2006 Honda Civic Si First Drive

Written By: MyRide.com
Reprinted under license.

Honda aims to reclaim sport compact supremacy with new Si

Introduction

Sometimes, even the great ones lose their way. Ernest Hemmingway, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Kurt Cobain - all talented, tormented pop culture figures who met untimely ends. Neither fame, nor fortune, nor fan adoration could save them from themselves. The same could be said of the Honda Civic Si, which has "died" on three separate occasions in its short 20-year lifespan, despite being among the most loved, cherished and revered nameplates in the history of Japanese automobiles.

Honda, known more for technological innovation, environmental responsibility, and relentlessly reliable cars and - more recently - trucks, falters infrequently. But after the sweet Civic Si Coupe, the pinnacle of the Si dynasty, was cancelled after the 2000 model year, Honda followed up with a funky looking, English-built hatchback that had its shifter jutting out of the dashboard, rally-style. No, this stumble wasn't a hip crusher like the Civic CRX/del Sol debacle of the early 1990s, but the shine came off the Si badge just the same.

Now, for 2006, in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Civic Si, Honda unleashes a completely redesigned version of its performance icon, based on a two-door coupe body style and sporting enough fun-to-drive hardware that it instantly becomes the new standard by which sport compact cars must be measured.

Price and Features

Incredibly, Honda expects the starting price of the 2006 Civic Si to be less than $20,000 when the car goes on sale December 1, 2005. That represents terrific value.

From the Alliston, Ontario factory, the 2006 Honda Civic Si includes a list of goodies that separate it from the Civic EX coupe on which it is based. Performance features like a 197-hp engine with rev-limit warning light, six-speed manual transmission, helical limited slip differential, 17-inch wheels and tires, stiffer suspension, bigger brakes, snugger seats, rear wing spoiler, and throaty sport-tuned exhaust are included in the base price.

The Civic Si also gets creature comforts like power windows with driver's one-touch up and down, a one-touch open and close power sunroof, a 350-watt audio system with six speakers and an eight-inch subwoofer, an auxiliary input jack for an iPod or other portable music equipment, and red ambient lighting for the center console - just like in a BMW.

Extra-cost items include the navigation system with XM satellite radio, the Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2 performance tires, and any other dealer-installed items like 18-inch wheels and tires. Plus, as the featured car at the Specialty Equipment Marketing Association (SEMA) convention this November, you can bet on a wide variety of aftermarket parts to pimp this ride.

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