What did you test before you decided on the CTR?

[Big Slick]

I was thinking it would be quite interesting to hear peoples views and experiences of test drives and look-a-rounds for other cars before deciding to buy the CTR...

Here is mine...

Looked at lots of cars, the first that really caught my eye was the Integra Type R (DC5) but due to the fact that its an import and insurance/servicing is a pain in the ass from what i researched i dropped that. When i saw the new CTR at last years Geneva release in that err yellow guise i was to say the least, not a fan. In fact my first thoughts were i prefer the older CTR. I then looked at a Focus ST, test drove it and the sound was b-e-a-u-tiful...but i could not bring myself to buy a Ford for some reason, no personality IMO. I then thought about non-hatch and went to look at a Impreza and EVO 8 of which the EVO won hands down and i did love it but, petrol/servicing was just too costly (got cheap as chips insurance quotes though, £900) so i then gave up on that wild idea. I decided to go see the new Leon Cupra as my parents said i should have a look, i didnt even drive it, i looked at it, sat in it and then just walked away lol i thought it was that bad. Although i thought it was better than the Golf GTi, i hated that car with a passion, the drive felt sluggish and the exterior didnt appeal to me and neither did the £20k+ price tag for a standard GTi...

Then came the new CTR, previously just a few weeks or so before i had seen the new Type S (Alex ala yorkshiregrit's) and he took me for a spin, and even though it was a CDTi i was quite impressed by the power, the interior was spot on, plenty of room for the ahem larger gentleman lol..so i just had to take a look even though i had it in my mind that i didnt like the new shape all that much...when i pulled into the dealer i just instantly fell in love, i was amazed at how different it was in real life, the pictures i had seen were misleading to me. I was literally bowled over, the follwing Tues i went back for a test drive and again i was gobsmacked...

30 mins later i had placed my order...

[sik2k]

Nothing. I wanted one from the moment I first saw a concept picture.

[czechplastik]

Originally Posted by sik2k

Nothing. I wanted one from the moment I first saw a concept picture.

Ah love at first sight! How romantic!

[Big Slick]

Hmm thats good, but i would have thought some would have tested maybe a few others if they undecided on their next purchase?

I remember when i bought my first MG ZR, it was a case of love at first sight, from when they were released i wanted one, so i bought one, so i know what u mean.

[5ummer5]

Originally Posted by sik2k

Nothing. I wanted one from the moment I first saw a concept picture.

Same as me!

[paul.goffin]

Mazda 3 MPS

Test drove it 30mins after the FN2. It was an excellent car, and I don't think I would have regretting buying one.
The torque is unbelievable it would leave an FN2 well behind, and even with all that power it was very controllable.

But the FN2 was more fun and I found the styling a little bland.

[Big Slick]

Good good, thats the only car i didnt go to see in the flesh that was to me a possibility...

[insanojackson]

Nothing, I liked the look of the fn2 and being the owner of an ep3 ctr i realised that for the performance on tap the running costs were top notch.



(after 2yrs 8 mths ctr ownership i got 60% + back part ex, averaged about 30mpg and spent less than £200 on 2 dealer services compare that to a scooby wrx with very very similar performance apart from 0 to 60 which means little)

[simrjor]

Mazda 3 MPS, Had an hours drive by myself.

Drive was fine, found interior dull, exterior just ok

[THX1138]

I never even took it for a test-drive. I've only driven de previous CTR model for about 5 minutes and the current 5-door 1.8l for 15minutes. But both only acknowledged what I already knew, I wanted a CTR the moment I saw the yellow concept.

I also did a bit of research while waiting for the CTR to go on sale. I took the biggest car survey of 2006 here in the Netherlands, and decided I wanted a car/brand that was high in the list. Since Honda is always in the top 3, that was easy.

But I also compared it against the Audi A3, S3, Alfa GT, Impreza, Lexus IS. All very different.
Audi is way overpriced.
Alfa's fall apart (still), but they do look awesome.
Impreza has lost it's style.
French cars are out of the question anyway (they fall apart even sooner then an Alfa and look horrible) and so are American.
The Golf GTI style is not exicting enough for me. At the other end, the Focus ST style is not balanced enough. Seat Leon is too low on the survey list. I don't like the Mazda 3 MPS, to many doors and BHP.
Lexus IS is expensive, but very good. Too bad they don't have a coupe or hothatch yet. All the other Toyota's are too boring for my taste. I can always get one of those when I'm maried have 2.3 children and a dog.

So basically what was left was the CTR. It's easy to come up with negative-points for the competition, when you've actually already decided on the car you like

[Harps]

Originally Posted by sik2k

Nothing. I wanted one from the moment I first saw a concept picture.

I settled for a 5 door but always wanted the CTR. Im changing it now for the CTR, I cant wait, it was love at first sight!!!

[sik2k]

Originally Posted by sik2k

Nothing. I wanted one from the moment I first saw a concept picture.

Originally Posted by czechplastik

Ah love at first sight! How romantic!

. . . and the fact I had £5K of Gap payout to spend at the Dealer's

I also had an EP3 Type R which I loved until it was nicked. I figured Honda couldn't go too far wrong with the new model.

Spent the last 12 months playing with my Jazz (which I will be keeping) and this has just helped strengthen my respect for the Honda brand.