FN2 Civic Type R - The one they love to hate.
Discussion
Just over 9,000 miles now racked up since I bought it in November and still very much enjoying the ownership experience. I'm really starting gel with the handling and steering now we've had some dry weather and I've managed some early morning blats to work. When really on it the overly stiff suspension comes alive and suddenly you're throwing into tight turns much harder than you initially think is possible. It's quite steerable (is that word?) on the throttle as well, the later ones with an LSD must be brilliant.
It'll be getting a good clean tomorrow before heading up to Silverstone for another Sunday Service as sadly the MX5 hasn't had it's ECU fitted and mapped for the charger yet.
It'll be getting a good clean tomorrow before heading up to Silverstone for another Sunday Service as sadly the MX5 hasn't had it's ECU fitted and mapped for the charger yet.
DrunkenBastich said:
Fn2 growing on me a bit - especially blue/yellow ones.
Does this have a diff?
They didn't make them in yellow unfortunately, that was the concept photos and the dark blue was only the later ones (I think) and quite rare. Red was the standard colour with black, silver and bronze (a dark almost black brown) with Champ white as a special.Does this have a diff?
Small update as I've just rolled over 13,000 miles with it in 7 months and still very much enjoying the FN2 ownership experience. I've replaced the rear pads and topped up the oil once and nothing else exciting has happened. Sadly it's due a major service and this is going to dent my credit card balance rather badly at 340 at TGM Sport Racing. Expensive but cheaper than the 500+ quoted by the 2 local Honda dealers!!!
This was mine:
It had the following done to it:
Milltek cat back exhaust (bit loud but sounded great)
Mugen cold air intake with carbon foglight scoops
Mugen sport suspension kit (uprated sachs dampers with lowering springs)
Eibach front camber bolts and geo setup as per Mugen settings
Custom Hondata flashpro remap by VitViper (approx 220bhp)
Buddy club P1 SF 18 inch wheels with custom centre caps
GP pack splitter/rear valance
Gloss black vinyl for the rear light bar
Samco hoses
Double din alpine stereo
Mfactory LSD
DS2500 brake pads, EBC ultimax discs and braided lines
Replica mugen front grill
The suspension was the best mod, properly transformed the handling, when fitted with eibach camber bolts and set up properly to the mugen geo settings, steering feel was much better, as was the ride.
Then got involved in an accident on the M6...whole front end trashed, both wings, damage to one pillar, bonnet, radiator split, stuck in gear as stuff was pushed back into the linkage etc.
Declared an insurance write off, got a decent payout although I won't dare tot up the cost of the mods. Its actually back on the roads now, been repaired by a guy in Birmingham, reg is FG08 BRZ if anyone is viewing....gotta be a Cat C or D.
Fantastic car that really came alive with the mods, as stock the handling and brakes left me a little underwhelmed. But as a daily...its refined, very comfortable, spacious, well equipped, and has loads of character. I rate the MX5 I have now as more fun, but the engine in the Type R was something else...so smooth and revvy.
It had the following done to it:
Milltek cat back exhaust (bit loud but sounded great)
Mugen cold air intake with carbon foglight scoops
Mugen sport suspension kit (uprated sachs dampers with lowering springs)
Eibach front camber bolts and geo setup as per Mugen settings
Custom Hondata flashpro remap by VitViper (approx 220bhp)
Buddy club P1 SF 18 inch wheels with custom centre caps
GP pack splitter/rear valance
Gloss black vinyl for the rear light bar
Samco hoses
Double din alpine stereo
Mfactory LSD
DS2500 brake pads, EBC ultimax discs and braided lines
Replica mugen front grill
The suspension was the best mod, properly transformed the handling, when fitted with eibach camber bolts and set up properly to the mugen geo settings, steering feel was much better, as was the ride.
Then got involved in an accident on the M6...whole front end trashed, both wings, damage to one pillar, bonnet, radiator split, stuck in gear as stuff was pushed back into the linkage etc.
Declared an insurance write off, got a decent payout although I won't dare tot up the cost of the mods. Its actually back on the roads now, been repaired by a guy in Birmingham, reg is FG08 BRZ if anyone is viewing....gotta be a Cat C or D.
Fantastic car that really came alive with the mods, as stock the handling and brakes left me a little underwhelmed. But as a daily...its refined, very comfortable, spacious, well equipped, and has loads of character. I rate the MX5 I have now as more fun, but the engine in the Type R was something else...so smooth and revvy.
Well here we are a year to the day and 22,000 miles later.
What can I say about it after all that time? Quite a lot. I'm a seriel car buyer and generally after 6 months I get bored and want something different. Not this time. While I've had the itch to change as usual it's because I want to try something new and not because I'm bored of the civic. The problem is there is nothing within budget that delivers the performance, handling and low running costs. It really is a winning combo. The wife even likes it (and drives it occasionally) which is uunusual as she's not a fan of more modern machinary.
As for costs I've had to replace all the tyres and I went for Goodyear Eagle F1s as recommended by the Civic Forums and they are night and day better than the Bridgestones it came with from new. Understeer is reduced (especially in the wet), the ride is slightly more complaint, turn in feels sharper and the whole car just feels more planted. It's had a major service with TGM sport racing including valve clearances that set me back £300 and I had to replace the rear pads. Oil usage despite spending a lot of it's time in Vtec has been virtually zero and over the 22,000 miles it's averaged 32mpg. I can get 40mpg on long run like a 400 mile round trip to Runcorn etc.
It really is quite the package. In fact I like it that much that long term I might buy another. I'm thinking that I should probaly pass it on at around 85,000 (54K currently) to avoid it plumeting in value as it nears the 100K marker that seems to frighten brits and replace it with a Championship White one with an LSD. But whatever I do next it'll be with me for at least another 12 months unless a change in circumstances forces my hand.
What can I say about it after all that time? Quite a lot. I'm a seriel car buyer and generally after 6 months I get bored and want something different. Not this time. While I've had the itch to change as usual it's because I want to try something new and not because I'm bored of the civic. The problem is there is nothing within budget that delivers the performance, handling and low running costs. It really is a winning combo. The wife even likes it (and drives it occasionally) which is uunusual as she's not a fan of more modern machinary.
As for costs I've had to replace all the tyres and I went for Goodyear Eagle F1s as recommended by the Civic Forums and they are night and day better than the Bridgestones it came with from new. Understeer is reduced (especially in the wet), the ride is slightly more complaint, turn in feels sharper and the whole car just feels more planted. It's had a major service with TGM sport racing including valve clearances that set me back £300 and I had to replace the rear pads. Oil usage despite spending a lot of it's time in Vtec has been virtually zero and over the 22,000 miles it's averaged 32mpg. I can get 40mpg on long run like a 400 mile round trip to Runcorn etc.
It really is quite the package. In fact I like it that much that long term I might buy another. I'm thinking that I should probaly pass it on at around 85,000 (54K currently) to avoid it plumeting in value as it nears the 100K marker that seems to frighten brits and replace it with a Championship White one with an LSD. But whatever I do next it'll be with me for at least another 12 months unless a change in circumstances forces my hand.
These are great little cars. I think the snobbery is due to the decision to switch to a torsion bar set up, rather than independent rear suspension as per the preceding models, and other Type R cars. Torsion bars certainly didn't hamper Renault making some great handling hot hatches, but as Honda is such a technology led company, it was seen as a backward step made for financial reasons rather than the pursuit of optimum handling.
Whatever the suspension, they handle more than proficiently for road use and occasional track days. Think I may get one for the Mrs, as I miss vetec!
TGM are a great outfit, and will keep it in rude health!
Whatever the suspension, they handle more than proficiently for road use and occasional track days. Think I may get one for the Mrs, as I miss vetec!
TGM are a great outfit, and will keep it in rude health!
Revs_Addiction said:
These are great little cars. I think the snobbery is due to the decision to switch to a torsion bar set up, rather than independent rear suspension as per the preceding models, and other Type R cars. Torsion bars certainly didn't hamper Renault making some great handling hot hatches, but as Honda is such a technology led company, it was seen as a backward step made for financial reasons rather than the pursuit of optimum handling.
My friend worked as an engineer for Honda when the FN2 was designed and built. He swore by the new setup saying it handled better than the EP3s. Never believed him at the time, but funny enough since I got the FN2 and paid TDI north a visit (who track FN2s and EP3s) heard the same thing. The FN2 handling, once its geo is corrected, is better.Boring update. Front tyres (Goodyear Eagle F1s) reached the end of their life after 12 months and 24,000 miles. I bought some new ones (£220 fitted the pair).
Untitled by Nicholas R Horne, on Flickr
I got it it washed.
Untitled by Nicholas R Horne, on Flickr
Next up it's due a minor service in the next 800 miles so I need to get that booked in asap.
Untitled by Nicholas R Horne, on FlickrI got it it washed.
Untitled by Nicholas R Horne, on FlickrNext up it's due a minor service in the next 800 miles so I need to get that booked in asap.
Had a red FN2 GT next to me and it sounded lovely off the lights. I really like the Battleship Galactica feel to the car.
One curious question though, while browsing for approved used examples I noticed there are some models with headlight washers and claimed to have OEM HIDs.
Are there such thing? The headlight is definitely non projector but I did notice some newer models with white-ish lights that looks OEM (doesn't glare and not blue)
One curious question though, while browsing for approved used examples I noticed there are some models with headlight washers and claimed to have OEM HIDs.
Are there such thing? The headlight is definitely non projector but I did notice some newer models with white-ish lights that looks OEM (doesn't glare and not blue)
Edited by crazy about cars on Saturday 3rd January 01:32
crazy about cars said:
Had a red FN2 GT next to me and it sounded lovely off the lights. I really like the Battleship Galactica feel to the car.
One curious question though, while browsing for approved used examples I noticed there are some models with headlight washers and claimed to have OEM HIDs.
Are there such thing? The headlight is definitely non projector but I did notice some newer models with white-ish lights that looks OEM (doesn't glare and not blue)
Type r hasn't got xenons as standard (at least not in UK), it wasn't even optional. As for other models of Civic I think EX spec comes with it as standard. One curious question though, while browsing for approved used examples I noticed there are some models with headlight washers and claimed to have OEM HIDs.
Are there such thing? The headlight is definitely non projector but I did notice some newer models with white-ish lights that looks OEM (doesn't glare and not blue)
Edited by crazy about cars on Saturday 3rd January 01:32
rossub said:
The facelift model in 2009 received headlight washers and HIDs.
Yes, that's what I thought too. The newer models have a whiter light output so I'm wondering if it's aftermarket HID mod or OEM.mahoone said:
Type r hasn't got xenons as standard (at least not in UK), it wasn't even optional. As for other models of Civic I think EX spec comes with it as standard.
Ah I don't mean xenon projector type headlights, as above I mean the reflector ones but with some kind of OEM HIDs. If I am not mistaken I think some of the newer E Class have these too - reflector headlight with HIDS OEM.Just curious about this combo...
crazy about cars said:
Ah I don't mean xenon projector type headlights, as above I mean the reflector ones but with some kind of OEM HIDs. If I am not mistaken I think some of the newer E Class have these too - reflector headlight with HIDS OEM.
Just curious about this combo...
I see what you mean. I just had a quick look at some 2009/2010 type r models on autotrader. Just curious about this combo...
The later ones had an LSD as well.
Went out for a hoon around in the fog earlier.
Untitled by Nicholas R Horne, on Flickr
Went out for a hoon around in the fog earlier.
Untitled by Nicholas R Horne, on FlickrGassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff