2008 Honda Civic Type R review
July 31, 2008 by Karl Peskett
2008 Honda Civic Type R review & road test
“It’s wise to forget about the lack of torque, and concentrate on the whole drive experience. It’s only then that the Civic Type R makes sense.”
Model Tested:
- 2008 Honda Civic Type-R – $39,990 (RRP)
Options fitted: None
Sound, Dynamics, Gearshift, Driving position, Practicality
Lack of torque, Confused marketing messages
CarAdvice Rating: 
Review by - Karl Peskett
Photography by – www.ozcarsightings.com
According to Honda, there are only a few cars which are worthy to receive the red H badge. They are known as the Type R cars.
The Type R philosophy is one of purity. That a car must be as good as it can be, and fulfill certain characteristics. To wit: “The Type R philosophy is not about building the most powerful, or fastest car in the world. It is about creating a car that provides a well-engineered, but exciting driving experience.”
You’d hope that an exciting driving experience came from good engineering, though, wouldn’t you? That aside, a Type R car is earmarked by the omission of add-ons. Things that detract from driver involvement. Apparently forced induction is one of these.
Having only owned one for a very short time I am quite impressed with the car. I love the style of the car, the equipment level, and the Technology in the engine.
The bit I like the most they are a unique model with no lessor siblings in Australia.
I have seen Clarksons review and read lots and lots about the car. Reading is one thing Driving is another. I would describe the cars performance as Mild or Wild. It does require a degree of finesse and it is quite adequate up to 5,000 in traffic. It completely changes character at 5,500. the engine map changes from a normal type of program base car to one that is set to keep the reves up the noise is amazing and intoxicating.
Keeping it under 5 is a good way to keep your license above that the acceleration is surprising for a car with such a poor power to weight ratio.
I can’t decide between Civic Type R and Accord Euro 08. The drive away price(including stamp duty, rego, and dealer delivery) that the dealer offer is $39k for Type R and $37k for the Euro. I like the design of Type R but I prefer audio system of Euro. The Euro design is more like family car.. Probably too old for me..
Any comment about this?
I have owned my Civic type R for 3 months and every day since has been a driving pleasure. Sure i know that the HSVs, WRXs and EVOs of the world are quicker cars, but the fact is, SOMEONE is always going to have a quicker car than you, so choose a car with the package that suits you and a package you can enjoy..
I love the feel of my Type R.. connected to the road, super slick gear shift, sharp engine response and the Vtec Growl. My next car will be an M3, but until I can afford $170K i’ll get my daily kicks from my $40K Type R. :-)
Ok as a bit of a motor head and 1.6 mx5 owner i am biased a bit against the honda but after driving one for a few weeks (mx5+turbo)i can see the appeal to it.
It looks good has all the gadgets you can think of and can handle a corner if need be , as a sports car it is in the bottom rung of the ladder but as a normal car that is capable of having a bit of fun and fit 4 people in high comfort it excels .
If you want your car to have all the non performance mods done already buy one of these and add a turbo for $6000 and then you will really be in the wrx/evo price range.
I drove one today for the first time and then took a Peugeot 207 Gti out. I’m undecided which to buy, both have their merits but on reflection I think my license would remain in my wallet longer in the Honda. The Peugeot was very reminiscent of the JCW Cooper S I owned a while back, fast and furious. I have to agree with Chris, there will always be someone with a quicker car and having owned a few myself, Porsche and Lotus to name a couple I tend to appreciate a little comfort these days. An M3 is my ultimate goal but for now I reckon I’ll settle for the Honda.
I’ve been driving my 206GTI Ralle since they won the WRC in it in 2003 – and the Type R is the only thing that has gone close to it.
The 207 is a barge by comparison, but the Type R has the same “seat of the pants, roller-skate” feeling about it.
Can’t decide whether to trade out of the Pug, but it’s a close thing.
Does anyone else think this beast even looks like a 206GTI?
Seriously…those who based their decisions on buying sportscar on wheter or not they can be masters of the road should get shot. Sportscar like this is about experience in driving and the civic type R has that as well as practicality as an everyday car. It doesn’t have the brute power since it’s not meant to be a car to defeat other cars. This car is built on refinement. Sure WRX is great on performance but look at their interior, the general quality and comfort and feel. Subaru sacrificed quality for performance. CIVIC type R has a prety good standing in that regard. Seriously when you are on the road when will you speed out and defeat other cars? Only stupid hoons and young arseholes do that and ended up crashing their cars into innocent drivers. If you think of this car as a car to compete you are sorely mistaken….. The spirit of the R in Honda is about the driving experience not the “My car is faster than your car”. GOD i hate people who thinks that….
TOP GEAR is a bullshit entertainment show, the reviewer will almost always be biased..but it is very entertaining. When you start basing your decisions on their reviews only you really should go back to school since I believe you are lacking in the area of inteligence.
This car will reward drivers who aren’t too lazy to change gears (why would you, it’s actually fun here) and who prefer to feel that real time feeling of traction on high revving engine every time they twist at a corner. If you like to cruise at 60kmh on 6th gear, then chance is you are more suited to a larger car with an auto transmission.
This car has a sweet spot between 3,500 and 4,000 rpm and it’s really easy to get the engine to that rev range. 3rd gear is the best gear around town while 4 is the best gear to overtake (aggressively) on the highway. 5th gear has reasonable pick up over 100kmh and 6th is mostly fuel saving mode.
Honda has that character, drive it that way and you’ll love it.
Reading through the comments…I actually wonder how many of you have actually driven this car? All I see are people comparing the numbers on the brochure.
I can tell you from personal experience that this would beat any of those turbocharged (GTi, MPS, RS, Megane Sport) equivalent around a tight and twisty track or public road. Probably the closest thing that even comes close around a track would be the Megane Sport. The Gti would be absolutely raped around anything that is tight or twisty…
People like frugal one and flying high shouldn’t really comment on anything that involve cars *sigh* damn kids on comment boxes. The new generation Civic type R is never designed to be driven on a track. It is designed to be a driver’s car and it is a complete car in that sense. It’s not about which car will win in a “race”, it is a car that will emphasize enjoyment everytime you commute. Seriously what kind of childish idiot would try to race in typical road with all the speed limits. The context of such minds is really what causes all the accidents on the roads. If you fail to understand that then you should not and do not deserve this car or any other car in that regard. Shawn when will you ever try to race people on the road? Never will be the perfect answer. Frugal one and Flying high really pisses me off with their childish comments leading me to believe that either 1) they are far too young to be driving a car or 2)They are just a trailer thrash hoons that put other innocent drivers in danger. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DON’T RELY ON WHAT JEREMY CLARKSON SAY.
I have always driven either V6 or turbo cars, and never considered type R. I drove one today, and yes it does lack some torque, but it handles really nicely, the gear changes are sweet and you feel a real connection to the car. I wish I could hire it for a week or two, cause I feel that you have to learn to drive it before you can really appreciate it.
The only thing stopping me from bying it today is lack of torque while driving at 40kph – 2nd gear is still not in VTEC range, and not sure if you can downshift into 1st gear.
Does anyone know if you can hire them for a weekend?
I think the best way to help people understand this car is to say.. buy it if you love to ‘drive’. Not to blast off from traffic lights or compare figures on paper, but a true love of cars which completely engage the driver’s senses.. in many ways similar to the MX-5 philosophy.. YOU drive the car, the car doesnt drive you..
Not too mention the fact that in 5 years time the design of this car will still seem modern and fresh..
own a civic type r ep3, and it kicks ass over the new one. is a good day to day car, and if u can drive will thrash a scooby, nevermind a peugeot, bye bye gti! im 31 still love 2 race, in the blood, so f all u dorks with ooh the speed limit! theres a time and place and i dont rip it up round town, schools, or places with people before u start whining. go hug a dolphin or something. any type r is a wicked drivers car that the missus can drive too, buy without a hesitation. owned fast fords all my driving career, apart from 1 or 2 hiccups, after the honda will never look back, except in a nostalgic kinda way! peace!