I did get to drive the all new 2006 Civic today. And yes there was an SI there to drive. I was not allowed to take any pics, but man that is one great car. I am not allowed to post any actual info for a while, since it is under an embargo until Sept. 1st. But if you are considering a purchase of a car in this classification, it will be worth the wait to see the new Civic. I will post more info when Honda says I can. The actual release date for the coupes and sedans is mid September, the hybrid is mid October and the SI is set for production in November. This is information not supplied from Honda, just relayed to us from an outside source and actual information may vary.

Surely you can post your driving impressions of the Si without violating any embargo restrictions. Good low end torque? Does it put you back in your seat?

If he told you that he is now wearing a neck brace, Honda would consider that too much information! :D

If he told you that he is now wearing a neck brace, Honda would consider that too much information! :D

3Supersports is correct. I will pass on the info when I am able.

Will there be a CNG version? :confused:

The Honda web site now gives info on the 06 civic.

I am trying to avoid looking too closely at the 06 Civic because my wife has already said absolutely not :(. Maybe an 07 or 08 but not an 06. And while she isn't always the boss, it is her car so she does sort of get veto rights when I am trying to convince her to trade it ;).

I can't wait to hear more of what you thought of it. I have been real interested in the 06 given that it has features like AC that will stay on while the car is in auto stop and the ability to run only on battery for a short distance (Hybrid model obviously for these). But with gas prices rocketing northward, I don't think that it will easy to get a hybrid Civic for a while. They still don't even discount them at most dealerships because they can't keep them on the floor long enough to need to (the Accord is apparently worse because people buy it for performance as well as economy, it is the fastest Accord on the market).

While I would love to have a civic Si,i t makes no sense in my current car situation. Actually, another car makes no sense anyways. But the 50/50 city/highway of the civic hybrid is soooo attractive.

Somebody was naughty and broke the imbargo.


Road & Track (Oct.), and it includes a "first drive" write-up (don't know how they got around the Sept 1 press embargo). Highlights:

- Interior features "...An attractive dual-level instrument panel (with nifty shift-light feature), and body hugging sport seats..."

-"stainless-steel sport exhaust system"

-197 bhp @ 7800 rpm & 139 lb.-ft. torque @ 6200 rpm

-8000 rpm redline with 6200 rpm VTEC switchover point (this switch over point seems high to me. I wonder if this is correct)

-At VTEC switchover, "...The intake erupts with a much more pronounced growl, accompanied by an equally enthusiastic exhaust note. Short of an NSX at full song, the Si now possesses the company's sportiest, most raucous acoustic signature." !!!!!!!!!!! (To anyone who might remember, this language sounds very similar to Car and Drivers analysis of the 99/00 Si. Awesome!)

-Compared to the coupe: front springs 17% stiffer; rear 14% stiffer

-Available dealer installed 18" wheel/tire package

-"Driven hard, nothing really upsets the chassis"

-“As good as the suspension tuning is, however, the star of the show is the Si's helical limited-slip differential. It makes cornering a breeze, working perfectly with the chassis' balanced personality to direct every one of those 197 horses to the ground."

-"...The Si feels like it could handle another 50-60 horsepower."

-"Under $20,000"

-In showrooms early Dec.


Don't know if this is on the news stands yet, as I have a subscription. But I'd buy it when you can, it is worth a read. All quotes from Road & Track (Oct. 2005), p44 by Kim Wolfkill.

Since H2OMman couldn't take any pics, I thought I'd post my own. These are the best pics out there. It's top secret, don't tell anybody.

The Si is a beauty and the best civic ever it looks like.

mmmmm....the K20 engine at just shy of 200 horsies under the new SAE standard. Nice seats as well.

Diriving impressions from someone at the Ride and drive. I don't know why he's yelling.

HAD THE RARE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ONE OF THE FIRST TO DRIVE THE 06 CIVIC SEDAN/ SI COUP/ CIVIC HYBRID.
HERE ARE MY REACTIONS TO THE THREE DIFFERENT VEHICLES
SEDAN: POSITIVE-
VERY GOOD QUALITY INTERIOR MATERIALS, WHEELS GAPS ARE VERY SMALL, TWO STAGE DASH IS AWESOME, MOONROOF BUTTON IS FINALLY IN THE RIGHT PLACE, NEAR THE MAP LIGHTS, AND ITS ONE TOUCH CONTROL. SEDAN LINEUP GET 16" WHEELS. FIT AND FINISH IS UNBELIVABLE, AND ALSO ITS VERY VERY QUIET, THE NVH HAS GONE DOWN TREMENDOUSLY.
NEGATIVE: ONLY FOUND ONE......KINDA LOOKS LIKE A SATURN IN THE FRONT........BUT WILL GROW ON ME
HYBRID:
MPG IS 50/50, NAV AVAILABLE, SIDE TURN SIGNALS IN SIDE MIRRORS, HANDLES GREAT. 110HP
NEGATIVE: STILL NOT AT QUICK OFF THE LINE LIKE THE PRIUS
STILL NO MOONROOF.
SI: THIS CAR HAS TO BE THE BEST SOUNDING CAR I HAVE EVER DRIVEN, IT WAS PEGGED AGAINST THE SION TC AND THE MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. ITS UNREAL HOW MUCH HONDA ENGINEERS WENT TO WORK TO DEVELOP SUCH AN UNBELIVABLE RACE CAR. IF YOU THOUGHT THE RSX WAS AMAZING, WELL YOU HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING YET.
OVERALL IMMPRESIONS WERE VERY POSSITIVE, AFTER DRIVING THE TOYOTA COROLLA AND THE MAZDA 3 AGAINST THE CIVIC, YOU CAN REALLY TELL THE DIFFERENCE.
RELEASE DATE IS SEPTEMBER 1
FOR CIVIC SEDAN AND COUPE
BEGINING OCTOBER FOR HYBRID AND DECEMBER FOR SI

Diriving impressions from someone at the Ride and drive. I don't know why he's yelling.




LOL sounds good, I was waiting for the SI but I decided to do something different this time...never had a truck before :D

Ridge, Nice job, when I attempted to take pics w/ my camera phone they almost tackled me at the ride and drive. Great drive, loved putting the tc to the test through the corners. Most fun was having one of the pro drivers drive me in the si, this guy is a driver for Porsche. Lots of fun, my district mgr. told me to wait so I am glad someone else got the info here.

Ridge, Nice job, when I attempted to take pics w/ my camera phone they almost tackled me at the ride and drive. Great drive, loved putting the tc to the test through the corners. Most fun was having one of the pro drivers drive me in the si, this guy is a driver for Porsche. Lots of fun, my district mgr. told me to wait so I am glad someone else got the info here.

I'll talk to ya more on the 1st about your Si ride with the pro driver when you can talk more.

At least they got the programmable door locks figured out on the Civic, I think there were 6 different ways to set them, wish the RL had that. Going to be a nightmare delivery for the first few until we get it all figured out. The Posche driver never braked through the whole course until we got to the speed bump at the end, even they were impressed with the vehicle.

Official pics were released today as well as a every other piece of info you could possibly want to know about the new Civics.

http://www.vtec.net/articles/view-article?article_id=396413

I think some of the best features are mostly from customer feedback, like the tilt and telescopic steering wheel, breakaway mirrors. The added horsepower is nice, but also glad to see the fuel economy increase as well and up to 50 mpg in the hybrid. And for the first time daytime running lights are standard on the Civics. Really glad to see the SI back as a coupe, going to be a big seller, too bad we won't be able to get enough to keep up with the demand.

I think some of the best features are mostly from customer feedback, like the tilt and telescopic steering wheel, breakaway mirrors. The added horsepower is nice, but also glad to see the fuel economy increase as well and up to 50 mpg in the hybrid. And for the first time daytime running lights are standard on the Civics. Really glad to see the SI back as a coupe, going to be a big seller, too bad we won't be able to get enough to keep up with the demand.

As your pro driver was putting the Si through it's paces, How was the shifting? Was their good torque/power on the low end of each gear?

What else did your Porshe drive say about the performance of the Si?

Is it better than a 911 carrera for instance :D :D :D :rolleyes: ?

As your pro driver was putting the Si through it's paces, How was the shifting? Was their good torque/power on the low end of each gear?

What else did your Porshe drive say about the performance of the Si?

Is it better than a 911 carrera for instance :D :D :D :rolleyes: ?

The clutch in the one we were driving was having some syncro problems, it was grinding a little from first to second, too many people slamming it into gear from the first few ride and drives. This one was a hand made SI that they said it cost over $100,000 to hand build since they were not in production yet, but it drove great, that throw you in the back of the seat feeling we have been missing for quite some time (unless you are driving the S2000). He was really impressed with the SI, right after driving the SI he and I went in the Scion TC, and put it through the same paces, not even close to the SI, and the Mitsubishi Eclipse... other than it being the ugliest car there, it sucked more than I could have ever thought. No, it is not like driving the 911, but for the money ($20k range) he said it is one of the best, but I think they pay him to say that. Overall it was a great drive, the regular sedan was ok, but what about those ugly hybrid wheels, it looked like Honda got a great deal on trash can lids.

Thanks, I'm looking forward to driving it in December.