Honda 2009 Civic Coupe Owner's Manual page 287

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Manual Transmission
When slowing down, you can get
extra braking from the engine by
shifting to a lower gear. This extra
braking can help you maintain a safe
speed and prevent your brakes from
overheating while going down a
steep hill. Before downshifting,
make sure the engine speed will not
go into the tachometer's red zone in
the lower gear.
Rapid slowing or speeding up
can cause loss of control on
slippery surfaces. If you crash,
you can be injured.
Use extra care when driving on
slippery surfaces.
On Si model
Your vehicle is equipped with an
aluminum shift lever. If you leave the
vehicle parked outside for a long
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time on a hot day, be careful before
moving the shift lever. Because of
the heat, the shift lever may be
extremely hot. If the outside
temperature is low, the shift lever
feels cold.
Recommended Shift Points
Drive in the highest gear that lets
the engine run and accelerate
smoothly. This will give you good
fuel economy and effective
emissions control. The following
shift points are recommended:
On models with 5-speed manual
transmission
Shift up
1st to 2nd
2nd to 3rd
3rd to 4th
4th to 5th
2009 Civic Coupe
Normal acceleration
15 mph (24 km/h)
27 mph (43 km/h)
39 mph (63 km/h)
53 mph (85 km/h)
On models with 6-speed manual
transmission
Shift up Normal acceleration
1st to 2nd 17 mph (27 km/h)
2nd to 3rd 29 mph (47 km/h)
3rd to 4th 37 mph (60 km/h)
4th to 5th 43 mph (69 km/h)
5th to 6th 49 mph (79 km/h)