New Civic Type R - £30k??

[dubber36]

I got to have a good look round and have a ride in one of these yesterday. I wasn't able to drive it as it's Honda's test mule, but got a pretty good feel about what it's all about from the passenger seat.

One thing is for sure, it's fast. This particular car produced 350 horsepower, whereas the version on sale makes 310. They are looking to produce a model with the power upgrade in the future, so this car is running data logging modules so that they can see if it will last the test of time. Being fast isn't all that tho'. I know that Shaun can pedal a car, but he was really having to fight the torque steer. Pick a line through a sweeping bend, keep it nailed and the grip is phenomenal, but try to adjust things when the suspension is loaded up, and it gets very twitchy. Applying more lock causes the expected understeer and a slight lift will really lighten the rear. It is extremely finely balanced. All of this was in 'R' mode, which sharpens the throttle response and makes the suspension rock hard and very bouncy on the road. This really is a car that's been designed for the track.

The looks are very subjective. The build quality looks good, with tight panel gaps and a reassuring thunk when the doors close, but look a bit closer under the surface and you'll find fixings and plastic moldings that the Japanese where using on cars in the 80's. It's comedy exhaust also made me chuckle. There is a 60ish mm pipe from the turbo that runs through silencers in the usual way to the rear 'axle' it then splits into 2 pipes with a Y section to each side, then tucked up under the diffuser, these modest single pipes connect into the sort of huge twin tail pipes that you's buy from Halfords. I know a lot of cars are like this, but you can see it through the rear wheel arches.

Inside it's Japanese business as usual. The seats are extremely supportive and pretty comfortable, although I'm not sure how they'd feel after 200 miles. The spec level was reasonably high, but this car was the £33k GT spec. As others have mentioned, the £30k standard car is somewhat lacking in creature comforts.

Shaun is a year older that me (I'm 45) and agreed that is is not the sort of car he could live with every day. He gets a company car and will be offered one due to his position, but he said it would not be for him. A weekend now and again maybe, but that's about it. It's target market is those aged between 25 and 35. The sort of people that must have the latest label regardless of what it's actually like, Which just about says it all to me.

[Booth11]

^^
Nice write up 

[Exonian]

agreed ^^^

They've gone all out to outperform the Leon Cupra Sub 8 but completely lost all subtlety. Obviously they're aiming for the sleeve tattoo and baseball cap generation (those sleeves that will date sooooo badly in a few years just like the Civic will) which is good as there's a big market out there (worldwide) and everyone has different wants and needs.

Unfortunately for me I'm slightly older than Shaun too so this car is a no no for me on all levels, but I do respect the tech behind it.

I think it's pipe and slippers for me next time round. A beige Skoda Rapid "not quite an estate or hatchback" is calling me...

[Booth11]

I think it's pipe and slippers for me next time round. A beige Skoda Rapid "not quite an estate or hatchback" is calling me...

I'll believe it when I see it 

[GTI_Ant]

agreed ^^^

They've gone all out to outperform the Leon Cupra Sub 8 but completely lost all subtlety. Obviously they're aiming for the sleeve tattoo and baseball cap generation (those sleeves that will date sooooo badly in a few years just like the Civic will) which is good as there's a big market out there (worldwide) and everyone has different wants and needs.

Unfortunately for me I'm slightly older than Shaun too so this car is a no no for me on all levels, but I do respect the tech behind it.

I think it's pipe and slippers for me next time round. A beige Skoda Rapid "not quite an estate or hatchback" is calling me...

Don't worry about needing the Rapid.  I can fit my rocking chair in the back of my GTI with the rear seats folded, and the pipe goes in one of the under seat drawers.  The spare teeth go nicely in the space under the front armrest.  When I test drove a GT86 before buying my Golf the salesman said he'd recently sold one to an 86 year old trading in his old Celica.

[wigit]

Absolutely superb review of the Type R and matches my suspicions

The joys of the ring lap time, for me a car that laps there swiftly in this class is probably for me doesn't have the damping i'd like on a road.

I remember how much stiffening my B16s needed there on the Ed35

New pics of the Clubsport GTI look interesting though

I now a few people who run GT86s, great social scene and always out on track, pure handling maybe but oh so slow, next sprint I'm taking my Polo to see if i can scalp one or two

[Exonian]

agreed ^^^

They've gone all out to outperform the Leon Cupra Sub 8 but completely lost all subtlety. Obviously they're aiming for the sleeve tattoo and baseball cap generation (those sleeves that will date sooooo badly in a few years just like the Civic will) which is good as there's a big market out there (worldwide) and everyone has different wants and needs.

Unfortunately for me I'm slightly older than Shaun too so this car is a no no for me on all levels, but I do respect the tech behind it.

I think it's pipe and slippers for me next time round. A beige Skoda Rapid "not quite an estate or hatchback" is calling me...

Don't worry about needing the Rapid.  I can fit my rocking chair in the back of my GTI with the rear seats folded, and the pipe goes in one of the under seat drawers.  The spare teeth go nicely in the space under the front armrest. 

You're talking my language Ant! 

[am1w]

I think it would look best in Black.

If only that huge rear spoiler could be chopped off, the red accents on the wheels removed, the excessive red on the steering removed, less red and more black on the seats, an auto box instead of manual, a multilink rear suspension instead of the crappy torsion beam, 4WD instead of wheel spinning FWD, better interior plastics, a slightly softer suspension for real world use, a better Sat Nav ....... then it would be an ok car.

Now what cars does that remind you of?

[drisser]

The civic clearly appeals to quite a few people though..

Just read in autocar it's now sold out until Feb 2016 !!

[am1w]

Hopefully the thieves will now move their attention from the R to the Type R. Those four extra letters will make all the difference. They are welcome to that ugly mutt.