Just got a car! Hope I didn't mess up. '97 Civic Coupe

[cxskate]

I couldn't find the HX though, and ended up with an EX.. Did I mess up? HA

[PaleMelanesian]

Not bad. The HX is best, CX/DX/LX next, then EX. At least you didn't get an Si. A little pulse-and-glide can overcome the gear ratio difference between yours and the others. (yours runs slightly higher rpm)

[cxskate]

Nice. Maybe I Should disable the v-tec somehow, and the power steering? Do the mirror change to internal and?

[PaleMelanesian]

VTEC only kicks in (yo!) at higher rpm. If you're driving for efficiency you'll never get there anyway. The benefit of variable valve timing is you get two settings, one for low rpm and one for high speed. You get more power up top, and more torque down low, in the same engine.

What kind of driving do you do? City or Highway? That makes a difference what mods and/or techniques would be best for you.

[cxskate]

We'll I'll be making a 1500 mile trip, then some city and some 30 mile freeway trips, I think.

[PaleMelanesian]

Auto or manual?

Keep the speed down.
Shift into neutral for any downhill slopes.
If manual, shift early into top gear, keeping low rpm.

[cxskate]

Manual, still need to learn pulse and glide, but that's just down hills right?

[PaleMelanesian]

p&g is good anywhere, but to keep things simple just power up the hills and coast down.

Get a scangauge or ultragauge. It will help you know what is and isn't working. Without that, it's easy to get p&g wrong and end up with worse mpg than steady speed.