2006 Honda Civic Si
Talk about a transformation! Honda finally got a clue with their Honda Civic Si, giving the redesigned 2006 all the
right stuff. First of all, I tried to love the previous generation Civic Si, but North American customers got the worst
end of the deal. We did not get the high powered Civic Type R, instead we received the bland 3-door, with a low rev
limit, sky high ride height, and uncompetitive MSRP. Even the slightly cheaper Sentra SE-R spec V could wipe the floor
with the Civic. Like I said, I tried to love it. They had some killer deals on them too, sometimes offering the Si at
invoice just to move them off the lots.
For the 2006 model year, the hatchback is gone and its replaced by a sporty coupe. Horsepower is up to 197 at 7800 rpm. That may not be everyones cup of tea, but that type of power delivery is just what a Civic Si should be about. Also new for this year is an actual six-speed, with a new short-throw clutch replacing the spongy third pedal of the outgoing Si. The blessings never end, but wait theres more! Honda is also getting with the program by installing a helical limited slip differential. While the previous Civic Si was a dud, the new Si is finally drool-worthy. So, if the new regular Civic is a little down on power for you, the Si might be just what the doctor ordered. Click through the read link to get more details on the Civic Sis drive train.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Joel A 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
Huh. Depending on the pricing, maybe we'll purchase two Civics: the hybrid for driving to work (120 mile round trip, Monday through Friday) and the Si for shorter trips.
Seriously, that's a nice lookin' Civic. But why no hatch? Not only were the 2004 Civic Si decent lookin', but the hatch added extra functionality.
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Adam 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
Nice power... but what is with the 2" long hood? Ugly.
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Jeff Crew 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
I can't say that this car looks good yet. I need to see it in person as I think it looks like a dust buster on steroids at this point.
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CrunchyCookie 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
Because the hatchbacks were ugly as hell.
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rob rudorf 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
Maybe this has been covered but I cannot find the date of release or availablity. Have I overlooked it?
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Motorin' 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
From this photo, I'd say it's a mini previous-gen Accord Coupe.
This is definitely a car that's going to need an in-person sighting in order to form a real opinion. I don't really feel the excitement.
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Peter W. 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
Looking at the dyno-curves on the website... it looks like the Si's going for that "first gen S2000 motorcycle" feel: a nice 60-degree slant with only 60 HP down around 2000 RPM and a flat torque band that maxes out at 140 ft-lbs.
I think the mazda3s' 150 ft-lbs will give the new Si a run for it's money, even if it only has 160 HP and has to shift sooner... same goes for the Sentra Spec-V and the tC. But it will be nice to have a compact rocket not fight your power steering on startup and I'm sure it will feel all sorts of delicious.
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gnome 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
I can't wait to glue a giant "Type-R" sticker and a coffee can on that!
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Ed Kapuscinski 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
But a wing? Seriously...
It's be of more use on my Volvo 240...
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Jimbo 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
gnome:
You forgot the extra 2x4s to make the rear spoiler even bigger.
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Spytap 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
Any word on Pricing?
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Travis 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
yeah, I'd be concerned about pricing as well. if it's under 20k, then great. if its 22 or 23k (about what an RSX-S is now), then meh.
don't get me wrong, it'd be an absolute blast to drive, but how much more "upscale" is honda going? don't they see what's happening to VW now that Jetta's trying to be grown-up?
re #5, I think this cars going to be faster than the 3 and the tC, at least in a straight line. With LSD you'll be able to launch at a much higher RPM, and keep it in the higher revs throughout the race (I'd guess 6.7-6.9).
However, the downside is you'll still get walked by an SRT-4, probably by a Cobalt SS, and either of those would be easier to tune for more hp (see the article below about tuning the SS for 40 more factory hp).
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Meek 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
Travis, Civic goes up market to make room for something else below it. Honda will fill the entry level slot, unlike VW.
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Big Bloggin' 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
Hope the windshield installers are wearing their back braces!
#2 Dust Buster on steroids. BWAHAHAHA Couldn't have said it any better myself
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John Butler 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
Well, I have to say thumbs up. This iteration on the Civic will lend itself to many personalities based on the hundreds of different looks for it that will be created by the automotive aftermarket.
My first Honda Civic was a 1975 Honda Civic CVCC 5 speed. That was enough to hook me for decades to come and keep me buying 14 more Hondas over time. All were modified.
My 1984 CRX and 1990 CRX Si were probably my all time go fast favorites once they tweaked to run 100MPH+ 1/4 mile times with the help of boosted atmospheric pressure (Turbos).
I'm looking forward to a lot of our http://www.ClubSi.com members making the switch to the new Civic but I'm sure some of them will wait to see who is making what for it in the aftermarket.
PR announcements for 2006 Civic Si SEMA produced aftermarket products will be announced via the opt-in news service of http://www.PerformanceList.com. You can sign up there free and they only broadcast automotive news stuff, (no junk).
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mike 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
i guess i'll have to see it in person. i dont know why car companies think the only way to build cars for Americans is big. three sales legends that i cann think of off the top of my head that are small are crx, miata and mini. the american market does like true pocket cars if they are not stupid looking. i would accept less power if the package were smaller an more nimble. this civic, from what i can tell by the photo is pretending to be small -similar to the scion xA is ppretending to be small. when you really stand next to it its BIG for a small car
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Tyler Love 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
I bought a 2005 Civic Si about 2.5 months ago but less for the performance and more for the functionality of it. I wanted something relatively sporty but I have a lot of equipment I constantly carry around in my trunk so the hatch was a must. In the meantime I wanted something sporty and the Civic Si was perfect for all my needs.
Anyway the ride on the Si is very sporty, the ride height isn't so bad and there is no body roll as a result of it. It handles great.
A lot of Si enthusiasts are extremely dissapointed that there is no longer a hatch in the Honda line. I like some of the fresher looking features of the 06 but I'd still say the 05 looks better all around.
I do wish I had that extra 1,000 rpm's though :( and the 40hp
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laserwizard 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
Oh, my. Isn't this beautiful on the outside. Then you open the door and are treated to the worst interior ever in an autombile.
This isn't a civic. Its Jekyll and Hyde.
Welcome to the new Honda JH.
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Adrian 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
The engine in this car has serious mod potential. There are bolt on kits for the RSX Type-S producing 230+ hp at the wheels with cams, ECU, intake, exhaust.... and since it's the same motor.
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Scott Eaton 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
18, the interior is what's interesting to me and in fact may be the only thing getting me back to Honda (2000 Civic Si I owned was fucka-boring.)
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