- Messages
- 145
Stupid b*stard piece of s**t satnav!! Good to see some things never change. Ended up stuck in a traffic jam that seemed to stretch from Wimbledon to Coulsdon! Anyway, made it back now.
Very First impressions: what have I done?! Electric handbrake is annoying, why do you have to put your foot on the brake to release it?! Grr. Really annoying vibration on the dash at around 4.5k rpm. I didn't like the newness of everything - I'm a simple soul and haven't had many newer cars, and it all felt unfamiliar and digital. It didn't help that I was stuck in stop start traffic for 2 hours, had a panic attack, was generally having a miserable time.
But, once I settled into the car and everything became more familiar, and I finally had a wee and an M&S prawn sandwich, I started to enjoy the car. Throttle response is much better than the FK2, likely the lightened flywheel - this is a big improvement, the seating position is fantastic - I love it, it's perfect and so much easier to get out of. I spent most of the time in comfort mode as I crawled my way through Purley, it's really impressive, I'm 36 and have had stiff stupid cars but I was genuinely impressed with its general comfortable plodding ability. Once things opened up a bit into Surrey, I played about with the other drive modes. Sport mode is a good combination of comfort and, well, sportiness, and +R is still mental, but a little bit more usable than in the FK2. I think I'm the only person to say this, but to me the FK8 feels slightly quicker and more aggressive then the FK2 on acceleration. Its still batsh*t crazy, but with a level of refinement not seen in a Type R before.
To my surprise, I really like the digital dash! I like the way it displays the album artwork of your music choice in the screen and how it shows you a close up direction graphic when using the Satnav as you approach a junction.
I miss having the shift lights there all the time, like the FK2, they were so cool and hooligan-ish, but now you have to actually select them. Still it's cool getting the two red redline flashy light strips to indicate a gear change.
Brake hold is way more helpful that I thought it would be! The rev match system is better and more fun than I expected but I've turned it off. Gear shift is a shorter throw than the FK2, no issues going up and down the box, hopefully it stays that way, really epic gearbox.
From what I've experienced so far, the FK8 strikes an excellent balance between modern digital stuff and old school turbo hot hatchery, with a big sprinkling of refinement. My biggest worry is that it wouldn't be quite as bonkers, but it is, it just tempers it with that refinement.
It was very sad seeing my black edition be driven off by the Honda guy, it's a great car and it looked so clean and shiny! But hey, it's been enjoyed and it is a very rare little fish, but at least I had one.
In a way, the FK2 is more like that crazy, unpredictable girl that you have a fling with, the FK8 is the one that you settle down with.
Very First impressions: what have I done?! Electric handbrake is annoying, why do you have to put your foot on the brake to release it?! Grr. Really annoying vibration on the dash at around 4.5k rpm. I didn't like the newness of everything - I'm a simple soul and haven't had many newer cars, and it all felt unfamiliar and digital. It didn't help that I was stuck in stop start traffic for 2 hours, had a panic attack, was generally having a miserable time.
But, once I settled into the car and everything became more familiar, and I finally had a wee and an M&S prawn sandwich, I started to enjoy the car. Throttle response is much better than the FK2, likely the lightened flywheel - this is a big improvement, the seating position is fantastic - I love it, it's perfect and so much easier to get out of. I spent most of the time in comfort mode as I crawled my way through Purley, it's really impressive, I'm 36 and have had stiff stupid cars but I was genuinely impressed with its general comfortable plodding ability. Once things opened up a bit into Surrey, I played about with the other drive modes. Sport mode is a good combination of comfort and, well, sportiness, and +R is still mental, but a little bit more usable than in the FK2. I think I'm the only person to say this, but to me the FK8 feels slightly quicker and more aggressive then the FK2 on acceleration. Its still batsh*t crazy, but with a level of refinement not seen in a Type R before.
To my surprise, I really like the digital dash! I like the way it displays the album artwork of your music choice in the screen and how it shows you a close up direction graphic when using the Satnav as you approach a junction.
I miss having the shift lights there all the time, like the FK2, they were so cool and hooligan-ish, but now you have to actually select them. Still it's cool getting the two red redline flashy light strips to indicate a gear change.
Brake hold is way more helpful that I thought it would be! The rev match system is better and more fun than I expected but I've turned it off. Gear shift is a shorter throw than the FK2, no issues going up and down the box, hopefully it stays that way, really epic gearbox.
From what I've experienced so far, the FK8 strikes an excellent balance between modern digital stuff and old school turbo hot hatchery, with a big sprinkling of refinement. My biggest worry is that it wouldn't be quite as bonkers, but it is, it just tempers it with that refinement.
It was very sad seeing my black edition be driven off by the Honda guy, it's a great car and it looked so clean and shiny! But hey, it's been enjoyed and it is a very rare little fish, but at least I had one.
In a way, the FK2 is more like that crazy, unpredictable girl that you have a fling with, the FK8 is the one that you settle down with.
