Honda Civic Type R Review

Overall Rating

Reliability, looks, amazing after-sales service from Honda, and the fact that you can pull women way out of your league with a car that was purchased for 10 grand.

The turning circle is not the best, but I don't make too many 3 point turns so I can live with it. Purchase a model with air conditioning if you can, as you will need to keep a cloth in the car to constantly wipe windscreen during winter months.

Honda Civic Type-R is an outstanding car! It looks amazing with the safe guard polish in night hawk black, and after purchasing one that had only done 30 thousand miles for such a reasonable price I felt like the cat that got the cream! My old 1.4 Clio would do 250 miles for 30 quid of just driving short journeys. I was amazed to find that the Civic would also do the same mileage for only 36 quid which just showed how economical it is. The insurance cost me 1200 quid for the year as I'm only 21 but was worth every penny through elephant.co.uk. If you can afford to get a 2004 model, I would advise you too, as they have slightly nicer front lights, and also look brilliant with the indicators in the wing mirrors like Mercedes. A friend of mine has done nearly 90 thousand miles in his as he has a sales job and can't believe how amazing the V-tec still sounds, just like new. The only problem he had is that the clutch went after 77 thousand miles and cost 700 quid. However apart from this, it has been trouble free motoring.

Members' Comments onstillmattic85's Review

• BizzyBoy on 19th Oct 2006

  Yes, facelift models can be had for pretty reasonable prices now. They're available on 53 plates onwards. However, if your budget can't stretch, I wouldn't worry too much. As the term suggests, the CTR was merely facelifted, not overhauled, so apart from a few cosmetic changes (lights, front bumper, side mirrors, red trim on front seats) and a 0.2 second difference in the dash to 60, you're still looking at the same car. Air con is something to watch out for. It's not facelift specific, but it was a factory option and not everyone purchased it, so don't just assume the car you're looking at has it. You can live without a/c, but it's a nice extra, and will help the residuals when it comes time to sell as well. There are also some CTR's around with factory leather seats, if you like that sort of thing. Personally, I feel this doesn't fit with the image of the car, but it's down to personal opinion I guess.
  
  If your budget can stretch, a facelift is definitely an option. I'd also consider 30th Anniversary models, which are pre-facelifts, but are special editions and come with factory tinted rear glass and red Recaro seats, among other things... yummy! Then there are the Championship white Japanese Domestic Models, which are even rarer, and have over 20 more horses than the UK model! Finally, there are also plenty of well modified examples around, with quality Japanese performance parts. Particularly interesting are the ones with Jackson Racing superchargers. :D