With that said, coolhandluke requested i post my 2017 CTR Review on here for your perusal. So here goes...
I realized I have to parse the awesome from the most awesome combined Type-R/NSXPO to date...
I'll start with this -> my review of the 2017 Civic Type-R.. a local Chicago Honda dealer had the idea to bring one of these for an arrive and drive experience (off track!) and I'm so glad it was there.
Let's start with the exterior... Massive brembo brake setup, decent tires, a completely packed engine bay, front brake ducts, and a rear diffuser/wing combination to boot.
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When we go inside, one immediately notices, upon sitting down, that the driver can just glide over the seat bolsters and, once in position, doesn't want to leave (nor does he/she while cornering)...
Then, there's the infamous "Type-R" button (mode really...). This button simultaneously stiffens the suspension, adjusts the gated transmission's rev matching, and prepares the turbo and valvetrain for "ludicrous speed"...
Take it from an instructor who beat the piss out of his ITR for two days and then sat in one of these. This showroom stock car would give any TTD car a run for it's money and likely even faster cars...
The best part? You can beat the piss out of the car, have it rev match perfectly on the downshifts, ABS to a stop sign on a WI road that shall remain nameless, and then the car purrs like a kitten as if she's just out to get groceries... And you can actually fit groceries in this car!!! Something that has been lacking in the trackable street cars of late... Something that has kept me firmly seated in my 20 year old relic and unwilling to move to a newer platform due to my inability and lack of funds to trailer my R everywhere..
I may need some more time to think about a purchase because of my current financial situation. You know... House, kiddo in daycare, home renovation on said house, TT regional championship run, lemons prep (more on that later), and helping make the next event even better.
But don't let that stop those of you that are looking for the next evolution of Honda r&d... Yes it's a bit higher than we'd like, cost-wise... But just drive the friggin car! Better yet, bombard your local Honda dealer to bring it to the local track to a nationally recognized DE event like NASA or SCCA. If enough of you do it, then they'll be sure to respond to the community and ensure some future sales.
I'll close by saying, yes the car is beautiful (save maybe that rear end a bit... Only because I'm a coupe guy), yes the car is powerful and houses a LOT of cool performance tech and accoutrements...
I told this dealer rep like I'll tell every other performance brand manager hoping to appeal to the up and coming loyal driver league: "get people out on track"... Either with instructors or HPD factory drivers (or maybe even me, haha!) and perhaps work with lockton affinity insurance just to quell any hesitation.
Trust that myself and the expo planning committees will try to make something like this a part of the next expo event.
And so it begins...
