Hey peeps, been looking at getting a Type R for abit of fun, has anybody ever owned or driven one? What are they like to drive, being Jap they are very reliable which is a good thing but are they worth the money?

Opinions please

Dan

Hey peeps, been looking at getting a Type R for abit of fun, has anybody ever owned or driven one? What are they like to drive, being Jap they are very reliable which is a good thing but are they worth the money?

Opinions please

Dan

Hi Dan,

I used to own a Honda Civic Type R - EP3 Final Edition. It has been the best car I ever owned if I'm honest. I really did love it!

You will find that most people on here will instantly reply about the VTEC. In short, it means you have to drive the car hard to get it to kick in at high rpm. It is possible to change this so that it kicks in at lower rpm e.g. 4,000 for example. I went from my Fabia vRS to a Type R the same as which you are doing and never really looked back.

The engines on these are supposed to be 'bullet proof' but do keep an eye on the oil levels as these are key! I hope you do have deep pockets for fuel highest mpg I had was 29 lowest being 13! Pictures always do say more. Let me know if you have any further questions:

Driven an 04 plate EP3 Type R and an import DC5 Integra Type R (so pretty similar)

Both a lot of fun to drive but I would say they're more of an enthusiasts car than a daily driver - if you're buying one for a weekend toy or track fun then fine.

Handling is very good compared to anything else I've driven but at a cost to comfort, I really wouldn't want to do a long journey or drive them over bumpy roads.

And as with all variable valve engines, whether I-VTEC, MIVEC, VVTi or whatever, you have to rev the nuts off it to get the power out which makes for a pretty frantic and stressful drive.

I think it will be radically different to your Fabia!

Rob,

Thats the exact spec car i been looking at getting, a black one with the premier edition extras + air con ideally. Im not too fussed about mpg anymore because i dont need to travel to Swansea now. I just want a petrol high revving engine that i can have a great time in! I bike to work so the car will only be used when im bored or going to a mates house lol.

Did you have any issues with the honda? anything i should look out for when buying one?

They seem to hold their value well as a decent 55 plate with low miles is around 6-7k (Premier Edition)!

What extras did you have on yours if u dont mind me asking, ive seen a rare few with SatNav, dont know whether its worth the extra money though when i got a Tom Tom lol.

Cheers

Dan

Driven an 04 plate EP3 Type R and an import DC5 Integra Type R (so pretty similar)

Both a lot of fun to drive but I would say they're more of an enthusiasts car than a daily driver - if you're buying one for a weekend toy or track fun then fine.

Handling is very good compared to anything else I've driven but at a cost to comfort, I really wouldn't want to do a long journey or drive them over bumpy roads.

And as with all variable valve engines, whether I-VTEC, MIVEC, VVTi or whatever, you have to rev the nuts off it to get the power out which makes for a pretty frantic and stressful drive.

I think it will be radically different to your Fabia!

Ive heard the handling on these are very good! Yeah thats what appeals to me about VTEC though, i dont hang around, so revving the nuts off something will suit me fine. Im 21 so it shouldnt stress me out toooo much :p

Cheers

dan

Rob,

Thats the exact spec car i been looking at getting, a black one with the premier edition extras + air con ideally. Im not too fussed about mpg anymore because i dont need to travel to Swansea now. I just want a petrol high revving engine that i can have a great time in! I bike to work so the car will only be used when im bored or going to a mates house lol.

Did you have any issues with the honda? anything i should look out for when buying one?

They seem to hold their value well as a decent 55 plate with low miles is around 6-7k (Premier Edition)!

What extras did you have on yours if u dont mind me asking, ive seen a rare few with SatNav, dont know whether its worth the extra money though when i got a Tom Tom lol.

Cheers

Dan

Extras wise it came with Momo Steering Wheel, Red Carpet, Different Seats, Rear Tints (Van style) and the lights being the main differences. I didn't have a Sat Nav but it was also an extra option that you could retro fit if needed. I have also seen some fog lights fitted which is pretty easy to do.

Problems... Heh, mine had oil pump failure in the end - Which resulted in oil starvation and me with no clue as no warning lights came on. Massive bang and a new block later all was well. I have never heard of anyone else having these issues! Apart from that it was faultless!

Hit the forums, the honda guys are great on http://civictype-r.co.uk/forum/

I been eyeing up this one as it is for sale literally next door haha

http://pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3772520.htm

What do you think?

are the fog lights easy to retro fit then.

Oooo no that sounds expensive You must of been an unlucky one as Honda's are generally faultless!

Cheers for the info man!

Dan

Go for a supercharged one. Thats gotta be where the fun really is!

Holy mother of jesus thats nuts haha I could never insure that though :(...legally anyway lol

My mate had one of the first made ep3 CTR's, was a 51 plate. Great fun to drive but not as good as the older EK9 or DC2 Teg

G

Good points- K20A2 engine that loves to rev and easy to cruise, despite what people say about having to 'rev the nuts' off them. Bulletproof reliability. Excellent build quality. Lovely interior (post facelift though!). Incredibly practical. Excellent chassis. Incredibly tuneable engine- loves breathing mods.

Bad points- K20A2 engine. Should have come with the JDM K20A unit, the 220bhp nutter bastid engine. Steering is numb on pre-facelift models. Not the best Type R out there- they did cut corners, such as no LSD. That engine is also partial to oil thanks to the oil squirters in the block.

I had the 2.0 Type S (5-door 160bhp version) for a while, and I still miss it. It handled so well. Incredibly practical. Honda published 'our' story on their website!

The Type R was a more concentrated version of what I loved in the Type S. Mire nimble (but also twitchier), faster (but used more fuel), more connected. However, it's quite a 'needy' car. Think of your Fabia as a middle-aged collie. Knows to simply get along AMD do the job when you're not in the mood, but can also have fun. The Civic is more like a chocolate lab puppy... weeing everywhere and wanting to have fun all the time. Endearing, but can be tiring.

Your call. I love 'em and would have another in a shot if I could finance the petrols.

Engine is spot on mate has one in his CRX and it's had a few bits and bobs done to it.... To say at 280bhp it's quick is a massive understatement

Just to update this thread, i got myself a civic type r yesterday, completely different to my old fabia, but in a good way! Engine is just music to my ears, everything works as it should and once you get in vtec your just flying past everything! Love it to bits, the handling is just superb, eats up the corners for fun.

Even though i did love my old fabia, this is just in a different league, so much fun and exactly what i like, which is a high revving naturally aspirated car. Only downside is the MPG lol, its shocking, but i aint doing that many miles now and the 6th gear does help on the motorway.

Id advise anyone who thinks of going back to petrol to have a test drive in one of these first. Insurance if your wondering isnt that bad. im 21, 0 no claims, 1 claim against me. Elephant is £1275. pretty cheap for a group 17 car!! my modded fabia was a hell of alot more!

Cheers

Dan

Just to update this thread, i got myself a civic type r yesterday, completely different to my old fabia, but in a good way! Engine is just music to my ears, everything works as it should and once you get in vtec your just flying past everything! Love it to bits, the handling is just superb, eats up the corners for fun.

Even though i did love my old fabia, this is just in a different league, so much fun and exactly what i like, which is a high revving naturally aspirated car. Only downside is the MPG lol, its shocking, but i aint doing that many miles now and the 6th gear does help on the motorway.

Id advise anyone who thinks of going back to petrol to have a test drive in one of these first. Insurance if your wondering isnt that bad. im 21, 0 no claims, 1 claim against me. Elephant is £1275. pretty cheap for a group 17 car!! my modded fabia was a hell of alot more!

Cheers

Dan

I'm glad you are happy with the move. I know I was very happy indeed.

Oh, you forgot to upload some pictures.

Good call. Still miss my Type S. :'(

Enjoy problem-free ownership, get a Gruppe M on there to fully enjoy the music of VTEC!

Gutted I missed it Dan. Get some pics up!

Will get some pics tomorrow! Won't be very good ones because its very wet here :(

Check the insurance before you buy, they are driven badly, by idiots, as such have a horrendous claims/loss ratio so are expensive to insure. Consider a Corolla T Sport and a slightly softer alternative.

Ollie

Sky Insurance

http://www.skyinsurance.co.uk/car-club-insurance.html

Check the insurance before you buy, they are driven badly, by idiots, as such have a horrendous claims/loss ratio so are expensive to insure. Consider a Corolla T Sport and a slightly softer alternative.

Ollie

Sky Insurance

http://www.skyinsura...-insurance.html

You haven't read the whole thread have you? He has now got one!

Lovely cars and you'll definitely enjoy it. Was looking at them recently as a replacement, but in the end the running costs (especially when you drive them as God intended) scared me into buying something a bit more economical :think:

Chris

Congrats on the new car,it is good to see someone who starts a ...."I am thinking of buying ...." thread actually do it ! Well done matey.

Cheers for the comments! I will upload the pics tomorrow as I took them today. It has been booked in at my local trusty bodyshop to have some scratches sorted out whilst I'm over in Ayai Napa. So when I come back hanging outta my face I'll have a perfect car to come back too :p haha! The mpg isn't actually that bad if you don't enter the vtec (around 6k rpm) but once you get the kick from vtec you just wanna live in it!

I did a trackday with a few jap lads at weekend and my god some of them handle and some of them really go,

My friend has a track prepped DC2 integra and left me for dust round blyton park

But you changed your mind again!!! Haha

Looking forward to the pics, but the question is... Leaving standard?!?!

Has a few scratches and a scuff on the rear bumper, but has been booked in for it all to be sorted :p

Im going to leave it standard for a few months, then just look at exhausts :p