RE: Honda Civic Type R: the tech

[BlackpoolMR2]

Ali_T said:

BlackpoolMR2 said:

How do PH get an article abou the civic R wrong so often?
EK9, EP3, FN2, FD2.
Surely this is the 4th gen Type R.

It is. Though some would even argue that the EG6 SiR should be counted. They're wrong, but Civic fanatics like to argue a lot.

If they wanted to argue that then they should include the siR CRX too.

[BlackpoolMR2]

TameRacingDriver said:

krismccloy said:

Honda toned down everything with the FN2, People complained about it being boring & slow etc...

Don't agree. I love my FN2. I used to own a DC2, go figure pal. Ever driven one? Definitely not boring or slow. Better than the EP3 I drove. But hey, Clarkson knows everything eh?

I've driven a DC2, owned an EK9 and an siR crx. I almost bought an FN2 but it was kack. It was a slow fat mans 'type r'. It's not a type r unless its a B series.

[Thunder18]

BlackpoolMR2 said:

I've driven a DC2, owned an EK9 and an siR crx. I almost bought an FN2 but it was kack. It was a slow fat mans 'type r'. It's not a type r unless its a B series.

Bullst, the first ever Type R was a J series engine!! Would you turn your nose up at an NSX R.... doubt it!!

[Martin_Hx]

EK9 wasn't available to buy in the UK, you could only buy as an import hence why its not in the list

[TameRacingDriver]

BlackpoolMR2 said:

I've driven a DC2, owned an EK9 and an siR crx. I almost bought an FN2 but it was kack. It was a slow fat mans 'type r'. It's not a type r unless its a B series.

Well, I owned a DC2 for nearly 3 years, and 3 months into ownership I can say the FN2 is most definitely not a slow fat mans Type-R. In fact, I dare say the FN2 is actually a faster car than the DC2 for starters... Yes of course, it has more toys - but I actually like that, its not a weekend only car, so having some creature comforts is welcome, believe it or not. So your statement is bks I'm afraid.

[Axionknight]

TameRacingDriver said:

krismccloy said:

Honda toned down everything with the FN2, People complained about it being boring & slow etc...

Don't agree. I love my FN2. I used to own a DC2, go figure pal. Ever driven one? Definitely not boring or slow. Better than the EP3 I drove. But hey, Clarkson knows everything eh?

The FN2 gets loads of stick but I'm not sure why, every review I have seen or read is favourable apart from Clarksons and I have use of one (a friends) and it is a great, great car, excellent engine and gearbox, it looks great, sounds great, goes well and is great fun to hustle, on top of that it has decent seats and loads of room - the boot is vast.

[otolith]

Axionknight said:

The FN2 gets loads of stick but I'm not sure why, every review I have seen or read is favourable apart from Clarksons and I have use of one (a friends) and it is a great, great car, excellent engine and gearbox, it looks great, sounds great, goes well and is great fun to hustle, on top of that it has decent seats and loads of room - the boot is vast.

I had an EP3 and was part of the owner community at the time the FN2 was launched. A lot of EP3 owners were hoping that the car would "fix" the aspects in which the EP3 had moved away from the previous Type-R models. They were bitterly disappointed when it emerged having moved further in the opposite direction. It had not acquired anything off their wish-lists and was heavier with no more power. So the stick was less about what it was, and more about what it was not. The new model appears to have taken another direction again.

[Axionknight]

otolith said:

I had an EP3 and was part of the owner community at the time the FN2 was launched. A lot of EP3 owners were hoping that the car would "fix" the aspects in which the EP3 had moved away from the previous Type-R models. They were bitterly disappointed when it emerged having moved further in the opposite direction. It had not acquired anything off their wish-lists and was heavier with no more power. So the stick was less about what it was, and more about what it was not. The new model appears to have taken another direction again.

Imagine a company trying to broaden the appeal of one of their cars at the expense of a couple of fan boys, that is life these days I'm afraid - just about every manufacturer in the game is at it, sadly.

Personally I drove both and preferred the FN2 in every way, the only real fly in the ointment for me are the brakes which just aren't that great as standard, I believe the basic hardware is the same as the EP3s and I'm guessing they aren't as sharp due to the extra weight they need to haul up.

I also kept an eye on that ownership community and noted that many made the swap and were happy with the change.

[TameRacingDriver]

Axionknight said:

Imagine a company trying to broaden the appeal of one of their cars at the expense of a couple of fan boys, that is life these days I'm afraid - just about every manufacturer in the game is at it, sadly.

Personally I drove both and preferred the FN2 in every way, the only real fly in the ointment for me are the brakes which just aren't that great as standard, I believe the basic hardware is the same as the EP3s and I'm guessing they aren't as sharp due to the extra weight they need to haul up.

I also kept an eye on that ownership community and noted that many made the swap and were happy with the change.

Agree about the brakes, I reckon some half decent pads, braided lines and fluid should sharpen them up. The FN2 is only 60kg heavier than the EP3, and personally, it's worth it to have the cabin which is MASSIVELY better than the EP3 or DC2. OK those things don't mean anything to some, but for me its nice to have. In my eyes the EP3 looks "classic" but dated. The FN2 is a nicer looking car to my eyes. Again, for me, nice to have. People moan about the rear torsion axle or whatever, but the Renaultsports use this set up and they don't usually get slated for handling. The FN2 is better the harder you drive it. Oh, and finally, everyone should have a Hondata. It should have been that way from the factory. It feels noticeably quicker, you get the VTEC noise earlier, a higher redline, more torque, and it really just feels like the standard one on steroids. I love it, just like I loved my DC2, but I'm older now, so its nice to have something with the same spirit but a bit more "grown up". In fact, considering how it feels now with probably around 215 bhp (standard are said to be around 208-210) but the extra torque and mid range, its very easy to do very silly speeds. God only knows how ridiculous the speed is going to be in this new one!

[otolith]

It didn't help their cause much when a Honda marketing person said that they were trying to move the car away from "boy racers" and appeal more to women. Way to go with that brand loyalty, chaps. Broadening the appeal of a product is all well and good, but it inevitably devalues it as it ceases to mean anything. It really depends what you want to do with it, though. If you are trying to maintain a halo product, you can accept it only being bought by "fan boys" (or enthusiasts, as we used to call them in more polite times). If you basically want a trim level, a Honda Civic Ghia, have at it. Looking at their new car, it appears to me that they have changed their mind about that. Looks like it's narrowly aimed at the kind of people they were disparaging, who I suspect they now need to claw back from Renault.