Nice review, appreciate the respect shown by both owners, too much toxicity and hate in the car enthusiast world. Performance wise in a straight line the FN2 and MK5 GTI should be fairly line-ball with each other, Golf may "feel" quicker due to the torque from the turbo. Golf has a broader powerband and is much more forgiving, so would likely be faster in the average driver's hands. The FN2, being N/A is very rewarding to drive but not forgiving...if you make a mistake you will be very slow lol. The FN2 should have the advantage on a track/road course in the right hands, stiffer springs, tighter chassis etc. The GTI is the better daily driver without question, nicer place to be, more compliant ride, higher quality interior touchpoints etc. I do think the FN2's design was far ahead of its time and has aged very well though. It could pass for a car released a few years ago, people are often shocked to learn it was released in 2007.
Coming from a golf and picking up a fn2, these cars are miles apart in terms of experience... The golf is much more a car that you buy that goes under the radar that people take no notice of and has no notable talking points, the civic is a LOT more... It's raw, shouty and imo... Better to drive. The golf inside feels a lot more like a guy who drives to the coop at the weekend to pick up a chicken and potatoes for a roast, the civic is more of a bloke who decides he's getting pissed later on and nips out for a cheeky Chinese. Both cars serve different perpouses, having driven both, the civic is the quicker more fun drive, the Volkswagen is the car you buy because the wife's told you you need to buy something more sensible that you still occasionally want to put your foot down in.
have to agree with u here...owned 5 & 6 gti and now moved to fn2 and yes not comparible as far as speed goes imo but having a fun and engaging drive fn2 is a clear winner for me
@@ziggym5 Easy fix for the speed issue is a better flowing exaust and remap, yeah you've not going to get over 250bhp without doing more than that, but it's NA... There's benifits and negatives to the non turbo NA's. Changes the car though, car pulls all the way through rather than being a bit lazy sub 4k, top end peak feels a lot quicker than standard.
I had one of these about 10 years ago and have had mostly VAG cars since. Currently drive an S3 8v saloon but the the FN2 was probably my favourite car I've owned.
@@HimiJ it's no bad, standard 300 bhp, apparently they come alive after a remap. Don't know why the FN2 got such bad press. Probably the Clarkson influence.
I really want to drive an ep3 now. GTI is definitely a better daily in my opinion also - The Fn2 compromises a lot more but you really buy it for the engine (the Mugen spoiler is pretty sick as well 😍).
Have you actually seen the comments ? To me it looks more people are putting in the comments that they own a FN2. My first car was a civic ('89 model) 1.5i GL from 1990 with 90 horsepower that I really did drive to my limits but the car didn't care. After I did own a VW polo 1.2 from 2003 but did quickly regret this decision, after a couple of months traded it in for a Golf MK3 convertible. I did buy the MK3 with only 50K km while it was exactly 10 years old. I traded it after driving it 250k km in about 3 years. Because I really liked my first Honda Civic and the golf GTI version that I did like where over twice the price of the FN2 , it became a easy decision to return to Honda. So far I'm still not regretting this decision. I see a lot of VW Golf GTI models driving around here in my city, all of them with the awful standard boring interior and in boring colors black or anthracite. Regarding the colors, I do like the colors but there are so many that is becomes just boring. I have a Milano red version FN2 and have not seen any other in my own city. I sometimes see an FN2 or other type-r when driving on the high-way but not that often. But to be honest if I didn't need 4 chairs, trunk space and was able to fit in a Honda S2000 or Nissan 350Z comfortably it could have been differently.
I have an fn2. I feel it s more reliable and here (in Romania) it s much more special than a GTI. But yeh for a daily probably the GTI is much more usable mostly because of the stiff suspension of the Fn2.
Fn2 shits on the golf. More reliable. N/A and still rivals forced induction, handles better less body roll, brakes better. And the type r has a cult following from decades ago.....
I own an fn2 and its great if you're in the mood, If you just want to get from A to B I wouldn't recommend. Cheap speed and great handling. Shocking fuel economy and high tax. But I knew that beforehand. Love mine..
Something special about revving it out unlike most modern cars, makes it worth it. Planning another Fn2 video - been wanting to drive one again since shooting this 😂
I have the Fn2. As a daily it's not great to live with because of how harsh the suspension is and its quite raw. But its about driving experience. You buy one if you want that kind of old skool race car experience. Getting that engine screaming at 8k. I find turbo cars a tad boring in comparison. That said, they are easier to tune I guess.
There's always a few mods and a remap and the fn2 becomes something completely different, the experience is unparalleled as the price point. It's also got amazing amounts of luggage space and gadgets, if you throw some powerflex bushes into the mix for 150 quid it's also MUCH better to drive slowly on the daily. Personally, Ive had both.. I've had a CRX and an ep3... The FN2 blows all of them out of the water as a daily you can drive reasonably fast and have fun in... Non of the same era come close until the newer gen cars.
Great comparison, I'm looking to buy an FN2 so timely review. They're very expensive here in Australia, but super reliable. I wouldn't touch anything German, too expensive to fix sadly. Subscribed!
I've owned an EK4, EK9, EP3 and now an FN2 for a year now and my favourite is the FN2 as an all round daily plus the fun factor. It does it all. I have driven a GOLF GTI too and it cannot hold a candle to any Type-R for the driving experience.
@@ludacrisbellAny Type R is great because to get the most out of them you have to drive them on the limit. They have loads of drama and are so much fun.
Honda fan here. Sold my fn2 years back as was getting whipped by Uber drivers in their c class. Currently have a r32 mk4 and it definitely has more power than the civic.. altho it isn't as refined
@@HimiJ At the time I also had a Mini Cooper S R53 with a nice exhaust system. The Golf is a good car. But next to the Mini it had zero character. It felt too much like a standard Golf to me looks wise and interior. I didn't find it particularly fast either, although a remap can easily sort that. Always had a soft spot for the FN2 Type R!
Jamie called from Officially Gassed. He wants his high five slap sign off back! Great vid Himi. I don’t think I could live with the lack of torque from the Honda. Too used to the lazy boosty TFSI. I agree the VTEC is addictive after driving a friends ep3.
Haha man like Jamie - his edits are sick, I've learnt a lot just watching his videos. Vtec is addictive 💪🏼. The new Type R will be interesting supposedly Turbo power with Vtec. But I think the low down turbo power will take away from having Vtec - need to drive one to see.
Fn2 is such a underrated car .I used to own a championship white edition and now I have a mk6r DSG. Don't get me wrong golf is fast asf specially from a dig race however the excitement is not there
Yeah I completely understand, nothing quite like an Fn2 anymore. They are genuinely very underrated - probably partly due to the ep3 coming before and Clarkson's harsh review.
@@HimiJ yeah fn2 was on of clarckson victims lol, I've heard Jeremy was pissed off Honda UK didn't give BBC the fd2r and gave them a fn2r instead. It's funny because Stig rated the FN2 as his favourite hot hatch of 2007
So I have had the ep3 and currently have the fn2. I love the ep3 but in the same way you may have loved an old video game. You played it and it was amazing, felt like a journey in its own right. You try to relive the nostalgia by playing it years later and it's... Disappointing. The steering wasn't sharp, the brakes weren't the best. To move off at a reasonable speed you had to floor it all the time. The fn2 however... It only lacks in economy. I don't do a lot of driving yet every few days I'm chucking in 40 quid! That being said it's torquey enough to drive daily without having to floor it to move, the VTEC is no where near as aggressive as the ep3, which kinda scared the bejesus outta you if you hadn't ever heard the word VTEC before lol. And yeah I'm super happy I kinda wanna just give it all my moneys.
fn2 is more of a drivers car, you have 2 be in the right gear at the right time. why did you only do vtec on the straights? get right up the revs in and out of corners, so much more fun, its what the car was built for!
Thanks for watching, make sure you hit the SUBSCRIBE button. You can find a drive video for my Rev1 Mr2 here (bought it after driving the Fn2): ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-wC8N4FATSdI.html Abu (the Fn2 owner) also started his own channel with Fn2 content, if you're interested check it out: ru-vid.com/show-UC6hNUkI14sskP6khwlT8zZw
It's on my bucket list to bring my FN2 to scotland to bash those roads but It will be a long drive! The FN2 makes up for my terrible tyres and skill with maximum stickivity.
Thank you so so much for yours honestly comparison, I have been planning for age's between those 2 car's as right now in the market price range they're very similar value ... So basically what I get from here is if you want a low end pull go for a turbo Mk5 as it is quicker or go for a highly rev engine go with the Vtec ... Hmm ? Like you say you needed to tested those two car's out for personal reference. . Hopefully I will but my mind kinda lean over to the FN2 ? Just loved the Vtec noise! But time will tell. .. once again thank you for making this wonderful comparison . Immediately Subscribe to see more in the future 👍
Thanks a lot for your comment, yeah exactly - completely different cars and yeah best to test out both. Can't go wrong with either car, thank you subscribing 🙏🏼
@@traceurGeorge I'm going for the type R Ricky by this Summer as my nephew is getting rid of his Black FN2 so I'm more likely buying off him I know him well enough that he look after his FN2 in immaculate conditions with Service history so it a good purchase for me plus I don't see many petrol Mk5 Golf GT turbo around mostly the common diesel turbo unfortunately
Previously had a FN2 M200. Was advised not to buy it as you always have to keep the revs high to be in vtec. Prior to this car I had a remapped Golf 1.8 20vt with similar power. Both great cars. As you say, you have to drive a K20 to appreciate what it is. It’s not the fastest car but it’s bloody fun!!
My mate give's me so much shit over my fn2 because he has a 2.0 turbo scirroco. Send's me pics of lawnmowers ect the usual shit... But i took him out on decent b road in my slow honda and all i got was 'slow down' as he grabbed for the jesus handle.... Wierd that 😁
you were driving down those B roads at low revs :/ kinda like how you would have driven your golf. VTEC isn't just for the straights, you can utilise it more during the curves as well. If you revved the car out more during cornering you can hit some super satisfying rev-matches as well. Before the video you should have gone on a drive as a passenger with the Type R owner to learn how high you can take the revs during corners and stuff.
I'd definitely agree with the Mk5 suspension being more compliant on the road compared to the FN2, in terms of handling which one of out of the two gave you the most confidence to chuck it in? Great video lads! Would be a shout to get a Megane RS or Focus ST to review to round up your thoughts!
Thanks Saqib, handling wise - maybe the Type R feels that bit more sure footed going into corners (that could just be because of the stiffer suspension) - but given it was a short drive and wet I didn't push it as hard as I've pushed the GTI in the past - difficult one. Naturally I'm more confident in the Golf given how much I've driven it. The Type R steering wheel is a lot smaller than the GTI's and a lot lighter so they do feel quite different. Brilliant idea to bring on the Megane RS and Focus ST 👌🏼.
Iv Owned both the gti had a stage one map 250bhp and now I got the fn2 stock it’s better drive and just as fast trust me raced one in my gti hence why I got one 😂😂
Himi I do admit that the gti is a better handling I have took bends at stupid speed in that car but that was on 3dsm alloys that are wider and sick out more I have over steched tyres to the there was no movemeant in the wall I took a bent at 123mph while cars that are fast would struggle to do them at 115 I mean if you ask me that is a serious improvement in handling this is all done on a track 😂🚗💨
I've got a fn2 they are great cars but can be better with some slight tweaks and mods mine is running 260bhp at the momment I also have ecutek map installed from TDI North this allows vtec to kick in at just 4000 RPMS and has flat foot shifting it revs just over 9k with the map
It is insane to drive haha and I started off first with a Hks induction kit and a Miltek exhaust resonated I then read on the forums to make more power u need to upgrade cams and injectors I went to tdi North and I got stage 2 cams and a inlet manifold, throttle body, 600CC injecters which wasn't exactly cheap i also got a fd2 oil pump and hks rsx intake I then needed to map the car I had two choices Hondata or ecutek I went with ecutek which is great it has great features like launch control and when u want the vtec to kick in it can kick in earliest as 4000rpm and flat foot shifting which is just next level the car is completly different to stock form.
If ur question is about power gain then not really but the car is much more engaging to drive and these are just beginner mods that u should start off with and then map the car
Had two fn2 type r's, had a mk5 gti also had a mk5 R32, for a lazy drive bit of a hoke gti is pretty much spot on, the fn2 goes well throwing gears at it but the back end is a twitchy bastard. I personally enjoyed the fn2 more than the gti because I was a rash cunt liked the revs. Both great wee cars tho, fn2 always made me want a dc5 but couldn't justify the money they go for . Anyway just an opinion from a non biased spectator.
I’m not sure which car to buy as my first, i’m mainly a honda boy throughout the years but after seeing the Golf GTI Mk 5/6 i’m really unsure what is a good daily modded car especially i think the updated technology in the mk6. Which one would you recommend?
I'd recommend drive both, Golf is probably a better daily but Fn2 is still pretty good - lots of space but ride a bit firm. Like I said, drive both as they are completely different. Low down turbo power v.s a high revving engine
I would recommend it - Honda reliability as well as the K20 engine and also good space. I'd just say test drive one to see if you like it because you do have to work the engine hard to get performance, also the ride isn't the best. It is seen as a better daily than an ep3.
First time driving another car on the channel, I've seen the comments and the Fn2 will be back. Main mistake I made was driving mostly in 3rd should've been in 2nd with the revs up.
golf has always been overated until the R32. mainly due being a euro car. a corolla or civic counterpart would demolish them in the 80s 90s. however golf does set the bar in the industry and every other manufacturer follow suit.
Unfair review as he didn't drive the car properly. Honda should have been kept high in the revs and it wasn't.....would ruin the golf on track....golf would be a more comfortable daily.
@@HimiJ standard civics didn't have the full body kit and sports interior. Bigger discs / wheels and callipers on the type r. Sits lower on the road. Im not saying the golf is a bad car, they are not. But they don't stand out. Even now the type r shape looks fresh and different to anything else. I think the look of the type r is much better than the golf
@@richardward5762 I second this. I have a top spec 8th Gen 1.8 EX Civic. The design is timeless and was way ahead of it's time for 2006. There wasn't any other car 'normal' car that stood out for that time apart from the Civic. Compare an 06 Astra or Golf exterior and interior design to the Civic and it's crazy how and advance and futuristic the Civic design was and still is. The interior design also is something that still beats a lot of other modern car interiors today and my EX model has many features that cars being built today still don't have. The golf just looks bland like how anyone would picture a car to look like on paper, nothing eye catching or head turning about a Golf compared to the Civic. If there's anything to complain about with the 8th Gen Civic, it's just the firm suspension
