Sunday 11th September 2016

Honda Civic Type R: PH Fleet

Golf GTI, Golf Clubsport S, Mini Challenge, Donington Park and the Nurburgring - a testing month for the Type R

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Well I did say it would be a more interesting month! It's in fact ended with the service light on and another set of tyres required, but we'll deal with that next time.

The Nurburgring trip was a real highlight of the past month; I've written about how the car was at the track but it's worth dealing with the trip itself also. Despite its appearance, the Civic makes for a very good continental cruiser with loads of space, those great seats and a decent stereo also. Refinement could be a bit better - blame the tyre noise mainly - but it was a thoroughly pleasant journey across. Certainly a more comfortable one compared to the Mini JCW Challenge also in convoy, which wasn't expected.

Faster, too. OK, that was to be expected given the power advantage, but it's still a nice claim. The best route to the 'ring takes in some derestricted Autobahn, where the Civic was imperious. Up to about 120mph the two cars felt pretty evenly matched but from then on the Type R marched ahead; I saw 250km/h on the speedo with plenty left in reserve. It's so stable at those speeds as well, a mark of that aero work and very good for confidence too. I need to crack 160mph before it goes back!

It wasn't long back from Germany that the Civic joined in the fun at a deluged Donington. It wasn't the focus of attention with the Golf Clubsport S and a Mini Challenge (again) along, but it got out for a few laps because, well, it would have been rude not to. Even in dismal weather its brakes and grip felt fantastic, while at no point did it feel any slower than the Golf. This while still having the best gearshift of any hot hatch and perhaps the most practical shape too.

In fact, I'd go so far as to argue the Civic currently strikes the best blend between hot and hatch. Bear with me. People will still contest the styling, I get that. But underneath that it's still a Civic, a very spacious and useful five-door Civic. So the seats fold easily, there's plenty of headroom and the boot is massive: 475 litres seats up against 343 for a Golf R and 260 for a Focus RS. This while being more exciting to drive most of the time (we'll do a wet test when possible) and just as fast. I maintain the outgoing Megane is a more rewarding driver's car, but the Civic runs it jolly close and is, tedious though this may sound, actually a more rounded everyday car.

While we're on everyday concerns though, the turning circle is infuriating. It's been thrown into light this month after some time in a regular Golf GTI (with rear seats and everything), which made parking in the multi-storey at PH a comparative breeze. It desperately needs addressing at the facelift, or indeed new model. With the Golf in for evaluation, Honda should see how VW can get the seat nice and low as well

Finally, while considering what to change with this Civic Type R, time spent in the Dream Automotive car was most useful. The car can clearly handle more power with the right tweaks and there's scope for a tad more edge in the chassis too - time for a Type RR perhaps Honda?

With more than 8,000 miles now under its wheels and September upon us, it's time to think about the Civic's return to Honda sadly. Before then I'm really keen to try an old Type R or two, just to see if this VTEC turbo installation is that successful. More on that to (hopefully) follow!

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FACT SHEET
Car: 2016 Honda Civic Type R GT
Run by: Matt
On fleet since: March 2016
Mileage:8,435 (delivered on 625)
List price new: £32,960 (Type R GT at £32,295, plus £525 for Championship White paint and £140 for Elegance Floor Carpets)
Last month at a glance: Turns out this new Type R does get better over 8,000... miles, that is

Previous reports:
Welcome the first ever Type R to the PH Fleet!
Type R does fast brilliantly, but slow isn't so bad either
Civic squares up to its hot hatch nemesis
New tyres on, Matt takes the Civic... into a kerb
Shock, horror... is Matt warming to the Civic's looks?

[Martin_Hx]

Every Type-R has had a hideous turning circle, even my missus' old Accord, especially Coming from a big barge of a Merc which turned on a sixpence!

Must be a Honda thang