I'm mulling a replacement for my civic EP3 type r which I love dearly, but it's 16 years old and won't last forever. When I got it, the rationale was that it was cheaper, more reliable, at least as practical, and faster than it's generation of golf GTI. Times have changed. Hot hatches have gone from "200bhp is too much for FWD" to 300bhp is becoming the benchmark, and 400 is the super hatch.
While I quite like the look of the new type r (It has presence even if it's a bit OTT), the interior is lacking and tbh, I don't do track days, and while it's regained it's proper rear suspension, it's lost it's naturally aspirated voice which was it's best feature IMO.
I may/may not be in a position to replace it soon with something better, and while I've looked at the new type r and had a moment or two of lust, my head is telling me that the new focus st has potential when mountune get their hands on it. But then there's the golf r m52. >£37K new easy to live with and faster than a audi rs3 for a lot less (3.7s to 62 claimed)
Is this the new sleeper value king of performance? Is it worth buying a new car and then destroying the resale value by having it tweaked and losing the manufacturer's warranty? (unlike mountune tuned fords).
While I quite like the look of the new type r (It has presence even if it's a bit OTT), the interior is lacking and tbh, I don't do track days, and while it's regained it's proper rear suspension, it's lost it's naturally aspirated voice which was it's best feature IMO.
I may/may not be in a position to replace it soon with something better, and while I've looked at the new type r and had a moment or two of lust, my head is telling me that the new focus st has potential when mountune get their hands on it. But then there's the golf r m52. >£37K new easy to live with and faster than a audi rs3 for a lot less (3.7s to 62 claimed)
Is this the new sleeper value king of performance? Is it worth buying a new car and then destroying the resale value by having it tweaked and losing the manufacturer's warranty? (unlike mountune tuned fords).