As the title says really.

Testing the following

1. Honda Civic Type R EP3 special edition in grey

2. Honda Civic Type R Fn2 Night Hawk black

3. Seat Leon FR TFSI Yellow

4. Astra VXR Red

5. Corsa VXR Red

6. Fabia VRS Mk2 Red

7. Renault Clio 197 cup Green

Fancy a change, so rang around, and they were all willing. Its guna be a busy day.

Anyone driven or ever owned any of the above?

We had a 2005 CTR and was the only car that properly put a smile on both our faces when driving it..... Did get to be a pain in the end though whenever it was wet and you were trying to nip into a gap etc.... And also don't expect to get much more than 200-220 miles from a full tank when you're doing that "smile on your face" driving.

Cheers

Dave.

Cheers dave. I do prefer the ep3 for looks, but we'll see. I've got the two type r's, Leon and the fabia. Will let to guys know a verdict later. Tomorrow is the Clio, corsa, astra

Anyone else tried them?

:no: Vauxhalls? never liked 'em. The Clio 197 is ok ish. and the R27 version is great but both are already upstaged by the 200Cup. Hothatch Car of the year almost by everyone in the trade.

As the title says really.

Testing the following

1. Honda Civic Type R EP3 special edition in grey

2. Honda Civic Type R Fn2 Night Hawk black

3. Seat Leon FR TFSI Yellow

4. Astra VXR Red

5. Corsa VXR Red

6. Fabia VRS Mk2 Red

7. Renault Clio 197 cup Green

Fancy a change, so rang around, and they were all willing. Its guna be a busy day.

Anyone driven or ever owned any of the above?

I test drove the EP-3 & FN-2 I loved the EP-3 and the FN-2 was like being in a spaceship! The EP-3 felt quicker then the FN-2 imo The FN-2 is very flash inside and out but that rear pillar is annoying and you have to thrash the living daylights out of it to go anywhere in it. The ride is also very hard and I can see this being a problem on long journeys. Petrol consumption is also a mixed bag, some claim 200 miles to a full tank of £60!

I also thought that the power is not that usable compared to a turbo car. For example, when I drove both cars you have to rev it very high and as a result the driver in front panic's making you slow down again! In the VRS the power is very smooth and usable, on track they are very good fun but on the road not so much maybe.

By the time you reach third you're already over the legal speed limit! Type-R is no doubt a fantastic track weapon but for every day driving you need to be very sure you can put up with that manic V-Tec engine and rock hard suspension.

For everyday usability and comfort, i'd choose the Seat Leon FR TFSI Yellow

Edited 12 December, 201015 yr by VRS-R

Cheers dave. I do prefer the ep3 for looks, but we'll see. I've got the two type r's, Leon and the fabia. Will let to guys know a verdict later. Tomorrow is the Clio, corsa, astra

Anyone else tried them?

I'd forget the French cars mate I've heard a lot of bad stories about French cars falling apart or engine problems. They're simply not very strong build and reliable, not to mention they drop in resale values faster than snow on ice! I'd choose between the Seat Leon FR, Honda Civic Type-R (ep-3 or fn-2) I don't like Vauxhall's I had a Vauxhall once and it cost more to repair than to drive the thing! (say no more)

I test drove the EP-3 & FN-2 I loved the EP-3 and the FN-2 was like being in a spaceship! The EP-3 felt quicker then the FN-2 imo The FN-2 is very flash inside and out but that rear pillar is annoying and you have to thrash the living daylights out of it to go anywhere in it. The ride is also very hard and I can see this being a problem on long journeys. Petrol consumption is also a mixed bag, some claim 200 miles to a full tank of £60!

I also thought that the power is not that usable compared to a turbo car. For example, when I drove both cars you have to rev it very high and as a result the driver in front panic's making you slow down again! In the VRS the power is very smooth and usable, on track they are very good fun but on the road not so much maybe.

By the time you reach third you're already over the legal speed limit! Type-R is no doubt a fantastic track weapon but for every day driving you need to be very sure you can put up with that manic V-Tec engine and rock hard suspension.

For everyday usability and comfort, i'd choose the Seat Leon FR TFSI Yellow

I've just come back from Honda and I couldn't agree more. The FN2 felt massive. Loved the interior, but it felt nothing compared to the EP3. The EP3 did fell quicker, and I loved the interior too. The gear stick takes a bit to get used to, but its soo smooth.

The Clio - When I got there, someone had just bought it.

The Leon. One word.... Boring. Very dull interior, Good points - the engine was very torquey, no matter what gear you were in, it had plenty of shove.

The Astra VXR - Bad points - Cheap horrible plastics wicked torque steer. I had a Focus ST trying to race me on the test drive. (Everyone wants to race) Good points - but boy is it quick. Fastest car I tried over the test.

The Corsa - I got it and didn't want to test drive it. I'm 6"4, and the seat wouldn't go far back enough for me, and my head was touching the roof. Got straight out.

The Fabia VRS - Nice interior, loved the engine and DSG box, but would not pay anyway near £15k for it.

The winner had to be the EP3 Type R. I wanted one before the fabia, but at the age of 19 I couldn't afford the insurance. I'm not bothered about fuel. I car share to work, so it will be a car I will enjoy on the weekends.

Maybe you should throw an Octavia 2 VRS into the mix?

I don't think it would have beaten the civic tbh.

So, deposit on the Type R then?

My mate had one & it was a nice car. We used to go out for a 'relaxed' drive over the moors near Whitby & it was pretty quick.

He then moved onto an Integra which he much prefers

We still go out for sedate drives together and to be honest the 'Teg is a bit of a rocket and absolutely brilliant on the twisty stuff. I had trouble keeping in touch round corners with the Civic and can't see him for dust in the Integra. Brilliant car.

Still prefer the Octavia for every day driving though...

Edited 12 December, 201015 yr by skinnyman

The one I tried in the end was a anniversary edition and was £9k. So no way of putting a deposit

I want a grey 05plate with the red recaro's. So I'm looking at the moment. I might try a mk2 octavia as skoda in Abergele is only down the road, but the one I can't stop thinking about is the ep3.

If the Honda floats your boat more than anything else, you have your answer. The Octavia will be a good car, but probably won't get your pulse going like the sound of the vtec will.

The one I tried in the end was a anniversary edition and was £9k. So no way of putting a deposit

I want a grey 05plate with the red recaro's. So I'm looking at the moment. I might try a mk2 octavia as skoda in Abergele is only down the road, but the one I can't stop thinking about is the ep3.

I've had 40 years of my dad and then wife telling me to have sensible cars, only the last couple of years I can now have what I want.

Buy the car YOU want Jon, you'll only regret it later.

Go for the Honda, if it ticks your boxes just do it.

As for the fabia vRS, play hard ball and you should get a very nice discount on them! Ive seen them advertised at some very nice prices as they do no0t seem to be selling as well as skoda had hoped.

I never really like the leon that much, sure it was quick but I just didn't like it as much as the octavia.

The Honda type R, never driven one, but whilst working at Honda one the the saleboys took me out in it..............my good is it f'king quick for a non-turbo car!!!!!!!

I've had 40 years of my dad and then wife telling me to have sensible cars, only the last couple of years I can now have what I want.

Buy the car YOU want Jon, you'll only regret it later.

I was in the same boat too mate. My parents always put me off buying the car I wanted and ending up with a boring car! I also wanted to have The Honda Civic Type-R ep-3 for a long time. Unfortunately my wife won't let me buy it :'( No matter though as i've got a lovely mk2 VRS in red on the way, hopefuly this friday if all goes well.

I've had 40 years of my dad and then wife telling me to have sensible cars, only the last couple of years I can now have what I want.

Buy the car YOU want Jon, you'll only regret it later.

I was in the same boat too mate. My parents always put me off buying the car I wanted and ending up with a boring car! I also wanted to have The Honda Civic Type-R ep-3 for a long time. Unfortunately my wife won't let me buy it :'( No matter though as i've got a lovely mk2 VRS in red on the way, hopefuly this friday if all goes well.

Good luck for Friday then VRS-R.

I will go for the EP3. I just wanted to know other people's thoughts on the cars.

I'll start looking around Feb-March.

Must sort out the niggles on the vRS first :(

Just bought the Civic today. I cant believe how fun this car is to drive. Smiling from ear to ear on the way home.

Congrats!

My experience of Honda is an Accord Type-R I used to have. Thought it was a very well engineered car and very fast on the twisty stuff but terrible as a motorway car.

Would have loved to have taken it on a track before I got rid of it, I reckon it would really shine.

Yeah, I didn't like bringing it back on the motorway, but as soon as I got onto home turf, my god its quick.