Was the Si your 1st manual?

mjh

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 27, 2018
Threads
6
Messages
178
Reaction score
164
Location
New Jersey
Vehicle(s)
Civic Si 2020 Sedan; Previously VW Jetta SEL 2016 (auto); Civic EX Sedan 2009 (manual); Civic EX Coupe 2002 (manual)
Country flag
This is my first manual since selling my 2009 Civic seven years ago and I absolutely love it. No problems shifting whatsoever about 2500 miles in. Learned to drive manual on an early 1990s 4-speed Ford Festiva, which is as bad as it sounds.
Sponsored

 
Joined
Jul 30, 2019
Threads
1
Messages
20
Reaction score
17
Location
NJ
Vehicle(s)
2019 Civic Si Sedan
Country flag
My first car was a used Ford Escort station wagon and it was an automatic. My 2000 Civic Si was my first manual and new car. I got used to it after a couple of days, and I haven't bought an automatic ever since. I hate automatic transmissions, and I'm also not a big fan of modern dual clutch automatics though they may shift faster and have slightly better gas mileage. I still prefer the interactivity and increased driver awareness that comes from having a pure manual transmission.
 

j_si19

Senior Member
First Name
John
Joined
Jul 24, 2019
Threads
4
Messages
85
Reaction score
42
Location
DeKalb
Vehicle(s)
2019 Honda Civic Coupe Si, 2001 Ford Mustang Cobra
Country flag
My first manual was a 2001 Mustang Cobra with a Stage 3 clutch. I was 18, and had a weekend to learn it so I could drive to school on Monday haha. It was terrifying stalling. The car would jump forward a good couple feet. It took me a good 3 months to be able to drive it confidently. All I can say is thank god for the hand brake or I would have not been able to deal with the hill in the parking lot at my school.

Every car that I have owned after that (still have the Cobra!) has been a manual. I've had an 05 Jetta, 12 Golf and 16 Golf (totaled ;( RIP ). Looking back at it, I am glad I learned on such an unforgiving car. I have yet to drive a manual that has been harder than my Cobra. I wish the Si had a stiffer clutch from the factory!
 
OP
OP

RKS17

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 27, 2019
Threads
19
Messages
110
Reaction score
118
Location
OH
Vehicle(s)
G37s
Country flag
Uodate: We figured out hill assist so my son doesn't roll into the grass when maneuvering out of our driveway! After just a few days (picked up the car Sunday) he is getting much smoother and actually drove to school today. It's a pretty long commute with a mix of highway, with impatient commuter traffic, and shitty, narrow, hilly, roads. I'm not sure if he will be permitted to drive in wintery weather yet.
He has not complained about having a stick but maybe he's just happy to have a car and is just dealing with it. My younger son, however, loves the car and has offered to start paying insurance right now so he is ready to go in 2 years!
The hardest part is trusting him driving solo and causes a lot of anxiety and we are already disagreeing on rules/limitations.
 


DLEGAIR

Member
First Name
Dexter
Joined
Oct 2, 2018
Threads
1
Messages
22
Reaction score
10
Location
Pembroke Pines
Vehicle(s)
2019 Honda Civic Si
Country flag
My first car was a manual Datsun, ask younger people what car company Datsun became, they don’t know lol. Anyhow this Honda Si manual transmission is hands down the smoothest and easiest I’ve ever driven, love it.
Datsun became Nissan, only know that because I had a 240sx and I want to build a 240z one day. 90's baby here too btw.
 

wintercast

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 15, 2019
Threads
7
Messages
207
Reaction score
146
Location
Churchville, MD
Vehicle(s)
Ridgeline 2009, Si Coupe 2019
Country flag
Back when I was in high school, my mentor at work wanted me to learn to drive manual on his old Mitsubishi Mirage 5 speed that didn't even have a tachometer LOL.

I picked it up pretty quick, but my parents weren't having it. Fast forward 5 years after I graduated college and flew the coop, I picked up a 2005 Acura TL 6mt for myself. I loved that car and it was pretty easy & fun to drive, but after several years, I wanted something newer. The 10th gen Si had everything I was looking for with a great price tag!

Let your son drive the Si. I wish my parents let me own a manual at a younger age. I would've had a greater appreciation for vehicles in general and it's definitely a rewarding experience rowing your own! I"ve driven manual G37s and Altima SE-Rs and wasn't really a fan. The clutches are heavy and the throws are long. The Si is more driver-friendly and the clutch is more forgiving.
Had to quote you.. 100% agree i wish my parents had gotten me/taught me manual when i was younger. I am now in my uppers 30s and trying to learn and my confidence is just shot. I dont have the SI yet. Needed a new roof on the house, and other finances are just not there. So - OP - you are doing a great job teaching your son how to drive manual and i am sure they will love the car.
 

MutatedMango

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 24, 2019
Threads
13
Messages
488
Reaction score
205
Location
Philadelphia
Vehicle(s)
'19 Civic Si FC3
Country flag
First manual ever. Took me around a month to learn. I watched a crap ton of YouTube videos beforehand and love racing games/watch racing so I knew how engine braking and the gears worked just a matter of physical practice. One thing that was jarring for me and still honestly is is the rev hang makes it weird to shift fast. Haven't driven another manual car that I can compare to though so take this for what you will
 

blackie X

Senior Member
First Name
tony
Joined
Mar 1, 2018
Threads
10
Messages
660
Reaction score
418
Location
New york
Vehicle(s)
2017 Civic Si
Country flag
i have only ever owner manuals, mu parents only drove manuals so i had no choice if i wanted to learn how to drive when i was younger. this is my 4th manual and 3rd honda, i taught my finance how to drive on my older 09 civic and it took about a week for her to be able to take it on the street, now she drives my 17 SI with ease. we are still working on teaching her the downshifting practices so i dont need breaks all the time. im sure he will catch on and love his SI when its all said and done.
 

Axatax

Banned
Banned
Joined
Apr 23, 2017
Threads
8
Messages
840
Reaction score
514
Location
In Malkuth, surrounded by evil, low on gas.
Vehicle(s)
2K Civic DX Coupe B18C5 (swap), 2017 Civic LX Coupe 6MT
Country flag
I think the clutch in a 10th gen needs a little more finesse in 1st and second.

In the B18, you could do basically any old junk and you could make it work and look like a pro.
 


Axatax

Banned
Banned
Joined
Apr 23, 2017
Threads
8
Messages
840
Reaction score
514
Location
In Malkuth, surrounded by evil, low on gas.
Vehicle(s)
2K Civic DX Coupe B18C5 (swap), 2017 Civic LX Coupe 6MT
Country flag
If I was going to teach someone to drive a manual, I'd teach them in my sixth gen.

That's not because it's an older car or anything like that. It's just much more forgiving and intuitive, IMHO.

I learned to drive stick on a Mitsubishi Pajero (Not for Puerto Ricans).
 
Last edited:

pdrumns

Senior Member
First Name
Phillip
Joined
Jul 16, 2017
Threads
2
Messages
143
Reaction score
132
Location
St Petersburg, Florida
Vehicle(s)
2019 Honda Civic SI Coupe and 2019 Nissan Kicks
Country flag
The best thing you can do is teach him how a manual transmissions works, what it looks like, so he knows exactly what is happening underneath and around him mechanically when he presses that pedal and moves that shifter. This way when the car is jerking and stalling he knows why and what he is doing incorrectly.

Youtube has a slew of dedicated car content creators and passionate drivers with great informational videos. I highly recommend searching around for some of these channels in your spare time.

Understanding how the clutch assembly works and the physics associated with it has helped me immensely in becoming more passionate about learning how to drive the Si properly.

It took me about a month and a few thousands miles for it to really click for me that I never want to be without a manual transmission honda in my driveway ever again.
Also how to drive with a turbo engine versus normally aspirated.
 

BigDog

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 29, 2016
Threads
0
Messages
137
Reaction score
110
Location
Minnesota
Vehicle(s)
'18 Si Coupe, '01 Silverado
Country flag
Mine is my 3rd. 1st was an '81 Dodge Omni, then an '87 Dodge Daytona Pacifica. A big gap in between the last one and now so it took a few shifts to get all my kinks worked out. I'd have to say the Si has the easiest clutch but it's probably the worst shifting of the 3.
 

ShiftItManual

Member
First Name
Kai
Joined
Aug 6, 2017
Threads
0
Messages
19
Reaction score
16
Location
Davenport, IA
Vehicle(s)
Black 2017 Honda Civic Si Sedan
Vehicle Showcase
1
Country flag
I learned to drive in my dads 90s Toyota Camry (I think it was a 95). I myself have now owned three manuals. My first was a 1996 Civic EX coupe, then I got a 2005 Mazda 3S, and now I have my 17 Si.
Sponsored

 


 


Top