2008 Honda Civic Si - Owner Review - Team-BHP

equinox22 · 16th October 2009, 03:03

Oh the new car smell! I can never forget that. After getting the car home around 8p.m. at night, the first thing I did was sit down with the manual. It said no aggressive braking for the first 200 miles. And no aggressive acceleration for the first 600 miles. 600 miles! Seemed like it was a long way off. Of course being a new car, I was treating it like a baby. Every speck of dust was frowned upon, everything was done very very carefully. But the real fun was in the driving and in the anticipation of things to come. It took a short while to get used to the close- ratio 6 speed manual transmission. But what took a lot of restraint is to keep the engine at low RPM’s. Shifting at 2500 to 3000 RPMs seemed like a crime when the big red dial showed the 8000 RPM figure. But I persevered. Today I freely go up to the 8000 rpm redline with the rev limit warning blinking furiously at me. But then I have done close to 13,500 km and the car is happy to do my bidding.

Over the next few posts I will try and give an idea of how the journey has been so far.

equinox22 · 21st October 2009, 09:02

Before the actual review, some pics of her at 1 year and 2 months and about 9000 miles.

muralisk · 21st October 2009, 09:20

This one looks awesome. Waiting to hear the detailed review of the car.

Manoj2268 · 21st October 2009, 09:51

NOw that is one HOT looking Si. Looking forward to more.

princemanatt · 21st October 2009, 16:43

Gorgeous car. Great introduction. Anxiously waiting for the action!

beejay · 21st October 2009, 16:49

I like these wheels over the ones offered on the Indian version. Did you change the wheels? Looks a profile lower than the ones offered here.

Great looking car. We need a more detailed review.

equinox22 · 21st October 2009, 20:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by beejay

I like these wheels over the ones offered on the Indian version. Did you change the wheels? Looks a profile lower than the ones offered here.

Great looking car. We need a more detailed review.

Thanks! These are the stock 17" alloys that were offered on the Si till the 2008 model. They are not available any more. I still like these over the new ones on offer.

The tires are low profile Michelin P215/45 R17 87V.

Detailed review coming soon.

Ramsagar · 22nd October 2009, 15:36

Congrats on the buy. hmmm Black no comments abt the color, thats awesome.
Pls post some interior pics,wanna see the red dials.

Enjoy the beast.

rr_zen · 22nd October 2009, 15:44

Great looking Civic with fantastic alloys there ! The sight of this USDM Civic brings back fond memories of my stint in the US.

On a side note, IMO the trunk spoiler seems to be a bit after-market'ish. Is that a genuine Honda accessory ?

bullboy · 22nd October 2009, 18:06

Just a doubt . How you were able to keep the car scratch less despite being black

rr_zen · 22nd October 2009, 18:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by bullboy

Just a doubt . How you were able to keep the car scratch less despite being black

Maintaining a car in the US is a lot easier than in India. Lesser dust accumulation, wide roads with mostly disciplined drivers, mammoth parking space etc contribute towards this.

In my case, I used to dust my 7 year old Civic in the US once in a month and she remained scratchless.

equinox22 · 22nd October 2009, 20:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by rr_zen

On a side note, IMO the trunk spoiler seems to be a bit after-market'ish. Is that a genuine Honda accessory ?

The trunk spoiler is a stock feature of the Si sedan. The USDM Si has no extra options except for the navigation system. Everything comes stock with the car.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bullboy

Just a doubt. How you were able to keep the car scratch less despite being black

Like rr_zen mentioned its easier in the US than India. Some things I try and maintain is park at a safe distance from the car next to me. Touch free car wash and then waxing it helps. Also any external contaminants like bird droppings or salt (I live in the snow belt) are washed off ASAP.
Of course the less cluttered roads and disciplined traffic help alongwith lesser amount of dust accumulation.

equinox22 · 23rd October 2009, 00:38

One pic of the interior. Better ones coming soon.

khan75 · 24th October 2009, 01:39

Why didn't you get the Si coupe?

equinox22 · 24th October 2009, 21:19

^^ Thats because I have a thing for sport sedans.

16th October 2009, 03:03	#1 (permalink)
equinox22 BHPian Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Chicago/Pune Posts: 138 View My Garage	2008 Honda Civic Si - Owner Review Oh the new car smell! I can never forget that. After getting the car home around 8p.m. at night, the first thing I did was sit down with the manual. It said no aggressive braking for the first 200 miles. And no aggressive acceleration for the first 600 miles. 600 miles! Seemed like it was a long way off. Of course being a new car, I was treating it like a baby. Every speck of dust was frowned upon, everything was done very very carefully. But the real fun was in the driving and in the anticipation of things to come. It took a short while to get used to the close- ratio 6 speed manual transmission. But what took a lot of restraint is to keep the engine at low RPM’s. Shifting at 2500 to 3000 RPMs seemed like a crime when the big red dial showed the 8000 RPM figure. But I persevered. Today I freely go up to the 8000 rpm redline with the rev limit warning blinking furiously at me. But then I have done close to 13,500 km and the car is happy to do my bidding. Over the next few posts I will try and give an idea of how the journey has been so far. __________________ Life starts at 6000 RPM...

21st October 2009, 09:02	#2 (permalink)
equinox22 BHPian Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Chicago/Pune Posts: 138 View My Garage	Before the actual review, some pics of her at 1 year and 2 months and about 9000 miles. __________________ Life starts at 6000 RPM...

21st October 2009, 09:20	#3 (permalink)
muralisk BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Hyderabad, Bangalore Posts: 609 View My Garage	This one looks awesome. Waiting to hear the detailed review of the car. __________________ Muralisk \| Harvest Rain Water & Solar Energy : Avoid Plastic 2009 - BTwin Rock Rider 5.2 2007 - Honda City ZX GXi 2001- Matiz SP

21st October 2009, 09:51	#4 (permalink)
Manoj2268 Newbie Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Delhi Posts: 20	NOw that is one HOT looking Si. Looking forward to more. __________________ The evergreen 'LADIES': Hero Honda CBZ, Fiat Palio GTX, G1 Honda City, Maruti Suzuki Baleno

21st October 2009, 16:49	#6 (permalink)
beejay Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Coonoor,The Nilgiris. Posts: 1,004 View My Garage	I like these wheels over the ones offered on the Indian version. Did you change the wheels? Looks a profile lower than the ones offered here. Great looking car. We need a more detailed review. __________________ I am going to pursue Galileo Galilee`s philosophy: my world is also round." Luigi Colani

21st October 2009, 16:43	#5 (permalink)
princemanatt BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 64	Gorgeous car. Great introduction. Anxiously waiting for the action!

22nd October 2009, 15:36	#8 (permalink)
Ramsagar BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Lost in a Concrete Jungle!!! Posts: 862 View My Garage	Congrats on the buy. hmmm Black no comments abt the color, thats awesome. Pls post some interior pics,wanna see the red dials. Enjoy the beast. __________________ CAUTION!!!All the nuts in my car are tight,except the one driving it...Obsessed with CARS since 1981.

22nd October 2009, 15:44	#9 (permalink)
rr_zen BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Back in Chennai, India Posts: 700 View My Garage	Great looking Civic with fantastic alloys there ! The sight of this USDM Civic brings back fond memories of my stint in the US. On a side note, IMO the trunk spoiler seems to be a bit after-market'ish. Is that a genuine Honda accessory ? __________________ Life is a learning and Change is the law of nature !

22nd October 2009, 18:06	#10 (permalink)
bullboy BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: trivandrum Posts: 207	Just a doubt . How you were able to keep the car scratch less despite being black Last edited by bullboy : 22nd October 2009 at 18:08.

23rd October 2009, 00:38	#13 (permalink)
equinox22 BHPian Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Chicago/Pune Posts: 138 View My Garage	One pic of the interior. Better ones coming soon. __________________ Life starts at 6000 RPM...

24th October 2009, 01:39	#14 (permalink)
khan75 BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Atlanta/London/Dubai/Delhi Posts: 70 View My Garage	Why didn't you get the Si coupe?

24th October 2009, 21:19	#15 (permalink)
equinox22 BHPian Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Chicago/Pune Posts: 138 View My Garage	^^ Thats because I have a thing for sport sedans. __________________ Life starts at 6000 RPM...