FL5 Honda Civic Type R vs FK8 At Rockingham! Which Is Faster?

We know the FL5 Honda Civic Type R is faster than its predecessor, the FK8, but by how much - and why? Sam hits the track in both of these turbocharged VTEC heroes to gauge the differences, and decide which one is best to drive...
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00:01 FL5 Honda Civic Type R vs FK8
01:00 Driving FK8 Civic Type R
03:10 Driving FL5 Civic Type R
06:58 Laptime onboards
08:27 Result and conclusion
#honda #civic #typer #ctr #fl5 #fk8 #hondacivictyper #hothatch #jdm #carreview #carreviewer #cinch #cinchit

[@IanCampbell-vl4yd]

Honestly, listening to his tone change in the beginning when switching from the fk8 to the fl5, I already know the fk8 is much more of a joy to drive.

[@constantinrenoir8273]

Great video and great driving skills Sam! But the pedal cam is missing haha

[@cinch]

Thanks 😊 We tried to mount the cameras but unfortunately the clips we have refused to hang on for a lap. Next time we might need a bit more tape…

[@constantinrenoir8273]

@@cinch Thanks, great! :D

[@ulysses4989]

The Fl5 looks better from the rear and the Fk8 looks better from the front.

[@celliott16]

Love the fl5, and it looks so solid and wide in the metal, such an improvement in the looks department that the previous mess!

[@cinch]

We couldn't agree more!

[@g0d182]

opinion noted, but most tend to prefer the outlandish looks of the fk8 based on polls across the web

[@celliott16]

​@@g0d182😂😂😂 poll of fk8 owners maybe, there's a reason Honda improved the styling for the fl5..... Full disclosure, I'm a huge honda fanboy, had them all but couldn't bring myself to get an fk2 or fk8, I was so disappointed..... Honda listened and I put my money where my mouth is, I now have an fl5 in my small honda collection.

[@quicktoreason2722]

@@celliott16 not really - the type R by generations were always outlandish. if you look at any previous civic R and compare it to the average market cars of their respective time periods, the Type R's always stood out. Infact there was a common saying of civics being wannabe sports cars. Considering they dialed it down this time around is honestly a shame as it doesnt have that "IT" factor and sadly its now made to look very much like your average economy car. This is why you should go for the integra TYPE S now - as thats the overall better car at this point and also readily available.

[@celliott16]

@@quicktoreason2722 all previous type R's shared more body panels with the 'normal' civic than the fl5 does.... It's more different, it is outlandish and awesome in the flesh, it's just that honda lost it IMO with the fk2 and fk8, whilst they are great cars they are just downright ugly..... But hey it's just my opinion, we aren't all going to agree.

[@ReevesTop]

Yes, i just picked up an FL5 and owned an FK8! I can definitely say the FL5 is much improved! Love it!

[@cinch]

Oh, we are so jealous! Bet you're over the moon. Enjoy it :)

[@Chris12211]

You can definetly see that they made the fl5 firmer with the suspension. I thought the fk8 ride is perfect. I would like to see the fk2,fk8 and fl5 all on the same tyres go round the track.

[@PieIsLegit]

If the FK8 was on Same tires and wheel size, I think it would run similar if not better times. FL5 looks like a good stepping stone for the NEXT type R so that’s great news for Honda

[@davemorris6747]

First thing I did on my FK8 was get rid of the factory continentals in favour of Michelins. Car was transformed.

[@cjsnylons]

You think EV is next? I can't see a gas engine going forward.

[@gtv11636]

Something that is really strange here is the fact that the same exact cars went on a different circuit around the same time/length and the difference was less than 1 second. Other Tests around the world shown same results, less than 1 second difference on a more or less same circuit length/time.

[@cinch]

That is interesting. Perhaps it has something to do with Rockingham's especially abrasive surface, which really highlights differences in tyre performance. We'd love a rematch on the same tyres!

[@gtv11636]

@@cinch BTW - At Suzuka, a F1 circuit as you know, with the same Honda team racing driver (but not the same day) the FL5 did less than 1 seconds better than the FK8 LE, both on CUP2 tyres, FL5 of course on 265 dedicated CUP 2's HO marked, and that is a 2:23 lap

[@ronantiojo2805]

@@gtv11636 Why are you arguing that FK8 is better? Both cars are great, but FK8 looks like a riced out car, that's why I sold mine.

[@gtv11636]

@@ronantiojo2805 I think different than you regarding the styling. I'm not arguing, I'm just really curious to know which does how and what given the same Driver, conditions, and wheels and tires combo. I do think the FL5 will be better, but I suspect it might be much less than it is right now because of the wheels and tires combo

[@paulwardzynski3265]

Great video. Your steering inputs on the FL5 looked slightly quicker; stickier tyres?

[@cinch]

Thanks! You’re right, the FL5 was certainly happier to be hustled harder, where as the FK8, on its Continentals, asked for a bit more patience

[@gtv11636]

Someone must test both cars with the same wheels and tires. BTW - was this FL5 on cup 2 connect?

[@cinch]

@@gtv11636it was on PS 4Ss :)

[@danielgrist5830]

The fk8 is beautiful

[@cinch]

Do you prefer it to the FL5?

[@drumsforlife9474]

Yes

[@gtv11636]

As the FK8 is becoming more used car, I'm guessing it's hard to compare, did someone actually checked the condition of the car, the tyres etc ? And don't get me started on the tyre size and compound difference

[@cinch]

Good question. You'll be happy to hear the FK8 and the FL5 that we used were both Honda UK press cars. Amazingly, the FK8 had fewer miles on the clock, as it was a late FK8 press car, where as the FL5 we used has been tested by most of the UK press over the last few months :)

[@gtv11636]

@@cinch Wheels diameter is smaller in the FL5, but wheels and tires are different, wheels are 9.5 vs 8.5 and tires are dedicated Michelin's 265 vs 245. The offset for both is identical, so It is possible to run both on the same wheels and tires exactly. Wear, a specially on rubber parts such as bushings etc, may be influenced by time more than mileage. Anyway...I think the wheels and tires at least must be the same to actually get the proper time and feeling on how much comes from wheels and tires and how much from other modifications Honda did in the FL5. Don't get me wrong, I do think the FL5 would still gain on the FK8, but have a feeling that the gap would be extremely smaller.

[@ronantiojo2805]

@@gtv11636 do you own an FK8? I had an FK8, sold it and now I own an FL5. Fl5 is the better car.

[@g0d182]

​@@cinch sounds like the fk8 had old unused tyres. This can be very dangerous, due to dry rotting etc. Had my fk7's front left tyre explode recently due to its age. Had one of mf fk8's tyres as well dry rot from the inner camber area.

[@askay747]

FK8 Limited Edition or FL5

[@SirTaffy-]

Any honda hot hatch is great fun to drive. Right from the first civic type r the ek 9. Dc2 integra. To the newer ones. I have an fk2 and its a quick car but the old ones are mire fun down a b road for thos reason. The fk2 cant be explored to anywhere near its capability on the road so when ur enjoying ur drive u dont have to put any effort in to drive it somewhere near uk limits. The ek9 or dc 2 u coukd explore the limits of the car down a good b road somewhere near sensible. For this reason they old cars are just that but more thrilling to drive daily

[@cinch]

We can't deny that the older cars, and their lower limits, are more accessible on the road. But on track, these newer models are tremendously capable - and would give some supercars a real run for their money! 🔥

[@SirTaffy-]

I have an fk 2 that I thought was standard but after doing a few thousand miles in it and I'm convinced it's had a remap. It's the quickest car I've been hands down I think. Would love to take it to the track but I haven't got round to that yet. Played around with a few cars and haven't found anything that corners like it. U just have to have a level of regard to what the fk2 is capable of or I have no doubt it will bite you. The old ones just talked to you at much lower speeds than the new one does.

[@quickreviewchannel6931]

New car is slower and looks like a regular civic with some bits added while the previous gen looked like a angry track weapon. That’s why the old one is better. Not to mention being a lot cheaper than the 50k one.

[@cinch]

What makes you say the old one is faster? The laptime never lies! Unless you're talking about in a straight line? Sam wasn't convinced...

[@ronantiojo2805]

New one is better and that's coming from a guy that owned both.

[@g0d182]

@@ronantiojo2805 can't be better. Throttle house shows fl5 is slower in the roll race. They switched drivers too

[@ronantiojo2805]

@@g0d182stupid. Type r is a track car not straight line car

[@lachlanpoole9016]

Is the FL5 running Michelin PS4S?

[@cinch]

That's correct. And the FK8 was on Continental Sport Contact 6s :)

[@g0d182]

⚫⚫⚫⚫⚫Conclusion: ✔If Fk8 has fl5's quality tyres, fk8 strongly wins. 😮😮For most of the time when you pause the video (~except last ~2 seconds) the fk8 is quite close to the fl5's position at the time stamps, despite fk8 being on inferior continental tyres. ⏰⏰Below, at the time stamps, both cars are at the same time on the track. 7:10 --- 00:10.31 7:20 --- 00:20.42 7:30 --- 00:29.96 7:40 --- 00:40.00 7:50 --- 00:50.58 8:00 --- 01:00.16 8:10 --- 01:10.20 📝📝📝 Incredibly close to the end of the runs (like last 2 secs), the fk8's tyres perhaps give out, and things start to get less equivalent : 8:15 --- 01:15.200 8:20 --- 01:20.28 🤯🤯Divergence at the very end of the track (last ~2 seconds): @8:21 (fl5 finishes 1:20.31) @8:22 (fk8 finishes 1:22.46)you get the same t

[@cinch]

Shall we do an FK8 vs FL5 on identical tyres?

[@g0d182]

​@@cinch Please do, it could break the internet (if you can find/install identical tyres that is) ....and try to go all out with both cars, don't hold back if you can with either car

[@pedrorivera2308]

​@@cinchyes sir ,,i also think 19 inch wheels would be good too,,i would like to see that race

[@windwithme]

This absolutely needs to be done, my guess is taking 3 lap avg, they'll be identical...need a "neutral" driver as well...its always "FL5 slightly faster, might be the rubber *rolls eyes*" look at the FK8 SE time...that was on Michelin PS2's which are really good, but not as wide (track) @@cinch

[@noelsolis7571]

Wow ! FK8 !!! More Comfortable in the inside, even ona high speed acceleration, FK8 🚘💪💪💪👍❤🇵🇭

[@cinch]

We do love the FK8 but the FL5 has a nicer interior, we think. Don't you agree?

[@noelsolis7571]

@@cinch Yes Sir I Agree, But I love the Exterior Design of the FK8 , 😁✌️🇵🇭

[@pompano_jedi172]

@@noelsolis7571 I feel more stable in my fl5 than in my prev fk8 during autocross and time attack

[@pompano_jedi172]

Also my fk8 overheated much frequently especially on 12-15 min runs, the fl5 not the much. Temps better most of the time but still happened to to me just twice so far

[@mcblaze1986]

Fd2 mugen rr is by far the best civic in my opinion

[@cinch]

It's giving closed road night racing 🔥

[@jeremywong6219]

The fk8 looks way better than the fl5. The fl5 looks like a accord

[@39rbn61]

With the FK8, you either love it or absolutely hate it with its boy racer looks. The FL5 caters to a wider range of people and I disagree, it doesn't look like anything like the accord.

[@engrishsheep]

@@39rbn61 Well, I'm the minority who think FK8 is looks much better than FL5. (I watched a video from Hot Version, and all the hosts like the look of FK8 over FL5. I think it's an Asian thing and I'm Asian as well) Anyway, maybe the FL5 doesn't look anything like the accord, but it looks bland and boring for sure. I think it's the cultural different between the west and the east. I really appreciate the "Gundam" style looks and while most of the west think it looks too "boy racer" and they know nothing about Gundam, which is a very Japanese thing...

[@jamsxr]

Agreed, if you’re 12 and like fake vents the FK8 is way better

[@pedrorivera2308]

​@@jamsxrWell i also agree with you ,if you like bland and boring looks of the FL5 👀

[@jamsxr]

@@pedrorivera2308 we all like different things, but if you see one in the flesh it’s anything but bland and boring. Big arches and a long bonnet, it stands out (almost a bit too much for me).

[@ramonrodrigueziii2664]

2 seconds? Run it again that BS lol