Karma_hunden said:
The questions is as some members already mentioned; Does your wife want to drive a stick? is she into sporty cars (MS3, sporty seats, etc) or does she want something quick and simple?
I would hope his wife wants to drive a stick, because both cars are only available in 6 spd.
Here is my post on this debate from a previous thread...
Let me shine a little light for you, seeing how I came from an 06' Civic Si Coupe to a MS3. I am not sure what the price tag is on the 08' Si Sedans, but I am going to safely say around 21-22k w/o nav. In most cases, the MS3 Sport model should have an MSRP around 22,850, so they are not that far apart.
I had a first year Si (2006) so it had its preliminary issues, a 3rd gear tranny "pop out/grind" issue, a cold start issue (ran like a dying animal) and the seats constantly felt like they were ripping or getting broken if you put any weight anywhere other then the center. Some of these issues were suppose to be "improved" but not totally resolved in 2007+. Some quick comparisons for you:
Performance: Hands down, MS3 is 10x more fun to drive, the Si has no lowend torque or no torque at all until VTec which can only really be had if you are revving the crap out of it. Si got slightly better gas mileage, but not enough to really brag about and if you are getting in Vtec... MPG MAY be worse. the Honda Transmission was beautiful (when it didn't grind in 3rd).
Suspension: I loved the suspension and handling in the Si, it was a little stiffer then the MS3 so you felt it a lot more over all the little bumps, but it was more solid and yielded a much more "connected" feel to car.
Braking: Both were solid, but the MS3 took the cake in my book in that department, it has some rock solid stoppers!
Interior: Si had a few more amnenities I liked (moonroof, NICE Stereo w/MP3, Digital speedo, etc.), BUT after driving it around, it gave me more and more of the "boyracer" feel in the interior and I wasn't diggin it too much. I like the more refined cleaner look of the Mazda interior, I just wish it had more options included with the sport model. But the interior space and practicality of the MS3 stomps all over the Civic.
Exterior: Both cars are niiiice... I like the styling on both, I like that fogs are factory on the MS3 and not additional cost like the Si. I really don't like the wing on the Sedan Si's either or the flat rear end. I also like the stealth look of the MS3... in the Si, every "fast and the furious" kid in their escorts, integras, civics, accords, etc. will want to race you at every stop light because they see the Si badge or they know it's an Si. When I traded it in at the Mazda dealer, 2 of the service techs were gawking all over the Si, when they left 10 minutes later, I could hear the buzz of the coffee cans, and knew exactly why... one drove a busted up SOHC hatch, the other a beaten DA integra, both with weld on mufflers and all the advanced auto accessories... I am not looking for that kind of attention.. and the MS3 hides a little better.
Modifications: Both cars are semi expensive to mod as they are new, difference being, the current MS3 mods seem to yield MUCH better results then products available for the Si. K-series motors are known to be stout motors, but take a good amount of work to make any lowend power, the MS3 motors potential is still uncertain, but very promising.
Warranty/Service: All of the problems I had with the Si, I was told were "normal" with the Civic, dealers reason: "Honda put a lot of work in to get the most out of these little 4 cylinders, so they are pushed to the max." So my cold start never got fixed, and the tranny thing was not an all the time grind, so if the tech didn't hear it when he drove, they shrugged and said it's fine. Mazda, is at least fixing everything I ask them to no questions asked.
Since this post I have put on my MS CAI and it makes me like the car even more, and the dealer has fixed everything I complained about, no charge, and have been very helpful.
