I have a friend who is thinking of buying a CTR. Can you advise him/his wife why this would be a good buy?

Thanks
Paul.

 

Pluses - Erm.........VTEC, one of the best FWD handling cars on the planet (steering is numb though), loads of space, very easy to tune these beasts and a hondata flash will give you a bigger VTEC powerband then an S2000 and will rev to near the same.

Downsides - Lots of them around, Standard Bridgestone RE tyres are crap, lots of steering racks tend to go (but get replaced easily under warranty), everyone wants to race you.

My CTR was the best hatchback I have ever owned and was a great sandwich car in between 2 S2000's. Performance wise, this will start the usual debate but there is very little in it between a standard CTR and S2k if anything. Spend a grand on the CTR for Hondata, CAI and exahaust and I think it will be dead even.

 

No better hot hatch for the money, I loved mine, it enjoyed seeing >8Krpm every single time I took it out for over 60K miles, with no probs, just uses a bit of oil.

If he wants creature comforts, he'll be disappointed.

12K service intervals, cheap servicing, fast & fun car.
Is he buying a new car or a secondhand one? some CTR parts can be cheap (honda radiator ~120 quid) or expensive (honda cat ~1800+VAT)

Best thing I can suggest is go test drive one back to back with something else he likes.

 

I loved the standard bridgestones on the CTR, for me, it's Toyo proxies T1-S that suck, closely followed by pirelli assymetrico things.

Oh, and my steering rack was done, that bit's true.

 

I love them, if I ever downsize I would not think twice about buying one. The only thin that I dislike about them is the that there are too many chavs now driving them. They have got the same following as Scooby's.

No matter what people say I have raced my friend is his very lightly modified CTR and the difference is so minimal its not even worth comparing. Half a second on a 1/4 mile and virtually nothing when rolling.

IMO the DC5 Integra Type R is a far better car though.

 

My steering rack went after 4 weeks on my 04 but was replaced under warranty. They even brought the guy from Swindon down who does the steering racks on the production line to have a look.

If I got bored of the S tomorrow and wanted something a bit cheaper then I would definately get another CTR again without a doubt. The only aspect I missed about the S2000 was the roof down posing bit.

 

4 weeks !!! mine lasted over 2.5 years

 

Goodpoints - hmmm you can fit plenty of Hovis in them, engine, gearbox, bang for your buck, handling

Badpoints - numb/vague steering, OEM tyres=pish, wheelspin, twitchy rear end on the limit, MPV looks, a gearstick where the radio should be, saxo boys next purchase

 

argep:
nearly forgot, it's very hard to drive in the snow, this may/not be a concern to your friend.
A BMW 330 with low profile tyres could make it up a teeny snowy slope I had to get 3 people to help me up.
I was okay in it apart from that, but my g/f took her CTR off road with ease. (and blamed the ABS)

 

Pie and chips did you have a pre 04 ???

I never found the MY04 twitchy on the limit. I found it was more a case of the further you push it over the limit with the tyres begging and screaming for mercy, smoke pouring out, you just dialled in more and more comical amounts of understeer.

Loads of people tend to get caught out in the CTR by panicing and lifting off the throttle and coaxing oversteer out of it and then accuse it of being tail happy.

Moff you are right with the teg but Honda will never bring it over here officially as it will kill the very strong CTR sales. Plus you can't get as much bread in a teg