From Golf R to Civic Type R
I bid farewell to my beloved Golf R. Meowta 3.0 was born, and its legacy lives on in a 2024 Honda Civic Type R FL5. While I thoroughly enjoyed my Golf R, I never truly felt a deep connection to the European automotive community as I had anticipated. Japanese cars remained my steadfast first love.
Although I had never owned a Honda before, I had always harbored a desire for one since my high school days when I was captivated by the CRX Si (I must admit, I was a bit of a self-indulgent teenager). As my Golf R approached its eighth birthday, I began contemplating the possibility of replacing it. I sought a vehicle that offered more space for my growing family, sporty performance, and Japanese heritage. Above all else, I yearned to regain my passion for manual transmissions. The Civic Type R seamlessly ticked all these boxes.
Despite my enthusiasm, I had reservations about purchasing one due to its limited availability. Honda had even discontinued the option to order it.
I had made deposits at several dealerships for the Acura equivalent, the Integra Type S. One dealership offered a deal that seemed promising, and with the assistance of Steve, we embarked on a negotiation process. However, the deal fell through, leaving me feeling disappointed and disillusioned with the entire dealership experience.
Just when I thought all hope was lost, my friend’s company, DealerShift, unexpectedly acquired a slightly used Championship White 2024 Civic Type R. Remarkably, it came equipped with some of the modifications I had been planning to make anyway. They offered me a trade-in value that I was pleased with, and they made my dream of owning my first Honda, let alone a Civic Type R in iconic Championship White, a reality.
I firmly believe that this car will be a cherished companion for years to come. I have no intention of selling it. Instead, I envision passing it down to my children, Zoe and Ian, when they grow up, so they can experience the joy of driving a vehicle that holds a special place in my heart. I want to express my deepest gratitude to Kevin and Steve for their unwavering support and assistance in helping me achieve this remarkable dream.
When I acquired the car, it had already undergone some modifications from the previous owner. These included PPF work (which I’m having some parts redone or added by my friend Andy at GPFX Graphics), lowering on Swift Springs, and the addition of OEM components like window visors and rubber floor/trunk mats. Since then, I’ve made a few more modifications. I installed CTS Turbo 20mm spacers to flush out the wheels, changed the stock intake to the PRL Intake for enhanced induction noises and power (which I acquired from the previous owner of my car), on the way is a front lip and a set of wheels from Japan, which should arrive in the fall. The factory shift knob is quite good, but I swapped it for a teardrop-shaped one I bought at Garage Five’s 25th Anniversary event. Interestingly, this knob was intended to be the first mod for the Integra Type S, but since that project fell through, it’s now going into the Type R.
I’ve been asked how I compare the Civic Type R to my old Golf R. The Golf R had a quicker acceleration due to its DSG transmission and AWD. There’s no way I can shift as fast as a DSG transmission. My Golf R had about 310 horsepower, making it definitely quicker in terms of pure acceleration.
The CTR handles better, allowing me to corner at speeds I might be hesitant to in other cars. The suspension is more comfortable on a daily basis. I can retain the stock shocks and struts, along with Swift Springs, to maintain the dampening. On the other hand, I had KW Clubsports suspension on the Golf R, which was set somewhat firm. I did install the Integra Type S suspension module, which added comfort and sport modes, but that was done about three weeks into ownership.
Now, let’s talk about the car’s practicality. It’s my daily driver. The CTR has significantly more interior and storage space compared to the Golf R. The trunk is double the size, so I’m likely to sell the roof box from the Golf R. The back seats also have more legroom, which is great for my two kids who sit in the back.
However, there are a few things I miss from my VW:
Heated seats: The CTR sport seats are fantastic, but creature comforts like heated seats will be missed. They’re also manual-adjusting, unlike the power-adjusting seats on the Golf R.
Rear USB ports and AC vents for the rear passengers: A modern car should have these as standard equipment.
Interior design: Don’t get me wrong, the CTR interior is nice, but the Golf R’s interior design and quality felt a bit more premium.
I’ve had this car for almost two months now, and I’m thoroughly enjoying it. It’s a joy to drive, and my kids love it too (though my son Ian still misses the Golf R because it was blue). It’s an excellent family car with ample space for hauling stuff. I can also have fun with it, taking spirited drives and enjoying its fantastic transmission, which makes it easy to drive even for a mediocre manual transmission driver like myself.
