► Month three with the Honda Civic Type R
► The NSX’s 8000rpm redline eclipses the Civic’s
► Type R has already gobbled its way to an oil service
I’ve yet to drive Honda’s new hybrid-powered four-wheel-drive NSX (or even make peace with that so-wrong collection of words), but while I wait to find out whether it really is fat Elvis in a bionic jump suit, I wedged myself behind the wheel of the car it has to live up to for a feature in CAR’s sister mag Modern Classics.
This original NSX (car 59, no less) makes around 30bhp less and would be wasted by our Type R in a straight line and across country. But it’s a beautifully uncomplicated machine with uncorrupted, unassisted steering. The best bit? That incredible VTEC V6: katana-sharp throttle response, a proper clean, hard-edged sports car soundtrack and an 8000rpm redline. For all its turbo punch, the Type R doesn’t have an answer for that.
In other news, a pixelated spanner symbol has appeared on one of the Type R’s 76 dashboard displays denoting it needs an oil change. Not since the halcyon days of the Mitsubishi Evo, which needed scheduled fettling five times a year at the rate we accrue miles, have we had to talk about servicing in a third long-term report, but our Civic had already been thoroughly beasted for 5500 miles as a press demo hack before we got behind the wheel.
Since then, the hungry motor has already gobbled through a top-up of 5w20 oil and most of the front tyres. As soon as I get the chance I’m going to swap them with the rears to ‘equalise’ the wear (ie, sidestep a £300 bill).
From the driving seat
+ Massive turbo punch, reasonable economy
+ Excellent dry grip, not bad in the wet
+ Huge boot, shame it misses out on Honda’s Magic Seats
– Rides like the 235/35 rubber is actually 235/10
– Styled for 15 year-olds, priced for 50 year-olds
Logbook: Honda Civic Type R
Engine: 1996cc 16v turbo 4-cyl, 306bhp @ 6500rpm, 295lb ft @ 2500rpm
Transmission: 6-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Stats: 5.7sec 0-62mph, 168mph, 170g/km
Price: £32,295
As tested: £32,820
Miles this month: 1323
Total miles: 10,344
Our mpg: 29.1
Official mpg: 38.7
Fuel this month: £213.07
Extra costs: £25 (oil)
Read more from the May 2016 issue of CAR magazine