LOH's 2016 Civic Type-R, contains spoilers**
Discussion
RossB_eg4 said:
Spotted you yesterday in Carlisle; just as i was reinforcing the point over how the previous gen Civic Type R always grows on me once the newer one has been released!
Cosmic Grey (if that's what they still call it) is definitely the pick of the bunch too.
Hope I wasn't picking my nose Cosmic Grey (if that's what they still call it) is definitely the pick of the bunch too.
snoopy25 said:
Any updates on the Civic LOH? its a lovely looking car, would love to own one in the future 
Well, in finest Honda fashion there really isn't a whole heap to report. The car continues to earn it's keep as a fantastic daily driver that can drive like a maniac, be surprisingly frugal all while dropping offspring off at nursery and large kitchen appliances at various locations (current record is a full size oven, microwave combi oven, bowl and a half composite sink and boiling water tap with boiler-all in manufacturers full packaging!).The head unit has been through a bit of a frustrating period which ended up requiring a software re-boot. It's a bit of an aftermarket jobby and not particularly fantastic but it does the job well enough, as much as a touch screen alpine-esque thing can do. They also fitted a Honda Connect dongle FOC while it was in.
The car has had a couple of engine management lights come on in the last few months but seem to be symptoms of nothing according to the dealership. They go off after 24 hours but I may as well get them checked out-nothing to report back on that front.
My only gripe is that our local Honda dealership don't provide a valet after any work done. Not the end of the world but along with the Jazz courtesy car it's a little beneath the pay grade of the model, if you're paying £30k+ for a car I kind of expect a bit of a spruce up when it requires bringing in.
Regardless, I still love the thing.
So much in fact I've kind of thought about keeping it long term. I put a 5 year servicing plan on it when I bought it (second "free" service due next month) and Honda will increase the manufacturers warranty to 5 years for an entirely reasonable sounding £800 which means fixed costs motoring into the next decade. In a car so practical that suits me so well I kind of can't think of a reason to change.
I also think that depreciation will really tail off around year 3 so those extra 2 years will be pretty cheap motoring.
At (I think) 14k miles now it's also in need of yet another set of tyres. I really like the contis that it came on and that I stuck with but you have to face facts-you'll only see 5k or so road miles on the fronts and a decent track day will wipe off the best part of them in a day.
I'm not sure what the alternatives are that will provide the same levels of grip but with slightly more longevity. Supersports are more expensive and anything cheaper will no doubt not perform as well. Any other owners who have any advice, shout out!
A really great thread, really interesting insight into ownership and daily experience. I have to say when they launched this car I thought it looked awful but now it’s really grown on me to the point where having read this, I would consider buying one!
That’s also helped by the hideous new Type R they have just launched which makes this look well styled and reserved in some respects. It’s interesting to note that it ticks all boxes for you, often these cars are touted as the perfect ‘daily’ by fall quite short on some aspects but it really sounds like the Honda has done well.
Please keep the thread updated and enjoy!
Si
That’s also helped by the hideous new Type R they have just launched which makes this look well styled and reserved in some respects. It’s interesting to note that it ticks all boxes for you, often these cars are touted as the perfect ‘daily’ by fall quite short on some aspects but it really sounds like the Honda has done well.
Please keep the thread updated and enjoy!
Si
Reading back through this thread as something to do while I'm feeling like crap from some virus....
The car is now approaching three years old! I can't believe it!
The simple fact is I think this could be the first ever car that I've kept this long-I may have had my Mk3 MR2 Spyder that long but I'm not sure, the MINI GP was about 26 months so nearly but nothing that I can remember has ever lasted this long.
To be uncharitable, I could say that (as with the MINI) work and family life has been so hectic that a change of car was simply not that practical but it wouldn't strictly be true. In a mild mid life panic I put a deposit down on a 997.2 911 Carrara 2 but the company who were selling made a complete balls up of it and I ended up pulling out and getting my money back.
I was a little disappointed as it was my perfect spec but as the L in LOH fell pregnant within weeks of this is maybe wasn't too bad of a situation after all!
So now another kid on the way, which we are super excited about, another blossuing new business that requires a set of wheels with some space and guess what? I think it may stay a while yet...
So it needs yet another new set of tyres soon (that'll be another £320 or so) and I'm guessing it's next service and first MOT at April when it becomes three years old.
God knows how many tyres I've gotten through (nor how many miles I've driven on the edge of legality) but they just work so damn well with the car that I'm loathed to change them. I think I've done 3 sets of fronts and this will be my second rears but I can't quite remember as I've swapped them around. Car has only just clicked over 21k this week mind you!
As it's the rears that are dead this time and as I only put the fronts on last september or so, I'll probably put the part worn fronts on the back and the new ones on the front. If I needed to change all four tyres I would consider chnaging brands but in all honesty I do think the Sport Contact 6s (being developed for the car) are worth sticking with. They're made of cheese of course but they feel fantastic and I haven't been caught out by them in the wet at all yet.
So if it's to stay another year or so, what else? I put the 5 year service plan on so that feels like a good marker for me personally. I've wrote before that the warranty can be extended to five years for £850 with seems like value for a complex little bugger but ties in nicely with the service plan.
However when you look at Honda's site;
https://www.honda.co.uk/cars/owners/extended-guara...
It's only £460 for one year, the £400 for the next-in other words a tenner to spread the cost over two years unless the price goes up. There's no mention of a Type-R exclusivity either. Anyone have any experience yet?
So I'm thinking new tyres, a years ticket and service and all warrantied up until 2020. Sounds good doesn't it?
Not sure what the settlement figure is (probably around £16.5K) but if I do that over a personal loan it seems cheap motoring for the next 12-24 months now that prices have stabilised.
The fact that I'll need two kiddie seats in the back, the building business we have needing plenty of boot space means I can't think of anything better for the money really? If you can, hit me up with suggestions!
Only thing it really lacks (at a push!) is the ability to fit a tow bar. Not sure what a micro digger being towed by a Type-R would look like anyways
I wish I had some more interesting photos to make the post more visually appealing instead of my waffling but the car just gets on with being part of the family without any fuss. As such being filled up with 4 Grohe Toilet Frames, one Isofix Child Seat whilst carrying two adults and a two year old and doing a B road blast doesn't feel worthy enough to take a picture of. It's just what the car does week in week out. Couldn't ask for more (part from a tow bar!).
The car is now approaching three years old! I can't believe it!
The simple fact is I think this could be the first ever car that I've kept this long-I may have had my Mk3 MR2 Spyder that long but I'm not sure, the MINI GP was about 26 months so nearly but nothing that I can remember has ever lasted this long.
To be uncharitable, I could say that (as with the MINI) work and family life has been so hectic that a change of car was simply not that practical but it wouldn't strictly be true. In a mild mid life panic I put a deposit down on a 997.2 911 Carrara 2 but the company who were selling made a complete balls up of it and I ended up pulling out and getting my money back.
I was a little disappointed as it was my perfect spec but as the L in LOH fell pregnant within weeks of this is maybe wasn't too bad of a situation after all!
So now another kid on the way, which we are super excited about, another blossuing new business that requires a set of wheels with some space and guess what? I think it may stay a while yet...
So it needs yet another new set of tyres soon (that'll be another £320 or so) and I'm guessing it's next service and first MOT at April when it becomes three years old.
God knows how many tyres I've gotten through (nor how many miles I've driven on the edge of legality) but they just work so damn well with the car that I'm loathed to change them. I think I've done 3 sets of fronts and this will be my second rears but I can't quite remember as I've swapped them around. Car has only just clicked over 21k this week mind you!
As it's the rears that are dead this time and as I only put the fronts on last september or so, I'll probably put the part worn fronts on the back and the new ones on the front. If I needed to change all four tyres I would consider chnaging brands but in all honesty I do think the Sport Contact 6s (being developed for the car) are worth sticking with. They're made of cheese of course but they feel fantastic and I haven't been caught out by them in the wet at all yet.
So if it's to stay another year or so, what else? I put the 5 year service plan on so that feels like a good marker for me personally. I've wrote before that the warranty can be extended to five years for £850 with seems like value for a complex little bugger but ties in nicely with the service plan.
However when you look at Honda's site;
https://www.honda.co.uk/cars/owners/extended-guara...
It's only £460 for one year, the £400 for the next-in other words a tenner to spread the cost over two years unless the price goes up. There's no mention of a Type-R exclusivity either. Anyone have any experience yet?
So I'm thinking new tyres, a years ticket and service and all warrantied up until 2020. Sounds good doesn't it?
Not sure what the settlement figure is (probably around £16.5K) but if I do that over a personal loan it seems cheap motoring for the next 12-24 months now that prices have stabilised.
The fact that I'll need two kiddie seats in the back, the building business we have needing plenty of boot space means I can't think of anything better for the money really? If you can, hit me up with suggestions!
Only thing it really lacks (at a push!) is the ability to fit a tow bar. Not sure what a micro digger being towed by a Type-R would look like anyways
I wish I had some more interesting photos to make the post more visually appealing instead of my waffling but the car just gets on with being part of the family without any fuss. As such being filled up with 4 Grohe Toilet Frames, one Isofix Child Seat whilst carrying two adults and a two year old and doing a B road blast doesn't feel worthy enough to take a picture of. It's just what the car does week in week out. Couldn't ask for more (part from a tow bar!).
richatnort said:
Glad your still liking it mate!
As for another car in that price range a BMW F31 340i is around that price range so have the boot for the business and space for the kids in the back!
I think that's my problem though, I can come up with a reason for crossing off every alternative...As for another car in that price range a BMW F31 340i is around that price range so have the boot for the business and space for the kids in the back!
Hyundai N/ not as fast, not as good gear change
Golf R/ boot too small
Golf R estate/ it's an estate
Focus RS/ boot too small, engine fragilities
Megane RS/ not as good
The BMW 40i type engined stuff, the 3 series is not as practical or as special feeling, the 1 and 2 series the same although I have to say I think they are absolutely fantastic cars-just not with a toddler and baby perhaps.
I think if I was willing to put up with the impracticalities I'd really only see a benefit from moving up a price bracket/class and with all investment heading towards the new business it seems a folly.
And by a class improvement I'm talking about perhaps;
V8 M3 saloon
Turbo M3 saloon (the latest shape)
M2 (kiddie seats will be a total pain in the arse)
Some sort of Audi RS (which I've so far managed to avoid in my life)
AMG of some sort?
The thing is, all of the above are going to cost vastly more in running costs (or at least have the chance to what with being older and being more expensive to buy) or if you look at the current hot hatches, just not quite as good.
So I'd be changing for the sake of changing I guess?
The only sensible option would be the updated current model Type-R and even it isn't as practical with it loosing the big boot and flat folding rear bench. It's better to drive with it's lower COG but on a day to day basis I don't exactly feel like the FK2 is a double decker bus! Then you think of all the extra money it would cost to buy and disregarding the colour it was, I felt like the one I test drove was my own car after an hour of driving.
Ho hum.
My Fk2 is cheap as chips now it's 3 years old and depreciated that heavy first third, it still looks bonkers good to me, drives fanstastic, is frugal, fast and practical whenever you want it to be and starts on the button.
I really think until I get to the position where I can afford something special in the garage to tuck away for high days and track days whilst running something a bit more commercial for work I should probably stick with the Honda.
You can even get spacers now to sort out the stupid track/arch ratio
Well, time for a small update.
For those of you who looked at p1 of this thread 1st, you may have noticed that I first posted it over 3 years ago now and the ol'Honda is now officially MOT'd.
I won't lie, this is now officially the longest I've ever kept a car!
The free servicing is proving handy, it was serviced for it's third time in April and as it hadn't done 25k miles it needs to go back next month or so to have the valve clearances checked. All part of the service plan.
It sailed through the MOT in typical Honda fashion and is running as sweetly as day one, perhaps sweeter? The exhaust has definitely gotten louder once past 20k miles and it pulls beautifully right up to the red line whenever I get the chance-it really feels stronger than it's bhp suggests. I also think the gear change has freed up a bit, always one of it's strong points but it was tight and now it just snicks into gear with just the right amount of resistance and spring.
Pretty much nothing else has changed I guess, it's still stupidly practical, even more so now we have two small humans to ferry about and can swallow massive amounts of work stuff whenever needed.
As always, thoughts do turn to changing it. Now the PCP has ended and was paid off, I don't really relish having so much money tied up in a car. Getting the cash back out while putting something else on the drip does appeal but until the business needs fresh investment I'll probably just still keep it.
If BMW do some stupid deals on 335d Tourings as a run out special, I may be tempted. I drove an A4 Avant today, a 40 model (whatever that means?!) and the sales girl was extolling how fast it was. It wasn't.
Most things just feel a bit "meh" after the Type-R, it really is that good! So still no further forward really on what to get next for a young family of four. Answers on a postcard...
For those of you who looked at p1 of this thread 1st, you may have noticed that I first posted it over 3 years ago now and the ol'Honda is now officially MOT'd.
I won't lie, this is now officially the longest I've ever kept a car!
The free servicing is proving handy, it was serviced for it's third time in April and as it hadn't done 25k miles it needs to go back next month or so to have the valve clearances checked. All part of the service plan.
It sailed through the MOT in typical Honda fashion and is running as sweetly as day one, perhaps sweeter? The exhaust has definitely gotten louder once past 20k miles and it pulls beautifully right up to the red line whenever I get the chance-it really feels stronger than it's bhp suggests. I also think the gear change has freed up a bit, always one of it's strong points but it was tight and now it just snicks into gear with just the right amount of resistance and spring.
Pretty much nothing else has changed I guess, it's still stupidly practical, even more so now we have two small humans to ferry about and can swallow massive amounts of work stuff whenever needed.
As always, thoughts do turn to changing it. Now the PCP has ended and was paid off, I don't really relish having so much money tied up in a car. Getting the cash back out while putting something else on the drip does appeal but until the business needs fresh investment I'll probably just still keep it.
If BMW do some stupid deals on 335d Tourings as a run out special, I may be tempted. I drove an A4 Avant today, a 40 model (whatever that means?!) and the sales girl was extolling how fast it was. It wasn't.
Most things just feel a bit "meh" after the Type-R, it really is that good! So still no further forward really on what to get next for a young family of four. Answers on a postcard...
Indeed, and within 6 hours I’ve already had I don’t know how many “best cash price” “ will you accept £17k cash today” type emails 
There is nothing new on the horizon, I still have no idea of what I’ll replace it with but I’ve test driven and liked a 320d touring and a used Range Rover Vogue.
Both of those I’ve been offered good money as part exchange for the Type R but both just don’t quite hit the spot for me in subtly different ways.
I may yet move into a commercial vehicle for my building company and then look to have a toy in the garage-I really don’t know? If the Type R doesn’t receive a reasonable offer on a private sale (reasonable being at least above what it’s worth as a part exchange!) then perhaps I’ll just keep it until next spring.
As always, trying to replace such an amazing car is really difficult!
There is nothing new on the horizon, I still have no idea of what I’ll replace it with but I’ve test driven and liked a 320d touring and a used Range Rover Vogue.
Both of those I’ve been offered good money as part exchange for the Type R but both just don’t quite hit the spot for me in subtly different ways.
I may yet move into a commercial vehicle for my building company and then look to have a toy in the garage-I really don’t know? If the Type R doesn’t receive a reasonable offer on a private sale (reasonable being at least above what it’s worth as a part exchange!) then perhaps I’ll just keep it until next spring.
As always, trying to replace such an amazing car is really difficult!
The final post (well, maybe but you get the drift)...
So it's gone, Adios the car I've owned for the longest period in my whole life
Genuinely sad, even more so after the test drive by the buyer this evening but more on that later, we've a road trip to catch up on! A couple of years ago I promised Dad I'd take him away for the F1 testing for his 70th birthday but work ended up getting in the way and it all got put off. I always felt like I'd missed out on a trip together so when one project came to an end earlier this year we decided I would take him away this summer.
No small feat of organisation considering we're now a family of four but I booked us Spa Francorchamps tickets for the F1, the ferry and lovely house to stay in and sorted him out for Father's Day.
After the usual good start to these trips with a nice meal on the Hull to Rotterdam overnighter we twigged we hadn't done a road trip together since before I got married-too long! We got a reasonably early night and got ready for the second leg of our road trip for the next morning.
Dad had done loads of trips to the 'ring back in the day with me (was it really 10+ years ago?!) but this was his first visit to Spa and I was absolutely buzzing to show him the place. We tracked a beautiful E60 M5 most of the way there (Hello Mr Butler if you're reading) and as we were staying in Stavelot I drove Dad the old circuit to the town once we arrived at Friday lunch time.
The journey was the usual Honda trip of steady reliability, the somewhat aftermarket feeling Sat Nav got us there no problem with only a few weird decisions that didn't really cost any time. Dad even found the seats comfy!
We found the place we were staying as I knew Stavelot from previous track days at Spa but what I thought was probably a two bedroom apartment of part of a hotel turned out to be the most beautiful renovation of a four storey town house on a beautiful Belgian courtyard
I'd previously asked the owners about access to a bus service to the circuit where upon they said don't worry we'll drive you.
So a quick freshen up and off up to the track, the owner said he'd drop us off central win the track as we were going to explore our options for viewing. What this actually meant was he had a VIP car access to the whole circuit so dropped us off in the Paddock! Well, the Porsche Cup, F2&3 Paddock but that got you access to the whole old pits right up to the modern pitman and entrance to the F1 paddock club-brilliant!
We spent the early afternoon in there spotting drivers, cars, watching the cars roll down the pitman and doing their practice starts about 10 feet away from us.
We could walk down to the bottom of Eau Rouge and watch from there which was ace as seeing Dad (who's done lots of F1 races) witness the cars power up there was worth the price alone. We then left the paddock and walked up to Kemmel to watch the cars go full pelt up the hill before having a pint at the fan zone and walking back down towards stavelot where upon we rang the owner and got picked up!
The weather was absolutely awesome so we went for a nice Italian down at the main street and an early night ready for Saturday qually
So it's gone, Adios the car I've owned for the longest period in my whole life
Genuinely sad, even more so after the test drive by the buyer this evening but more on that later, we've a road trip to catch up on! A couple of years ago I promised Dad I'd take him away for the F1 testing for his 70th birthday but work ended up getting in the way and it all got put off. I always felt like I'd missed out on a trip together so when one project came to an end earlier this year we decided I would take him away this summer.
No small feat of organisation considering we're now a family of four but I booked us Spa Francorchamps tickets for the F1, the ferry and lovely house to stay in and sorted him out for Father's Day.
After the usual good start to these trips with a nice meal on the Hull to Rotterdam overnighter we twigged we hadn't done a road trip together since before I got married-too long! We got a reasonably early night and got ready for the second leg of our road trip for the next morning.
Dad had done loads of trips to the 'ring back in the day with me (was it really 10+ years ago?!) but this was his first visit to Spa and I was absolutely buzzing to show him the place. We tracked a beautiful E60 M5 most of the way there (Hello Mr Butler if you're reading) and as we were staying in Stavelot I drove Dad the old circuit to the town once we arrived at Friday lunch time.
The journey was the usual Honda trip of steady reliability, the somewhat aftermarket feeling Sat Nav got us there no problem with only a few weird decisions that didn't really cost any time. Dad even found the seats comfy!
We found the place we were staying as I knew Stavelot from previous track days at Spa but what I thought was probably a two bedroom apartment of part of a hotel turned out to be the most beautiful renovation of a four storey town house on a beautiful Belgian courtyard
I'd previously asked the owners about access to a bus service to the circuit where upon they said don't worry we'll drive you.
So a quick freshen up and off up to the track, the owner said he'd drop us off central win the track as we were going to explore our options for viewing. What this actually meant was he had a VIP car access to the whole circuit so dropped us off in the Paddock! Well, the Porsche Cup, F2&3 Paddock but that got you access to the whole old pits right up to the modern pitman and entrance to the F1 paddock club-brilliant!
We spent the early afternoon in there spotting drivers, cars, watching the cars roll down the pitman and doing their practice starts about 10 feet away from us.
We could walk down to the bottom of Eau Rouge and watch from there which was ace as seeing Dad (who's done lots of F1 races) witness the cars power up there was worth the price alone. We then left the paddock and walked up to Kemmel to watch the cars go full pelt up the hill before having a pint at the fan zone and walking back down towards stavelot where upon we rang the owner and got picked up!
The weather was absolutely awesome so we went for a nice Italian down at the main street and an early night ready for Saturday qually
Saturday dawned bright and sunny, perfect weather as forecast. Our hotelier did us the magic service of whisking us in to the circuit but as advised, the MV33 fans were out in force early so we got dropped off early at Pouhon as this is where we fancied watching Qually from.
We got lucky and got the last space at the front of the bank for uninterrupted views-awesome!
TheMax fans were fantastic, a great bunch. We got there about 9:30am and they were already on the sauce hard! Quite how they get all their stuff into the circuit on foot I'm not quite sure-do the dutch do national service because they all seem to take their sporting drinking activities with military precision!
The crescendo was in FP3 when Lewis put it in the barriers-looking to extend my unbroken run of never seeing him win at every GP I've attended. The cheer was enormous which was a bit off but to be fair it was fairly obvious he wouldn't be hurt.
The stand to our right was the official Max stand and the local dutch at our spot expiate that if you were part of his fan club he sent out the t-shirts and hats and supplied a DJ for the stand. The atmosphere was epic-we did worry about the structural integrity of the stand durning one rousing rendition of "Zombie Nation" but the highlight was seeing the whole stand do the YMCA Pissed as farts the lot of them
After Qually we tracked off to Blanchemont to check out the view from there, it was a toss up between there and Radillion but we'd seen that yesterday to watch the GP2 race. Luckily as it happens.
I won't dwell on Hubert's crash but it was obvious it was likely to be fatal when we saw it on the big telly in front of us. I said to Dad there was no way anything else would be happening so we rang our lift and headed back to the house for a nap and a chill out-it must have been 80 all day and we were knackered.
We spied a nice restaurant and got a lovely table on the front for what Das reckoned was the best steak he's had since a boy
There was a bit of a commotion behind us as someone was leaving and it turned out to be Kubica and his mates, all comments were pleasant enough!
Sunday was overcast in more ways than one
The mood was distinctly down on yesterday which I wasn't sure if it was because of Stag Syndrome (where folk hit the booze too hard on the first night and knacker themselves for the main event) or if it was down to yesterdays death. One of the Dutch guys said Max had asked his DJ to relay the message that they wouldn't be partying and playing the tunes as a mark of respect-fair enough. The somber mood didn't improve during the minutes silence-Spa is a funny place and when you can see thousands of folk in a forrest all silent it's quite eerie.
Hearing a couple of hundred thousand folk groan at the first corner as Max binned it was even stranger!
Having said that nearly all stayed and even stared cheering on Lewis, giving me and dad all the attention as the sole HAMfosi in amongst thousands of Max fans at our location on Double Gauche again. They were all great fun and encouraged us as I'm quite a boisterous sports fan.
A great evening meal on the last night rounded off the weekend.
Monday was back to being sunny again and to spare us the bother of racing to the ferry on the Sunday night I booked us on the Monday night ferry so we had a day to spare. A relaxed breakfast, then off to the museum in Stavelot which has a nice little selection of cars and bikes driven by belgians or made there-worth a visit to waste an hour or so.
I then drive Dad on the old circuit which he'd heard so much about as a boy. As we looped back into Francorchamps and the old road to La Source I blagged us past security to get us on the track for some photos.
We then headed down to Spa itself and spent the rest of the day in the thermal pools, something I'd never done despite all my visits to the town-it's beautiful, you can even swim outside the complex to some amazing heated pools with submerged sun loungers.
Then it was the couple of hours slog back to eurosport and the ferry home. A couple of people had been in touch about the car as I'd stuck up an ad on PH a few weeks earlier. It felt like it was the right time to sell really even if I wasn't 100% sure it was the right thing to do.
It was a bit serendipitous what with the cars journey being bookended by two terrific road trips to places I adore. Over 3 years with one of the best cars I've ever owned really-I've simply never wanted to keep a car the long.
I'd sort of strung out a dealer who wanted it a bit, not to take the piss but because I either kept having change of heart or not finding the perfect next buy. Then last weekend I spotted something that fit the bill perfect and put a deposit on the phone within an hour of having some questions answered.
The trader actually came one last night and bought the car straight away. I took him out on my favourite stretch of B road and he couldn't believe it was 100% standard-he's sold a few and said it was the best one he's ever driven! I must admit I had a little wobble when he was driving and realised once again just how epically good these cars are.
Future classic? Who know's. All I know is there isn't a better hot hatch out there IMHO and I'll really miss it...
We got lucky and got the last space at the front of the bank for uninterrupted views-awesome!
TheMax fans were fantastic, a great bunch. We got there about 9:30am and they were already on the sauce hard! Quite how they get all their stuff into the circuit on foot I'm not quite sure-do the dutch do national service because they all seem to take their sporting drinking activities with military precision!
The crescendo was in FP3 when Lewis put it in the barriers-looking to extend my unbroken run of never seeing him win at every GP I've attended. The cheer was enormous which was a bit off but to be fair it was fairly obvious he wouldn't be hurt.
The stand to our right was the official Max stand and the local dutch at our spot expiate that if you were part of his fan club he sent out the t-shirts and hats and supplied a DJ for the stand. The atmosphere was epic-we did worry about the structural integrity of the stand durning one rousing rendition of "Zombie Nation" but the highlight was seeing the whole stand do the YMCA
Pissed as farts the lot of themAfter Qually we tracked off to Blanchemont to check out the view from there, it was a toss up between there and Radillion but we'd seen that yesterday to watch the GP2 race. Luckily as it happens.
I won't dwell on Hubert's crash but it was obvious it was likely to be fatal when we saw it on the big telly in front of us. I said to Dad there was no way anything else would be happening so we rang our lift and headed back to the house for a nap and a chill out-it must have been 80 all day and we were knackered.
We spied a nice restaurant and got a lovely table on the front for what Das reckoned was the best steak he's had since a boy
There was a bit of a commotion behind us as someone was leaving and it turned out to be Kubica and his mates, all comments were pleasant enough!
Sunday was overcast in more ways than one
The mood was distinctly down on yesterday which I wasn't sure if it was because of Stag Syndrome (where folk hit the booze too hard on the first night and knacker themselves for the main event) or if it was down to yesterdays death. One of the Dutch guys said Max had asked his DJ to relay the message that they wouldn't be partying and playing the tunes as a mark of respect-fair enough. The somber mood didn't improve during the minutes silence-Spa is a funny place and when you can see thousands of folk in a forrest all silent it's quite eerie.
Hearing a couple of hundred thousand folk groan at the first corner as Max binned it was even stranger!
Having said that nearly all stayed and even stared cheering on Lewis, giving me and dad all the attention as the sole HAMfosi in amongst thousands of Max fans at our location on Double Gauche again. They were all great fun and encouraged us as I'm quite a boisterous sports fan.
A great evening meal on the last night rounded off the weekend.
Monday was back to being sunny again and to spare us the bother of racing to the ferry on the Sunday night I booked us on the Monday night ferry so we had a day to spare. A relaxed breakfast, then off to the museum in Stavelot which has a nice little selection of cars and bikes driven by belgians or made there-worth a visit to waste an hour or so.
I then drive Dad on the old circuit which he'd heard so much about as a boy. As we looped back into Francorchamps and the old road to La Source I blagged us past security to get us on the track for some photos.
We then headed down to Spa itself and spent the rest of the day in the thermal pools, something I'd never done despite all my visits to the town-it's beautiful, you can even swim outside the complex to some amazing heated pools with submerged sun loungers.
Then it was the couple of hours slog back to eurosport and the ferry home. A couple of people had been in touch about the car as I'd stuck up an ad on PH a few weeks earlier. It felt like it was the right time to sell really even if I wasn't 100% sure it was the right thing to do.
It was a bit serendipitous what with the cars journey being bookended by two terrific road trips to places I adore. Over 3 years with one of the best cars I've ever owned really-I've simply never wanted to keep a car the long.
I'd sort of strung out a dealer who wanted it a bit, not to take the piss but because I either kept having change of heart or not finding the perfect next buy. Then last weekend I spotted something that fit the bill perfect and put a deposit on the phone within an hour of having some questions answered.
The trader actually came one last night and bought the car straight away. I took him out on my favourite stretch of B road and he couldn't believe it was 100% standard-he's sold a few and said it was the best one he's ever driven! I must admit I had a little wobble when he was driving and realised once again just how epically good these cars are.
Future classic? Who know's. All I know is there isn't a better hot hatch out there IMHO and I'll really miss it...
Edited by LaurasOtherHalf on Saturday 28th September 11:12
Fantastic LOH! Your journeys with your dad make me wistful that I've never had those experiences (my old man has about as much fun and go in him a a corpse!) and your relationship with the car is also something to be envied.
Will you regret getting rid? Probably. That's why my Trophy is sitting all cosy after years unused. I just couldn't get rid of it even though money said I ought to.
I'm hoping my young boys get bitten by motorsport and expose them to all kinds including motorbikes (even though ownership is banned by mum!).
I pulled out of the garage yesterday behind a 19 plate Type R driven by a lady in her 70's. She looked like the cat that got the cream! My gut told me that she would be one heck of a lady when she toed it around the roundabout.
Cars really get under your skin despite what they may be. My Mrs still misses her 1994 Cinquecento!
Will you regret getting rid? Probably. That's why my Trophy is sitting all cosy after years unused. I just couldn't get rid of it even though money said I ought to.
I'm hoping my young boys get bitten by motorsport and expose them to all kinds including motorbikes (even though ownership is banned by mum!).
I pulled out of the garage yesterday behind a 19 plate Type R driven by a lady in her 70's. She looked like the cat that got the cream! My gut told me that she would be one heck of a lady when she toed it around the roundabout.
Cars really get under your skin despite what they may be. My Mrs still misses her 1994 Cinquecento!
That's a really nice story, and makes me want to go back to Spa, all the more. I take the good lady for a long weekend every March usually, and it's just fab. The funicular from the Radisson in town up to the spa is one of my favourite things in the world. Not to mention some of the scenery locally.
I went with a few mates a couple of years ago too, and we went to have a look. Security again let us in, and we got to head into the pit of Eau Rouge and watch The International GT open testing. Great atmosphere, and you don't realise how bloody steep it is!
I went with a few mates a couple of years ago too, and we went to have a look. Security again let us in, and we got to head into the pit of Eau Rouge and watch The International GT open testing. Great atmosphere, and you don't realise how bloody steep it is!
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