The Honda Civic Type R (FD2R)

Before I commence, I would like to comment that I grew up with Civics, as my Dad was a loyal supporter of Hondas from the very day I was born. So this encounter with an FD2R holds something extremely special for me.

The 15-minute joy ride in this 4 door JDM Civic Type R came as an impromptu surprise. Just a Whatsapp message and I’m standing within touching distance 20 minutes later, in front of one of the cars that has been bugging me for months, in a good way of course. Then I was handled the key to have a go in it for 3 minutes. Did it level up to my anticipation? Nothing beats a hands-on feel and I’m glad to share them with you.

Once settled into the OEM bucket seats, two items that you notice in front of you are a huge digital tachometer and a needle underneath it that has the ability to sweep clockwise right till the magical 9000 redline, around the Type R insignia. Plain, simple, straight to the point. That’s how I like it. It’s an occasion, a point in time where you wonder what’s in store for you with just a simple prod of the right pedal.

 

I revved it to 2500rpm, awakening the Toda Racing muffler in humble fashion. It didn’t sound enough to tickle the senses, until I mention that my foot was just twitching on the pedal. In stepped my left foot to depress the mightily heavy aftermarket clutch that produces a clicking sound with every downward action. It was extremely challenging to modulate, even with my attempt to feather the pedal with supreme grace. From then on, I know that this is the car that knows how to excite, build up to occasions and satisfy purists. It didn’t disappoint.

The 1 Series M Coupe, as mentioned in my previous post a couple of months back, thought me that the usage of a stick shift brings back the fundamental joy of driving. This Type R is beginning to relive that moment, and yes, it raises the bar with its pin sharp throttle response, all thanks to its venerable 2 liters of naturally aspirated bulletproof machinery, that churns out power in a blink of an eye. You could feel it respond to your senses with any clutch or accelerator movement, and this is what the Type R has always been about.

That’s before I touch on the chassis that talks and communicate with you, however cliché it may sound. It challenges you to push it through tight corners, and never hold back because you know that it can handle turns with gusto due to the all-important Limited Slip Differential. (Did I mention that the turning radius is huge for a FWD due to the LSD?) Don’t neglect the capable OEM suspension that act like anchors, pinning all fours down like huge immovable boulders not wanting to drift. It’s that grippy and stable, and hugely impressive for a FF configuration.

 

It sounds ridiculous comparing the 1 Series M Coupe with the FD2R, but that is how highly I rate the Type R. It might be severely down on outright performance, but soon enough you’ll realize that performance numbers has no association with driving sensation whatsoever, and the FD2R is a classic example. 220bhp vs 345bhp? No way can it be as fun, you might wonder. Try it, ditch the stereotypes, and enjoy JDM brilliance. Honda’s brilliance to be exact.

I would like to thank Leroy, the owner, for letting me have a go in his car. =)

Mk1 Porsche 911 GT3 (997) - The Purists' Choice. (Interior)

Had an extremely rare opportunity to snap a couple of shots of the Porsche 911 GT3 (997). Was thankful for the weather to hold up in this monsoon season. Before I continue with showing you guys pictures taken at the Kallang Leisure Park Carpark, I would like to thank Desmond, the owner, for spending time off his hectic schedule to accommodate this session.

I'll start off with the interior bits, before zooming out to the wonderfully crafted race-inspired Porsche design in the next post.

Tyre pressure parameters laid out for simple reference

The magical figures that only Porsche engineers can scale down

No fanciful markings signalling serious intentions for purists

 

A peek into the driver's cockpit reveals a chilli-red seat belt

It's a rather special feeling to be in the driver's seat ...

... with the key just within a hand's reach, ...

... and that I am just a clockwise swipe away from aural nirvana ...

... when the clock struck 12

The knob that made the motoring world shiver in delight till today ...

Water temperatures were in the perfect range ...

... with coolant mixtures in the appropriate level ...

... and we know that these vital fluids will be well taken care of...

... under the tender loving care of Exquisite Marques

Over-sized filter and intake to feed air into the power hungry Boxer 6

Even the latch seems as though they were freshly lubricated

The hidden Boxer 6 lying low to provide optimum Center of Gravity ...

... and to hunker down those busy rear wheels during rapid acceleration

... in a car that deserves special attention

The steering felt "M" thick ...

... and generous alcantara leather pampers both driver the passenger

Race inspired looks even look plush without the optional roll cage

A second look reminds me that this Autobahn stormer means serious business

A lightened door keeps weight to a minimum

I'll leave you with the carefully sculpted seats that provide perfect lateral support

Now that you have an idea of how the GT3 looks like from the inside, it's time to feast your eyes onto the exterior in the next blog entry. Stay tuned! =)

S-line modifications

Supercar Slayer (Part 1)

I can go on and on about this JDM-inspired Evo X, but I'll let you decide if this is one of the most desirable JDM machine you've ever seen. For me, this blue banzai ranks high up in my top ten list.
















The 4B11 heartbeat from this version replaces the highly acclaimed and award winning 4G63 powerplant in previous Evos. Although this engine is not quite proven to handle immense torque figures similar to its predecessor, we are confident that Mitsubishi engineers have crafted this "Japanese generator" with tunability as one of their priorities.
















The owner of this car opted to replace the stock rubber inter-cooler pipings, so that the pipes will be able to withstand high amount of air pressure running through these well engineered Injen pipings. Most importantly, changing to aftermarket pipings will prevent pipe expansion due to the inflated rubber hoses. Boost will then be felt earlier during part and full throttle as air will be fed into the TD05 turbo at a much faster and uninterrupted manner.











What better way to leave your car in the hands of this well known Singaporean JDM tuner, Lim Tan Motors. Having splurged a bomb on his prized asset, there is no way that the owner will leave his mode of transport under the care of any other workshops.
















OEM seats are made by Recaro and they have really lived up to their reputation for making high quality bucket seats. A mix of Alcantara leather and full leather add a unique touch to the Evo's cabin. The well bolstered lumbar support is much more comfortable than others, unlike the Bride Low Max, and you won't be embarrassed to let your other half have a seat in the front passenger side, as the ride will not be as "bone shattering" as it seems, unless you tinker with suspension mods. Nevertheless, don't expect the seats to be entirely welcomed by older passengers.
















Buttons on the steering wheel indicate the amount of work placed by Mitsubishi to perfect the driving experience of every Evo driver. You can select various driving modes at your "thumb-tips" with ease.
















Huge improvements have been made in the center console design. Over and above other visual enhancements like carbon trimmings, a leather wrapped gear lever adds a superior "German" feel to this cabin. The owner has also replaced the OEM leather gearknob with a multicolour-coated metallic knob to dress up an otherwise dark cabin. Then again, why nit pick on the interior quality when all we need is a clear glass in front of the driver to attack open avenues?














The in-built gauges on the passenger side are extremely tidy. We've seen plenty of rides with gauges mounted in consoles and the A pillar, but none will come close to this when we want our modified rides to be neat, but with a subtle touch of aggression. The owner has also placed a Defi boost meter on the A pillar, to minimize eye movement when boosting at break neck speeds.
















Friends and family members can't call you selfish when you are holding ownership of a proper 4 door saloon. Finding relaxation in the car during a journey in tight and congested cities is another question altogether. I predict them leaving with faces similar to those of the "Angry Bird" game. Treat it like a two door, brothers, and save yourself from rear cabin "noises" and drop in performance due to the weight increase, factors which will hamper your fun time in this "passenger-unfriendly" machine.


We have seen the interior, so stay tuned to see how this blue monster turn heads with its exterior aesthetic modifications in my next part. =)