7 Reasons Why The Honda Civic Type R Isn't The Terrible GT Car You Think It Is

Of all the current crop of hot hatches, the Civic Type R is the one that seems least suited to long journeys. However, a 2000-mile European road trip in our Civic longtermer proved that it's a much better GT car than you might expect...
7 Reasons Why The Honda Civic Type R Isn't The Terrible GT Car You Think It Is

It pains me to say it, but up until recently, I just wasn’t getting on with our Honda Civic Type R all that well. I love the performance, its scarcely believable cornering ability and the - potentially soon-to-be-lost - bonkers looks, but it’s not the easiest hot hatch to live with.

So, when about to embark upon a 2000 mile road trip through France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Slovenia a couple of weeks ago, I feared the final nail in the coffin for my tumultuous Civic relationship was about to be unceremoniously smashed in. Why? Because it’s really not a natural road trip companion. The ride is firm even when the ultra-stiff +R mode is turned off. It’s quite lumpy at low revs, meaning trundling through traffic isn’t a very pleasant experience. Finally, there’s the triple whammy of noise you have to face at motorway speeds: the weird high pitched whine (still no idea what that is), the roar from the tyres, and the boom from the quad exhaust out back. Like I said, not the easiest hot hatch to live with.

7 Reasons Why The Honda Civic Type R Isn't The Terrible GT Car You Think It Is

I was sure that after I’d dispatched all 2000 miles of the trip, I’d have nothing left but pure animosity toward the Honda. As it turned out however, the opposite happened: I’ve come away with more love for this bewinged, bright red nutter than ever before.

I must stress, there are hot hatchbacks that are far better at the whole GT thing - a VW Golf R for instance would be ideal for a journey like this. But for the reasons I’m about to explain, the Type R is far better at long distances than you might expect, and in some areas, it has a leg up over its more cosseting rivals.

The seats are amazing

7 Reasons Why The Honda Civic Type R Isn't The Terrible GT Car You Think It Is

I simply cannot stress how important this point is, particularly for me. There’s something not quite right with my spine, so pretty much any time I drive a car for about three hours or more, I get out and make a sort of “ahhhh, ohhh, gaahhh” noise when I extricate myself from the driver’s seat. The Type R is a massive exception to this uncomfortable rule, because the bucket seats in the front are fantastic. Sure, they aren’t the easiest to get in and out of, but once your butt’s secure, they hold you just right. And no, I don’t care if that last bit sounds like it’s lifted from a cheesy romance novel.

The most driving I did in one day was 11 hours, and my back felt fine. On one day I even did a five hour, non-stop stint, and again, my back was fine. When the Type R goes back to Honda, these chairs will be one of the things I miss most.

It's amazingly spacious

7 Reasons Why The Honda Civic Type R Isn't The Terrible GT Car You Think It Is

For most people, a 10 day trip abroad requires a hefty amount of luggage. Factor in a 17-month-old child, and you need to double it. And then some. I’m talking travel cots, nappies, ludicrously expensive toddler snack things - it’s preposterous. In the Civic however, it’s not an issue, with a 498 litre boot to play with. There’s even a load of space under the rear seats, something of a rarity in modern cars.

The ride is fine on non-UK roads

7 Reasons Why The Honda Civic Type R Isn't The Terrible GT Car You Think It Is

OK, so this is a bit of a cop out, and of no use to you if you’re partaking in a long journey in the United Kingdom, but on the largely smoother roads of continental Europe - particularly Germany - the Type R’s firm ride isn’t as much of a problem. It was fairly punishing on a few stretches of intensive road works plus a Slovenian mountain pass with a moon-inspired surface, but other than that, I didn’t find myself cursing the Type R’s stiff setup all that much.

You get used to the noise

7 Reasons Why The Honda Civic Type R Isn't The Terrible GT Car You Think It Is

There’s no escaping it: the noise the Type R makes at motorway speeds is thoroughly annoying. But, you do get used to it fairly quickly, and it’s not something I found wearing over time.

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Most modern hot hatchbacks are all out of ideas at around 155mph. But the Civic? It’s official Vmax is 167mph, and thanks to a little speedo over-reading, I got ‘ours’ up to a thoroughly satisfying 170mph indicated (167.3mph on GPS, in case you were wondering). But it’s not just the number that’s impressive: it’s how it feels at that speed. The last time I got a car up to these kinds of speeds was with a BMW M2 earlier this year, and at around 155mph and up you really start to feel the lift. But that’s not something you get in the Civic.

Thanks to the big wing at the rear pushing the car into the tarmac and the cut-outs in the front arches that reduce turbulence around the wheels at the flat underfloor, it feels amazingly stable at high speeds. You can actually feel the downforce, and as it’s the only car in its class producing negative lift; that’s not something you get in any of the Type R’s hot hatch contemporaries.

It gets loads of attention

7 Reasons Why The Honda Civic Type R Isn't The Terrible GT Car You Think It Is

Had I driven all the way down to Slovenia in a Seat Leon Cupra, I doubt anyone would have batted an eye. But as I’ve explained before, the Type R - with its angry front splitter, massive rear wing and general attitude, there’s no mistaking it for anything other than a hardcore performance hatch. What’s more, it seems they’re still a rarely seen car elsewhere in Europe. As a result, people get excited by the thing.

While taking some pictures of the car by beautiful Lake Bled, I had loads of people shout ‘nice car’ and give me the thumbs up. People came to chat to me and take photos when stopping for fuel. Wherever I drove people stopped and stared. One guy in Ljubljana - the Slovenian capital - even pumped his fist in the air with a gleeful look on his face as I drove past.

It makes your arrival more satisfying

7 Reasons Why The Honda Civic Type R Isn't The Terrible GT Car You Think It Is

As soon as I started telling people the Type R was the chosen steed for my big road trip, I was told that I was mad. Or stupid. Or maybe a little masochistic. With that in mind, once I’d gotten the most hardcore mass produced hot hatch all the way down to Slovenia, it gave me a much greater feeling of satisfaction than if I’d taken something a little more forgiving.

Every time I saw the thing parked up outside our holiday apartment - looking like a lightly distilled BTCC racing car - it made me smile. It’d chewed through seven countries and 1000 miles to get there, and would happily do the same again without skipping a beat.

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Comments

iCypher(Joel Chan)

Well, when you see a Honda with a huge front splitter, a rear wing you could DEFINITELY hold a state banquet on, Of Course everyone, and I mean Everyone would start getting excited.

08/30/2016 - 11:43 |
10 | 2
Nissan 420sx

The seats is one of the things you will miss the most? That’s pretty sad.
Well written btw!

08/30/2016 - 12:12 |
20 | 2

Well, I’m sure I’ll miss the speed, the silly grip and the crazy wings more. But damn, those seats are good!

08/30/2016 - 13:56 |
32 | 0
Anonymous

Why wouldn’t it be good? It’s a Civic TypeR.

08/30/2016 - 12:15 |
12 | 2
Rishav

I saw a Civic Type R at a stoplight in Zurich. It was the most crazy thing ever. And the exhaust was heavenly!!

My sister thought it was a Lamborghini or Ferrari.
Civic Type R’s R cool. Hope ‘Murica gets some.

08/30/2016 - 12:26 |
50 | 4
Anonymous

In reply to by Rishav

“Pretty sure it’s a Lambo dude”

08/30/2016 - 13:13 |
72 | 0

The US is getting the next gen. Eventually….

08/31/2016 - 03:10 |
4 | 0
Anonymous

Honda just seems to get seats in its sportier models right. Comfiest seats I’ve owned were in an 09 Accord coupe.

I’ve driven huge journeys in all sorts, I’ve driven for a living in a few things but it’s always Honda seats you can go a long way without having to stop and stretch.

08/30/2016 - 12:31 |
14 | 0
Unknown

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

And that’s accomplished without 30 thousand way adjustable seats too!

08/31/2016 - 03:11 |
4 | 0
Caro

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Honda is life.

09/01/2016 - 05:53 |
6 | 0
RoyP

Says it all..

08/30/2016 - 12:37 |
182 | 2
A turbo

In reply to by RoyP

You Called?

08/30/2016 - 14:24 |
120 | 0
Marchel Kindangen

In reply to by RoyP

08/31/2016 - 11:54 |
20 | 0
Me BOOSTa

In reply to by RoyP

MeGusta la BOOST

08/31/2016 - 12:48 |
10 | 0
P1eased0nteatme

Is it really that CIVil?
I’ll let myself out

08/30/2016 - 12:45 |
0 | 0
H5SKB4RU (Returned to CT)

Im sad because i cant af-ford one

But im happy that after a few years the price will drop enough to be able to buy it

08/30/2016 - 16:03 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

Awesome to hear that you enjoyed Slovenia!!! :) Next time you are here, do a car meet!!

08/30/2016 - 17:25 |
6 | 0
Blaž Potočnik

Civic Type-R is pretty much nonexistent in Slovenia, especially new one. One was from Austria on Jap Meet on saturady though :D

08/30/2016 - 19:21 |
4 | 0

You are mistaken, one brand new drives around where I live I think the owner is a rally driver, and one blue one is in Kranj.

08/30/2016 - 19:29 |
0 | 0