20 Oct 06
Sometimes you'll tuck into the bread and olives in a Lebanese restaurant so heartily that you've reached a state of contentment long before the meat arrives. That may turn out to be the case with the Type-S and Type-R versions of the Swindon-built Honda Civic.
The hotter and more extreme Type-R goes on sale in March but two months before then we'll get this, the Type-S, which is cheaper to buy, cheaper to run - and still very tasty.
Unlike the previous-generation Civic, this time around there won't be a 'regular' three-door: in the UK, they'll all be Rs or Ss. Both models are also available in GT spec, which adds a glass roof, cruise control, dual-zone climate control, foglights, automatic lights and wipers, and electronically folding mirrors. Standard spec involves air con, 17" alloys, a single CD player, alloy pedals and leather on the steering wheel. Options for both include 18" alloys and sat nav.
The familiar five-door body has always looked a lot like a three-door, with its swoopy tail and its rear door handles tucked neatly away. But you can tell the real three-door by the kicked-up design of its rear windows, larger doors, side skirts and deeper front air intake.
The Type-S has ventilated front brake discs and, although it keeps the five-door's MacPherson stut front and torsion beam rear suspension, the spring and damper settings have been revised and the rear track is 20mm wider. These are the changes that really make a difference on the road. It feels slightly firmer, slightly better connected to the road and generally more engaged with the driver. Like the five-door, the steering is on the heavy side, with perhaps too much of a tendency for the steering wheel to want to return to the straight-ahead position, but it's nothing that will spoil your fun on a twisty lane.
