2002-2004 Honda Civic Type-R

Pros :
- Aggressive looks.
- Seats four full-size adults.
- Lots of high-revving power.
- Excellent build quality.
- Novelty and practicality of high-mounted gear shifter.

Cons :
- Some say it looks like a minivan.
- Rear seat entry and exit is a pain.
- Very short on torque.
- Somewhat harsh ride, with wind and tire noise.
- Could have benefitted from double wishbones on all fours.

Interior :

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Press Coverage :
The current second generation Honda Civic Type-R is built at Honda's Swindon factory in the United Kingdom, and exported to other countries, including Japan. It is the same factory that builds the Civic Si.
The front-wheel-drive Type-R Civic only comes in three-door hatchback form, same as the Si, but the Type-R has stiffer body with front and rear bracing struts, and comes standard with a complete "ground effects" kit, rear spoiler, mesh grille, lower suspension and 17 inch wheels. The interior is fitted with Alcantara-trimmed sports seats, a metallic-trim center console and a rally-style six-speed manual shifter. Luxuries are kept at a minimum, with only power windows, remote power door locks and a CD player. No GPS navigation, no heated seats and no other such niceties are offered, not even as options.
The Type-R is powered by the new i-VTEC 4 cylinder engine, similar to the 200 hp Acura RSX Type-S engine, but different from the 160 hp Civic Si powerplant. The i-VTEC unit provides for smoother power delivery, unlike older VTEC engines which gave a sudden boost at a certain rpm. Like all Honda engines, the Type-R's 197 hp engine provides most of its power in the higher rev range and is characteristically short on torque, with a peak torque figure of only 145 lb-ft, with barely anything available in the lower rev range. The six-speed close-ratio gearbox handles the power delivery. The car is built on a modified version of the current four-door Civic, meaning MacPherson strut suspension up front and double wishbones at the rear. The change from four-wheel double wishbones has noticeably hurt the handling dynamics of the Civic sedan, but it is less apparent in the highly-tuned Type-R. Large four-wheel disc brakes, vented at the front, offer decent braking performance, with ABS and EBD (Electronic Brake force Distribution) being standard features. The 17 inch alloy wheels are wrapped with ultra low profile 205/45R17 tyres.
The Civic Type-R has been on sale in Europe, Japan and some Middle Eastern countries for more than a year now. Rumor has it that the car will be offered in the Fall of 2003 as a 2004 model, although American Honda has been tight-lipped about any such plans.
ModernRacer.com

I'm not for one minute disputing that the acclaim the car has received for its chassis. It is a fine piece of work. With a wheel at each corner, a rigid bodyshell and some very sorted damping, the Type R handles superbly. Its steering is direct and at times feels deceptively quicker than the 2.7 lock to lock turns may suggest. Cross country the setup delights. The car feels very planted and it does remind the cynical amongst us that you can have fun with front wheel drive.
The interior works well with good ergonomics and extremely supportive seats although the raked windscreen and seating position did make me feel like I was driving a Mercedes Benz A Class. Interior space is generous. The Civic can be a surprisingly harsh environment though. It's tempting to think that most modern cars are much of a muchness when it comes to interior refinement these days but it's certainly not the case. Driving at speed in the Type R does highlight a level of wind and tyre noise which is surprisingly intrusive for a modern car. Shouting at my passenger is a pastime I prefer to reserve for convertibles or arguments.
Pistonheads.com

The R's i-VTEC four seems initially unremarkable--just another refined Japanese lump with feeble low-end torque (145 Ib-ft at a high 5900 rpm). Real performance always seems a downshift away in most real-life conditions. What it likes is revs--and lots of them. Power begins to pick up at 5500 rpm, and from 6000 to the eight-grand redline, you're flying, reeling in the horizon at a rate that would've embarrassed most multicylindered exotica not many years ago--delivered with a raw, visceral yowl. Having six tightly spaced gears helps, too.
Like the engine, the chassis responds best to rough treatment rather than timidity. Somewhat lifeless and synthetic at low speeds, the electrically powered steering gives a more realistic impression of what the front wheels are doing the faster you go. Wimp out, and all you'll get is understeer. The roll-free poise and magnetic grip are there to be explored and exploited, with no traction control to curb your excesses or smooth over your mistakes.
Motortrend.com

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History:
1998-2001 Honda Civic Type-R
1,595 cc / 185 hp / 130 lb-ft / 2310 lbs / 0-60 mph 6.8 sec.