CIVIC TYPE R FN2 or MINI COOPER S R56
Discussion
Hello,
Obviously I will need to try out both of these cars first, but my main criteria is handling on a car. I will use the car as an everyday car and occasionally on a track. Both car fine cars and that's what makes the choice so much harder.
Which would you choose ? and your reasons please.
Currently running a 205 Turbo Technics as a classic car so must be more fun than that if possible .........so I can keep that in the garage and keep it as low mileage..
Obviously I will need to try out both of these cars first, but my main criteria is handling on a car. I will use the car as an everyday car and occasionally on a track. Both car fine cars and that's what makes the choice so much harder.
Which would you choose ? and your reasons please.
Currently running a 205 Turbo Technics as a classic car so must be more fun than that if possible .........so I can keep that in the garage and keep it as low mileage..
I've had both. Both are flawed in their own ways:
- The Mini (especially if it's an early R56 will have all manner of engine issues (timing chains, coking up, loss of power as a result of both).
-The Civic will probably be more reliable in the long run - the engine is great, however the car it is in is a bit rubbish. Build quality is crap, bits of trim will fall off, creak and rattle. The car just doesn't feel that fast, despite that engine.
Of the two, I'd probably say Civic, but I wouldn't buy either again.
- The Mini (especially if it's an early R56 will have all manner of engine issues (timing chains, coking up, loss of power as a result of both).
-The Civic will probably be more reliable in the long run - the engine is great, however the car it is in is a bit rubbish. Build quality is crap, bits of trim will fall off, creak and rattle. The car just doesn't feel that fast, despite that engine.
Of the two, I'd probably say Civic, but I wouldn't buy either again.
Nosman said:
Currently running a 205 Turbo Technics as a classic car so must be more fun than that if possible .........so I can keep that in the garage and keep it as low mileage..
Sorry for the thread diversion, was lucky enough to have a lot of fun in one of those (1990, converted from new) it's still listed as SORN on the DVLA website, where are you now G124 DELI'd chose the Mini
neutral 3 said:
Minis are Unreliable. But, I Loved the red / black 2002 Cooper S, that I owned from Sept 04 to Jan 05.
As for the Civic......
The r56 has a fair few issues and pre 2012 is prone to carbon build up and timing chains where as the supercharged r53 is very simple to work on and fairly reliable I read on a different thread on p/h a chap has an r53 with over 300,000 miles on it. As for the Civic......
The r53 is easy to tune and the noise from the supercharger is addictive. A definite future classic.
Ozzer2006 said:
The r56 has a fair few issues and pre 2012 is prone to carbon build up and timing chains where as the supercharged r53 is very simple to work on and fairly reliable I read on a different thread on p/h a chap has an r53 with over 300,000 miles on it.
The r53 is easy to tune and the noise from the supercharger is addictive. A definite future classic.
Gearboxes are weak, head gaskets, they aren’t without their fair share of faults. The r53 is easy to tune and the noise from the supercharger is addictive. A definite future classic.
Clio 172 is what I would be buying.
neutral 3 said:
Ozzer2006 said:
The r56 has a fair few issues and pre 2012 is prone to carbon build up and timing chains where as the supercharged r53 is very simple to work on and fairly reliable I read on a different thread on p/h a chap has an r53 with over 300,000 miles on it.
The r53 is easy to tune and the noise from the supercharger is addictive. A definite future classic.
Gearboxes are weak, head gaskets, they aren’t without their fair share of faults. The r53 is easy to tune and the noise from the supercharger is addictive. A definite future classic.
Clio 172 is what I would be buying.
I going to have a rethink on the cars as I need some sort of reliability and will test drive both if possible before choosing either 
I think you guys have put me off both cars
(mk1cooper) "Sorry for the thread diversion, was lucky enough to have a lot of fun in one of those (1990, converted from new) it's still listed as SORN on the DVLA website, where are you now G124 DEL" Mine was converted from new as well being a K plate. Had a full engine rebuild so it runs well
I think you guys have put me off both cars(mk1cooper) "Sorry for the thread diversion, was lucky enough to have a lot of fun in one of those (1990, converted from new) it's still listed as SORN on the DVLA website, where are you now G124 DEL" Mine was converted from new as well being a K plate. Had a full engine rebuild so it runs well
Whoops sorry op never meant to put you off either car. Unfortunately the two cars you originally chose are the worst of there type. The civic EP3 and the mini R53 are the sweet spot for both and are both the previous generations from your original choice. If it were me looking for a 200 bhp warm hatch it's the earlier generation cars in would be looking at.
Nosman said:
(mk1cooper) "Sorry for the thread diversion, was lucky enough to have a lot of fun in one of those (1990, converted from new) it's still listed as SORN on the DVLA website, where are you now G124 DEL" Mine was converted from new as well being a K plate. Had a full engine rebuild so it runs well
That 'special' button on the dash used to get pressed rather a lot, loved the fact that apart from the tiny cut on the grill for the pipe routing there was nothing else on the car that made it look different from a standard 1.9, we didn't fit any of the extra badges. Interested in this as I'm considering a cheap'ish project car at some point. Had/have Minis and I like them - full of character but have been put off the cheaper pre-LCI Cooper S with the N14 engine. Civic is definitely on the list - love the styling etc. Mate has a late R53 (so I think xenons, teflon coated charger etc as standard?) and he loves it. As above, I've been half keeping an eye on R53 prices for a while and they are creeping up.
DaveyBoyWonder said:
Interested in this as I'm considering a cheap'ish project car at some point. Had/have Minis and I like them - full of character but have been put off the cheaper pre-LCI Cooper S with the N14 engine. Civic is definitely on the list - love the styling etc. Mate has a late R53 (so I think xenons, teflon coated charger etc as standard?) and he loves it. As above, I've been half keeping an eye on R53 prices for a while and they are creeping up.
Totally agree. The r53 is brilliant fun. A bit flawed in areas but a supercharger whine and an LSD not sure it can be beaten for the money. The ride is horrendous with sport's suspension+ and run flats but ditching the run flats makes it easier to live with.In the R56 the later (N18?) engine is reliable. I’ve got one in this form and I think it’s a great car and is a really good fun way to cover ground briskly. Ride and body control are great. Downside is raking around trying to find one in a spec you like if going for a standard S /JCW. Space is also at a premium so if you need to carry much gear then it’s back seats down.
If going for the FN2 I would actively avoid the larger GT wheels as the ride was too crashy for me and ultimately slows you down as you are puckering up for every wrinkle in the tarmac. I preferred the EP3 as a package so if that’s an option I’d go that way over the FN. Both Civic’s will have much better interior space.
What sort of hot Megane can you get for your budget? If you can live with the interior they might be worth a look in. A friend had a 225 F1 and I was always fond of it, pulled really nicely and the seats were great. Usual Renault Sport van wheel and dash unfortunately, but a pretty beguiling thing all told.
If going for the FN2 I would actively avoid the larger GT wheels as the ride was too crashy for me and ultimately slows you down as you are puckering up for every wrinkle in the tarmac. I preferred the EP3 as a package so if that’s an option I’d go that way over the FN. Both Civic’s will have much better interior space.
What sort of hot Megane can you get for your budget? If you can live with the interior they might be worth a look in. A friend had a 225 F1 and I was always fond of it, pulled really nicely and the seats were great. Usual Renault Sport van wheel and dash unfortunately, but a pretty beguiling thing all told.
As mentioned above, I've been looking at the two main options you mentioned. £5k should easily see you into a facelift Type R which will have xenons and LSD as standard I think, the LSD I've been told is a must upgrade for a pre-FL.
I was looking at EP3s as well as I had an EP2 I liked waaaaaay back in the past but read too many horror stories of them rusting and I don't think the FN2 suffers as bad as the EP3s did.
I was looking at EP3s as well as I had an EP2 I liked waaaaaay back in the past but read too many horror stories of them rusting and I don't think the FN2 suffers as bad as the EP3s did.
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