FN2 Civic Type R - The one they love to hate.
Discussion
Sa Calobra said:
Gearbox oil changed and it's great. I was wondering about the FRS,vhow much is it roughly? Do I already have it though, maybe a previous owner did this already?
Grinspeed charged £170 for the setup and camber bolts.I'd already got mine on eibach spring - I think all in, springs,camber bolts and FRSU you're looking at £500 at Grinspeed in Leyland (ish)
Danith said:
compared to the cable throttle EP3 it feels lazy. Dare I say it probably lazier than the 172s I've had too. It's no sluch like, just needs it's neck wringing a lot more than the ep or old clios.
On the flip side it's more practical, nicer place to sit in and live with. I couldn't live with the 172's large steering wheel and interior quality. Inside it looks like a Clio Campus. The EP3's steering killed it for me.
Sa Calobra said:
On the flip side it's more practical, nicer place to sit in and live with. I couldn't live with the 172's large steering wheel and interior quality. Inside it looks like a Clio Campus.
The EP3's steering killed it for me.
Absolutely agree. That's why I have the EP for track days (with all the tweaks) and the Fn for everyday. The steering in the FN is spot on, you'd forget it was EPS sometimes. Cruise control, auto lights, wipers and all that gubbins makes it ideal for everyday and hoon if you want - I've put a ramair cone and cold air feed from the bumper in mine, no need for rip off HKS induction kits. Think this lot set me back around £60 all in and is how a K20 should sound. The EP3's steering killed it for me.
Sa Calobra said:
60? I'd have that but it's getting the bumper off that's hinder my skill level
Yeah 60 plate, LSD model. You'd be surprised how easy it is to get the bumper off and how little holds them on. Just got to be careful not to damage the clips (or get some new ones ready from Honda).I had the bumper off for a new AC condensor anyway so got him to chuck the trumpet and CAF on while it was off, at the garage.
Sa Calobra said:
Danith said:
compared to the cable throttle EP3 it feels lazy. Dare I say it probably lazier than the 172s I've had too. It's no sluch like, just needs it's neck wringing a lot more than the ep or old clios.
On the flip side it's more practical, nicer place to sit in and live with. I couldn't live with the 172's large steering wheel and interior quality. Inside it looks like a Clio Campus. The EP3's steering killed it for me.
I just don't get why EP3 drivers think that its the pinnacle of Type-R motoring, much of the same criticisms levelled towards the FN2 were probably dished out towards the EP3 when compared with the DC2 and EK9 models. Don't get me wrong, they are decent cheap cars these days but in all honesty an FN2 in most respects is just as good a car (and better in others).
Also, neither car has to be ragged any more than a 172. I get sick of seeing this claim, they are just as gutless at low rpm. Their power delivery is almost identical, and its just the numbers on the gauge that are different. The 172 is on cam at 5,000 rpm, whereas an FN2 is 5,400 rpm and EP3 around 6,000. However, the Type R's have a higher rev limit by almost 1,500 rpm and shorter gearing.
TameRacingDriver said:
That's not my experience. If anything the throttle feels a bit too sensitive on the FN. Also the VTEC point kicks in lower so in theory, you would have to rag is a little bit less than the EP. I have to say though, I agree on the EP's steering, the one I drove was so appalling that for me it was that what spoiled the car for me. Having driven both I'd honestly take the FN2. The EP3 manages to be less raw and can't hold a candle to the DC2 as a drivers car, but for me is fairly ugly, has a low rent interior and that rubbish steering.
I just don't get why EP3 drivers think that its the pinnacle of Type-R motoring, much of the same criticisms levelled towards the FN2 were probably dished out towards the EP3 when compared with the DC2 and EK9 models. Don't get me wrong, they are decent cheap cars these days but in all honesty an FN2 in most respects is just as good a car (and better in others).
Also, neither car has to be ragged any more than a 172. I get sick of seeing this claim, they are just as gutless at low rpm. Their power delivery is almost identical, and its just the numbers on the gauge that are different. The 172 is on cam at 5,000 rpm, whereas an FN2 is 5,400 rpm and EP3 around 6,000. However, the Type R's have a higher rev limit by almost 1,500 rpm and shorter gearing.
Just speaking from experience and long term ownership. There's nothing between the 3 cars for me at all really. Fn2 is better built, ep is more nuts and rattly, Clio was a bit small and the gearchange is no where near as slick.I just don't get why EP3 drivers think that its the pinnacle of Type-R motoring, much of the same criticisms levelled towards the FN2 were probably dished out towards the EP3 when compared with the DC2 and EK9 models. Don't get me wrong, they are decent cheap cars these days but in all honesty an FN2 in most respects is just as good a car (and better in others).
Also, neither car has to be ragged any more than a 172. I get sick of seeing this claim, they are just as gutless at low rpm. Their power delivery is almost identical, and its just the numbers on the gauge that are different. The 172 is on cam at 5,000 rpm, whereas an FN2 is 5,400 rpm and EP3 around 6,000. However, the Type R's have a higher rev limit by almost 1,500 rpm and shorter gearing.
The steering in the Ep as stock is absolutely awful yes, with a few mods it's better and on track you don't really notice the notchiness and lifeless feel as much, it's more on the motorways and normal driving. Ep3 is definitely not a pinnacle at all, it's just a brilliant cheap car for fun.
Integras are better, as is the ATR to be honest but they're rotten, old and majorly overpriced (the integra is overpriced at least as are the JDM versions of the civics/accords).
My girlfriend got an early 2007 FN2 a couple of months ago and absolutely loves the car, the only problem is that on London roads the car is extremely crashy, and even taking it around the M25 there are large sections of poorly surfaced road that make driving this car fatiguing and she doesn't feel that taking the FN2 from London to Frankfurt (I moved to Germany in November) would be a very comfortable experience.
We recently did London-Frankfurt (and the return leg) in an Audi A1 S-line, which despite car reviews claiming that the ride was too firm, was absolutely fine because it didn't crash and amplify poor surfaces. If the FN2 CTR can have the same levels of non-crashiness as that A1, it would be perfectly fine for the 8 hours or so of driving across Europe. If changing the springs and dampers (Bilstein B12 would kill two birds with one stone I guess) can make the car liveable on the London-Frankfurt trip, it would be much better than spending money on hire cars.
We recently did London-Frankfurt (and the return leg) in an Audi A1 S-line, which despite car reviews claiming that the ride was too firm, was absolutely fine because it didn't crash and amplify poor surfaces. If the FN2 CTR can have the same levels of non-crashiness as that A1, it would be perfectly fine for the 8 hours or so of driving across Europe. If changing the springs and dampers (Bilstein B12 would kill two birds with one stone I guess) can make the car liveable on the London-Frankfurt trip, it would be much better than spending money on hire cars.
Mackle said:
My girlfriend got an early 2007 FN2 a couple of months ago and absolutely loves the car, the only problem is that on London roads the car is extremely crashy, and even taking it around the M25 there are large sections of poorly surfaced road that make driving this car fatiguing and she doesn't feel that taking the FN2 from London to Frankfurt (I moved to Germany in November) would be a very comfortable experience.
We recently did London-Frankfurt (and the return leg) in an Audi A1 S-line, which despite car reviews claiming that the ride was too firm, was absolutely fine because it didn't crash and amplify poor surfaces. If the FN2 CTR can have the same levels of non-crashiness as that A1, it would be perfectly fine for the 8 hours or so of driving across Europe. If changing the springs and dampers (Bilstein B12 would kill two birds with one stone I guess) can make the car liveable on the London-Frankfurt trip, it would be much better than spending money on hire cars.
I drove my FN2 from London to Frankfurt via Bordeaux... and it was supremely comfortable due to having the best seats I've ever experienced in any car ever. They're just so supportive! Agree on the crashy ride but foreign motorways tend to be in fairly decent nick.We recently did London-Frankfurt (and the return leg) in an Audi A1 S-line, which despite car reviews claiming that the ride was too firm, was absolutely fine because it didn't crash and amplify poor surfaces. If the FN2 CTR can have the same levels of non-crashiness as that A1, it would be perfectly fine for the 8 hours or so of driving across Europe. If changing the springs and dampers (Bilstein B12 would kill two birds with one stone I guess) can make the car liveable on the London-Frankfurt trip, it would be much better than spending money on hire cars.
Usget said:
I drove my FN2 from London to Frankfurt via Bordeaux... and it was supremely comfortable due to having the best seats I've ever experienced in any car ever. They're just so supportive! Agree on the crashy ride but foreign motorways tend to be in fairly decent nick.
To be honest, I found the racket the engine makes worse than the ride for long distances! Engine buzzing away at 4,000 rpm @ 70mph (honest officer). I used to wear earplugs / earphones, which helped a lot.TameRacingDriver said:
To be honest, I found the racket the engine makes worse than the ride for long distances! Engine buzzing away at 4,000 rpm @ 70mph (honest officer). I used to wear earplugs / earphones, which helped a lot.
Even worse with engine mount poly inserts. think I'm gonna take the insert out of the top stabiliser. it's making my dash rattle tooTameRacingDriver said:
To be honest, I found the racket the engine makes worse than the ride for long distances! Engine buzzing away at 4,000 rpm @ 70mph (honest officer). I used to wear earplugs / earphones, which helped a lot.
Something wrong there. My engine was unobtrusive @ 80/4,000rpmSa Calobra said:
TameRacingDriver said:
To be honest, I found the racket the engine makes worse than the ride for long distances! Engine buzzing away at 4,000 rpm @ 70mph (honest officer). I used to wear earplugs / earphones, which helped a lot.
Something wrong there. My engine was unobtrusive @ 80/4,000rpm
Sa Calobra said:
Something wrong there. My engine was unobtrusive @ 80/4,000rpm
Nothing wrong I don’t think, it was a buzzy engine. It was definitely doing approx 4Krpm at an indicated 70 or so from memory (probably about right considering a 146 mph top speed with the limiter of a standard car being just north of 8K). Bear in mind though my previous car before that was an E46 328 so obviously it was going to seem less relaxed. Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff