2006 Honda Civic SI & 2006 Volkswagen GTI

When word came down that the U.S. market was getting all-new versions of the Honda Civic Si and the Volkswagen GTI, we knew a comparison test was inevitable. As we started to envision this match-up between two of the hottest teen idols of the 1980s--both seemingly resurrected to apparent glory after tumultuous 20-year careers--the staff-meeting wheels began spinning out of control. Suddenly, our brains were filled with fantastic fight scenes staged from the urban alleys of L.A. to the barren bends and bowls at Willow Springs Raceway.

While we practice a sooner-is-better approach with regard to testing--our readers deserve timely reporting and our competitors warrant equally timely beatings--we hit a speed bump. The GTI, available with either a standard six-speed manual or an optional dual-clutch direct shift gearbox (DSG), could be had with the latter a few months prior. Tempting, indeed, but would a DSG-equipped GTI represent a fair fight? Especially considering the Civic Si came only with a standard six-speed? After much deliberation, we made a decision: Seeing that a DSG car is a somewhat different animal, we'd wait for the manual GTI. Consider it a symbol of sportsmanship: idol versus idol, no sucker punches.

I To I
Our GTI arrived with the requisite manual but without standard summer tires, instead fitted with no-cost-option all-season rubber, which is like shoeing a bowler with cleats. But those were the kicks our Vee-Dub donned, so we were forced to cope.

It wasn't hard to cope with our neoclassic GTI, whose retro cues--plaid seats, red-painted brake calipers, and black honeycomb grille with red surround stripe--meshed beautifully with the modern Xenon headlamps, heated sideview mirrors, and multifunction steering wheel. Our tester came with two options--a satellite radio/sunroof package ($1370) and rubber floormats ($185)--bringing the price up to $24,175. For well under 25 large, the GTI embodies big bang for the buck, certainly considering that the 2.0-liter turbocharged direct-injection engine busts out 200 horsepower at 5100 rpm and 207 pound-feet of torque from 1800 to 5000. To keep all that oomph and twist somewhat contained, the GTI gets standard traction and stability control--safety nets unavailable on the Si.

Compared with the upright, wedge-of-havarti GTI--and the previous Dustbuster Si, for that matter--our Si, with its severely raked windshield, big wing, and squinty headlamps, looked downright racy. The Si seems more focused on a younger demographic, a sense reinforced once behind the space-age wheel--designed by Honda's humanoid robot, ASIMO--and nestled into the highly bolstered sport seat. Presented with a vast video game-like dash with two tiers of analog and digital entertainment as well as a navigation/satellite radio option ($1750), there's a zoom-zoom feel to the Si's cockpit (sorry, Mazda) that entices constant revving of the engine.