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I bought a manual '98 civic not too long ago. I'm pretty happy with it but have been slightly disappointed with the MPG. Everyone was telling me I'd get 35+ MPG highway.

This is the real-life result I've gotten:
1. 200 mile trips between Utah and Idaho @ 80mph: 30 MPG.
2. Roughly 50/50 city/highway mix in the Salt Lake City area: 27 MPG.

When I drive I'm conservative and conscious of economy, but don't use in any techniques like pulse and glide or anything.
Is this normal? I just expected a little better. I guess 80mph is pretty quick.

 
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Yes 80 mph is pretty quick if your concerned about mileage.

You can't just expect a car to get good mileage on it's own...

 
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normal for a 20 year old car,

your expectations were unreasonable and too high

 
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Did you just buy the car? Winter blend gas does not help. Tires inflated properly?

 
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you'll get way better mileage driving at 65 rather than 80

 
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I have only had the car for a few tanks of gas but in my highway and city experience (mixed) I am getting about 27.5mpg combined which includes a lot of idle time. I have the AT, not the MT though.

 
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I was in the same boat, and even after 5 years of owning my 99 Automatic LX I'm still doing small things here and there to try and improve my MPG. I get roughly 30mpg with about 70% of my time spent going 75-80mph.

How many miles are on your car? Like someone already said, it's probably normal for our 20-year-old cars.

 
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I put a little over 1000 miles on my car in the since the beginning of the year when I started driving it. It now has close to 76,000. I am actually closer to mid 28'MPGs now.

 
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Biggest thing you can do is to slow down.

I used to drive from sw fla to east Tennessee and doing 70-75 mph I'd get tanks of 38-39 mpg. Around town that moves up cause Of the speed limits and I use the hills to keep a light foot on the gas pedal.

 
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I think the mileage you are getting is pretty normal and decent.

Things that might improve this:

as many others said, a slower speed will show improvement on mileage

tire pressure could improve mileage

I notice when I replaced my tired old shocks, replaced upper control arms, front suspension, new tires (all done together) my overall MPG went up noticeably for me. I had a pretty sloppy steering and ride before that, so it was no surprise really

replacing all the old gaskets that were leaking, such as valve cover, oil pan, etc also helped gas mileage

I'd be pretty happy with the mileage you got for a 20 year old car.

 
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update - summer is here and I am getting 33-34 mpg now.