My +1 was really excited by the Dragon - hauled her CRV around it like a pro. The AWD helped tremendously in the wet, but the spark is lit.

She's never driven a manual. I'm considering a low-mileage Miata or Civic for her to learn on, as I feel like it is too easy to get in to trouble with the S if you are learning.

What would you all recommend in this situation?

thanks,
Dave

 

I have a 2006 Civic Si. I absolutely love it. Its almost as much fun as the S, but its front wheel drive and less trouble prone. The shifter/transmission is almost as good as the S's, and with the window and sunroof open it really feels good.

I use mine as a daily driver. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for something like the S but slightly less.

 

The 2006 SIs are amazingly nice, but probably a little more than we want to spend for a learner car. Also, I think a RWD would be the first RWD she's ever driven - I grew up driving them, so the S felt like coming home, but I do not think she has ever owned/driven a RWD car. If it is practice for a S, wouldn't we want to get her a RWD?

 

Understood. Probably your only real choice is the Miata. Not that its a bad choice at all. If not for the S I'd probably have bought a Miata. I think the second generation is beautiful, and you can probably pick one up for a very reasonable price.

 

If I can throw my two cents in?

With the money that you save by picking up a used Miata. I would highly recommend spending that money on a high performance driving school such as Skip Barber. This money is not only well spent from a fun quoitent. As in getting to drive a Viper. But what she learns there could very well save her life.

I am reminded of this today, because I found out that a business acquaintance of mine daugther was a passenger in a high speed accident the other night on the George Washington Parkway in Washington. There is a time and a place for eveything: 120 MPH on the GW Parkway in a Lexus was not a good choice. Especially with a teen driving.

 

I fully agree with Matt.
And after,start looking around,for a slighty used S2K.

 

And, I'd suggest you look for a color you'd like to drive!!!!!!

Willinathen

 

Miata is a good choice. I don't think the S2000 is that big a deal to learn on, but if you are not comfortable with that, there is nothing wrong with the Miata. If you buy it right, you can sell it in a year and loose almost no value.

 

Or you can drive it for several years and lose very, very little. I was totally shocked at how much my 01 was still worth when I traded up for the 06.
However, if I were just learning to drive a manual transmission, I'd probably be more comfy in a miata. I still think they're very nice little sports cars and very enjoyable. They're smaller (especially interior-wise) than the S, but if its going to be her car and her learning machine, then it makes no difference. There are probably more of them to choose from if you're looking for a used one and you can probably get a good buy. If she really enjoys driving a sports car, then you'd have a trade-in for another S for her.

 

The size and light weight of a Miata makes it a great autocross car. And autocrossing is a fun, safe, and cheap way to learn some good driving skills.