Was the 2006 Honda Civic Si the High-Rev Comeback Enthusiasts Had Been Waiting For? [MotorTrend]

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mikeluscher159@reddit

I bought a Habanero '07 FG2 coupe last year because the guy was struggling to sell it

It's got most of its clear coat 👀

And a Hondata tune, clutch masters clutch, a few other goodies

I thought for $2500, I could have some fun with it and get my money back if my leg can't stand the clutch (nerve damage)

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gg06civicsi@reddit

I still have mine but the paint is shot. Still on my original clutch too.

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-seabass@reddit

I just had mine redone at Maaco with their two stage paint option and I’m honestly so happy with the results.

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gg06civicsi@reddit

How much did they quote you if you don’t mind me asking? It’s the plan with the clear coat right?

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Yes, the 2-stage plan. To just drop it off and pick it up and have them remove and reinstall bumpers, headlights, tail lights, spoiler, door handles, roof molding, vtec stickers, and badges - that would have been $4200. They could have gotten it lower by leaving more stuff on the car and just doing more masking instead.

I opted to remove and install some stuff myself to save some money. I did the bumpers, headlights, tail lights, spoiler, and the painted insert piece in the grill. That brought it to $3600 total, still having them remove and reinstall door handles, roof molding, badges, and vtec stickers. Prices will vary by location. I’m in the SF Bay Area so labor rates are high. Given Macao’s reputation, the results are way way better than I expected.

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gg06civicsi@reddit

Interesting didn’t know we could do that ourselves and save cost. I always heard they don’t take things apart and will just tape stuff up.

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-seabass@reddit

It’s a franchise so every location has different owners who do things differently. These guys were really nice, they would basically be willing to do as much or as little prep as you wanted to pay for, totally customizable to your budget. They had no problem with me dropping off all the removed panels separately and pulling headlights and tail lights in their parking lot.

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hermitcraftfan135@reddit

I know very little about civics but I feel like every single one I’ve ever seen from that era has faded paint. Is it just a thing on those?

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stoned-autistic-dude@reddit

Honda has historically used dog shit coat on their cars. Every car. It’s actually impressive that they’re this consistent.

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DodgerBlueRobert1@reddit

Yes. Honda's clear coat on Civic's back then was horrible.

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TheAvyonDipole@reddit

The clear coat on the 8th gen civic was notoriously bad. Like awful lol. It would basically always fade prematurely if it wasn’t garage kept. I had to get my 8th gen Si resprayed because the oem clear coat ended up fading into oblivion.

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dragonitexy@reddit

I'm also on the original clutch!

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Armored_Guardian@reddit

Yep they have thin paint

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long_fish3000@reddit

sold my 9th gen Si right when the paint started to fade and the cam cold start growl started. i knew if i fixed that or let the paint fully fade, all resell would be gone

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Fun-Program6058@reddit

Same

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iHaveLotsofCats94@reddit

Man i want an 8th gen so bad. I had a 10th gen that was fun, but the L15 is the worst thing about that car. One of these days a K20 will enter my driveway. I just need to sell one before I add that

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long_fish3000@reddit

buy now brother, the hype for these drives the price up (for none clapped ones). and finding one none clapped is impossible, you have to settle with some clapped-ness and a project to undo the previous owners half assed ebay fd2 bumper swaps

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GuruFA5@reddit

That’s why I’m super glad I held out for my fa5. One owner, clean title, facelift version, 42kmiles, clean as a whistle

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Fun_Cantaloupe_8029@reddit

Im proud to say that i have a non-clapped out 2008 civic si with 300,000 kms on it. It was my daily driver until I got a new vehicle. It just sits in a heated garage now.

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Scratch_King@reddit

I have an 06 with 300,000 miles on it.

They'll keep going if you keep loving.

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purz@reddit

Ours made it to 280k before I didn’t feel comfortable driving it anymore. Started to get a bit too worried about frame rust and missing any rubber that needs to be replaced. Dunno if it’s still out there chugging along.

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Scratch_King@reddit

Rubber is definitely becoming an issue. Rust. Not so much. Picked it up while working a job down in Mississippi, so it never saw much salt :D

Rubber though... 20 years will do some things to Rubber. Slowly working my way through all of em still.

Still screams like a banshee and surprises the hell out of people.

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Gunslingermomo@reddit

Basically same. I love my Type S but the BRZ is so much better that the Acura just sits. Gonna sell it soon bc it's $200/month insurance for nothing.

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Fun_Cantaloupe_8029@reddit

My wife and I bought a 2026 Toyota Bz AWD. It was too good an offer to pass up. We love it so far.

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iHaveLotsofCats94@reddit

That's precisely why I haven't bought one lol. I'm fine with hoopties, but buying someone else's project is a headache I don't want. Maybe next year. I'm thinking about selling my Vic anyway. We'll see what happens

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benisnotapalindrome@reddit

God I wanted a panther car so bad for a long time. Also wanted an 8th Gen SI. Settled for an SVT Focus. Fantastic little car. Still miss it.

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Successful_Ad_9707@reddit

These days most of the nice ones end up on BAT or Cars & Bids. They're quickly becoming collectible.

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Scratch_King@reddit

Finally, my time to shine!

I love my 8th gen.

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whtciv2k@reddit

I consider the fg2 one of my favorite cars out of the plethora I’ve owned.

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hellish_ve@reddit

Be sure to get one quick, they are getting scarce by the day. I had the sedan one (best looking imo, shares body with the FD2 Type R) and it was a really, really fun daily. Mind you mine was modded, but was reliable as hell and 250hp out of a 2.0l that spins to 9300rpm and sounds glorious, was really fun, 6spd and lsd. Never skipped a beat, never left me stranded, got GREAT gas mileage and the interior still feels modern. Also, quality is top notch, those seats are incredibly comfortable yet sporty.

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DodgerBlueRobert1@reddit

got GREAT gas mileage

Did you get better than the 21/29 that a stock version gets? Cause that's what I get, and I don't consider it great.

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uberdosage@reddit

Compared to other performance cars that is great. We aren't out here driving priuses

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DodgerBlueRobert1@reddit

I know we’re not driving Priuses here, but let’s compare apples to apples. I have a 2 liter inline 4, making 197 hp and 139 lb/ft. My car weighs 2950 lbs.

You have a 6.2L V8, making 460 hp and 466 lb/ft. And your Vette weighs 3300 lbs.

Given all those numbers, you’d think my car would do better than 21/29. But again, my engine was first developed in the early 2000’s. That’s ages ago in the car world. If Honda made that engine today with the same power numbers and without forced induction, I’d imagine they could get around 25/33. Just a guess though.

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iHaveLotsofCats94@reddit

It's really not. For all its faults, the L15 in my 2020 was incredibly efficient. I averaged like 37mpg overall. I would average 45-50mpg on some trips too. Shame that it needed a motor at 120k. I would still have the car if not for that

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DodgerBlueRobert1@reddit

Yeah, the L15 is much more efficient than the K20 and K24 that preceded it. But that's really the only advantage it has over my engine. As someone who drives no more than 10,000 miles a year, gas mileage isn't a high priority for me, but 21/29 still isn't great considering the power it makes. But then again, my engine first came out 20 years ago, and was first developed even farther back than that. So those gas mileage figures were quite normal for back then, but poor today.

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Select_Donkey7225@reddit

I heard that the turbo L15 has an unreliable wet belt system. Is this true? Should one stay away from turbo L15 swaps in your opinion?

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hellish_ve@reddit

nah, the L15 is really reliable tbh. A friend of mine has a Civic Si putting 275whp, thing has been deaaaad reliable. Only issues is that hes been kicking the shit out of it so he has gone thru 3 or 4 clutches and a second gear, as in he had to replace that gear lol he absolutely destroyed it.

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iHaveLotsofCats94@reddit

The K motors are significantly more fun to drive. My Si was around 300hp and had plenty of torque, but it wasn't that entertaining. Didn't sound great, power band died off around 5500rpm (with a 6750 redline that I never bothered taking it to), etc. I'd rather have something with more drama

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DodgerBlueRobert1@reddit

And those reasons are exactly why I have no interest in replacing my Si with a newer one. Honda lost the plot on the Si, and it's sad really. The regular Civic though seems like a great car, if someone just wants "an car".

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iHaveLotsofCats94@reddit

Don't get me wrong. It was a phenomenal car and a great daily. I just wish it were more exciting. Handled like it was on rails, especially after a 1 inch drop, and it pulled hard at full boost on the stock turbo after a tune

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idksomuch@reddit

I average 22mpg in mine. I mostly do street driving (communiting to work, driving from site to site for work) so the lower fuel economy was expected. That's still way better than my 3rd gen Tacoma with heavy 33" tires which averages... 11 driving the same commute as I do in the Si. The tank of the Honda is also half the size so a $35 fill up will bring the tank from half to full whereas that's 1/4 in the taco. But regardless, I'd happily give up some mpg for that wonderful engine.

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DodgerBlueRobert1@reddit

Yeah, I'm always willing to sacrifice gas mileage for a more exciting and better sounding engine.

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hellish_ve@reddit

I used to get an average of 24mpg, mind you I beat the hell out of it and mine had header, intake, throttle, cams, type r pistons, bigger injectors, was tuned, etc!

I would say thats great for how hard I drove that thing lol

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-seabass@reddit

Want to buy mine? 2006 Coupe, Galaxy Grey Metallic, ~110k miles, clean title, all stock except a cat back exhaust. Comes with stock exhaust, aftermarket cold air intake kit (not on the car), hondata programmer, huge binder of service records going back to when the previous owner bought it. Just repainted so no issues with peeling clear coat.

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iHaveLotsofCats94@reddit

I'll trade you for an 04 Crown Victoria LX with 133k on it lol

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-seabass@reddit

Haha unfortunately I’m trying to make space for something faster

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Select_Donkey7225@reddit

The 7th through 9th gen lost the dual wishbone/multilink front suspension of all other generations so be weary of some bad handling charteristics with these cars(trust me i have some serious miles on one).

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narcistic_asshole@reddit

Former 10th gen owner, loved that car, but yea the engine is so meh. I've had the pleasure of driving a friend's 8th gen si and it was such a blast to wring out.

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Drum_Eatenton@reddit

How’s that 2013 Veloster Turbo been treating you? I had a 2019 and loved it. The 2013 is notorious for grenading itself.

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iHaveLotsofCats94@reddit

I hate that car lol. It's my SO's. She had it before we met. It's been generally reliable, but i dislike almost everything about it. She loves it though, so it's still around. We're likely gonna trade it for a new Crosstrek or something in the next couple years when she's done with her masters degree. I'm just waiting for it to start knocking

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Drum_Eatenton@reddit

Have you ever taken it out and flogged it? They’re not really fast but the size and lack of consideration for comfort in the suspension makes it feel way faster.

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iHaveLotsofCats94@reddit

I don't really have any desire too, honestly. It drives like an Elantra with a bit more power. I'm sure that sounds harsh, but compared to my Si, it's just not enjoyable to drive. I had more fun in the 5 speed Fiesta I had before the Honda

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jse000@reddit

I looked hard for a very good condition one. It doesn't make much sense when at a certain point, you can get an S2000 for the same money.

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Successful_Ad_9707@reddit

Imo the last true Si. I absolutely love my 08 and I still have a very tight death grip on it. That K20 is pure magic and is honestly still a solid daily in 2026. Really only needs updated infotainment and maybe a backup camera.

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DodgerBlueRobert1@reddit

Yeah, with window tint on my car, trying to back up into a space that isn't well lit, having a backup cam would be nice. I usually have to roll down my windows in order to see better.

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Successful_Ad_9707@reddit

Same lol. Had to do that just this morning backing into my spot in the garage at work today.

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Arronax147@reddit

To those that've driven/owned an 8th or 9th gen Si - what are your thoughts on them as a non-daily vs other options? I'm in the market for a (budget) second fun car and I love Hondas, but I'm not sure whether I'd get more bang for my buck in something like an FRS or Genesis Coupe. Tested an 8th gen Accord Coupe V6 and found myself wanting something a bit more precise, so I figure an Si would satisfy that itch.

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DodgerBlueRobert1@reddit

I can't comment on how the 8th gen Si compares to other options, because this car is all I know (I've owned it for almost 11 years). My previous car was an '02 Si in which I owned for 8 years. Anyways, as a non-daily, I'm sure there are better options out there if you're looking for fun. But this car hits the sweet spot in terms of fun, reliability, cost of ownership, and practicality.

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Successful_Ad_9707@reddit

I technically don't daily my 8th gen anymore as the GRC gets more use, but it still makes for a good fun car. I would argue that something RWD would be better as a fun car, but it's still an excellent option with a gem of an engine. If you want something fun to drive yet reliable and fairly cheap to repair, it's still a great option.

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saikyan@reddit

I remember cross shopping these cars. It was generally a slight downgrade on the RSX Type S. It felt like Honda wanted to push Acura away from the whole Fast and Furious fad so they made this sporty cheaper car and marketed it for the kids. The Civic Si was slightly slower, had no liftback, and the steering felt kind of detached and soft compared to the firm precise RSX. Both had a buttery 6 speed and were pretty fun to drive but I ended up with the Acura.

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Successful_Ad_9707@reddit

I'd argue that the Si with it's standard LSD was more performance oriented vs the RSX. Not to mention the Si had the nicer interior imo.

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DodgerBlueRobert1@reddit

Completely agree on this.

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jhowlett@reddit

Bought a then new 2008 Si in 2009 as a leftover model. I wanted a coupe in either red, orange, or blue. Instead got a sedan in grey. With a couple handling upgrades I drove that car 20k miles a year hard for 5 years. One of my favorites.
I'm sure the newer Sis are nice, but due to Honda dealers as they are in my area I'll never own another Honda.

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_Mike_Truk_@reddit

I owned a 2010 sedan (FA5) for seven years. That car was absolutely fantastic. I did everything with it - mountain drives, 1000 mile road trips, commuting, I even rallycrossed it. I chose to keep it stock aside from a shock/spring upgrade, alignment, pads, and wheels/tires. It was weird in some of its design features (like the huge 2 tier dashboard) but so insanely practical. I had zero mechanical issues in the 50k miles I drove it and it absolutely begged you to throw it around harder and harder even through it was relatively slow. The K20 was an aural delight.

They were a unique car, being the last of the twin cam revvers and one of the rare non-Type R Hondas that came stateside with 8k+ RPM, a 6 speed, and torsen LSD. Awesome seats and stock stereo, quick steering ratio, great view out the glass and the shifter, even stock, was a delight. They also had much improved suspension geometry over the RSX the generation before and enjoy a healthy but expensive aftermarket now.

I hated putting highway miles on it though. Loud, buzzy and not particularly fuel efficient given its size. Terrible paint quality. The transmissions are also weak, having even smaller gears than the old B-series and mine was making some awful noises even after a life of excellent maintenance at around 135k miles. It wasn't worth spending half the cost of the car on a proper trans rebuild (you can't find them in junkyards anymore as they're such a popular swap) not to mention the downtime, so I moved on. I still think about that little blue honda often.

Worst part of the car is the stigma and the current broke-ass highschool kid owner base. Most of these are on their 5th or 6th owner, beat to hell and back with terrible eBay mods and years behind on deferred maintenance. If you find a good gem, particularly a sedan in a rare color, they will hold value.

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disposablepresence@reddit

A girl I was seeing in high school had a coupe (non-SI) in red and I thought it was such a cool futuristic car at the time. Probably the reason I got my 2013 Civic years later. Gotta love the Civic.

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rockstarb@reddit

I bought a new one in 2008 that I ended up trading on a C6 Corvette. Flash forward a decade or two and I found a bone stock one for sale locally. I fully restored the bodywork, refreshed the suspension with stock style stuff, took care of little mechanical things, and it truly is my forever car.

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GT3Racer@reddit

I use my 07 Si as a work beater but I really do enjoy driving it. I love the sound of the motor alone. I didn't even bother putting a crazy exhaust on it, it's basically perfect from the factory. The only thing I've changed is the headunit to have Carplay.

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pq11333@reddit

The first gen TSX was honda's last great sporty sedan with the old 90s dna. Its a future classic but not many good examples left and i would easily take it over this si or any that came after.

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Successful_Ad_9707@reddit

It's a great car, but i definitely prefer the K20.

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medicallymiddleevil@reddit

You knew as soon as the turbo came out these would be classics.

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DJMagicHandz@reddit

"Alexa, play Galang by M.I.A."

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Potential-Ant-6320@reddit

I was cross shopping these with second gen fits. It’s nearly impossible to find a clean one that’s affordable. I think for the price importing a ek9 civic type R is better.

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PurpleSausage77@reddit

The engine is a gem, forget all the other VVT engines, the way the K20Z3 behaves just makes you want to race/drive, the induction sound is unreal especially after the VTEC crossover. True intake and exhaust side VTEC.

Picks up power very easily even just being left naturally breathing. They can easily make 250 to the wheels without turbo or supercharger.

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poopyface92@reddit

Recently rolled over 350k kms on mine, driving it till the wheels fall off. the k20z3 is a workhorse, along with the LSD + low weight this car is so fun to drive. Newer fun cars have a lot of features, but I just can't seem to move on from this chassis

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Karrin-madhe@reddit

Really wish I bought a 2015 Si new back in the day. Didn't know cars were going to be so shit these days. Can't find these kinds of cars in good condition now.

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Nyexx@reddit

One of my favorite Hondas I’ve ever driven was a 2009 Civic Si

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aprtur@reddit

Dating myself a lot here, but I was working in a Honda dealership for the entirety of the 8th gen's run, and that Si was such a great car. The double stack cluster was kind of weird, but somehow they made everything work well together, and all the little upgrades in the Si made it feel like a much nicer car than the normal Civic (oof, I still remember the base car's rubbery shifter - the Si was a world apart). The 9th gen had the same engine, but it just didn't feel as high of quality as the 8th gen did, comparing new vs new.

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DodgerBlueRobert1@reddit

The 9th gen didn't have the same engine as the 8th gen. K20 (2.0L) in the 8th gen, and K24 (2.4L) in the 9th gen. The 9th gen also had more horsepower, more torque, and a lower redline. Plus, and this is just my opinion, the 9th gen was uglier both inside and out.

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aprtur@reddit

Bad wording on my part - I meant that in the broader sense of being a K architecture instead of moving to the turbo L architecture. No question on how much less attractive the 9th gen was/is - I concur.

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DodgerBlueRobert1@reddit

Ahh, gotcha. Makes sense.

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KevinCubano@reddit

I drove an 8th gen coupe back when it was new. Loved it… what an engine. Really the ONLY downside I can think of is the revs would hang for a bit when trying to upshift. Outside of that? Flawless masterpiece IMO.

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dirtydriver58@reddit

Futuristic look

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dragonitexy@reddit

Spoiler: sort of

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idksomuch@reddit

I've had my 08 sedan for almost 3 years now. I love, love, loooove the high redline. There's no torque down low but when vtec hits, it's fucking awesome. The other day, I was getting on the Hwy on-ramp and there was a mk7 gti behind me. I punched it in second, vtec hit, redline hit, shifted to third and still flooring it and all the while, the gti was keeping pace behind me like they weren't even breaking a sweat. But that k20z3 sounded amazing the entire time. I wish we still had high revving engines like the 8th gen Si or true vtec but modern turbos does it better even though they sound like a vacuum cleaner.

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Harderkickz@reddit

The better part of 2000s was the decade of high revving fun, seemed like most manufacturers were onboard with it and the loads of revs. Honda, Toyota Corolla/Matrix XR, BMW M E46/60/90, RX8, Audi RS V8. Those days are long gone but what a period!

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Kuby@reddit

At least for me the lack of a hatchback was the biggest factor. Great car but man I like my hatches.

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MartyCool403@reddit

I think the Honda Civic Si sedan review was the first Matt Farrah video on YouTube I ever watched

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DodgerBlueRobert1@reddit

As an ex-owner of an '02 Si, and a current owner of an '09 Si, the 8th gen was a huge upgrade over the 7th gen. More power, mechanical LSD, better suspension geometry, less goofy looks, better seating position, far better tire and wheel combo (although the stock all-seasons are still less than ideal vs. summer tires), a higher redline, and real VTEC. The double tiered instrument display ahead of the driver in the 8th gen that all the autos journalists worried about when the car was new is a fantastic design. It takes no getting used to, and is perfectly placed. Cost of ownership is low, it's super reliable, and the VTEC rips when I want to have some fun without getting into dangerous speeds, all in a regular sedan package that is practical.