Civic Type R to the Nurburgring: PH Blog
So what's it like to drive one of the fastest FWD cars at the 'ring? Road trip time!
Don't forget the local roads are ace too!
Hands up, my laps over the weekend (including the one on video) were nowhere close to 7:50. Or 9:50 probably, given the traffic. But, frankly, the place still scares me a fair bit and it was so busy in places that you wouldn't have been able to push anything too hard. And I had to drive the car home too.
But it remains such a privilege to drive the Nordschleife: snaking through the Hatzenbach section, charging down the Foxhole and dropping into the Karussell are just so much fun. Moreover, there was sufficient opportunity - despite the traffic - to explore what I like so much about the car a bit further.
Even on such a big circuit, the Civic still feel really quick. It never feels overawed, pulling hard even at challenging sections like the run out of Bergwerk. The brakes are super strong and very confidence inspiring, feeling fantastic on the big stop into Aremberg. And the gearbox. Well, enough has been said about that already, but having such a precise and satisfying action is a real pleasure on track.
Worth the museum entry fee on its own
So while I may not have set any lap records (or indeed used all the laps I paid for), it was another handy experience where I learnt more about the car and the track. It seems the Civic is popular with 'ring goers as well. Essentially, you need to get to the Nurburgring if you haven't been. Yes, tourist days can be pretty chaotic (the Saturday evening session was cancelled entirely, and the Sunday started late), but the atmosphere can not be matched. It's a heartening place to visit as well, the car park featuring some glorious stuff that you may have assumed was holed up in a collection. If you're worried that car enthusiasts are a dying breed, the queue to get onto the Nordschleife will put you right!
It's less than five hours from Calais, accommodation is reasonable (try the Berghotel Hohe Acht) and steak on a stone at the Pistenklause is delicious. There's even a museum with more cars in. Get yourself there, get a couple of laps in (carefully) and learn about why the Nurburgring is such a fabulous place. I can't wait to get back.
Watch the lap here.
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[Lead image: Will Beaumont, via Twitter]
Looking forward to a couple more years worth of depreciation on these.
Nice vid
Jimbo
People there are humble and genuine driving enthusiasts irrespective of car, there is zero snobbery and people are quite clearly united by a common and genuine passion for tracking what they can afford on a circuit that remains a mythical place IMO.
Having said that, TF traffic/closures can be a pain and still carries the third party liability risk. I have switched to DN and I am not sure I'll do much TF in future apart maybe from the off-peak evening.
Because of the lack of 3rd party insurance cover I now rent a car to drive in the public sessions. Rent4Ring's Suzuki Swifts are great tools for learning the track in, plus the insurance allows you to get out and play in traffic with a clear conscience.
I think you might have overtaken me at one point (more power in the Civic obviously !!)
Had a good look round the FRS too, so dull! Though not driven either.....
Had a good look round the FRS too, so dull! Though not driven either.....
The ride feels firm and smooth, the power delivery is brutal, it hugs the corners even better than what my 86 used to, the interior cabin is a lovely place to be, with a great electronic display which shows lap times, boost pressures, oil pressures etc, and the seats are incredibly comfy. It's really practical too, theres plenty of room in the back seats and in the boot, and it doesn't seem too bad on fuel. I've noticed complaints about the engine not sounding great but I think it's nice enough for a daily driver, the waste gate chatter sounds brilliant too. It's also quite economical so far, I'm averaging 29.7 MPG and that's with normal driving and enthusiastic driving!
Like I say, this is my first proper performance car and the first turbo car I've owned, so for someone who has experience in these kind of car then it might not really appeal to them, but let's be honest, 306 BHP and 0-60 in 5.5 seconds isn't something which should be ignored!
Also the styling isn't to everyone's taste, I'm 24 and I personally think it looks great, and I think the styling will still look good in 10-15 years time, as does the styling of the older Mitsubishi Evos, R34 skyline, it's styled similar to those cars and they still look nice 10 years on.
Looking forward to Thursday.
Couple of things to put out there though.
1. Focus has a 12 month wait, longer if you want a blue one
2. No second hand ones as people are holding onto them (according to the salesman)
3. Type R available September
4. I read yesterday that Honda are working on a quicker, more powerful, more .... well, sensible looking for a bloke in his 40's replacement and will exhibit later this year
5. The Civic looks like it's running spacesavers on the rear, no matter what angle you look at it
We have a Haymarket policy that covers us fortunately. However, the excess is rather a lot so there's still some trepidation! If the trip was using my own car, there are a few companies that will cover you but it is quite pricey. I think it would work out better value to rent a car, as others have mentioned here. Or you go without 'ring insurance, but that's the riskiest strategy!
Matt
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