Silver, Black or Red ?? decisions, decisions, oh yes, and now Titanium Grey!!
So what does this road legal go-kart actually do.....
well, it annoys, Porsche Boxters, BMW M3's, Audi S3's, Leon Cupra R's, Golf VR6's......that could be enough reading for some !!! go and buy one
depending on who's marketing blurb you believe it goes from 0-60 in 6.4 secs and on to 147mph, now I don't care who you are, for a normally aspirated 2.0 engine, that's rapid.
Add to this the phenomenal handling, grip, instant steering response and sound and its ability to make you smile daily, it has to be the finest value hot-hatch on the market today. The gearbox is also one of the finest , short throws, precise engaging, fast changes - simply a doddle, a strange looking box up high on the console but it makes sense to have it there in a racer.
Honda make good engines, fact....rumour has it that they have never had an i-VTEC engine fail under warranty, and this thing revs out at 8250rpm !!! most cars rev out at 5700 !!!
Everyday use is fine if you consider yourself a "driver", if you are a "pootler", this won't be your cup of tea, it needs to be revved. Low down torque is fine, contrary to what you read from the "press experts", but then they don't drive them daily for a year do they. It is fast and the handling is superb.
Get Air-Con, it is a falicy what they say about the extra weight......
So inside, well it is sparce but comfortable, the seats are very supportive and adjustable ( i don't like the adjustment mechanism it is a little flighty) but it does work. The whole concept of Honda's Type-R range is weight reduction and high revving engines equal extra performance and it works but perhaps at the expense of the following -
overall comfort ( well it is a racing machine!) sound deadening long journey sanity!
ultimately this is a racer, a high quality well priced racer. don't expect to be cosseted in luxury, it is a racer.
tips - change the Bridgestome Potenza's, they are awful in the wet, Yokohama's so far are the best on this car, closely followed by Goodyear Eagle F1's
If you are buying secondhand and it is within the 3yr warranty, take it in to the garage and ensure they have fulfilled the upgrade obligations on the rear end supension set up and the steering rack, these are prone to taking a battering and Honda have upgraded them.
to summarise, expect good residuals, low fuel economy ( you can't resist the i-VTEC zone) regular tyre changes and a smile, oh that smile.
More details
Purchase Price
up to £16500 with Air Con and gadgets
Reliability
Excellent
Spaciousness
Good
Customer service
Excellent
Security
Excellent
Fuel consumption
Satisfactory
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