[Apl440i or 335d?]

So I had a test of the new Civic Type R today. Here's what I think.

Looks: in the flesh in black GT trip it looks amazing. I know looks are subjective, but just standing near it gets the pulse up a few bpm. The interior is well put together and functional, but nothing special.

Driving: the seating position is too high. The seats are typical type r buckets, but are not heated.
The steering is very direct, even more so than my focus st. But there is not much feel.
The road noise is very loud. At a decent motorway speed you can hardly hear the person next to you without them raising their voice.

Handling: very flat and very stiff, but not at all crashy over rough stuff. As said it is very direct and does not feel front wheel drive in the bends.

Performance: it's quick. But never really felt as fast as I wanted it too. If I'm honest it did not feel much faster than my focus, and no where near as fast as an m135i.... It did struggle for traction a lot, but it's performance was at the top of the Rev range.


Overall it was very good. But not for me.
There are no deals or discounts available at all.

A bone stock one would be 400pcm with a £3k deposit over 36 months.

I'm driving a golf r tomorrow.....

[Chris Peacock]

Interesting review, I did a test drive last August.

I have owned 7 performance orientated Hondas in various guises so was hoping to like it...but....

I hated the look of it in the flesh, hoped it just wasn't photogenic but not the case. The seats were amazing but the driving position was too high. Performance was strong but didn't excite me either.

The handling was excellent, but with the 'R' button pressed too firm for UK roads, can imagine impressive on a flat track.

The kicker for me were the figures....Honda not willing to negotiate on price and back then it was £3k deposit and nearly £450pm for a GT car with a £13k GFV.

[Chris Peacock]

I am probably looking at similar cars to you, I have come to the conclusion the M135i is the car for me....6 cylinders/twin turbos and rwd coupled to some great discounts.

[DazC]

Whilst the boy racer in me kinda likes the look of the White or Blue, the professional in me just couldn't buy one and drive it to work, meetings with clients, etc.

Sure it'll have good tuning potential. I loved my DC2 and even my FN2 but alas I'm too old for them now!

[Apl440i or 335d?]

Originally Posted by Chris Peacock

I am probably looking at similar cars to you, I have come to the conclusion the M135i is the car for me....6 cylinders/twin turbos and rwd coupled to some great discounts.

Only one turbo my friend

M135i is defiantly in the running.

[Chris Peacock]

Oh my bad, I thought the M135i was running 2 turbos

[lens]

Originally Posted by DazC

Whilst the boy racer in me kinda likes the look of the White or Blue, the professional in me just couldn't buy one and drive it to work, meetings with clients, etc.

Sure it'll have good tuning potential. I loved my DC2 and even my FN2 but alas I'm too old for them now!

From what I hear, the type r has a integrated exhaust manifold, and the turbo and stuff is deep in the engine. So tuners will either have a hard time or near impossible time tuning it.

[Apl440i or 335d?]

Originally Posted by Chris Peacock

Oh my bad, I thought the M135i was running 2 turbos

Hope that hasn't put you off it.

If you listen to the salesmen they will tell you it's like having two small turbos as its a twin scroll turbo. But it's only one.

The salesman at Honda said they type r had a variable vane turbo (incorrect) which is like having two small turbos (very incorrect).

It's shocking how little some sales people know about the product they are flogging....

[Apl440i or 335d?]

Hears a pic of it:

[Apl440i or 335d?]

And the golf r I'm testing tomorrow:

[Andrewthefirst]

Good post op thanks, and looking forward to hearing how you feel the R compares. My 2p says you'll like it much better

[philiper1]

The problem with golf is that it is very understated, looks like any other golf to average Joe!

[dopper99]

Originally Posted by philiper1

The problem with golf is that it is very understated, looks like any other golf to average Joe!

It does look very ordinary - except the stupid out of place exhausts.

[Apl440i or 335d?]

Originally Posted by dopper99

It does look very ordinary - except the stupid out of place exhausts.

This is my problem with it. It's dull to look at, yet I don't like the exhausts....

[Mark1966]

Originally Posted by Chris Peacock

I am probably looking at similar cars to you, I have come to the conclusion the M135i is the car for me....6 cylinders/twin turbos and rwd coupled to some great discounts.

I believe the only application the twin turbo is still available in is the Z4 35iS.

[Mark1966]

Originally Posted by Apl330e

Hears a pic of it:

I really like the look of the new Type R, not sure it is as good to drive as the boring looking Golf R though.

If I was in the market for a hot hatch I would get down to Ford and place an order for the Focus RS and poke up with the wait.

[Chris Peacock]

Originally Posted by Mark1966

If I was in the market for a hot hatch I would get down to Ford and place an order for the Focus RS and poke up with the wait.

Me too, but the wife doesn't like the RS image, to be fair this is her daily and only my weekend fun car for the time being.

I have suggested in black it would be very understated but she's not buying it sadly.

[Apl440i or 335d?]

The Focus RS looks epic. But I think they are going to be at a premium for a while.

Not bad discounts on the Golf R and Audi S3 at the moment.

I have almost discounted the m135i as its not going to be practical enough if we have a nipper....

[Mark1966]

What about the Golf Clubsport, looks better than the Golf R/S3 and is probably a more rewarding driving experience, better residuals too I suspect

[Apl440i or 335d?]

Originally Posted by Mark1966

What about the Golf Clubsport, looks better than the Golf R/S3 and is probably a more rewarding driving experience, better residuals too I suspect

Same problem as the focus and Civic Type R. No discount.....

[Mark1966]

Originally Posted by Apl330e

Same problem as the focus and Civic Type R. No discount.....

Is a discount that important though

A car like the Golf Clubsport is likely to have very strong residuals and you will reap the benefits come resale. Cars that initially have large discounts usually have poor residuals, it is swings and roundabouts.

I personally would not get hung up on the discount issue.

[Chris Peacock]

No a discount isn't always necessary but from what I have read VW are already playing their usual 'new car launch debacle' card and there is uncertainty on launch dates and availability, originally proposed dates already rolling.

Invariably this is going to drive a clambering from customers to get into the first batch of cars but if the GTI/R launches are anything to go by its likely to be a 6 month+ wait and a lot of frustration.