I was driving from Columbus to Akron last night and saw the new Civic (it was close to production because the only thing covered were the logos) Not only was it very nice looking (picture a Tc but sharper and more aggressive) but it was eating off and on ramps for breakfast lunch and dinner. It was flying out of the turns and there was one where I thought the driver was going into the grass, but the car held and just rocketed around. The other thing that impressed me was one of the corners has a nice bump in the middle that is enough to throw almost any car off line and the civic crushed it no problem.

You never know with these pre-production things if they are running special tires or suspension that is not going to make the actual car, but this one looked production. If so the Mini is going to have some real competition in the handling area.

 

you able to see so much when it was hauling so fast?

I'm not concerned about how any other car handles, accelerates or drives in general. My only concern is my own mini. It's sahhhhweet! Any other consideration would just be an insecurity on my part and lord knows I have enough without worrying about things I can't control.

 

My b/f is probably going to purchase on 06' Civic...he loves driving my MINI, but hes a college undergrad who focuses on his studies and thus works what he needs to to pay the bills, thus the MINI is out of his price range. But he did say that next time around, it was on the top of his list. In my mind there is no competition for the MINI though.

 

Another boring Honda Civic. Millions of them everywhere. I'll pass.

 

Probably the new Si.

It's not going to be much cheaper than a MINI. More than a stock S I think.

It is a 6 speed and does have more actual horsepower... but it's still a Civic.

 

What I've seen of the '06 Civic it's pretty blasted ugly. Eye of the beholder, I guess. In fact, I got a real good look at a tC the other day. I was totally underwhelmed. Bigger than I would have hoped.

 

I've seen it in person.. it's not terrible... but I wouldn't own one.

 

Yea I am totally happy I am picking up my Mini on Monday, but that Civic had some serious handle. The look was much better than the pics show it has a very edgy look (kinda like a Bangle Honda). Being a car guy I always like seeing cars do great things, in the end I bought a Mini because it has style and great handling, the Honda might have great handling but like others have said the styling is still very Honda (nice but not my style).

 

Matt

 

My wife has a '04 Civic Si hatchback and there are actually fewer of them in the US than MINIs.

 

in Japan, Integra-R's eat MCS's for lunch and dinner... im sure the new Civic with its factory hopup will be close or better to the current Integra-R's. Japan almost always never sends out their best models to the
US which is a real bummer.

but you know, civics and integra's will always be civics and integras...
just plain and no real character.

 

Absolutely

 

I always hated them, had never owned one, will never own one...