Test drive Honda Civic sedan 2000 - 2003 sedan

Honda special purpose

Civic with the prefix round r is no longer just a hatchback, but a hurricane on wheels
I will say right away; This is not a rally machine, about one t of which is described in this AI issue. Civic Type R is perfectly adapted to any rhythm of urban or main movement, but at the same time is able to make the heart beat faster. If you want, to a toy for which the Japanese are great masters, fun for adults who want to cheerfully cheer up while traveling home and vice versa. Moreover, a toy of those on which is not written in major letters about how exciting it is. It must be tried to understand and enter the taste ...
In the sports spirit
It always surprises me why many colleagues are automobile journalists from any car, whatever purpose it is in real life, will certainly require outstanding sports qualities. So with the new Honda Civic model that appeared last year, the same story happened. The creators were mainly accused of the fact that the car became completely family (what's wrong with that?) And lost its inherent Civic sports for the previous generations. So or not, but now the company was certainly rehabilitated by releasing the version of R.
To denote charged versions in this way in the traditions of Honda. The knowledgeable reader will probably remember the legendary Integra Type R and Assord Tour R. However, until recently, all these models were practically inaccessible to the Russian consumer, since they were not officially supplied. The situation has changed when Roadster 52000 burst into our market, who very quickly found its buyer. And now another fun. The Civic tour of R, of course, does not look at 52,000 at all, but, as they say, from the same opera.
Outwardly, the novelty is almost a twin of the serial Civic. The body elements are mostly the same. However, in the crowd, it is still easy to distinguish the tour thanks to noticeable strokes in the sports spirit. First of all, this is a new aerodynamic body kit for the thresholds, powerful bumpers, the rear spoiler, 17-inch alloy wheels and two chrome pipe of the configured exhaust system. All this looks nice, it can tell experts a lot, but it does not catch my eye too much.
To fully feel the special purpose of the car, you should take a closer look at the interior. Everything here becomes clear: frankly strict sports seats with support, even at the shoulder level, are very small and in sporting profiled steering wheel, adjustable in all directions, the instrument panel finished for aluminum (in fact it is plastic). But the brilliant lever of the b-speed mechanical gearbox made of metal, everything is without deception. Moreover, it is located not between the seats, but on the central console it is a branded feature of all Civic of a new generation. Which, by the way, is very convenient: the lever is close to the steering wheel, the movements of the hand are minimal, the gears can be changed even faster. In the basic configuration, electric windows and mirrors with electric drive and heating. There are compartments for small luggage and even a couple of cup holders, who were perched between the driver and the passenger.
The back, perhaps, is cramped, but two adults will be sustained there without problems. Moreover, climbing into the salon and get out of it is better on the right, through the passenger seat (tour to three -door hatchback). Because only this seat in the full sense of the word drives forward and leans back. With a driver’s seat, such a trick will not work: you can only throw back the back, you won’t move it much forward, so that only a child or acrobat can get back on the left. Personally, I think that this is done absolutely correctly so that the seat settings are not lost, which can be nervous as a driver.
What else was surprised at the cabin in the cabin. That is, as an option, it is offered and set by dealers (all this costs about $ 900), but it does not exist in the basic configuration. I did not like it because the heat was the heat on the day of the test drive, and after 15 minutes my back was wet. However, this would most likely happen to the air conditioner, because the car is clockwork.
Race
Honda makes excellent engines, I will report to you, dear reader. Their merits are especially manifested precisely in charged versions of serial models. For example, the Civic Type R has two hundred horses with a power unit of only 2 liters. And this is without a compressor or turbocharged. And the motor, as you know, largely determines the nature of the machine. Well, I start it and gently leave the parking lot. The clutch pedal is quite soft, but the moment when the energy is transmitted to the front drive wheels is felt well. Once again, I am convinced of the convenience of the location of the gearbox lever, which also has short and clear moves.
The proprietary system of changes in the phase of gas distribution, which received on the new Civic designation I-VTS, allows you to start moving without too promoting the engine. But the real pickup is felt when the tachometer arrow passes 4000 rpm. This is not so much, since a highly composed motor is easy to warm up to 8000 rpm. It is in this range that you understand that under the hood of a herd. The steering wheel, which seemed quite light when leaving the parking lot, becomes frankly oak with an increase in speed. In sporting, hard suspension and low-profile rubber (205/45 R17) make it possible to acutely feel everything that happens between the wheels and the road. Well, again for ...
I stand at a traffic light, I do not bother anyone. Then, suddenly, to the left with a screech hung with moldings and spoilers (and this is by no means always an indicator) is a little car. And the young driver of this miracle screaming about himself, some kind of workshop near Moscow, circles those around him with an arrogant look. I do not like him, from such an expecting on the roads. In general, I spur the motor, and when green lights up (a miracle moved to yellow, having received a head start), I throw the clutch pedal. I repent, there was a slight smoke from under the front wheels, but after a couple of seconds I went around the rider who did not like me. And at the next traffic light, he already behaved more decent, slowed down calmly, without a squeal of rubber, and looked nearly, no longer arrogant, but offended. Let him know: there will definitely be someone for each of the most, the most.
Then it was worse. I’m going fast, but, again, I don’t bother anyone. But what is it?! The driver of the Gazelle adored in Moscow decided to turn around from the right row, even, apparently, not looking at whether someone is moving on the left and behind. I feel even sharp inhibition (and with this the Civic Type R is all right) will not be enough. Then, on the contrary, gas is on the floor, and a fast rearrangement, so as not to hurt an unexpected obstacle. Without the slightest corn of the body, the car seemed to jump to the side, and the Gazelle driver did not even understand what happened. Here it is, the true element of the tour R Rac from the traffic light to the traffic light, sharp changes in the rows, intense accelerations and braking. But we must fasten. Otherwise, you can bury your head into the instrument shield, illuminated by red. At the same time, a sharp or rigid itself in the brake pedal cannot be called the force is clearly dosed, and feedback on the height. Take it off on the Novorizhsk highway towards the region.
Speed \u200b\u200b210 km/h, the tachometer is inexorably selected to the red zone. I turn on the sixth gear, and acceleration is immediately lost. This transfer is intended exclusively for the highway, to maintain constant speed and fuel saving. I turn off the highway to a good country road, almost free at this hour. Turn, another Civic Type R seemed to stick to the road. Here is a small sandy platform where you can twist the car. Without going into a lengthy narrative, I will say that the car is controlled in all traffic modes, even when you fly sideways. Only high engine speeds should be supported.
Calculated indicators
The price of Civic Type R in the interior of official dealers does not seem to be overstated about 29 thousand dollars. For this amount, the owner will get the opportunity to ride, say, in two styles. Phlegmatic, when, for example, an impressive wife or girlfriend, or when you just don’t want to drive, hold the tachometer arrow in the range from 2 to 4 thousand revolutions and rest. Or dynamic, when the revolutions do not fall below 4 thousand and you can not deny yourself anything. However, one should still weigh your desires and capabilities. It also seems to me that it is more handful to drive this car is still more likely to a man: he is quite cruel and demanding.
Almost every manufacturer has quite a lot of competitors in the car, in its model range, the loaded version of the Toyota Corolla T-Rport, VW Golf Peshb Opel Astra Coupe. Here is the whole thing in personal taste and, as they say, in the nuances. The cost of the Civic Type R is approximately in the middle of the price row.
Andrey Osipov

A source: Newspaper "Automobile Izvestia" [No. 11 (14), 2002]