The problem is the car in not configurable. For example, if you want a power seat you have to get the trim level that also gives you a moonroof. Or if you want a "sporty" model then you cannot get comfort options such as a power seat or leather. You cannot add any options to any trim level, except for dealer installed items such as body side moldings, mud flaps, etc.Si isn't for everyone. If it was then Honda wouldn't bother with the other 5+ Civic trims they offer.
This is exactly one of the big reasons why I bought my first Honda. Limited number of trims with no major options the dealers can randomly put on their cars. Other car dealers never have available the car I want. There can be a gazillion possibilities plus colors, and they like to have cars fitted with all sorts of combinations of useful and expensive but useless options I don't want to pay for. Of course, you can specify your options and colors, and if you are willing to wait, they will finally get you what you want, but you then lose any negotiating advantage. They don't care as much about selling cars they don't own yet, so they want to make more profit on any additional cars they order. I only want to buy a car the dealer already owns, sitting on the lot.The problem is the car in not configurable. For example, if you want a power seat you have to get the trim level that also gives you a moonroof. Or if you want a "sporty" model then you cannot get comfort options such as a power seat or leather. You cannot add any options to any trim level, except for dealer installed items such as body side moldings, mud flaps, etc.
True, it is interesting that initially the only real "factory option" for the Si was the summer tires, everything else was "dealer options". I'll admit some things like power seats or power-folding mirrors would have greatly appealed to me, but when you consider the other extreme like Porsche where there are 1,000 customizable options and no Porsche is ever bought in 'base' form, it gets a little ridiculous. I assume by not really offering any factory options on the Si (other than the tires at one point) helped keep the cost low since every Si was built identical to each other, besides paint color and body-style.The problem is the car in not configurable. For example, if you want a power seat you have to get the trim level that also gives you a moonroof. Or if you want a "sporty" model then you cannot get comfort options such as a power seat or leather. You cannot add any options to any trim level, except for dealer installed items such as body side moldings, mud flaps, etc.
I understand what you're saying. However I don't want a moonroof that reduces my headroom. But I have no choice if I want a power seat. And of course I'm paying for the moonroof.This is exactly one of the big reasons why I bought my first Honda. Limited number of trims with no major options the dealers can randomly put on their cars. Other car dealers never have available the car I want. There can be a gazillion possibilities plus colors, and they like to have cars fitted with all sorts of combinations of useful and expensive but useless options I don't want to pay for. Of course, you can specify your options and colors, and if you are willing to wait, they will finally get you what you want, but you then lose any negotiating advantage. They don't care as much about selling cars they don't own yet, so they want to make more profit on any additional cars they order. I only want to buy a car the dealer already owns, sitting on the lot.
Honda has only a few trims, so they are easy to find. The trims generally are reasonable in my opinion, with reasonable pricing, without any weird stuff I don't want to pay for. Sure, I would like, for example, the option to get leather in any trim, but nobody does this, except maybe for some ridiculous price.
Luxury cars may be totally configurable, with any option combinations and custom exterior and interior colors in any shade you wish, but I'm not interested in this segment of the market.
TL;DR - Am I crazy for actually preferring the non-Si, CVT version of the Civic?
I have a 2017 Civic EX-L Sonic Grey Pearl. 35K miles. Owned for 2 years. KTuner with TSP Stage 1 Tune. I'm in my forties. I've owned several manual vehicles. My first was a used '87 Nissan pickup. My most recent manual was a 2015 Mustang GT. I absolutely HATED the tranny. I wanted the manual because I've always been of the opinion that having an automatic Mustang was a downright abomination.
As I've gotten older, I've found driving a manual to be a bit of a pain. For short spans of time, it's great. My son has an '09 Si and I enjoy the heck out of driving it....for about 30-45 minutes. After than, I'm like, give me my auto back!
Over this past weekend I had the opportunity to drive a 2020 Civic Si Sedan. It was nice. I could def. tell the suspension was more sporty. It had some pep to it in Sport mode, and I've heard the KTuner really livens it up. I was a little surprised at just how light the clutch was. It was a normal, short, test drive just to find out if I would even want to pursue getting one.
However, upon completion of the test drive, I found myself not being that impressed. I mean, it's a super nice Civic, but I decided giving up the auto wasn't something I was prepared to do. Also, remote start. I live in a location where it's very hot during the summer. I use remote start on hot summer days to cool things down before getting in. Our winters aren't terrible, but it's nice to get into a nice, warm car on the days it is cold.
My car, with the Ktuner & CVT, is surprisingly fun to drive. I'm continuously amazed at the punchiness of this little car, and the CVT doesn't bother me. I really couldn't think of enough reasons to trade what I have for the '20 Si.
I'm just wondering if anyone else has a similar opinion. I know this is totally subjective. I guess I'm looking for a bit of validation!
And I also still drive a manual (2017 Si) and am 78 years old.We had CVT's in both a Honda Insight, and currently in our 2015 Honda CRV.
I like 'em. My only concern is they might not hold up and be as reliable as a manual trans.
Fun fact: when I compared gearing between the conventional CRV auto, and the CVT that's in our CRV.
The CVT was wider ratio spread than the conventional auto.
This surprised me that they could manage that with a CVT. It's got a lower low ratio, and higher high ratio, plus every ratio in between, seamless! They really are amazing transmissions.
Having said that, I still drive a manual because I'm only 66 years old. LOL!
I only owned one car with a trunk ever in my life, and I strongly believe it was the last one in my life.Not crazy. The SI simply wasn't an option for me because it isn't available as a hatchback.
After driving the 2016 LX sedan for 3 years, I would not buy another Civic as a sedan. We encountered too many situations where the utility of our 3-door GTI trumped the Civic sedan... So if i was going to get another Civic, it had to be a 5-door hatch. Period.
Don't worry about us... I'll be out tearing up a winding road in my Si while the religious folks are on their knees.I agree, but what about atheists?