Hot in the Lot
Marc Simonelli's 2007 Civic Si
NEIRAD enilno editionCivic? Yes, we know. We realize you are wondering why a Honda Civic would be featured in ‘Hot in the Lot,’ the title does have the word ‘hot’ in it, after all. And Civics - well nearly everyone is familiar with the Honda Civic, one of the cheapest, most affordable cars in the world, renowned for its outstanding reliability, and ability to take major abuse.
There is nothing particularly exciting about Civics, they are meant to be affordable and Honda has demonstrated that ever since the introduction of the 1973 Civic in 1972. Therefore, Civics have traditionally had small frames and economical and unenthusiastic body styling. The interiors have always been cramped and unimpressive, made with low cost materials and equipped with only essential features, such as a steering wheel, gauge cluster, seats, and shifter – that’s it. The engines in Civics have always been small, typically less then two liters, and consequently, dreadfully uninspiring.
However, due to the scarce amenities Honda did provide, the tiny engine was sufficient for getting around town as the average weight of Civics since the model’s introduction is less than 2,500 lbs. By now there is good argument of why these cars are quintessentially ordinary, average, and mundane; and probably an even stronger argument for why these cars are painfully unworthy of Hot in the Lot, and that would be true. There is one side of the Civic story I haven’t told you yet.
Meet the Honda Civic Si, the mutant cousin of the Civic family. This version of the Civic was born with all the right genes. It is the alpha male, golden child of the entire lineup, thanks Honda factory performance upgrades that make this Civic the quickest and most athletic of them all. Honda has by tradition, produced an “Si” version of the Civic since 1986, and each of these performance models have sported an upgraded engine.
“Si” actually refers to Sequential Injection, the esteemed fuel injection technology that gave these Civics incredible performance for their small naturally aspirated engine. Sequential injection involves precisely timed fuel injection to each individual cylinder. This replaced the need for carburetors, which mixed air and fuel right before the throttle body. Because of this accurate administration of a perfect balance of air and fuel, Honda’s sequential injection technology has been evolving, creating more efficient power from every Si generation.
The current generation Civic Si, the one Marc Simonelli picked up this past August, has a 197 horsepower, 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine that utilizes Honda’s trademarked V-Tech valve timing system to get it from 0-60 mph in only 6.3 seconds. V-tech enables the Si’s engine to rev up to 8,000 rpm by switching to a supplementary set of camshafts as it nears 6,000 rpm. The Si only has 139 ft-lb of torque but considering how quickly the motor revs it feels much greater. Compare this to the entry level Civic’s 140 horsepower 1.8 liter four-cylinder, and the extra ‘Si’ badge can be more greatly appreciated.
But it is not just a point mutation that separates the Si from the other Civics, the suspension, transmission, and drive train are also enhanced over the standard model. Suspension is much more firm with independent front and multi link rear strut arrangements. The only transmission available on an Si is a close ratio six speed manual with a short throw shifter and equally short travel clutch. Because all Civics are front wheel drive you do not get the predictable handling customarily seen in rear wheel drive cars, but Honda addressed this issue with their ‘Helical’ limited slip differential. The result of these changes makes a tamed Civic into a powerful, agile animal. Handling is incredibly precise and body roll is almost unnoticeable so the driver can really make use of the 197 ponies under the hood.
There are subtle styling cues throughout the exterior that give the Si a more sporty appearance. First of all, there is a rear spoiler, not excessively dramatic but nonetheless prominent. The stock 17 inch alloy wheels on standard all season tires or optional performance summer tires give the Si a more aggressive stance. Lastly, there are small Si badges around the exterior as well as ‘i-vtech’ decals above the rocker panels.
Once you enter the interior, the sport-oriented ambience is more prominent. Most obvious are the large, comfortable sports seats with high thick, high rising bolstering, designed to keep a firm grasp of the occupants during aggressive cornering. The remainder of the cabin is very driver-oriented, all controls are within easy reach of the driver. The tight, smooth six speed gear shifter dominates the center console with the emergency brake on the side. The Civic Si is a car meant to be driven; it has many performance highlights in the cockpit such as a compact sport steering wheel, and a digital speedometer on the upper edge of the dashboard, perfectly in the driver’s line of sight. The Si furnishes its three proper pedals in solid aluminum and with a clutch that is simply effortless, it adds a racecar like sensation.
Racecar? No, but close enough. Marc knew he wanted a sporty car ever since he was a child. “My family was always into cars, my dad had Corvettes, and old Chevys, and fixed them up.” Marc said. But Marc wanted a car that could handle, was fast, safe, reliable, and economical, attributes that American cars are not particularly renowned for, so he dove into the world of Japanese automakers. By now, in the realm of import tuners, the Honda Civic Si is legendary. Celebrating nearly 25 years of heritage, the Si has established respect among the other popular imports such as the Toyota Celica GTS, Mitsubishi Eclipse and Lancer Evo, Subaru WRX, Hyundai Tiburon, and Mazda RX-8.
For this reason Marc was originally looking for a Civic Si between the years of 2000 and 1995, however he was having trouble finding one in good condition with low mileage. A stroke of luck appeared one day in August when Marc and his father noticed the shine of a pristine 2007 pearl black Civic Si sitting in the lot of a Honda dealership in Milford. Marc and his father realized it was better to spend a little extra money on a newer car in immaculate condition rather than chase down an older one with a lot high mileage. Marc and his father were able to negotiate a mere $16,000 for this 2007 Si with only around 30,000 miles on the odometer.
“For the money it is worth it,” Marc said while we were taking a spirited drive, “this car is fun as hell!” And it really is. There is not much in the $22,000 price range (New MSRP) that will provoke the same grins and thrill that this machine does. The only car that can really compare is the Hyundai Genesis Coupe, but with nearly the same output yet 400 lb more curb weight, the Civic will accelerate more nimbly and responsively. Some may argue that the 2011 mustang V6 would be a better buy, making 305 horsepower, however the two are worlds apart. The Mustang is a muscle car designed to be fast in a straight line. The Civic Si on the other hand was engineered to be quick in and out of corners and on the racetrack.
Considering the short amount of time that Marc has been driving a manual transmission, his is doing considerably well. After the learning curve that comes with the stick, shifting becomes second nature and extremely rewarding. “I will never drive another automatic car,” Marc said. Right now the car is 100% stock. (I.e. in original condition) Marc plans to tint the windows and the rear taillights, as well as look into better lighting alternatives such as HIDs. As for performance, Marc was considering a cold air intake and exhaust but not for a while. The car performs incredibly well as is, and the engine was engineered to incredibly close margins, meaning that cheap modifications are not going to ‘free’ up a substantial amount of horsepower from the engine. In other words the engine performs as well as it can in stock form. If Marc wanted to be really ambitious he could install a supercharger to increase power, however that $5,000 modification is currently in his blind spot, and according to Marc, will stay there for a while.
