My New Run Around - Type R

[Pumajay]

Ive had the car about 6 months now so its not that new to me... but I thought it was time I parted with my trusty old Focus Diesel, 14 years, 7 owners and 218,000 hard abusive miles had started to take its toll on the old girl, she's now in car heaven resting.

This is my first Honda so I feel like im learning a lot as I go with this car, my background has been Ford's, mainly the Puma (of which I still own a track car)

This being my first Honda im still trying to find what works, the best suppliers and how to modify them to bring out the best in FN2.

If I had to criticise it and I do, id have to say that the ride is too harsh at times, great when your hooning about but when you just want a nice drive to and from work it crashes around and can be very uncomfortable and I have to say, its not that fast, I wasnt expecting much from it but I was hoping it would feel a bit quicker than it does, I remember my father in laws MK5 GTI feeling much faster, same power same sort of weight but the added torque from the turbo made it surge up through the revs, the Type R just lacks a bit of grunt, good fun in the Vtec zone though!!

Anyway, enough talk, here's a couple of pics of how it looked about a couple of weeks after I bought it.

No mods, just cleaned!







Since then I have done a couple of little mods

Im going for a bit of the black and red theme, seen on a few Milano's and it looks great IMO.

So far Ive done...

Black Wheels
Red "H" Wheel Centres
Carbon Mirror Covers
Carbon Door Handle Covers
Fly Eye'd Fog Lights
Fly Eye'd Mirror Indicators
FN GARAGE Sticker on Windscreen
SMD LED Interior Lights
SMD LED Side Lights
Mugen Reservoir Socks

This is the most recent picture, im planning on giving the car its winter prep next weekend so i'l get some better pics and post them up. Ive got some new products to try out so im looking forward to giving it a good clean!




Next up on the mods list is -

HID's
Alcantara Gear Gaitor (bought just need to fit)
Drilled and Grooved Discs and New Pads (being fitted monday evening)
Satin Black Roof Wrap
Steering wheel re-trimmed in Suede
Fly Eye Head Lights
Black A Pillar and Roof Lining
Paint Calipers Red

I'l keep the thread updated as I go.

[RacingBlue]

Agree with all the criticisms, as I've said elsewhere

Mine is good fun, but I've found you really need to be driving it like a knob to get the best out of it. At normal speeds and outside of VTEC all the annoyances over the ride etc seem to be multiplied.

[Pumajay]

100% Agree, unless your on it like a Nob then you might as well be in a comfy diesel Civic.

But for the few moments when you do get to thrash it its not actually that bad, does have a lot of understeer.

As an all rounder its flawed but I dont mind that too much. The thing I like most is the looks and the interior and being as I have a track car for my fun I can let the CTR off for a few minor problems.

[Pumajay]

Had a bit of spare time at the weekend so I managed to get the car cleaned up! Working at one the biggest granite quarrys isnt good for keeping your car clean, its always covered in pink dust!

Ive also carried out a few modifications, I didnt like the silver door handles and fuel cap so I added some carbon fibre covers and also carbon fibre wing mirror covers. I think it goes nicely with the black wheels and sets it apart from every other red Type R out there.

Im going to do a few other little bits but nothing OTT, its more just tidying the car up, Ive got a black alcantara gear gaitor to go in as the standard one is now ruined. The rocker cover also needs some attention as the paint is flaking off and I might add some engine bay bling at some point.

anyway a few picture of how it looks now... Im very happy with it!!

[Challo]

Looks great. I think i preferred the standard colour wheels with the red paint, but still looks good. My girlfriends sister has a 5 door 1.8 and i found the ride a little crashy in that but nothing too bad. The seats are very comfy and I love the interior on these.

Very tempted to get one of these or a Golf GTI when I sell the R53, if I dont get a cheap and cheerful runabout instead

Edited by Challo on Tuesday 2nd December 17:01

[RS Grant]

Please put down the barry'ing stick and leave it alone!! This stuff might earn you 'scene points' down McDonalds car park but it looks terribly chavtastic.

Fly Eye'd Fog Lights
Fly Eye'd Mirror Indicators
FN GARAGE Sticker on Windscreen
Mugen Reservoir Socks
Satin Black Roof Wrap
Fly Eye Head Lights
Paint Calipers Red

...this is just my opinion. It's obviously your car, so if you like it, just continue as you were.


Cheers,
Grant

[jezhumphrey75]

ignore this bellend^

get the mugen spoiler, well the imitation one, they look good with it

[Patch888]

jezhumphrey75 said:

ignore this bellend^

get the mugen spoiler, well the imitation one, they look good with it

I have to agree, I like the look of the small touches you've made, the carbon cover/ wrap also looks very nice, I've currently got an ep3 and the fn2 is a very tempting proposition.

[rallycross]

These are good value now available from £5k.
Not sure about spending money on any of the tat you've stuck on the car best mod is save up for an LSD and a decent set of tyres on 17" wheels then get some good brake pads.

[Pumajay]

I'm thick skinned enough to handle negative comments. I'm also laid back enough to not care as well.

Scene points... Pfft, screw that.

The carbon fibre is just a weakness I have, there proper CF covers, not dipped or wrapped.

Not really fussed about getting an LSD it's just my everyday car that I go too and from work in and take garden waste to the tip. It will also no doubt end up with baby seats in the back over the next couple of years as well. It's about as practical as it gets for a 27 year old, plus my wife likes it so that's 99% of the battle won.

Edited by Pumajay on Tuesday 2nd December 22:49

[DUMBO100]

I've done 50,000 miles in my FN2. It's standard apart from a k&n filter and I've enjoyed it a lot. I hope you enjoy yours. I've got a Golf R on order so it should be interesting to compare

[RS Grant]

jezhumphrey75 said:

ignore this bellend^

rallycross said:

These are good value now available from £5k.
Not sure about spending money on any of the tat you've stuck on the car best mod is save up for an LSD and a decent set of tyres on 17" wheels then get some good brake pads.

Totally agree... Type R are meant to be drivers cars, so throwing loads of extra tacky crap on them isn't really what they're all about, enhancing the driving experience/performance is where it's at for these cars in my opinion too.

Pumajay said:

The carbon fibre is just a weakness I have, there proper CF covers, not dipped or wrapped.

I don't have any issues with genuine carbon additions, I'm also a big fan if it's done tastefully.


Cheers,
Grant

[HorneyMX5]

I've done 22K in mine this year and I love it. I like the Jekyll and Hyde nature of the car and it is properly quick if you are committed to keeping it in the zone. Many people are just so used to boost these they don't know how to drive a high revving NA car (not saying this is you BTW). The challenge is keeping it above 5K and enjoying that lovely gear shift. Quite a few friends have commented that it seems wrong revving a car that hard, shows how times have changed.

I run mine with 10mm Eibach spacers and Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres and they understeer issue is much improved. I'm planning on fitting the camber bolts in the new year as it feels liek it will really benefit from half a degree or so of neg camber on the front.

[Pumajay]

I agree, I love a turbo charger as much as the next person but there is something very satisfying about having loads of revs to play with, driving the car fast does on a twisty lane actually requires some effort, especially with the lack of torque you have to keep it buzzing in the revs which I like.

Im not sure if mine is starting to suffer from the 3rd gear synchro issues or the gearbox mount might be on its way out, its popped out of gear a couple of times when I change from 3rd to 4th... Hope it isnt, I cant imagine its a cheap fix!!

[JG93]

I agree on the fly eye etc. but its your car at the end of the day, You should have a look at taking it to tdi north if your wanting extra power, they transformed my friends ep3, had a nice fn2 in too but it was being supercharged!

[DannyScene]

Patch888 said:

I have to agree, I like the look of the small touches you've made, the carbon cover/ wrap also looks very nice, I've currently got an ep3 and the fn2 is a very tempting proposition.

Really?

Why would you go from an EP3 which everyone regards as awesome to an FN2 which most agrees doesn't really deserve the Type-R badge at all? They also look so ugly compared to the EP3

[Tron1]

Out of interest where did you get the carbon bits? I'm liking them and may consider for my type r! Would upload a pic but it says the size is too big???

[Challo]

DannyScene said:

Patch888 said:

I have to agree, I like the look of the small touches you've made, the carbon cover/ wrap also looks very nice, I've currently got an ep3 and the fn2 is a very tempting proposition.

Really?

Why would you go from an EP3 which everyone regards as awesome to an FN2 which most agrees doesn't really deserve the Type-R badge at all? They also look so ugly compared to the EP3

What makes you say it doesn't deserve the TypeR badge at all? (I don't own one just interested)

EP3 197 BHP, 0-60 6.4secs
FN2 198 BHP, 0-60 6.4secs

I personally think they are better looking inside and out compared to the EP3

[Pumajay]

Tron1 said:

Out of interest where did you get the carbon bits? I'm liking them and may consider for my type r! Would upload a pic but it says the size is too big???

Theres a guy on the Civinfo forum that sells it, check the approved traders section and you'll find it.

Challo said:

What makes you say it doesn't deserve the TypeR badge at all? (I don't own one just interested)

EP3 197 BHP, 0-60 6.4secs
FN2 198 BHP, 0-60 6.4secs

I personally think they are better looking inside and out compared to the EP3

Agreed, the main reason I bought it was for the looks and the interior, If I wanted a better drive I'd of bought the EP3 but seeing as I have a Ford Puma track car as well all I needed was something nice to drive that was quickish.... Like I said, I go to work, the tip and trips to the shops in it.

Its not the fastest hot hatch, not the best handling and yes the ride is god awful on a bumpy road, but as a car, its fine for me, it looks good, seats are comfy, great interior and I can get two sets of golf clubs in the boot. Plus its a million times better than the Focus I used to drive, 14 years old, 220k and everything on it was broken.

[DannyScene]

Challo said:

DannyScene said:

Patch888 said:

I have to agree, I like the look of the small touches you've made, the carbon cover/ wrap also looks very nice, I've currently got an ep3 and the fn2 is a very tempting proposition.

Really?

Why would you go from an EP3 which everyone regards as awesome to an FN2 which most agrees doesn't really deserve the Type-R badge at all? They also look so ugly compared to the EP3

What makes you say it doesn't deserve the TypeR badge at all? (I don't own one just interested)

EP3 197 BHP, 0-60 6.4secs
FN2 198 BHP, 0-60 6.4secs

I personally think they are better looking inside and out compared to the EP3

I'm just basing it on every opinion I've ever heard of both cars, including motoring magazines and the like

I've never driven either but am a big fan of the EP3 and I think they lost the plot on the FN2