Go test drive a Civic before you pick up the car. Always better to mess up someone else's car than your own
I learned by driving a buddy's car around a Sam's club parking lot a couple times.. Really isn't too hard to figure out. 1-2 shift is supposed to be the toughest, but I got it down quickly. Starting off (going forward) was the hardest part for me. I'd either stall it or burn the clutch about 70% of the time until I finally figure it out. Still had some trouble on hills, that takes a little more practice. For some reason, I was able to figure out backing up the very first time I tried it. Dunno why, but it just came easier than going forward.
When I was on the highway the first time, I tried a 5-4 downshift, and had the car in 2nd at 60mph. Vroooooooom... woops. Quickly pushed the clutch in. If I had been going much faster I coulda really screwed up his car. Seems that the shifters have centering springs that will pull the stick back into the middle of 3-4 when you come out of 1,2, or 5. Didn't know that, so I tried pushing the shifter over to the left more than I needed to. Just something to be aware of I guess.
Oh, yea,
Zaino. Check out the pictures. You'll be convinced. You can order online at
Ecklers, mail order only through Zaino themselves.