2005 Honda Civic type r 2.0

Summary:

Great hot hatch for under £17grand

Faults:

Handbrake failed in a shopping centre car park, causing the car to roll into the front of another car damaging the front bumper and causing £600 worth of damage. Honda dealer and Honda UK not interested in helping and am very dissapointed in the way I have been treated.

General Comments:

This car is seriously quick if you rev it hard!!

Previous car was a BMW 330i and it runs rings around it performance wise.

Handling is very good, but can get uncomfortable on long journeys.

Very good car for under £17grand, but cannot forgive Honda's after-sale experience.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 22nd May, 2005

13th Jun 2005, 06:42

It's likely that the handbrake wasn't engaged properly - you should push the brake pedal down firmly to lock the pads on the rear discs before applying it on any kind of slope.

If you don't do this, the contraction of the discs and pads as they cool can cause the friction to be overcome. It's also sensible to leave the car in gear on any kind of gradient.

2nd Jan 2006, 12:02

Low torque, sloppy steering, but very reliable, would be great with extra torque needed.

2005 Honda Civic 1.7CTDi 1.7CTDi

Summary:

Unimpressive diesel

Faults:

Gear lever gaiter loose meaning gear change is even worse.

General Comments:

I have to say that this is one of the worst Honda's I have driven. The engine is particularly poor, having to rev it to at least 2250rpm before it will move adequately away from stand still and then you have to put up with a Leyland Daf van style industrious diesel rumble. Not the most flexible, refined or nice to use diesel by a long way- is this really a Honda engine??

Gear change is equally far from slick and movements are to close to eachother ie 4th and reverse. The steering lacks poise and can be too vague.

Ride quality is good being quiet and soft and usual Honda standards of exemplary build quality apply. That said, just a few of the plastic edges and finishes are not on par with Mazda.

The Civic 5-door is superbly roomy, but Honda seem to have dropped putting sunroofs in to their Civics. Not available on any models except the Executive 1.6 now. Neat looks from behind, but a bland front.

43mpg is usually always achievable no matter how hard the car is driven.

High driving position will not suit all and the absence of an arm rest or a storage box in between the front seats is annoying on long journeys.

Honda quality spoilt by a poor engine with too many flat spots. A Megane 1.9dci is a nicer engine to use, but I'd rather have a Civic for reliability and spaciousness.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 26th March, 2005

12th May 2005, 12:57

The Diesel engine in the Civic is not a Honda Unit, but an Isuzu unit which is also found the Vauxhall Astra that I owned previously. In that fitment the Engine was Jerky and unresponsive. It is due to this that when I bought My 04 Civic that I opted for the Petrol over the Diesel. I hope that the New Civic uses the 2.2 Honda unit instead of the 1.7 unit.