It has been quite awhile since I have written a review on Epinions. The reason for that is I don't write on anything I don't buy or know very much about. I have been extremely happy with my purchases with my golf clubs and cars... but it was about time to change the 2003 Mazda Protege5 I owned. I decided to reward myself after I completed my Master's degree and what better way than to buy a car. I narrowed down my choices between a Volkswagen GTI and a Honda Civic Si. I decided on the Si and I will tell you why.

Why I Bought the Civic Si

I spent a long time researching both the GTI and Civic Si. I will tell you now that I am not a specs guy. I drive the cars and just feel it. I have no idea on the numbers, you can find those at www.vw.com/gti and automobiles.honda.com/civic-si-coupe. I test drove both cars extensively. I will tell you that I was leaning towards the GTI before I did the research.

The Exterior

Honda has taken a substantial risk in the design of the 8th generation Civic. I thought the last two Civics have been boring looking. That cannot be said of this one. With the Honda ACE body structure, the front end is very steep and short. The engine bay seems to go into the passenger cabin. Whenever I park the car, I have no idea where the front of the car is... I seem to always park short of the front. Visually, the car seems wide and low. Some people love the look, while others think it's "different." I think you can make up your own mind when you drive it. I think it looks sleek and all sports cars should generate some sort of emotion.

The Engine and Transmission

Both cars have outstanding powerful 2.0 liter engines but different in the makeup of the engine. The GTI has gobs of low end torque. The turbo charged 200 hp engine gets you going right away. The low sounding growl of the VW is great. There is no turbo lag and gives great power all the way through the power band of the car. The Si, on the other hand, has little low end torque. You have to rev the engine to access its 197 peak hp at about 5000 rpm. At the 5000 rpm is where the i-Vtec sets in and you can hear and feel it. It's almost like a turbocharger kicking in. It has the Honda drive-by-wire throttle system so there is immediate feel from the gas pedal. Some Si owners complain about the one second hangover of the throttle when you release the gas pedal that keeps the revs up. I haven't experienced it on my car, maybe it's only on the 06 Si and Honda's fixed it. It can be fixed through your dealership. If you are someone that likes low-end power, then the GTI is for you. If you like the high revving and high sound, then the Si is for you. In my opinion, the VW has the better engine but both are great engines to drive.

The acceleration is quick. The Si really gets going at the peak 5000 rpm. The limited slip differential helps to get the Si going. The GTI will leave first, but the Si will catch up at higher speeds.

The close-ratio 6 speed manual transmission (no automatic available) is smooth and quick. The shifts keep the revs in the power band of the engine. At highway cruising speeds, you will be at about 3000 rpms. Shifting into the third gear can be a little notchy, but every other gear is a smooth and direct shift.

The Drive

The drive is a tight sporty ride. The GTI has a smoother ride, while the Si definitely gives you more feedback from the road. I wouldn't say the Si's ride is harsh but you feel the bumps on the road you are driving on. This comes with advantages as the tight suspension generates confidence in the twists. I love throwing the car into corners. It feels as if the car was on rails.

The steering response is fantastic. Where I pointed the car is where it went. I haven't experienced any of the torque steer that is associated with high powered front drive cars. A very tossable car that inspires confidence.

The Interior

The Si contains a very unique interior. The GTI's interior is staid and traditional. The Si takes some risks. I thought digital speedometers went out during the 80s, but Honda brought it back with the Prelude and now the Civic. The two-tier design takes a bit getting used to but I have grown to like it. The upper tier contains a red digital speedo, gas gauge and temperature gauge. It's almost like a heads-up display because it's so close to the steep and large windshield. With a quick glance down, you can get all the pertinent information in a flash. The movement of these gauges allows Honda to make a smaller second tier instrumentation with only a tachometer with all the warning lights. Now, Honda has mated the smaller instrumentation with a smaller racing car feeling steering wheel. I love the smaller and thick feeling steering wheel. The leather wrapped steering wheel has bulges at the right spots to grip the wheel. Honda has provided telescopic and tilt so it is easier to get a comfortable position. It feels great in your hands. The steering wheel has volume and mode controls on the left side and cruise control on the right.

The buttons and controls for the creature comforts are placed in the right place. All stalks and control are easily reached and read. There are large knobs for the stereo and temperature controls. The defrost and air conditioning work very quickly. The stereo is a nice stereo with an audio jack to allow you to attach your mp3 player immediately to your deck.

The seats are comfortable and supportive. The side bolsters hug you and keep you well placed. The driver's seat is a manual control with height adjustment. Again, easy to get into a comfortable driving position. The black fabric is soft and durable. For the Si, the seats have "Si" stitched into the seats in red. The rear is a little difficult to get into (if you wanted easy access to the rear, get the Si sedan) but once you are in there, it's a nice ride. The rear seats are quite deep to give the rear passengers good support.

Safety

The Si contains the multitudes of safety letters. It has ABS, EBD, SRS, ACE... The Si has 4 large disk brakes with anti-lock. The brakes are responsive and controllable with its electronic brake distribution system. It has 6 air bags (two front passenger and 4 side curtain) and Honda's ACE body structure to increase passenger protection in a collision.

Things I Don't Like

Both the Si and GTI take premium fuel. The high revving engine needs the higher octane. With its 21/29 MPG rating, don't expect the Si to get the economy of the other Civics. So, you need to spend more to get the power of the Si. But, if you drive it hard, you can forget about getting those 21/29 ratings. I think that can be said for all sports cars.

The Final Verdict

The main reason I bought this car was because of the Honda badge. Both the Si and GTI are fantastic cars right now. Fun to drive and comfortable to ride in. The big difference is the company building the cars. Honda's reputation is impeccable. Honda is always in the top three spots in reliability while VW is near the bottom. I have numerous friends with Hondas and they swear by them. My friends that have VWs always answer the same way, "It's a great car! I love my VW... after the repairs, it's great!" Repairs? Many reports state that you can expect a few trips to the shop to fix electronic glitches on technically advanced VWs (like the GTI) while Hondas need the oil change and you are good to go. I didn't want the bother of bringing my car into the shop for anything. I want my daily driver to start and go when I need it. No concerns or worries. To me, that is worth its weight in gold.

I love my Civic Si and I've had it for about 2 months.

Amount Paid (US$): 28000 Cdn
Condition: New
Model Year: 2007
Model and Options: Si