Civic Type R v\'s Impreza WRX
 

Well, I’ve had about as much as I can take of the company Mondeo – as decent a car as it is, it just doesn’t cut the mustard.

So the plan is to buy a car in the next month or so, however I’m well and truly stuck between the choice of a Civic Type R and an Impreza WRX. The budget is £10.5k to £11k, which is well within the range for both to purchase a two year old car, with average mileage.

In respect of servicing and running costs, again I believe they are comparable. One shock was the cost of insurance. With Direct Line, the difference between the two is less than a £5er for a fully comp at about £580 – not bad for a 26yo male!!!

I have driven the Type R and found it mightily impressive. Quite violent when thrashing it, but so soft that my Granny could potter about the town in it (not that she would). I’ve never driven the WRX but have been told it is similar, if a bit harsher on fuel – but fuel is not in the equation!

So, my question is this – Which is the better all round car to live with, have fun with and own?

Obviously, I’m looking for answers from those with experience of both – but hey, if you fancy adding your comment – go for it!

Cheers!

bullitt

4WD for me. Scoob

Cant speak for the Type R but had a WRX a few years ago. The thing was Shocking on petrol running the Ark Royal would have been cheaper

Nearly bougt a Type-R last year, but plumbed for a Celica VVTi instead as couldn't find the Honda in the same condition/cost £10k and prefer the looks of the Toyota (but no-where near as fast). I drive fast and would prefer the Type-R for overall reliability and running costs and intend on trading up to one next year for work (currently maza 323 sport), and I've a mate who tunes/services the scooby's. He currently working on 3ltr version tuned to about 500bhp !!!

Andy

I looked at the same cars 2 years ago and found Civic to be a great car when in the mood but not so great when wanting to pootle, plus we really needed a larger car. Scoob was lovelly to drive but not as quick as I was expecting, servicing costs and fuel consumption put me off in the end.
I ended up with a Skoda Octavia vRS in the end, same size as a scooby so practical, exciting to drive (180bhp as standard, £500 remap takes it to around 220bhp which suprises a few scooby owners :devil: ) running costs are cheap as servicing is on variable like most of the VAG group cars so it had 1 £200 service in 2 years 20,000 miles.
If your worried about the Skoda badge don't, Milotec do a replacement grill and different badges if you need to replace them and anyway anybody who knows about cars also knows that you just brought a Audi with a different badge on it for a lot less money so who has the last laugh :D

Darren

If you can find one cheap enough, go for the Scoob. The Civics, in my opinion, are costing too much second hand. Too many chavs want them.

To be honest, if you have to ask you don't want either of them. Most people naturally fall into one camp or the other. Me, I'm a Scoob fan.

The Police are running these as unmarked's down this way, so they must be pretty quick. They also don't draw attention like the WRX or Type-R.

Got pulled over by a silver one a couple of weeks back.

Scoob has gone a bit chav'ish IMO so I'd go with the Type R. Although my Type R of choice would be a DC5 but is probably over your budget.

m8 had the type R (new) but sold it due to interior build quality, instrument panel kept tizzing and driving him nuts. So he sold it a bought a second hand RS Focus, he's done a few engine management mods to it and loves it.:)

Not sure about the colour, but can vouch for the condition as it's a friends garage and I've seen the car, he's also got a Civic, Scooby and a Focus RS :D
vRS

Darren

PS quite a few forces use Octy's instead of Scooby now :P
PPS I miss my vRS can you tell?
PPPS If you wan't to know anything about them pop over to www.briskoda.net, sort of a DSC for Skoda's :lol:

Current got a Civic Type R, had one for 3 years from new, never missed a beat, had in Integra Type R before that, if you want reliability etc it's got to be Honda, the Civic isn't a patch on the Integra for sheer fun, but the Civic gives you a good all round compromise good round town and fast when needed, I'm getting around 35mpg on a good run, but probably be selling this soon to buy a van :(

I know a couple of guys who've had various scoobies, damn good cars, but servicing a running costs are sky high, you're talking 500 quid per service on one of those and probably 20mpg, whereas my last service 3 yr/36,000 mile plus MOT was £230!

Civic isn't great on front tyres (if pushed) saying that a scooby will be chewing through all 4 I guess.

Good thing for me is that prices have stayed fairly high due to being the hatch to have for a few years, whereas scoobies seem to have dropped as new models etc come out at the bat of an eyelid.

Had a honda coupe for 12 months, 2.2vtec. Like JPM says, they never miss a beat. As Clarkson said on FlopGear, out of the two million or so made, not one of the vtecs has ever failed.
Civic R would be my choice.

They use them here in the midlands too. Saw a guy get pulled by one on the M6 nr Corly services.

I'm with JPM on this, civic is great but the integra is just superb if a little old hat now, but certainly rare and hard to find a minter un abused.
what about the focus RS or ever a ST170 ? still think they are stunning looking cars and not too chavish yet

If I could get my hands on a good Integra Type R, I would buy it! It's basically a road legal race car. The DC5 would be the one to gor for, if I had the extra cash - but no!

I'm not a fan of the Focus RS, or the ST. I've driven both and you don't feel part of the car, more a passenger. An Escort Cosworth is on the other hand a different story!

The vRS has now been mentioned a couple of times to me, so I think a blast in one has to be organised.

The Civic is still out in front.

Cheers!

There is of course the new Integra :devil:
http://www.itr-dc5.co.uk/index.php ;)

Darren

Next door neighbour imported a DC5 himself not so long back. Did the SVA etc himself without too much hassle. Didn't cost much more than you're looking to spend.

Must admit I'm struggling to decide between either a 350Z or maybe the later Integra on an import, I did ask Honda when I was about to buy my Civic if they would service the newer Integra, and back then it wasn't an issue.

Although I'm am being pressured into a van by you know who.

here you go Jon

Nah... not bling enough for me, and too big, if I go down the van route it's going to be small and useable every day and in place of a car, so either a tricked up Vito or new 174Bhp Transporter, alloys, lowered, pimp tints, hopefully black with a nice red stripe down the side... SUCKA!:lol:

just going the other way - prestige to mondeo!!

Having had a decent use of a new VRs, highly recomended!! Still some snob factor involved, but if you can get past that its a killer car for the cash. Also, there should be a few around. The only thing is the new one is due in the next year or so, therefore residuals could be whacked....


what about an evo?

350z - had one for a bit and wasnt impressed! Uncomfortable, loves fuel! and only drinks 98 octane (according to the handbook) - so BP will be your best friend! To me it drives like a two stroke - scream the tits off it if you want any excitement

Evo's aren't as practical as a scooby or civic though, running costs are so high it's scary, service every 4500 miles, at roughly 500 quid! eats tyres and insurance group 20

I never thought I'd end up with van envy! But I'd like a newer van like that transit :D

Oh dear ....

New vRS will be launched in September, as for residuals they have already been hit by the new Octy anyway a new vRS can be had for £13.5k, was a £16k car 2 years ago.

Darren

van badge snobbery

I bought a second hand MY03 WRX two months ago (a black one, very discrete....) and so far i'm pleased with it. Never rode a Civic, so i can't compare them.
Just note that the WRX "drinks" a lot of fuel, but if fuel is not part of the equation....