Civic type r's, they any good?
Civic type r's, they any good?
Author
Discussion

essexplumber

Original Poster:

7,756 posts

203 months

Monday 14th June 2010
quotequote all
The new shape one's. Clarkson didn't rate them but I like the look of them. What are they like to own?

Robb F

4,614 posts

201 months

Monday 14th June 2010
quotequote all
I feel the general consensus is no.

Robatr0n

12,362 posts

246 months

Monday 14th June 2010
quotequote all
essexplumber said:
The new shape one's. Clarkson didn't rate them but I like the look of them. What are they like to own?
Without meaning to sound rude, why do people base their opinions on others?! If you're seriously considering buying one why don't you go and try one out for yourself?

insanojackson

6,026 posts

274 months

Monday 14th June 2010
quotequote all
i had one for 2 years, not as fast as the ep3 version, more grip, more comfort and more toys in gt guise, about 30mpg if not hooning all the time.

pbirkett

20,595 posts

302 months

Monday 14th June 2010
quotequote all
If you're talking about the Japanese import FD2 CTR (a 5 door saloon, often in white) then yes they are very good.

If you're talking about the European FN2 (the 3-door hatch with rather futuristic looks), then it depends what you want from a car. They are dynamically flawed in comparison with the older model, which in turn was dynamically flawed against its predecessors (the EK9 and DC2 Integra).

The championship white version is the one to go for if you must have the FN2, as I believe it comes with some form of electronic diff which should help it get the power down better, but even so, I believe it lacks the double wishbone suspension of the EP3, and they all lack the torsen diff of the EK9 and DC2.

I've driven an EP3 and all I can say is a DC2 is a far better drivers car, and the EP3 is always said to be a better drive than the FN2, so I'd say in all, the FN2 is a fairly mediocre hot hatch. However, it is one of the few that still use a high revving NA engine. If you want a newish car though, spend a little extra and get the FD2 which comes with more power, a torsen diff, double wishbone suspension and a longer wheelbase for greater stability. Its also lighter too. Otherwise, save the money and buy a DC2 instead.

kambites

71,562 posts

251 months

Monday 14th June 2010
quotequote all
Robatr0n said:
essexplumber said:
The new shape one's. Clarkson didn't rate them but I like the look of them. What are they like to own?
Without meaning to sound rude, why do people base their opinions on others?! If you're seriously considering buying one why don't you go and try one out for yourself?
You have to to some extent - no-one can drive every car in existence so to some extent you have to believe the views of journalists, etc. Mind you, Clarkson would be somewhere around the bottom of my list of journalists to trust.

Robatr0n

12,362 posts

246 months

Monday 14th June 2010
quotequote all
kambites said:
Robatr0n said:
essexplumber said:
The new shape one's. Clarkson didn't rate them but I like the look of them. What are they like to own?
Without meaning to sound rude, why do people base their opinions on others?! If you're seriously considering buying one why don't you go and try one out for yourself?
You have to to some extent - no-one can drive every car in existence so to some extent you have to believe the views of journalists, etc. Mind you, Clarkson would be somewhere around the bottom of my list of journalists to trust.
That's a fair point and to be honest, I only picked up on it because he OP mentioned Clarkson of all people.

I like Clarkson but his reviews have always been all over the show.

russy01

4,823 posts

211 months

Monday 14th June 2010
quotequote all
Well clarkson is right in saying the new fn2 is not as good as the ep3 in terms of performance. Ep3 Has the same lump and is a person lighter, plus suspension set up is superior for pushing on. Brakes on the fn2 seem better however.

Interior of fn2 is much more futuristic, quite a nice place to be, tacho is all a bit ott IMO. Ep3 plain simple and inoffensive inside, but having not changed since early 2k starting to show it's age.

Ep3 fantastic car for the money on the used market, pick up great examples for less than 10k. If I was to buy a hot hatch new however I wouldn't be looking at the honda, Renault offer better performance for the money. But you miss out on the reliability and fantastic gear shift.


Martin_Hx

4,029 posts

228 months

Monday 14th June 2010
quotequote all
russy01 said:
Well clarkson is right in saying the new fn2 is not as good as the ep3 in terms of performance. Ep3 Has the same lump and is a person lighter, plus suspension set up is superior for pushing on. Brakes on the fn2 seem better however.

Interior of fn2 is much more futuristic, quite a nice place to be, tacho is all a bit ott IMO. Ep3 plain simple and inoffensive inside, but having not changed since early 2k starting to show it's age.

Ep3 fantastic car for the money on the used market, pick up great examples for less than 10k. If I was to buy a hot hatch new however I wouldn't be looking at the honda, Renault offer better performance for the money. But you miss out on the reliability and fantastic gear shift.
What he said smile

-Ad-

917 posts

205 months

Monday 14th June 2010
quotequote all
Just buy a DC2 and enjoy yourself.

We are men and members of pistonheads, not incontinent grandards in the Stannah stairlift association

Edited by -Ad- on Monday 14th June 20:58

-Ad-

917 posts

205 months

Monday 14th June 2010
quotequote all
internet gone haywire frown

Edited by -Ad- on Monday 14th June 21:01


Edited by -Ad- on Monday 14th June 21:02

-Ad-

917 posts

205 months

Monday 14th June 2010
quotequote all
+1

Edited by -Ad- on Monday 14th June 21:01

DanGPR

991 posts

201 months

Monday 14th June 2010
quotequote all
It is a good car, but it is not the best car in it's genre.

If you want a grown up hot hatch, a golf GTI will be more civilised, and a Megane sport will be more fun.

If you have to have a Honda, get a JDM EP3, white on white, it is a much better car all round.


Dave^

7,897 posts

283 months

Monday 14th June 2010
quotequote all
I love mine... It's never put me in any danger when hooning...

As for it being inferior to the EP3/FD2/DC2... On track maybe, on road, very little in it unless doing ban worthy speed and manouvers...

pbirkett

20,595 posts

302 months

Tuesday 15th June 2010
quotequote all
Dave^ said:
I love mine... It's never put me in any danger when hooning...

As for it being inferior to the EP3/FD2/DC2... On track maybe, on road, very little in it unless doing ban worthy speed and manouvers...
You don't have to be on track to appreciate when a car is more fun.

snotrag

15,695 posts

241 months

Tuesday 15th June 2010
quotequote all
What about the DC5? ISTR these are available from about 10-12k, all imports I believe but it doesnt really matter these days.

Great Honda engineering like the Civic, but better looking and rarer. I really like them


Dave^

7,897 posts

283 months

Tuesday 15th June 2010
quotequote all
People seem to think that 'cos it has a torsion setup rather than independant, that it's gonna spit you off the road the first time you throw it into a corner with any enthusiasm...

The only thing I can't do to the FN2 that I could in an EP3 is get the inside rear wheel off the ground... hehe

But I'll take dual climate, a massive boot, cruise, and the looks over the non-ac, non-cruse and not so good looking (imo) wheel-cocker... after all, how many people, how much of the time, use either car (or any other for that matter) at 101% of its capabilities?

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

220 months

Tuesday 15th June 2010
quotequote all
essexplumber said:
The new shape one's. Clarkson didn't rate them but I like the look of them. What are they like to own?
Depends what you want tbh honest. IIRC you have/had a Pug GTI right? Not wishing to diss the CTR, but wouldn't something less practical, less grown up, more fun and more OTT be more appropriate for someone of your age?

CTR is the type of car when you still want a small amount of flare/performance but concede to actually needing a "familiy" type car with a boot and 4/5 seats.

DC2 and DC5 ITR's are the Honda's you should be looking at or maybe an S2k. Lots of other zany fun cars from classics, to Tiv's, to JDM imports, muscle cars and kits.

Jayho

2,425 posts

200 months

Tuesday 15th June 2010
quotequote all
pbirkett said:
If you want a newish car though, spend a little extra and get the FD2 which comes with more power, a torsen diff, double wishbone suspension and a longer wheelbase for greater stability. .
I though to get a FD2 you'd be looking to pay up to £20k? Where as the new CTR Euro will only cost about £12k second hand?

But as mentioned before, its exactly the same lump inside the car, so for the same engine you've put on more weight compared to the EP3. EP3's in good condition still fetch quite a lot of money, and its quite hard to find one which hasn't been molested to the point of disgust!

Honda's generally dont drop too much in value, and the rarity of the EK9 still demands £5-6K as do the DC2's.

Its not a bad car by any means, just lacking a bit of spirit its predecessors had.

r1ch

2,956 posts

226 months

Tuesday 15th June 2010
quotequote all
I'd rather have the previous shape, but i love the syling/interior on the new ctr's.