RE: PH Heroes: Honda Accord Type R
Discussion
As its my car in the feature, i thought i would say what i think and I am growing to love this car! Coming from a focus st3 which had loads of torque,the accord takes some getting used to! It gets a bit tedious having to wring its neck to get the power out of it especially as said it drops out of vtec unless you get it just right, but the sound it makes when it comes on cam is amazing especially with a short ram open cone!
The handling is very good, my focus was lowered on bilstein b12s with stiffer anti roll bars and the accord is more comfortable and just as compliant with the LSD! I haven't had it wheel spin on me yet, or under steer especially round roundabouts etc!
Fits five people comfortably, loads of room in the boot! Main issue is the seats don't fold flat but for me it's a second car so of no bother!
Attracts less attention that they civics and integras, especially when people ask you if you stuck the stickers on, not realising that they actually made a type r! I'm 23 and insurance is around £500 fully comp, fuel is not too bad, tyres cheapish, reliable etc! Not had any problems with mine so far but it has full honda history up to 90000 miles and I have a stack load of receipts! Keep an eye on the oil and top up when necessary! A lot of people forget that it still drives like a 2.2 off vtec, so has enough poke round town and when taking it steady!
It's a good all rounder car, can pick them up relatively cheap, and I'm hoping to take mine on track soon!
The handling is very good, my focus was lowered on bilstein b12s with stiffer anti roll bars and the accord is more comfortable and just as compliant with the LSD! I haven't had it wheel spin on me yet, or under steer especially round roundabouts etc!
Fits five people comfortably, loads of room in the boot! Main issue is the seats don't fold flat but for me it's a second car so of no bother!
Attracts less attention that they civics and integras, especially when people ask you if you stuck the stickers on, not realising that they actually made a type r! I'm 23 and insurance is around £500 fully comp, fuel is not too bad, tyres cheapish, reliable etc! Not had any problems with mine so far but it has full honda history up to 90000 miles and I have a stack load of receipts! Keep an eye on the oil and top up when necessary! A lot of people forget that it still drives like a 2.2 off vtec, so has enough poke round town and when taking it steady!
It's a good all rounder car, can pick them up relatively cheap, and I'm hoping to take mine on track soon!
Bezza1969 said:
s m said:
Seems like a P11 GT with more poke
20 seconds to 100? Was it wet/very hot when tested?
Don't think that Autocar test was representative and yes it was damp. EVO managed 0-100 in the 17.4s and 0-120 in 27.4 secs. Similar performance to an early Sierra Cosworth. 20 seconds to 100? Was it wet/very hot when tested?
One of my best mates owned one and sold to a Pistonheader last year. He also owned a Mk1 Skoda Octavia VRS twice and said that on full attack the Honda was a much quicker car and the best handling car he had ever owned.
Edited by anything fast on Wednesday 24th July 18:09
anything fast said:
Sierra Cosworth 0-100 15.8 for the sapphire and 0-60 in under 6.. in a different league as a performance car.
Well, in the right hands (feet?), the ATR is capable of well under 6s for the 0-60mph thing. See here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U53l435-_70 (Ed is one of the go-to guys for ATR knowledge).
t, awesome lurking!Very under rated performance car, we had a 2001 model at the same time as a Dc2 and an Impreza Sti.
The Accord type R was a versatile thing , 4 doors, comfy seats could be driven down to the shops or on a work commute just like any normal saloon ( good mpg as no turbo) but it had another side to its character that driven at 9/10's down your favourite B road the car comes alive in your hands like a big integra type R.
It's performance meant it was compared to the 330 sport saloon and Impreza
WRX when new, it was better than both in the handling department but was expensive and looked bland and was given a very outdated dash and interior which must have contributed to the low sales.
The Accord type R was a versatile thing , 4 doors, comfy seats could be driven down to the shops or on a work commute just like any normal saloon ( good mpg as no turbo) but it had another side to its character that driven at 9/10's down your favourite B road the car comes alive in your hands like a big integra type R.
It's performance meant it was compared to the 330 sport saloon and Impreza
WRX when new, it was better than both in the handling department but was expensive and looked bland and was given a very outdated dash and interior which must have contributed to the low sales.
anything fast said:
Bezza1969 said:
s m said:
Seems like a P11 GT with more poke
20 seconds to 100? Was it wet/very hot when tested?
Don't think that Autocar test was representative and yes it was damp. EVO managed 0-100 in the 17.4s and 0-120 in 27.4 secs. Similar performance to an early Sierra Cosworth. 20 seconds to 100? Was it wet/very hot when tested?
One of my best mates owned one and sold to a Pistonheader last year. He also owned a Mk1 Skoda Octavia VRS twice and said that on full attack the Honda was a much quicker car and the best handling car he had ever owned.
Edited by anything fast on Wednesday 24th July 18:09
I was inspired to get one of these by the white press car being on the front of "Car" with a typically excellent write up by the late lamented Russell Bulgin. It was cemented as a must-have when I saw a review on 5th gear or something that had Damon Hill in one on track. You could hear the VTEC bark even on the crummy old television I had then. The first and only Honda I have actually desired apart from the NSX>
Utterly brilliant, brilliant car. Always there for fun and the best 4-cylinder engine note on VTEC cams that I've driven. The gear ratios don't "quite" work.
Sadly - was doing so many motorway miles in it I sold it for a V6 S4. Comparatively speaking a pudding, but the turbine fed torque had it's own merits.
I was pleased to sell it to a young chap who was trading up from a Civic VTi, and who I think liked the fact I had put a fresh sump of Magnatec in it every 4.5k....I hope he had as much fun as me.
V490 ELK in Pyrates, I salute you.
Utterly brilliant, brilliant car. Always there for fun and the best 4-cylinder engine note on VTEC cams that I've driven. The gear ratios don't "quite" work.
Sadly - was doing so many motorway miles in it I sold it for a V6 S4. Comparatively speaking a pudding, but the turbine fed torque had it's own merits.
I was pleased to sell it to a young chap who was trading up from a Civic VTi, and who I think liked the fact I had put a fresh sump of Magnatec in it every 4.5k....I hope he had as much fun as me.
V490 ELK in Pyrates, I salute you.
jakeharvey63 said:
A lot of people forget that it still drives like a 2.2 off vtec, so has enough poke round town and when taking it steady!
Actually that has to be one of my biggest critisisms, that it really doesn't feel like a 2.2 off cam. While it makes a reasonably healthy 159lbft on VTEC, driving below 5700rpm it only musters up around 130lbft, which is more 1.8 territory. Good for fuel consumption, but it doesn't feel particularly powerful. Feeds the Jekyl and Hyde nature very well though.CO2000 said:
Is there any aftermarket gear sets or final drives available ?
Final drives yes, an MFactory piece takes it from 4.266 to 4.64 but it will do nothing for the drop between gears.An ECU upgrade and lowered VTEC point would be more beneficial IMO.
I seem to remember a magazine article, possibly evo coty but I'm thinking Autocar, where they had some roads closed off on The Isle of Man and the local traffic police did a run through in a marked Accord Type R,which even loaded with cones and doughnuts was faster than whatever sports car was following it.
Might have had something to do with the driver spending every working day caning around the island ,I suppose but the tone of the article was that they didn't think a hot rep mobile should be that fast.
Might have had something to do with the driver spending every working day caning around the island ,I suppose but the tone of the article was that they didn't think a hot rep mobile should be that fast.
I've got a 51 plate face lift ATR, identical to the feature car.
It's our family car and I love it, brilliant drivers car and much better than the 51 wrx wagon I had before.
My wife hasn't discovered vtec yet so fuel economy is good and she thinks it's a sensible car!
Only the spoiler are exhaust give it away...
It's our family car and I love it, brilliant drivers car and much better than the 51 wrx wagon I had before.
My wife hasn't discovered vtec yet so fuel economy is good and she thinks it's a sensible car!
Only the spoiler are exhaust give it away...
One of the worst cars Iv ever had the misfortune of owning. I took one in on a trade in for my evo 5. Gearing was terrible...even when u clipped the limiter it still dropped below the vtec and a complete power loss. No torque and as for handling I can't believe people are saying they are better than an impreza wrx! Madness! Iv also had two st220's and they are a better car in every way despite the weight disadvantage the ford would pull away from a tyre r accord all day long and with the torque from the v6 just felt better and faster. Even without an lsd i can throw a big heavy st220 into corners faster! And the LSD just made it twitchy....can't believe people think they were good! I liked the seats (same as my evo) and the steering wheel...after that I disliked everything.
outtadrally said:
One of the worst cars Iv ever had the misfortune of owning. I took one in on a trade in for my evo 5. Gearing was terrible...even when u clipped the limiter it still dropped below the vtec and a complete power loss. No torque and as for handling I can't believe people are saying they are better than an impreza wrx! Madness! Iv also had two st220's and they are a better car in every way despite the weight disadvantage the ford would pull away from a tyre r accord all day long and with the torque from the v6 just felt better and faster. Even without an lsd i can throw a big heavy st220 into corners faster! And the LSD just made it twitchy....can't believe people think they were good! I liked the seats (same as my evo) and the steering wheel...after that I disliked everything.
Sounds like you got a bad one. Shot suspension and cheap tyres perhaps.
Some rubbish being posted here! 
25 and currently own my Pre Facelift Accord Type R. THE BEST CAR I've ever owned. Originally I looked at Cupra Rs and Focus STs, well thank god I walked straight on by. I'll have owned this car 3 years in December, and I have no plans whatsoever to change or get rid.
For people complaining about the gear ratios etc, my only advice is "You need to learn to drive the car properly to really see the benefits of it". Initially I used to drop out of VTEC when changing gear, but now that doesn't happen at all. All the way into 5th, not a single drop. If you can't do it, I'm afraid that isnt the cars fault, it's yours. It's not the easiest thing to drive maximum attack, but that's what makes this car brilliant. You have to work to see the results. A lazy man's car this is not, where you just pump and squirt the loud peddle? Oh no! Handling is fantastic for the size and fact its FWD, the LSD gives a magical feeling too when it engages.
For the price you can pick one of these cars up for, its difficult to find many things on a par. I've driven Audi RS4s, RS5s, R8s on track in the UK, Finland, Portugal etc providing race tuition for customers of Nokian Tyres. But every time I couldnt wait to get back home to jump straight back into my Type R and go find some B Roads. Racing Cars are a different breed altogether obviously (No comparison for the Type R there I'm afraid) but you can't drive a racing car on the road :P
In short, I hope that more of these cars get bought by people who can't drive. That way the numbers will dwindle as incompetent fools crash/write them off, then blame the car for their own failed shortcomings. Then the value/demand will shoot up, and us drivers who know how to get the best out of these amazing cars, can be happy sitting on our VTEC Madness Nest Eggs! Long Live the ATR
25 and currently own my Pre Facelift Accord Type R. THE BEST CAR I've ever owned. Originally I looked at Cupra Rs and Focus STs, well thank god I walked straight on by. I'll have owned this car 3 years in December, and I have no plans whatsoever to change or get rid.
For people complaining about the gear ratios etc, my only advice is "You need to learn to drive the car properly to really see the benefits of it". Initially I used to drop out of VTEC when changing gear, but now that doesn't happen at all. All the way into 5th, not a single drop. If you can't do it, I'm afraid that isnt the cars fault, it's yours. It's not the easiest thing to drive maximum attack, but that's what makes this car brilliant. You have to work to see the results. A lazy man's car this is not, where you just pump and squirt the loud peddle? Oh no! Handling is fantastic for the size and fact its FWD, the LSD gives a magical feeling too when it engages.
For the price you can pick one of these cars up for, its difficult to find many things on a par. I've driven Audi RS4s, RS5s, R8s on track in the UK, Finland, Portugal etc providing race tuition for customers of Nokian Tyres. But every time I couldnt wait to get back home to jump straight back into my Type R and go find some B Roads. Racing Cars are a different breed altogether obviously (No comparison for the Type R there I'm afraid) but you can't drive a racing car on the road :P
In short, I hope that more of these cars get bought by people who can't drive. That way the numbers will dwindle as incompetent fools crash/write them off, then blame the car for their own failed shortcomings. Then the value/demand will shoot up, and us drivers who know how to get the best out of these amazing cars, can be happy sitting on our VTEC Madness Nest Eggs! Long Live the ATR
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