So I talked to an engineer today that helped design the Civic...

[06RREX]

So I was at the Honda R&D building today in Ohio for a car show (my car was in it) and got the chance to talk to one of the engineers that helped design the civic. I knew he was an engineer bc he looked at my car, realized it was an EX, then walked straight up to my new color matched grille and looked at where and how I shaved the "Si" emblem off. Haha and he told me that he designed my car too. He told me some cool info and I thought i would pass it along... He asked me what I didnt like about my car. I told him very honestly that I HATE HATE HATE our horn. Its so sissy! He told me the first horn they had gotten on there was EVEN WORSE THAN OURS NOW!!! Thats terrible! If our horn was worse than ours now I would be ready to . I also said I didnt like parts of the plastic in the interior (especially the door panel) that gets all scuffed up really easy. He said its a common problem with the civics, but didnt say if they were gonna fix it or not. He also told me that initially Honda planned to only offer Ivory and Grey colored interiors for the DX,LX, and EX. That would have sucked... and he also said that initially they had NO plans to offer RR on ANY trim level! (Its now offered on EX 2dr and Si 2dr and 4dr for those who dont know) He said he was the one who really pushed for it bc Honda didnt want to offer any more colors. Thank you sir! He told me he also tried to convince the other engineers to put the EP3 engine in for the EX models (170 HP) Dang! I wish that would have worked! But he said that when he pushed for that it was too late to change it. He also wanted to make the HFP lip kit standard on the Si's. Obviously that didnt work.
I also talked to 3 people from Clarion- the company that produced all of the sound system for the DX,LX,EX (non-navi) and i think also the non-navi Si. He said he would check out our site for some feedback. He also said that Alpine produces the whole sound system for the Navi models! I thought that was cool bc I didn't know that... I have an Alpine system! Nice!
I also got the chance to see the new 4 door Accord there! It was a dark grey color and was very lightly taped. It looked very nice.... front looked Acura/Lexus ish and rear looked BMW/Lexus ish. It was very long... much longer than the Accord now. The interior looked very nice also.

Sorry for the long post! But some pretty cool info i thought i would talk about.
Here is the link to pics of my car: 06RREX's picture thread (Pic heavy)

[jasongg06]

Originally Posted by 06RREX

So I was at the Honda R&D building today in Ohio for a car show (my car was in it) and got the chance to talk to one of the engineers that helped design the civic. I knew he was an engineer bc he looked at my car, realized it was an EX, then walked straight up to my new color matched grille and looked at where and how I shaved the "Si" emblem off. Haha and he told me that he designed my car too. He told me some cool info and I thought i would pass it along... He asked me what I didnt like about my car. I told him very honestly that I HATE HATE HATE our horn. Its so sissy! He told me the first horn they had gotten on there was EVEN WORSE THAN OURS NOW!!! Thats terrible! If our horn was worse than ours now I would be ready to . I also said I didnt like parts of the plastic in the interior (especially the door panel) that gets all scuffed up really easy. He said its a common problem with the civics, but didnt say if they were gonna fix it or not. He also told me that initially Honda planned to only offer Ivory and Grey colored interiors for the DX,LX, and EX. That would have sucked... and he also said that initially they had NO plans to offer RR on ANY trim level! (Its now offered on EX 2dr and Si 2dr and 4dr for those who dont know) He said he was the one who really pushed for it bc Honda didnt want to offer any more colors. Thank you sir! He told me he also tried to convince the other engineers to put the EP3 engine in for the EX models (170 HP) Dang! I wish that would have worked! But he said that when he pushed for that it was too late to change it. He also wanted to make the HFP kit standard on the Si's. Obviously that didnt work.
I also talked to 3 people from Clarion- the company that produced all of the sound system for the DX,LX,EX (non-navi) and i think also the non-navi Si. He said he would check out our site for some feedback. He also said that Alpine produces the whole sound system for the Navi models! I thought that was cool bc I didn't know that... I have an Alpine system! Nice!
I also got the chance to see the new 4 door Accord there! It was a dark grey color and was very lightly taped. It looked very nice.... front looked Acura/Lexus ish and rear looked BMW/Lexus ish. It was very long... much longer than the Accord now. The interior looked very nice also.

Sorry for the long post! But some pretty cool info i thought i would talk about.
Here is the link to pics of my car: 06RREX's picture thread (Pic heavy)

It doesn't take an engineer to figure out that your car is an EX.

[06RREX]

^^ Dude what are you talking about? All i was saying in that post is he told me some pretty cool info about our cars and i met some cool people. That post had nothing to do with my car being an EX or any of that bullsh*t. I am well aware that I have an EX and am not saying otherwise. If you cant post anything better than that crap, dont post anything at all. Please dont turn this into yet another r18vs.Si discussion.

[Jkritsas]

Hey thats really cool! Where in Ohio is the R&D building, I may take a ride down there and check it out while I'm in Cleveland. Did he mention if he was working on the 9th gen project?

[Jardiniboy]

If the HFP kit standard for the SI I would be happy.

[datbacker59]

you should ask him if he actually drove a civic

[Skylinegtr06]

I would have screamed at him complaining about the 3rd gear problems

[BATANG CITY JAIL]

and im the engineer who made the london bridge.. ep3 has 160BHP ,RSX's k20 is the one they put on the 2.0s and 2.0L JDM civic.

[BATANG CITY JAIL]

Originally Posted by Skylinegtr06

I would have screamed at him complaining about the 3rd gear problems

he design the car not the engine..

[aodmisery]

^^and the cheap paint

[[IVI]]

I sent a letter awhile back to one of the engineers there who helped develop the VTEC sound. Never did hear back from him. Is this guy you met interested in coming to our meet in a few weeks?

[Firestrife]

Originally Posted by BATANG CITY JAIL

he design the car not the engine..

i think ya mean transmission.

[[IVI]]

Oh and also, how did I not get invited to this show?

[BATANG CITY JAIL]

Originally Posted by Firestrife

i think ya mean transmission.

the transmisson is bolted to the engine

[atruhondagrl]

Originally Posted by Jardiniboy

If the HFP kit standard for the SI I would be happy.

So would I.

[MBK]

Originally Posted by BATANG CITY JAIL

the transmisson is bolted to the engine

LOL

[CameronJr9]

Sounds like you had a good chat. Thanks for representing The Ocho. I'm glad to hear that he took a real interest in what you had to say.

[06RREX]

I saw a few comments about going to the R&D building and the show there.... It was NOT open to the public. My dad works there (almost 20 years!) so as long as i have his sticker on my car, I can drive back there and see if I can find any cool test mules or concepts. But there are no cameras allowed, or else I would have been all over that Accord and the Lotus Exige S I saw too. The R&D building is in Raymond, Ohio. Its very close to Marysville; about 30 minutes NW of Columbus.

[06RREX]

Originally Posted by CameronJr9

Sounds like you had a good chat. Thanks for representing The Ocho. I'm glad to hear that he took a real interest in what you had to say.

Yeah I plugged the Ocho ALL DAY!!! I guarantee i got at least 7 or 8 people to check out the site.... there are so many hondas (especially civics- mostly si's actually) up there that hopefully someone will check the site out. I think just while I was there I saw 8 4dr Si's (2 FBP, 2TW, 2 NHBP, 1 RR, 1 HBP) and 10 2dr Si's (3 FBP, 1 TW, 2 RR, 2 HBP, 2 NHBP, 1 GG, 1 ASM) and that was just the main parking lot! There were like 3-4 other parking lots that i didnt have access to!

[06RREX]

Originally Posted by [IVI]

I sent a letter awhile back to one of the engineers there who helped develop the VTEC sound. Never did hear back from him. Is this guy you met interested in coming to our meet in a few weeks?

I didnt even think to ask him! But im sure he couldnt come... He couldnt hardly even tell me anything. He could only say a little about the making of this civic but NOTHING; absolutely NOTHING about the future.... But I did get catch the hint from him that hes been working on the interior lately. But he said he usually works with the exterior. We talked about tires a little too. He said they worked with michelin to help create the Pilot exalto summer and all-season tires they make available on the Si. He said they are some of the best tires he's ever seen.