Well, I'm starting to see quite a few
FK2 Honda Civic Type R
Not much to look at; drive makes up for it
Opinion is definitely split on its lairy looks and the way it delivers its turbocharged power. Phenomenally fast though the FK2 is, so far it's leaving me a little cold. I do understand that turbocharging is the only way to get competitive power and low carbon emissions these days, but having driven the new Type R quite a bit, I find myself hankering after the raw, race-revvy VTEC of old.
We've recently looked at Civic Type Rs but one model we didn't cover in detail (because it was never sold in the UK officially) was the FD2.
I'm here to redress that balance because, for me, there's no question that the FD2 is the stand-out Type R, a car with 'classic' written all over it. And it really is time to bag one now.
Japs do it better
When Honda engineers in Japan saw the UK-built FN2 Type R hatchback, they reckoned they could do better. And they did: they built the FD2.
OK, so the four-door shape (shared with the UK Civic Hybrid) may not be terribly charismatic, and the JDM dashboard is pretty sober compared to the FN2's as well. But in every other respect the FD2 got everything right. Its hardcore spec offers more power, sharper rear suspension and a limited-slip diff. That diff is very tight, allowing you to stamp on the throttle much more aggressively out of bends than the non-diff-equipped UK Type R.
And while the UK FN2 stuck with a beam rear axle, the four-door FD2 boasts a fully independent rear end. It's extremely stiffly sprung and has very aggressive rebound settings, so there's a lot of low-speed bumpiness, but on a smooth road or track, it's phenomenal.
It's quicker in a straight line, too, thanks to the K20A 2.0-litre engine's extra power. Its output of 225hp - that's 112.5bhp per non-turbo litre - is significantly higher than the FN2's, thanks to tighter tolerances, more advanced i-VTEC, more aggressive ECU settings and a higher 11.7:1 compression ratio. And the redline nudges a glorious 9,000rpm.
Most of the 13,000 will be Championship White...
Only around 13,000 FD2s were built for the Japanese market between 2007 and 2010. I've been keeping a close eye on FD2 prices for some time, hoping to see them to come down to somewhere near the £10K mark. But I'm pretty sure they'll never go that low - they're staying resolutely firm.
In fact I've never seen one for less than £12K. The cheapest one currently in the classifieds will cost you £12,989. It's a fresh import in classic Championship White, and totally standard (which is what you want). At 78,000 miles it's on the leggy side, but that K20A engine is pretty bulletproof.
Move up to £15,430 and you can have a fresh facelifted import with fewer miles (52,000 BIMTA certified).
... but silver and blue are available as well
If you don't fancy white, FD2s came in Super Platinum Metallic Silver and Vivid Blue Pearl, too. £16,750 buys you a
2008 silver example
with 59,000 miles and two UK owners. It's one of very few that have been modified, with upgrades from well-known tuner TDI South, including Toda manifolds, throttle body and exhaust, HKS induction and Hondata ECU, giving it a dyno-tested 261hp.
Even at the top end, you'll only pay £17,995 for a 2008 example in Championship White with a mere 39K miles and a full service history.
There's also an intriguing late-model (2010) FD2 with a supercharger fitted by CPL, up for £23K that's got fully 300hp.
If you 'get' Type Rs, the FD2 is the pinnacle. If you're yet to be convinced, the FD2 is the car that will do it. It really is time you got yourself one...