Have obtained grudging spousal signoff...

Good find. I like that a lot.

Is it also worth considering a Golf R at that price point? More on a par with the type R in terms of power. The mk7 Golf is the best iteration of the Golf in my opinion so either this or the Clubsport would be well worth a look. If there's a downside to the Golf R it is a bit of an obvious choice compared to the Honda but then the GTI Clubsport solves that as they are quite rare.

Test drive day yesterday.

Hyundai called to cancel - logistical snafu - so the i30N will have to wait for another day.

At the Honda dealer, there was a refreshing lack of faff. The salesman gave me a form to sign, took a picture of my driver's licence, handed me the keys and left me to it.

Outside, the Rallye red Type R looked, if anything, even more deranged in the metal than in photographs. And more than a touch intimidating.

But I found it easy to get comfortable, all the controls falling neatly to hand. And - some cheap-feeling minor controls aside - it feels special. The build number plaque, the (freezing cold) metal-topped gearknob, those red seats - which grip me in all the right places.

It fired to a smooth idle with just the merest hint of intent... and with little drama, off we went. It took me half a mile to realise that I wasn't having to think about driving it at all.

Despite being longer, wider and three times more powerful than the Focus I'd turned up in, it was incredibly easy to place, riding firmly but not uncomfortably on scarred country roads, the controls already displaying that lovely machined feel.

I've read a hefty percentage of the words ever written about this car, so none of that came as a complete surprise. But it was great to finally be experiencing it first hand.

I gave it 10 miles to warm up on the A3, discovering in the process that the gearing is quite short, even in sixth (2700 rpm at 70mph) yet noise levels are acceptable. Louder than a Golf R, no doubt, but quieter than my old Focus.

I don't know the area particularly well, and what I'd seen of the side roads - narrow, occasionally single track, often 30/40 limits - didn't inspire me to take any liberties with nearly £30k of somebody else's car. So I did a couple of 'laps' between junctions on the A3, using roundabouts and sliproads to get a feel for the balance. And the performance.

The engine is magnificent. I chickened out at 5500rpm in third gear on a sliproad, at which point it was still building to a crescendo and emitting a very purposeful metallic yowl. It's docile when you need it to be, savage when you want it to be, unburstable, free-spinning… pick your journo cliché, they're all true. Certainly the best four cylinder engine I’ve ever experienced.

I had heard great things about the steering, often described as ‘meaty’. In the two sportier drive modes it did initially feel quite heavy, certainly compared to the (overlight) helm in my wife’s MK3 Focus. But like everything else, you acclimatise in moments. It’s fantastically precise and confidence-inspiring, with weight in perfect proportion to cornering load, giving me plenty to lean against. I didn’t push hard enough for a full impression of the feel on offer, but even at modest speeds it was there - better and more consistent than I remember my Fiesta ST being. If I were to nitpick, I’d want the leather on the steering wheel to feel a little more leathery, but it’s perfectly sized and shaped.

I didn’t trouble the brakes very much, but like all the controls there is absolutely no slack in the pedal. It needed a firmer push than I’m used to, but the response, again, was directly in proportion to the effort I put in.

The chassis has many more talents than I was able to uncover, but regardless of speed, load or surface the tyres felt keyed into the tarmac (admittedly on a perfectly dry day). It turned with absolute poise, with virtually no roll, all of a piece, and always felt smaller and lighter than its 4.5m/1400kg.

The overriding impression is of a very fine piece of precision engineering, built to last under sustained hard use. This particular car showed some cosmetic signs of having been enthusiastically enjoyed, but there were no signs of wear either in the interior or mechanicals - it felt factory-fresh. Of course it was loaded with FG that I completely ignored, aside from the reversing camera which is very useful.

I clicked with it so quickly and easily that it wasn’t until several hours later that I was able to assimilate how brilliant it was. I had very high expectations, and they were more than met. Sometimes it is okay to meet your heroes.

Now there’s a bit of thinking and negotiation to do. I will try an i30N in the next week or so and then make a decision. Prices have been slowly dropping, but are still sky-high - the four year-old car I drove is stickered at £28,425 against a list price when new of £33k. Even in full Man Maths mode that is a reach, and with everything else going on it doesn’t feel like the best time to be dropping £25k+.

But I’m not getting any younger, and I’ve already waited nearly three years to get back in a ‘proper’ car.

Buoyed by the news about our ailing Focus (see End of the Road thread) I've been considering Fiesta STs again. A bit more research suggests that the Mk8 has its niggles but is more robust than I had thought. And prices have dropped dramatically in recent months, making it a hell of a lot cheaper than a Type R.

The Civic is still top of the list though, I can't get that test drive out of my head. It's too soon for shortlists really but I've been keeping an eye on the market. I think it's a similar situation to Porsche, with a lot of overpriced cars taking root on forecourts.

These three are all at main dealers (I wouldn't buy a CTR without a Honda warranty) and all have been on sale for a while - over two months in the case of the grey one. I suspect any of these dealers would be open to an offer.

This is the one I drove:
www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211151697760?atmobcid=soc3

One of the cheapest available at a main dealer:
www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211021317803?atmobcid=soc3

Preferred colour:
www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210120643576?atmobcid=soc3

I don’t really understand why your not in a type R already.

You appear to be doing some serious tyre kicking. If you love it get it bought. What’s the point in messing around with a Fiesta if the civic ticks all the boxes?

The prices don’t seem that unreasonable using my yardstick of, “what does a fiesta cost new”. I can’t imagine supply issues are going to improve anytime soon and there aren’t like Porsches in that there aren’t tens of thousands stacked into it - the prices seem comparable to a Golf GTI.
If you can I’d get it bought and enjoy it while you can.

These are the 5 cheapest main dealer Civics for sale. After these the prices jump £1,500+:


usedcars.honda.co.uk/en/used-cars/approved-cars/honda/civic/20-i-vtec-type-r-gt-5-door-pbczhjf


usedcars.honda.co.uk/en/used-cars/approved-cars/honda/civic/20-i-vtec-type-r-gt-5-door-mqczsck


usedcars.honda.co.uk/en/used-cars/approved-cars/honda/civic/20-i-vtec-type-r-gt-5-door-qxczrzj


usedcars.honda.co.uk/en/used-cars/approved-cars/honda/civic-type-r/20-vtec-turbo-type-r-gt-5dr-petrol-hatchback-pbc2d5h


usedcars.honda.co.uk/en/used-cars/approved-cars/honda/civic/20-i-vtec-type-r-gt-5-door-n5cw2du


Given that the last car listed is 2018 with lower miles than the others which are all 2017, it appears to offer the best value but I suppose it could be a bargaining chip if you prefer any of the others and want to get the price down a bit,

No, I don’t think so either, not vs what else £25k would get you. Our Golf would retail for over £25k and thats just about 4 years old, it’s only when you think about it being £10k less than we paid for it new when it starts to feel like a lot.

Last thing I’d do is test drive something I know will be awesome if o don’t have the dosh lined up.

I have a similar thing with the Giulia QV. No way would I go and look at one in a garage as I’d be then comparing everything then on with it and I guess something like an M2 will always come up short.

Ditto, however the Bank of England have complicated matters in the last couple of weeks.

This popped up today, will be interesting to see if it goes privately or ends up at a dealer:
www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212192628604?atmobcid=soc3

Look at moneysavingexpert.com. There are still a few lenders who are charging 5%apr on loans between £15K and £25K. That was still a pretty strong rate even before all the recent nonsense.


www.moneysavingexpert.com/loans/cheap-personal-loans/#20k

The I30N even with GPF sounds bloody ballastic. I heard one being driven off at Sainsburys a few weeks ago, it was like they left the GPF out. It did make me smile, good that a car can still do that in 2022. 

What a silly question….!   I’m not usually a fan of modified stuff, but the NSX looks pretty good and it’s always been a favourite of mine ever since I drove one when it was new (all of 20 metres!).    The owner has fixed a couple of the 80s issues with the std car and the seats look lovely.

How effing much? NSX, of course if I had the moolah.