2008 Civic Type R Championship White Special Edition

Highlights

• Championship White Special Edition
• Unmodified and presented in factory specification
• Excellent overall condition inside and out
• 81,136 miles, confirmed by history
• 2.0-litre VTEC, precise six-speed manual
• Limited-slip differential fitted from the factory
• Optional satellite navigation pack with latest updates
• Full 12 Fresh MOT on this car until 3rd of April 2025 (No Advisory)

Overview

There’s something stirringly addictive about the banshee howl of a Type-R when the VTEC comes on song. That surge of power, accompanied by such a spine-tingling soundtrack, is enough to capture the heart of any petrolhead.

It’s little wonder – we all know Honda are renowned for their sublime engines, and the FN2 Civic Type R benefits from an absolute gem. Pushing out nearly 200hp from its naturally aspirated 2.0-litre four-pot, it offers an intoxicating driving experience that’s perfect for British roads. In the form of this Championship White Special Edition, it’s also becoming quite a sought-after machine now too.

This example benefits from being presented in complete factory specification. It’s absolutely unmodified and stock – something that’s very rare to find with these as, due to the great powertrain, the tuner crowd love them. It also has a great history, recent full service and has clearly been cherished and carefully maintained by the current owner. Of course, one of the greatest benefits of this Special Edition is the factory-fitted limited-slip differential. To say it transforms the car’s handling over the stock model is a vast understatement, it’s little wonder that Honda went on to fit it to all GT models from 2010 onwards.

We think that this delightful hot-hatch would make a fine addition to anyone’s driveway. Its combination of rarity, ability, performance and practicality make it a brilliant ownership proposition. If we were allowed to buy it ourselves, we probably would. In fact.. (Don’t you dare – Ed)

Damn it.

History and documentation 

• Just 81,136 miles on the clock, verified by the MOT and service records
• Current owner since July 2023, four former owners
• Complete with the original Honda handbooks, service book and the Special Edition promotional booklet
• Service in February of this year at 80,806 miles by Templar Classics
• Record shows stamps to 40,200 miles in 2013, then a gap to the latest service this year
• Invoices, inspection sheets and receipts detailing servicing and maintenance
• Current MOT to May 2024
• V5 present and correct

Interior

• Original red and black fabric upholstery, all showing in very good order with no notable wear and tear or staining
• The front seats are the classic factory ‘Type R’ sports seats, and they show very well, with no sagging or wear to the side bolsters and the vendor tells us that he has kept them under covers to protect them further
• The rear bench is trimmed to match the front seats and has the usual split/fold format
• Red carpets with matched red overmats adorn the cabin, bringing a pop of colour and a sporting feel to the driving experience – all look to be in good order for their age, with some light wear and fading in evidence, but less than you would expect
• Climate control
• Electrically operated windows and door mirrors
• Multifunction steering wheel
• Factory ICE system with CD, radio, Bluetooth and Aux connection
• Factory option satellite navigation package, with the latest updates and maps installed
• The dashboard, controls and switchgear all looks to be in fine condition, with no unusual wear or damage we could discern, and nothing missing
• We’re told by the vendor that everything works as it should, with no faults or issues reported
• The light grey headlining looks to be taut and secure, with no staining, damage or sagging to see
• Surprisingly spacious and practical boot, showing some light wear and scratches to the plastics, and some marks to the grey carpet
• Under the boot carpet, there is a further underfloor storage area, offering even more usability
• Complete with the original Honda toolkit and jack

Exterior

• Finished in gleaming Championship White - the classic Type R colour
• The paintwork displays extremely well, with one or two minor chips and blemishes and a light scuff to the lower portion of the near-side sideskirt
• The bonnet and roof have been professionally resprayed during the current ownership to correct some paint issues
• All of the bodywork looks to be in excellent condition, with no corrosion, damage or dents apparent
• Similarly, all of the badging and trim appears to be present and correct, with the light lenses and glass also looking to be in fine fettle with no chips or cracks we could see
• New front windscreen and window seal fitted by the current owner
• Smoked wind deflectors fitted to the side windows
• We noted a small patch of bubbling on the near-side wiper arm, but otherwise all of the trim is in fine condition
• Original Special Edition seven-spoke, 18-inch alloy wheels, refurbished and showing off their white paintwork very well indeed
• The wheels are shod with Nexen tyres to the front axle and Continentals to the rear axle
• Taking a look at the underside, no corrosion or damage was obvious to our eyes – the sills, inner wheel arches and floor pans all look clean and straight with intact factory underseal

Mechanical

• 1,998cc four-cylinder VTEC engine (K20A), driving the front wheels
• Factory-fitted limited-slip differential (only available on this Special Edition in 2008)
• Factory performance figures: 198hp, 142lb-ft, 0-60mph in 6.6 seconds and a top speed of 146mph
• Six-speed manual transmission, legendarily precise and robust in use
• The engine bay shows very well, appearing to all be entirely stock and in factory specification
• New battery fitted in November 2023
• It has been freshly serviced (February 2024 at 80,806 miles), which included new wiper blades
• We’re told that the car starts first time, idles smoothly and revs eagerly
• We saw no evidence of leaks or any other issues
• The vendor assures us that, to the best of their knowledge, there are no mechanical problems

Summary

There’s a reason that the Civic Type R, of all generations, is a perennial favourite amongst enthusiasts. They offer a slick combination of superb performance, agile handling, great feel, robust engineering and excellent practicality that’s very difficult to find anywhere else.

We have a particular love of the FN2 generation, its retro sci-fi styling still looks fresh and exciting. When combined with the added aesthetic flourishes of the Championship White Edition, it makes it an enticing prospect, especially when it’s as well presented as this delightful car. Lower than average mileage, no modifications and a great level of preservation make this a decidedly tempting machine. The chances of finding a nicer example are beyond wafer thin. In a few years, we reckon this will be a bona-fide modern classic – so this is definitely the time to buy.

There we go we got all the way though the listing and we didn’t once say “VTEC kicked in yo”. Wait… (You’re fired – Ed)

To arrange a viewing, please request this in the Q&A section. You can click through to the seller's profile and use the 'Email Me' function to arrange a viewing privately. This seller is located in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.