Civic Type R

[Dave]

Been looking at these, sat in a nice black one today at the dealers. I would not pay their silly prices though. There seems to be a glut of them with the new model out.

However, I have been reading reviews here and there. Consensus seems to be

Can be noisy
Not much good until thrashing them
Power steering is strange set up (wires?) and gives little feedback
Poor on fuel (although not sure any worse than the BX)
one or two other points noted ad hoc.

Oh and one other problem I am getting short on space

I am sure someone on this site will have some knowledge and opinions(the type R site is pretty much biased for obvious reasons).

So opinions please.

Oh, and it certainly will not be replacing the BX,

[Adrian E]

Hiya

I don't think the CTR has electric steering, at least not the old version anyway - should be good old hydraulic. Having said that, it's not the most communicative.

Have you driven any of the VTEC engined cars? I've driven S2000 and Accord Type R, and been driven in a CTR and you either love the fact you have to stoke it all the time or hate it.

For me the S2000 was too much for the public road as to enjoy it needed silly revs all the time, and the Accord left me cold.

The CTR does have one of the best interiors for the type though, the Recaro seats are fab.

Any car being thrashed will be fairly poor on fuel, but modern cars with cats and extra safety features do tend to be a bit worse on fuel than something like the BX. Having said that my Leon Cupra R (which will by the way spit a CTR out the back having gobbled it up in it's scoop ) will return 32mpg and that's 225BHP. If I give it some I've seen economy nearer 22mpg.

What do you want it for? If it's to commute/haul family about etc I'd look elsewhere, but if it's just something small and nippy for getting about then it'll probably fit the bill.

I've got lazy in my advancing years and have developed a liking for engines with torque, and better still with a slush box if you spend time in town.

Adrian

[tim leech]

Ive sold a couple of Civic type Rs and Accords too, a hoot to drive when the Vtec system is on full chat, BUT unless you cane it everywhere its not quick, the BX 16v as we know has alot of top end power but these have all the power top end.

If you dont drive it hard you may aswell buy a standard 2.0.

I do agree that they are loud and quite harsh at high revs, I know the Vtec engines are incredibly reliable but I dont fancy drivng everywhere at 7000rpm.

[Dave]

Hi,

Thanks for your informative replies. They confirm what I thought really. The reason I have been looking is simply that I wanted what I thought would be a reliable car but also with a bit of umph if I wanted it.

I think the only way to know if the power is OK low down would be to take a test drive. I do not want a car that is a pain to drive. I would expect a two litre engine to perform well enough for normal use, keep ahead of trafic here and there which I can even do in my diesel now. I just liked the look of the type R. Maybe the reivew I saw expected more from the car.

I do not want to be driving round at 7000 revs either.

This is a link of one of the review I read.

http://www.channel4.com/4car/di/honda/civic/1103/1

[Timmo]

i know its not quite in the same thought of league, but what about the xsara vts?? can be both driven sensibly and like a hoon! and isnt that unreliable??
I know hte CTR's have a following but the constant need to cane the t#ts out of them to go anywhere! a cousin of mine had one, love dit to bits but never used it to do long distances! he did say that its thirsty if your using the revs a lot which like ours becomes a little addictive!

I know the aim of this wasnt to point at alterior cars but what about a 40 V6 saloon, will show a CTR how to go (until you find some bends!) and a super comfy cruiser that will return mid to high 30's mpg!!

[robin hughes]

i hate v-tecs as you know they rely on revs and have very little tourque. with a few mods from a bx 16v youd wipe the floor with one plus they are the ugliest thing ive ever seen. interiors are cheap sh*te ane who wants a gear stick on the dash!

[Adrian E]

I can vouch for the suitability of a Xsara VTS as an everyday alternative to a BX - that's what we had for a number of years! The engine management means the engine has shed loads more torque than you're used to in a BX and you don't need to cane it. Downside is a ride that can at best be described as hard!!

I suspect if you're looking at CTRs that'll be too downmarket/old for comparison though.....

Late plate 306 HDI would be a sensible choice - plenty of grunt low down.
I love my Cupra R but depends if you want to spend 10-12k and worry about running costs on Brembo brakes. It does at least respond well to change in driving style - keeping under 3k revs will still have you doing 80+ in 6th! Give it some and you can manage that in about 3rd and very quickly as well

Adrian

[Timmo]

I can Vouch for the Leon Cupra r's! we had a few atthe garage! they are great cruisers as well as foot down blasters! you dont feel like your going so fast until you look down!
have to say though, they were great as a demo car but i dont know if i could live with one full time?? but thats more for knowing the wieght if my right foot!:D

[Dave]

The jury is still out but I think right now there is more against getting one. I know there are alternatives, I quite like the Focus ST. Also the Leon sounds pretty hot. There was something I liked about the CTR but with comments about the engiine needing high revs all the time it may not be the right car. Clearly Robin is a fan though

There was also this wording in the review

We still don't like the steering, though: this electric steer-by-wire power-assisted set-up gives very little feedback, barely weights up on corners and has a disconcerting delayed-action sensation at low manoeuvering speeds. And the turning circle is enormous.

I still would not mind a drive in one just to see, a couple of days would be good! I am not after the fastest car on the road, just a bit of an all rounder, I am not sure the CTR is.

[iain a]

...i've done one...not that quick.....but he did try and get away, bless him

[tim leech]

I have to say that for sheer ooomph a modern turbo diesel does take some beating (dont go mad!), yes I know it redlines at 4500rpm but if u can use the revs right and change gear quick enough u can really move. And be honest how often do u use the 0-60? I find the mid range acceleration to be fair better for such thinks as overtaking.

I have a company car which is a Golf Gt TDi with 140bhp 2.0 engine, when its rolling it will show most cars a clean pair of heals and keep up with a 16v, but not of course from a standing start, the accleration from 2000rpm-4500rpm is excellent and spins its wheels in 2nd and even 3rd sometimes, plus you get 40-50mpg if driven half sensibly. Also at 100mph in 6th its spinning at just under 3000rpm.

[Timmo]

i do admit that for comfy long distance cruising and having the ingear accelleration then yes a modern comon rail deisel takes some beating BUT, they lack the driver input so much! the moment when you hanging it round a tight bend on the edge of grip in a petrol up at 7K+ the Deisels Just dont cut it!
I do know what your saying tim, but to make a deisel pay now adays you need to be on 18k+ miles!

[Anonymous]

never driven a ctr but there was one live on my street i have 2 main problems with them first of all they all seem well over rated i had that one try to beat thzx at least 4 times on the road home so we both know it well and not once did he get near secondly they all look the same ok you get different coolours but other than that they have no charachter it's definatly not a quirkey old citroen !

[Daniel B]

They look to much a like a shrunken people carrier to me

[Dave]

I have to say that for sheer ooomph a modern turbo diesel does take some beating (dont go mad!), yes I know it redlines at 4500rpm but if u can use the revs right and change gear quick enough u can really move. And be honest how often do u use the 0-60? I find the mid range acceleration to be fair better for such thinks as overtaking.

I have a company car which is a Golf Gt TDi with 140bhp 2.0 engine, when its rolling it will show most cars a clean pair of heals and keep up with a 16v, but not of course from a standing start, the accleration from 2000rpm-4500rpm is excellent and spins its wheels in 2nd and even 3rd sometimes, plus you get 40-50mpg if driven half sensibly. Also at 100mph in 6th its spinning at just under 3000rpm.

Tim,

What you say is very wise. I had the use of one of the new Golf 2.0 Tdi's recently and it was great. I then had tried a 1.9 and it was soooo much slower. If you have the right diesel then it is a pleasure. I also like to get good mpg really and like the reliability a diesel can offer.

The CTR was an idea for a bit of fun. The good thing about this site is you get decent replies and ideas. I will have to give it all some thought but I guess the majority here would say stay clear.