The car looks nothing like the pictures, it is totally rusted, dented and all in all in very bad shape.

First, some background information. I drive my Si 14000 to 15000 miles per year. My commute to work is a handful of miles on mainly straight roads, with lots of traffic signals. Overall, I average 26 to 27 mpg. The Si has been through rain, snow, ice, flooding, and every other condition that New England weather can produce. It has even been driven through foot-deep water without any problem. Despite a few weaknesses, I have bonded with this car more than any other. What I like about the Si Sedan is its mix of performance and practicality. It gives you a respectable amount of horsepower (nearly 200), and yet sips fuel conservatively. I average about 26 mpg in mixed driving conditions. The Si can seat 5 adults rather comfortably, which is impressive for a car in its class. It is much more spacious than previous Civics. The trunk is absolutely enormous for a compact car, and can hold many a grocery bag. You could drive the Si like any normal Civic, shifting below 3000 or 4000 RPM, cruising along quietly, and be perfectly happy using it that way. However, there are a few reminders of what lies beneath the hood. When you encounter an onramp or a curvy back road, you can actually feel the Si urging you on, wanting you to take it to its limit. This car grips. You can throw it into corners and make it dance back and forth between under- and oversteer. Even when it appears to be close to the limit, squeezing the accelerator produces more mind-boggling cornering grip, thanks to the limited-slip differential. The Si's handling is not without fault. At slower cornering speeds, it has a slight sensation of numb softness. There is noticeable body roll, so transitions can be tricky. However, all of that disappears when you push it hard. Chrome tip aside, the exhaust is a masterpiece. At idle, it emits a deep, baritone growl, thanks to a tuned resonator. Driving with the windows up, the hum of the exhaust is just audible enough to make you smile. With the windows down, you'll be grinning ear-to-ear. Give it partial throttle and let off the accelerator between 2000 and 3000 RPM. You will be greeted by a seductive symphony of snapping and popping backfire. Give it full throttle all the way to redline, and it howls fiercely. The number one reason for buying this car is the engine. The K20Z3 is the paragon of Honda engineering. With all aluminum construction and an 11:1 compression ratio, it produces nearly 100 horsepower per liter and revs all the way to 8000 RPM. VTEC, Honda's variable valve timing system, kicks in at 5800 RPM by switching to camshafts with high valve lift and duration. From that point on, the car transforms into a street racing machine. The engine note can only be described as a beautiful, DOHC Honda snarl. Everyone who has driven a twin cam Honda knows that sound, and this engine produces one of the best examples. Below the VTEC switchover, the car is quiet and civilized, but between 6000 RPM and redline, it begins to roar loud enough to turn many heads. The best part about the engine is that it will go on reliably for hundreds of thousands of miles. The biggest shortcomings I have observed in the Si Sedan are as follows. It doesn't like to behave properly on cold mornings. The acceleration and transmission are jittery and jumpy, more so than in any other cars I have driven. This lasts until the engine begins to reach operating temperature. The front seats are creaky, and the driver's seat has an active safety mechanism in it that squeaks as you move and go over bumps. If you rapidly accelerate (throttle to the floor), and then switch to quick braking, the engine RPM 'hangs' in place for a few moments, before dropping down to idle. This is because of the cam phasing and electronic throttle programming in the car's ECU. I've been told that it's completely normal, and it's part of the reason why fuel economy is so good. It's just something you have to learn to live with. In summary, the Civic Si is not the best at everything. It does not accelerate as fast or fit as much furniture as a GTI. It does not handle or brake as well as a BRZ. What it does instead is give you the best mix of all categories: performance, practicality, fuel economy, and value. I would definitely recommend this car.

I enjoy how affordable the car is, even the insurance is dirt cheap compared to the cars my friends are driving. The manual transmission helps to add an enjoyable driving experience. Definitely feel safe while driving and would reccommend to anyone!

I've had four different Hondas and each one of them was stylish, fun to drive, reliable and had great gas mileage. I have also seen first hand how well these compact cars are built. My niece was in an accident with her civic. The car gave way and it crumpled in all the right places keeping the engine out of the passenger compartment and preventing her from suffering life threatening injury.

I was really impressed with filling it up $40 dollars in gas and it lasting a long time for short commutes to work/school or long rides because it has great fuel miles and was also very comfortable driving around. Its spacious for not being a large vehicle and still fits 5 with a large trunk. I was able to stuff this car with all my belongings when I moved to my new place. It also is low maintenance and if ever needing repairs Hondas parts cost much less. Its visible, I feel safe driving around, and has a stylish look with add ons and the sports trim, while not going over the top.