Civic Type R One Year Ownership Review

[@RaceCarFriends]

You know I had to be here for this one 😎

[@darrenprior6339]

Nice review. In terms of lowering the seating position, I'd be wary of making a seat much lower in a hatch for two reasons. 1: It can affect the direction of the airbag relative to the seating position in a crash and 2: You may have difficulty sighting properly over crests. I noticed this in my GR Yaris which is often criticised for having a way too high seating position. I recently fitted a new Recaro seat (Factory GRMN Toyota seat with side airbag) and it's 3cm lower. The first thing I noticed was the issue with crests because the cowl of the car is still very high due to the hatchback design of the car. You fix the seat but you haven't lowered the bonnet height or the cowl. It's fine on a race track but in undulating, twisting mountain roads, I find my vision was often impaired. This is just one of the consequences of the design of a car which was primarily as a family hatch, converted to a sports car. It's the reason Porsches, Lotus and other marques primarily designed as a sports car first always have better vision and pedal positions.

[@sundaymorningdrives]

Yup, agree, that's why I am not doing any modification to my seats. My complaint was that maybe Honda could have addressed this from factory, but like you said, this is primarily a family hatch, so there are limitations to how much Honda could do. Toyota did lower the seats and altered the dash in the new face-lift GRY, so that is great!

[@darrenprior6339]

@@sundaymorningdrives Yeah agree mate. I don't think I've been in a hatch where the pedal positions were perfect either due to the seat position needing to be higher because of the exterior design of the car (Bonnet and cowl). It's amazing how one thing leads to another. Re the Yaris, interesting that they've only lowered it 2.5cm in the new car whereas my GRMN seat is 3cm lower. Such a small amount of height but just incredible the differences - both good and bad. As my car is mainly used on twisting mountain roads and rarely on the track I'm actually missing a higher seating position, something I thought I'd never admit to. Just goes to show that a great track car doesn't necessarily make a great rally car and vice versa for all of the above reasons. No wonder we car enthusiasts need more than one car 🙂

[@sundaymorningdrives]

@darrenprior6339 haha, ya, agree, maybe you should just switch the seats back 😉

[@yaboiyosef7640]

Do the GRMN buckets have any height adjustment? Also did you get them for both driver and passenger or just driver? They look amazing but are rather pricey

[@stevewallace1387]

I like the fact it starts on the mode you left in in I have a mustang GT and every time I get in I have too reload the mode again it drives me crazy

[@sundaymorningdrives]

Yup, I think the Type R did a good job making the car easy to operate, without having too much electronics overload. What generation is your Mustang?

[@stevewallace1387]

@@sundaymorningdrives 2019 before that I had the TYPE R FK2 for over three years put 45.000 miles on it I did not like the look of the FK8 but love this new model

[@sundaymorningdrives]

@stevewallace1387 I had a 2018 Mustang GT350 before, it's such a beast! and I also agree with you on the looks, I didn't like the FK8 either 😆

[@stevewallace1387]

@@sundaymorningdrives here in the uk this June going to look at the new mustang if I like it going for the yellow splash with black wheels got to save the V8S

[@sundaymorningdrives]

@@stevewallace1387 very nice, are you going for the GT or the Dark Horse?

[@kishanmaganlal]

Can’t wait to get mine so excited

[@sundaymorningdrives]

When are you getting yours? It's an amazing car, you won't be disappointed

[@kishanmaganlal]

im getting mine late march first manual car so been learning on my mates car.@@sundaymorningdrives

[@kishanmaganlal]

@@sundaymorningdrives getting mine late march

[@sundaymorningdrives]

@kishanmaganlal3364 nice, congrats! Any plans for your new Type R?

[@washout04]

Just curious if you’ve considered getting the Integra Type S damper module from the US? Apparently the ride is much better although I find the FL5 ride is ok just irritating on really coarse chipseal.

[@sundaymorningdrives]

As I have said in the video, I don't really mind the ride quality, it's much much better than some if my other cars, haha. You thinking of changing?

[@washout04]

@@sundaymorningdrivesI’m thinking about it. The ride quality is better than other cars I’ve had too but on some of the mountain roads near me in Aus I’m getting a lot of bounce at high speed. I thought Ohlins might be the answer but people have told me the ride will be even firmer with these. Would value your view on coilovers from Ohlins.

[@sundaymorningdrives]

@washout04 I would rather leave it in stock form if unsure. Because suspension is a tricky part to mod, you and your technician both have to know what you are doing, otherwise you might end up with something even worse, and waste your money. I have seen too many cases where people f up their suspension and at the end change back to stock

[@RaceCarFriends]

Great video, do you think switching to 5W30 oil would help with the oil heating issue?

[@Reptilianoverlord-jc8mt]

I switched to mugen by motul 5-30 Australia and the engine starts smoother and runs smooth. 0-20 way too thin.

[@RaceCarFriends]

@@Reptilianoverlord-jc8mt Wow I think they use a OW10 here in the states lol, I want to switch to 5W30 but the dealer is saying I shouldn't.

[@sundaymorningdrives]

Maybe, but I don't think it will help a lot, that grey Type R in my video is running 5w30, and it had the same issue as mine, not much difference, the thicker oil is for better protection under high temperature, not for cooling

[@RaceCarFriends]

@@sundaymorningdrives Yeah I figured maybe it would better protect the engine when the engine gets to the point of going into limp mode.

[@sundaymorningdrives]

@@RaceCarFriends yup, thicker oil should give better protection under high temperature

[@ricktrue8441]

What do your tires look like after one year.?

[@sundaymorningdrives]

It's looking ok actually, even after a full trackday, yours not looking good?

[@kimyee2010]

very nice!

[@sundaymorningdrives]

You should get one in JP, great family car

[@kimyee2010]

It's annoying cause it's manual, I have to take a manual license test

[@cjsnylons]

I don't think we can get the key card in the US. Seems like a nice feature.

[@sundaymorningdrives]

It's a bit of a show piece really, I never use it, it just sits nicely in my drawer, 😄

[@grahmdoughty]

Great review. How do you feel about the road noise? It's louder than I expected but I'm coming from an Audi which is maybe why it's so noticeable to me.

[@sundaymorningdrives]

I don't find it too bad, probably because I am quite used to driving noisy sportscars 🤣, I actually find the Type R pretty perfect, certain amount of road noise will make the car feel more alive, if you know what I mean. The road noise usually gets quite noticeable above 100km/h.

[@noirrain6005]

@@sundaymorningdrivesRoad noise is only noticeable in a way when you drive in cement roads. Asphalted roads it’s ok. Like any car. On cement roads it’s loud. That’s using OG tires and wheels

[@warblo]

I remember watching your first video picking up your car. Wanted to ask, do you have an option to turn off the fake engine noise?

[@sundaymorningdrives]

I heard there are ways to disconnect it from the fuse box or something, but I am not that fussed about it, because if you turn it off, it will be too quiet in the cabin if you don't modify your exhaust. Have you modified your exhaust?

[@neilisnext]

Curious, what's included in the first year service?

[@sundaymorningdrives]

First year is just an oil change, they didn't even change the filter, they change the filter every 2 services

[@neekras]

nice! good to know there are no issues. What are your individual settings?

[@sundaymorningdrives]

Everything set to max attack except for the suspension soft, you?

[@neekras]

@sundaymorningdrives nice! same as you but my steering is sport :)

[@sundaymorningdrives]

@@neekras haha, nice, I love how it goes back to the last mode you were in before switch off

[@KillaKahl23]

Wow, what suspension and exhaust is the SGP FL5 running at the end? Does he have an Insta account? That car is sweet!

[@sundaymorningdrives]

Sounds awesome right? Na he doesn't have a insta account

[@KillaKahl23]

You made some great points in this video, 100% accurate. I recently ordered spoon springs for my SGP for a more conservative drop. Cheers 🍻

[@sundaymorningdrives]

@KillaKahl23 nice! What else have you done with your Type R? It's great to see people doing good mods on them

[@KillaKahl23]

@@sundaymorningdrives , it’s currently in stock form. Lowering springs, spacers and an exhaust is the most i will do. No tuning 👎🏽

[@sundaymorningdrives]

@KillaKahl23 good idea, I think it's already a very good car in stock form, unless you decide to track it very often.

[@Ben-bs4od]

Do you ever feel like this car got too big. It's Acura TLX and Cadillac CT5 wide now. Finding a small front wheel drive sports car one almost has to go back in time now.

[@sundaymorningdrives]

Yes, I agree, but that's what's happening to all modern cars now, unfortunately. That's why I think a Lotus is one of the best sportscars still. You can watch some of my Exige reviews on our channel 😄

[@Notesi]

My dealership is asking 25k mark up this what you guys are paying?

[@sundaymorningdrives]

There's no such thing as markup here in NZ, lucky us 😄

[@jimes69]

72-75K NZD for a new one.

[@psewgobind]

I'm also coming up on 1yr for my Elantra N with 52000km on the odo. My biggest question is, 'why would you buy a Type -R when EN offers more for less money. 4 of your negatives doesn't apply to EN but low front skirt does.

[@mackdolo230]

Bro no one wants to drive a Elantra N .

[@sundaymorningdrives]

Have you driven a FL5 Type R yet?

[@mackdolo230]

@@sundaymorningdrives not yet

[@sundaymorningdrives]

@mackdolo230 I am asking the person above who said why would you buy a Type R 🤣

[@psewgobind]

Haven't seen any here in Toronto (8 million people). At local racetrack, Elantra N does a better lap time then FL8 Type-R... Reason being, EN rotates better under braking and pulls out faster which gives it the advantage on a smaller technical track. For daily, I've done 50k on my EN and certain Type-R can't do better.

[@spoder1559]

Is the sound system is that bad when you listen to Music or you can appreciate music with it ? Nice video by the way I get mine in 3 weeks but I’m really worried about the sound system now 🥲

[@sundaymorningdrives]

It's ok if you are just listening to the radio, but if you want to "appreciate" music, then it's pretty crap tbh, haha. Congrats in getting your Type R! What color did you choose?

[@noirrain6005]

@@sundaymorningdrivesis yours a Bose system? Because some countries don’t get Bose 12 speakers. Mine does and the sound is great. I leave volume 9-11 and it’s ok, more than that and it’s a beater

[@sundaymorningdrives]

@@noirrain6005 Type R in NZ doesn't come with a Bose sound system. I have mentioned that in the video.

[@noirrain6005]

@@sundaymorningdrives oh didn’t know that. Saw your plate was different but didn’t know it was from New zeland

[@sundaymorningdrives]

@@noirrain6005 obviously you didn't watch the entire video 🤣