My friend has a 2000 5MT Civic, and he has been letting me drive it to practice, so I can atleast be somewhat proficient when I drive my 04 Evo off the lot. I must say, it's a nice car. Sure it's not that fast (Noticably more sluggish than my 01 Mustang) but it handles well for a FWD and is a blast to drive. Of course alot it is the "Oohh wow first time really driving a stick", and I'm sure I'd be just as thrilled driving a manual Neon. I've gotta say for the money though, alot of fun can be had in that car.

My friend ABUSES THE CRAP OUT OF IT. He'll drop the clutch from 5000rpm 3 times a day and pulls the e-brake constantly. He does long smokey burnouts probably 2-3 times a month. Clutch still works, which I am amazed. Drives fine. Either Honda makes a hell of a clutch, or his tires are bald as hell and the fact that they break loose so easily saves his clutch.

Anyways, so excited to get the Evo, can't even describe it.

 

yea i actually drove my friend's manual 2002 civic. it wasnt bad, but i have to say the shifter feel wasnt great. i was constantly misshifting to 5th instead of 3rd and it felt kinda clunky.

i was surprised he did a decent burn out in 1st and churped the tires in 2nd pretty well too. but i still will never get a honda, unless it's an S2000, an NSX, or an Oddyssey (they are pimp vans..fo sho )

 

i drove a civic for the 1rst time like 6 months ago...itsa good car, though,it isnt a racecar and will never be..but that exhaust pipe...ughhhh...that could give me permanent eardamage...

 

I didn't like his shifter much at all either. I found first hard to find sometimes, trying to start in 3rd is never easy. And occassionally I'd shift to 4th from 1st haha. Reverse is also a ***** to find. But some of that is due to my unfamiliarity with his shifter and newbie to manuals.

 

yeh the stock shifters in civics feel sloppy...like i'm going to break it or something.

 

just some friendly advice (take it or not, up to you) since you're learning or practising a stick for your 04 evo. Don't drive the Evo like your friend drives his civic (dumping the clutch) or you will be joining the 'my clutch failed at 20 miles' thread(s). In fact, try to get away from the 'give it gas, let out clutch' school of manual driving. Seriously.

 

I totally understand that. I realize FWD and AWD are completely different and AWD is much harder on your drivetrain and clutch. On that note, what is the correct way to drive it? As opposed to giving it some gas and easing the clutch out?

 

Ease the clutch out, then give it gas.


I had to laugh at some of the comments about the Civic shifters. You guys need to experience manual transmissions other than those on late model Japanese automobiles. You'll appreciate the Evo's setup all that much more.