Why did you buy your Type-R?

*Note:

Editing the pool went horribly wrong
The first version was: Considering your current experience with the car, would you buy it again? [Yes/No]
The second was: What convinced you to buy a Honda? [List of reasons]

Now it is a mess. Still, feel free to answer
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Hi,

I'm Marcin from Poland, and I come to your forum seeking some help/advice. For the last couple of months I have been looking for a 2nd car, I already have a daily (Subaru Forester XT from 2006) which I will keep. The 2nd car is primary for fun, but it also should be capable of being used instead of the FXT from time to time (when it's not avaialble).
After long search, digging through multiple tech specifications and watching hours of youtube material the list is now narrowed to just 2 cars:
Honda Type-R
WRX STI

I'm 6,2' - a lot of other sports cars had to be 'abandoned' simply because I could not get the right, comfortable position behind the steering wheel, there were also 2 other cars: Focus RS - it's nearly impossible to get a test drive where I live + there are some nasty engine and transmission issues. Golf R - just meh... I tried it, sat inside, no smile on my face.

I have not test driven the Type-R yet (will happen within net 2-3 weeks). I know all the technical details and general praise the car is getting on the reviews. STI is slower on track, less sophisticated (except drivetrain), has very avarage interior and the engine is not as reliable (there are known issues with the 2.5T boxer, on the + side, servicing it is easy where I live). It's a technological dinosaur, with only minor changes intead of 'leaps' being done to it from generation to generation. The advantages for me are: AWD (quite often we have some really nasty weather where I live), engine sound, the fact it's very mechanical and steering sense is sublime (hydraulic power assist, not electric). Unlike the Type-R, I have actually test driven the STI and was very happy with it. Also aftermarket support for Subies is great where I live, so once the warranty is over, I have many options to service my car, as I plan to keep it for 6-7 years.

At this point I still don't know which car should I get and this is where I seek your help. I can assume at least some of you had some doubts and considered alternative models prior to buying the Type-R - my question to you is: what was the reason you decided for Honda? What convinced you to make this decision?

I expect all type of answers, rational, not-rational, finance driven, test driven. I have no means of starting any flame war/trolling etc. This is not about which car is better, just what do you like most about your Type-R (or dislike if there are such things) that you didn't find anywhere else.

I have a very pragmatic approach to my car buying. Had my Lexus' transmission been working properly i wouldnt have been in the car market in literal need for a car.

I decided to buy new (after buying used all my life) for the first time with the type R, because if I'm going to buy new I'm going to buy something special.

Other factors that won me over:
1. Honda reliability. With the exception of the Lexus I've owned/driven 3 hondas prior. This is my first turbo though.
2. Critic reviews. I wanted to know what a top 10 car/editors choice car was like.
3. Practicality. I have a 60+ lb german shepherd/cattle dog mix. Instead of putting him in a crate in the back seat of a sedan he can take up the entire hatch area for himself.
4. Multi purpose: dog transport, autocross/track beast, canyon carver, daily driver.
5. MT reliability.

Personally if i had to choose between STI and CTR, i'd choose CTR. CTR's platform is just plain newer, with the 2.0T showing a lot of potential. the STI is so dated, and it still has its share of reliability problems. STIs are also nothing special...at least for now, the CTR is special/unique.

There were two reasons I bought my Type R... one which was the highest priority was that I was tired of driving an automatic. I wanted to learn how to drive a manual transmission. The second reason was I wanted a fast, fun and daily drivable car that I could rip down back roads. I also wanted something that was unique and didn’t blend into traffic. I didn’t want to spend anything above $40K if possible either.

Based on those three things I had three choices... the Type R, the WRX STi and Focus RS. The Focus got eliminated quickly when I read that the ride quality was punishing and of the whole head gasket issue. So that left the Rex and R. I love Subaru so I thought the STi may have been it but the price was already a bit too high for me, not to mention there was a bit less utility. After doing lots of research I narrowed it down to a few things - one, perceived reliability, two, how easy the transmission was for a beginner, and three, the price. The Type R became the clear choice after a bit more research and I absolutely love my car. Yeah the manual transmission has not been at all smooth but 3 weeks or so into my ownership I’m getting the hang of it, and I am loving it more and more when I see how hard a I can push it.

If the STi was still a hatchback I may have defected because I like hatches more than sedans personally, not to mention I love the look of the 5-door Impreza. The STi has a bit more in the creature comfort department and has the bonus of Subaru’s wicked AWD System... but it’s a sedan and to be honest the Honda just get right to me.

We needed a different car for One Lap of America. We have a modified GT3 that we were going to take. But the Porsche Recaro seats in the GT3 are a fixed back, and they do not tilt or recline. Also, there is no room for a Spare tire(we would actually need two for this event, as it has staggered wheel sizes). And, it barely had any room for clothes also. This is a week long, 3400 mile trip, approx 59 hours on the road, after conducting track events during the day. So, most of our sleeping that week will be in the car.
So, in light of our concerns, and the Type R appeared. It was a no-brainer.
I am not sure that the CTR can get to our GT3 power levels easily, but it is getting close after a tune. However, the CTR cannot touch the blissful sound of a naturally aspirated, flat six roar, of our GT3. But the chassis of the FK8, is very capable and the FK8 isn't as prone to oversteer as the GT3 is. She is very temperamental, and can swing her fat ass around and bite you at any time.....

Yes and no, they hype pushed the car to exclusive status making purchasing a hassle.
As for what I was looking into another vehicle I was happy but dissapointed at certain features not offered in the US market.
This is my Daily Driver and Yes I do track it at the same time.

Positive:
Good Daily Driver
Honda Reliability
Comfortable Seats with versatility to grab groceries.
Ride quality is the best in its class
Powerband is great from the low-midrange.

Cons:
Parking assist, Heated/Folding mirrors, Heated steering wheel
2nd gear issues. The other honda's I've had never had an issue unless I added more power.
Infotainment system is laggy.
No exhaust note, it is quiet on a stock exhaust.
No spare tire

Personally, I've been building, modding and racing Hondas for nearly half my life, so the opportunity to get my hands on the Type R was just a natural progression for me.

I had an 07 FG2 for 10 years that I had no intention of replacing, until I was T-boned by a guy pulling out of a parking lot in a hurry.

If my car hadn't been totaled I might not have bought the R, just because I loved my 07, and I would have missed out on an amazing machine.

My $0.02 on the Type R is this: don't trust the spec sheets, the specs don't do this car justice. You absolutely have to ride in or drive one to understand how much car you get for the money. Many people that have ridden in mine or the few that have driven it have asked why Honda didn't charge more for it.

The specs don't tell you how good this car drives. Everybody that rides in my car is shocked by the mechanical grip and power it has.

Coming from a CR-Z, I bought the Type R partly because my wife wanted me to have more than two seats. Both her and I are into autocrossing and racing and have been Honda fans for years. Although most people cross shop the Type R with the RS, Golf R, STI, etc., I was considering the TLX A-SPEC. The outdated interior on the Acura combined with the higher upfront cost really dissuaded me and since I was giving up my CR-Z, I didn't want to be without a car to Autocross/track.

I have loved every minute of driving the Type R so far. I'm a little concerned about the 2nd gear issues, but I haven't had a grind yet. Mine was a little rough feeling going into 2nd for the first 500 miles, but that has gone away and it feels about the same as all the other gears.

My only big complaints are related to the Infotainment system; (a minor gripe is how cheap the steering wheel buttons feel). The infotainment system is a typical android hodgepodge of sluggish crap. Having a 2 second delay to bring up climate control is insane. I think those controls should be physical anyway, but if they have to be touch screen controlled, that interface element better be in cache so it can appear instantly. The maze of settings menus makes no sense. Switching between audio sources, car play, and navigation is cumbersome and the interface is inconsistent. The sound quality is really disappointing to me considering how much power the system has and the number of speakers. I would gladly trade two of the rear speakers for some higher quality tweeters in the front. Can the stock tweeters actually play frequencies above 12 kHz? Every Honda I've been in after my 2001 Accord LX has terrible speaker quality. I'm hoping a simple swap of the tweeters clears up the sound a bit. I currently have the treble setting all the way up and it just makes all the wrong frequencies louder but it still lacks the crisp highs I've grown accustom to with my home audio equipment. Sorry for the audio rant...it just feels like another $100 invested by Honda in higher quality speakers is warranted considering the car is $35k.

Bought it for the following reasons:

1. I've always wanted a CTR of my own
2. All but one of my cars have been Honda
3. Reliability
4. To have a fun car with the ability to tone it down for commute (MPG)

Reason I bought mine
1. Have had all hondas and been impressed.
2.Have a built LSD Ep3 Type R Converted. Still very clean and very 9k revved fun. But not something a senior employee gets props for
3. Always wanted a Type R but just couldn't convince myself to get one until this technology bad ass car showed Honda IS BACK
4.Love N/A cars but had the turbo itch
5. A family car that can be used for track is unheard of

I could go on about how great this car is, but to be honest, for me it was because the stock and housing markets are so hot that I had to get rid of cash fast before I would be targeted by the Internal Revenue Service . . . . . hence, the ADM.

Now, my wallet feels lighter and more nimble, just like my car. Highly recommended.

Wow, thank you all for the generous input on the matter so far So far I think I'm getting the general picture - it seems that this car is really practical, reliable AND capable performance wise + delivers a lot of fun. Seems like a no-brainer .
Do you miss the classic handbrake? Nobody mentioned it, so I just assume the e-brake is something that you can get used to very easily.
I wait for the test drive impatiently, excited but also a bit worried - the 20" wheels don't seem to have a lot of rubber on the side - how the alloys and the suspension cope with potholes? It must be a blast on the track, but some of the B-roads here where I live are not so nice... It's not tragic (I've never actually damaged any of my cars or blown a tire because of road condition) but so far I've driven on 17" 215/55 max and the suspension in the Forester is very soft at the same time... Might turn out that my old Forester will remain to be the fastest car in such conditions

I've checked the One Lap of Amercia... I so envy you for having such an awesome event!

I like the way the e-brake looks, but that's the only thing I like about it. The fact that you have to press the brake pedal to release it really annoys me. It feels like driving an automatic that you have to press the brake to get it into gear. I know it will automatically release if you get in and put on your seatbelt, but I don't always do that before I want the car to move. The most annoying thing about it is (at least on my R) you have to press the pedal very firmly to get the e-brake to turn off. Almost every time I get in the car and press the brake, it won't deactivate until I press harder.

Whenever I give the car gas and ease the clutch into the biting point the E-brake disengages so long as my seat belt is on. What I have noticed is that it doesn’t seem to disengage automatically when you are in reverse- I have had a couple of instances where I am expecting the car to move but I then notice the e brake is on.

I actually don’t mind the electronic parking brake though - whenever I drive my dad’s ILX because of snow, I have to put considerable amount of force to release his handbrake if it’s remotely freezing outside. It feels like the thing is frozen into place. With my car, I don’t have to worry about that - just push and pull!

Needed a commuter car and I grew up during the 90s when imports where popular.

Always loved the NSX and the ITR. Had a 5th gen prelude and this car is nostalgic for me. But the best part is it’s all been sorted out by an oem manufacturer so everything just works.

All the cool kids are doing it.