Faults:

So far nothing.

General Comments:

For a 15 year old secondhand car, I am amazed at the condition of the car. I was lucky this has been well looked after, service history etc. But the panel fit and the interior trims are so well made and still fit so well. The auto box is smooth and the engine sweet, timing belt and water pump just changed so I expect to be trouble free.

On a practical side, the car is fairly basic, but has plenty of storage in the cabin and is one of the few hatchbacks where the seats fold totally flat for great carrying capacity.

My only down sides are the steering. The EPS is not the best power steering, a bit vague on motorways and I have to make corrections; the turning circle is also quite poor, even for a front wheel drive car.

Faults:

No problems at all (touch wood)!!

General Comments:

I've had my Type R for about a year and love it.

For a hot hatch, this car is no doubt ONE of the best!! People will tell you differently, but when you're discussing hot hatches, how come the Type R is always there or thereabouts?? It's not a car for everyone due to the lack of torque in the lower rev range. However the Type R was designed for the track, and therefore needs to be driven with some knowledge of how it performs best. If you keep it in the higher rev range, it performs immensely and will scream you through the gears, then you're doing 130mph without knowing it. Round a track or country road is where it performs best, it handles amazingly and effortlessly in the higher rev band. It's not just an engine with a turbo, this car was designed like a race car.

Also because the power kicks in at 5000 revs I find it easy to drive sensibly around town, meaning fuel consumption is pretty good for a hot hatch. My Type R is better than my old Golf GTI MK3.

Negatives -

The Type R has been stripped down to make it lighter (like the old school hot hatches), however this means road noise is an issue for some people, but I don't think it's that bad (it's a hot hatch not a Bentley). Stereo isn't the best and it's a bit basic inside. Tuning potential isn't that good - very expensive to get more BHP, this is partly due to Honda putting performance parts on as standard.

Faults:

No problems.

General Comments:

I think the Type R is an excellent hot hatch. It's fast, fun, and has all the drama a hot hatch should.

The i-vtec engine is a screamer. Quite literally. Keep it above 6,000rpm and it's an absolute riot.

For an engine that revs so high, it's ultra reliable. Anybody with mechanical sympathy stay away.

The six speed gearbox is a joy to use; so much so that you find yourself changing gear for the thrill of it. Very precise and perfectly positioned. Brings out the best from the engine.

The ride is very firm, but it makes sense when you're on a twisty road, and the handling and balance of the car is excellent.

One criticism is the brakes; I think they're short of feel, and the ABS cuts in too early. A minor gripe.

The interior quality is good. The controls are well laid out and easy to use.

The seats are excellent, but I really hate that seats don't return to their original position when letting people in the back.

I would certainly buy another.