Focus ST vs Civic Type-R

Tombles

Tombles

Tombles

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10 Jun 2005
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765
Hi all,

I'm looking at both of these cars as they are similar hot hatches and i like both of them but have never driven them.

I have a test drive in the ST tomorrow (if they let me, their over 25 policy may not allow me to test drive it) and will book one for the CTR soon.

Could anyone with knowledge of these two cars please give me any information on them and how they are to drive etc. and what you would choose out of the two?

I know the looks can be marmite (mainly aimed at the CTR) so we don't need to go into that discussion :p

Thanks.
 
I think the Focus will be a more comfortable and relaxing drive, more toys and better interor, and easy to drive fast.

It depends what you like, if you don't like the idea of changing down a gear to get into the revs/power band the Civic may not be the car for you! The Civic will be more fun in the corners though.

Edit, my post was based on the EP3 breadvan. If you meant the FN2 Civic, get the Focus.
 
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Not driven the CTR but i've had a blast in the 2.2 derv version, don't think i could live with the dash tbh, would be the focus for me.
 
Yep, if you prefer a straight power delivery, focus, if you like to rev it high and get BOOST, CTR :)

Both great cars, can't really go wrong either way!
 
Tombles said:
Straight to the point as always Fox. Any reason why the ST is that much better in your oppinion?
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I've not actually driven one but the Civic annoyed me - it had the potential to be so good but it was just such a let down.

The ride was absolutely terrible - the worst in any car I've ever driven. Now, in a hard edged, raw hot hatch, you could forgive this. But it isn't a hard edged, rar hot hatch. It's too soft so the ride just ruins it. The engine sounds absolutely fantastic but it isn't that quick, it's gutless below about 4000rpm and annoying to drive. And it rattled like crazy despite only 1500 miles on the clock.

Just a big dissapointment. Liked the previous one better.
 
Tombles said:
Straight to the point as always Fox. Any reason why the ST is that much better in your oppinion?
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Fox doesn't like gear changes, hence he hates VTEC :D

Any VTEC engined car requires a certain driving style to get the best from it, namely driving it like a bat out of hell the entire time :)

I would add, however, that the new one (FN2) is horrible, and I wasn't a huge fan of the last type R either, it needed an LSD badly.
 
I drove one of the new Civics the other week after the owner was too ill to drive it herself, so I got lumbered. I thought the interior and ergonimics were awful, I really struggled to find out where 'stuff' was, not least the flipping Christmas CD and how the hell I could turn it off! It was not a type R, rather a sludger, but I thought the car felt 'big' and did not feel much like a hot hatch back from inside, I struggled (not in any major way) to get a feel for its width at first, which I have not felt in a car for many years. Very odd really, can't really put my finger on the problem, but I thought the car was all over the shop in terms of its interior, seating and the way you seem 30 feet from the front! Not my cuppa really, i'd go with the Foci
 
[TW]Fox;10869625 said:
It cant be just that becuase I genuinelly enjoy thrashing the FTO around. Even though the interior is godawful, made from horrible plastic and it rattles like mad.
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Well, the new CTR doesn't reward you for pushing it hard, which makes it just hard work rather than fun. FTO's, EK9 and MB6 VTi's and EK9 and EP3 type R's (not to mention integra's and S2000's) do, which makes all the difference :)
 
Wow didn't expect the CTR to be slated so much and the ST to be a clear favourite. Most review sites seem to rate them quite closely.

I hope that this terrible over 25 policy does not stop me test driving the ST tomorrow as i will not buy a car i cannot test drive.

Seemed quite a good deal on it too coming from a dealer. Just came in so hadn't been cleaned/touched up yet so i could see what condition the owners left it in and it was in good condition. 56 plated ST-3 with heated seats and 14k miles for touch under 16k
 
i test drove a focus st and a wolfrace wr285, also a new civic type R when i was 18/19.....the focus st by a mile. The civic just doesn't work, the point of a type R is to be revvy, loud and feel like a go cart, but instead, it feels big, it's too quiet, has NO sensation of speed and is just completely "meh". The focus on the other hand, is more comfortable when cruising in traffic, rawer when gunning it (louder), FEELS much faster and it just felt sharper. I think if you want a high revving car then the Celica GT 190 is a fair bit better to drive for similar money and practicality IMO.

Tom.
 
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