Accord type r family car
Discussion
Hi folks I'm new to this forum so pardon me if I have posted in the wrong area.
I am interested in picking up a motor for myself after having to give my wife my car for a family car (her mini had to go) as we have just had twins 4 months ago. I had a new insignia estate so it will largely be used if the 4 of us need to go out somewhere but I still need to be able to fit 2 car seats into my car (when I get one) so when she is at work I would be able to pick the kids up from the nursery/childminder when we get that sorted. Can anyone give me any advice as to how realistic it is to use an ATR for my needs? I have never driven one and trying to test drive one isnt that easy as I'm in N.Ireland and there aren't a huge number for sale so I may be trying to buy blind. Any advice would be warmly received.
I am interested in picking up a motor for myself after having to give my wife my car for a family car (her mini had to go) as we have just had twins 4 months ago. I had a new insignia estate so it will largely be used if the 4 of us need to go out somewhere but I still need to be able to fit 2 car seats into my car (when I get one) so when she is at work I would be able to pick the kids up from the nursery/childminder when we get that sorted. Can anyone give me any advice as to how realistic it is to use an ATR for my needs? I have never driven one and trying to test drive one isnt that easy as I'm in N.Ireland and there aren't a huge number for sale so I may be trying to buy blind. Any advice would be warmly received.
http://cars.donedeal.ie/find/cars/for-sale/Ireland...
I'm sure the ATR is a 5 seater as most type r's were 4 seater, but still should be isofix friendly.... but rear seatbacks don't split and fold according to brochure.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/63416089@N06/collect...
I'm sure the ATR is a 5 seater as most type r's were 4 seater, but still should be isofix friendly.... but rear seatbacks don't split and fold according to brochure.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/63416089@N06/collect...
Yep no folding rear seats on the Type R as there is a bulkhead between them and the boot (unlike the standard model). I find it severely hampers carrying larger items as anything has to either go in the boot (which to be fair is huge) or in the cabin. By way of comparison we fitted all kinds of things in my mate's Clio 182- dish washer, washing machine, tumble dryer, ladders etc- none of which would fit in my Accord Type R... We had to collect some 2.4 meter decking planks and I fitted just 7 into my Accord, while the other 34 went into his Clio no problem.
Obviously if you don't think you will ever be carrying larger loads then this might not be an issue, and as I said the boot itself really is huge- you can get loads in there, it just doesn't offer the capability for carrying big individual items that a hatchback does.
I can't comment on the Isofix but the back seats are certainly spacious- as you would expect from a 4 door saloon, and both rear doors have an easily switchable (with the door open) child lock. I've done several 150+ mile trips with two adults in the back plus luggage with no complaints.
Aside from the non-folding rear seats it is still a 4-door saloon so does make a pretty good family car. Find out one with air-con and the optional arm rest and it is even a comfy place to spend long journeys, the front Recaros are superb.
Also, unlike my previous DC2 Integra, the Accord Type R is actually a surprisingly pleasant car to drive 'off' of V-tec. The extra torque you get from the 2.2l, whilst not loads, does make a huge difference to the way it drives when you aren't driving it at 9 tenths. And when you are out on your own to enjoy yourself, you get one of the best FWD drivers cars ever made, with incredibly focused steering (I would even argue better than the DC2) and a superb soundtrack.
Fuel economy (something I assume you are at least considering if you have a family!) is similarly variable depending how you drive it. I can get everything from 28-30mpg on a normal drive with no V-Tec use, right down to low teens when enjoying it.
It definitely does the two-cars-in-one thing very well for me. I use it as my daily car so it does the work commute, trips over to my girlfriend, the shopping run, trips to the tip, it carries tools, passengers, the lot. But it also provides a heck of a lot of fun when I am out to enjoy it, and with a K&N Typhoon & Mongoose exhaust it makes an incredible noise too
Obviously if you don't think you will ever be carrying larger loads then this might not be an issue, and as I said the boot itself really is huge- you can get loads in there, it just doesn't offer the capability for carrying big individual items that a hatchback does.
I can't comment on the Isofix but the back seats are certainly spacious- as you would expect from a 4 door saloon, and both rear doors have an easily switchable (with the door open) child lock. I've done several 150+ mile trips with two adults in the back plus luggage with no complaints.
Aside from the non-folding rear seats it is still a 4-door saloon so does make a pretty good family car. Find out one with air-con and the optional arm rest and it is even a comfy place to spend long journeys, the front Recaros are superb.
Also, unlike my previous DC2 Integra, the Accord Type R is actually a surprisingly pleasant car to drive 'off' of V-tec. The extra torque you get from the 2.2l, whilst not loads, does make a huge difference to the way it drives when you aren't driving it at 9 tenths. And when you are out on your own to enjoy yourself, you get one of the best FWD drivers cars ever made, with incredibly focused steering (I would even argue better than the DC2) and a superb soundtrack.
Fuel economy (something I assume you are at least considering if you have a family!) is similarly variable depending how you drive it. I can get everything from 28-30mpg on a normal drive with no V-Tec use, right down to low teens when enjoying it.
It definitely does the two-cars-in-one thing very well for me. I use it as my daily car so it does the work commute, trips over to my girlfriend, the shopping run, trips to the tip, it carries tools, passengers, the lot. But it also provides a heck of a lot of fun when I am out to enjoy it, and with a K&N Typhoon & Mongoose exhaust it makes an incredible noise too
I've been running an FD2 CTR as a daily for 2 years, we've got one son now 3y.o. Very stiff ride aside, it's been just fine as a 'family car'...so I'd imagine an ATR will be a great compromise.
FD2 dimensions are pretty similar to the ATR, and ours has been fine - boot is big enough for 99% of things, only missed the rear-seat folding on a couple of occasions (and Becs has a Golf anyway), rear legroom is better than a 3-series so it works for rear- and front-facing child seats without making the front passenger seat unusable.
Re: ISOFIX - don't worry about it - it's not intrinsically safer than a belted-in seat*, it's just that ISOFIX is much more difficult to install wrongly. We've got belted Gp-1 seats now in both of our cars.
Only thing I'd check is what the rear seat cushions are like - FD2's are quite 'scalloped' - they've noticeable side bolsters as it's a 4-seater, rather than a bench - limited our choices to narrow-base child seats, but we've found an affordable Maxi-Cosi that fits nicely.
* And different seats have different impact characteristics anyway...
FD2 dimensions are pretty similar to the ATR, and ours has been fine - boot is big enough for 99% of things, only missed the rear-seat folding on a couple of occasions (and Becs has a Golf anyway), rear legroom is better than a 3-series so it works for rear- and front-facing child seats without making the front passenger seat unusable.
Re: ISOFIX - don't worry about it - it's not intrinsically safer than a belted-in seat*, it's just that ISOFIX is much more difficult to install wrongly. We've got belted Gp-1 seats now in both of our cars.
Only thing I'd check is what the rear seat cushions are like - FD2's are quite 'scalloped' - they've noticeable side bolsters as it's a 4-seater, rather than a bench - limited our choices to narrow-base child seats, but we've found an affordable Maxi-Cosi that fits nicely.
* And different seats have different impact characteristics anyway...
Hi
Still looking for some feedback? I owned an ATR for 4 years a while ago before moving on to the JDM FD2. It started life as a car for me and ended up being a family car without any issues.
From memory the rear middle seat is not really a seat, but you'll have no issue getting a baby seat in the back.
They only have 5 gears (which seems an odd concept now) but this never caused me any issues at the time, the 5th gear is rather long from memory so motorway cruising isn't a problem. Look out for cars with AC - this was an option.
They are super comfy and great to drive, the H22 is a great engine both on the high and low cam.
Most seem high milers these days - check for 5th gear syncro probs on pre-facelift models (crunching between gears), and when the timing belt was last changed.
The Accord R forum is a good place to gather knowledge and they also have cars for sale.
Still looking for some feedback? I owned an ATR for 4 years a while ago before moving on to the JDM FD2. It started life as a car for me and ended up being a family car without any issues.
From memory the rear middle seat is not really a seat, but you'll have no issue getting a baby seat in the back.
They only have 5 gears (which seems an odd concept now) but this never caused me any issues at the time, the 5th gear is rather long from memory so motorway cruising isn't a problem. Look out for cars with AC - this was an option.
They are super comfy and great to drive, the H22 is a great engine both on the high and low cam.
Most seem high milers these days - check for 5th gear syncro probs on pre-facelift models (crunching between gears), and when the timing belt was last changed.
The Accord R forum is a good place to gather knowledge and they also have cars for sale.
I ran one too whilst mine was 3-5 ish. Great car , plenty of space . No folding seats but loads of room otherwise, main problem with the interior is that its Alcantara and easily marks and a child seat can ruin it. Not to mention ground in rusks or whatever.
Make sure the aircon is working too , not the strongest of systems and alot do not have it .
Make sure the aircon is working too , not the strongest of systems and alot do not have it .
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