First car, please help me out
First car, please help me out
Hello first post on this new forum. I'm 16, getting my first car and been looking at alot of other cars but finally looked into honda civics, I reallly had my heart set on a fast WRX or 350z but you know, with the honda being reliable, good on gas and everything, it's hard to say no. I just looked into hondas a little while ago so I have very little knowledge and wanna shoot off a couple questions.
Differences between the LX, EX, SI?
is the SI like a sports model because it's got a higher HP that I can see, does it have lower MPG then?
Differences between the LX, EX, SI?
is the SI like a sports model because it's got a higher HP that I can see, does it have lower MPG then?
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Re: First car, please help me out
LX is a basic model with a few interior upgrades.
EX is the performance model, lots of mechanical and interior upgrades.
SI is the highest performance model, it comes with the same drive train as the base RSX and it does have lower mpg.
If your 16, a WRX or a 350z is more likely to be a coffin than a car, you'll definitely have more car then you can handle. A Civic may no be as fast as those cars, but it will still have more than enough power for a driver with your level of experience; just enough to have fun, but not enough that you'll get into more trouble than you can get yourself out of.
EX is the performance model, lots of mechanical and interior upgrades.
SI is the highest performance model, it comes with the same drive train as the base RSX and it does have lower mpg.
If your 16, a WRX or a 350z is more likely to be a coffin than a car, you'll definitely have more car then you can handle. A Civic may no be as fast as those cars, but it will still have more than enough power for a driver with your level of experience; just enough to have fun, but not enough that you'll get into more trouble than you can get yourself out of.
Re: First car, please help me out
I agree with MindBomber. I'm 16 and just got my first car, a 2004 EX Coupe, and I love it so much. It may not be the fastest car, but if you get into the gas pedal, it's more than fast enough for me, and I was looking at BMWs (BMWs are sports cars no matter which one you get) so that's saying a little bit there. I surprisingly love the stock sound system; I was thinking I wouldn't, but with the bass turned up to 5 of 6 and the treble turned up to 2 or 3, I can still bump it like I have a sub in the back. A lot of times, it makes the interior rear view mirror vibrate so I have to turn it down...haha! But yeah, you almost can't beat a Civic when it comes to reliability, and even in gas mileage when it comes to a normal gas-driven car. In the 7th generation, 2001-05, the Si only came in a hatchback which not many people in the US like at all. I was actually going to get something a lot less nice as my first car, but then mine came up at $3000 with 73000 miles, and the only reason it'd be okay to pass that deal up would be that you don't have the money...It was insane!
Re: First car, please help me out
I hope you realize being 16 with something like a WRX is gonna be a bitch and a half for insurance. The Si is the way to go if you want a little more pep. If you just need something to go from A to B with a smaller price tag, just get one of the lower end models with a manual. Honda has some of the best feeling manual transmissions out there.
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Re: First car, please help me out
I'd recommend an EX, there are many more parts available for it than the Si. The WRX is going to rape you in insurance since the likelihood of an accident is extreme.
Re: First car, please help me out
If it's just a WRX(not the STi. Although that turbo could hike up the rates), then you should be fine.....maybe I've driven one and enjoyed it quite well actually. I drove the wagon, which is so full of win. I'd seriously look into insurance costs though. I'm not trying to shove that down your throat, but that could be the difference between getting one car over the other. I just prefer the Civic because they get better gas mileage(AWD is a killer on gas), seem to be easier to work on, and could possibly cheaper depending on what you're looking for. There are a lot of factors for purchasing a car. Overall though, get what you want. You don't want buyer's remorse. We can only give you suggestions, as you're the only one who can make the final decision.
Edit: Lol @Mindbomber and I. We posted the same thing at like the same time.
Edit: Lol @Mindbomber and I. We posted the same thing at like the same time.
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Re: First car, please help me out
Without a doubt get the SI
Learn to control a car, learn to drive, learn to maintain it.
Save the extra money for the WRX later on
Hondas have a really high resell value, so if you buy a used 6th gen for lets say 5 grand today, it will still resell for about 4k in a couple years
Obviously those prices are guestimates, but you get the picture
Learn to control a car, learn to drive, learn to maintain it.
Save the extra money for the WRX later on
Hondas have a really high resell value, so if you buy a used 6th gen for lets say 5 grand today, it will still resell for about 4k in a couple years
Obviously those prices are guestimates, but you get the picture
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Re: First car, please help me out
lol Mel.
I have serious buyers remorse over not buying a Prelude I test drove sometimes, but I remind myself that insurance would have cost $450 a month and suddenly I love my Civic again.
I have serious buyers remorse over not buying a Prelude I test drove sometimes, but I remind myself that insurance would have cost $450 a month and suddenly I love my Civic again.
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Re: First car, please help me out
No one's hatin on you bud, if they were I'd be all over them as a mod.
If you were 25 and had a few years of driving under your belt we'd all be telling you to get a WRX, but you aren't and you don't. I have managed to almost kill myself... I don't know how many times with my Civic, because it was my first car and I've pushed it to the outer limits. The outer limits of a Civic a new driver can control though, the outer limits of a WRX you can't and the chances that you'll crash are huge.
This is coming from someone who has multiple friends killed in cars that were to much for them to handle.
If you were 25 and had a few years of driving under your belt we'd all be telling you to get a WRX, but you aren't and you don't. I have managed to almost kill myself... I don't know how many times with my Civic, because it was my first car and I've pushed it to the outer limits. The outer limits of a Civic a new driver can control though, the outer limits of a WRX you can't and the chances that you'll crash are huge.
This is coming from someone who has multiple friends killed in cars that were to much for them to handle.
Re: First car, please help me out
I posted it on NASIOC.com
Your right about thinking logically, but I've always wanted a fast sick car for my first car you know? I got alot of money saved up, big decision right. Can you turbo a SI or do stuff to it to make it faster?
Your right about thinking logically, but I've always wanted a fast sick car for my first car you know? I got alot of money saved up, big decision right. Can you turbo a SI or do stuff to it to make it faster?
Re: First car, please help me out
I have zero idea on anything insurance related, all I hear are 4 doors are cheaper than 2 doors, can someone tell me what your insurance rate was when you were 16 or 18, and if you had a 4 door or 2 door.
I live in Canada B.C if you could do a guesstimate of the insurance rate for me.
I live in Canada B.C if you could do a guesstimate of the insurance rate for me.
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Re: First car, please help me out
As a Canadian resident, I cant be sure on what insurance rates are up in the biggest US state...
But namely, insurance are controlled by main factors such as:
Driving record
Driving experience (years)
Car body style
Car year
Car value
Any of these will significantly put bonus points in the price of your insurance
But namely, insurance are controlled by main factors such as:
Driving record
Driving experience (years)
Car body style
Car year
Car value
Any of these will significantly put bonus points in the price of your insurance
Re: First car, please help me out
It has decent power and handling from the factory IMO. There is some potential there. You can search and find a lot of stuff to do to them. I think most of us here are looking at it a bit differently though. We all wanted fast cars when we were younger. I didn't get my first car until I was 18. A 94 Corolla. Damn thing was slow as *****, but it taught me how to maintain a car, care for it, and give a greater appreciation for the automobile. You're driving a 2+ ton hunk of metal. As for insurance, it depends on a lot of things. Age, gender(sorry. Boobies get lower rater
), doors, theft rate, there are probably more but I can't think of them right now. My insurance, in USD, was about 100 a month on that Corolla. Right now, I paid about 300 for 6 months with Geico with full coverage. I'm also 23 and have a clean driving record.
), doors, theft rate, there are probably more but I can't think of them right now. My insurance, in USD, was about 100 a month on that Corolla. Right now, I paid about 300 for 6 months with Geico with full coverage. I'm also 23 and have a clean driving record. Live for the Twisties
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Re: First car, please help me out
You can do just about anything imaginable to any Civic, the Si has a few less parts available though since it's a rare model. There are a ton of cheap mods you can do to the EX.
Edit: You live in BC, so do I!
ICBC will likely charge you at least $450-500 a month for a WRX, around $400 for the SiR and around $300 for an EX/Si. Call an auto-plan broker and they can give you a quote. An SiR sells for around $8-10K and a EX/Si sells for $5-7k. In Canada the EX is called an Si, and the Si is called an SiR.
Last edited by MindBomber; Jan 10, 2011 at 11:16 PM.
Re: First car, please help me out
As a Canadian resident, I cant be sure on what insurance rates are up in the biggest US state...
But namely, insurance are controlled by main factors such as:
Driving record
Driving experience (years)
Car body style
Car year
Car value
Any of these will significantly put bonus points in the price of your insurance
But namely, insurance are controlled by main factors such as:
Driving record
Driving experience (years)
Car body style
Car year
Car value
Any of these will significantly put bonus points in the price of your insurance
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Re: First car, please help me out
Well, currently, I'm paying about $100 a month....
But as I work for insurance, If i didn't know my ropes, I quoted myself at about anywhere from 2.5k~3.5k USD per year
But as I work for insurance, If i didn't know my ropes, I quoted myself at about anywhere from 2.5k~3.5k USD per year
Re: First car, please help me out
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Re: First car, please help me out
Maybe $25 difference between 2 and 4 door, it's not a big deal. There are a million things you can do to increase the speed of either the SiR or Si, but I would focus on suspension and brakes since those things are more useful on our roads.
Asking advice from Americans won't do you much good, our insurance system is very very different since ICBC is a crown corp. Go post a thread on revscene.net, thats a Vancouver based forum so they can give you real insurance advice.
Si has 127hp, SiR has 160hp.
Add a Cam, Intake, Exhaust and you'd be close to the SiR hp. The difference in upfront cost and insurance cost between an SiR and an Si would go a long way in mods.
Asking advice from Americans won't do you much good, our insurance system is very very different since ICBC is a crown corp. Go post a thread on revscene.net, thats a Vancouver based forum so they can give you real insurance advice.
Si has 127hp, SiR has 160hp.
Add a Cam, Intake, Exhaust and you'd be close to the SiR hp. The difference in upfront cost and insurance cost between an SiR and an Si would go a long way in mods.
Last edited by MindBomber; Jan 10, 2011 at 11:27 PM.
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Re: First car, please help me out
Because the SiR is rare, especially in Canada your going to pay quite a bit more for it than the relatively common Si and the insurance will be quite a bit more expensive per month as well. Rather than paying all that extra money for 33hp, get the Si and use that money on upgrades. $100 a month less in insurance, is a $100 a month more to put toward your suspension, brakes, engine, sound system.
Re: First car, please help me out
Because the SiR is rare, especially in Canada your going to pay quite a bit more for it than the relatively common Si and the insurance will be quite a bit more expensive per month as well. Rather than paying all that extra money for 33hp, get the Si and use that money on upgrades. $100 a month less in insurance, is a $100 a month more to put toward your suspension, brakes, engine, sound system.

Edit:: I care about looks more than a 100$ a month and not sure the differences in the 2 but if the SIR looks better I would choose it over the SI.



