Golf GTi or Civic TypeR??
Discussion
My choice would be the Honda. Good to drive, nicely specced as standard and strong engine. The GTi no longer appeals due to it's middle aged weight gain and associated loss of nimbleness the earlier cars had.
I suggest you try to drive both back to back on the same day and make your mind up that way. I would expect the GTi to be the more refined and comfortable car with the Honda the better drive with sharper handling and better engine response when you get the V-Tec on song.
I suggest you try to drive both back to back on the same day and make your mind up that way. I would expect the GTi to be the more refined and comfortable car with the Honda the better drive with sharper handling and better engine response when you get the V-Tec on song.
LuS1fer said:
I'd have had the EP3 over the Golf but not the FN2 - but then I'd be looking for a 4 door which makes the decision for me. I'd be more inclined to look at a Cupra R in silver which always reminds me of the EP3 for some reason.
4 door civic typeR???I thought they were always 2 door?
Tyson1980 said:
LuS1fer said:
I'd have had the EP3 over the Golf but not the FN2 - but then I'd be looking for a 4 door which makes the decision for me. I'd be more inclined to look at a Cupra R in silver which always reminds me of the EP3 for some reason.
4 door civic typeR???I thought they were always 2 door?
I had an EP3 Civic Type R (2003) and a Mk V GTi (2006), both from new (although for your budget you're probably looking at the next gen Type R, same engine though).
30mpg is doable, if you drive with the right foot of (or your wife is) an anorexic fairy. You need to run both on high octane.
If the mrs is part (or all) of your buying decision process, get the Golf. It will be better on fuel (as every time you get in it, it won't say "drive me like Ridge Racer, grrrrr"), and is a billion times a more quality product (although the seats are better in the R). Neither went wrong in 3 years ownership on both, so whilst build quality is not the same; reliability is up there.
My Ep3 Type R definitely felt faster (this effect might be blunted in the newer one though) but you have to "drive it like you stole it" to extract this effect.
30mpg is doable, if you drive with the right foot of (or your wife is) an anorexic fairy. You need to run both on high octane.
If the mrs is part (or all) of your buying decision process, get the Golf. It will be better on fuel (as every time you get in it, it won't say "drive me like Ridge Racer, grrrrr"), and is a billion times a more quality product (although the seats are better in the R). Neither went wrong in 3 years ownership on both, so whilst build quality is not the same; reliability is up there.
My Ep3 Type R definitely felt faster (this effect might be blunted in the newer one though) but you have to "drive it like you stole it" to extract this effect.
stongle said:
I had an EP3 Civic Type R (2003) and a Mk V GTi (2006), both from new (although for your budget you're probably looking at the next gen Type R, same engine though).
30mpg is doable, if you drive with the right foot of (or your wife is) an anorexic fairy. You need to run both on high octane.
If the mrs is part (or all) of your buying decision process, get the Golf. It will be better on fuel (as every time you get in it, it won't say "drive me like Ridge Racer, grrrrr"), and is a billion times a more quality product (although the seats are better in the R). Neither went wrong in 3 years ownership on both, so whilst build quality is not the same; reliability is up there.
My Ep3 Type R definitely felt faster (this effect might be blunted in the newer one though) but you have to "drive it like you stole it" to extract this effect.
UK Civic Type R's don't need to be run on high octane fuel. Not even Honda themselves bother to recommend it. 30mpg is doable, if you drive with the right foot of (or your wife is) an anorexic fairy. You need to run both on high octane.
If the mrs is part (or all) of your buying decision process, get the Golf. It will be better on fuel (as every time you get in it, it won't say "drive me like Ridge Racer, grrrrr"), and is a billion times a more quality product (although the seats are better in the R). Neither went wrong in 3 years ownership on both, so whilst build quality is not the same; reliability is up there.
My Ep3 Type R definitely felt faster (this effect might be blunted in the newer one though) but you have to "drive it like you stole it" to extract this effect.
Well the Garage told me did when I bought it, so duly did it. And I'm sure I remember it had a 97EON printed on the fuel cap (although it went 5years ago so my memory might be wrong). I could well be confused / senile as I'm on a diesel estate these days so performance'ish motoring is a distant memory.
I doubt anyone got much above 35mpg driving these in "normal" conditions (60 on a motorway is not "normal" for this car).
I doubt anyone got much above 35mpg driving these in "normal" conditions (60 on a motorway is not "normal" for this car).
Tyson1980 said:
funkyrobot said:
I know you haven't asked about this, but how about a Mazda 3 MPS?
After a Skoda. The wife would not take the Mazda 
She wants a "decent brand" Woe is me...
She is also considering an Audi A3 if at all possible...
Oh well, I understand the brand snobbery. I have a Mazda 3 Sport (would love an MPS but saving for a house) and people in the office are always commenting on how it's an old man's car etc etc. Makes me laugh though as they drive a Citroen Xsara Picasso, a diesel Peugeot 106 and a diesel Vectra.
Not really one for brand snobbery me though. So if I had the choice I'd go for the MPS.
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