So I am torn... I was looking at a 03' 5dr SVT with 79k miles as is no warranty... but I found a 06 civic si for $13k with only 33k miles honda certified at the dealer. I drove the SI as to kinda just see if I would like it...

And I did... it was weird, it hurt at first...everything was happening so fast but I started to enjoy it... and it whirled up to 8200rpms pretty quick... I was actually quite impressed and became quite comfy inside of her...

I'm going back to the dealership tomorrow @ 8:30am.....


I'll let everyone know what happens....

Were u able to drive the svt and compare em?

Were u able to drive the svt and compare em?

Ya I drove both of them...

The SVT was nearly empty when I took it off the lot... I pulled into the nearest gas station and put $6 premium in and drove it around for about a 30-45 min's just by myself... no salesman... It was a fun drive and felt great... I enjoyed it as I had the ZX3 previously and I definitely felt at home.

as for comparing the too....

The SI has just a tad less torque @ 138 or 139ft.lb's but nearly 30 more hp 197hp and was definitely felt.

The Civic revved very quick to redline and seemed alot faster than the SVT. Even though the SVT is claimed to make it to 60mph in 7.8 secs and the civic in 7.1 it was also more comfortable IMO. I also have to say I love the clutch and gearbox in the SI... Although both cars felt very comparable in that department.

I dunno... IMO the SI is a great car for sure and much nicer than any other civic I've ever seen or driven. The deal breaker for me I think is the reliability in the honda, the mileage, the warranty and it's a certified pre-owned honda.



Don't get me wrong... I'm not trying to entirely promote honda in any/all ways... I am very unbiased when it comes to cars. I love and respect any car that can produce respectable numbers but at the same time will give my own opinion based on driving 'em myself. I love Ford and focus's....I alwa
ys will but Ford has yet to make another focus like the svt and I want to buy a car with less than 40k miles... and with a warranty.

The new Si's are great cars, I say go for it. A friend had one for a bit and I loved the way that car felt. Styling is subjective, some really like it, some don't. I for one do and I love the way the car feels.

buy the honda and enjoy it.. 46,000 miles and 3 years less, plus warranty is no comparison. my friend has had 2 and they are fun cars to drive. plus he made 300whp on an all stock motor and low boost, if you ever decide to go that route after the warranty expires

wait a second here what is the difference in price?

Honda=Bad SVT=Good

Buy the SI, newer, faster, AND warranty, do it.

I genuinely feel sorry for you having to resort to the Honda but I can fully understand your logic. It really sucks that you dont have the proper Focus ST over there, as I understand it, americans pay about the same for cars in $ as we do in £ and you can get a 2 year old 30,000 mile 230bhp Focus ST over here for approx £12k. I'm saving up cash for one at the moment. I do like the civics in a way (the type r ones anyway) but I love ford and my focus and a focus is the way I wanna go.

go fofo

theres gonna be a huge difference in price ill bet, but the k20 engines are pretty damn good. i dont think youll regret it =/

for the price its a good deal...they come with a 6 speed also and a STOCK LSD....all in all that sounds like a really good deal...its a pretty bullet proof car.

Here's the thing...

I love SVT Focus's... Guys I love them...

Hell... I loved my BONE STOCK 02' ZX3 premium....

But I need something reliable... I want something new as well... like under
40k miles. SVT's are great cars but I've looked up every and all svt focus's online and there's really only I believe 2 with 30k miles and still they are 1,000's of miles away...

It's not my fault that ford won't bring over a "real ST" or "RS"... or even just recreate the SVT. And I don't want to buy a new 09, spend the same amount of money and get a 140hp car... I want something that goes!

I'm actually right now sealing the deal on a 2007 civic SI with only 15,000 miles... $17k Tax, Tag & Title out the door... Car is being bought at a honda dealer, honda certified preowned. Was originally a lease to an older gentlemen. Carfax is clean too, but should be given the mileage.


Something also to consider... When I bought my Focus it was my first car I've ever financed and I was given the choice to keep driving my Cli-Taurus with the bad tranny which wasn't really an option or buy the focus and take it in the *$$ for 25% interest on a 3 year term. I was paying $305 a month and I'm only going to be paying $253 a month on a 72mo term with 8% Interest with a certified factory warranty.

You made the right choice, don;t let the fanboys tell you otherwise

i like the SI hatchbacks, the ones before the new one(i dont know the years), just because they look like a focus, and i say if you feel happy on it , go for it, , but just remember, you going to be driving a honda... hahaha JK, go for it man, it sound like a good deal.

You made the right choice, don;t let the fanboys tell you otherwise

Hey man I'm happy with my decision... I'm just frustrated as all hell because the bank was needing proof of insurance taking care of the loan from the focus... I had that faxed over... now they need proof of the gap insurance taking care of the rest of the remaining $800 amount on the car loan before they can do anything for me... what the [:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)]?!?! I had a copy of the contract when I bought the car showing that I have gap... but they want proof from the gap company saying "we will pay the remaining $800.00"...

So no SI for me until monday...


i like the SI hatchbacks, the ones before the new one(i dont know the years), just because they look like a focus, and i say if you feel happy on it , go for it, , but just remember, you going to be driving a honda... hahaha JK, go for it man, it sound like a good deal.

I was looking at a SI Hatchback before I bought my focus but they wanted $14k back then.... Those SI's looked good but IMO nothing special about them. And the shifter hanging off the dash was weird...

Hey man I'm happy with my decision... I'm just frustrated as all hell because the bank was needing proof of insurance taking care of the loan from the focus... I had that faxed over... now they need proof of the gap insurance taking care of the rest of the remaining $800 amount on the car loan before they can do anything for me... what the [:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)]?!?! I had a copy of the contract when I bought the car showing that I have gap... but they want proof from the gap company saying "we will pay the remaining $800.00"...

So no SI for me until monday...




I was looking at a SI Hatchback before I bought my focus but they wanted $14k back then.... Those SI's looked good but IMO nothing special about them. And the shifter hanging off the dash was weird...

Shifter on the dash is definite deal breaker with me. The newer SI's are way better. I love their styling, good choice.

I had a given the dealer a copy/proof of my insurance policy, had my insurance company fax over proof that they were paying off like 90% of the loan... and then they want proof over $800 of the remaining part of the loan because they don't want to give a loan if another auto loan is present... WTF?

Shifter on the dash is definite deal breaker with me. The newer SI's are way better. I love their styling, good choice.

Dude the shifter on the new SI is bada$$ the car rev's to redline fast and each shift puts you right back at that 6-7k rpm where the vtec kicks in... it's pretty sick....

I'm just pissed I'm not taking it home TONIGHT... I was so looking forward to really opening it up on the interstate tonight. [bigcry]

honsetly....the si is a great car. a friend of mine has one of the newer si hatchbacks and i love the car. i also test drove one before i got my focus and it ended up costing too much so i went with the focus. i'm happy with my pick but i do love the newer si's.

There is really no reason to feel bad about this, the Si a great car and let's face it ford can't touch honda in reliability, resale value and power per liter ratio.

no honda

Sounds like a pretty good deal. I would probably take it over an SVT unless I found one with really low miles and a great price.

You made the right choice, don;t let the fanboys tell you otherwise

Depends on how you look at it. Resale value? Yes, right choice. HP? Yes, right choice. Reliability? Yes, right choice.

Looks? No. The SVT is eons better looking to anyone who has 2 eyes. [hihi] Exclusivity? No. Its just another Si, I see several every day. Handling? A draw. Steering feel? SVT all the way. Interior design? No contest again, SVT all the way.


If I were in his shoes, it would be a tough call, really. Id probably end up going with the SVT because its something special. The Si (B16 and K20 variants) are pretty fun to drive, but still feel like something is missing, theyre kinda soulless, ya know? Hard to explain.

it will hold its value ALOT better.

Honestly my friend has a civic si, its an okay car but i would personally never buy a sports fwd car. If i were you, i would get a rwd car. Especially since your in fl and dont need to deal with snow.

Honestly my friend has a civic si, its an okay car but i would personally never buy a sports fwd car. If i were you, i would get a rwd car. Especially since your in fl and dont need to deal with snow.

Um, you do realise this is a focus forum right?

Well I bought my car today!! It ain't no Honda! [thumb]

^^^so after all of that no honda?

^^^so after all of that no honda?

Naw I got another focus... 05' focus ST 23k miles 5yr/60k mile warranty for $8750. Much cheaper than the honda and IMO just as fun to drive. The civic SI I was going to buy was an 07 with 15k miles for $17k tax, tag and title. I'm just as excited if not more about my ST.

The first couple gears into the test drive I was already sold as well as very happy to just be behind the wheel of another focus.... What can I say? There's some things you just love and can't just walk away from. I love focus's and I always will...

Can't wait to mod this one and really have some fun with it!

go for it. si's are nice. plus they are hondas. they last. not saying that fords dont. i havent had any probs with my svt but thats not to say alot of ppl here havent.