New Civic Type R - £30k??

[James75]

Agree with Brenbo - absolutely.


The problem with so much 'bold design' in cars is that it does date, remember the Astra GTE in the 1980's and it's LCD dash?     

VW has done well to be 'conservative' - ultimately all bold and daring styling dates quickly and VW has done well to gradually evolve it's cars and in turn the brand.  Every incarnation of the Golf has its fans and whilst looking similar or connected, keeps it's own identity and its following.

In 2016 or 2017 - there will be  anew Civic, possibly it will look completely different to this one and then this when will be pretty much forgotten.


James

[James75]

I think most of the vents turned out to be fake didn't they?

[Hawaii-Five-O]

Let me start by saying I don't like this car.

The problem with the current Civic is that it's fugly to start with. Once you start adding massive spoilers, rear wings, plastic wheel arches and the like its got no chance. All that extra plastic makes it look like an aftermarket hobbyist has been tinkering away in his shed. And not in a good way.

In terms of looks these sorts of cars are not for me, Focus RS's, Evo's, Impreza WRX etc.. too loud and lary for my taste. That's why I admire just how subtle the Golf R looks for all its performance and power. Quite bold of VW's designers but they know their audience. Still would have liked to have seen twin central exhausts (like Mk5 R32 and Mk6 R) instead of the uninspiring trend for quad pipes. It's too much for a 2 litre four pot. Twin centrals marked it out as an 'Racing' model in my eyes. If you're driving a 6.75 litre V8 twin turbo 500 bhp AMG then maybe you can get away with quad pipes 

[andrewparker]

VW has done well to be 'conservative' - ultimately all bold and daring styling dates quickly and VW has done well to gradually evolve it's cars and in turn the brand. Every incarnation of the Golf has its fans and whilst looking similar or connected, keeps it's own identity and its following.

True, but a lot of people think they're incredibly bland, myself included. There is nothing daring or brave about the way VW designs cars, which is a shame. The Golf R in particular has been almost universally praised for it's performance, but to look at it's as boring as it gets. Honda have designed a car with a singular purpose with the looks to match, and perhaps understandably VW buyers can't comprehend that. Subtlety has it's place, but is that place really a 300bhp hot hatch?

[CraigW]

VW has done well to be 'conservative' - ultimately all bold and daring styling dates quickly and VW has done well to gradually evolve it's cars and in turn the brand. Every incarnation of the Golf has its fans and whilst looking similar or connected, keeps it's own identity and its following.

True, but a lot of people think they're incredibly bland, myself included. There is nothing daring or brave about the way VW designs cars, which is a shame. The Golf R in particular has been almost universally praised for it's performance, but to look at it's as boring as it gets. Honda have designed a car with a singular purpose with the looks to match, and perhaps understandably VW buyers can't comprehend that. Subtlety has it's place, but is that place really a 300bhp hot hatch?

Completely agree. There's no doubt that the R is a fantastic car to drive but the looks are incredibly sterile and uninspiring. A hothatch imo should be screaming 'look at me'. It can be done in a tasteful way but VW could certainly have tried harder and made it look and sound more aggressive.   

[dubber36]

Subtlety has it's place, but is that place really a 300bhp hot hatch?

Why not? For those who like to make progress under the radar, the .:R is the perfect car with few compromises. For other stealthy alternatives there are really only sports saloons, but then you are in another price bracket.

There is a wide array of hot hatches for sale, from look at me shouty, to hardly noticeable to choose from. For people that want the brashness, I'd suggest they look elsewhere. 

[CraigW]

Subtlety has it's place, but is that place really a 300bhp hot hatch?

Why not? For those who like to make progress under the radar, the .:R is the perfect car with few compromises. For other stealthy alternatives there are really only sports saloons, but then you are in another price bracket.

There is a wide array of hot hatches for sale, from look at me shouty, to hardly noticeable to choose from. For people that want the brashness, I'd suggest they look elsewhere.

R400?

[wigit]

had this debate at the car clinic i went to with a young wannabe hipster in his liquid yellow Megane RS bought for its 0-60, ring prowess and its shouty looks, i then pointed out in the traffic light grand prix he would be toasted

under the radar suits me, given my profession i do not think the brash sits well and they would think some crisis was occurring

having had one of those family emergency calls this week i was very grateful for the understated R

in fairness the GTI has always been wonderfully understated

[Booth11]

Why not? For those who like to make progress under the radar, the .:R is the perfect car with few compromises. For other stealthy alternatives there are really only sports saloons, but then you are in another price bracket.

There is a wide array of hot hatches for sale, from look at me shouty, to hardly noticeable to choose from. For people that want the brashness, I'd suggest they look elsewhere.

Absolutely why not? 

I can appreciate 'shouty, look at me hot hatches' and actually have a bit of a soft spot for them for what they are, but do I want to drive one?  No.  Do I want to drive a hatch that doesn't compromise on performance but is otherwise subtle, understated, and in many ways classless. Yes.

Performance aside, it's a question of what image you wish to portray.

[James75]

VW has done well to be 'conservative' - ultimately all bold and daring styling dates quickly and VW has done well to gradually evolve it's cars and in turn the brand. Every incarnation of the Golf has its fans and whilst looking similar or connected, keeps it's own identity and its following.

True, but a lot of people think they're incredibly bland, myself included. There is nothing daring or brave about the way VW designs cars, which is a shame. The Golf R in particular has been almost universally praised for it's performance, but to look at it's as boring as it gets. Honda have designed a car with a singular purpose with the looks to match, and perhaps understandably VW buyers can't comprehend that. Subtlety has it's place, but is that place really a 300bhp hot hatch?

I don't think I really explained myself in the post - what I meant is that VW has built it's reputation/heritage ons styling that evolves rather than makes giant leaps - having brands like Seat under its umbrella means this can be left to other brands.

I agree - styling is bland at times - for example as a former VW T5 California owner, I find the new VW T6 a complete let down.

Vw sell a lot on heritage - you buy into the Golf, the Beetle is a classic etc etc - buy a VW California and they trip over themselves to mention their camper heritage.   When they launch a new car - they mention that, this is the such and such generation.  That heritage in part is fostered and maintained by design that evolves.   

The hot hatch market is crowded - I applaud Honda for building the Civic as they have, there has to be a place within a crowded segment for different takes on a similar recipe.   

But i don't like it - not because I am a VW owner/buyer and I can't comprehend, I just don't like it, I think the Civic itself is an awful design, for example the high set heavy waist which makes the wheels look tiny.   This is made worse on the Type R - the type of car you really don't want the wheels to look tiny.

I find the R - in the metal - a far more handsome vehicle, there is a sense of class about it, which I find on the GTI's and GTD's - they have a confidence because they are not shouty, and that appeals.   But I don't want every warm/hot hyper hatch to look the same and I think it's great each car maker can inject some personality and difference into these cars, what's right for one, won't be right for another and that's how it should be.

James