Ok, I've handed the keys back to the FN2 first thing this morning after blagging it for the weekend and my thoughts are below. Now bear with me because its been a while since I drove a CTR and that was Colin's modded one (Hondata, BuddyClub and Injen CAI) but what I have driven since includes an extended drive in the Astra VXR (I used to work for Vauxhall, its inevitable!!), Golf GTi, Focus ST, so that covers the main rivals pretty much (Not had a chance to go in the Renault or the Seat).
First Impressions:
Our demo model at Honda is a Milano GT model with standard 18" wheels. To look at there is no doubt, with the exception of that back end(!!) that it is a striking looking car, low and agressive at the front, sleek from the side, just down right hideous from the back. The hideous comment cannot be said of the interior, my own personal take on it is that its a work of art, very modern, very futuristic, easy to see, use and read. The seats - wow. Better than the old EP3 and at least on a par with the seats in the 30th AE EP3. Supportive, theres no way you're going to fall out of those!!! :lol: The driving position scores far higher than the old EP3 too purely because of the various adjustments you can make to the seat and steering wheel. Anyone should be able to get comfortable in there. My only concern is that for people of say 5ft 11" +, the view of the rev counter can be obscured by the wheel. A minor gripe though. Boot space is immense for this type of car and rear space was a massive improvement too. Nice to see the two tone colour applied to the rear as well. It sort of lifts the interior compared to the old one's all black arrangement.
Positives then: Great driving position, much nicer seats and interior overall, great looking car from the front and the side.
Negatives: Rev counter can be obscured. Hideous rear end!
First Drive:
Lasted 10 mins unfortunately - picked the car up friday night and drove home. End of!! :lol: :lol: :lol: Had to go out with mates Friday night so unable to get a proper spin in it.
Second Drive:
Lasted 10mins - to work on Saturday morning. :lol: :lol: :lol:
Third Drive:
Right here we go. Third time lucky. Finished work Saturday afternoon, went home, got changed and went out for a blat. I live in West Swindon so you don't have to drive far to be out on the country roads and there are some cracking roads around Swindon to try out the Civic. Headed out towards the M4 Junction 16 and cut across the back roads towards Wroughton, nice open roads, tight bends, sweeping bends and some negative cambers. Impressions when pressing on - planted. More so than the EP3. Whereas the EP3 would be unsettled mid bend on bumpy surfaces the FN2 felt much more compliant, adjustable and confident. The steering is worlds apart compared to the EP3, lets you know much more information and weights up nicely as the speeds increase. One of the bends on my route is a tight, almost 180 degree bend which is taken very slowly. Exiting it in 2nd gear I had my first proper experience of foot to the floor acceleration. Make no mistake, the FN2 is quick
but as others have mentioned, because of the smoothed out VTEC changeover it doesn't feel it. The gear change is rifle bolt sharp as per the EP3 and the lever is perfectly positioned aiding the overall driver comfort. The clue is how fast the digital speedo changes, and it changes very very quickly. And the noise, much more race car like than the EP3, rumbly low down and then she screams (that'll be your indication that you are in the VTEC zone if you missed the light!! :lol: ) The distance from the exit of the bend and the 30mph sign heading into Wroughton is about 3/4 mile and I was doing silly speeds before slowing to more sensible limits
Heading out of Wroughton on the A361 towards Avebury and this has to be one of my favourite roads. Up on the hills, great views (if you're a passenger) and its wide open, see for miles, smooth and just a cracking road to hack down. Keeping an eye out for speed cameras or mobile units I was able to press on at will and cover the ground very quickly. Overtaking slower vehicles was less of a chore compared to the EP3. Whereas I was never confident of overtaking unless I was in VTEC before, with the FN2 it just feels pokier lower down the rev range. I found that because of the increase in torque low down coupled with the lower VTEC point, you could get away with using a higher gear than in the EP3 and still feel confident of pulling off the manoeuvre safely. Yes the headline figures show the torque figure has decreased compared to the old model but it doesn't feel it. The torque and power are just far more accessible and useable than before. Once I reached Avebury, quick pint in the pub and returned home. Big smiles all round.
Fourth Drive:
Tried a different route on Sunday (cracking plan Scouse), Swindon to Banbury. Similar style of roads to Saturday. Only thing to add to Saturdays drive is that I had a near nasty experience when I misjudged braking and felt the back end go light on me
Good old VSA reigned that in though (I'm no Jenson Button thats for sure
). If VSA had been off then we'd be registering a new FN2!!
:lol:
Comparisons:
As I said above, I have driven the main rivals to the FN2 and in my opinion the FN2 is at least as good as the others, in some respects better, in some worse.
Where is it better? If you can excuse the rear end it is the best looking. I thought the VXR was a striking car but the FN2 just about has it licked. Driving position is spot on (for me anyway), I felt like I was sat in it whereas with the Focus and the Astra you feel like you are sat on it. Once again Honda have made a cracking Engine/Gearbox combo. Slick shifting, very direct and that engine note when pressing on..................... :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:
Where does it fall down? Out and out grunt. I knew that would be the case before I jumped in it though. 200ps against the competition isn't exactly mustard cutting. It is a quick car, that goes without saying but against the current competition (Golf GTi excluded - same power), it does lose out, noticeably. The ST and the VXR just feel so much quicker. I know thats the effect of turbo charging but it makes things like overtaking manoeuvres effortless. The FN2 gearbox is a joy to use but just ocassionally you want to breeze past other cars with little effort and its a far easier job in the other cars.
Where is it on a par? The whole hot hatch market has gone soft, creature comforts replacing out and out driving thrills. Here the Civic is on a par with the competition. I've been spoiled since joining the motor trade with some nicely equipped cars (cruise control, climate control, DAB radios, leather etc etc etc etc) and the Civic is definitely up there with the Golf/Focus/Astra with regards toys and gadgets. Some you will use everyday, some you probably won't ever use. But the overall feeling is that the FN2 will now appeal to a far wider audience than the EP3 did.
Conclusion:
I racked up some 180 miles in the FN2 this weekend and had a smile on my face the whole time. The car is a real head turner, certainly has presence and I feel is an improvement on the EP3. Not a huge improvement due to the paultry power increase but taking the car as a whole I feel it is better. If I weren't in the motor trade and was in the market for a hot hatch would I buy one.......................???? Tough one. There are things about each hatch I like. I love the outright pace of the VXR, I love the handling of the ST, I love the quality of the Golf (realistically I'm ruling the Golf out though - too expensive), and I love the looks, engine and gearbox of the FN2. The decision would be down to what deal I could get on each vehicle I guess as I do like each of them. I am on Vauxhall Partners Program from my time working there so I can get a big discount off the VXR but I work for a motor group including a Honda franchise so I could get a nice sum off a Civic. In all honesty I think it would come down to coin tossing between the two and I wouldn't be disappointed with either.