Civic Type R FK8. Shall I go mental?

Civic Type R FK8. Shall I go mental?

Author
Discussion

Speed Badger

Original Poster:

2,667 posts

116 months

Friday 24th January 2020
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Hi all, as a previous owner of two DC2 integras, two DC5 Integras, an EP3, FD2 and FK2 (and Mrs Badger has an FN2 Type R), it seems like the logical next step.

My heart says get one but my head says, 'noooo save the money.' But save the money for what? To buy more stuff? To get the boiler fixed or if the washing machine packs up? There are funds available for that.

I've been feeling very fatalistic of late, and the old adage of you only live once is currently winning against my sensible head. I know £26k is not an enormous amount of money to some, but a fortune to others - I'm definitely on the side of 'that's a lot of money to spend on a car' end.

I have had 37 cars in my 35 years and I am actually getting fed up of changing cars - it often happens when the depreciation monkey gets me and I have to get rid. But I am determined to keep this a good while and depreciation be damned. I don't worry about how much my new TV will be worth in two years time, so why a car?

Anyway, I may just follow my heart...

Down on the Farm

207 posts

52 months

Friday 24th January 2020
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Speed badger,

Hahaha! Head over heart - that old chestnut!

I suspect most of us petrolheads on here have this dilemma all the time.

I find that the head over heart deliberations leads to procrastination! So what to do?

iMO if you have sound control of your finances, which it sounds like you do, why not go ahead and enjoy your hard earned gains in whatever way you feel appropriate.

Should I compromise? Buy cheap buy twice and all that. Just buy what you want.

The most important criteria for me when buying a car is it has to do the job it's intended for, and there is probably some compromises to be balanced against life's practicalities. For me now I want a car that is all things and has LASTING appeal and my next car will fulfill that brief. Yes you can lose a lot of money on cars, as we all have done. So make the right choice for YOU and enjoy!


Don Roque

17,990 posts

158 months

Friday 24th January 2020
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I would definitely go for it. My brother is looking at getting one at some point so he had test driven all the usual competition (apart from the Megane). He was blown away by the Civic, and is a long time Honda fan and previous EP3 owner.

I would advise against getting one in white though, as Honda finish and paint is notoriously thin. My wife has a pearl white 9th Gen Civic and the paint on that is a pain in the arse to keep clean. Not such a stress on a throwaway white goods car, but not something I'd want on a £30,000 motor that was meant to look amazing. I'm not sure how we ended up with the white Civic (and we had a white Jazz Hybrid at the same time). I owned a white MR2 Turbo years ago and vowed never to get another white car after that.

GregK2

1,651 posts

145 months

Friday 24th January 2020
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Quite the Type R ownership history! What are you in currently? What appeals about the FK8?

Belle427

8,864 posts

232 months

Friday 24th January 2020
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You only live once and all that!
Reviews from some seem to suggest it's the best hot hatch out there.

Speed Badger

Original Poster:

2,667 posts

116 months

Friday 24th January 2020
quotequote all
GregK2 said:
Quite the Type R ownership history! What are you in currently? What appeals about the FK8?
I sold my FK2 last year and am currently running around in a Clio 182. I've had one before, such a great car. Hopefully going to hang onto it for a bit.

The FK8 appeals because I have a big fondness for Honda Type R's! Just think they've got a passion to them as well as being great cars. I also finally like the way the FK8 looks after 3 years, and I am no longer thinking the designers had too much Saki, just enough I think. It seems like it does everything really well, just as a hot hatch should do, with the addition of comfort mode and the independent rear suspension. I love the fact it has been designed as a Type R from the ground up, and you can only have it with a 6 speed manual and silly red seats. It is quite big though, that is my only slight reservation, along with dropping 26k on one(!). I'm very tempted by a polished metal one near me, might have to get my Type R freak on driving

GregK2

1,651 posts

145 months

Friday 24th January 2020
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I think they look a bit much in pictures, but I've thought they looked great when I've seen the odd one on the road. Blue or Polished Metal Grey would be my preference.
Go for it if the man maths adds up I say..

likesachange

2,630 posts

193 months

Friday 24th January 2020
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They are pretty epic!!

I have a metallic grey one with 4k miles 19 plate HKS exhaust which just depends the tone a little and gives it some character (although still not much) I am thinking of getting rid of to pay for my house renovation.. If serious message me.

But yes it seems a no brainer for you, very civilised and suspension is superb considering the wheels and profile of tyres!!

renmure

4,213 posts

223 months

Friday 24th January 2020
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I'm going to be the boring old git and say I wouldn't in your position. It's a Honda so there's not much to go wrong with the car but insurance isn't cheap, alloys are prone to damage, tyres don't last with any spirited driving, servicing isn't outrageous but hardly at budget level and the small fuel tank reminds you that the economy isn't wonderful.

Driving it is ace and if you're really in the mood it feels like a very special Type R and is the best hot hatch out there. The flip side is if you aren't in the mood you can set it to comfort mode and it feels like a shopping Honda. That's all great but it's a lot of money for something that you mainly get pleasure from when you're having a bit of fun. Otherwise it's a pretty expensive daily driver.


likesachange

2,630 posts

193 months

Friday 24th January 2020
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I think the economy is great... Obviously when you want it to be. On a same run out to site in my T5.1 I could only muster 37mpg.. the same gentle pace and speed I got 41 in the type R..

Having had the FK2 am sure your familiar with most of these facts tho... By all accounts the FK8 is a more grown up FK2.

ChrisH72

2,128 posts

51 months

Friday 24th January 2020
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Yes, definitely go mental.

In a way it's nice that you know exactly what car you want so if you're in a position to do it you should.

Like many of us I suspect, my biggest problem is that I just can't decide what car to go for and I really struggle with the whole head/heart thing. I also have a wife who doesn't much care for cars and thinks they should be kept until they break. Whenever I mention changing mine I get the whole...what's wrong with it, you've only just got it, we need the bathroom doing, what about a holiday blah blah blah! I guess it reins me in a bit and is probably for my own good. Saves me from financial ruin!!

Speed Badger

Original Poster:

2,667 posts

116 months

Friday 24th January 2020
quotequote all
Insurance is pretty good as I live in a good postcode, I've been quoted about £360 ish. Renmure - like you say I think this particular Type R seems to have the capacity for daily plodding and mentalist fun, which is what I'm after. I wouldn't be using it as a daily every day but often enough so it's not sitting there being a 26 grand paperweight!

RichardDastardly

157 posts

62 months

Saturday 25th January 2020
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If the purchase price won’t break the bank and Mrs Badger’s not against it - go mental !!! It’ll be nagging at you for years if you don’t.


Montybaber

88 posts

61 months

Saturday 25th January 2020
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I have driven my FK8 as a daily drive for a year, it's a comfortable place to be, plenty of toys although not quite as polished as many cars I have owned, it all works though, seats/driving position is incredible never been uncomfortable and always feel supported, the seat in fact is everything you need to know about this car, it works for every scenario

The looks, I like it, everyone in the street says they like it (I do think that in life the only people going to pipe up about a car your getting out of will have positive things to say) I look at it sometimes and think hmmm no, most of the time its pretty pleasing to the eye and occasionally I think wow, I love it for that, keeps you guessing smile

I get 30-35mpg, apart from annoying sensors on the front that go off in the rain (known fault with front grill, Honda working on it) it has been bulletproof, tyres wear quickly and cost £200-250 each

There is nothing out there like it really, if you love cars and are willing to let out your inner child then buy one, I like to think all the haters are just too up themselves to admit they love it smile

I never keep cars and dont worry enough about depreciation, I still look around but nothing pulls me away from the Honda, I would be happy keeping it long term

ZX10R NIN

27,494 posts

124 months

Saturday 25th January 2020
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You came to the wrong place if you wanted to be talked out of buying one biglaugh

Speed Badger

Original Poster:

2,667 posts

116 months

Saturday 25th January 2020
quotequote all
Montybaber said:
I have driven my FK8 as a daily drive for a year, it's a comfortable place to be, plenty of toys although not quite as polished as many cars I have owned, it all works though, seats/driving position is incredible never been uncomfortable and always feel supported, the seat in fact is everything you need to know about this car, it works for every scenario

The looks, I like it, everyone in the street says they like it (I do think that in life the only people going to pipe up about a car your getting out of will have positive things to say) I look at it sometimes and think hmmm no, most of the time its pretty pleasing to the eye and occasionally I think wow, I love it for that, keeps you guessing smile

I get 30-35mpg, apart from annoying sensors on the front that go off in the rain (known fault with front grill, Honda working on it) it has been bulletproof, tyres wear quickly and cost £200-250 each

There is nothing out there like it really, if you love cars and are willing to let out your inner child then buy one, I like to think all the haters are just too up themselves to admit they love it smile

I never keep cars and dont worry enough about depreciation, I still look around but nothing pulls me away from the Honda, I would be happy keeping it long term
Printing this out and pinning to the fridge smile.

Haha ZX - It's not so much I'm looking to be talked out of it, more like I need to be talked in to spending my money! I'm a bit of a hoarder when it comes to money, I'm very generous, not stingy at all, I just always like to have a wedge squirreled away for, well I don't know really. Maybe it's the comfort it's there, and if I wanted to go nuts and buy an Omega watch or a holiday, or buy some more Sylvanian families st for the small one, I can.

Maybe I should go outside my comfort zone. It can always be replenished with further saving in future I guess.

Plus being 35 I can just about get away with driving about in an FK8, it being designed by Japanese children, without looking like I'm balls-deep into a mid-life crisis.


drgoatboy

1,611 posts

206 months

Saturday 25th January 2020
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Just do it!
Had a similar dilemma recently and like you I like to have money just in case...
But like you I also decided life was too short so I went and got an Evora S. LOVE IT!
I don't miss the money in the bank, savings are building back up, and if I ever got desperate for cash I can sell the car.
You don't know what is coming tomorrow so enjoy today....

ZX10R NIN

27,494 posts

124 months

Saturday 25th January 2020
quotequote all
Speed Badger said:
Printing this out and pinning to the fridge smile.

Haha ZX - It's not so much I'm looking to be talked out of it, more like I need to be talked in to spending my money! I'm a bit of a hoarder when it comes to money, I'm very generous, not stingy at all, I just always like to have a wedge squirreled away for, well I don't know really. Maybe it's the comfort it's there, and if I wanted to go nuts and buy an Omega watch or a holiday, or buy some more Sylvanian families st for the small one, I can.

Maybe I should go outside my comfort zone. It can always be replenished with further saving in future I guess.

Plus being 35 I can just about get away with driving about in an FK8, it being designed by Japanese children, without looking like I'm balls-deep into a mid-life crisis.
Here's why you should buy one, they're great fun now there's nothing to say you can't carry on squirreling money away after you've bought the car.

This one looks good value:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

If you can't get past having a bit of a nest egg then the i30 N Performance would be a worth a look:

2019

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Fastback

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

2018 with 6k left in your rainy day fund

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Speed Badger

Original Poster:

2,667 posts

116 months

Saturday 25th January 2020
quotequote all
ZX10R NIN said:
Here's why you should buy one, they're great fun now there's nothing to say you can't carry on squirreling money away after you've bought the car.

This one looks good value:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

If you can't get past having a bit of a nest egg then the i30 N Performance would be a worth a look:

2019

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Fastback

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

2018 with 6k left in your rainy day fund

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
Thanks ZX, yes the one thing I hadn't really thought about was the fact I can start saving money again. I just had it in my mind of it being gone and back to square one, but as mentioned before I can always sell the car if needs be and it won't have any finance on.

Thanks for the efforts in your options, unfortunately I have a hideously specific set of requirements - must be a 2018 model (for warranty), no more than 15k miles, 1 owner, polished metal, no more than £26500 at the absolute most.

The Hyundai I30n is very appealing on paper, but I just have no connection to it, it has no history behind it and I don't feel it. I'm sure it's a very good car though.

ZX10R NIN

27,494 posts

124 months

Saturday 25th January 2020
quotequote all
To me it sounds like you need to buy this car, one thing you can get a full fat Manufacturers Warranty extensions on 2017 cars.

Here you go:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...