Getting a Civic Si Sedan - Advice/Suggestions!

[david3558]

Hi,

I am thinking about getting a new (edit: 2008) Civic Si 4dr Sedan. I have been driving an automatic car for over a year and a half-now (since I first got my license). I have saved up the majority to purchase the vehicle but my parents are still pitching in some money so they have a say in what I buy.

My main concern is that I have never driven a manual before, and although I typically adjust and learn new things quickly, I am afraid that this will be pretty hard. For instance, how will I know when to shift? I understand the VTEC kicks at 6000rpm but obviously for just 'put-put' around town I can't always be speeding around. And what exactly is "breaking in" the engine. I hear many people say that they don't go over a certain amount of RPM for a number of miles, how would this apply to the SI?

Thanks for all your help, please excuse my lack of knowledge. But any helpful advice or suggestions that are even remotely pertinent would be highly appreciated.

David

[Zeuceone]

you can shift after 2.5k rpm. you need to take it easy for the first 600 miles.

[Vsin]

Originally Posted by david3558

Hi,

I am thinking about getting a new Civic Si 4dr Sedan. I have been driving an automatic car for over a year and a half-now (since I first got my license). I have saved up the majority to purchase the vehicle but my parents are still pitching in some money so they have a say in what I buy.

My main concern is that I have never driven a manual before, and although I typically adjust and learn new things quickly, I am afraid that this will be pretty hard. For instance, how will I know when to shift? I understand the VTEC kicks at 6000rpm but obviously for just 'put-put' around town I can't always be speeding around. And what exactly is "breaking in" the engine. I hear many people say that they don't go over a certain amount of RPM for a number of miles, how would this apply to the SI?

Thanks for all your help, please excuse my lack of knowledge. But any helpful advice or suggestions that are even remotely pertinent would be highly appreciated.

David

Congratulations on choosing the Si Sedan. Personally, I believe it is the best car for what it gives.

Manual Driving is not as difficult as many make it out to be. It's all about feeling your car and knowing when to shift. I find that it is more difficult to learn how to drive uphill, stop-and-go traffic, and re-gearing when slowing down then speeding up.

The best way to know when to shift is when you hear or "feel" your car purring or revving. If you shift once it starts roaring, your car should be fine. Or, you can go by a rule of thumb of about 3000RPM per gear to save on gas.

Breaking in the engine is just going easy on the car until 500 miles. This means no revving high, no burning out, just drive it like a grandma really. Don't be stupid is all.

Good luck and I hope I answered some questions correctly.

[david3558]

Thanks a bunch for taking the time to write that all out!

[bigdaddy]

You've been driving for a year and a half and you already have an idea when the auto shifts the gears (where the tach needle is before it changes) You use that as a guideline to shift a manual. If you're new to driving a manual... Hondas are one of the best choices, their easier to drive than some other manufacturer's.

You're gonna love the Si... after you get better at driving a manual... being an enthusiasts... you'll always want a manual around... so are your parents ok with the SI since they have a say in it? Hopefully, the answer's yes and you're gonna post pics soon enough...

btw... careful on hills when you first start learning to drive a stick

[nayilsi]

ROADandTRACK.com -- Road Tests - Honda Civic Mugen Si (12/2007)


buy this....great value for the money

[david3558]

Haha, I wish! If only I could afford that thing -_-

[tite681]

Great choice. Get the nav and the summer tires.

As for driving stick, practice in the middle of the night and gain some confidence.

[2007 SI sedan]

dont get the 18's with summer tires....why pay a few grand and not even get it keep the stock 17's when you can go get some aftermarket or hfp 18's .......plus 3rd gear sucks my car is at the dealership right now getting fixxed ...only 10,000 miles on car ...other then that love my si sedan

[User_name:]

^^^
Always somebody who has to beat the dead horse..

I say we turn this thread into "My 3rd sux" that seems to be the growing trend around here...

[negativezeroz]

Originally Posted by nayilsi

ROADandTRACK.com -- Road Tests - Honda Civic Mugen Si (12/2007)


buy this....great value for the money

I'm tired of all the Mugen shit. Wow. Cool. Neat. It's 30K. Go buy a WRX or something.


Back on subject. I love my Si but I wish I had gotten a different color so make sure it's what you REALLY want. I didn't know i made the "wrong" choice until after I got mine (saw a Habi like two weeks after I got mine and was pissed lol..since I ordered it with only seeing Fiji and NHB)

[Trajen]

Originally Posted by User_name:

^^^
Always somebody who has to beat the dead horse..

I say we turn this thread into "My 3rd sux" that seems to be the growing trend around here...

I'm new to the forums too, but can't really blame the people beating this particular dead horse. I bought my 07 Si sedan in August and I love *everything* about the car except the 3rd gear issue - and it is really not a small issue when you think about it. I pray day to day Honda will issue an official fix, not rumor or speculation or dealer talk, but an official announcement.

Anyway, back to the topic - OP congrats on making the decision to buy an si, I think you will be very very happy with the car. For the money it is phenomenal, and the driving experience is awesome. You will learn very quickly when it feels right to shift, but as most people here post, shifting aroudn 3k is pretty conservative on the gasoline. Later when you feel more comfortable with the transmission and driving manuals, you'll be up in the 6-8k range pretty routinely :)

I also agree with the other poster about choosing your color, I did a *lot* of research prior to buying and I absolutely love my habanero red pearl. Now to find the time to keep it clean!

[7002iSciviC]

wow dude great choice to be honest My 2007 Civic Si Couple (fijiblue) is my FIRST manual car, beleive me NO ONE taught me how to drive a STICK SHIFT. i learned how to drive stick by myself :). i always gets a ride from a friend of mine who drives a stick shift civic, i just basically ask him stuff about how to drive a stick shift. i just keep watching him how to drive it and one time he left me drive his car to get him a cigar BYSELF which is MY FIRST TIME DRIVING A STICK SHIFT OUT IN THE STREET BY MYSELF !!!!!. thats basically how i learned how to drive it. I have my Si since first week of may 2007. I was also afraid that im going to mess up my car and since its a brand new car makes it even more pressure on me not messing it up. You know we all learn from our mistake. I sure did learn from mine, before i always FORGET that when ever i park my car i always leave it in first gear then when i start it i forget that its in gear so it always jerk forward which pisses me off. NOW I DONT FORGET IT ANYMORE lol. but hey dude get a STICK not AUTO since your still youing better learn it now how to drive it before later on when your old and can hardly remember things. One word of advice. TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOUR CAR. , i have my car for 9 months now still kinda, and i always KEEP my engine bay CLEAN !!!! once every 2 weeks or after i wash my car i always clean my engine bay. dont be a LAZY BUTT. its your car and should take good care of it. and plz drive reponsible. GRAT ON THE CAR AND FUN HAVE ing

[schield]

I have no idea where you are located, but many times there are schools for people to learn how to drive manual transmissions. That way you are not beating up on your own car. My Sidan is also my first manual car, but I come from an ATV/dirt bike background so I was familiar with manual transmissions.

Good luck on the purchase.

[mischief316]

You know i'm glad that so far no one is bashing you for being a newb. I was a newb too when it came to driving stick. Shoot i learned on my SI basically. I drove around my friends cars which helped me gain some confidence. (by the way they weren't in the car with me lol). So if you know anyone who drives a manual ask to borrow his/her car and asked them to give you a few pointers. So your getting an 07? I have an 08 and i'm at 6k miles and counting, but so far no 3rd gear probs. And quiet frankly i haven't heard any 08 drivers have that issue so far. Could be to early to tell tho.

As to driving manual tans, its really easy. Just learned all the tips and tricks like rev matching. Rev matching is your friend. Haha i remember when i was first learning, no one told me about rev matching so i would just pop into any gear i thought was right for the speed, and the car would throw me back and forward lol. But ever since i "discover" rev matching it all made sense. well good luck!

[Special Ringpop]

Originally Posted by nayilsi

ROADandTRACK.com -- Road Tests - Honda Civic Mugen Si (12/2007)


buy this....great value for the money

Is this sarcasm? The Mugen Si is an overpriced stock Si with an ugly spoiler and Mugen accessories.

It still has all the quality qualms people have with the Si, only it stickers for $30,000.

Pass lol.

[07BlakBlak]

Yes, buy the coupe.

[tite681]

Originally Posted by User_name:

^^^
Always somebody who has to beat the dead horse..

I say we turn this thread into "My 3rd sux" that seems to be the growing trend around here...

Oh yeah. Change your transmission fluid to Amsoil MTF as soon as you can. It will make your transmission shift better and MAY prevent or delay any 3rd gear issues. I do not have any 3rd gear issues.

[Special Ringpop]

Originally Posted by User_name:

^^^
Always somebody who has to beat the dead horse..

I say we turn this thread into "My 3rd sux" that seems to be the growing trend around here...

If the shoe fits? I don't understand you dude. The guy is asking about buying an Si, he has a right to know of a very real problem that exists, even if it's not the majority (which I'm not convinced of, by the way).

It's not a growing trend, it's a reality. It's hardly a dead horse, considering nothing has been done about it yet.

And as for a "My third gear sucks" thread, there are plenty of them around. You'd know, you post in all of them despite not having any transmission problems.

This guy asked about the Civic, and people are giving him honest answers. I could mention the wear prone fabric, the excessive rattles, the touchy plastics, or the like, but he won't haev to search hard to find people complaining about it.

I'd say the overwhelming majority of posts here on this thread are quite positive. I'd endorse someone getting an Si. It's not a bad car at all. Quite the contrary, it's a great car, that some are plagued with a very unfortunate problem. Every car has problems.

[Mexbor9]

What color sedan? I have a TW sedan, my first manual car too! I learned on it with one arm, left arm was broken from my accident in my 92 prelude vs truck....I lost! I did get my Si...you're gonna love it, don't take it past 4k within the first 600 miles!!!!!! After that VTEC!!!! WOOHOO!! Then once you get used to it, the fun begins! Time for some mods...then my friend you'll be plenty addicted! Let us know how it goes!