They are dull and never deserving of a hot-hatch tag.

The Renaultsports, any of them, are leagues more fun and capable.
I loved my RS Megane, and you can easily find one (maybe even an R26) in your price range and it'll be far newer than the Civic.
The Clios are awesome little cars too.

 

they'll just break though right?

 

I may be a Honda fanoboy but that's rubbish (IMO).

Chris.

 

My sons CTR is as hard as the S but the seats are better, he has just had the Geo sorted it was all over the show (WIM did the geo for him) we fitted rear camber adjusters to deal with the odd tyre wear that often occurs on the rears.

He reports significant reduction in tire noise and steering loads

Oh bad back and the S , I had a bad back when I fist got my car and the physio had a look and thought the seats wee poor , lacking in lumber support, I pulled the seat back pad forward and have a shaped piece of foam in to give the required support. There mostly ok now and have been for years

 

Steve/Chris

Are there any magazine/top gear reviews/tests comparing the 2.

I've never driven either car so convince me

 

I wouldn't believe all that you read in a magazine, many are biased....

I've owned four Civic Type Rs (first gen EP3, run out Premier EP3, FN2 and FD2RR) and have driven many RenaultSport cars including Clio 182, Clio Trophy, Clio 200, R26 and Twingo 133.

All of the cars have strengths (eg the K20 engine and gearbox is far superior to any Renault engine and 'box) and weaknesses (eg duff EP3 electric steering), none of them can be described as dull, and teh Renaults are not "leagues more fun and capable" IMO.

Chris.

 

Renault R26 v CTR

1. Performance/bhp
2. bang for buck/grin factor
3. depreciation/resale
4. cost of parts/servicing
5. build quality
6. desirability
7. insurance group

 

OK had both the CTR (04 plate) and the VRS (55 plate) simultaneoulsy at one point. One I owned the other I was given to drive whilst I had the CTR.

VRS was way more practical on a day to day basis, far more load lugging room, better for moving people, better on long journeys as not quite so "hang on for dear life and hope the wheels are pointing in the same direction when you land" when pushing it but not quite as much grin factor when you were really pretending to be a rally queen. If you have an S then silly grin factor may not be the biggest tick box for you.

Would have either again - both similar on running costs, but for practical purposes I think the VRS is hard to beat. I actually had the 1.9TDi Superb for 4 months straight after the VRS and could not fault it, also more economical, but only a saloon so not quite as practical in terms of getting stuff in and out of the boot.

PS LadyB here not himself!

 

Registered a couple of days ago.

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Can't post threads to ask about why I can't see FS section, let alone ask why my account hasn't been activated.

 

Thats easy, one usually talks rubbish and the other doesnt