Shock!!!! Horror!!! It's gone!!!

[Charles_Harding]

Originally Posted by czechplastik

Money? The Civics are relatively expensive.

So are Bentleys!

You pays yer money......

It's cheaper in the long run.

"Hardings Law: The strength of the turbulence is directly proportional to the temperature of the coffee!"

Charles H.

[Jim B]

I've just test driven both cars one after the other...

The Ford has a great engine sound though in a different way to the Type R, Ford is more comfortable for me in the seating and softer over bumps.

The Honda feels more special and has much better road feeling, miles better gearchange and steering.

I think that while both can be driven pretty lean, it seemed easier to drive the Focus ST on a lower fuel consumption. Probably due to the high gearing. (I got 6.5l/100km in the Ford and around 7l/100km in the Honda -thats 43 and 40 mpg respectively -mind you that was on my calm bit of the test)

Decisions, decisions...

[Jim B]

I forgot to say that the Type R test drive was accompanied by ear to ear grin and hysterical laughter... Most fun drive ever...

[czechplastik]

Originally Posted by Jim B

I forgot to say that the Type R test drive was accompanied by ear to ear grin and hysterical laughter... Most fun drive ever...

Thats probably the most powerful comment right there!

[stew190864]

Originally Posted by Jim B

I've just test driven both cars one after the other...

The Ford has a great engine sound though in a different way to the Type R, Ford is more comfortable for me in the seating and softer over bumps.

The Honda feels more special and has much better road feeling, miles better gearchange and steering.
Decisions, decisions...

Like you I test drove both on the same day. The ford was a great car and I really liked the available options (heated seats, leather, heated screen e.t.c...), but i was appalled at the 18MPG i got on the test drive.

Although I didn't go for the TypeR (TypeS 2.2 for me.) if it was going to be a hot hatch then it would have to be the TypeR.

It's been said many times but i'm going to repeat it:

"THE CIVIC JUST MAKES EVERYTHING ELSE LOOK BORING."

[LoonyJohn]

Originally Posted by Jim B

I've just test driven both cars one after the other...

The Ford has a great engine sound though in a different way to the Type R, Ford is more comfortable for me in the seating and softer over bumps.

The Honda feels more special and has much better road feeling, miles better gearchange and steering.

I think that while both can be driven pretty lean, it seemed easier to drive the Focus ST on a lower fuel consumption. Probably due to the high gearing. (I got 6.5l/100km in the Ford and around 7l/100km in the Honda -thats 43 and 40 mpg respectively -mind you that was on my calm bit of the test)

Decisions, decisions...

Don't forget what the reason is for people buying the type R - probably not the way it rides over speed bumps or the low fuel consumption!

My advice to anyone who cares, if you want a performance car that does the commuter thing brill, get a type S 2.2 diesel, and get it chipped!

Like pottsy says, it's as fast as the type R, and as cheap to run as the standard car.

[alastair b]

Originally Posted by LoonyJohn

Don't forget what the reason is for people buying the type R - probably not the way it rides over speed bumps or the low fuel consumption!

My advice to anyone who cares, if you want a performance car that does the commuter thing brill, get a type S 2.2 diesel, and get it chipped!

Like pottsy says, it's as fast as the type R, and as cheap to run as the standard car.

But doesn't the Type R look far superior.

[czechplastik]

Originally Posted by alastair b

But doesn't the Type R look far superior.

Well thats true, but we've seen recently the rear spoiler can be fitted to a 5 door and the image pack isn't a bad effort, especially combined with the colour coded bumpers a la your car!

[Jim B]

Originally Posted by LoonyJohn

Don't forget what the reason is for people buying the type R - probably not the way it rides over speed bumps or the low fuel consumption!

My advice to anyone who cares, if you want a performance car that does the commuter thing brill, get a type S 2.2 diesel, and get it chipped!

Like pottsy says, it's as fast as the type R, and as cheap to run as the standard car.

I wasn't referring to speed bumps and if the Type S was available in Sweden I might well have had one however I have to choose a car based on real world attributes and long distance comfort and fuel consumption does come into it. I drive around 30000miles a year...

But no other car I have ever driven (which includes Subaru's, Esprit, Mitsubishis, BMW's, various roadsters etc) has ever put a smile on my face like the Type R. I was just trying to do an objective review having compared the two cars, drove like stink for the first half of my test, and then a little more normally back having zeroed the fuel readout to get an idea on economy for long work journeys (I don't want a repmobile, no!)

[Charles_Harding]

Originally Posted by alastair b

But doesn't the Type R look far superior.

Great yes, but superior?

"I like the idea of those little red balls that people put on their aerials to help them find their motor in a car park. I think all cars should have them!"

Charles H.

[alastair b]

Originally Posted by czechplastik

Well thats true, but we've seen recently the rear spoiler can be fitted to a 5 door and the image pack isn't a bad effort, especially combined with the colour coded bumpers a la your car!

Can't argue with that.

[alastair b]

[quote=Charles_Harding;73387]Great yes, but superior?


Oops,maybe got a bit carried away.

[Charles_Harding]

[quote=alastair b;73403
Oops,maybe got a bit carried away.[/quote]

It's so easy when you've already got the superior one!

"Prescott went to a think tank the other day and almost drowned!"

Charles H.

[Mark996]

Just to throw one more into the pan - I've just discovered just how cheap Mazda RX8's are 2nd hand......and they are available on Mazda's own PCP finance....also, the insurance on them was almost the same as I've been quoted for the ST3....the CTR is still the higher quote by £400!!!!

I'm hoping to have time to go and test drive all three tomorrow morning (CTR, ST3, RX......

[Topcat]

Originally Posted by Mark996

Just to throw one more into the pan - I've just discovered just how cheap Mazda RX8's are 2nd hand......and they are available on Mazda's own PCP finance....also, the insurance on them was almost the same as I've been quoted for the ST3....the CTR is still the higher quote by £400!!!!

I'm hoping to have time to go and test drive all three tomorrow morning (CTR, ST3, RX......

The fact that you are so confused says to me that you have serious doubts about the Type R. I think you need to really take your time about this and be sure of what you want it doesn't matter what people say to you on here they are all biased.

[apemonkeyman]

My nextdoor neighbour has an RX8 - when ever they go away for the weekend they take his partners company Mondeo ST cos the RX costs them an arm & a leg on any journey over 10 miles...

[Mark996]

Originally Posted by Topcat

The fact that you are so confused says to me that you have serious doubts about the Type R. I think you need to really take your time about this and be sure of what you want it doesn't matter what people say to you on here they are all biased.

Please don't get me wrong TC, of course I'd love a CTR, but the cost really does stretch my budget to it's extreme (read : can't really afford that, and can't really sell the missus just yet!!!)

[czechplastik]

We have Mondeo ST's and Focus ST's, even have a focus RS as well, they're all great cars, its purely aesthetic for me. I love just the R, inside and out, Focus bores me, thats all!

[Mark996]

So.....today WAS the day.....

Firstly, I went down to 'Available Car' at Castle Donington to test drive their Rx8's. I picked out a black one (they had 4 in total) and decided to take it for a spin. To say I was dissapointed is a MASSIVE understatement.......It certainly looks the part, and it goes well enough too, but I couldn't get away from an overwhelming sense of 'Cheapness' about the whole package.....One of the RX8's part pieces is those 'Suicide' Rear doors, which is all well and good, but after adjusting the drivers seat to suit me, I jumped in the back and shut the door......believe me, in the back of one of those, you really feel like you're sitting in the back of a van - the windows are ridiculously small, and it's very dark and claustrophobic.

Next, I went to the Ford dealers (Sandicliffe), and picked out a light Silver 5 door ST to test drive. It was all quite unsurprising to be fair. It does everything you'd expect of it, and expect it to do.
The lady who came with me on the Test drive then got me to the A52, when the car becomes just awesome........accelerating past 5,500 the intake noise is fantastic, and defo something that could cause you to lose your licence VERY quickly.......

Next, I went to Lookers Honda, to test a CTR. The interior was awesome compared to the other two, and the engine was MUCH more responsive than I had expected. VERY IMPRESSED INDEED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

However, what it comes down to in the end, was the financing....and basically, I just simply can't afford the Honda, nor can I really wait the 10-12 weeks waiting time for a Bronze.
So, ahem.......I put £350 down on a Black ST-3 3 door with just 4,000miles on the clock.

That said, I don't for one minute expect I'll actually get accepted for the finance, as, even though I am now a Police Officer with Notts Police, the trouble I went through just to get an 'Orange' mobile phone on contract was a mare.......the main issue is not that I have a bad credit rating, I don't have one at all over here......

So, It may end up that test driving these 3 today was just torturing myself, when I'm gonna end up getting the bus everyday anyway!!!!!!