Maybe I'm getting soft in my old age, but I'm contemplating getting an automatic instead of a manual. Mainly so the woman can drive it.

So, people with automatics, how do you feel about your decision. Does the transmission pick gears well?

What about going up big hills on the highway? My biggest peeve with automatics is when they kick down and go 5000RPM up a hill that my 5 speed Civic will roll up with pedal to spare. I know Honda claims the new cars have "grade logic" but does it actually do anything worthwhile?

My heart tells me to get the manual, but my head is telling me to get an auto.

Opinions? Suggestions?

 

Honda is pretty good with the automatics in all my experience, its all throttle play, so to avoid that 5000rpm while climbing, give it more gas and it'll shift. Cars don't know they are going up a hill.

If this is a daily driver, you deal with a ton of traffic, its a shared car with someone who doesn't drive manual, consider the auto. You can always still go show or drag with it

 

OK, I just went from an auto to a manual, and had the same dilemma. Had 2 other manuals prior to that. I cannot see myself ever going back to an auto. However, my wifes car is auto as well. So, I drive that occassionally.

I told my wife I was going to get the new Si whether she could drive it or not. Not to be mean to her, but she has driven a manual in the past. She knows how to. This is my daily driver so I really didn't think it should have been her decision. I told her I would reteach her how to drive it. Especially, since the new Si has a very smooth feel to it. Not like the other cars she has driven.

I am not sure about your age, but I think you should go with what your heart is telling you. I like to have more choice, when going up a hill, how much power I want to use. Helps in sticky spots of traffic when you need to stomp on it. I haten the delay the auto gives you, and then it shifts quickly so you do not keep your revs.

 

I'm 26. We currently have two Civics, my '93 manual and her '99 auto.

I admit, Honda is good with their automatics, which is the only reason I'm considering it. I figure the auto would last longer than the original clutch would, meaning less maintenance.

I will be keeping the '93 as a fun/race car and the '07 will be my daily, so that is another reason that having an auto would be liveable.

On the other hand, like you guys, I like to pick my own gear and my own RPMs. Still, it's a hard choice because I know the wife would like to be able to drive it. Then again, maybe it's time she tried learning again.

 

I had an Accord not a Civic, but the grade logic seemed to work pretty well to hold a lower gear while going uphill, and to downshift (after you apply the brakes) going downhill. The automatic is adequate, I drove the 06 EX model with two and four people in it. However, the manual feels more peppy.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DougNuts &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'm 26. We currently have two Civics, my '93 manual and her '99 auto.

I admit, Honda is good with their automatics, which is the only reason I'm considering it. I figure the auto would last longer than the original clutch would, meaning less maintenance.

I will be keeping the '93 as a fun/race car and the '07 will be my daily, so that is another reason that having an auto would be liveable.

On the other hand, like you guys, I like to pick my own gear and my own RPMs. Still, it's a hard choice because I know the wife would like to be able to drive it. Then again, maybe it's time she tried learning again. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Getting soft in your old age....I thought you were going to be 62 or something!

As for automatics having les maintenance...arent auto trany fluid changes like $100, while manual ones are like $30....plus I've a Civic and ITR with stock clutches that have lasted 109,000 and 111,000+ miles

 

I am 26 too, but I do not think we are old.

I would just say, if she is open to learning to drive it, then buy it. Otherwise, whatever makes you more happy. You will still have the 93. Try and rent a manual before you buy the Si to teach her in first. Let her warm up to the smooth Si feel when shifting.

 

I picked up my Automatic coupe on tuesday night. The first automatic car i have owned since i swapped my first 96 hatch back in 2000. It did hurt a little inside to buy an auto but since i have an hour commute to and from work depending on traffic, I felt it was the better choice. So far I am happy with my desicion. As for how the tranny feels, so far it feels great. I havent noticed any struggling or any other kind of lag because of the auto yet, but like i said its still new with only 200 miles on it so I havent really pushed it. The auto's now come with a 5-speed automatic so I believe that contributes to the auto being incredibly smooth. My friend actually said to me the night I got it "this is the first model civic that doesnt feel underpowered at all".

So I guess the bottom line for me is that I'm glad I got the auto, I may not have the ability to pick my gear and rpm's but, when I'm in deadlock traffic having the auto is great.

I do miss having a manual, but practicality beat fun this time.

 

test drove both.... personally the manual is more fun to drive, i ended up gettin the manual. but the guy, i dont know if he was just bsing... but told me that the automatic will save a lil more gas than the manual, dont understand why though, but yea....

 

The automatic does get better EPA rated MPG over the manual, by 1 mpg

We bought the first 06 Coupe that came on the lot last year, a black automatic EX and have been pretty happy with it. It's lightyears ahead of the 00 Civic EX auto she drove a few years before and had more power than the 04 Accord we traded in. The 5 speed along with the extra power and tq really lets it get up and go. It ran a 16.8 at the track when I ran it for fun which is faster than the 05 manuals.

 

honeslt the automatic on my ex sucks...i miss my manual and glad im trading it in for the an 06 si.....if you enjoy driving with stick then buy one because youll be unhappy about a month down the road. if she cant drive teach her or tell her to stay in her car.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by modifyORdie &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">honeslt the automatic on my ex sucks...i miss my manual and glad im trading it in for the an 06 si.....if you enjoy driving with stick then buy one because youll be unhappy about a month down the road. if she cant drive teach her or tell her to stay in her car.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Your comparing your 99 Civic to a 06 which are completely different. Please read the thread before you give your insight.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nsxmatt &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Your comparing your 99 Civic to a 06 which are completely different. Please read the thread before you give your insight.</TD></TR></TABLE>

i did read the thread asshat......im saying in general i bought the civic with an automatic and regretted it...please do YOUR reading before you try to correct someone.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by modifyORdie &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i did read the thread asshat......im saying in general i bought the civic with an automatic and regretted it...please do YOUR reading before you try to correct someone.</TD></TR></TABLE>

He's not asking in general, he's asking about the new 5-speed automatic with grade logic Civics and how they drive. You just blurt out some random opinion on your 2nd hand, untuned, turbo, automatic, 99 Civic shitbox, when you have never even set foot or drove the car he is looking to buy.

 

read my signature dumbfuck...i believe it says 06 SI and how the hell do you know what i have or have not driven? he asked if he should buy an auto because of his wife even though he loves driving a stick...i said he wouldprobably be unhappy with a auto if he loves stick because thats what happened with me......get your ******* facts straight

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nsxmatt &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

You just blurt out some random opinion on your 2nd hand, untuned, turbo, automatic, 99 Civic shitbox</TD></TR></TABLE>

Ouch!

 

and btw the want to call my civic a shitbox? you drive a damn dodge. rotflmao

you couldnt pay me to drive those POS's...and yes i HAVE driven one of those too...

 

and for the cherry on your topping....i dont have the 99 ex anymore...im driving an 06 auto ex until my si comes in....peaches!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by modifyORdie &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">and for the cherry on your topping....i dont have the 99 ex anymore...im driving an 06 auto ex until my si comes in....peaches!</TD></TR></TABLE>

Your getting it from Jenkins and Wynne right? Interesting. I guess what your friends say about you being full of BS is true.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nsxmatt &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Your getting it from Jenkins and Wynne right? Interesting. I guess what your friends say about you being full of BS is true.</TD></TR></TABLE>

yeah im not the one talking out of my *** now am i? interestingly enough i havent seen any of my friends for a while considering i have a damn business to run...so they dont know what the hell i drive or dont drive or what im buying or not buying...and if i am getting it from j & w how does that prove im full of bs? that just proves that im telling the truth...man doesnt that hurt?

and the point was he asked if he was going to be happy with an automatic which was open for opinions and my opinion is NO so gtfo and quit trying to punk me out

 

Really? Who you getting the SI from then that gives out loaners.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nsxmatt &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Really? Who you getting the SI from then that gives out loaners.</TD></TR></TABLE>

who said the ex is a loaner? see there you go again assuming ****...maybe i dont have a dead end job like you and can afford two brand new cars...or maybe my parents didnt hate me like yours did and let me drive theirs or myabe one of my secret pimp daddies let me use it to slap bitches...wow the possibilities are infinite arent they?

looks like youre stuck huh? got anything else you want to bring up? you must tell me who you get your dead end info from.

 

I'm eating ice cream now, I don't want to waste my time with you.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nsxmatt &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'm eating ice cream now, I don't want to waste my time with you.</TD></TR></TABLE>

good eat your fat *** sorrows away and come back when you have real info

back on subject please

 

welp, Z is my first AT sports car I've bought. After 10 years of manual, it's heaven in traffic. I feel a slight lag in shift (tiptronic manual mode) and gearing is longer than the manual, so the midrange power feels lacking. If performance is an issue for you, you can always beef up your tranny. My next car will be a manual again, but I'm going to keep my AT cuz I love it!