Can Someone Explain This to Me?

"190e30-Now with COSWORTH" (190e30)
09/29/2013 at 12:03 • Filed to: None

So I've been looking at Honda Civics, (mostly ep3). Say what you want, but I like a hot hatch, and I need something safe enough to satisfy my parents, and both quick enough and cheap enough to autocross. I noticed the gear stick makes absolutely no sense, and seems like it would be really difficult to work with. Any experience with them here on Oppo?

DISCUSSION (16)

6cyl > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
09/29/2013 at 12:11

Buy an ep3. It is a great car and I frequently regret selling mine. The gear shift takes a moment to get used to and is really easy to shift and pretty precise. Also: Honda reliability and it is pretty good on gas and tons of storage and fun "hidden" compartments.

vdub_nut: scooter snob > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
09/29/2013 at 12:19

They actually aren't that awkward to use, just waaaay in front instead of off to the side like normal.

Scott Keelan > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
09/29/2013 at 12:37

I believe the intent of the design was to shorten the distance the driver's hand has to move from steering wheel to shifter when changing gears, assuming both hands are on the wheel.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
09/29/2013 at 12:47

Kinja'd!!!

Best first car you can get! Trust me.

Mikeado > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
09/29/2013 at 12:59

It's meant to give you a really short distance from wheel to stick to speed up your gear changes. It might take some acclimatisation but it's a good thing. It might be a nod to Touring Cars.

Pitchblende > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
09/29/2013 at 13:37

Apparently from reviews (I've never driven one) the position of the stick never made any sense until you came to use it, and then it worked perfectly.

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time
09/29/2013 at 14:10

This would be my third car, and believe me, I've tried that. Unfortunately, my parents want me in something 4wd or Fwd, no convertibles, slow, cheap insurance, and they'd prefer for it to be anything but Japanese. So no miata for me :(

maximillious > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
09/29/2013 at 14:26

I drove an ep3 for three years. I had a 2005. When I first tried it I was kinda unsure. It took me three days to realize its all I ever want. The placement is so perfect. You can literally have the same hand on the wheel and stick at the samr time. Its great for very quick gear changes. Also. When I bought the car in 2010 I paid 8400 $ it had 75k miles. In february when it was parked on the street it was totalled by a hit and run driver. At that time the car had 106k miles on it. My insurance company paid me 10400 $ to total it. They are increasingly rare and if you find one in the 70k are for 8-9 grand you are golden. Try to find yourself an 04 or 05 as the value is still there. Try to keep it stock as that's what's desired by people looking at these. The engine is bullet proof. In three years of use and pretty hard driving around cities I never once had to do anything more than an oil change every 6k miles. This was honestly my favorite car...beating out my integra gsr.... had it not bee totaled I would have kept it as a project car/life long friend...I may even attempt to track down a new one.. god I loved my ep3. I literally shed a tear the day it died

maximillious > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
09/29/2013 at 14:28

I know I didn't talk about the stick a lot but seriously I miss that so much you will end up loving it. Especially in autox

maximillious > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
09/29/2013 at 14:39

Idk where u are but I found one at a stealership in waukesha wi for 11500 with 43k miles...this is your chance to rip off a dealership...unless something is wrong with it...but that's a great fucking deal

TwoWheelsAmazing > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
09/29/2013 at 16:40

Well you know Honda's Japanese right? And show then facts that 4WD's aren't safer.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
09/29/2013 at 16:51

my 03 ls miata is only $20 more a month than my old 01 Saturn sl1 was. It only has one other seat so less distractions from friends, its only a 4banger so its not a speed demon (unless you drive like i do... don't follow my example), and it teaches you good car control. Its also very reliable, i see many on forums that go 200,000 miles plus on original everything except for belts and clutches.

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > TwoWheelsAmazing
09/29/2013 at 18:37

Yes...I never seriously considered buying one, but was looking into them when I found the weird gearstick that brought me here. And 4wd might not be safer, but a) no wheelspin (at least in my audi) so it'll cost me less in tires and will be easier to control, b) better in the snow (I live in CT), and c) Understeer is a lot more manageable than oversteer

MonkeePuzzle > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
09/30/2013 at 09:45

yes, plenty, and you'll love it!

Its designed to be close to hand for faster shifting and more time with both hands on the wheel, though mostly sequential these days, a lot of rally cars have this same position.

It's made possible in the EP because it is now two cable shifter, rather than two solid rods of previous models. Basically that shifter is connected to a couple of cables like the brake or shifter cables on a mountain bike. It is actually very cool. I thought it looked super goofy at first, but after a day of driving I was in love with teh shifter location. And the car in general.

Go test drive one, you won't be disappointed, and at the very least you'll know if you hate it or not

MonkeePuzzle > MonkeePuzzle
09/30/2013 at 09:48

also, roomy car, great safety, ABS, power everything, great seats, side airbag options, great room in the back, with chains we never got stuck even in deep snow and ice (on the road), comfortable even for 18 hour trips, fun for 5 minute trips, zippy let fuel economical, lots of tuning options for the K-series engine, lots of aftermarket support for the EP model, 4x100 wheels on the first 2 years means tons of cheap aftermarket wheel options. I'd say you'd be pretty hard pressed to do better.

the answer is always miata, but a convertible RWD can be a tough sell to parents and insurance companies.

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > maximillious
09/30/2013 at 09:58

Connecticut, so that's a bit fo a haul. But thank you for your tips and knowledge, it definitely helps