RE: 25 years of Type R: Spotted special

[is1]

SidewaysSi said:

A good car but obviously not as focused a proper sports car (not that you can blame it for that).

Si, is that definitely you?!
Isn't it regarded as one of the most "focused" cars ever made? I prefer it as a driver's car to my old Clio Trophy and Evo VI TME.
Clearly, it's not mid-engined or rear wheel drive but it's an incredibly immersive driving experience and there's nothing quite like it.

[raceboy]

I've been pleasantly surprised by my bottom of the ladder, bit rough EP3, even though I have a nice weekend toy, the Civic still puts a smile on my face even though it gets used for all manner of mundane duties.
The biggest surprise I've had with it is the number of people in my various social circles that have said 'let me know when you're selling it', I know that when I do they will all have some sort of feeble excuse why the times wrong but hopefully it shows it'll be easy to move on when the time comes, can't really think of anything to replace it with though, and the toy car is the next to change and that'll put a stop to changing the daily anytime soon anyway, so looks like the EP3 is here to stay for a while.

[WilkoIW]

I really think I need to buy a Type R of some sort this year.

[boma]

I wish everyone would stop talking about tegs. I really want to buy another and this chat is only making it harder to find a tidy one, cheap

[designforlife]

boma said:

I wish everyone would stop talking about tegs. I really want to buy another and this chat is only making it harder to find a tidy one, cheap

Yeah DC5s are going up, and a good DC2 costs about the same as a DC5 now! I'd say now is the time to buy before they go up any more.

[SidewaysSi]

is1 said:

SidewaysSi said:

A good car but obviously not as focused a proper sports car (not that you can blame it for that).

Si, is that definitely you?!
Isn't it regarded as one of the most "focused" cars ever made? I prefer it as a driver's car to my old Clio Trophy and Evo VI TME.
Clearly, it's not mid-engined or rear wheel drive but it's an incredibly immersive driving experience and there's nothing quite like it.

It's a very good car but it is not some massively hardcore racer.

You can master the car quite quickly and I felt it was really let down by its steering feel, which was not as good as it should be, particularly at road speeds.

Really quite disappointing as the rest of the car was very good.

Edited by SidewaysSi on Wednesday 15th February 17:54

[motor mad]

JDM exhaust fitted to mine. I've never driven a car that's sparked so many positive comments.

[RSmith1992FK2]

I've owned my 2016 FK2 for 6 months now.

I absolutely adore it, I'll not be parting with it. The thought of being this cars only owner appeases me. The pros far outweigh the cons, and with less than 2500 on U.K. roads now this motor will be extremely rare in 10-15 year time.

Turbo is sacrilege to the Honda purists but whatever, times change, embrace it.

Edited by RSmith1992FK2 on Wednesday 15th February 18:51

[rich85uk]

Had my FN2 Type R just over a year now and absolutely love it, once used to the harsh ride at low speeds the engine and gearbox combo never fail to impress and even though it might not be the best Type R made the handling is pretty decent compared to its competition at the time.

As someone else said few mods really improves the FN2, heres a thread to someones on Civicinfo which made a 266bhp track toy:
http://www.civinfo.com/forum/modification-projects...

Bigger cams, throttle body,balancer shaft delete kit are very tempting once i get bored of the standard power

[mp3manager]

I don't like saloons but a CL7 has to be the ultimate Q-car.

[burton_ii]

Best add my two pence! Owned a NHB EP3 for six years and loved it. Then decided to upgrade to the FD2. Absolutely love the car, again owned the FD2 nigh on six years too and hasn't missed a beat.

Two trips to the 'Ring and numerous track days and still puts a smile on my face when i drive it.

[pic] DSC_8817 by mark, on Flickr[/pic]

[pic] DJI_0089 by mark, on Flickr[/pic]

[pic] IMG_0235 by mark, on Flickr[/pic]

[pic] DSC_7044 by mark, on Flickr[/pic]

[df76]

This thread is not good for me.. very jealous.

[LaurasOtherHalf]

Love mine, readers cars thread here;
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[FN2TypeR]

Neil-5ogx0 said:

My 2004 Na2 Type R. Imported by me from Japan 2016. Shown here at Silverstone Classic last summer.

hubba hubba!

[anonymous-user]

is1 said:

Si, is that definitely you?!
Isn't it regarded as one of the most "focused" cars ever made? I prefer it as a driver's car to my old Clio Trophy and Evo VI TME.
Clearly, it's not mid-engined or rear wheel drive but it's an incredibly immersive driving experience and there's nothing quite like it.

I drove an FD2 the other day, it was a far better steer than a DC2. Even that I was unsure if I'd swap my current car for one. Wet roads and a light throttle and the front washed wide, clever diffs are no match for a decent rwd car with an LSD in my opinion. It was quite surreal but I think I'm done with anything fwd. a few years ago I would have argued the merits until, well for a long time. I'd rather be slower having more fun than vice versa.

[cib24]

burton_ii said:

Best add my two pence! Owned a NHB EP3 for six years and loved it. Then decided to upgrade to the FD2. Absolutely love the car, again owned the FD2 nigh on six years too and hasn't missed a beat.

Two trips to the 'Ring and numerous track days and still puts a smile on my face when i drive it.

[pic] DSC_8817 by mark, on Flickr[/pic]

Apart from the NSX Type R, this is the best Type R and then you have the DC2. I think the FD2 was only a second slower around Tsukuba than the NSX if I remember that episode of Best Motoring correctly. Obviously on a larger track the gap would be bigger but still the FD2 is very impressive. And you can tune them to over 250bhp with basic bolt-ons.

Did you replace the rear shocks for Koni Yellows or something a bit softer than factory so that you can ride in some type of comfort on UK roads?

[HannsG]

Martin_Hx said:

I've had my EP3 10 years this year! She has been a brilliant daily driver and fun weekend throw around car to head up to North Yorkshire

Edited by Martin_Hx on Tuesday 14th February 11:06

What sort of MPG would a person get on a 100 Mike round commute? 80% motorway?

[havoc]

SidewaysSi said:

is1 said:

SidewaysSi said:

A good car but obviously not as focused a proper sports car (not that you can blame it for that).

Si, is that definitely you?!
Isn't it regarded as one of the most "focused" cars ever made? I prefer it as a driver's car to my old Clio Trophy and Evo VI TME.
Clearly, it's not mid-engined or rear wheel drive but it's an incredibly immersive driving experience and there's nothing quite like it.

It's a very good car but it is not some massively hardcore racer.

You can master the car quite quickly and I felt it was really let down by its steering feel, which was not as good as it should be, particularly at road speeds.

Really quite disappointing as the rest of the car was very good.

Oh, I dunno...

Ref: "master the car quickly" - in a sense, yes - it's got very benign handling on-limit. Except when you discover that and keep pushing, the limits seem to keep getting further away - that benign natures allows you to probe how YOU drive, and learn more about you.

Conversely, some bespoke sports cars (e.g. those coming from Norfolk) have spikier on-limit behaviour which discourages exploration amongst those of us "ordinarily talented".


Ref: steering feel - on-centre it was a bit naff, but with a few degrees of lock it was as good as any other PAS rack I've driven...and for me it was better than the Evora, to throw in a lauded 'sports car' brand...
...and the advantage of 131 lb/ft is that it was never corrupted by the throttle. Occasionally if you got carried away and abrubt with closing the throttle the diff would take a second to 'unwind', but that's the only real fwd flaw.

yonex said:

I drove an FD2 the other day, it was a far better steer than a DC2. Even that I was unsure if I'd swap my current car for one. Wet roads and a light throttle and the front washed wide, clever diffs are no match for a decent rwd car with an LSD in my opinion. It was quite surreal but I think I'm done with anything fwd. a few years ago I would have argued the merits until, well for a long time. I'd rather be slower having more fun than vice versa.

FD2 is probably better on smooth tarmac (and is a LOT quicker - much more than 35bhp would suggest), but even with the Koni Yellow's on the rear it's too much of a wild ride down a good B-road to be an 'on the limit' car the way the DC2 is. Like most modern stuff the ride/handling compromise has been compromised. Steering feel also isn't anywhere near as good (initial response is better, but isn't it always with bigger alloys/smaller sidewalls...).

Front washing wide is as much due to the over-stiff suspension limiting weight-transfer to the outer wheel vs 'older' cars...you soon learn that the FD2 responds better to more aggressive fore-aft weight transfer (like a touring car) than you'd normally employ in a road car...Evo's aside, I can't think of a more hooligan-car.



slower-&-more-fun - agree 100% - DC2 probably helps in that regard.

fwd vs rwd - in many ways I agree...but if you can, have one of each, that way you can scratch both itches...and in inclement weather fwd is a little more fool-proof / exploitable. Often have more fun now in low-grip conditions...FD2 does have the 'family' trait of very progressive over- and under-steer...

[burton_ii]

cib24 said:

Apart from the NSX Type R, this is the best Type R and then you have the DC2. I think the FD2 was only a second slower around Tsukuba than the NSX if I remember that episode of Best Motoring correctly. Obviously on a larger track the gap would be bigger but still the FD2 is very impressive. And you can tune them to over 250bhp with basic bolt-ons.

Did you replace the rear shocks for Koni Yellows or something a bit softer than factory so that you can ride in some type of comfort on UK roads?

Yes the rear shocks have been replaced with Koni yellows. The owner before me had them changed and said it changed the car for the better. unfortunately I can not comment on the ride before, but I'm sure you're aware it's a very common mod for nearly all FD's over here.

[havoc]

I've driven all 3 common variants - full-OEM, Koni Yellow, ASTs.

OEM is for smooth tarmac only. Avoid potholes, speed bumps, cats eyes and anything bigger than a crisp packet. On the import-spec RE001s there's literally NO give in the rear and precious little up-front. But it responds like a racehorse on cayenne pepper...

ASTs are slightly the most compliant, definitely so at low speeds. But they need annual servicing really.

Koni Yellow on the rear is the best combination - decent low-speed and good high-speed compliance, no noticeable adverse impact on handling. Car feels slightly less immediate than OEM but a little more 'balanced' than on ASTs.

(Someone in the US did a scientific analysis - OEM rear damper rate was WAY OTT, front damper rate is a little hot, spring rates actually aren't that bad)



I've got a full set of AST's in the garage (need servicing) if anyone wants them.