Search the Community

The first time I drove an Alfa Romeo, it was a 1.6 147 manual (not selespeed). It was mind-blowing. I've never encountered an engine that respond like that. I am not an Alfa owner, so the word I'd use is only a technical one - it is soooo freaking FREE-REVING. With a foot only slightly heavier than that used for highway 100km/h cruising, I was at 5000-6000 RPM when I thought I was at 3000 RPM to change from 1st gear to 2nd. The RPM is ... gravity-defying! (in a rush to get off traffic light sprint, i accidentally hit the RPM limiter of 7200). And the engine note as the RPMs go up... it's heaven. When alfa owners say 'passion' and 'soul' of driving abt their cars, i think i can understand, i think i know what they're talking abt.. and i can only dream. on Fri 6 Jul, i went to test drive the Civic 1.8. i've heard Honda's MT gear is slick as butter, so i opt for MT first. It is soooo freaking FREE-REVING!! OMG! Exactly like an alfa. i thought i would never feel such an engine outside of alfa.. i was wrong. and the short-shift gear stick .... my gooodness... short, precise. it is better than the alfa! i can rest my elbow on the armrest and it won't affect my gan-cheong "racing" mood. after all the passion has died down, i believe i know what is the secret. (i'm no mechanic) - it is drive-by-wire. See here. [ol][*]the throttle wire tells the ECU[*]ECU takes other aspects into consideration [*]ECU tells engine what to do[/ol]In "normal" cars, step #2 is missing. hence, RPM is limited by "gravity". SE tells me the clutch is also drive-by-wire. it's benefit is that when you clutch-in for a gear change, yr RPM does not drop, it is held there for the 1-2 seconds while u shift the stick. u do not lose speed, u do not lose RPM! ... wah cool! ... Has any alfa owner driven a Civic MT lately?