Manual trans first time driver impressions (hatchback sport) (pics)

dgordon7

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Heel and toe isn't a street driving technique. Just concentrate on being super smooth with your shifts. Frankly, the Honda Civic is such an excellent manual box I can't imagine going with the CVT. But again, I don't have to drive in traffic. Just hone your technique with the vehicle you have= smooth upshifts and downshifts. No need for hooning with heel and toe. At least until you get your skills up. And in normal traffic and driving, no need for it ever. Unless you have a nice open bit of road. Just be careful.
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geeeek

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EXACTLY, indeed yes, serves the same purpose. As for the product mentioned in the video, AMMO Hydrate, I remember that is expensive which applies the same for his other products.
Meguiars arrived today, perfect because it rained a bit yesterday and the bottom of the car is dirty again. Was nice seeing the water bead though, I also did a light wax on my windshield so the wipers literally THREW the water off to the side lol

CONGRATS! I have the same car and it was my introduction to manual transmission. Couldn't have asked for a better starting point. Never going back.
Nice! Same here it’s getting better to drive every day. Any particular likes/dislikes?

A good tip is to always try to double-clutch, and never granny shift.
I have not heard that before, I might have to ask any racer, any real racer to confirm this.

I find not overthinking helps a lot with the manual once you've got the basics and have no bad habits like riding the clutch.
Can't think of one situation that requires heel-toe in 6th gear. Maybe double clutching, but usually one is not that rushed in high gear and is not that difficult to go down one gear and catch the revs for a smooth one.
Only hope for you the shifter is better than the one in my LX Hatch, which is quite crappy by Honda standards.
yeah I’m figured out better driving habits as time goes on. The shifter feels pretty slick but I have not driven any other manual car. I’ve read that non si shifters are sucky compared to the si shifter, but I wouldn’t know haha

Heel and toe isn't a street driving technique. Just concentrate on being super smooth with your shifts. Frankly, the Honda Civic is such an excellent manual box I can't imagine going with the CVT. But again, I don't have to drive in traffic. Just hone your technique with the vehicle you have= smooth upshifts and downshifts. No need for hooning with heel and toe. At least until you get your skills up. And in normal traffic and driving, no need for it ever. Unless you have a nice open bit of road. Just be careful.
Right now I just roll out of neutral in what I thought were “heel toe situations” which I find to be smoother and less tense since it basically feels like I’m starting in first, except I’m not

I just got a MT '19 hatch sport, also in black, on Friday. love it. Having had a stick car for four years prior ('01 330ci), I will say - the software rev hang BLOWS.
I can imagine you just sipping coffee during shifts waiting for it to come back down lol
 

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Hey guys, I've been mostly a lurker here for the past year. I got the '19 black hatchback sport this past saturday, may 18. Just thought I'd share my quick experience as a complete newcomer to manual transmission cars (but my family's '18 base elantra slapstick mode was totally legit though).

I spent all weekend practicing since I take the 110 south freeway to work on monday lol. So a lot of first gear starts and then some 1-2 shifts to learn the clutch bite point first.



That 1-2 shift.. I live in LA so there's a lot of that happening. I want to be able to match general traffic while avoiding getting rear ended during the 1-2 by those who mash the gas on green lights, so I've gotten into the habit of slowly engaging the clutch as soon as I select 2nd. I don't wait for rpm to drop, instead I let the inertia of the rev hang and flywheel accelerate me with slight throttle to keep rpm from dropping too much during clutch out. A lot of slipping but I feel like it's the only way to have smooth acceleration and also just smooth shifts in general for regular driving. Not sure if that's normal and I've just watched FF too many times.

About downshifting, man it's hard to get the blip right. I can feel the inertia of the flywheel and either it doesn't move at all or I stab the throttle too hard and wait half a second for it to come down. A lot of times I find myself double blipping and taking forever to shift lol. The heavy flywheel sounds awesome in the cabin, I thought I wouldn't like it because it doesn't have that quick whip feeling but it's something I love hearing every time. Also it's super forgiving during my noob shifts.

I love brake hold, I turn it on every time I stop on an incline with a car stuck to my rear bumper. I try to avoid using it for better practice but unfortunately sometimes a car is just right there behind me.

I'm still scared of 6th gear on the freeway because I'm never it in for more than 30 sec and I can't heeltoe let alone downshift quickly enough for potential potato traffic. Still iffy on those situations where I decelerate hard but am still rolling after, I'm confident in going from neutral to second at around 15-20mph but not higher gears at higher speeds.




Most of these things are observations centered around the anti shift triforce that I see complaints about on the forum (rev hang, heavy flywheel, cdv). I have no frame of reference to compare my experience to so I'm pretty much happy to learn how to drive this car, although I'd still like to remove the cdv eventually. If I could have another car I think ideally in my head it would be an rsx type s.

Overall I love driving this car and I keep finding reasons to go out for a drive, I just got back from buying milk 2.5 miles away when there's a liquor store a block away from me.

edit:
Another thing that's great is the increased low end torque, in the elantra I never ever wanted to be below 3k because it felt like pressing a limp gas pedal, but then again I haven't really been able to drive this car more spiritedly because I'm still super focused on shifting right


here's some pics

Photo May 21, 9 42 27 PM.jpg


Photo May 21, 9 42 19 PM.jpg
You actually sound pretty skilled for a newer manual driver. I have no doubt you will be one of the better shift kings soon. It is more work, but so much more fun. And although I have a ton of experience, yes on a bad incline with some genius right up my rear I have used brake hold occasionally to ensure -0- slippage. Yes, a good driver can start on a hill without any slippage, but we are all human. So why not use it?
6th gear meanwhile is almost useless on the SI, due to the high limits in 4th and 5th gears. In 34,000 miles, including a round trip from Phoenix to Palm Springs, I have been in 6th gear for maybe five minutes total. No Autobahn here, more's the pity. Probably similar gearing on the hatchback sport. My advice, stay out of 6th. 5th should be efficient even at highway speed. Sharp car, by the way. Enjoy.
 

novadrive

Meguiars arrived today, perfect because it rained a bit yesterday and the bottom of the car is dirty again. Was nice seeing the water bead though, I also did a light wax on my windshield so the wipers literally THREW the water off to the side lol


Nice! Same here it’s getting better to drive every day. Any particular likes/dislikes?


I have not heard that before, I might have to ask any racer, any real racer to confirm this.


yeah I’m figured out better driving habits as time goes on. The shifter feels pretty slick but I have not driven any other manual car. I’ve read that non si shifters are sucky compared to the si shifter, but I wouldn’t know haha


Right now I just roll out of neutral in what I thought were “heel toe situations” which I find to be smoother and less tense since it basically feels like I’m starting in first, except I’m not


I can imagine you just sipping coffee during shifts waiting for it to come back down lol

Overall happy with the platform. Would recommend a rear motor mount to get rid of wheel hop and add some more feedback to the car. I went with Cusco but do your research based on your needs.
 


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The biggest mistake new MT drivers do is “rush” or be afraid of traffic. You’re perceiving your car as temporarily slowing down while shifting when in reality it just maintained the speed temporarily. What’s changing is that your acceleration rate is decreasing, that is all. And all cars do that, automatic or manual. Don’t rush through the shifts, don’t try to keep the revs from dropping, sometimes they need to. Just give it a little pedal blip before releasing the clutch and you’re back. Rushing or worrying about others is the issue. If the guy behind you is close, keep it on first longer and pull away from him and then chill your way into second. If it happens in second, pull away in second and chill your way into third. Relax and enjoy the drive!
 

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After having driven my Father in Laws car this weekend for a road trip (Scion TC 6MT); I can say that although I did enjoy the feeling of no CDV, absolutely no software rev hang and SMF for quick rev throttle blips.... the Civic has a lot of good qualities. The CDV definitely smooths things out so you can be a bit quicker in your release ( by smooth out I just mean the 1-200 RPM difference one may be off by). The smooth shifts in general and the great power delivery are hands down better than having that “linear shift feel” people expect from a manual transmission.
 
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not sure if anyone is still reading this thread but I got ktuner and used the stage 1 starter map and wow, this car is so much more drivable. I always felt that 1st gear in particular was a bit awkward to drive in at any low speed, but now the whole car feels so much smoother in all aspects. They have not added quick enables such as disable rev hang to the 2019 models yet so I was a little disappointed at first but after flashing the car I’m okay waiting for the update because everything else is so much better

You actually sound pretty skilled for a newer manual driver. I have no doubt you will be one of the better shift kings soon. It is more work, but so much more fun. And although I have a ton of experience, yes on a bad incline with some genius right up my rear I have used brake hold occasionally to ensure -0- slippage. Yes, a good driver can start on a hill without any slippage, but we are all human. So why not use it?
6th gear meanwhile is almost useless on the SI, due to the high limits in 4th and 5th gears. In 34,000 miles, including a round trip from Phoenix to Palm Springs, I have been in 6th gear for maybe five minutes total. No Autobahn here, more's the pity. Probably similar gearing on the hatchback sport. My advice, stay out of 6th. 5th should be efficient even at highway speed. Sharp car, by the way. Enjoy.
It’s definitely more busy drivng but it feels right somehow lol. I seriously still have not been in 6th gear yet, maybe if I go on a road trip I will cruise in 6th.

How fast do you let off the clutch on an incline? Still not sure if I am doing it right and I haven’t had a chance to go to an empty incline and see the limits for stalling

Overall happy with the platform. Would recommend a rear motor mount to get rid of wheel hop and add some more feedback to the car. I went with Cusco but do your research based on your needs.
Same here, these cars are awesome. I was actually looking at rmms, but I think I will wait until I become actually good at controlling the clutch for 1st gear and at low 1st speeds. Think the low rpm vibrations will throw me off

The biggest mistake new MT drivers do is “rush” or be afraid of traffic. You’re perceiving your car as temporarily slowing down while shifting when in reality it just maintained the speed temporarily. What’s changing is that your acceleration rate is decreasing, that is all. And all cars do that, automatic or manual. Don’t rush through the shifts, don’t try to keep the revs from dropping, sometimes they need to. Just give it a little pedal blip before releasing the clutch and you’re back. Rushing or worrying about others is the issue. If the guy behind you is close, keep it on first longer and pull away from him and then chill your way into second. If it happens in second, pull away in second and chill your way into third. Relax and enjoy the drive!
you’re right and it’s a conscious effort to stop caring especially in traffic, whether I cruise or ride the bumper of the person in front of me we are all still moving at the same rate. Though in the morning’s street commutes I’m sometimes genuinely worried about some that’s guy late for work tapping my bumper while I wait for 2.. but nothing I can really do about that. That’s stressful even in an automatic

After having driven my Father in Laws car this weekend for a road trip (Scion TC 6MT); I can say that although I did enjoy the feeling of no CDV, absolutely no software rev hang and SMF for quick rev throttle blips.... the Civic has a lot of good qualities. The CDV definitely smooths things out so you can be a bit quicker in your release ( by smooth out I just mean the 1-200 RPM difference one may be off by). The smooth shifts in general and the great power delivery are hands down better than having that “linear shift feel” people expect from a manual transmission.
the cdv does smooth out the rev hang, but at the same time it sort of feels like the clutch catches twice occasionally. Either way I still love driving the car
 

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I would say that although one can not “rev-match” while downshifting, it’s honestly felt harder to try to do that, than it is to get used to blipping the throttle. I’m not talking heel-toe: just brake, clutch in, blip throttle, clutch out. When I was first learning, I struggled because I focused too much on getting it exact and the shift took forever. Too. Now I just blip by feel, and worst case put a little too much and just catch the RPMs on the way down.. same as you are doing OP.

To the OP, sounds like you’re gonna have a great time with the car. I love driving it to and from work.

I’m a year into the car, and still try to not let it bother me that the automatics behind me are getting mad about my slow 1-2 shift lol.

With regards to knowing what gear to be in when slowing down a lot on the highway: I would suggest focusing on just a couple of gears. Memorize 2nd and 4th for example for a range of speeds. OP, you’re comfortable getting into 15-20 in 2nd. Now find the gear and rpm you would be comfortable with to cover the rest of the gap until 40mph. That way when slowing down hard on the highway you can at least get yourself smoothly into a gear while moving, then worry about going up/down into the right one (for cruising, deceleration or acceleration) afterwards.
Im looking at either getting a 17 si or a 17 sport, Im new to manuals and Ive been looking on forums and youtube videos and there are lots of conflicting responses from rev matching will destroy your clutch! to it hardly does any wear on it. I feel like im complicating this but I figured you peeps would know.
Thanks!
 

crxFITcivicBOY

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Im looking at either getting a 17 si or a 17 sport, Im new to manuals and Ive been looking on forums and youtube videos and there are lots of conflicting responses from rev matching will destroy your clutch! to it hardly does any wear on it. I feel like im complicating this but I figured you peeps would know.
Thanks!
Get an Si or sport!! I got the sport only because I love Hatchback and could do without the better performance items (this is a daily family car for me).

I do similar reading regarding manual transmissions since this was my 1st manual after not having driven one for about 7 years. There is definitely mixed opinions whether you need to rev match or not. You may not need to from a wear standpoint if you are just daily driving and cruising, but I’ve never heard of it being a negative.


Reference quick video that I think does justice.
 


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Get an Si or sport!! I got the sport only because I love Hatchback and could do without the better performance items (this is a daily family car for me).

I do similar reading regarding manual transmissions since this was my 1st manual after not having driven one for about 7 years. There is definitely mixed opinions whether you need to rev match or not. You may not need to from a wear standpoint if you are just daily driving and cruising, but I’ve never heard of it being a negative.


Reference quick video that I think does justice.
Rev match is critical to wear and tear, daily driving or not. Using your clutch to bring the revs up causes a lot of strain on all the components, especially the friction disc.
 

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Using honda you can easily switch from 2 to 4 or from 4 to 6 in a non linear way.
I love it!
 
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Im looking at either getting a 17 si or a 17 sport, Im new to manuals and Ive been looking on forums and youtube videos and there are lots of conflicting responses from rev matching will destroy your clutch! to it hardly does any wear on it. I feel like im complicating this but I figured you peeps would know.
Thanks!
once in a while I downshift and the rev match is so perfect that I have to double check to see if I'm not in neutral lol. I can't imagine that's worse than letting the clutch make up the difference
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