Drive the Honda Civic Type R like you stole it !!

Steve Lawson Reports, “I just didn’t get it, and then I got it”

I was around Robs place the other day talking cars (funny that) and having a few quiet ones and the conversation got around to Honda's British-built Civic Type R sitting in the driveway. I had done about 300 clicks in it and I said to Rob I just don’t get that car. We had driven the main competitors Renault sport Clio RS, VW Golf GTI, Focus XR5 Turbo and there was something I just didn’t get, after all these cars have cult status so what was I missing, let’s find out.

On the Road

Performance

This hatch has the looks, what a stunner; it makes everything else look old and dated. Besides that, it's very practical. I doubt any other hatch has the same size luggage capacity. Honda has done a brilliant job in creating usable space. But that's not what you want to hear. What you want is the pleasure of Honda's, chain-cam, non-turbo I-VTEC engine reaching 8000 rpm and that exhaust echo against a valley wall as you open the throttle out of the apex after hitting a perfect gear change on the downshift. Oh Yea!!

Honda has been very clever with that with this engine, the valve timing changes at the point of peak torque (193Nm) at 5,600rpm. Then a light on the dashboard helpfully tells you that power is rising sharply to (148kW) at 7,800rpm, no less. Push past that and another red light comes on to tell you you're reaching the limiter.

Honda has lowered the final drive ratio slightly, and that means you only get around 30 Kph per 1,000rpm in 6th. So though the engine is very smooth, don't expect a relaxed high-speed cruise. But the vital question you want answering is how the handling is?

Handling

The Type R's suspension is based on that of the standard Civic however it is lower and has a wider stance at the rear so out on the open road the ride is stiff but not unacceptably so. However, drive down one of Sydney’s disgraceful goat tracks (Parramatta/Pennant Hills road and you find yourself between a rock and a hard place with a firm ride the Type-R is an uncompromising car. Its not as rounded as some rivals and not particularly easy to live with day to day.

However the steering is superbly responsive and the Type-R changes direction with agility while the strong brakes adds to the surefooted feel. There are almost endless levels of grip too and with virtually no body roll and a stiff body shell it feels every inch the hardcore hot hatch.

To find out what I was missing I took the Type R to a favourite run down a gorge just out of Sydney, the descent starts from with a quick 4km of single lane winding roads that switch back on each other with quite a few blind corners. Your left hand side will has an armco railing to stop you taking the rather large drop to the bottom quicker than you'd like, while the oncoming side of the road is cut out of the rock face. So you need to be especially careful as the road swings right and you start the first of a dozen hairpin switchbacks for the drive up the other side.

I didn’t need a sighting run as I use this piece of road often so I got two drives as quick as I had the nerve for. And discovered the combination of steering and throttle feel is absolutely brilliant. And I make the point, that the steering, power delivery and handling all come together perfectly, especially in terms of steering feel, when pushed hard the Type-R is the most involving and rewarding performance hatchback on the market thanks to its light weight, razor-sharp steering and a perfectly balanced chassis.  

Comfort

The Type-R is certainly more refined than its predecessor but compared to a Golf or Focus it lags behind in the comfort stakes. The ride is firm and the suspension isn't particularly forgiving over uneven road surfaces while the engine's relative lack of in-gear pace means a fairly frantic driving experience most of the time.

The bucket-style seats are superbly supportive though, if a little on the firm side and as with the standard Civic, there's decent room in the back - although headroom is a limited due to the sloping roof. The engine has been made a little more vocal and the note has a lot more growl than the old one.

Practicality

The Type-R offers superb luggage space with a 485-litre capacity - that's 100-litres more than the Ford Focus, plus the boot features a neat twin-level floor. But it's the rear seats that are the Civics’ cleverest feature - they Fold flat in one go, or alternatively the bases can be lifted up - there's also extra storage space underneath the seats.

This is an area where the Honda is way ahead of rivals. However there are gripes - rear visibility is obscured slightly by the spoiler in the split rear screen and there's no rear wiper either, the bottom pane has a water-repellent coating that Honda claims clears itself - but in practice it doesn't really work and collects dirt easily.

Equipment

The standard car comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, electronic stability control (Vehicle Stability Assist), CD stereo, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, drilled aluminium sports pedals, alloy gear knob with red-stitched leather boot, leather multi-function steering wheel with adjustment for reach and height, alcantara sport seats, driver's seat height adjustment.

This version adds dual curtain airbags,cruise control, power folding door mirrors, Automatic headlights with dusk sensor, front fog lights, dual-zone climate control air conditioning, rain-sensing windscreen wipers and a refrigerated and lockable glove box..

Behind the wheel

The Type-R's interior is similar to the standard Civic but adds some sporty features such as an aluminium gearshift, sporty pedals and red stitching on the steering wheel, red seats and deep red carpets. It feels different enough from the standard car to remind you that you're in a hot hatch while still retaining the futuristic look. The instrument cluster features a strip of red LED lights that illuminate as the revs rise but while the driving position is good, some drivers may find that their view of the digital speedo is obscured by the top of the steering wheel. The quality is excellent though with precise buttons and soft touch materials

Safety

The Civic only scored four stars in the Euro NCAP crash test ratings at a time when most alternatives have been awarded five. The Type-R gets six airbags as standard, electronic stability control, seatbelt pre-tensioners and Isofix child seat mounting points.

Conclusion

I hadn’t pushed this car hard enough; it needs to be driven hard and fast and to get the most out of it, as it lacks the turbocharged boost that most rivals benefit from. It also lacks pulling power so you'll often find yourself changing to a lower gear in order to keep up with traffic, which can be tiring on motorways. But thanks to a low kerb weight it's quick from 0-100kph in 6.6 seconds, which is faster than the Volkswagen Golf GTi and the more powerful Ford Focus ST.

If you're on a back road for a quick blast, the Civic Type-R is immense fun and the short-shifting and precise six-speed manual gearbox makes it easy to keep the engine at higher revs allowing you to access its power and listen to the exhaust echo against the valley as you open the throttle out of the apex after hitting a perfect gear change on the downshift.

I can't recommend the lightweight spare wheel. Honda has gone overboard with its weight-saving, still its better than walking.

So what was missing?,

You have to drive the Type R like you stole it, keep the revs over 5000 (this motor spins like a sewing machine on steroids) and forget throttle subtlety through tight bends, and you'll have a brilliant time. You'll pay for this roughhousing at the fuel pumps. You have been warned.

Overall, it's a car of extremes – if you are into driving, you will really love it.

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