I took out one of the new Civic Type R's today from Wolverhampton Honda. I spent the day with my father doing bloke stuff which included a few visits to dealerships as his Porsche was in Wolverhampton OPC for some work as he is up in the Midlands this week. We had popped in to see the NSX they had in there, which unfortunately they could not open (bloody complex hybrids!) but they have a nice blue Type R in the showroom and I still need a daily car. So I asked if they have one on test duties and not 5 minutes later I was spanking it around some local country roads.
One of the most impressive cars (as in the car that impressed me more than I expected) I have driven for years. Such a well sorted car and I can see why it's topping all the road tests at the moment, is astoundingly good. Compared to the Golf R I drove similarly briefly a few weeks back, it was a different league when it came to how it drove, steered and went around corners. The Golf R is quick, the end. This thing felt so much more sorted, more involving to drive and so well balanced. I was incredibly impressed and it reminded me how much fun a good hot hatch still is. On a nice flowing road, let's say like the Evo Triangle, nothing would get away from it outside of the long straight bits. Even in it's stiffest settings it was incredibly pliant and sorted and just road over bumps and cambers with aplomb.
I did feel the brakes lacked feel and the gearbox was not MX5 quality (still good) and pedals could be a little closer together but that is nit picking. It looks bloody ludicrous but what are car, fantastic device.