Tuesday 3rd June 2014

Honda Civic Mugen Type RR: Spotted

There are Type Rs and then there are Type Rs, as this Mugen proves

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Let's deal with the name first, as it's a bit naff. As 'ah ah' the temptation is to make it 'argh argh' and sound like Long John Silver. As 'double R' this Civic has a name like one of those uncomfortably large Super Soakers potent enough to extinguish a bush fire. "Mum! Mum! Can I have a 3000 double R? Pleeeeassse?".

This kicks in, and then some. Yo

Anyway, silly name aside the Mugen RR is a very special car, even by JDM limited run standards. There can't have been many folk who drove the 'standard' FD2 Civic Type R and thought "You know what this thing needs? More focus" but evidently the guys at Mugen believed it lacked a little edge.

The solution? Extra everything. Power was officially up from 225hp to 241hp but given the standard Type Rs apparently made 240hp anyway it could be a tad more. That rise came through new cams and a different exhaust. Again, just in case 112hp/litre wasn't quite intense enough.

Using carbon fibre saved 10kg over the Type R (see inside for the most gorgeous pair of bucket seats) and Mugen employed its own brake system too. It was the RS to the FD2's GT3, which actually would have been a far better name come to think of it.

Look elsewhere for subtlety

Just two Mugen RRs are believed to exist in Britain, making it extraordinarily rare. It also makes valuing such a car quite difficult. Back when this car was imported it will have been about £32K with a strong yen (the same 4.8m yen is now worth about £28K). To see it for sale at £35K with a few thousand miles does appear quite steep. It would be great to see it sold to a real enthusiast, perhaps one that missed out on the car originally. The fear currently is that it may take a while to find that person, and they may not be willing to part with so much.

Even as something of a Honda fanboy I would struggle to spend that, especially given that very presentable FD2s are available for less than £20K. Yes, the seats are beautiful and yes, it will be a nadge quicker at the track than a Type R but it's hard to justify. One for the Honda heritage fleet perhaps?

Fifth Gear comapred the RR to a UK S2000 at Milbrook. Guess which is quicker... Vid here.

 

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HONDA CIVIC MUGEN TYPE RR
Engine: 1,998cc four-cylinder
Transmission: Six-speed manual, FWD, limited-slip differential
Power (hp): 241@8,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 160@7,000rpm
MPG: 31.7 (standard FD2 Type R)
CO2:
First registered: 2008
Recorded mileage: 3,250
Price new: c.£32K (4.8m yen, in 2008)
Yours for: £35,000

See the original advert here.

[renaultgeek]

Far too expensive.

[adrian8020]

Why not just say it's a Mugen double R. Save sounding like a pirate

[Frimley111R]

Thank god they got rid of those muppets on Fifth Gear. The current programme is x1000 better!

[dlockhart]

you could spent 35k on a Honda with a 2 liter 4 pot engine,
or you could spend it on this: http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/p...

2009 Porsche 997 with a 3.8 liter flat 6 far more horsepower & RWD, albeit with a little less rarety(not that many people would notice the mugen badge).

I know where my money would go if I was looking to spend that cash

[STI VI]

renaultgeek and before anyone else quotes stating thats its too expensive, I am the seller and owner of this car and a deposit has already been taken at the full asking price, so it can't of been over priced

It is the only UK registered RR and I admit a niche market.

[Soupie69uk]

Such a cool car. The non Mugen cars have held their values as well.

Its a shame the UK only got the hatch as some reviewers found the saloon to be a better car.

[dlockhart]

STI VI said:

renaultgeek and before anyone else quotes stating thats its too expensive, I am the seller and owner of this car and a deposit has already been taken at the full asking price, so it can't of been over priced

It is the only UK registered RR and I admit a niche market.

Its interesting how lots of people think this is wrong but you've sold it quickly.

Can I ask in all seriousness - how would you describe the buyer for this niche - is its a Honda race driver? someone who collects mugen cars? a museum? a Honda tuner?

I cant help but think that there is emotional link to Honda here, am I right?

[Ekona]

Advert now withdrawn, according to the link on the page

[civicduty]

Ekona said:

Advert now withdrawn, according to the link on the page

See below.

STI VI said:

renaultgeek and before anyone else quotes stating thats its too expensive, I am the seller and owner of this car and a deposit has already been taken at the full asking price, so it can't of been over priced

It is the only UK registered RR and I admit a niche market.

[Slb89]

aye, seems as though this article has scared the seller off! ;o , advert withdrawn

[Matt Bird]

STI VI said:

renaultgeek and before anyone else quotes stating thats its too expensive, I am the seller and owner of this car and a deposit has already been taken at the full asking price, so it can't of been over priced

It is the only UK registered RR and I admit a niche market.

Ah congratulations! Glad to hear you've found a seller, does make my story look a little silly now though Lovely car by the way, I'm very envious (and wrong on how quickly it may sell!).

All the best,


Matt

[MatthewCollings]

dlockhart said:

you could spent 35k on a Honda with a 2 liter 4 pot engine,
or you could spend it on this: http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/p...

2009 Porsche 997 with a 3.8 liter flat 6 far more horsepower & RWD, albeit with a little less rarety(not that many people would notice the mugen badge).

I know where my money would go if I was looking to spend that cash

My thoughts exactly. 35k could easily buy you something a lot faster and nicer to drive on the real roads, not to mention you wouldn't look like a moron.

[STI VI]

Matt, The pictures in your article have been used and reprinted without my express permission, please remove them!

Thank you

[Dave Hedgehog]

STI VI said:

Matt, The pictures in your article have been used and reprinted without my express permission, please remove them!

Thank you

you will probably find that by posting the advert you transfer ownership of the images to PH etc

Edited by Dave Hedgehog on Tuesday 3rd June 12:16

[Type R Tom]

STI VI said:

Matt, The pictures in your article have been used and reprinted without my express permission, please remove them!

Thank you

Wow for someone who has just made £35k you're in a bit of a mood!

[ukaskew]

We'll this went downhill quickly.

Any photos of those seats, out of interest?

[DanielSan]

Seen this up for sale 3 times at 35k in the last few years so it's not a bad way to have a year or twos free motoring

I'd buy it if I had the cash to be honest.

[Axionknight]

Type R Tom said:

Wow for someone who has just made £35k you're in a bit of a mood!

He has only made that if he was given the car for free though, :P

On the car: Love it!

[lauda]

Type R Tom said:

STI VI said:

Matt, The pictures in your article have been used and reprinted without my express permission, please remove them!

Thank you

Wow for someone who has just made £35k you're in a bit of a mood!

Very odd indeed. Guy willing puts pictures of car on Pistonheads in the hope of selling car, sells car and then cops a moody because there are pictures of his car on Pistonheads.

Either sell your car on a website and accept that the pictures are out there in the public domain or sell it some other way. Some people, eh?

[KMB]

The loving sharing PH spirit

Very much like the car and glad it found a buyer so quickly, I think it was fair to suggest it seemed a lot of money, but a car is worth what someone is willing to pay.