The new type r - is it a sales flop?

[greenarrow]

JockySteer said:

k-ink said:

I am not suprised. I don't particularly like any of the middle of the road new age hatches. You either get a hideously tacky chavs Halfords dream, or a dull unreliable German box. The only thing which sits in between an accountant and Ali-G is the Audi RS3. Unfortunately all the tests say it drives like crap. So there is nothing left. Unless you like Jelly mould Frenchies.

No they don't - The majority say it doesn't live up to expectations on track against other hot hatches. 99% will be driven only on road rather than track and they are absolutely monstrous on the road.

Monstrous on the road, but not as good as the AMG45 according to my cope of EVO and not worth the huge additional purchase price over a Golf R, which is also monstrous on the road.

The only medium size hot hatch out there currently on sale that I actually want to own is the Megane. I like the pre-face lift early model and don't think its a jelly mould frenchie at all. Its a proper hard core drivers car with no compromises.

Below that size of hot hatch it would be a Fiesta ST with Mountune pack every day of the week. Before the Megane I was most tempted by the EP3 Civic. Uncomplicated high revving fun.

[rb5er]

The Megane just looks so plain though.

[EDLT]

mp3manager said:

You've just described my perfect car.....a Jazz/Fit Type R.

I've always wondered why Honda didn't make one of those. Fast Polos, Fiestas, Corsas and Clios have sold fairly well for years.

[lord trumpton]

rb5er said:

The Megane just looks so plain though.

And loses money like a pissed scouser on ladies day

[JockySteer]

greenarrow said:

JockySteer said:

k-ink said:

I am not suprised. I don't particularly like any of the middle of the road new age hatches. You either get a hideously tacky chavs Halfords dream, or a dull unreliable German box. The only thing which sits in between an accountant and Ali-G is the Audi RS3. Unfortunately all the tests say it drives like crap. So there is nothing left. Unless you like Jelly mould Frenchies.

No they don't - The majority say it doesn't live up to expectations on track against other hot hatches. 99% will be driven only on road rather than track and they are absolutely monstrous on the road.

Monstrous on the road, but not as good as the AMG45 according to my cope of EVO and not worth the huge additional purchase price over a Golf R, which is also monstrous on the road.

The only medium size hot hatch out there currently on sale that I actually want to own is the Megane. I like the pre-face lift early model and don't think its a jelly mould frenchie at all. Its a proper hard core drivers car with no compromises.

Below that size of hot hatch it would be a Fiesta ST with Mountune pack every day of the week. Before the Megane I was most tempted by the EP3 Civic. Uncomplicated high revving fun.

That's because those cars are better in Evo's opinion, much like other people's. Doesn't mean it drives like crap, which is what I was responding to.

Having owned a Megane 250 Cup for 18 months, I can vouch for that and much much more.

As for the EP3 Civic, shame they aren't all piled up and put on a bonfire.

[JockySteer]

lord trumpton said:

rb5er said:

The Megane just looks so plain though.

And loses money like a pissed scouser on ladies day

You don't buy a Renault/RenaultSport for resale values though, do you?

[Butter Face]

JockySteer said:

As for the EP3 Civic, shame they aren't all piled up and put on a bonfire.

Errrr, why?

[DS197]

Butter Face said:

JockySteer said:

As for the EP3 Civic, shame they aren't all piled up and put on a bonfire.

Errrr, why?

Maybe because it's the most boring looking hot hatch ever released. I mean it's like they didn't bother putting in any effort to make it look half decent

[Butter Face]

DS197 said:

Butter Face said:

JockySteer said:

As for the EP3 Civic, shame they aren't all piled up and put on a bonfire.

Errrr, why?

Maybe because it's the most boring looking hot hatch ever released. I mean it's like they didn't bother putting in any effort to make it look half decent

I guess beauty is in the eye and all that.

I mean it's not like the Clio 182, Golf GTI (mk4), Audi S3 are exactly exciting looking are they? All from the same era, all pretty 'boring' looking IMO along with the EP3.

And if you judge got hatches by the looks, you're missing the point IMO.

[lord trumpton]

JockySteer said:

lord trumpton said:

rb5er said:

The Megane just looks so plain though.

And loses money like a pissed scouser on ladies day

You don't buy a Renault/RenaultSport for resale values though, do you?

I always avoid cars that lose money fast. I try to buy into niche cars or older appreciating classics.

Inevitably most purchases tend to be used like my most recent - a 968 sport. Bought for good money and it's value is on the up. I'm married so losing lots of money due to my car buying obsession can cause 'friction' at times

[Pixelpeep7r]

EDLT said:

mp3manager said:

You've just described my perfect car.....a Jazz/Fit Type R.

I've always wondered why Honda didn't make one of those. Fast Polos, Fiestas, Corsas and Clios have sold fairly well for years.

Me too... a nice 1.6/1.8 vtec lump with 160bhp ish would have suited that jazz a treat

[JockySteer]

Butter Face said:

JockySteer said:

As for the EP3 Civic, shame they aren't all piled up and put on a bonfire.

Errrr, why?

Horrible little cars. That f'ing Vtec - I simply don't care about them.

[AH33]

JockySteer said:

Horrible little cars. That f'ing Vtec - I simply don't care about them.

Not caring about them isn't the same as putting them all on a bonfire.

eg. I dont like SLKs, but the fact that they exist doesn't bother me.

[LaurasOtherHalf]

LaurasOtherHalf said:

Well thanks to this thread, I've just completed a 1200 mile running in of the car I picked up on Tuesday including two full days of open pit lane at Nürburgring & Spa.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=1592441

Readers Cars thread now up and running detailing our adventures with the car

[lord trumpton]

So I've been to look at and test drive one over the last couple of days.

The one I drove was blue and admittedly looked pretty tasty. I took my golf ed30 that has an APR remap on and producing around 300hp so I could compare very quickly the differences in the driving experience.

The Honda was a heck of a lot more taught and felt very stable and very keen to change direction.

Power wise; hmmm well I must admit to being a tad disappointed. There was noticeable lag and the power delivery wasn't hugely satisfying. It made the right noises with a nice induction roar. It only had around 150 miles on the clock so no doubt it would liven up significantly with a few K on the clock.

There was a grey one in the showroom and it looked far more menacing and less shouty than the blue and on looks alone it could certainly be a tempting purchase.

I left feeling that it could have been better. It's definitely (for me) a car to take out and murder it around on a dry day, however I'm not sure I could live with one on a daily basis. The daily golf I have does everything very well but does lack the dynamic edge of the Honda.

I can't decide how to label the Type R but it's not one for me - I know I'd be bored and frustrated with it in a few months, sell it on and no doubt take a bath on it.

Of the two dealerships I talked to, both admitted that they have had surprisingly little interest from potential customers.

I think it will sell in small numbers and likely gain a bit of a cult following once it is a couple of years old and as a result hold around £18-20k for a few years.

ETA I think it's a car for twenty somethings or a regular track day type owner

Edited by lord trumpton on Saturday 7th May 17:04

[Mastodon2]

JockySteer said:

Horrible little cars. That f'ing Vtec - I simply don't care about them.

There's plenty of diesel autos to choose from.

[LaurasOtherHalf]

lord trumpton said:

So I've been to look at and test drive one over the last couple of days.

The one I drove was blue and admittedly looked pretty tasty. I took my golf ed30 that has an APR remap on and producing around 300hp so I could compare very quickly the differences in the driving experience.

The Honda was a heck of a lot more taught and felt very stable and very keen to change direction.

Power wise; hmmm well I must admit to being a tad disappointed. There was noticeable lag and the power delivery wasn't hugely satisfying. It made the right noises with a nice induction roar. It only had around 150 miles on the clock so no doubt it would liven up significantly with a few K on the clock.

There was a grey one in the showroom and it looked far more menacing and less shouty than the blue and on looks alone it could certainly be a tempting purchase.

I left feeling that it could have been better. It's definitely (for me) a car to take out and murder it around on a dry day, however I'm not sure I could live with one on a daily basis. The daily golf I have does everything very well but does lack the dynamic edge of the Honda.

I can't decide how to label the Type R but it's not one for me - I know I'd be bored and frustrated with it in a few months, sell it on and no doubt take a bath on it.

Of the two dealerships I talked to, both admitted that they have had surprisingly little interest from potential customers.

I think it will sell in small numbers and likely gain a bit of a cult following once it is a couple of years old and as a result hold around £18-20k for a few years.

ETA I think it's a car for twenty somethings or a regular track day type owner

Edited by lord trumpton on Saturday 7th May 17:04

Interesting write up. In the engine, we were quite surprised after out day at the Nürburgring to get in the car to begin our journey to Spa, the car sounded totally different. Can't put my finger on it, but we both looked at each other and noticed it instantly. Can't remember the mileage, probably around 650.

[750turbo]

LaurasOtherHalf said:

lord trumpton said:

So I've been to look at and test drive one over the last couple of days.

The one I drove was blue and admittedly looked pretty tasty. I took my golf ed30 that has an APR remap on and producing around 300hp so I could compare very quickly the differences in the driving experience.

The Honda was a heck of a lot more taught and felt very stable and very keen to change direction.

Power wise; hmmm well I must admit to being a tad disappointed. There was noticeable lag and the power delivery wasn't hugely satisfying. It made the right noises with a nice induction roar. It only had around 150 miles on the clock so no doubt it would liven up significantly with a few K on the clock.

There was a grey one in the showroom and it looked far more menacing and less shouty than the blue and on looks alone it could certainly be a tempting purchase.

I left feeling that it could have been better. It's definitely (for me) a car to take out and murder it around on a dry day, however I'm not sure I could live with one on a daily basis. The daily golf I have does everything very well but does lack the dynamic edge of the Honda.

I can't decide how to label the Type R but it's not one for me - I know I'd be bored and frustrated with it in a few months, sell it on and no doubt take a bath on it.

Of the two dealerships I talked to, both admitted that they have had surprisingly little interest from potential customers.

I think it will sell in small numbers and likely gain a bit of a cult following once it is a couple of years old and as a result hold around £18-20k for a few years.

ETA I think it's a car for twenty somethings or a regular track day type owner

Edited by lord trumpton on Saturday 7th May 17:04

Interesting write up. In the engine, we were quite surprised after out day at the Nürburgring to get in the car to begin our journey to Spa, the car sounded totally different. Can't put my finger on it, but we both looked at each other and noticed it instantly. Can't remember the mileage, probably around 650.

This could have been me the first time I drove the car, I was not really impressed.

I went back a few months later for another look, but this time I drove it like it should be driven, not like my current (135) car at the time, it was a real eye opener

I am just home, after a run on damp roads, even in these, the grip, handling, complete driving experience is outstanding.

(Can 20 something ever afford a car like this? In my days it was only the VERY privileged few, I am along way from my 20's now)

[Pesty]

Rjbell said:

EnglishTony said:

Is that the old model?

No that's the new one. I can't unsee it and now it's imprinted on the inside of my eyelids

Well I like it.

[LaurasOtherHalf]

Just an update on the sales thing as I was in my local Honda dealership today.

I purchased mine a couple of weeks ago and when I returned they had replaced mine with a red car in the showroom. Today I went in to collect the floor mats that had been delivered and the red car had sold last week and there was a new blue one in it's place, which apparently they had someone interested in.

So they are selling, especially as I really wouldn't consider this particular dealership as in a particularly affluent area.