08 USDM Mugen SI - Thank You Sir. May I Have Another?

[Tekknikal]

<img src="http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t193/streetseen/Honda/08MugenSI/08civmugsi_001.jpg" />

For some reason this brings a <a href="http://streetseen.vi/forums/showpost.php?p=257&amp;postcount=10">feeling of Deja Vu</a>... mixed in with a little <a href="http://streetseen.vi/forums/showpost.php?p=241&amp;postcount=1">frustration</a> ...and a pinch of <a href="http://streetseen.vi/forums/showthread.php?t=230">envy</a>. But, here we go anyway:

Honda has made it officially official. For 2008 the states will be getting 1,000 Mugen Civic SI's. No, not Civic Type-Rs. Not Mugen Civic Type-Rs. And not Mugen Civic RRs... Mugen SI's, specially developed for the sates. USDM. So, what do you get in a USDM Mugen SI? <!--more-->
<img src="http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t193/streetseen/Honda/08MugenSI/08civmugsi_002.jpg" />

Well, power is the same 197hp, although the car does get a Mugen cat-back exhaust. A new suspension stiffens the ride 8-24% and drops the car 0.6" from the ordinary Civic SI. A new body kit is fitted, and you get new wheels and tires... BF Goodrich g-force KDWs to be exact.

...for $30,000 stateside.

<img src="http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t193/streetseen/Honda/08MugenSI/08civmugsi_003.jpg" />

<img src="http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t193/streetseen/Honda/08MugenSI/08civmugsi_007.jpg" />

<img src="http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t193/streetseen/Honda/08MugenSI/08civmugsi_006.jpg" />

<img src="http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t193/streetseen/Honda/08MugenSI/08civmugsi_005.jpg" />

Before I continue into my thoughts, let me start by saying that I appreciate the efforts of Honda and Mugen. I'm grateful that they see it appropriate to offer products for us enthusiasts to consider.

With that out the way, this offering is suspiciously weak...and leads me to wonder, who is Honda kidding?

American Honda Vice President John Mendel made the following statement regarding the new USDM Mugen car:

"Honda enthusiasts have long been asking for factory-installed MUGEN performance products <strong>similar to what the company offers in Japan</strong>...We're enthusiasts, too, and the ultra-premium Civic MUGEN Si Sedan offers exclusive style and elevated handling performance with legendary Honda refinement."

The key words in bold speak for themselves. Who at Honda really feels their USDM offering to be "similar" to what they offer in Japan? They can't seriously think that they are satisfying even the casual enthusiasts on this half of the world... unless they think we're ignorant?

But obviously we aren't. We're asking for Mugen cars because we know they exist overseas, and we know what's going on there. Obviously then, we know what's going on here. So, what <em>is </em>going on here? Well, you could buy a Civic SI for $21k, sell your wheels/tires, buy a Honda Factory Performance suspension, name brand wheels (ex: SSR) and better tires (Goodyear Eagle F1), throw in some cosmetic upgrades of your own, and you're still ahead- by anywhere from $3,000 to a more likely $6,000.

Yet, we enthusiasts should buy this Mugen SI?

Help me understand.

At least Nissan offered chassis ugprades and a nearly direct port of one of their Nismo Zs with their new 2007 offering. Would have been too much for Honda to just bring over their own Type-R?

1,000 cars is nothing for the 300 million people in the states to consume, so I don't doubt that they'll sell out fast, but I hope that Honda is smarter than this...

<img src="http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t193/streetseen/Honda/08MugenSI/08civmugsi_008.jpg" />

<img src="http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t193/streetseen/Honda/08MugenSI/08civmugsi_010.jpg" />

[freddie_vi]

i think this is just a feel out test.....for what i dont know . Honda has to know buy now that they have change the market in this area for years and continue to do so but to offer this with a strait face is kinda insulting....Mugen RR! OR NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!:rl:

[Tekknikal]

i think this is just a feel out test.....for what i dont know . Honda has to know buy now that they have change the market in this area for years and continue to do so but to offer this with a strait face is kinda insulting....Mugen RR! OR NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!:rl:

:h5:

[Duttyman]

Yeah- I guess that this does seem a bit indecisive. Is there a niche here? I.E. are they trying to fill a gap in the market?

[Tekknikal]

there's a market, but you're taking a $20k civic. then changing wheels/revalving shocks+springs/body kit/exhaust and asking an extra $10k... when in reality that's not worth $5k.

theyll sell them all, but its not that great of a deal... and people who would recognize the mugen name would probably know that it's not a good value.

so what might happen is, honda may not get the response they're looking for and say 'the market isnt ready' when in reality they didn't provide what the market was really lusting for.