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Car Report: 2014 Honda Civic SI Coupe is fun to drive, with a rare manual transmission

By Mike Parris

WASHINGTON — I drove the reworked 2014 Civic Sedan a few months ago, and found it much improved from the previous model, putting it on equal ground with its rivals. And Honda applied those same fixes to the Coupe.

The Coupe’s interior materials are better than before; the loud ride is also gone. I took the car on several trips and had normal conversations — something I couldn’t have done with the last Civic. The front seats on the Civic SI are comfortable, but firm, and they do a decent job of holding you in place while carving up a back road.

The two-tier dash is still a little strange to me, but it does seem to make the car feel roomier and more open. The rear seats are best served for children or for short trips. The seven-inch screen is a welcome addition, and helps when used with the rearview camera. My model was also equipped with NAV, which worked well, but can be touchy when entering information.

I drove the sporty Civic SI, which has a fully loaded price tag of $25,280. It comes with a more powerful, high-revving four-cylinder engine good for 205 hp. It’s a true gift for manual transmission lovers — no CVT automatic here. The SI only comes with a six-speed manual.

The clutch is light and has great feedback, so you won’t have any jerky starts when leaving a stop light. The shifter feels nice in your hands, and it slides from gear to gear. This is really one of the better manual transmissions I have ever used. The engine is very good as well — it really loves to rev and doesn’t sound bad doing it.

A good transmission and nice engine are great, but if it doesn’t handle, what’s the point? Luckily, Honda spent some time on the SI’s handling, and it really paid off. The suspension is firmer than other Civics, and it’s tuned to make turns without being too firm or tiring on trips. It’s a nice combination. But if you’re looking for very soft ride, the Civic SI isn’t for you.

I found it to be a good-handling little car, and really good for front-wheel drive. The Civic SI seemed to have just enough power to get you in trouble. The optional summer tires work well for handling and braking. The large 18-inch wheels help the Civic’s looks and took the bumps of city driving well — no jarring ride here.

It’s not the fastest sporty coupe I’ve driven, but it’s a very good all-around sports coupe. You can drive it every day and not get tired of it. It’s good on fuel economy as well: 22 mpg city and 31 mpg highway. After 292 miles, I managed 29.2 mpg of mixed driving; not bad at all, although you need to use premium fuel.

The 2014 Honda Civic SI coupe, with its manual transmission, is a blast to drive, and with improved handling and a better interior, the Civic SI is now a civilized sports coupe. If two doors aren’t enough, the Civic SI comes in a four-door version too. Enjoy shifting for yourself while you still can.

Mike Parris is a member of the Washington Automotive Press Association. The vehicles are provided by STI, FMI or Event Solutions for the purpose of this review. Follow @WTOP on Twitter and WTOP on Facebook.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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