Honda and Toyota (Scion): Reliablity isn't going to be a deciding factor between either...for most people I've ever spoken rant and rave about both being extremely reliable and easy to maintain.
If your talking fuel savings, insurance savings..etc...then get a hybrid. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif
If your speaking in terms of fun factor, fit and finish, look and feel..then this is something else all together. I test drove a Scion Tc a few months ago when the gas prices in the Northeast well surpassed the $3.00 for regular mark, I originially visited a Toyota dealership for a Matrix Xrs...just a coincedence they had a Flint Mica Tc sitting in front of the showroom which was already sold...but It did in fact catch my eye. My wife was equally as impressed by it as well in terms of looks that is, now the Scion Tc shares the same motor as the Matrix Xrs so that wouldn't have been the deciding factor for me if and when I had bit the bullet on one. I have to admit that during the test drive I was impressed with how solid the Tc felt..for a rather inexpensive car...I was expecting this thing to shake, rattle, and roll over all the crappy pavement in Jersey and suprisingly it stuck pretty well felt really comfortable. The rear seat is somewhat of a joke, especially for guys like me who is married with a 2 yr. old...there is no way a infant car seat is going to fit back there..and if you do succeed..it just wouldn't be comfortable getting your kid in and out of there...so that is what did the Tc in with me anyway...
I have never test drove or rode in a new Si, most of what I know is from what I read online and out of Motor Trend and Car and Drivers.....from what I understand the thing is fun to drive and like a typical Honda you can rev it to the moon and back....so couple that with a "sport" tuned suspension and some space age'd looking interior and I suppose you've got a hit.
I'm a domestic guy at heart, Bowtie really......Camaro SS any day of the week..broke my heart when GM killed off the F-bodies. Truth be told I come from a generation where kids in High School all wanted the monster domestic V-8's....camaro's, *****-am's...etc....mid to late 80's. Today generation all opt for the smaller imports and understandably so....buy a $15,000 compact car and drop some nice coin into it..in the end have a fashionable little ride and the aftermarket scene thrives off of today's youth.
In the end..if your wallet is what your trying to spare, both are sound choices I imagine your going to get better gas mileage out of a Scion as opposed to a Civic Si...but not if that Si is really a hybrid. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif
If I was going import and wanted to go fast...then this would be my choice and in this order:
1. Scooby Wrx-Sti (not the lame wrx orginally released)
2. Mitsu Evo (although several aftermarket tuners have attempted to really raise the output and were unable to from a reliability standpoint, forget Daily driver anyway)
3. Dodge Srt-4 (It's a Dodge, so take it for what it's worth.)
4. VW GTI or R32 (Rediculously expensive to service, and VW quality seems to be on the decline here in the U.S.)
