New 02 si owner, hopefully

[MeGrog2]

Hi, in a mattter of weeks, maybe days I will be getting a new car. I have found a used 02 civic si for 14k(I'm going halfies with my mom). This will be my first manual car, so my mom who's first car was a manual vw bug asked if I really wanted to drive a manual car 24/7 january through december. Well I test drove an si a week ago and I stalled the car 6-9 times just trying to get rolling. My question to you all is how is the si through the winter with the manual and do you dread driving your car after a couple of years because of the manual?

Thanks and sorry for the lengthy question

[furious]

I wouldn't buy a relatively new car (14K) w/o first knowing how to drive the stick. You might like it, you might not. The question pertaining to stick is not Si specific - this will have to be your call though learning and getting use to it is a breeze for many and many become addicts for life. As for the winter, you'll probably need to learn how to drive stick REAL SOON..stick some snowtires on it and as an added measure learn how to take off at 2nd and you'll be dandy, otherwise....maybe winter is a bad time to play with a stick?

good luck...oh, I think that the 14k should be negotiable (in your favor)

[Si3]

this was my first manuel car too, after i signed the papers it was "well, time to learn to drive it..." (had friend & mom both drive the car with me in it before i bought)

Buy the car they are great fun and i NEVER dread driving my car (and i drive a lot (18k in 9 months)) The dash mounted stick is a real natural feel.

as for 14k for a used Si depending on miles and warrenty is a little high considering you can get a brand new one, with a little negotiating skills for 16.5-17.5, but whatever is in your best intrest go for it!! Just dont do what SO many people do with their first car, find one they like and get it no matter what. this is a big decision for you, dont rush into it. (my first car i bought for 2.5K dumped alomst 3K into fixing it up, and had to sell it broke as hell for 1.7K, learn from my stupidity!!!! dont rush into your first car)

Best of luck, Hope you get the EP and if you do bookmark this site all members here are helpful and insightful.

Happy Tuning -Aj-

[ATRIOT]

Stick comes in handy in the winter, if your stuck you can rock your car out by playing it from 1st to Reverse. You have more control with a Standard Transmission.

[JLannoo]

I think that winter would be a bad time to learn to drive a stick.

That said, once you DO know how to drive one. I think they are better in the snow then a automatic....they give you better control and I think you just feel more "connected" to a car when its a manual. That for me makes it easier to handle in the ice and snow.

[bobdobbs]

Agree with Atriot. A stick is better in the snow, since you've got more control.

[MeGrog2]

thanks for the replies guys. I'm almost 20 and the si will not be my first car, my first car was 96 hyundai sonata which I plan on trading in and negotiating with the sales man to about 11k-12k for the price on the si. Plus I plan on paying for it in cash so that should sway the dealer to give me a lower price. Right now the weather here in chicago is no where near winter, mostly 50-70s so snow and ice is not a concern with me learning stick.

[Hatch, Si Hatch]

I live in GA so I can't comment on the whole winter thing. However, I can comment on driving a manual 24/7. I learned when I was 15 on a 5spd w/ my 91' Escort GT(awww yea...GT baby...heheh), then when I bought my second car a 97' Civic EX it had to be a manual, and now w/ the Si. I wouldn't have it any other way, once you get used to it you will probably feel the same way. After a while it becomes second nature(like picking your nose in your sleep). I find my self going for the clutch/shifter when I drive a auto all the time. If you know someone that currently owns a semi-beater that is a manual I would ask him/her if I could try it out. Just to practice starting off. The reason I say this is because on my first car my dad taught me how to drive by getting me on a nice hill and making me stop and start over and over. Once I learned how to do that pretty good he let me out on the road. But I'm surprised I didn't kill myself/others while shifting. If you have already been driving for awhile then it wont be so bad. I could keep on typing about the things you will learn the hard way while learning, like slowing down and having to down shift, stop and go traffic, red light positioned on a hill w/ people stopping right on your bumper, etc., but I think I'll stop here. Only way I would want a auto would be either in a luxury car or a 4x4 truck/SUV.

[bobdobbs]

My first car was a 5-speed (VW Scirocco) and the only car with an auto I've ever owned was a '95 Blazer. I sold that after a month -- I couldn't stand driving an auto. Since I taught my wife to drive a stick three years ago, she refuses to drive an auto. Once you switch, you won't go back.

[bloodzombie]

Do you really enjoy driving, or is it just a way to get you from one point to another?

I think that's the important question. if you love to drive, the stick is the obvious way to go. if you just want a car that serves its purpose, get another hyundai

My first car was a stick, and I lived in michigan... the winter was never a concern to me as far as stick vs manual. winter sucks the same either way. All my parents cars have been automatics, so I've driven a lot of both, and I don't think I'll ever own an auto.

[furious]

Originally posted by bloodzombie
as far as stick vs manual. winter sucks the same either way.

bravo! bravo! damn it wished it was not so true:(

however, I have had better luck getting out of snowbound with stick..then again, once you're in that position, you would have came pretty close to crashing already..

[dj addicted]

I love driving a manual.. I wouldnt drive anything else. Im 26 now and I've been driving sticks since I was 15. I learned on my dad's 91 Eagle Talon TSI. Was a pain since I didnt know how to drive, and then I had to learn to control the turbo... it made things interesting.. But I would never drive an automatic unless it was an SUV or something

[MeGrog2]

yea I really enjoy drving, and I hate driving the hyundai, I will never buy another one as long as I live. So the si seems like the way I'm going to go, hopefully I can learn stick quickly

[ATRIOT]

I get to live out my WRC fantasy's @ 2 in the morning :shadesm: , The only downside is shoveling the driveway. :yellm:

[Zero Three Si]

What's up big pimp....WINDY CITY CIVICS IN THE HOUSE!!!

Hey man...my first car was a 1989 Civic Dx 5 speed stick.
I was 16 when my dad got it for me. I rode dirt bikes since age 11...so a car with a stick was very natural for me. Yes I stalled it alot when I first got it...but that's part of learning. You'll have it down within probably the first 2-3 weeks.

I've had a few cars
1989 Civic dx hatchback....loved IT!!!
1889 Buick Rivera....auto...crashed it
1996 Galant-auto..crashed it
1994 Civic EX auto coupe.....crashed it a few times
2003 EP...stick...LOVE IT...have not crashed it

The three cars that I crashed were in the winter.....STICKS drive much better in the winter.

[jaydub]

It's fun to watch a girl play with your stick while you're driving.

[JLannoo]

Originally posted by Zero Three Si

1889 Buick Rivera....auto...crashed it



Did the horses get spooked?? ;)

[Chrisbgft]

I bought my 1996 Eclipse GS and 02 SI w/ knowing how to drive them..lol. My parents drove them home from Schaumburg..lol.

[MeGrog2]

yea winter is fun, I have had some fun with the hyundai in a snow filled parking lot along with my trusty parking brake. I've also had some misshaps like hopping a curb and slidding into a 3 ft rock infront of mcdonalds while turning and braking too hard.
Thanks for all the input guys

[furious]

Originally posted by jaydub
It's fun to watch a girl play with your stick while you're driving.

I wouldn't know since I always holding on to my stick :o :D

[Zero Three Si]

Originally posted by Chrisbgft
I bought my 1996 Eclipse GS and 02 SI w/ knowing how to drive them..lol. My parents drove them home from Schaumburg..lol.

Holly Shinkies......you're alive....what's up man...haven't see you on the board lately...where ya been? You going to the 7th gen meet this weekend?



Originally posted by JLannoo
Did the horses get spooked?? [B/B]


DAMN THAT'S COLD MAN....LOL


Originally posted by JayDub
It's fun to watch a girl play with your stick while you're driving.


The Ep is one of the best cars to get road head in...

[bobdobbs]

Originally posted by Zero Three Si
\The Ep is one of the best cars to get road head in...
You da MAN!!

[Mugen Power]

The Si is fine in the snow, no problems at all. One of the earliest times I've driven the Si (and stick, for that matter) was in the snow. I brought it up to Rochester, NY just in time for winter... :eek:

Upstate NY winters suck... Let me clarify: upstate NY sucks. :D

[jaydub]

Originally posted by Zero Three Si
The Ep is one of the best cars to get road head in...

ROFL! hahaha true that, the absence of a center console is an advantage.

[EricP3]

Originally posted by jaydub
ROFL! hahaha true that, the absence of a center console is an advantage.
and while were talking about advantages of our car; there is alot of room in the back when you fold down the seats for.... ill stop now.

[wtfOO]

The Si was actually my first manual car so i had alot of stalling and peel outs when i first got it. It's fun though. I still have some problems driving automatic now. Always looking for a clutch pedal.

[Zero Three Si]

Originally posted by wtfOO
The Si was actually my first manual car so i had alot of stalling and peel outs when i first got it. It's fun though. I still have some problems driving automatic now. Always looking for a clutch pedal.

I'm always stomping on the dead pedel on a automatic looking for the clutch!

[furious]

Originally posted by Zero Three Si
I'm always stomping on the dead pedel on a automatic looking for the clutch!

ahhh....I once stomped on the brake while the gas was down on my girl's auto 3-series...:o on a really steep uphill, WOW, NOT FUN:mad: I don't like autos..unless I become a taxi-cab driver..

[Zero Three Si]

Originally posted by furious
ahhh....I once stomped on the brake while the gas was down on my girl's auto 3-series...:o on a really steep uphill, WOW, NOT FUN:mad: I don't like autos..unless I become a taxi-cab driver..

LOL...I did that and almost made somebody rear end me.

[priest6479]

I just bought a 02 Si, this is the first car I have ever owned that was a stick. I have driven cars with a stick before so I knew the basics on howto drive stick, but I never really got much practice. So far I'm doing quite well, you learn quick enough the mistakes you make, how to get in an out of gears smoothly, once and awhile you'll grind a gear or two and stall it out, but eventually you will get the feel for it.

Practice in a wide open parking lot, I found that taking off from a stoplight with 20 cars around me added some pressure and I ended up stalling or chirping the tires, learn in a parking lot, no pressure, just you and your car, I have never driven it in the winter before so good luck to both of us:D

If you like the overall feel of the car, you will get used to the stick.

Just takes practice

[EPHatchgirl]

Originally posted by ATRIOT
Stick comes in handy in the winter, if your stuck you can rock your car out by playing it from 1st to Reverse. You have more control with a Standard Transmission.

Well said... the EP is my first stick as well, and I got it about this time last year, so I think you'll be fine. Once you get used to it, you definitely have a TON more control with a manual tranny.

[Peking]

Originally posted by EPHatchgirl
Well said... the EP is my first stick as well, and I got it about this time last year, so I think you'll be fine. Once you get used to it, you definitely have a TON more control with a manual tranny.

Same here, manuals frickin rules :eek:

[BarracksSi]

The WORST I ever got myself stuck beccause of weather wasn't because of snow, but light rain over nearly mirror-smooth ice.

I was delivering pizzas one Halloween (the mayor even cancelled trick-or-treating because it was so dangerous!), and go figure, since the weather was bad, people wanted US to risk our cars and drive around for their food.

Anyways... after delivering the last of three on one trip, I had to come up a street with a slope. There was no way around to a flatter route because of the valley shape of the neighborhood.

I spent nearly half an hour tiptoeing my car half a block on ice that was so slick I could barely stand up (worse than a hockey rink). Without pressing the accelerator, I'd feather the clutch, the tires would start to turn, and I'd move about a foot before they'd spin loose. Once they'd spin, I'd slide closer to the curb, and push in the clutch again.

If I had an auto, the wheels would have started twirling as soon as I let off the brake, and I would have had to find some other way out of there.

On another wintry day, I saw a van sitting at a stoplight with one of its rear wheels turning gently, wearing a smooth spot in the ice. I think the driver was on the brakes, but I wasn't sure, since the turning wheel kept my attention. The van wasn't moving at all, but the auto transmission was doing its thing and letting the idling engine turn the tires.

Manual transmissions are great for winter. Don't spin the tires, start off in a lower gear if you have to, and just drive smart.

Tip for taking off from a stop on a hill: Use the parking brake to hold the car, then let out the clutch until you feel it engage. Apply gas, and it will be easier to launch smoothly without fear of rolling into that Corvette that stopped on yer ass. ;)

[Loudpedal]

...I just realized, I drive a manual transmission car...!!! Seriously, I go days without even thinking about it. As far as a manual goes, the EP is pretty much one of the best to learn on, and drive.