I had to comment on this for the OP's benefit...

You should gain some good driving skills in a car before you start racing a street bike. The car racing techniques you will master in a few years (throttle control, trail braking, gear selection, rev matching, etc.) are all CRITICAL for motorcyclists to master. It's much easier coming into motorcycles after you have mastered the basics of pushing something on 4 wheels near its limits.

 

+1. Fortunately it sounds like his parents won't let him get a bike at this point anyway. A bike is not nearly as forgiving of mistakes as a car is. On a bike, the slightest error in throttle or brake input while turning, or failing to avoid road hazards such as gravel or oil will end in an accident that may very well total your bike and result in serious injury or death to yourself. Even the greatest rider can't avoid accidents 100% of the time, the biggest hazard of all is other vehicles and all you can do is try your best to anticipate what they will do and stay out of their way.
Don't get me wrong, I love bikes... but I'm glad I didn't have one when I was a teenager because I would probably be crippled or dead.
To the OP, I say keep the Si for many of the reasons that have already been mentioned and look at buying an s2k or something similar down the road when you are out of college with a steady job. I would have killed for a car like the Si when I was a teenager... my first car was a 1988 Corolla (FWD) with over 200k miles and 90hp with an auto transmission. Count your blessings for having such a nice car at your age and enjoy it!

 

If money is not an issue, and you can have 2 vehicles in some way, get a cheap MIATA and keep the SI. Learn on the cheap miata and then get an S2000 down the road. A Miata is more forgiving to learn with. Parts are cheaper and I'm sure insurance is cheaper as well but you probably wont need more than liability since it sounds like you are well off enough to scrounge up 3-5G for a Miata.

BTW, past owner of a 08 Civic Si cpe here - It's a great car, will never be an awesome car, but it can for sure hold it's own with the right mods. It wont every be neck and neck with the other RWD and AWD STX cars though. Will have to run every bolt on possible with fresh tires all the time to be competitive Nationally. Locally I could bang out a couple 950 PAX scores with just 245s all around, Flashpro, RSB, drop springs -3 camber front and whatever the drop gives you rear.

To get within 1 second consistently of a fully prepped 325i BMW with a National caliber driver, I estimated I needed
- full exhaust
- good intake
- really good dyno tune with lots of focus on mid range - some focus on keeping the rev limiter a safe tune cuz it's get hit in 2nd gear on a lot of courses.
- 255/40/17 front and 225/45/17 rear - shaved tires front. Extra set of 245s for more tight courses.
- super light wheels
- small EX civic swaybar front
- Koni Double adjustables or better with ASR top mounts that add camber 2.25" ID springs with helper springs would be ideal probably
- 550# springs front and about 1000# rears
- custom adjustable rear swaybar
- Replaced steering rack bushings
- replaced motor mounts
- replaced rear bushings
- replaced driver and passenger seats for weight savings
- Custom front spoiler for more downforce

I'm not a National Caliber driver but there is a reason why The ITR with all the development under the sun is no longer competitive in STX. The SI at an even heavier weight will have more of an issue but at least it can fit 255s up front which may or may not be a good ideal on all courses due to gearing and added tire weight.

Needless to say, just too much lol!!

An S2000 can be made competitive in STR within .5 seconds of first for 1/2 as much money as an SI in STX.

 

I have a bad feeling if you bring an S2000 to a college campus it will be stolen or vandalized within 4 years. The S2000 is not a good college car because it can be a magnet for immature thieves/douchebags who want to f@#k up your shit. When you graduate, sell the 4 year old Civic for $13 - $14K, and buy a clean used S2000 outright. At this time, the S2000 will be out of the way of a college campus, and you will get to enjoy it and still be in your early 20's.

Having said that, the S2000 is very unforgiving unless you get an 06 + with VSA. I was immature as hell when I was 18 and to be honest I am glad I didn't have a car like this. Not saying you are like that but anyway...

I had an 06 Si Civic for a few years before my AP1, and it was a nice progression in terms of gaining experience. The S2000 is a lot more difficult to drive fast, and pretty damn unforgiving. It's driving dynamics are a blessing in the right hands and a curse in the wrong hands. To be smooth, the Ap1 S2000 needs to driven around a corner on the gas, or on the brakes. Switching between the two mid-corner upsets the balance of the car, and the ass end will sort of lift up and become light. There is a lot to mastering the S2000 compared to the Civic. It's a different ballgame altogether.

Remember also that the earlier AP1's and AP2's have no VSA or stability control whatsoever. There is nothing to save you if you drive faster than your skills.

 

^^^^ on that note - The AP2 VSA actually does work well enough to keep you from spinning out durring some unstable moments. I tested it out durring an Autocross with the stock Suspension and new 215/245 Kuhmo tire setup. Albeit I'm pretty sure I didn't do anything stupid to actually spin out, it was activating durring multiple situations and kept the vehicle on course.

I highly suggest getting a 06+ S2000 for a noob driver just for that reason.

 

Personally I would keep the SI. Mainly because I'm 19 years old and in college and would never bring my s2000 to school. However, I disagree with people claiming the s2000 is too big a jump for you at 17 years old. Not only was the s2000 my first rear wheel drive vehicle, it was also my first manual transmission and I have never had any issues. It's always the driver not the car. Respect the car and it will treat you well.

 

I have a 2000 ap1 silverstone with 52k miles. Mostly converted to ap2 body. Id be interested in a newer civic because im moving to ca soon. Pm me if ur interested in something like that.

 

I had a 2007 Si when I was 17. Back in that day my parents wouldn't let me mod my car either, till slowly I got my dad to let me get small things bit by bit; first thing I bought was a CAI. My excuse for that was "better MPG" . After a few mods he stopped caring what I did to it. I owned that car for about 2 and a half years and enjoyed it till I was about 19 and got rid of it for an s2000. I still miss the Si from time to time, but am happy with my decision that I made the switch...


As bronx said, the Si was a very easy car to learn stick in and was easy as hell to drive. I learned mostly on my brothers ep3 learning stick, so driving the Si wasn't much of a difference.

I say keep the Si for a little bit, get financially stable and knowledgeable, then decide in a year or something if you still want an s2000. I'd stage 2 comptech supercharge the Si and go autocrossing it in just for shiggles lol

 

If you honestly want to modify a car your parents paid partly for, pay them back for their half first. Then sell, mod, trade, etc it. Personally I think it's kind of an insult to sell a car like that when it's not really yours. Shit, I'd be happy I at least got a cool car at all. My car (loaned to me from my Dad) was a '97 Accord VP automatic with manual windows and locks - nothing sporty about that.

They could have split a LX or EX with you.

 

There are always exceptions but the GRAND majority of 17 year olds are not experienced, patient, mature or self-controlled enough to safely handle a car like the S2000...this is FACT.