Yeah I fully use the lever to control what gear I am in with my auto box.

I get told I drive my auto like a manual - in the sense of I decide at what revs I'll let the tranny go up a gear. Of course I don't always do this... but once in a while.

I haven't received my civic yet, but could someone let me know what slots you have on the fd1 with auto (i.e is it 1,2,3,D,R,P?). Also is there a hold button? My festiva with auto box has a hold button that seems to force the tranny to use a gear lower than it normally would use - or maybe that it wont shift up when revs go higher. For example on 2, after I push the hold button the revs jump up... and it feels like it must have gone to a lower gear.