We're here at the track for the 2008 Mugen SI. Now what Honda had done with this car is taken a regular Civic SI sedan and turned it over to a legendary tuner, Mugen. And they have basically completely transformed this vehicle. It starts with a five piece aero kit consisting of a front and rear bumper, side skirts and that big adjustable wing on the back. They've also given it a muffler. Sounds better but also said to give it above 4-5 horsepower.
On the inside, there is some SI badgering as well as a cool spherical shift mount. The most importantly is what they've done to improve the handling. They've given this thing 18 inch forged alloy wheels as well as thicker tires. The F-Goodrich, KD De Muse. They've stiffened the car all around giving a slipper springs and shocks. About 24% in the rear and 8% in the front. How will all of these improvements translate to the track? Let's find out!
Okay! We're now inside the 2008 Mugen SI, ready for a high lap through the streets of Willow. Here we go! Now the power transit is the same as the regular SI sedan, 197 Horsepower, inline force with a close ratio of 6-speed transmission. All they've changed is added a sport exhaust, Bow-mill forged wheels and we have Goodrich tires. They've also done a ton of suspension and air dynamic improvements which is great.
You can tell at this first turn, the car has got a lot grip, a lot of stick. Now Honda has been criticized by splitting up the dash in this car, but I love it for a track as tight as this. When you come out of these turns all you care about being in V-tech range and having that tachometer so close to you, I don't care how fast I am going, I want to know where the RPMs are at.
One of the other things that Honda has done a really good job at is equipping this car with illuminating slip differential. It's none of that pimp wheeling inside the wheel business. As big as its size its also very-very-very track friendly given its much different suspension, particularly in the rear. It's been improved by 24% and you can totally tell it. It doesn't move around at speed.
We are coming out of the bowl. On this nice back straight, here build on a confidence of this car, it sounds phenomenal, you can hear that exhaust. Keep the frontal kin, head into as you can. Over first set, power on the brakes, grouch it, flick around a little bit, back on the gas. Amazingly easy to control! Yeah, it sounds phenomenal.
Here we come in through the tight session, on to the straight away and that was the high lap in the 2008 Mugen SI sedan.
Alright so I just got done lapping that Mugen SI and I got to say I really-really do enjoy it. I am a big-big fan of the Civic SI Coupe and Sedan, and so all of Mugen's improvements are gravy to me. The Biggest thing I noticed is how stiff the rear is. The base model civic, not a very good track car, the SI sedan vastly improved but this one is so much better. You can go deep into corners, make the turn, rear wind comes around no problem, not a lot of maneuver, very-very neutral. If you're not a fan of driving front wheel drive cars fast, this one just might change your mind.
I am asked for problems? I don't see a very many. The big one might be, if you don't like blue, you're kind of screwed this is the only color that it comes in. And then there is a price that's just under 30,000 and 29,500 dollars which to some maybe too much to pay for a front wheel drive sedan, As for me I like it, its got four-door practicality that you can take it to the track and drive it on the street, no problem!
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