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Odd car question.. SVT or Si?, but wait, theres more.

2.1K views 39 replies 24 participants last post by  rsxblue  
#1 ·
I have no idea why this crossed my mind but,

choice one.. Honda Hatch Si, set up exactly like it is but with really nice 17" wheels. Same price as an SVT!


choice two.. SVT, set up just like it is, but with 160Hp...

Hmmmmmm...
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huh?

I guess they could both be 170HP thats fine too, whaever... it really doesnt matter, but basically the same hp, with nice 17" wheels, I think this will make for a pretty good comparison.

[ 06-25-2002: Message edited by: socalfoci ]</p>
 
#3 ·
you want to drop the SVT to 160 just so the Si will have a chance? uh...what have you been huffin?


hey's it's not Ford's fault that Honda decided to make a $h!tty car. read the magazine reviews and decide for yourself....Si=lackluster in all respects. Honda was just plain arrogant to think they could reenter the sport compact market with that POS. Nifty shifter?....who cares. A shifter is not the car.

[ 06-25-2002: Message edited by: inteller ]

[ 06-25-2002: Message edited by: inteller ]</p>
 
#4 ·
Well I'm going to defend the H a little bit because I really like the steering wheel too, but again that doesn't make the car. The new Si is a competent performer, but is in no way the track star that the SVT is. The Si does have a few things on the SVT, but it's certainly not enough to overcome the looks - even with these imaginary 17's and definitely not enough to overcome the price differential that the SVT has.

I won't call the car a flop, because there are lots of people that can look past the merits of the SVT and others like the SE-R Spec-V, GTI & Cooper S and still want to come home in the Si, but it's certainly not the class leader they could have offered.

Anyway - the only competition the SVT really has is the Cooper S. Nothing else has it toghether in the right combination.

>8^)
ER
 
#5 ·
Inteller,,, dude, take it easy,, it has nothing to do with that..


Peleton... OK, SAME PRICE AS WELL...

So, what we have is 2 170hp hatches with 17"s same price..


Work with that.. Im just curious.. Im sure that the SVT will clean up on this board, but I was just curious.
 
#6 ·
that's interesting....i dunno where you can derive same price cause all the arrogant honda dealers around here won't budge from sticker. THey don't have markups (thank god) but they spew the everlasting "resale value" BS that honda always spews. Earth to honda dealers....resale value won't mean squat for an Si once its been modded to the hilt to make it actually perform.
 
#7 ·
Ok, now you're forcing me to bag on the car...

1.) It's ugly - not much you can do there with out the Type-R bodykit - which makes the car look really nice.

2.) The brakes are pathetic compared to the SVT - 11.8 -vs- 10.1 I think

3.) The steering and the suspension tuning on the Si are not near the match that the SVT has. You can't just slap on 17's and call it the same. Several respected Euro mags like Car and EVO have all complained about the steering on the CTR which I'm pretty positive was a direct carry-over to the Si. I wasn't able to make a fair comparison with the one I drove because of the pathetic stock rubber.

Now since they are priced the same (in your strange little world) you have to give the quality, reliability and resale value nod to the Si for sure. If those things are important to you then that could be enough to sway your decision without even thinking about some of the other points I raised.

I for one, would never buy the Si - even if it was $1000 cheaper than the SVT.

Shame for Honda, really.
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>8^)
ER
 
#8 ·
My friend recently bought the SI for his wife,(he owns a Honda S2000, also) and I was allowed to take it threw it's paces. I used to do a little rally racing in Germany when I lived there (a Fiesta and an Audi 50 a.k.a. VW Polo) so I had a pretty good idea what to expect out of a car in that class. It was a darn good performer. A little flat on the torque curve, but after about 4500 rpm she came to life. She took all of the 25 mph marked curves on the country road at 60+ without a tire squeal. The dorky Citroen Ente style shifter in the dash has to go. The car didn't measure up to my expectations of what Honda can do. It seems they slapped a "hot" little compact out into the market in hopes some young Honda fanatic will buy it up without knowing the facts. Over priced! This is good for Ford Focus fans because this reminds me of the Mustang vs. Camaro wars. The Focus is only going to get better and better!
P.S. Yeah, the S2000 does hit 150mph. No problem.
 
#9 ·
yep, the SVT pretty much rules its class.....it is in a niche that no one else can really touch (and by this I mean price, performance, etc) If you remove price then yeah you can say mini, but most people take price into consideration so I include it as well. Now of course if you are stupid enough to pay SVT dealer markups thats a different story.
 
#10 ·
Before driving the SVT, I might have picked the Si, just because of the fit and finish, the solid feel and the ever present "reliability" factor. However, after actually driving both cars, the SVT wins no questions asked! It is just much more fun to drive! You can't quantify that with price! In this case, Ford gets my money. I would imagine the SVT will need more service over the long haul, but it isn't a big enough issue to deter me. Both cars are solid and well built, and I found no quality issues in the SVT we looked at. I think SVT has done a respectable job pulling up the Focus' fit and finish and giving it that extra quality. For the price, nothing can touch it!
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#11 ·
I have a problem with my friends who drive Nissans and Honda/Acura. They allways complain why the SVT Focus is slow with all the modifications it has received. 6sp/lightened flywheel, 40hp bump, VCT, bla bla bla...
They allways say "Look at the SE-R...it has a Altima engine, which is not even close to it's fully potential, close coupled cat, only 142whp, heavier, cheaper (BLA BLA BLA!!!), and it still kicks Focus' ass. While the Focus is pretty much overdone, and can not be taken any further." Then I bring up "Yeah, but it's TWO POINT FIVE LITERS DAMNIT!!!"

I hate when people hate on cars because it OWNZ THEIR RIDES, AND THE COMPETITION!!

My GTI ownz SE-Rs in straight line...but wait, I have a Turbo, and only 180hp...and it only weighs 150lbs more, and it has no LSD, but wait again...IT COSTS MORE! Excuses, excuses...I dislike ignorant people when they can't just get it. Or will not...
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#12 ·
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Peloton25:
Well I'm going to defend the H a little bit because I really like the steering wheel too<hr></blockquote>

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STOP SAYING THAT!!!
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or tell me, is that sarcasm, or are you just so in love with this steering wheel that you feel the need to mention it in every single Civic Si thread? haha i really need to do a search and find out how many times you've said that
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#15 ·
my friend and i test drove a si and a svt. Performance wise, the svt was the clear choice. The si had good handling, but it just didn't feel as exciting to drive as the svt. The svt felt faster in every way.

For fit and finish, the si had the edge. It had a nicer interior, and good seats. The shifter being mounted on the dash was a little wierd at first, but after driving it a little bit, i got used to it. The svt had a nice interior as well; I was familiar with the interior from when i had a loaner focus for 8 weeks. The seats were nice as well. The shifter for the svt felt precise, but my friend had a hard time from accidently putting it in 3rd instead of 1st; he was trying to avoid putting it in reverse. Both cars felt solid and well built, but the si had better quality materials.

looks go to the svt. enough said.

Pricing, the svt was cheaper and a better value. The audiophile package sounds really good, and to me, worth getting.

Bottom line. To me, the most important things in picking a car is price and value, how it drives, and how it looks. I'm not to picky about the interior materials, as long as it doesn't look too cheap. I choose the svt because of value, and driving fun.
 
#16 ·
If I was a bettin' man....and I kinda am.....I would bet you won't buy that Si cause you know what will happen to ya!
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Anyway, Even thinking of the Honda in any other way than in your rearview mirror is a SIN! It's the 11th commandment
 
#17 ·
I saw a white SI last night in Monmouth Mall and another in the baby**** brown/gold color on the road and damn they look so much like the Odessy minivan...UGLY
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#18 ·
Here's another perspective:

I'd get the SVT because it is more unique. I'm certain there are going to be more Civic Si driving around on the roads than SVT Foci... Why drive something that is so common?

I love unique cars... I just wish my ZX3 was still as unique as it used to be.

..anyway. The SVT has way more personality.
 
#20 ·
Johnny, this has nothing to do with the engine of a honda vs. ford.

I decided to ask all the women in my department how they think the civic si looks.... they all said the same thing = "that is one UGLY car!"

They've seen our focus - they all dig it.

Soooo I asked them this:
If you saw a guy in that civic SI, would you give him the time of day? All sixteen of them said...no, unless you looked like Johnny Depp. Then i guess you could even drive a yugo and look hot.

When asked about the focus, they still said no, but you had a better chance because the car looks kinda cool.

I only ask the important questions in life
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#22 ·
I'll have to say that the SVT is the faster car with more personality. I'm not crazy about the Si, but really like the looks of the Type-R.

I think that the one thing that Si has going for it is the fact that it IS a Honda. It will probably have way better resale, and will probably be more reliable in the long run. This is just speculation of course.

I think the SVT is a great looking car, whereas the Si is very ho-hum. In the lastest Honda Tuning magazine, they have a feature article with a done up Oddessy (yes, the minivan) and a done up Si. It's amazing how much the two look a like (the Si looks like a small Oddessy!). If you get a chance, take a look a the mag (maybe they have a website?) and see for yourself.

EDIT: I don't know which one I'd take!!! Chances are, if I had $20K to spend, I'd get a used GS-R
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[ 06-27-2002: Message edited by: hatched ]</p>
 
#26 ·
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by socalfoci:
Well, this thread has some serious SUCK.. I dont think anyone even read my post.. It just totally went off topic, and I think we are all dumber now for have reading it. thank you very much..
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<hr></blockquote>

YES, socalfoci,, this thread does have suck,, nobody is reading what the post actually says..Hmmm...

Wow, Socalfoci, dont you know how to control your threads you dumbass. Damn your stupid socal..