The Spy Guy recently got his hands on Honda’s small-but-mighty Civic Si coupe and sedan. The turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine puts out 205 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque, which is up from the base turbo’s ratinging of 174/167. The output gain, plus the Si’s specially tuned suspension, bigger brakes, revised shift linkage for the six-speed manual transmission and other performance and visual mods (including a rear wing), make the car a blast to drive. Additionally, the $25,000 price tag is reasonable. Although the Spy guy loves to shift his own gears, the Si’s lack of an automatic-transmission option could be a deal breaker for many youthful buyers raised on two pedals instead of three.
The Sleuth’s recent drive of the Civic Si verifies the car’s power and handling prowess. (PHOTO: THE SLEUTH)