FN2 Honda Civic Type R Throwback Review: Does It DESERVE The HATE?

The Honda Civic Type R has gone through quite a few generations ranging from the EK9 through to the current one, the FL5. There’s one generation that’s often considered the weakest link – the FN2. Just how bad is it and does it deserve the hate. Well, I’m going to give it the Car Obsession Throwback Review treatment to find out.

The FN2 was quite the departure from the EP3 – long gone was the breadvan shape, in its place was a more rounded, futuristic looking design. Virtually the same engine is to be found under the bonnet only it has more power.

Compared to the EP3, Honda was able to give the FN2 a whopping 1hp extra. I know, they spoilt us, didn’t they? The engine was tweaked to allow VTEC to come in sooner and the exhaust was tuned to give a deeper sound.

This seemed like a step – albeit a small one – in the right direction, but Honda did take a noticeable step backwards when it came to the chassis. Instead of retaining the rear multi-link setup for suspension, a torsion beam was used instead. Good for saving costs, but not so much for driving experience.

As mentioned, the FN2 Civic Type R is powered by 2.0 litre naturally aspirated four cylinder producing 201hp and 193Nm of torque. Work the 6-speed manual gearbox quickly enough and you’ll hit 62mph in 6.6 seconds, and where possible, top out at 146mph.

So what if you’re watching this and thinking about buying your very own FN2? At the of filming you can pick one up for under 4K but what should you look out for? As with any used car, make sure there is a healthy amount of service history, but that’s even more important here.

The K20 engine is a robust unit, but they do like to get through a bit of oil and they are driven by a timing chain, so it’s important the engine is maintained properly.

A crackling noise at idle could be caused by a bad PCV Valve – one way to test is to pinch this hose and if the noise stops, it’s most likely the valve. There shouldn’t be too much to worry about on the interior, but check for bolster wear, and it’s worth noting that the door mirror modules are known to go down.

The 6-speed manual is also a robust unit, but syncro can wear prematurely, causing 3rd gear to feel notchy. A graunching sensation in 2nd gear isn’t uncommon, either. You may find the gearbox whines when you reach the biting point but that it is simply a quirk with the FN2.

The paint used for the FN2 was soft, meaning stone chips were a common issue. Therefore, if you see a car that has been treated to a front end respray that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s been in an accident – although it never hurts to do a car check for peace of mind.

As with a lot of Japanese cars, rust can be an issue with the FN2 – more so on the boot floor, the roof, and in case of pre-facelift cars, the door as well. This is due to seals at the tops f the doors, which were revised for the facelift.

The rear lights can suffer from water ingress, so if the seals look a little green or contaminated, you’ll know moisture has got in there.

Chapters:
0:00 Video Intro
0:26 Channel Intro
0:34 A Tough Act To Follow/FN2 Changes
2:52 Driving Intro/Engine Specs
3:38 My First Impressions/The Ride!
5:34 Handling
5:54 Positive Things About The FN2
7:20 Seats
8:21 This May Offend FN2 Owners...
10:28 Features and Other Versions
11:48 Space and Practicality
12:03 Buying Advice
14:54 What Could Have Been?
15:59 Conclusion

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Music Credit:
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