In a comparison of new hot hatches the Si pulled in 2nd place out of three. 3rd was a VW 1.8 GTi and 1st place was the new SVT Focus.

Honda Civic Si

Highs: Shifter looks like a bent nail but works brilliantly, engine is as smooth as they come, wonderful seats, more stable than you aunt Mabel.

Lows: All right, who put these Insight tires on our Si?! Where's the high-revving VTEC fury? Guppy styling.

The Verdict: The factory-built Si is not that hot, but it's a good candidate for hot-rod tinkering.

Here's come excerpts of the article.

"the Si is powered by a satin-smooth 160hp, 2.0 liter engine available in the base-model RSX.... It's mated to a sublime shifting close-ratio five-speed manual."

"For VTEC aficionados, the '02 Civic Si, which is the only American-model Civic to use the three-door body, will take some getting used to. Acura Integra GS-Rs and Type-Rs, Honda Preludes, and the most recent Si have conditioned us to expect certain things, such as a furious rush of power and mechanized adrenaline as the VTEC system switches to the big cam lobes for high-rpm operation."

"Apparently, Honda has sided with critics bothered by the high, narrow power band of the old engines. The redline in this one is down to 6800rpm..."

"..the new Si is slower to 60mph by almost a full second than the quickest '99 to '00 model we tested."

"Yes, it carries 156 more pounds than did the old model, but it's nonetheless disappointing."

"But the Honda had easily the best seats of the bunch, providing lateral support all the way up to your shoulders."

"As for the styling, we'll let your aesthetic sense guide you, but we never waremed to the Si's huge, nearly flat windshield and gigantic peepers."

"There is a great potential here. But in its factory state of tune, the Si is the mild one of the bunch."

Performance Data:
0-60: 8.0
1/4 mile: 16.2 sec @ 86mph
braking 70-0mph: 204 ft
curb weight: 2740

Engine:
160hp @ 6500 rpm
132lbft @ 5000 rpm
17.1 lb/hp

Price as tested:
$19,000

For more info, pick up this month's Car and Driver magazine.

Where are the '02 Civic Si's gonna be made? In the United States? I know the '02 Civic Type-R's are made in England.:smoker:

Well frankly, that's very dissapointing.

Oh look 132 ft-lbs :rolleyes:

Still a piece of crap :flipa:

Originally posted by b16a2si
Where are the '02 Civic Si's gonna be made? In the United States? I know the '02 Civic Type-R's are made in England.:smoker:

The Si's will be built alongside the R's in England

I dont know about you guys but I dont like the new Civics as much. looks or otherwise

Originally posted by Lord_Vektra
I dont know about you guys but I dont like the new Civics as much. looks or otherwise

I don't think anyone does... Including myself.:buck

yeah it its definetly been a dissapointment after '00. but hopefuly after all this criticism they will address and fix these problems on the next genereation hondas.

The only cool thing about that article is the info that the CTR is coming over.