Honda Civic Type R 2.0l VTEC

Hero's, icons, trailblazers are, once the love-in has faded, always exposed as flawed. Be it people or products the gloss fades and we see them for what they are with crystal-clear, rather than rose tinted, glasses. This doesn't mean that we dislike or are disappointed it's just that we judge them more reflectively with less bias and more objectivity.

Take the Honda Civic Type R. Here's a car that Europeans lusted over so much they imported them from Japan which in turn prompted the astute Japanese manufacturer to include it in their official line-up. (Pity they didn't do that with the hugely poplar Element which has legions of dedicated fans in the US and Japan). Its high revving VTEC engine is like crack/cocaine for speed lovers insofar as it is, ahem allegedly, instantly addictive. And like all addictive substance it's hard to live without and is usually bad for you. Honda is such a responsible company, with proven green credentials, that the Type R is a bit contradictatory. It's like the black sheep of the family compared to the Civic IMA Hybrid and the practical and frugal Jazz and understated Accord. It appeals to those young drivers who should not have, in my opinion, access to it. I mean, I recently had to sit an exam to get a provisional licence for a motorbike that will only allow me to drive, typically, a max 125cc engined bike If, and hopefully when, when I pass my test I must drive no bigger bike than a 125cc one for two years. If I passed my driving test in a car and had the financial means I could drive a 1000bhp engined Bugatti Veyron. Another example of our warped Irish understanding of responsible motoring, accident prevention and raising standards on our roads.

Back to the Type R. if you are 17 or 70 you couldn't help but fall in love with this car. Blistering acceleration, ground breaking styling and out of this world dash and controls. The inside of the Civic is very idiosyncratic yet easy to use and Honda familiar. It is also functional and provided the driver with exactly what he/she needs at a glance or a flick. A textbook lesson and as about as far as they can go without the next step in car control – full touch sensitive control. Its coming though, its coming.

Some unkind observers have remarked that the ride in the Type R is firm/hard/harsh. That's a bit like saying fish can swim. The firm ride enables you to go round corners very fast without any fear of not going round them. It's the whole point. If it was soft and spongy you'd be a lot more pedestrian. I've driven a lot of cars and find it incredible how you can compare the firmness of a cars ride. Unless you get out of one and straight into the other to compare immediately you're relying too much on your memory. The Focus ST, Vectra OPC, the Golf GTi and Mazda MPS, all of which I've driven, are all firm. Is the Honda firmer? Maybe, but not enough to turn me off it or to say with complete confidence that it is firmer. For the time I spent with it I did my usual weekly motoring and I have to say it is an easy car to live with. It has the best boot-opening, period, of any hatchback and was a cinch to tootle along in as well as for those fast acceleration moments. The seats are excellent and supportive but are missing the full racing harness belts for the full petrolhead fix. Gripes would be the frequent stops to fill it up as well as the silliest rear spoiler ever. It blocks the part of the rear view that you most need to see. A bit more listening to the safety engineer here Honda please.

The engine in the Type R is again a VTEC engine which doesn't have a turbo-charger. The fun starts at high revs when the power band is reached. It's a very thrilling experience when the power kicks in but not in an OMG sense. It's controllable and ample. The engine in the new Type R is the same as the last one – improving on perfection is difficult you know but they have got an additional 1 bhp out of it all the same...

Overall a real motoring hero with flaws but not so as to turn you against it. The looks are incredible and the power more than enough for any of us. It's practical, spacious and very usable for everyday motoring. Those who want the bragging rights for top speed and fastest acceleration will always find the figures first and the car second. The Type R Civic may not be the best at these but as a stunning piece of motoring design and fast family transport - it's practically peerless.

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www.honda.ie
RRP: €36,980

St. Patrick's CU Monthly Loan
Repayment per €1,000.
Rate = 6.5%
Tel: 01 632 5100 or 01 632 5125
3 Years = €30.64 4 Years = €23.71
5 Years = €19.56

Manufacturers Fuel Consumption Figs:

Urban 12.7l/100km;
Extra Urban 7.0l/100km
New Car Assessment Programme Rating: *****
www.euroncap.com