First Steps

"DAMG0014" (DAMG0014) 01/26/2014 at 16:16 • Filed to: honda, civic, civic si, si, buick, century, first car

0

21

Fargo, one of the few places where the first thing you can do with your new car is get it stuck in the driveway.

This is day five. This is the fifth day in ownership of my 2007 Honda Civic Si. I'll admit it's not as balls-to-the-wall awesome as owning a Zonda (literally going balls-to-the-wall is probably a terrible idea, but you get my hyperbole), or as interesting as coming across a mint 1988 MR2. But coming down to this humble sports sedan is a step in the right direction for me. I shouldn't say "coming down," because this is a big step forward from my mother's 1993 Buick Century. The only reason I said that was because I had set my sights on American RWD monsters. I really wanted a 2004 GTO, and then I figured a V6 Mustang, especially a 2011+, would be nice. Interesting cars are hard to find in Fargo though. I made a trip to Minneapolis to drive my first manual; that was a back and forth trip of eight hours to test drive a Mustang I didn't get.

Really, I just wanted a sporty car with a manual transmission. Given that my only experience with the third pedal was via proxy in the form of a button while playing Forza, the smooth clutch on the Civic is much, much more sensible. In the 23 years I've been alive, I've never felt as thrilled by a car as I have these past five days, because until now, it's all been pretend. When I was boy, I collected Hot Wheels and Bburagos, and then there was Need for Speed and Forza. I'm finally no longer that boy making fake car-noises and pretending to shift gears.

I don't want to completely bad-mouth my old car, and I don't want to sound ungrateful. The Buick was and is technically my mom's; I didn't choose it, but it was handed to me. I'm thankful for the time I had it working. Currently, it's a piece of shit, and I've been spending at least $500 a year in repairs for the last four years. The only reason I have it is because my mom still doesn't have a driver's license. Yes, my mom bought a car, planning to get her license, and in that car's lifetime, she never was able to legally drive it. One at fault fender-bender and a few replaced parts later, the car now refuses to start when it's under 20 degrees. - Oh, it's 17 degrees outside? Nope, the car will turnover until the battery drains itself dead. - When a mechanic doesn't want you to spend money on a car, it's time to move on and let it sit on the driveway until you figure a way to get rid of it.

Good night, horrible prince.

With less than 30k miles on the odometer, I'm planning on getting the most out of my new car and making sure it doesn't go the way of my Buick. I sometimes miss third gear, revving the engine in neutral and making me feel like a total jackass. This current weather is terrible for learning to drive it, but I'm stalling less and less. I also find the assisted steering to be intrusive, if not rather dangerous. But I already love this car, and the few opportunities I get to redline, make the APR totally worth it.

Brian Silvestro > DAMG0014 01/26/2014 at 16:20

0

The sedan Si's look about a million times better than the coupes in my opinion. Nice car!

Big Bubba Ray > DAMG0014 01/26/2014 at 16:21

0

Nice car! The best way to learn to drive the manual well is simply to just drive. A lot. You'll pick it up in no time. What the heck is assisted steering?

AthomSfere > DAMG0014 01/26/2014 at 16:28

0

I have the exact car in silver...

Color wasn't my first choice, but other than that its a great fun car.

Roberto G. > Big Bubba Ray 01/26/2014 at 16:28

0

Power steering?

DAMG0014 > Big Bubba Ray 01/26/2014 at 16:31

0

Maybe it's not assisted, but compared to my 'ol Buick and my friends' Pontiacs (everyone in my high-school had and probably still has a Pontiac), the steering feels ridiculously light. I find myself thinking I'm over correcting. If I wasn't driving, I'd raise my hands in confusion as to how my car turned.

Big Bubba Ray > Roberto G. 01/26/2014 at 16:31

0

Hmm. Maybe. Guess that makes sense haha

IJustWantMyZBack > DAMG0014 01/26/2014 at 16:35

0

Welcome to the Si world. It is a fun car. And if you enjoy the sound of the car stock, I recommend you look into a cold air. The factory resonator and air intake muffle the sound a lot. I currently own a 2008 Si Sedan, added a bluetooth module, bike rack and intake.

AthomSfere > IJustWantMyZBack 01/26/2014 at 16:45

0

These are on my short list for mods.

Throttle Body spacer + intake.

Takeda Attack seems to be the best choice, input?

AthomSfere > DAMG0014 01/26/2014 at 16:48

0

Hondas have always been that way, very light but very, very accurate.

DAMG0014 > Brian Silvestro 01/26/2014 at 16:49

0

Thanks! Yeah, there was an '08 coupe with 64k miles that I was considering, but that dealer wasn't willing to negotiate price. I got this at a much lower price, and this much more practical.

The looks have really grown on me; it's amazing how ownership can do that. Ha! I do think the sedan looks less like a Hot Wheels, now that you mention comparing looks.

Brian Silvestro > DAMG0014 01/26/2014 at 16:52

0

That snow really makes it look nice, hot wheels everywhere.

DAMG0014 > AthomSfere 01/26/2014 at 16:54

0

I'm used to premeditating every little thing with my old car and much heavier steering, so maybe I just need to drive it more to get used to it.

AthomSfere > DAMG0014 01/26/2014 at 16:59

0

I imagine the helical LSD is a new feeling for you too, that is a little unsettling at first I think.

DAMG0014 > IJustWantMyZBack 01/26/2014 at 17:06

0

I'm thinking of keeping it stock. Who knows what I'll do in the future though!?

I do like the sound it makes. It's funny; when I was looking for cars, I would test drive them in Forza. I hated how the Si sounded in Forza 4; I was thinking, "Ugh, I'm gonna have to settle for THIS car!?" Then I took it out on the interstate and got the biggest shit-eating grin. I like how civil it can be, but at a moment's notice, it can make me giggle like a school girl.

sellphones2493 > DAMG0014 01/26/2014 at 17:49

0

I learned how to drive stick on my 2007 S60R a little over a year ago. The first three days were brutal - stalling out everywhere, telling people to pass me on hills, and routing my journey base on how few times I'll have to stop.

However, what helped me was actually driving barefoot for a while. I know it's cold out, but when driving without shoes, you can feel the clutch vibrating. After a week and a half, you'll be fine. I don't think I've stalled out for maybe 8 months now.

DAMG0014 > sellphones2493 01/26/2014 at 18:42

0

You may laugh at me, but I actually got ready for it in Forza. The problem with Forza is that the clutch is a button, binary. It didn't ready me for rough shifts, and it taught me to release the clutch too quickly.

When I test drove my first car, I got it down within an hour or so. With this car, I've been fortunate enough to stall either parking or in areas of low traffic.

Hills. I've been alright so far. The problem is that I've been over eager, and with this weather, I get a lot of wheelspin as I crawl upwards. Even if it's for a second, it's quite a bit alarming to feel your car rolling backwards.

Your car sounds super cool; that AWD would come handy here. Your scenario sounds horrifying though. I have one hill before getting on the interstate. Sometimes traffic jams on the right lane, and I'm sure it's semis struggling because of the ice and snow.

IJustWantMyZBack > AthomSfere 01/26/2014 at 19:21

0

I went Injen after getting recommendations from several people I know. I haven't heard anything one way or the other about the Takeda model.

AthomSfere > IJustWantMyZBack 01/26/2014 at 19:24

0

How long have you had the Injen?

I believe it was their intake manifold that had a serious cracking problem on one of the weld seams. Although that was likely fixed too since that first year or so they sold them.

IJustWantMyZBack > AthomSfere 01/26/2014 at 19:31

1

I am going on 2 and a half years with the Injen cold air. Haven't had any problems with it.

Xentron Holy Reaper of Worlds > DAMG0014 01/26/2014 at 19:59

0

I'll admit it's not as balls-to-the-wall awesome as owning a Zonda

At least they rhyme...But seriously, nice car.

thebigbossyboss > DAMG0014 01/30/2014 at 08:50

0

I bought a manual car with barely knowing how to drive a standard myself. I learned by doing. My biggest thing was always removing my foot from the clutch with the car in gear as I was turning it off. The e brake was on so it'd usually just jerk suddenly haha.