2017 Sport Touring to CTR?

Hi all,

I'm a happy owner of a sonic gray sport touring hatchback (43k miles). However, I used to have a WRX and currently feeling the itch for something more invigorating and MT. I love the hatch functionality so Si woudn't be as desirable.

Any strong opposition against this besides the big difference in cost and chance of trans/shifting issues?

Also, any tips on finding good prices on new or used would be great. CA asking prices are ridiculous

Thank you!

mtchin said:

Hi all,

I'm a happy owner of a sonic gray sport touring hatchback (43k miles). However, I used to have a WRX and currently feeling the itch for something more invigorating and MT. I love the hatch functionality so Si woudn't be as desirable.

Any strong opposition against this besides the big difference in cost and chance of trans/shifting issues?

Also, any tips on finding good prices on new or used would be great. CA asking prices are ridiculous

Thank you!

Click to expand...

What did you like about the WRX that the Civic Sport currently doesn't give? One of the things another user on these forums has found out is that the WRX is a much easier car to drive over the CTR to the point that if you push the CTR past it's abilities, it will be slower than a WRX. Dead stop pulls, even low speed pulls, have a bit of a learning curve on the CTR which the WRX simply doesn't have because AWD. Once the CTR becomes easy to do pulls with, you're typically well above 50 MPH so the utility of it in everyday driving becomes difficult. Also note that the CTR makes peak torque at about 1k RPM higher than the WRX and Si which actually makes both of those somewhat more playful in their characteristic.

There are some ways to try to mitigate this like Hondata's TCS which is a magical thing that more or less controls wheel spin and makes the car pull nearly at peak without the user having to learn how to modulate the gas pedal.

If you have HondaSensing and want to keep that, definitely go for the 2020 model. If you don't want HondaSensing, you could probably save a few grand and get a 2019. I'd look outside of CA to get the car at a reasonable price and either ship it to your location or go road trip to get it back home. It may also be worth trying to find a used CTR to test drive to get an idea of how you like the car.

Edit: I personally did run into some gearbox issues, but they have seemed to all go away by now. The biggest issue I've ran into is the heat soak that can occur. Simply driving on the expressway (@70-75 MPH) for like 15 minutes is enough to heat soak it and have the car pull boost.

wait for this its the real deal made in the honda factory according to msn

Is your CTR stock? Just curious about the heat soak you mention.

tinyman392 said:

What did you like about the WRX that the Civic Sport currently doesn't give? One of the things another user on these forums has found out is that the WRX is a much easier car to drive over the CTR to the point that if you push the CTR past it's abilities, it will be slower than a WRX. Dead stop pulls, even low speed pulls, have a bit of a learning curve on the CTR which the WRX simply doesn't have because AWD. Once the CTR becomes easy to do pulls with, you're typically well above 50 MPH so the utility of it in everyday driving becomes difficult. Also note that the CTR makes peak torque at about 1k RPM higher than the WRX and Si which actually makes both of those somewhat more playful in their characteristic.

There are some ways to try to mitigate this like Hondata's TCS which is a magical thing that more or less controls wheel spin and makes the car pull nearly at peak without the user having to learn how to modulate the gas pedal.

If you have HondaSensing and want to keep that, definitely go for the 2020 model. If you don't want HondaSensing, you could probably save a few grand and get a 2019. I'd look outside of CA to get the car at a reasonable price and either ship it to your location or go road trip to get it back home. It may also be worth trying to find a used CTR to test drive to get an idea of how you like the car.

Edit: I personally did run into some gearbox issues, but they have seemed to all go away by now. The biggest issue I've ran into is the heat soak that can occur. Simply driving on the expressway (@70-75 MPH) for like 15 minutes is enough to heat soak it and have the car pull boost.

Click to expand...

ExVTEC said:

Is your CTR stock? Just curious about the heat soak you mention.

Click to expand...

Mine is stock and on a steamy east coast Summer day (85*F with like 50% humidity) I can tell you that the car feels slower after a pull or two.

ExVTEC said:

Is your CTR stock? Just curious about the heat soak you mention.

Click to expand...

It is right now. I'm planning on getting an intercooler to help deal with that a bit. I don't track or anything, so I hope that's enough to deal with the issue and make consistent power.

Edit: I'm more or less going to go PRL, but still waiting on 27Won to release details on theirs.

xcivicx said:

wait for this its the real deal made in the honda factory according to msn

Click to expand...

That's been around since early 2018. I don't think it'll actually be mass produced.

Zeffy94 said:

Mine is stock and on a steamy east coast Summer day (85*F with like 50% humidity) I can tell you that the car feels slower after a pull or two.

Click to expand...

I've had issues drafting a pickup on a highway going 50-ish on a sunny day when it was like 40 out. I was like, this car really isn't pulling like it normally does when I finally went to pass him.

tinyman392 said:

What did you like about the WRX that the Civic Sport currently doesn't give? One of the things another user on these forums has found out is that the WRX is a much easier car to drive over the CTR to the point that if you push the CTR past it's abilities, it will be slower than a WRX. Dead stop pulls, even low speed pulls, have a bit of a learning curve on the CTR which the WRX simply doesn't have because AWD. Once the CTR becomes easy to do pulls with, you're typically well above 50 MPH so the utility of it in everyday driving becomes difficult. Also note that the CTR makes peak torque at about 1k RPM higher than the WRX and Si which actually makes both of those somewhat more playful in their characteristic.

There are some ways to try to mitigate this like Hondata's TCS which is a magical thing that more or less controls wheel spin and makes the car pull nearly at peak without the user having to learn how to modulate the gas pedal.

If you have HondaSensing and want to keep that, definitely go for the 2020 model. If you don't want HondaSensing, you could probably save a few grand and get a 2019. I'd look outside of CA to get the car at a reasonable price and either ship it to your location or go road trip to get it back home. It may also be worth trying to find a used CTR to test drive to get an idea of how you like the car.

Edit: I personally did run into some gearbox issues, but they have seemed to all go away by now. The biggest issue I've ran into is the heat soak that can occur. Simply driving on the expressway (@70-75 MPH) for like 15 minutes is enough to heat soak it and have the car pull boost.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the input! Sounds like the CTR has a little learning curve, good to know.

On my WRX I loved the handling and the boost! I did a stage one flash to improve the rev hang and drivability. Overall I just miss having that driving experience.

If I go with the CTR I think I'll try to purchase out of state. I read on some of forums that the quoted online price or through e-mail can be a lot higher and that I need to go in and talk/bargain. However, can you believe one dealership in fremont CA sent me a quote of 60k!!!!! Maybe because it was a sonic grey?! Insane. Got another online quote for 47K that had a few add-ons.

mtchin said:

Thanks for the input! Sounds like the CTR has a little learning curve, good to know.

On my WRX I loved the handling and the boost! I did a stage one flash to improve the rev hang and drivability. Overall I just miss having that driving experience.

If I go with the CTR I think I'll try to purchase out of state. I read on some of forums that the quoted online price or through e-mail can be a lot higher and that I need to go in and talk/bargain. However, can you believe one dealership in fremont CA sent me a quote of 60k!!!!! Maybe because it was a sonic grey?! Insane. Got another online quote for 47K that had a few add-ons.

Click to expand...

Both of those quotes are still pretty bad. Granted you'll have to go out of your way (unless you can find one of the rare dealerships willing to do MSRP), it's easier to get MSRP outside CA. That being said, remember that boost kicks in around 2500-3500 RPM on the CTR over like 1500-2000 RPM on the WRX (if memory serves).

xcivicx said:

wait for this its the real deal made in the honda factory according to msn

Click to expand...

Whaaaaa?! That can't be real. Newborn car seat wouldn't wouldn't do so well in that one lol

tinyman392 said:

I've had issues drafting a pickup on a highway going 50-ish on a sunny day when it was like 40 out. I was like, this car really isn't pulling like it normally does when I finally went to pass him.

Click to expand...

I’ve never paid attention to whether or not the car was struggling in situations like this - maybe I should though. With ambient 40s this car should NOT be heat soaking. I could understand a moist warm day, but not a cool and crisp one.