Welcome to the North American Subaru Impreza Owners Club Saturday March 30, 2024
Home Forums Images WikiNASIOC Products Store Modifications Upgrade Garage
NASIOC
Go Back   NASIOC > NASIOC General > News & Rumors > Non-Subaru News & Rumors

Welcome to NASIOC - The world's largest online community for Subaru enthusiasts!
Welcome to the NASIOC.com Subaru forum.

You are currently viewing our forum as a guest, which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our community, free of charge, you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is free, fast and simple, so please join our community today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.







* As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads. 
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 12-07-2017, 05:44 PM   #51
Pre
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 139693
Join Date: Feb 2007
Vehicle:
Dura ngo 95
horrorshow

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by 4S-TURBO View Post
I'm not saying you should. Just saying if you are grumpy, I understand.

As far as comparing to the EJ, I'd say it's apples oranges. Subaru has never came out and said there's a problem that's been fixed in the design. They've said they had supply quality issues, but never a design or engineering flaw. On a forum of grumpy butts of course it's the same thing. The snowflakes can't handle critique of their precious purchase. Like AWD systems for example.
Most, overwhelming majority haven’t even turned in a wheel in x, or y vehicle.

And regarding the RS, the hate is strong, especially here. It competes with buttercups vehicle. So it doesn’t matter what it does, or doesn’t do, there will be blood.

Only thing to me that would be better is the half shafts in the front too, so it would vector at all 4 corners instead of one axle. It is or was fun to listen to all the Ken Block, drift mode beotching. Drift = rear wheel drive mode, 70% rear, 30% front. Imagine an AWD system you can turn into RWD with a touch of a button. That’s what’s on the current and soon to to be expired RS. Merci Buckets sir, you know who you are.
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.
Pre is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.
Old 12-07-2017, 08:39 PM   #52
FaastLegacy
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 11671
Join Date: Oct 2001
Chapter/Region: SWIC
Location: Gilbert, AZ
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by samb View Post


I'm not losing any sleep over it. If it happens I'll take it in. If it happens again I'll take it in again.

In the mean time I love driving my car.
That's what you have a warranty for so **** them. I get the same **** for driving a VW. Annnnnd, so what? If something breaks, I've got another 59k of powertrain coverage. I doubt I'll modify beyond wheels and tires and maybe a few suspension pieces so I've got nothing to worry about.
FaastLegacy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2017, 08:46 PM   #53
Pre
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 139693
Join Date: Feb 2007
Vehicle:
Dura ngo 95
horrorshow

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by FaastLegacy View Post
That's what you have a warranty for so **** them. I get the same **** for driving a VW. Annnnnd, so what? If something breaks, I've got another 59k of powertrain coverage. I doubt I'll modify beyond wheels and tires and maybe a few suspension pieces so I've got nothing to worry about.
The JB4 is fool proof. I’d have to....
They might as well call that thing beast mode.
Pre is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2017, 09:21 PM   #54
heavyD
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 194216
Join Date: Nov 2008
Chapter/Region: W. Canada
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Vehicle:
2022 Fast POS

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by 4S-TURBO View Post
Understood.
Well the CTR has a transmission issue right now so all these cars have their warts and Honda has always got a bit of a pass because people remember how much more reliable they were in than the competition 25 years ago even if today they aren't built nearly as well.
heavyD is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2017, 11:45 PM   #55
4S-TURBO
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 67807
Join Date: Aug 2004
Chapter/Region: MAIC
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by heavyD View Post
Well the CTR has a transmission issue right now so all these cars have their warts and Honda has always got a bit of a pass because people remember how much more reliable they were in than the competition 25 years ago even if today they aren't built nearly as well.
http://www.consumerreports.org/drivi...w-first-drive/

I haven't read a single review from any of the major outlets where gear engagement became an issue. All the track and spirited road videos and nothing. Pretty sure Consumer Reports would have mentioned an issue had there been one. Again, not the same nor on the same level as Ford's issue, IMO.


Just watched this one today too. Makes me miss my Civic.
4S-TURBO is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-30-2017, 08:01 AM   #56
AVANTI R5
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 73805
Join Date: Nov 2004
Vehicle:
24 TypeS ZO6
White

Default Rs against SQ7 drag race

Audi SQ7 vs Ford Focus RS - Drag Races - Top Gear

AVANTI R5 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-30-2017, 12:36 PM   #57
Skylab
n00b Moderator
Moderator
 
Member#: 4263
Join Date: Feb 2001
Chapter/Region: SCIC
Location: Encinitas
Default 2017 Ford Focus RS vs. 2017 Honda Civic Type R

Damn. The torque of that Audi.
664 lbs ft
6,600+ lbs curb weight.
Skylab is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-30-2017, 12:47 PM   #58
torquemada
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 128484
Join Date: Oct 2006
Chapter/Region: International
Location: Germany
Vehicle:
2006 EDM WRX STI
WRB

Default

torquemada is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-31-2017, 10:04 AM   #59
daveyboy
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 35419
Join Date: Apr 2003
Default

Audi won before it started based on sound alone.

The focus sounds like a garbage disposal with something rattling around with the "burble"--as do all inline 4s that aren't spinning at least 10k rpm.
daveyboy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-01-2018, 12:22 AM   #60
RandR
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 292132
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Australia
Vehicle:
2016 981 GTS
2017 991.2 C2S X51PK

Default

ECOTY 2017 Best Hot Hatch

http://www.evo.co.uk/honda/civic-typ...best-hot-hatch

EVO Super Test
http://www.evo.co.uk/supertest/20456...eview/page/0/3

The verdict

It's decision time. So which of these three very hot hatches is our clear winner?

We could tease out the winner of the test, but there'd be no point because in the final reckoning the Honda walks it. No matter which way you cut it, the Civic comes out on top thanks to its staggering breadth of abilities. It's no exaggeration to say that the Type R redefines what's possible for a hot hatch - either front or four-wheel drive.

***8216;It bristles with capability, seriousness, competency, aggression', enthuses Towler. ***8216;It successfully melds the outrageous performance people expected with old fashioned, but extremely relevant, qualities of interaction. It feels like a special car, honed for the task by a team on top of their game.'

The fact it was fastest around the track, is the most spacious and practical day to day and won't cost the earth to run is the icing on top of the Honda's hard earned victory cake.

Last edited by RandR; 01-01-2018 at 12:29 AM.
RandR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-01-2018, 01:02 AM   #61
Fierysun
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 82745
Join Date: Mar 2005
Chapter/Region: SCIC
Location: So Cal
Vehicle:
2005 Subaru STI
2003 EJ207 S204 Wagon

Default

Saw a CTR in person yesterday at my local supermarket, it is more hideous (the body work and all the extra BS is way way over the top) in person then in photos. LOL!
Fierysun is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-01-2018, 02:34 AM   #62
samb
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 177235
Join Date: Apr 2008
Chapter/Region: NWIC
Location: Washington
Vehicle:
2016 Focus RS
2002 WRX Wagon

Default

I can't stand over-hyped reviews. It was annoying with the Focus and it's annoying with the Civic. It also screams "hey this is what you wanted to hear, right?!"
samb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-01-2018, 01:11 PM   #63
Skylab
n00b Moderator
Moderator
 
Member#: 4263
Join Date: Feb 2001
Chapter/Region: SCIC
Location: Encinitas
Default 2017 Ford Focus RS vs. 2017 Honda Civic Type R

Savagegeese gives the most thorough and realistic car reviews on the inter webs. And I’m hooked.





For me, yes...I want to know what the car is like to live with and drive on public roads. It takes more than a twenty minute test drive to find out.





(No apologies if these videos were posted earlier)

Last edited by Skylab; 01-01-2018 at 02:30 PM.
Skylab is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-01-2018, 03:53 PM   #64
samb
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 177235
Join Date: Apr 2008
Chapter/Region: NWIC
Location: Washington
Vehicle:
2016 Focus RS
2002 WRX Wagon

Default

I do enjoy his reviews although he can be quite condescending towards his viewers. "If you've never been in a real sports car before." But yeah, if I want a nice cynical review he's got a great channel to turn to. His Focus review was spot on even if I don't agree with all of it I really can't argue against it as every review is going to be subjective.
samb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-01-2018, 08:39 PM   #65
Kostamojen
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 2272
Join Date: Sep 2000
Chapter/Region: BAIC
Location: Fire Caves
Vehicle:
2019 Macan 4cyl
1993 Impreza FWD WRX swap

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Skylab View Post
Savagegeese gives the most thorough and realistic car reviews on the inter webs.
Especially if you like aluminum suspension bits...
Kostamojen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-15-2018, 07:28 AM   #66
AVANTI R5
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 73805
Join Date: Nov 2004
Vehicle:
24 TypeS ZO6
White

Default

Quote:
Honda Civic Type R Vs. Ford Focus RS


Two radically different approaches


it is a good day to be alive. Not only are 400-plus horsepower cars common and reasonably affordable, but 300-plus-horsepower hot hatchbacks are everywhere and definitely easy to afford. Two of the best are the Honda Civic Type R and Ford Focus RS.

The RS is the old boy, the car that arrived to kick the former horsepower champs – the Subaru WRX STI and Volkswagen Golf R – in the teeth with oodles of power, standard all-wheel drive, and a frikkin’ drive mode dedicated to sideways funny business. The Civic Type R is the Rookie of the Year and a car that takes a hardline approach to driving performance in a way that few in the mid-$30,000 range ever have.

But which of these firecrackers is the better buy? The Ford has the edge on power and an undeniably attractive style, but the Civic is arguably the most entertaining front-wheel-drive car since John Cooper got his hands on an Austin Mini. Read on to see what’s tops: the Ford Focus RS or the Honda Civic Type R.

Performance

Ford: If you want the most powerful hot hatchback on the market, your search will start and end with the Ford Focus RS. Its (relatively) big 2.3-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder belts out 350 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque, and thanks to standard all-wheel drive, it's almost too easy to deploy the speed those numbers provide.

In a vacuum, this is a genuinely quick car from a standstill and while accelerating at speed. Torque is constant up to about 5,000 rpm and there isn't a big falloff in the final 1,500 revs. But there is some turbo lag.

It's not that the short delay is disruptive. Rather, today's cars have largely eradicated turbo lag, so cars with this particular quirk tend to stand out more. If anything, it makes the Focus RS a little more involving, asking more of drivers than today's point-and-squirt turbocharged cars.

But the deeper you dive into the Focus RS' powertrain, problems do arise. The standard all-wheel-drive system is great, providing sure-footed grip off the line and curbing bad behavior with the sharp throttle. But the standard 6-speed manual is difficult to use. The clutch is heavy and the catchpoint is vague. The bigger issue is the rubbery gates that the gear lever goes into – the short shift lever isn't satisfying, requiring some strong arming to drive quickly. The 13,000 miles of abuse on this tester could have something to do with it, as third gear was particularly mushy.

This is also a portly car, owing to its all-wheel-drive system. It's over 300 pounds heavier than the Honda, and its chassis isn't anywhere near as smartly tuned. The Focus has oodles of grip, but it rolls much more through bends, and its steering lacks the telepathic feedback present in the Civic. It's still fun to barrel through a corner in the Focus – grip from its 19-inch Michelins is constant – with the dual-exhaust popping and banging, but the Ford lacks the precision, feedback, and aggressive attitude found in the Civic.

Honda: The Civic Type R is down on oomph with its 2.0-liter, turbocharged 4-cylinder pumping out 306 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. But ignore the on-paper argument – the Civic Type R feels very nearly as quick, and more enthusiastic. This 2.0-liter, like so many high-performance Honda engines before it, is quick to climb the tachometer.

But it's the character of these engines that is their biggest distinction. The 2.3-liter Focus RS engine is fun and charming, but the Civic Type R's 2.0-liter is genuinely potent in the way it accelerates. It just revs so willingly, and the power is so constant that the Civic always feels like it's on the boil.

Front-wheel drive is only a small issue. The Civic requires more careful throttle application off the line – it will happily bake its front tires – but there's little-to-no torque steer. And around turns, a mechanical limited-slip differential curbs understeer and produces a catapult-like effect on corner exit. It's absolutely addicting.

The Civic's 6-speed manual is fantastic. The clutch is light, predictable, and a joy to squeeze after the leg press that is the Focus' left pedal. The gear lever is light and buttery – typical Honda – and slipping it into the gates is remarkably satisfying.

And goodness, does this car handle well. Dollar for dollar, the Civic Type R is one of the best handling cars on the market. The suspension tuning is perfect so that, confusingly, it's both more agile than the Focus and more comfortable in daily driving (thanks in large part to its active dampers). There's very little body roll, and the level of feedback through the chassis is sublime. The steering is telepathic, perfectly modulated for around-town cruising but an absolute chatterbox with spot-on weighting in corners.

Unlike the Focus, I've driven the Civic on a track. Among a Porsche, an Alfa Romeo, and a Lexus LC, it was the only car I wanted to continue flogging.

Winner: Honda

Styling and Interior

Honda: The Civic Type R would look really good if Honda's designers had spent about half the time styling it. They didn’t, and so the CTR is overstyled and needlessly complex. How many wings and spoilers are on the back end? The answer varies from person to person based on their definition of what constitutes aerodynamics.

There's just so much going on with the Civic Type R, and even our tester's subdued Polished Metal paint isn't enough to mute the busyness. Wildly flared wheel arches, the triple exhaust system, the red stripe around the car's bottom, and the carbon-fiber accents create a character that's too extroverted.

And that's obvious driving around town. People don't know what to make of it, while some motorists seemed openly disgusted by the angriest Civic.

But Honda claws back points in the cabin. Sure, the red fabric seats and red seatbelts are a bit kitschy, but the Type R's cabin is every bit as nice as the standard Civic's. That means an all-digital instrument cluster; a prominent touchscreen infotainment system and smart, premium-feeling controls with solid fit and finish.

The Civic's seats are also far more comfortable everyday than the Focus' Recaro thrones. While the Focus’ seats are undeniably sporty, I sighed in relief every time I switched to the Honda. The padding has more give, and while the bolsters on the seats are smaller, they don't compromise support during aggressive cornering.

Ford: The standard Focus, despite its age, is still one of the best-looking compact cars you can buy. That fact extends to the Focus RS, which wears flared wheel arches, unique front and rear fascias, a hearty rear wing, bigger wheels, and stunning Nitro Blue paint.

Although the Volkswagen Golf R is still the cleanest, most attractive of today's hot hatches, the Focus RS is better balanced between the conservative Golf and the I'M-SO-SPORTY-EVERYONE-LOOK-AT-ME Civic Type R. From every angle, this is an attractive car. Each of the changes to the body feels like it was made out of necessity rather than an obsessive desire to look interesting or sporty.

Despite its advanced age, the Focus' cabin looks and feels up to date. Sure, some of the plastics aren't as nice as you'll see in the Honda, but they still pass muster. The seats aren't nearly as comfortable every day, but the leather and Alcantara upholstery feels more expensive and satisfying than the all-fabric Civic.

I wouldn't normally acknowledge this bit, but with the Focus, I have to. The Nitro Blue RS shown above is a model year 2016. The Ford had over 13,000 miles on it during this test. That's 13,000 hard, journalist-driven miles. And yet, the cabin still felt tight as a drum. There was the occasional odd rattle, but nothing out of the ordinary for a first-year production car that's been beaten by uncaring writers all its life. And unlike the Civic, which was a 2018 model-year baby with only a few thousand miles on the clock, the rear-view mirror in the Ford didn't jiggle.

Advantage: Ford

Technology

Honda: The Civic Type R's tech advantage starts in the cockpit. Its infotainment system is quicker and easier to use than the Ford's Sync 3. The standard digital instrument cluster includes all the normal goodies, like trip data and audio information, but it also packs a set of Formula 1-style shift lights, so you can pretend you're driving a Honda F1 car without fearing the engine will suddenly let go.

The Civic is mechanically smarter, too. As mentioned in our first drive, its standard three-mode adaptive dampers are revelatory, allowing the Type R to go from track-devouring five-door to family friendly school bus at the flick of a switch. Combine that with the aforementioned limited-slip diff, and it's not hard to see why Honda earned the win here.

Ford: The Focus RS puts up a fine fight. Sync 3 is at least prettier than the Civic's infotainment system, and importantly, the Ford is available with heated front seats and a heated steering wheel. Those two features may not seem like a big deal on their own, but taken with the RS' standard all-wheel-drive system, the Ford is far easier to drive year around in a place like Detroit, Chicago, or… all of Canada.

There's also something to be said for Ford's gimmicky Drift Mode and our test car's Drift Stick. They're silly features, but at the very least, drift assistance is innovative technology for the class.

Advantage: Honda

Practicality

Ford: The numbers don't lie. The Focus RS' 19.9 cubic-foot cargo hold is a good bit smaller than the Civic's. Space in the cabin is also at a premium, with the Ford offering up less passenger volume, at 90 cubic feet, than the Type R.

For passengers in the front seat, the aggressive Recaro racing chairs make ingress and egress a challenge, as well.

Honda: The Civic Type R is easier for front-seat passengers to get into; offers more second-row leg, shoulder, and head room; 97 cubic feet of passenger volume; and at least 25.7 cubic feet of cargo space. The only real mark against it is a rear hatch that is on the heavier side.

Advantage: Honda

Fuel Economy

Honda: With a smaller, less powerful engine in a lighter vehicle, is it really any surprise that the Civic Type R's fuel economy is superior? Look for 22 miles per gallon city, 28 highway, and 25 combined.

Ford: Despite its extra power and weight, the Ford isn't too far behind. It returns an EPA-estimated 19 mpg city, 26 highway, and 22 combined. As with the Type R, though, driving the Focus as intended will have a serious impact on those figures.

Advantage: Honda

Price

Honda: The mono-spec Civic Type R starts and ends at $35,595, which includes an $895 destination charge.

Ford: While the test Focus is from model year 2016, there's no point in comparing the price of a car that's almost certainly sold out. The 2018 Focus RS, though, starts at $41,995, including an $875 destination charge. And unlike the Civic, there are goodies to choose from.

The beautiful Nitro Blue paint costs $695, and is one of only two colors on offer (Race Red is the default). A winter tire and wheel package is available for $1,995 and is a smart purchase for northern drivers, since it includes a separate set of wheels. That means do-it-yourself tire swaps rather than visiting your local tire shop and paying to get your winter rubber mounted. A sunroof is $695 and forged 19-inch wheels are $550. As for the Drift Stick, it costs $999, although some retailers, like Ford performance parts manufacturer Mountune, are listing it for $899. And then you’re still on the hook for installation, unless you’re the handy sort.

Advantage: Honda

Verdict:

Despite looking like a lopsided fight, this battle was far closer than the categorical results would indicate. Ultimately, the Civic Type R takes the prize. It’s dynamically superior, it’s a better everyday car, and it’s more affordable. It is objectively superior in nearly every way.

While the Civic won... I went home in the Focus RS.

But subjectively, the results are far murkier. Let’s put it like this – while the Civic won, when given the choice of which car I wanted to drive for the weekend, I went home in the Focus RS. It has an air of the hoon to it and is fully willing to embrace its ridiculous and occasionally obnoxious attitude. Its character, that automotive X-factor, was attractive enough that I passed on the dynamically fantastic Type R for a weekend in an uncomfortable chair, driving a Smurf blue car, with an aluminum girder sticking out of the floor. On paper, arguments are a hell of a thing, but sometimes, having fun with what you have is what counts.

Winner: 2018 Honda Civic Type R
AVANTI R5 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-15-2018, 01:27 PM   #67
h3llsp4wn
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 373546
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NorCal 707 to 916
Vehicle:
2015 wrx limited
crystal black

Default

There is absolutely no comparison- Ford, lately, makes hot garbage and their recall list is longer than the Declaration of Independence. I wouldn’t touch a Ford for free right kow. Their QA is an embarrassment. And this is coming from a long time Ford fan who had a 93 escort GT and 98 zx2 both modded, both bought used at around 30k and both hit 130k without a single problem.
h3llsp4wn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-18-2018, 01:29 PM   #68
Calamity Jesus
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 44501
Join Date: Oct 2003
Chapter/Region: NWIC
Location: Yeah, well, you know
Vehicle:
that 's, like, your
alternate facts, man.

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by h3llsp4wn View Post
And this is coming from a long time Ford fan who had a 93 escort GT and 98 zx2 both modded, both bought used at around 30k and both hit 130k without a single problem.
Both Mazda Proteges underneath.


The Civic Type-R had some gearbox issues early on... and they're still incredibly hard to find.
Calamity Jesus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-19-2018, 08:41 PM   #69
hkerekes
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 66310
Join Date: Jul 2004
Chapter/Region: South East
Location: Removing passenger seat
Vehicle:
2023 korean muscle

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by h3llsp4wn View Post
There is absolutely no comparison- Ford, lately, makes hot garbage and their recall list is longer than the Declaration of Independence. I wouldn’t touch a Ford for free right kow. Their QA is an embarrassment. And this is coming from a long time Ford fan who had a 93 escort GT and 98 zx2 both modded, both bought used at around 30k and both hit 130k without a single problem.
Eh, my boss 302 has been fairly trouble free considering the abuse it takes.
hkerekes is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-20-2018, 08:04 AM   #70
Scooby921
Merci Buckets
Moderator
 
Member#: 88606
Join Date: Jun 2005
Chapter/Region: MWSOC
Location: Michigan
Vehicle:
2018 Grand Cherokee
Velvet Red Pearl

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by hkerekes View Post
Eh, my boss 302 has been fairly trouble free considering the abuse it takes.
Co-worker's Boss hasn't been. Engine was replaced under warranty inside the first 1000 miles. Rear drive module / differential toasted itself because they assy plant didn't shim it correctly. Paint is flaking off the hood because they didn't get all the oil cleaned off before painting.
Scooby921 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-20-2018, 06:27 PM   #71
hkerekes
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 66310
Join Date: Jul 2004
Chapter/Region: South East
Location: Removing passenger seat
Vehicle:
2023 korean muscle

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Scooby921 View Post
Co-worker's Boss hasn't been. Engine was replaced under warranty inside the first 1000 miles. Rear drive module / differential toasted itself because they assy plant didn't shim it correctly. Paint is flaking off the hood because they didn't get all the oil cleaned off before painting.
ive had a small coolant leak due to the sway bar hitting the oil cooler line under hard cornering. Recalled/replaced

Had a small bit of whine in the Torsen t2 differential only on long right turns. Bearing was likely bad. Replaced under warranty. It whined for a while and never got worse, i just warrantied it before it ran out.

Teh only semi big problem was a faulty weld on the syncro engagement teeth on third gear. It happened at around 75k miles. I honestly needed to do a clutch/flywheel/shifter anyway so whatever. I had it ran through and upgraded which i wanted to do regardless.

It was an incredibly rare failure, transmission builder has seen 3 of those failures in over 500 transmissions.


That being said, the car has seen trackdays, autocross, rallycross, copious amounts of redlines, burnouts, and basically has the crap beaten out of it daily.
hkerekes is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-20-2018, 11:36 PM   #72
jimmi
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 172959
Join Date: Feb 2008
Chapter/Region: South East
Location: Franklin, TN
Vehicle:
'16 Ford GT350, '08
EvoX GSR,01 EclipseGT SDS

Default

I could see myself driving the RS but have a hard time seeing me show up somewhere professional in the Civic. And I still drive an Evo which looks conservative by comparison

I have had my Mustang for 1 1/2 yr. no issues so far. Only Ford (or US car for that matter) I have ever owned but pleased right now.
jimmi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-30-2018, 05:58 AM   #73
AVANTI R5
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 73805
Join Date: Nov 2004
Vehicle:
24 TypeS ZO6
White

Default Ford RS vs Civic Type R vs I30N

Quote:
There comes a moment – after five hours of motorway torture – when the Focus RS and I finally click. I've slogged up from London to escape the day-to-day grind where this fast Ford frustrates, to get away to North Wales, to the sort of roads on which we all originally fell for this car. Meeting me somewhere ahead are Curtis and the Civic Type R and James and his Hyundai i30N. And by the time I meet them in Snowdonia, my little epiphany has me wondering whether these two newcomers are also-rans to an ageing hot hatch that's nearly out of production.

First on a shortcut I've never taken before, and then on old favourite B-roads, the Focus RS is just so damn fast. So quick I accidentally jump it. Twice. You stop thinking about the jarring ride, the Recaro seats mounted closer to the roof than the floor, and the diabolical range. Instead you engage Sport mode and relish the way the exhaust spits and pops, marvel at how agile and alert it feels. The Focus RS just grips and goes (whereas I'll later discover the other two will spin their front wheels in the wet). And with all the power and torque, this Ford really does fly along even the wettest, roughest roads.


By the time I arrive in Betws-y-Coed covered in a thick layer of winter grime, the brakes are stinking and the tank is nearly empty but I'm thinking there might not be a finer hot hatch for that moment when you're alone on your favourite road.

Which is what we're doing here today. Hot hatches are built to cover all the bases, but for 24 hours we're forgetting about them having to do the school run or trips to the shops. We're escaping the straitjacket of the everyday; instead, it's three mates, on an old stomping ground, having fun with their cars.

Let me point out the faults of the others before they have a chance to get stuck in to the Focus. The Type R channels the '90s Impreza or Evo vibe, complete with embarrassing rear wing and bonnet intake. The rear wheels look lost inside the arches, as if design forgot to tell engineering to order some 5mm spacers. At speed there's too much road noise, while the engine is inaudible. And initially all of the N elements feel tacked onto the i30: at parking speeds the clutch and steering are in ultra-light OAP mode, and it has an inordinately thick steering wheel – one of the less welcome things N division chief Albert Biermann brought with him from BMW's M division. The wheel also has a woeful lack of adjustment.

Move beyond the foibles, though, and both start to show some real brilliance – enough to trouble the Focus RS. The Type R has great seats and a superb gearbox, and the modulation through the brake pedal is fantastic. Nothing is quite so obviously standout on the i30N, and yet the overall package might even be better. The seats are good, the gearbox is good, the brakes are good, the engine makes the best noise here (at least inside the car), but overall it's the togetherness, the way the i30N flows down a road that impresses me most.

Engine 2261cc 16v turbo 4cyl, 345bhp @ 6000rpm, 347lb ft @ 2000rpm
Transmission Six-speed manual, all-wheel drive
Stats 4.7sec 0-62mph, 165mph, 175g/km CO2
Price £32,265
As tested £35,390
Miles this month 728
Total 6817
Our mpg 24.2
Official mpg 36.7
Fuel this month £181.21
Extra costs None

You grow attached to a car when you drive it every day and use it for countless trips to Ikea while moving house. But as the sat-nav flashes up a four-hour journey time to Betws-y-Coed, I realise this is the strongest test of our relationship yet.

I know I've a whole day of far more spirited driving in prospect tomorrow, so the majority of today's journey takes place in Comfort mode, with the car's lane-keeping and adaptive-cruise toys on – and it's relatively painless. For most of the four hours the Civic Type R and I happily bomb across England, podcast on, with only a mire of traffic near Birmingham interrupting things.

Four hours gives you plenty of time to wonder why your colleagues are dragging you to Wales – but as I draw closer to the destination, the reason soon becomes obvious. As motorway gives way to B-road and then ever more intricate winding tarmac, it's clear that this is exactly the sort of landscape the Type R was made for. But before that I need to stop for a curry, because I've been warned that the hotel we're staying at won't be serving food by the time I arrive.

Main beams on, balti, garlic naan and rice in the footwell, podcast paused; it's time for a quick shakedown. My three-mile drive from the takeaway to the hotel is more enjoyable than it should be, and would probably disqualify me from working for Deliveroo.

When the road ahead invites you to attack it, the Type R does so with such unfussed speed that it's easy to forget just how fast you're going – and just how composed it is. It's only after I arrive and open my grease-covered takeway bag that I realise just how spirited the driving was. We find the garlic naan the next day.

When paired up against the i30N or the Focus RS, it becomes immediately obvious just how precise the Honda is. The Type R makes you feel like you're cheating when you're following the Ford or Hyundai, so clearly does it seem to have been made for these roads.

The Hyundai is one of the most enjoyable cars I've driven, and it's one of the most silly too, but where it weaves and bobs along B-roads, the Type R surgically slices its way through them, with its subtle engine note and keen steering. The brakes are predictable and intuitive too, constantly goading you to brake later – and giving you ample feedback when you're a little too ambitious.

Unlike the Hyundai there's almost no torque steer here – it's been successfully engineered out – and there are no electronically enhanced parps or warbles either. It's just about going as fast as possible with the equipment provided.

As for the Focus RS, I never seem to gel with it in the same way I do the Hyundai or Honda. Whether it's the odd driving position, or perhaps the heavier four-wheel drive, I'm not sure – but it just doesn't seem to inspire the same level of confidence as the Type R. What's more, its ride is firmer than the skateboard-like i30N's, and around 10 minutes into my time with the Ford I'm relieved this isn't the car I'll be driving home. From the outside at least, it's also rather plain, although some will prefer the subtle look. It's clearly a technically impressive car, but of this trio it's not the one I'd want to buy.

While the i30N is a cheeky, classic hot hatch, I'm leaning towards the Civic Type R. The Honda wears its character on its sleeve, with outrageous angles, edges and curves all over its widened shell. It's supercar drama on a hot-hatch body, but somehow it also has scope to be comfortable – and still have enough room for a TV stand and Billy bookcase. It's the car I'd part with my money for, because it just does everything.


Engine 1996cc 16v turbo 4cyl, 316bhp @ 6500rpm, 295lb ft @ 2500rpm
Transmission Six-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Stats 5.8sec 0-62mph, 169mph, 176g/km CO2
Price £32,995
As tested £32,995
Miles this month 2317
Total 4525
Our mpg 32.1
Official mpg 36.7
Fuel this month £431.19
Extra costs None

I turn up in the i30N expecting it have its tailgate handed to it by the two established stars. After all, it's more than £4k cheaper, its power output starts with a 2 rather than a 3, and it's the first proper go at this sort of thing from a company with no track record in driver's cars. But it goes on to give both a black eye and very nearly win on points.

The i30 feels right at home in the Welsh hills, with tireless brakes, a neutral handling balance, and serious straight-line speed. Both Ford and Honda are fast enough to make your eyes go wide like a Warner Bros cartoon character, but it says a lot for the Hyundai that it doesn't feel slow by comparison.

As Curtis says, the Type R could have been made for these roads. Well, it was made for the Nürburgring, but this bit of Wales is kind of the same thing. I loved it on its launch in Germany and fretted it might not feel as good back in the UK, but needn't have worried. It feels spot-on from the moment you leave the car park, the steering pin-point precise, the gearchange even more so, and the brake pedal X-raying the road surface and transmitting the data straight to the sole of your shoe. Considering there's 316bhp coursing through its front wheels there's barely any torque-steer, thanks partly to a dual-axis front axle with a separate hub-carrier. The less expensive i30N doesn't have that, and suffers from more torque-steer as a result, but it's not unmanageable. Its steering is very heavy, perhaps to reinforce the idea of 'sportiness', and isn't all that feelsome. Likewise its ride is overly firm, even in the adaptive dampers' softest setting.

At least, I thought it was before I climbed into the Focus. I'd forgotten just how harsh it is, bumps making it pogo like a Sex Pistols front row circa 1977. I reach for the damper mode switch (positioned on the end of the indicator stalk) to soften them – before realising it's already in its comfiest setting. And the turning circle! I thought the i30 was bad but at one point the Focus needed reverse to get around an empty car park. I have fond memories of great drives in the RS, but today its overservo'd brakes, overbolstered seats, overbuilt dashboard and comedy ergonomics all marr the experience.

Until, that is, we reach a favourite road, and I experience an epiphany similar to Ben's. Having the rear axle in play gives its handling an extra dimension compared with the front-drivers. Here it's impossible not to like the Focus. You get the impression its engineers are still giggling with glee at having got its incredible bitsa running gear past the accountants and into production. It's a great drive, but I'm not sure I'd want to live with one all year round.

Despite its wild looks, the Civic is actually the most practical. It has the biggest boot, the best ride quality and the least droning exhaust on the motorway. Let's gloss over its unfathomable touchscreen. It's my favourite to drive, with the best damping, the best-weighted controls and incredible point-to-point pace. It's more a go-where-you-point-it guided-missile experience than the i30, but some drivers might prefer the Hyundai's more mobile rear axle, just as they might also prefer its vastly better ergonomics and less outré styling. In the right circumstances the Focus is the most fun, while the Civic is usually the best to drive – and as we head home from Wales I'm more convinced than ever that the i30N is the best to live with.

Logbook: Hyundai i30N Performance

Engine 1998cc 16v turbo 4cyl, 271bhp @ 6000rpm, 260lb ft @ 1500rpm
Transmission Six-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Stats 6.1sec 0-62mph, 155mph (limited), 163g/km CO2
Price £27,995
As tested £28,550
Miles this month 1214
Total 2465
Our mpg 26.0
Official mpg 39.8
Fuel this month £266.06
Extra costs None
AVANTI R5 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:12 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.0
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Powered by Searchlight © 2024 Axivo Inc.
Copyright ©1999 - 2019, North American Subaru Impreza Owners Club, Inc.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission
Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.