im shoppin for a new car...i got the choices down to 2...si(ex) or p5...now im in trouble...couldn't decide between those 2....plz list some pros and cons and suggestions to help me out!

i can probably get the si for $22300 w/o GST and p5 for about $23200 w/o GST....all loaded...automatic btw
THANX!

 

I was in the exact same spot as you when I bought my P5. I found that if I were to purchase all the extra standard equipment the P5 has that the Civic SI does not, the cost of the SI would be higher. I also looked at an Acura 1.7EL, which I think is a much better value than the Civic. But I threw all that out the window when I drove the P5. I liked the ride better, less road noise, more comfortable seats, nicer interior, better fit and finish, a real feeling of fun to drive when compared to the EX and 1.7EL. Once I got behind the wheel of the P5 I knew I was going to buy the car

BTW: I was looking for 4 doors.

The other thing about the P5 I have really come to enjoy is the hatchback. I am AMAZED at the amount of **** I can get in that car. I actually brough home a new hot water heater (full sized in the original bulky box), and was able to close the hatch. That's another point for the P5 I didn't consider when I bought it. Also the P5 is assembled in Japan, the Honda/Acura in North America.

Buy the P5...you know you wanna

Jay

T

 

civic seems to have better transmission...but i think its more fun to ride in the p5...what about the engine quality?....i had some wind noise when ridin in the civic at 70-80km/hr...then theres ppl say p5 has wind noise...civic doesn't....i need more input =)

 

I found the Engine in the Civic LX (didn't drive the SI) was way noisier than the P5. The Acura 1.7EL with the same engine in the SI (I'm pretty sure) was slightly quieter than the LX but still noisier than the P5.

I haven't had any problems with wind noise in my car. I don't have a sun roof or roof rack, which is where most of the wind noise complaints come from.

I like the Auto in the P5. It shifts agressive enough to make it fun to drive.

Driving all three cars told me all I needed to know, even with out knowing all the specs on all the cars.

Keep in mind I wasn't looking at an SI. Just the LX and the 1.7EL.

Jay

 

Yeah, I think that you get more for your money when you look at the Canadian Si and the P5...

Take all the options on both cars, and then compare the prices....

 

I had the same drama with my purchase too. I was so frustrated by the end of my shopping that I just gave up. There was just something about the P5 that made me buy it. Main reason being that I couldn't take my eyes off it.

The fun to drive aspect was definitely a pro, and myself looking down the road all I see is civics, civics, civics.... I couldn't make myself fall into that ditinction of being a ricer just because I drive a civic. I like to be different, and believe me I do not have a single regret about it.

 

Since I'm really not a speed freak, the P5 did everything I wanted it to do. The handling is superb - I have yet to really push the car to it's limits, and I have pushed. I have taken some off-ramps at very nice speed - and a few of them (when I didn't know the area) really bit me in the *** when the curve suddenly sharpened a WHOLE lot. But flick the wheel, and the P5 responds - barely ever do I even get the tires to screech - even on those suddenly-sharp curves.

Honda definitely has a well-deserved reputation of reliability, but I totally believe that the Mazda is right up there with it. I had a Miata before the P5 (a great car to compare handling) - sold it with 80,000 miles on the odo, and it never saw the shop for anything but an oil change. The guy who bought it from me changed the timing belt (routine maintenance) and the car is still humming without a hitch.

And the looks - OMG, nothing in the hatchback class even comes close to the P5 - I've had mine just about a year, and I still love to look at it - I have not tired of it one bit. And at least you won't be "just another Civic" in the P5.

I agree - go for the P5 (you know you wanna - hehehe) - but of course I'm biased, because I dig mine so much....

-HH

 

You know my opinion. I'm noodleboy on 7thgencivic.com. I'd go for the P5, and that's why i'm here.

 

The only mark against the Pro when comparing it to the si, is the lack of aftermarket support, where the civic wins hands down. This of course means that sooner or later a civic is going to smoke you, and that sucks. I knew that and even then I bought the Pro after owning and loving two good fast civics. It didn't take a lot for me to deside, but then we can't get a Type R civic in the states.

 

hehe my co-worker has had more problems with his RSX then me with my P5......the P5 is an awsome package...everything you see you get...you will love those late nights where there is no body on the roads and you can take those off ramps at double the posted speed limit!!!

protege has its problems (not many though)

1. noisy at startup, but thats due to the emisions control and the engine quiets down after 5-10 minuts...this engine doesn't like to run cold

2. wind noise is bad when doing over 120km/h...but i think its worse with people that have the sun roof

3. factory stereo/speakers suck (just get after market there always better anyways)

4. stock air intake is garbage ( spend the extra money and get a after market....engine runs quieter and get better gas miliage

5. engine is slightly under powered....nothing you can do about that with out spending some major cash


i'm mostly being picky though its the best all around package!

 

i THINK im gonna go with the protege5...tryin to find a good deal right now...hope to join the club soon

 

WHoa!!! wait a sec!!! did someone here say the tranny in the civic is 'better'? uhh...no! not manuals and not autos either!

i used to own a 1999 Civic Si(R) w/ the B16A2 160hp engine and manual. the manual would grind while going from 1-2, 2-3, & 3-5th. it only occurred above 5500rpms. no honda dealer in my area (atlanta) would even touch it! refused to. claimed it was my fault. okay, but then one would have to ignor the couple hundred other SiR/Si owners have the exact same problem as I did. many werent as lucky as I was (i.e. can you say $2K USD please?)

And the auto trannies, from the drivers that i spoke w/ that had them-hated them. in fact, many switched to the 5 spd. manual.

i emplore you to at least consider and try a manual and makes sure its attached to a Pro5!

 

I have about 1,000 mile on my P5. I drove a few other cars at around the time I got the P5. I drove the Suzuki Aero - not too impressed with that car. On paper it seemd like it s/b faster than the P5, but to me it did not seem so. I also drove a Matrix with the souped up engine. That was a nice car, but I did not like the seating position ( seemed like a mini-van in a way), and the shifter location seemed to far forward to me. Plus more money.

I thought about a Protege sedan, but I just liked the looks better of the P5, and I liked the added versatility of a hatch-back. I was not able to drive an SI, but I will say one thing about the SI - I saw a dyno of the power curve and it just seemed weird to me - kind of strong at low end - but a big dip in the middle - than kind of stronger high end. It just did not look like a nice power curve to me, even though its got more hp than the P5. But the main reason I bought the P5 was it was so much fun to drive. Like someone else said, I drive the car pretty aggressiviely in curves, and I have yet t hit its limit.

And also (like someone else commented,) I was not going to be another Civic driver. Actaully for me, its like those damn Integras, geez they are all over. I wanted something different. And I have not regreted my choice for one minute. Money-wise, it is a steal for the performance you get, and it looks great, and can carry 4 adults, or drop the back seats, and haul ****.

I'm biased on the P5, but I doubt you will regrete getting one.

- Woody
(bkail)

 

heh/heh, that's my thought exactly. if you really think about it, there isn't that much of a difference within this class (except for the wrx!) so if you get a hot new car that handles great (p5), more than likely you'll overlook some of the shortcomings, which are really minor.