My local Honda dealership are offereing a special in-house modded version of the CTR (to cater for the lazier boy-racer). Being bored yesterday I took one out for a test drive. And tbh it failed to impress. The requirements of being >6.3k revs to be in the power band (i.e. the VTEC) meant that its impossible to really enjoy the power (~225-240bhp on the CTRs, they havent RR'd it yet) w/o driving it in a license losing fashion. The noise is goddamn awful and I didn't get on with Honda's fancy electronic steering, kept catching me out. Plus can anyone say tourque steer? Man I really wouldn't like to drive that car in the wet.

Oh and it looks like a "max-powered" civic.

That said its not a bad car, in fact its quite fun and quite nice, and it would make a fantastic car to hoon around a (dry) track on. But for the real world there is just too many better options for that kind of money. (The CTRs comes in at ~£18K) For that sort of money you're in the brackt to be buying a WRX or if you want to try and match that power how about a chipped LCR for about £17.5k? it's cheaper, more powerful, more comfy, comes with switchable traction control and climate control (another grand if you want air-con on the CTRs!). Plus judging by the mods they did to get the civic to the levels it is at in the CTRs the LCR has waaay more tuning potential.

Such a shame to see Honda not producing the goods.

 

Yes, i see poeople trying to get us CTR owners to do this modd or that. Fact is that i feel that Honda have got all that is worth having out of the R Motor. Yes you can make more power but at higher revs.

I feel that all thing taken into accout the CTR is about right. If anything it needs a more mid range. We will have to wait for "cam less" motors for that.
Cheers
Mike

 

For the money, I think a used Audi s3 is a miles better car....

 

Two completely different cars though depends if you are looking for a saloon or a hatch back.

 

and is it really any better?

CTR is a very good car, and demolishes a lot of the opposition IMHO, but for me the steering feel, and lack of LSD is what lets the car down, certainly not performance.

I don't drive either fortunatly

 

Yeah, my saab 93 (never mind my scoob) out gunned one off a roundabout, he had to drop down a gear I guess, but by then my 185bhp had wafted me away nicely.

 

We were under whelmed with the CTR - Wife bought a Scooby instead.

 

If you cant get performance from a ctr your not driving it right.

 

My little bro's just swapped his ATR for a CTR. Noticably quicker in a straight line - ignoring the launch, it'd give my STi a run for its money in a straight line. Needs an LSD though - it's not standard equipment and, basically, you can't corner and accelerate at the same time; attempts to do so result in wheelspin and understeer, which is a shame 'cause that was the one thing which the ATR did very, very well for a FWD car.

 

 

Ive had some genuine laughs at WWSD's threads in the past,but this one is hilarious.

 

Sorry, he wasn't trying or missed the VTEC. A heavy saab with less power and longer gearing beating a 197bhp hot-hatch with a close ratio 6-speeder. The saab is a lovely car and I'm not having a go - just pointing out that a CTR is faster

 

What's an LCR?

 

LCR = Leon Cupra R

 

The CTR dosent torque steer, even my MINI with more power doesn't are you sure your not confusing it with wheelspin ??

Audi S3 is far more expensive, not very fast, far too soft and has even less steering feel than the CTR, not a competitor IMO..

 

Performance does not match a Scooby in wet but on the dry, in the twisty roads or on small track it easily equals an Impreza with I think an additional fun factor.
The engine is addictive, the gearbox is fantastic, pretty weightless in its category and it’s quite easy to make it oversteered. Its comportment reminds me a Saxo or a 106 GTI. About the electronic steering, I must agree that it's not the best to get the feeling of the road but it does not take time to get use to it. Performance and price, the CTR is one of the best. What you get more is fun! Now I guess it’s a matter of test. If not, every one would get the same car. It would be so boring…

 

Double post.Sorry

[Edited by davy1 - 6/8/2003 10:47:40 PM]