Congrats. What's wrong with the Si?

 

An idiot hit-and-run driver totaled my 2017 Civic CVT last month. My insurance only covered 5 days for a rental car so I was in a rush to get a new car and only test drove the 2024 Civic Si and then bought one. A week after getting my Civic Si, I decided to test drive a WRX just for the heck of it and I really liked the WRX engine, suspension and character. So, that is the reason I'm trading in my Civic Si for a 2023 WRX base in WR Blue. Luckily I found a dealer near me that is offering me a much better trade in amount than my local Honda dealers and what many online services valued it at, so the hit won't be so bad. Now, just to be clear, the Civic Si is an amazing car with a far superior interior configuration, infotainment system and sound system, great gas mileage, fantastic suspension and handling, and a lot of great tech features. The one area the Civic Si really lacks in is with the engine. Being a 1.5L even with a turbo, it feels anemic. You really have to rev it to get it moving "fast" so to speak. For daily driving, the Civic Si is hands down a better car than the WRX IMO, but for me the WRX smile factor is worth the compromise on all the things lacking from the Civic Si.

 

Good lord, one week?

Ouch. That's a nasty hit on depreciation.

 

I've had the Civic Si for about 5 weeks, but yes, I did take a hit on the trade in value, but not as bad as I expected.

 

Stuff happens. Enjoy your car. If the SI had a bigger engine I would've considered it. I had an SE-R with front wheel drive/Manual trans/ mechanical LSD and it was awesome.

 

^A Sentra SE-R? I had an 03 Spec V back in the day. I loved that car. It was very competitive for its day. Ironically, I traded it for my first brand new car, a 2009 Civic Si...

Anyway, to me all I read was every single thing was better about the Si... but you traded it for something inferior with a more powerful engine. Damn.

I'm sure you'll like the WRX. Enjoy.

 

Anyway, to me all I read was every single thing was better about the Si... but you traded it for something inferior with a more powerful engine. Damn.

That was Dodge's entire business model for the last 20 years. The new gen Si is disappointing to drive, they made it heavier with the same power as FK10 and then decontented it to make room for the Integra. The engine, awd and lesser rev hang still puts the wrx ahead of Si.

 

I haven't driven one, but even looking at the power output I can't understand why auto journalists act like it's the fastest car around. So many of them complimented the power output... but the power to weight ratio is something you can't really defy. The artificial expressions on the youtuber's faces are hilarious. I'm not trying to legitimize her, but Sarah-n-Tuned offered the most comical reaction of them all when she "gave it the beans." (looked pretty good thought.......)

The quarter mile time is right on par with my aforementioned 2003 Nissan Sentra Spec V. That didn't even feel fast in the early 2000's.

I'm sure the WRX feels quite impressive compared to the Si. The Si might be the one car that sounds worse than the WRX from the outside, and thank God it doesn't have artificially generated engine noises. You have to give Subaru credit for not caving on that yet.

I'm curious how the WRX Limited trim would stack up against the Si. Minus the plethora of rattles, I really like mine.

OP, try to keep it longer than your first oil change this time around.

 

"OP, try to keep it longer than your first oil change this time around."

Yeah, I think I'll wait until at least the 2nd oil change this time.

 

What Honda has always done well (often above all other mainstream manufacturers) are all of the touch-points and vehicle inputs.

Supremely wonderful shifter feel, throttle feel, steering etc. They often tune sportier inputs into mundane commuter cars which is why I think Honda stole the tuner scene in the USA in the 1990s.

I wouldn't be surprised in the least if the overall feel of the Civic SI is more sporting that much more powerful cars. Horsepower is fine and we can compare 1/4 mile times until we are blue in the face, but at the end of the day it's the amount of fun the car provide that separates it from the pack to me.

 

Horsepower is fine and we can compare 1/4 mile times until we are blue in the face, but at the end of the day it's the amount of fun the car provide that separates it from the pack to me.

Yeah, I'm on the same page. I just think as far as traveling in a straight line, you can only do so much with it.

most people prob don't watch Sarah-n-tuned for the cars.

There's really only one reason I watched a few of her espisodes. But the exaggeration on that episode was hilarious.

 

@zax, yup honda n mazda r amazing with the sensations of driving. The 9th gen Si was a great car with a 200hp K24, the 10th was a step down and the current car is 10 years of bloat with the same power and a peaky 1.5 turbo.

@ProZach626, most people prob don't watch Sarah-n-tuned for the cars. Dodge LXs are fast enough in a straight line but it's a sort of old-school lethargic fast. They don't feel lethally fast and nervous like a GT-R. There's also a squishiness and lag to all the controls that makes you uncomfortable anywhere other than a dragstrip. I drove the cheapest V8 trim of the challenger on track a couple times. It had a family resemblance to the 70s charger. After 15 mins I managed to get it into a semi-decent line through one of the tight corners at Harris Hill. Felt fast with the front pushing and back tires smoking slightly. Then started laughing as an Elise went around the outside probably 20mph faster.

 

Nice looking base WRX, I went with a 2023 base WRX as well.
There are a ton of mods out there for the WRX. First Subaru for me as well.

The WRX has a lot of character to it in the way that it drives. I have had a bunch of other cars in the past and took a financial bath on some of them. Have never looked back.
Enjoy what you got; it is a nice car.

 

I haven't had a Honda in a while but I owned a CRX Si, del Sol Si, Civic EX, and Element (all manuals) that were great cars. If that Civic didn't have such a tiny motor I would've strongly considered it. I'm into AWD now but a FWD with LSD is almost as good for my needs and is lighter. That Civic is the only Front wheel drive car I'd consider.

 

Enjoy your new ride. Hope it serves you well.

Vito