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| For drivers who only have experience with automatic transmissions, taking a step into the world of manual driving can be as exciting as it is scary. |
The Event
A sunny day standing in a large, empty parking lot with an amusement park as the backdrop definitely sets an interesting tone, yet it's the two race car drivers and the six new rides that stirs the stomach.
The concept of the event is to teach “newbies” about manual driving, and to act as a refresher for those who have previous experience using a vehicle with a clutch. This includes the “what“ and “how“ of a manual transmission - what it is and how it works – as well as safety matters and concerns, such as controlled handling while driving.
It’s also an opportunity to test two new Honda vehicles: the 2013 Civic HFP and Accord HFP. The instructors for this event were Sylvain Champoux, a former race car driver for Formula and Touring circuits, and Daniel Morad, race car driver and winner of the World Karting Association (WKA) Manufacturers Championship.
Most other journalists that attended this event are regular test car drivers that can drive a MT vehicle with such ease that driving an automatic just seems lazy.
Press that clutch!
The base of my experience and knowledge in driving a MT vehicle derives from time spent in a Mini Cooper S, which is by all means fun, yet by no means easy. The clutch on the Mini seems best accustomed to more experienced drivers – which I am not.
Lifting your foot slowly off the Cooper's clutch is like pushing back a tsunami with a glass window. You practically have to do a leg workout at the gym before battling this small car without toasting the engine.
For the event, my first test car was the Civic HFP, which is an even more performance-oriented Civic Si. The HFP stands for Honda Factory Performance, and has additional features such as a sport suspension, Michelin Pilot Super Sport Tires, several spoilers and 18-inch alloy wheels, just to name a few.
The Honda Civic HFP was a breeze, and lifting your foot from the pedal was like waving your hand through the air in comparison to the Cooper S. The car itself is quite comfortable to drive, easy to manoeuvre and very smooth – much like the second test car, the Accord HFP.
Shift and go
The experienced drivers simply jumped into the car and sped off, shifting through all the gears (vehicles offer a six-speed) and obviously enjoyed the new additions to the car.
Starting, stopping and shifting through 2-3 gears was the highlight of my morning. Champoux, my instructor, carefully guided me into moving more smoothly through the turns and easing in and out of stops without shutting down the engine. He also reviewed with me what to do when on an incline (or slight hill) so that the car does not roll backwards.
Apparently, an interesting moment will be when the car is on a hill and the driver is waiting to turn left at a red light. To be seen.
Feel the clutch, feel the shift
For beginners, the HFP versions of the Civic and Accord are a joy when learning to drive manual, and made easier of course by having an instructor like Champoux. He was able to guide me through the entire process and make a decent manual driver out of me in three hours.
A proper instructor makes all the difference when learning to drive, yet the clutch and the vehicle itself made it possible for me to finally `feel` that moment when you fully release the clutch and press on the gas. Once your body remembers this feeling, there`s no going back.
Eventually I`ll battle the Mini again, but for now, practice makes perfect and the Honda Civic is my ticket to the next ride.
Fact File:
2013 Honda Civic HFP
Suggested retail price: $28,890
Available units in Canada: 400
Available transmissions: MT only
Additional features:
- Front Underbody Spoiler
- Rear Underbody Spoiler
- Side Underbody Spoiler
- HFP branded Floor Mats
- HFP Side Badge
- HFP Rear Badge
- 18" Alloy Wheels
- Michelin Pilot Super Sport Tires 45/40R18
- Sport Suspension
Suggested retail price: $38,290
Available units in Canada: 240
Available transmissions: AT/MT (50/50 split)
Additional features:
- Front Underbody Spoiler
- Rear Underbody Spoiler
- Side Underbody Spoiler
- Deck Lid Spoiler
- HFP branded Floor Mats
- HFP Side Badge
- HFP Rear Badge
- 19" SBC Alloy Wheel
- Michelin Pilot Super Sport Tires 245/40R19
- Sport Suspension
http://www.autonet.ca/en/2013/06/06/honda-takes-us-to-la-ronde-to-try-its-new-hfp-rides
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