Honda Civic Type R FN2- comments

Honda Civic Type R FN2- comments

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Sa Calobra

Original Poster:

37,122 posts

211 months

Friday 24th November 2017
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Just picked mine up courtesy of the brother in law and driven it straight 100miles through snow, sleet and rain. I've read the comments 'cant over take on the motorway very well' 'lack of torque' plus of course the Top gear comment...

Makes me wonder do some people know how to drive a n/a engine? Felt completely fine to me and I didn't need to drop from 6th gear.

My worst nightmare would be a diesel VAG car. Great if you do 20,000miles a year but otherwise where's the fun?

Butter Face

30,298 posts

160 months

Friday 24th November 2017
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I agree. The ‘lack of torque’ comment always makes me laugh. It’s an NA 2.0 4 pot, it won’t have the torque of a TDI and it’s ridiculous to think it ever would.


Graeme123

157 posts

79 months

Friday 24th November 2017
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I loved mine but to have as a daily commute car it annoyed the hell out of me.

The feeling you get from the vtec kicking in is great don't get me wrong... but when your driving at 50mph on the motorway with its stiff suspension and bucket seats it loses it joy

Red 4

10,744 posts

187 months

Saturday 25th November 2017
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The engine, gearbox, seats are fine.

It's the rest of the FN2 that is crap.

shost

825 posts

143 months

Saturday 25th November 2017
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Wouldn't say rest of it. Boot was good too. Looks have aged suprisingly well. Much better than current abomination.

Suspension/ride and handling were crap though. Bounced out of my seat plenty of times, chronic understeer and no adjustability.

But great to pick up girls in.

SidewaysSi

10,742 posts

234 months

Saturday 25th November 2017
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Graeme123 said:
I loved mine but to have as a daily commute car it annoyed the hell out of me.

The feeling you get from the vtec kicking in is great don't get me wrong... but when your driving at 50mph on the motorway with its stiff suspension and bucket seats it loses it joy
Why are you driving at 50mph on the motorway? I had a DC2 R which is more focused than these and found it to be a perfectly brilliant daily. No comfort issues at all.

Sa Calobra

Original Poster:

37,122 posts

211 months

Saturday 25th November 2017
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Red 4 said:
The engine, gearbox, seats are fine.

It's the rest of the FN2 that is crap.
I like the Seats, gearbox, boot, gear position, arm rests locations. The rest is just a car like all others.

bobbo89

5,210 posts

145 months

Saturday 25th November 2017
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I had one for a year and just found it very underwhelming in general. Felt big, heavy, not overly quick and unnecessarily stiff.

Not a bad car, just one that didn't seem to deserve a Type R badge!

rich85uk

3,367 posts

179 months

Saturday 25th November 2017
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Had mine 2 years now and i think they are pretty punchy on the motorway thanks to the close ratio gearbox, but anything above 80mph and it really starts to use alot of fuel .

It is quite a hardcore hot hatch though, extremely firm ride, little creature comforts, VERY noisy when in vtec, poor rear visibility and a car you have to know and work hard if you want 200bhp. However find the right road and they are fantastic fun with a superb engine & gearbox combo with handling that improves massively when pressing on. The only similar hot hatch would be the Clio 197/200 but those are a class smaller

Lukeypoodle

64 posts

78 months

Saturday 25th November 2017
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Mother has one that I've driven a fair bit. I find the seats a bit uncomfortable but they're designed for thinner people than me, ride is a bit firm but it's no worse than my cup packed 133.

It's not quite as fun as any of the various french hot hatches I've had but probably the must fun Japanese one I've driven.

The only issue with it that I can't get past is the weird curvy windscreen. For some reason it really messes with me and after an hour driving it my eyes feel strained and I have a bit of a headache, unsure if anyone else has found this but I've never known another car like it.

shost

825 posts

143 months

Saturday 25th November 2017
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Lukeypoodle said:
Mother has one that I've driven a fair bit. I find the seats a bit uncomfortable but they're designed for thinner people than me, ride is a bit firm but it's no worse than my cup packed 133.

It's not quite as fun as any of the various french hot hatches I've had but probably the must fun Japanese one I've driven.

The only issue with it that I can't get past is the weird curvy windscreen. For some reason it really messes with me and after an hour driving it my eyes feel strained and I have a bit of a headache, unsure if anyone else has found this but I've never known another car like it.
Nope. Is it a OEM screen?

Sa Calobra

Original Poster:

37,122 posts

211 months

Saturday 25th November 2017
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Anyone else's stereo lacking normal vase or oomph? What can I do to upgrade

Butter Face

30,298 posts

160 months

Saturday 25th November 2017
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Sa Calobra said:
Anyone else's stereo lacking normal vase or oomph? What can I do to upgrade
Better speakers and an under seat subwoofer!

Axionknight

8,505 posts

135 months

Saturday 25th November 2017
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I had one for nearly four years and never struggled on the motorway, it was a bit noisy and thirsty at 80mph (4,000rpm) but overtaking wasn't difficult at all, plus if I was in a hurry then fifth or fourth was only a short throw of the gearstick away hehe

The worst thing about it on the motorway was the ride, it had the 19" Rage alloys on when I bought it, they were soon swapped over for something smaller, that helped quite a bit

Decent cars, they get a lot of stick but I don't understand much of it personally, most of it is probably from folk who saw Clarkson slate it on Top Gear - aholes

Edited by Axionknight on Saturday 25th November 11:15

FN2TypeR

7,091 posts

93 months

Saturday 25th November 2017
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I liked mine, I had it for four years, as above the Rage alloys had to go and I fitted a set of the Eibach progressive springs (they lower the FN2 by 15mm) and had it in at TDI North for a geo set up, they have to swap the camber bolts out for adjustable ones to get it "right" but it makes a hell of a difference to the way the car drives

No problems on the motorway apart from the fuel above 80mph (naughty naughty), it would overtake fine at motorway speeds but if I ever needed more oomph I would just put it in 5th to get by, changing gear is not hard

Good:

Engaging drive when you're in the mood
Looks (imo)
Engine, gearbox, gear change all fantastic
Easy to self service
Rear legroom, although seldom used, and a vast boot
Rear seats fold totally flat, the space is massive

Bad:

Can't fold the mirrors in using the key fob, which was annoying when I used to live in the city centre and parked it on the road
Ride quality is poor on the larger Rage alloys
Thirsty and noisy above the motorway speed limit
Stereo is lacklustre
The earlier cars (pre 2009?) headlights were a bit rubbish

I liked it

Sa Calobra

Original Poster:

37,122 posts

211 months

Saturday 25th November 2017
quotequote all
Axionknight said:
I had one for nearly four years and never struggled on the motorway, it was a bit noisy and thirsty at 80mph (4,000rpm) but overtaking wasn't difficult at all, plus if I was in a hurry then fifth or fourth was only a short throw of the gearstick away hehe

The worst thing about it on the motorway was the ride, it had the 19" Rage alloys on when I bought it, they were soon swapped over for something smaller, that helped quite a bit

Decent cars, they get a lot of stick but I don't understand much of it personally, most of it is probably from folk who saw Clarkson slate it on Top Gear - aholes

Edited by Axionknight on Saturday 25th November 11:15
I've followed Clarkson since the beginning of the 90's in his performance car mag days. I think he's great but I do think some of the output from him/TG is wrong. He loves big merc's for instance. The masses follow what they say religiously rather than using their own skills and taste preference

Red 4

10,744 posts

187 months

Saturday 25th November 2017
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Sa Calobra said:
Red 4 said:
The engine, gearbox, seats are fine.

It's the rest of the FN2 that is crap.
I like the Seats, gearbox, boot, gear position, arm rests locations. The rest is just a car like all others.
It was the ride that was the main problem for me - absolutely no compliance. I think Honda forgot to fit springs and dampers to the FN2. Potholes made a loud bang (that wouldn't in other cars), and it's just harsh. Eibachs may solve that problem if you think it's an issue for you.

I couldn't grow to like the looks of the car although I do agree they have aged reasonably well.

Rear visibility is like looking out of a WW2 pillbox.

I kept mine for 8 months - had no problems reliability wise although clutches can be a weak point along with rusty doors.

Focus ST is a better car imo - the ST has a completely different character which suited me.

Horses for courses though - hope you get on with your FN2.


Lukeypoodle

64 posts

78 months

Saturday 25th November 2017
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shost said:
Nope. Is it a OEM screen?
As far as I'm aware yes. Hadn't thought it might be a rubbish replacement, I'll have to have a close look at the markings on it next time I see it.

I'd forgotten to mention the boot, with the seats folded it's like a van!

rich85uk

3,367 posts

179 months

Saturday 25th November 2017
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Lukeypoodle said:
shost said:
Nope. Is it a OEM screen?
As far as I'm aware yes. Hadn't thought it might be a rubbish replacement, I'll have to have a close look at the markings on it next time I see it.

I'd forgotten to mention the boot, with the seats folded it's like a van!
Never heard of this before on the Honda forums and nothing i have experienced myself either

EDLT

15,421 posts

206 months

Saturday 25th November 2017
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Axionknight said:
Decent cars, they get a lot of stick but I don't understand much of it personally, most of it is probably from folk who saw Clarkson slate it on Top Gear - aholes
It was due to the switch from independent rear suspension to a torsion beam, which was only fitted to terrible cars that couldn't go around corners without killing everyone.