Thinking about a Civic Type-R

Vanilla

Vanilla

Vanilla

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18 Oct 2002
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Well, an M3 is too much to run. Petrol isn't a problem (fuel card) but the service and insurance is.

M3 - would put down extra for it but the insurance and services are a killer
RX8 - Lovely car, lacks the grunt I think. Would have to spen 15k to get a good un.

So i'm thinking of plonking down 11-13k on a Civic type-r. This kinda cash could net me a 2004 or a 2005 model if I wait a while. Both would be facelift models. My insurance would be £1400 but that is expected.

I did consider the DC5 Integra because they look lovely but I don't like the fact they are all imports and my money would only get me a 2002 model!

Been reading lots of CTR forums and am liking it more and more by the day.

So, I know there are a few CTR owners on here - how are you finidng the CTR?
 
£1400? How old are you? Mine is £890FC and I have 0ncb (25yo).

As for my CTR; I love it to bits, I walk to work in the week so it's just a bit of a weekend toy really so it only gets driven hard and hasn't missed a beat since I bought it.

I've been thinking about selling recently (just for more power) so have been on a number of test drives but nothing has struck me as being as much fun as the CTR so far, the gearbox and engine really are a match made in heaven imo.
 
NickXX said:
I don't know much about the CTR, but have you considered a 330i? £11-13k should get you a good example.
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hmm yeah, it is a possibility (330ci), I have thought about it but whenever I see the 330ci I can't help think 'nice, but it's not an M3'.

That's not the '330 is a poor mans BMW' mentality but just the fact I like the M3!
 
Bigsy said:
£1400? How old are you? Mine is £890FC and I have 0ncb (25yo).

As for my CTR; I love it to bits, I walk to work in the week so it's just a bit of a weekend toy really so it only gets driven hard and hasn't missed a beat since I bought it.

I've been thinking about selling recently (just for more power) so have been on a number of test drives but nothing has struck me as being as much fun as the CTR so far, the gearbox and engine really are a match made in heaven imo.
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I'm 24 (25 in less than a month). I have 2 years NCB. I live in London :(

When I did my insurance quotes I lsaid I was 25 just to simulate the cost. SO my quote of £1400 is me being 25 with 2 years NCB.
 
Vanilla said:
hmm yeah, it is a possibility (330ci), I have thought about it but whenever I see the 330ci I can't help think 'nice, but it's not an M3'.
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So you'd rather drive around in a 4 cylinder hatchback than a 6 cylinder sports coupe becuase the coupe makes you think it isnt an M3?

Surely the Civic will make you think 'Nice, but it isn't an NSX'.
 
[TW]Fox said:
Surely the Civic will make you think 'Nice, but it isn't an NSX'.
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An NSX is not a Civic with more power + bodykit though.

It is an entirely different car.
 
[TW]Fox said:
So you'd rather drive around in a 4 cylinder hatchback than a 6 cylinder sports coupe becuase the coupe makes you think it isnt an M3?

Surely the Civic will make you think 'Nice, but it isn't an NSX'.
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Surely the Civic will make you think 'Nice, but it isn't a 330'. :p
 
I can see what he's saying though, the CTR is the top of the performance range for the civic and the M3 is the top of the performance range for the 3 series so getting the 330i would be a compromise of sorts.

Not sure I'd choose the jap crap over the beamer though :p
 
s0ck said:
I can see what he's saying though, the CTR is the top of the performance range for the civic and the M3 is the top of the performance range for the 3 series so getting the 330i would be a compromise of sorts.

Not sure I'd choose the jap crap over the beamer though :p
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Kinda, I love the M3 and it would be the only and first BMW i'd have. SO rather than getting a BMW and being disappointed or getting bored with them i'd rather jump ship to a totally differnt ship (VTEC) and come back to my beloved ////M later on.
 
Mic said:
So their not some of the best built/reliable cars in the world then?
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Hook, line, sinker..

But no, they are not some of the best built cars in the world. Most reliable? Certainly.

Build quality and reliabilty are not the same thing - until recently, Jap cars have generally had average at best build quality but exceptional reliability - presumably becuase whilst BMW and VW were spending billions on making the right sort of plastic and damped grab handles, Honda etc were out there making sure the cars worked, and never broke down, becuase they figured 100% reliability > Posh built cabins.
 
...but you have to admit the Type-R cabin is sexy. With that console mounted gear shift, the double din HU space allowing for a nice screen, etc.
 
At the risk of sounding like Fox does with his mondeos, i would have to say take a look at the Toyota Celica TSport.

Its uses Toyotas equivalent of the VTEC, and is one of the few cars to produce >100BHP per litre (190BHP from a 1.8 VVTL-i

Not everyones cup of tea i'm sure, but they are quite rare, as quick as the Type-R (pretty much) and come with a MUCH better spec.

15k would get you a nice 2004 example, and they have full leather throughout, climate control and other nice goodies. I always reccomend one after buying mine - they havent been superceded by a new model, so wont date as badly, have similar reliability and build quality to Honda, and a sports coupe feels and handles better than the CTR ever could. Pulls hard in every gear upto 155mph, and gets to 60 in a blurry giggly way which you'll love.

Just try one is all i'd say - make sure you try the TSport one tho, and not the standard VVT-i, also make sure its plenty warm before you thrash it to 8.3k rpm as they limit @ 7krpm to prevent damage when cold.
 
Toyota engine is useless off cam though. Nothing at all until 6k.

As a passenger in my mates Tsport Corolla it feels like he part throttles till 6k then puts his foot down. It really is that bad.

15k is the same price as a new CTR and the Celica certainly won't do 155mph
 
Simon said:
Toyota engine is useless off cam though. Nothing at all until 6k.

As a passenger in my mates Tsport Corolla it feels like he part throttles till 6k then puts his foot down. It really is that bad.

15k is the same price as a new CTR and the Celica certainly won't do 155mph
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well, true, thats part of my appeal to it tbh, the surge from nothing that you feel makes the pull seem harder, but i agree - not all would like it. The engine certainly isnt as accomplished as the VTEC, but the figures tell the story - keep it in lift and it goes very well. Needs work. I suggest your mate drops it a cog at 3.5-5k to get it back into lift - you admittedly have to drive it like you stole it to get the very best of it, but stir the 'box up and the lift issue dissapears. Also if you take it to the redline and change, the change brings you in right at the beginning of the lift again - if you're quick enough

And according to my GPS (Pioneer AVIC X1R) it certainly does do 155 (well, actually i think it was 152 now i think of it, but hey ;) )

EDIT: No it wasnt :D got confused with my bike, it was 145mph :o

And as for the price, well thats true too - its a 22k car, which means you'll probably lose less after 2 years than a new CTR would - especially with the new shape out soon
 
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