Honda Civic Type R FN2- comments

[Sa Calobra]

Isn't/wasn't the First ST torsion beam?

[Gareth79]

I bought one in May and I can see why people hate it. I commute using it and:

- The seating position seems way too high. I have spent ages adjusting things but the steering wheel still obscures the upper part of the instrument console (tell-tales for headlamps etc)
- As mentioned the rear window is basically useless. Also the spoiler is in just the position that headlights of the car behind "pop" in and out of view too, distracting. The lower part of the rear window is unheated, not that it serves any purpose anyway.
- Sliding the seat forwards resets the seat position.

But, it's good fun. I haven't owned a hot hatch and had never driven a Type R, so the "drama" of driving it hard is exciting!

[oceanview]

I think its one of those cars with an age "cutoff" .

Probably about 32.

[Lukeypoodle]

rich85uk said:

Never heard of this before on the Honda forums and nothing i have experienced myself either

I'm going to have a good look next time I see it, reckon the guy who replied asking if it's an OEM screen was likely right on the money, mother is the second owner.

And well over the age cut off at 64!

[blearyeyedboy]

I loved most of the car when I tried it, but it was just too firmly sprung for my tastes.

Yes, I know there are stiffer Japanese cars but I found it further than an Exige I've once driven. I just couldn't justify that in a car I was commuting in.

The gearbox on the other hand...

[832ark]

Wife had one for a couple of years and it was a good car. We have a long history of screaming VTEC Hondas. I have no clue what Clarkson was on about when he slated it. Didn’t find it particularly hardcore to be honest and never failed to put a grin on your face when in the mood. Never going to be the fastest thing but bloody good fun IMHO. Only issue we had was a dead battery but can’t really blame Honda for that. Got a damn good caning and never missed a beat.

[750turbo]

oceanview said:

I think its one of those cars with an age "cutoff" .

Probably about 32.

[rich85uk]

832ark said:

Wife had one for a couple of years and it was a good car. We have a long history of screaming VTEC Hondas. I have no clue what Clarkson was on about when he slated it. Didn’t find it particularly hardcore to be honest and never failed to put a grin on your face when in the mood. Never going to be the fastest thing but bloody good fun IMHO. Only issue we had was a dead battery but can’t really blame Honda for that. Got a damn good caning and never missed a beat.

Topgear obviously had no idea what Clarkson was on about either when they went on to vote it hot hatch of the year in 2007

[Sa Calobra]

oceanview said:

I think its one of those cars with an age "cutoff" .

Probably about 32.

Oh should I be driving a mondeo tdci or Passat tdi?

[TameRacingDriver]

I had one, think they are well underrated personally (and I've also had a DC2). It just seems fashionable to call them crap. Only mod I had was a Hondata box, which made it so much more urgent and aggressive with its higher rev limit, and lower VTEC point, the drivability was much higher than standard, and you got to enjoy the VTEC more of the time.

Overall, I thought it looked nice, was a nice place to sit, went well enough (esp. with the Hondata), sounded awesome and the harder you pushed it the better it got. Chronic understeer? Not IMO - it felt as though it tended towards that at lower speed but not if you pushed it, just seemed to grip and go. Yes it did ride hard, but its a hot hatch. Gearshift was wonderful and the car was just so ridiculously robust and reliable. It's bad rep is totally undeserved.

[Sa Calobra]

TameRacingDriver said:

I had one, think they are well underrated personally (and I've also had a DC2). It just seems fashionable to call them crap. Only mod I had was a Hondata box, which made it so much more urgent and aggressive with its higher rev limit, and lower VTEC point, the drivability was much higher than standard, and you got to enjoy the VTEC more of the time.

Overall, I thought it looked nice, was a nice place to sit, went well enough (esp. with the Hondata), sounded awesome and the harder you pushed it the better it got. Chronic understeer? Not IMO - it felt as though it tended towards that at lower speed but not if you pushed it, just seemed to grip and go. Yes it did ride hard, but its a hot hatch. Gearshift was wonderful and the car was just so ridiculously robust and reliable. It's bad rep is totally undeserved.

https://h-tune.co.uk/hondata-4-bar-map-sensor-k-series-k20-k24/

Is it this one?

[TameRacingDriver]

No mine was a box. You connected it to your laptop or mobile phone and uploaded a program to it. Then connected it to your OBD port in your car. They tend to go for about £400-500 but you need to ensure you get one for your model of car

[Butter Face]

Flashpro is what you’re after.

[Sa Calobra]

The car came on Toyo Proxe's. I'm not a fan of these. Seem vague/wanderingy on the front, a fair assumption?

[Butter Face]

Yeah T1R is a pretty crap tyre.

I have Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymetric 3’s. Superb tyre.

[Sa Calobra]

As soon as the fronts are worn I'll get rid

[KarlMac]

I've not driven an FN2 but I have had a good thrash in a DC5 and I can totally see where the hype comes from. The VTEC engine seems to be able to do 'normal' pottering around and the rev happy racing car thing really seamlessly.

I still day dream about an ep3 track car.

[shaun442k]

I'm not getting on with mine at the moment. Seems a world away from the hot Clios for fun and i'm finding the car a bit 1 dimensional(8k rpm)... It's also slower than my previous 172.

Torque is not an issue and I don't find the ride harsh at all(previous Clio had solid mounts etc)- maybe mine has the Eibach springs on already?

It struggles to put the power down (Bridgestone RE05A tyres with, lets be honest not a great deal of torque) and understeers without any on-the-limit adjustability.

Would a FRS sort these issues out?

Does it need 20-30bhp more to make the chassis come alive?

Oh, and it's really crap on fuel.

Edited by shaun442k on Friday 12th January 22:12

[stargazer30]

shaun442k said:

I'm not getting on with mine at the moment. Seems a world away from the hot Clios for fun and i'm finding the car a bit 1 dimensional(8k rpm)... It's also slower than my previous 172.

Torque is not an issue and I don't find the ride harsh at all(previous Clio had solid mounts etc)- maybe mine has the Eibach springs on already?

It struggles to put the power down (Bridgestone RE05A tyres with, lets be honest not a great deal of torque) and understeers without any on-the-limit adjustability.

Would a FRS sort these issues out?

Does it need 20-30bhp more to make the chassis come alive?

Oh, and it's really crap on fuel.

Edited by shaun442k on Friday 12th January 22:12

Bridgestones are poor in the cold wet. Especially if they are old and cracking a bit.

Yes FRS will make a big difference if you get it done by a garage who knows civics. Grin speed for example. My first FN2 had comedy handling before I got FRS.

[shaun442k]

stargazer30 said:

Bridgestones are poor in the cold wet. Especially if they are old and cracking a bit.

Yes FRS will make a big difference if you get it done by a garage who knows civics. Grin speed for example. My first FN2 had comedy handling before I got FRS.

Pulling left and right, torque steer(almost like the wheels are tucking under themselves) etc? Do you know anywhere in the cambridgeshire area? All garages seem to be manchester or really south...