsche but since I work for a wage that will never happen. The best handling car I could afford was a Jetta, and in fact owned it recently. It handles better than my Civic, but it had a very annoying vibration in it to the point I traded it off on the 06 Civic EX 5 speed CP I am presently driving.
I went as far as write the CEO of VW to which I received a phone call saying they couldn't do anything. The dealer I purchased out from, "after the fact" says they want to make me happy, and asked what can they do. They would need to give me a ten thousand dollar discount at this point. I did enjoy driving the Jetta no doubt, but I hated it's constant vibration that VW corporate refused to address. I just pity the poor soul you ends up with that nightmare car.
The Civic has almost 4000 miles on it already and I enjoy driving it very much, but at 100 MPH the Jetta out handled it, lucky for me I seldom go that fast.
Give me a 1968 Camaro 427 L88 4 speed and I would be happy. My brother was killed in a 1974 Dodge Challenger 340 RT. He was going in excess of 120. Those cars didn't handle the way these little ones made today, which are anemic in power when you have owned or driven a real muscle car.
Essentially, a person can lead a horse to water, point out the water to the horse and tell him that it is drinkable and prod him to drink it....but ultimately, if the horse refuses point-blank to drink it, the person simply has to walk away. :P
My first car was an old Celica Coupe & this Civic Coupe with 5 speed manual brings back a lot of memories.
I have driven (& owned) cars many times more powerful & many times more expensive, but this is one of the very few cars that put a big smile on my face everyime I sit inside that little car, look at the digital speedometer & play around with the tiny steering wheel & all those buttons in the cockpit.
By the way, I have installed the "interior trim kit" & it really look shape.
Faint praise considering past winners:
http://motortrend.com/oftheyear/car/cotywinners/
Hmmm, last year it was the Chrysler 300. Within the last 10 years their picks included the '02 Thunderbird, the '00 Lincoln LS, the '97 Malibu, the '96 Caravan, and the '95 Cirrus. As a matter of fact, the '06 Civic is the ONLY time they've ever chosen a Honda. Do you think this is the best Honda EVER made? I don't.
As a matter of fact, over the last 20 years (since '86) they've chosen 1 Honda product ('06 Civic), 1 Toyota ('04 Prius), and 1 Nissan ('03 Infiniti G35). In that 20 years, they've chosen 8 FoMoCo products, 5 GM, and 5 Chrysler/Dodge.
In fact, prior to the Infiniti G35 in 2003, the ONLY other foreign nameplate chosen was........the 1972 Citroen SM. Oh, wait, they did chose the '83 Renault Alliance (as sold by American Motors) as Car of the Year. Yeah, the Alliance. Now THERE'S a standout car.....
Personally, I think the Motor Trend COTY award is worth LESS than the paper it's printed on....
For Honda, I had owned 2 Civics & 2 Accords in the past myself, and my brother has a Honda Odyssey, my colleague has a Prelude & my neighbor has a CR-V.
Amongst all cars I had owned & driven, the 06 Civic Coupe EX is the only car I put down a $1000 deposit within 2 minutes after I sat inside the car in the dealership for the first time(without even test driving it).
If you ask me :
Do you think this is the best Honda EVER made?
My answer is : YES, I do. With such design, quality & value....I bought the car with no hesitation.
Right now, my new 06 Civic Coupe EX 5 speed manual is parking in my garage...next to my E320 & BMW3.
All through the 80's and 90's when the domestic manufacturer's CONSISTENTLY turned out product which was, in most ways, inferior to most of the imports and yet Motor Trend NEVER had an import as COTY?
I'm not questioning the Civc as deserving the honor; all I'm saying is that Motor Trend's previous picks have been more than somewhat questionable.
In my opinion, a true COTY winner should be one that is not only the best in it's class, but a car that REDEFINES it's class.
Hell, how about a car that INVENTS it's own class; like the '84 Dodge Caravan that invented the entire minivan segment. COTY in '84? The C4 Corvette.
How about the car that reintroduced America to the 2 seat convertible; the '89 Miata. COTY in '89? Ford Thunderbird SC.
How about any number of new Accords or Camries? Nope. But we do have the '88 Pontiac Grand Prix, '95 Dodge Cirrus, and '97 Chevy Malibu.
Personally, I would trust the local Girl Scout Troop to make a more informed decision about what car should be COTY before I would trust Motor Trend.
Yes, I will put premium in a Si, but obviosly many of you are arm chair race track drivers. By the way regular is 97 octane; never heard of 86
LOL, a guy with a Nercedes and BMW geting a Civic to say money!
LOL, a guy that understands satire but not condecending.
Muscle cars ,yes I had one a new 1970 442. It had a big engine 455 cu in and lousy brakes and lousy handling and lousy tires. But, hey rubber in the first three gears. It needed points and plugs all the time. Tires have improved , engines, electronics, susyension everything else. And the facts muscle cares were around 7 seconds unless you had a 426 Hemi or a COPA Camero. They were slow in today's terms. Even the hi performance 289 mustang at 271 hp was rated at only 7.5 seonds 0-60 mph.
I am not sure what is means when someone says they have driven 300 cars. Are those test drives in a dealership, are those rentals because you fly a lot. If you have bought 300 different cars then you have beat me by a factor of abobut 10.
The 6-speed Civic Si will be a blast and so so much better than a EX 5-speed. I can not beleive anyone can enthusistically try to justify a EX over an Si. I am getting as a reliable, decent mileage, povket-rocket commkuter car. Yes, there are much faster cars, but it will be fun fun fun!
Cheers,
MidCow
P.S.- By the way I did have a E36 M3 (98 4-d00r) but I actuallty like driving my modified 95 Acura GSR better. One of the most fun cars I have had was a 85 CRX Si and speed wise it was only rated about 8.5 seconds 0-60.
P.S.S. - Keep up the humor you guys are a riot !! you keep me rolling in the floor LMAO. I know you really can't be serious
The Civc (especailly Si) returns.
MidCow