FN2 Civic Type R - The one they love to hate.

[chrismc1977]

TameRacingDriver said:

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).

Spot on. DC2 & EK9 were so so good from the factory. Light, revvy, fabulous chassis, slip-diff etc etc.

My UK DC2 is still stock aside from AD08r’s & mount inserts & is fantastic as is. Still wonderful and very capable even by today’s standards too.

The ATR is underrated & a smart choice too- more of a drivers car than either EP3 or FN2.

Progressively the later VTEC Type R’s have all ultimately fallen short of those early magic ingredients. Decent K-series motors but generally more flabby, less sharp & flawed in one way or other- not a ready to go track car on the road.

Certainly reasonable enough as daily transport with a bit of fun from a VTEC motor- but not the real-deal.

[TameRacingDriver]

Usget said:

Your speedo was off. Mine did 4000 @ 81mph. I did a lot of motorway miles in that car - Woodcote to Warwick and back daily for 18 months.

Perhaps, not sure, it was a while ago. Still a noisy thing on a motorway though.

Sa Calobra said:

Have you fitted smaller diameter wheels? Or different wheels to factory. If not something is amiss? Had engine adjusted recently?

Nope, standard 18" wheels. Nothing done to the engine bar the Hondata Flashpro map, which didn't affect the gear ratios anyway.

chrismc1977 said:

Spot on. DC2 & EK9 were so so good from the factory. Light, revvy, fabulous chassis, slip-diff etc etc.

My UK DC2 is still stock aside from AD08r’s & mount inserts & is fantastic as is. Still wonderful and very capable even by today’s standards too.

The ATR is underrated & a smart choice too- more of a drivers car than either EP3 or FN2.

Progressively the later VTEC Type R’s have all ultimately fallen short of those early magic ingredients. Decent K-series motors but generally more flabby, less sharp & flawed in one way or other- not a ready to go track car on the road.

Certainly reasonable enough as daily transport with a bit of fun from a VTEC motor- but not the real-deal.

Agreed, the early cars really were the only "true" Type-Rs. The EK9 and DC2 were cars from an era where the engineers more or less had free reign to do what they liked, before more practical concerns came to the fore.

That said, as much as I loved and respected them, I would not have another just for road driving (track driving, yes, definitely).

Edited by TameRacingDriver on Thursday 8th February 12:27

[Mackle]

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.

Prior to the FN2 we had a Saab 9000 with Aero seats. Those seats were fantastic, probably the most comfortable over distances that I've sat in.

Unfortunately the cabin filter and headlights on the 9000 were nowhere near as good as the seats... the cabin filter on the FN2 has surprised me with how good it is, I'm guessing it's an activated carbon one.

[Mackle]

HorneyMX5 said:

Fit proper lowering springs. The standard springs on the FN2 are linear in their spring rate which is why it’s so crashy. Lowering springs from companies such as Eibach have a progressive spring rate.

The dampers are fine.

TameRacingDriver said:

+1 for the springs to start off with.

The car has done 75K so the Sach's dampers are probably passed their best by now.