I'm based in the UK and have been driving VW Group cars since my first one in 1994, writing about interesting examples since 1997, buying, selling and fixing them since 2002 and making videos about them since around 2016. I can be doing a cambelt on a Mk5 Golf GTI one week and test driving an R8 in Spain the next. I am always looking to buy good examples of interesting VW Audi Seat Skoda and travel around the UK.
I fail to understand why you want a “hot hatch” capable of 169 mph to look like a car that your Gran takes to Tesco ?? It shouts “I’m a Type R” and so it should well done Honda I say 👏👏👏👏👏
I’m miffed that I missed the 128 ti when it was on BMW’s press fleet and don’t think it’s coming back. M135i was good though. I30N I drove at Millbrook in 2019 I think. Need to try auto version but again out of production so needs to be used. Same issue with Megane sadly but will try and find used examples in due course 👍
@@volkswizard Thank you. (I wasn't expecting a reply!) If you ever get a chance, I think your style would lend itself well to such a comparison on video.
You reviewed the car and you didn't even put in in R+ mode. Thats like putting water and rice in a rice cooker and pressing warm when you should press cook.
Like I said didn’t have much time so to try everything was impossible (30 mins to film a 15 min video is not something I choose to do). I’ve looked up +R mode and best suited to a proper circuit rather than that a track that deliberately mimics a road.
I am a fan of VW's more mundane offerings and always end up back in one when the daily needs replacing. But for performance I am a JDM man and Id have the Civic over any of the ubiquitous hot golfs - but for the price. Tbh though, I am yet to be persuaded to replace my V5 STi RA with anything more modern - as quick, more raw and more fun. Just getting very expensive to keep on the road...
Recently bought a VW TIguan R and the parts searcher in 2024 still does not list any oil choices for neither the Tiguan nor the Golf R.. Actually finding that with a lot of parts for the evo4 motors.
Great car. I drove a ep3 for 16yrs not one problem. I dont like the black spoiler they should have kept it body coloured. And the seemed to have dropped the nighthawk black too
"i cant heel and toe, im useless like that" yeah we know youre a golf driver skillful driving and knowing what a good car feels and drives like goes over you lmao. people who review cars so biased like this, are in the same league as a PE teacher trying to teach maths. pointless
Still the worst control system ever. Even sitting still he struggled to navigate through the menus let alone trying to adjust your climate control while driving in busy roads.
Its only expensive if you cant afford it like anything in life, compared to a golf really, i mean the golf is a golf with a golf chassis, golf gearbox, golf brakes, Type R is a bespoke car thats comes with extras as the base...only true petrolheads will notice or even know the difference, which is good IMO.
Hey there Mr C. Neil here, from many moons ago, train driver from Kent. Went to GTi international with you, Iain and Morag, Andy Reynolds etc. How are you?
It’s got a big wing and decals, big intake so it definitely stands out over a cooking Golf but it’s relatively low key appearance is an asset for many especially with performance levels not much behind the Civic
A used previous gen car seems to be the wise choice, not expensive, lots to choose from, wing optional and dynamically still a cut about everything else in class.
Yep, tricky one. Yes it’s sweeter to drive than R but R is a better all rounder though Clubsport Mk8 is cheaper than R, closer dynamically to Civic and ultimately it’s a nice, classy Golf and 8.5 with new screen will be even better and around £43k
@@volkswizard exactly my thoughts. The Mk8 Clubsport is better value and probably quite a bit nicer to live with. Probably somewhat less involving but also way better in daily tasks. Great review as always though!
The one thing I have never liked from any Type R . The suspension is just to harsh . That banging is really irritating. Always remember driving an integra and even an Accord 25 yrs ago . When I worked for Honda . A bit Marmite for me .
My pleasure Patrick. It’s tricky because the Honda is so different to Clubsport S. The way VW differentiate performance models is different to Honda. They are more subtle and classy and while you can’t choose different colour interiors (like with the Honda) the default trim is designed to offend nobody and with the standard bucket seats which complement the rest of the interior it’s special without being garish. No back seats is always going to make a Golf (in fact any hatch) special. VW could have used non standard cars like Honda did for the ring record but they took the seats out and were brave enough to keep that for the production CSS. GTI ride is pretty plush in comfort mode which means it’s easy to forget you are something special, I suspect Civic is firmer so feels more special but less comfortable. I think most people will see the Civic as a modified car and the Golf as a normal GTI. For me the fact the Golf can blend in and yet be so talented & useable makes it more special. But Civic is still special, just with we could have a wingless car with no red inside and 2 exhaust tips or even black tips, silver wheels would be nice too👍
Don’t know if you can help me but you have inspired me to retrofit cruse to my polo but having problems with getting part No for stalks. Do you have advice on where to find correct part No for my car. Thanks Paul
Great short video - would love to see one of your longer road tests in it - it’s certainly an acquired taste, compared to the VAG group hot hatches, but, I have always enjoyed being a bit left field with my car choices
Left field is good and I wish I was more adventurous (Aston Martin instead of Porsche for example) but there is always something that I can’t live with - for example why does Civic have red front seats and black at the back? This doesn’t not make it faster and just looks sloppy and not acceptable at any price let alone 50 big ones. I didn’t notice this until the edit BTW
It's the usual theme running all the so right comments here; price. When I got fed up with my Mk8's initial problems I also put down a deposit for one of these. Journo's raved as per but it's not them putting their hard earned across the table. 50K please sir. Don't know how the salesman kept a straight face. Deposit back and glad I did.
Bargain for what you get. ALL new cars are up in cost! New GR yaris for example. There are no options as fully loaded. All respected journalists and magazines have rated this car. Controls looks amazing and simple to use. Gearbox amazingly, seats amazing, engine bullet proof!
Didn’t even put the car in R mode. Obviously didn’t do his homework because he is biased towards German brands. Also what about going into individual mode and customising everything to suit your preferences. In Australia it costs 73000 which is about 38000 English pounds. Sorry to disappoint you but it has no competition as a driver focused car with a beautiful manual transmission. Over engineered handling and balance. Huge Brembo brakes. Some people just have no idea how much engineering went into this car.Better if people who don’t understand what this car is about stick to unreliable European cars with a DSG transmission so they can win the traffic light drag.😂😂
These things are no doubt seriously fun to drive but I wouldn't be able to live with its lairy looks. Can you imagine rocking up to anything business-related in one of these?! Love that Honda is keeping manuals as an option though, nothing beats it for tactility
I do think they should cost 10k less. That interior is so much more functional than so many modern cars, I can look past the plastics because the actual important parts are nice quality
And it has actual physical controls for heating and ventilation rather than a touchscreen. Complaints of a cheap interior yet VAG use touchscreens which is a cost saving , cheap solution rather than analogue controls.
It's priced NOT to sell, most likely to ensure Honda meets emissions quotas across its whole line-up. This is basically a PR model, produced just to have it shown in videos. In RO it starts at €57450 (which I'm sure is close to other EU countries) and I highly doubt there will be any room for bargaining. At that price it literally competes with BMW 2 series, Golf R, Audi S3, etc. etc. It'll be bought only by collectors or those whose #1 #2 and #3 priorities is getting a factory-made track ready car at that price. Shame. A street-focused Type-S with 18" wheels, competent but non-luxury tiers and brakes, SAME ENGINE but a bit detuned to work with RON 95 first, dynamic suspensions, no childish aero (sleeper look) would sell well around €40k but Honda is probably blocked from providing that by emissions quotas so we need to look elsewhere.
Not at all. You can easily spec a golf r to 50k. The Honda is 50k with everything on, barely any options to add. And the engineering you’re getting for the money is closer to a Porsche gt3 than a golf. Not to mention you’re getting something much rarer than it’s rivals. Honda have no desire to sell huge numbers in order to maintain the brand value of type r.
