Nikita Ind would you rather be losing energy and therefore speed from dampening? Race cars ride stiff for a reason and no one hops in one expecting luxury.
TheDashACorner So, why would anyone by fugly pseudo sport car instead of real sport car? For this amount of money you could buy Subaru BRZ or its Toyota sibling
The Leon Cupra is impressive and I think people are realizing how good it is, specially considering it's price. On track it was also faster than Golf R that has more power and AWD. That chassis must be spot on to offer such a prefect handling.
bezor Ta Depends what track. On a mickey mouse track like this where it can jump curbs thanks to massey fergusson ride height and more squidgy dampers then yes - it can go well. To be honest I don't think any of them are slow enough for the pace to be a decider. The biggest problem I have with any of them is the looks. The seat just looks like any other which is ok if you have 9 points on your license but boring to everyone else. On the other hand the civic is so far over the top it looks like a kid drew it. None of the current hot hatches seem to get that different but not offensive recipe. They're all trying too hard to be under the radar or shout look at me.
Stanley Park It's the same size bodyshell... even the chassis code is the same as the previous model :) Strangely the wagon has the same chassis code too.... (FK2....)
It's got electrohydraulic dampers. Why does it require coilovers? It seems to be doing fine without it. I'm not saying that it has the ultimate suspension but that is probably overkill.
But they have though. A hot hatch is supposed to do everything well. You can see in the video just how stiff the setup is and that's on the track!!! It would be ridiculous on the road, where it's going to spend 99% of its time.
That moment when you realise the new civic type r is as fast as a 355 HP, 4wd, dct A45 amg around this track and only 0.1 second slower than a 315 HP mid engined, 100k dollar boxster s! This hatch is something else!
stoppsi thankfully we all don't have the same taste. I think the Civic looks mean and hot as a hot hatch should as does the Mégane but the seat looks just plain like a normal seat and nothing hot hatch about it except obviously the performance, but I would want some sizzle with my hot hatch.
"Megane has brake fade" Me: Dont go spent 500 bucks and fix it in 20 mins. Fk it just race it and be happy with 0.8 seconds behind cars it should beat.
The Mégane RS is by far the best FWD Hot Hatch money can buy. I think there was something wrong with t here, because i've never seen the Seat beat it. Even if it does lose here, let's not forget that the Mégane came out back in 2008. The Mégane sounds way better than the others, with its cool induction noise and the Akra exhaust you can get. It has the best chassis, the best suspension setup, and offers the best drive quality, in terms of pleasure. It doesn't look as normal as the Seat, and as weird as the Type R. Its transmission is a very nice unit, and the engine is a beast, even if its so old. Don't get me wrong the Type R is a fantastic car, and so is the Seat, but the Mégane RS is just over them imo. I hope the Mégane 4 RS will shit on the Civic's "record" (not official), and will be even better. Because then, both Honda and Seat will have to make their cars even faster and better :D
I'm the proud owner of a 64 plate Cupra 280, I have recently test driven the Type R...now, yes the Type R, is a little quicker, but the ride is brutal, around town its unforgiving, as it wants to be driven hard all the time, while the Cupra does both with ease...one thing I would point out with this video....just review the drive with the Cupra and comfort level in drivers seat, then look at the way the driver gets thrown around in the Type R....Cupra all the way for me and looking forward to the Cupra R in 2016, but SEAT will have to something really special to improve on the 280.....
I was more impressed by the Seat. For coming so close against this ring purpose built Civic. I wonder if the Civic back spoiler actually served its purpose on this track Auto Express drove those cars. Sometimes these wings/spoilers can actually reduce the speed.
Wow, a 310 HP Honda faster than a 280 HP Seat and a 275 HP Renault, how surprising... Please put those mighty Michelin PSC 2 tyres on the Renault and the Seat to get a true winner.
Auto Express A question from driver. As you test these cars on a track,do you have any statistics of how many people who actually buy these will use them on track,or if they even take it there,how many days per year that would be? Thank you!
David Cabañas Martinez i would guess it might be slower because the 'Ring lap times with both the SC and ST versions were achieved with manual boxes. i know if i was going to spec another 280 id choose manual next time over DSG.
I know it's primarily been the same for the last decade but it's a type r people! It's supposed to be the most aggressive very version of the civics! They put a whole new kit on it and finally really tuned that insanely reliable and well performing motor from Honda and put a turbo on it ,"Finally"! I really like the quad tip exhaust and rear and front kit but don't care for the rear spoiler though! But other than some minor pre-production complaints, I'm happy the SI finally has some balls and looks like a type R style car ,IMO!
The Type-R is the fastest of all of these at the Nurburgring and a few other tracks. It's got the best 6 speed manual of this entire group. It's at least ~200lbs lighter than any of the AWD options.
Does anyone know how it compares to an STI or S3/Golf R on this same track? I'm curious if the Civic is like 1% off or actually faster than other relatively fast hatchbacks.
Test drove the Leon in different versions. Best looking and driving hatch around atm! I was blown away by how much fun it is. It even rivals my Miata. Neither the Renault nor the Honda can match it in overall qualities imho.
+Martijn Kösters Honda's definition of the new type r: road legal race car. It has blinkers and gps just so that you can drive to the track on time. the japanese domestic version took out the sound proofing and I think you can choose no radio/gps as an option. As far as how bumpy the ride is, that's not their concern.
amapolishplummer Yea, with old brake pads. This is the first test out there where the Seats beats the Megane, ever. Strange isn't it? Besides, did you see the Seat in the EVO drivers car of the year awards? Did you see the Seat in the Chris Harris best cars of the year choice? Did you hear him say that of all the cars he had driven on track that time (including Porshces, Astons, BMW's) the Megane RS reminded him the most of the Ferrari 458 Speciale because of how focused and precise it is on the track? Nope. It was the Megane. The same as in the last couple of years, it is consistently chosen as the best hot hatch to drive and most to drive on the track. .
derbigpr500 Yeah it is probably the best to drive on track, and it's also arguably the worst to drive on the road due to the ride, practicality, fuel economy, sound isolation, interior quality and maybe options on the car. I know which I'd buy. The car thats better 98% of the time.
amapolishplummer well I own a 2014 RS with the cup chassis and I can definately tell you that the ride is stiff but definately managable on a daily basis! And most of the compliments for the car I get are about the interieur, which is focused and nicely build, if the materials were a little better, this thing would be up there with the Seat definately! So make up your own opinion instead of just listening to 50 year old test drivers complaining about the ride!
The Leon and the Megane aren't exactly good examples of automotive design, but that Type R has to be one of the most ridiculous, chavvy, over-the-top cars of the last decade. I appreciate its speed but my god what a mess...
vtecnegro85 I totally understand what you mean, man, but is not about insecurity (at least not this time :P). Is about associating (or being associated) with something that doesn't represent you and your beliefs.
Mzn T Which means you're going to miss out on something you like to suit what you think other people will find acceptable or which you think will paint you in a good light to them? Screw that. Buy what YOU want and to hell with everyone else's nosey opinion. If they aren't paying for it why should you care?
would it be worthwhile to try the golf r? it has about as much power as the type r, it has the same platform as the cupra, and it could possible handle better due to the 4 wheel drive
A win for the Vee Dub again, I reckon with the DSG it would have matched the Type Rs lap time Also Honda is light years behind VW,Renault,Ford, etc I expected more from Honda, the new Type R is good still no way better than a German shopping trolley hot hatch
Correct me if I am wrong but didn't the Civic achieve the record Ring time without any seats (apart from the driver's one) and without AC and all sorts of things? Meaning not with this street version?
aquaphoenixx Civic that did the lap was not a production car at all. It was a pre-production vehicle, it had slick tires, it had a roll cage, no passenger or rear seats, probably either a lot of weight saving elsewhere or a lot of power added considering how fast it is in the straight line, so that time around Nurburgring is totally irrelevant, which makes it more annoying when everyone seems to mention it. Play the Megane and Type R Nurburgring videos side by side, start at the same point in the lap, you'll see how much faster Honda is in the straight line, it literally goes like it has closer to 400hp than 300, and in the every braking zone and every corner the Megane makes up a lot of time.
If they chose the Megane 275 Cup or Trophy (instead of the 265), a version with the closest power to the Leon’s 275-280 bhp, then it would’ve dropped the Leon. I bet it would’ve been very close to the Civic too!
I would like to see the civic typeR and the Seat plus FR and MR cars that do similar times or even a 996(1) GT3, then have them do a number of laps around a given track. I'd like to see how they go over a "race" time trial over 15 laps. Then we can see these FWD cars are one lap wonders or if the pace can be sustained.
He was bouncing about in the Honda like crazy. The Seat is a bargain and is easily the best all rounder here. Pity it doesn't look a bit hotter, a bit of a sleeper. Stark contrast to the other two, especially the Honda.
I prefer the looks of the Seat over the other two. You don't need big wings and ugly vents to have a nice looking car. If you're happy with front drive then you gotta get the cupra.
Maybe the TypeR is a little bit faster in the racetrack, but I think the acceleration is more important (0-200, 100-200 or 100-vmax). At this point the Honda has no chance. I have driven the Cupra a few times and I really love its power! But I like the interieur of the Civic.
3 of them runs a limited slip differential, means they all about the same comes to front end handling. For FWD cars, it's all about suspension stiffness, height and suspension caster adjustment, you may want the rear to have a smaller negative caster angle and a bit steeper positive caster at the front for decrease the weight affect during handling test. Also, taller rear suspension and stiffer rear suspension will gain front end grip for sure. Unlike RWD and AWD, FWD cars are all about the same comes to turn out acceleration, the weight transferred to the rear, the front lights up and started to push when he apply throttle..... So, the reason Civic won is because the Civic have way closer gear ratio, it advance its straight line acceleration.
I know all 3 will likely be privately owned but surely if one has been poorly maintained (budget tyres/brakes) then it's a pointless test? I am speaking about the Mégane obviously.
yes,,,,,,,, Civic is faster but.... tell us the price differences...... Cupra 290(now) is much cheaper and its optional equipment is much cheaper .....
David Bern true,why the hell would you shortshift? :-) honda did al those efforts to get the power down but are 'racing driver' schows us how its done ;-)
Cant argue with the numbers, the type R is the quickest there. For me though id still go for the SEAT simply because its a better road car and i spend 99.9% of the time on public roads. The civic is trying too hard in my opinion with that rediculous wing and 4 massive exhausts at the back.
Seat is without the performance pack and with the de-tuned engine software (identical engine makes 300hp in the Golf R)... Performance pack Seat is the king, awesome :) (until the Focus RS kills them all with rear biased 4WD and more power!)
Every model of car has its own quality i like most of the hot hatches out there ... its just up to u to choose witch one fits u best ... there all pretty close in performance who cares if u are like half a second faster or slower once ur in a 300 hp car ur gonna have fun and thats what its all about in my eyes
Wow people here debating the CTR ring times because it had a rubber mounted cage and all the sudden "it's a race car!!"... This is not 1970 anymore. Body stiffness has increased drastically and cages don't nearly have as strong of an effect as they did. ESPECIALLY A RUBBER MOUNTED ONE!!! Honda Type R's are legendary for chassis stiffness. I have seen the differences in person. A friend had a real Type R and you can see extra bracing in the floor that was not there on the regular GSR DC2 Integra's. When Honda puts Type R on their cars, its not just because they stiffened suspension and made more power...
Voor mij de Seat a.u.b. ondanks het verschil van 30PK slechts 0.4 sec verschil. Verder als ik kijk hoe hij door de stoel van de Civic stuitert moet het comfort als daily driver waardeloos zijn. + het koppel van de Leon is al op een lager toerental beschikbaar wat hem onder normaal gebruik vlotter maakt.
The Honda looks ugly though. The guys who dream about the Honda are usually not the age to drive yet. I would be ashamed to drive the Honda for those looks alone. Come to think of it, its been ages Honda designed a good/slick looking car.
MS Im glad someone else out there thinks the same thing... This car is disgusting to look at, and the Honda name has been ruined by those same kids that barely know how to drive.
MS At least theyre having a go at making something look purposeful, than the bland looking offerings thats it up against. You cant knock Honda for trying. Theres one thing for sure. Pull up along side it, and you know what youre up against. The other two? well, you'd have to wait and look for badge on back.
Ste Young Well I live in the US so I won't be seeing the other two anyways. Yes they are trying something "new" with their design but to me it looks like they didn't try. Just a half circle on wheels.
Just Joshing I take your point about its overall appearance. Stand back and it looks like a reject from Darth Vadars helmet shop. The basic shape could've been bettered for sure.
i just hit the 999th like Glad to see Honda back in speed, wish this Type R going to be sale in my country By the way, i'd like to see you guys compare this New Type R with Mini Cooper S or JCW, both are great cars, Mini ( even not so mini anymore ) Cooper S with it's classic looks and new Civic Type R with Turbo for the 1st time, i'm sure that's gonna be a HOT Battle Keep up the good job guys, best regards for all of you
The way he jumped in the Civic seats LOL
Nikita Ind I CANT EVEN!!!!!
Nikita Ind would you rather be losing energy and therefore speed from dampening? Race cars ride stiff for a reason and no one hops in one expecting luxury.
nizmojoeblows And how come this 5-seater hatch is being any close to a race car?
***** It's handling and performance feeling is more that of a race car than a street car.
TheDashACorner
So, why would anyone by fugly pseudo sport car instead of real sport car? For this amount of money you could buy Subaru BRZ or its Toyota sibling
The Leon Cupra is impressive and I think people are realizing how good it is, specially considering it's price. On track it was also faster than Golf R that has more power and AWD. That chassis must be spot on to offer such a prefect handling.
bezor Ta Depends what track. On a mickey mouse track like this where it can jump curbs thanks to massey fergusson ride height and more squidgy dampers then yes - it can go well.
To be honest I don't think any of them are slow enough for the pace to be a decider. The biggest problem I have with any of them is the looks. The seat just looks like any other which is ok if you have 9 points on your license but boring to everyone else. On the other hand the civic is so far over the top it looks like a kid drew it. None of the current hot hatches seem to get that different but not offensive recipe. They're all trying too hard to be under the radar or shout look at me.
Am I the only one who likes the look of the new Type-R?
Iain Murray I like it too so no, you are not the only one
Iain Murray the front end now doubt looks very stylist. the rear is ok to me.
it looks a lot of better now when compare to the other two cars here.
Iain Murray Me too to some extent. It is still big, but dosen't look as bubbly and chubby as last gen.
Stanley Park It's the same size bodyshell... even the chassis code is the same as the previous model :) Strangely the wagon has the same chassis code too.... (FK2....)
Nope. I think it looks sick.
Wow that Honda seems stiff as hell, throwing Sutcliffe all over the seat. Is it drivable on bumpy roads at all?
The adaptive dampers help it out a bit, but I totally agree with you, it's to stiff for road use in my opinion
Spotted that, he was jiggling about even on straight.
southendrul Interesting... Seems like you've already driven the Civic..?
celaCH1 My cousin is a sales executive at a Honda dealership, so yes I have heard feedback from him, and I trust his opinion
southendrul what's your cousins name and what's the name of the dealership
I think that the megane rs trophy is the best
I guess Honda hasn't forgotten how to make the ultimate hot hatch. Awesome.
jeremy j but they have forgotten to put coilovers in the car.
It's got electrohydraulic dampers. Why does it require coilovers? It seems to be doing fine without it. I'm not saying that it has the ultimate suspension but that is probably overkill.
jeremy j 6:14 as a roadcar its just fine. drive more than 50 Kilometers and you are done.
But they have though. A hot hatch is supposed to do everything well. You can see in the video just how stiff the setup is and that's on the track!!! It would be ridiculous on the road, where it's going to spend 99% of its time.
daniel thompson it were in R+ mode. Stiffens things up by 30%.
Honda: removed suspension because weight reduction bro.
vivalaphill +R mode ... 30% stiffer suspension. Only for flat roads/tracks. He is clearly not used to the car and should have not pressed +R.
An extremely ignorant comment. Makes very little sense if any at all.
vtecnegro85 it was a car throttle reference...meant as a joke
vtecnegro85 You're new on the internet aren't you :)
TheDashACorner Stiffen suspension button in a hot hatch?! How sad... How utterly unappealing.
That moment when you realise the new civic type r is as fast as a 355 HP, 4wd, dct A45 amg around this track and only 0.1 second slower than a 315 HP mid engined, 100k dollar boxster s! This hatch is something else!
Be foolish not to have the Seat. It's the complete package. Renault has go faster stripes and the honda was drawn by a toddler!
Actually the honda looks like some sort of pokemon thing
stoppsi thankfully we all don't have the same taste. I think the Civic looks mean and hot as a hot hatch should as does the Mégane but the seat looks just plain like a normal seat and nothing hot hatch about it except obviously the performance, but I would want some sizzle with my hot hatch.
stoppsi So you think the seat is a good looking car? IMO its the most ugly car of the bunch..
civic by far the best..
stoppsi Renault looks best and Civic drives best. Seat isn't anything special, for me at least.
***** Try living with the Type R everyday and you'll want a Seat.
Let's not forget that the Renault is a car from 2010. I can only imagine that the next gen will eat all of the competition for breakfast
"Megane has brake fade"
Me: Dont go spent 500 bucks and fix it in 20 mins. Fk it just race it and be happy with 0.8 seconds behind cars it should beat.
Laughing out Loud at how Steve is bouncing in that Type R's seat. Must have put the adaptive dampers in their stiffest setting.
The Mégane RS is by far the best FWD Hot Hatch money can buy. I think there was something wrong with t here, because i've never seen the Seat beat it. Even if it does lose here, let's not forget that the Mégane came out back in 2008.
The Mégane sounds way better than the others, with its cool induction noise and the Akra exhaust you can get. It has the best chassis, the best suspension setup, and offers the best drive quality, in terms of pleasure. It doesn't look as normal as the Seat, and as weird as the Type R. Its transmission is a very nice unit, and the engine is a beast, even if its so old.
Don't get me wrong the Type R is a fantastic car, and so is the Seat, but the Mégane RS is just over them imo. I hope the Mégane 4 RS will shit on the Civic's "record" (not official), and will be even better. Because then, both Honda and Seat will have to make their cars even faster and better :D
I'm the proud owner of a 64 plate Cupra 280, I have recently test driven the Type R...now, yes the Type R, is a little quicker, but the ride is brutal, around town its unforgiving, as it wants to be driven hard all the time, while the Cupra does both with ease...one thing I would point out with this video....just review the drive with the Cupra and comfort level in drivers seat, then look at the way the driver gets thrown around in the Type R....Cupra all the way for me and looking forward to the Cupra R in 2016, but SEAT will have to something really special to improve on the 280.....
I was more impressed by the Seat. For coming so close against this ring purpose built Civic. I wonder if the Civic back spoiler actually served its purpose on this track Auto Express drove those cars. Sometimes these wings/spoilers can actually reduce the speed.
MS Civic has spoiler that generates negative lift, It's FWD so makes sense
MS Exactly not a highspeed track, therefore the spoiler doesn't really do it's job, just dead weight.
Vucko100 negative lift also known as downforce
vivalaphill negative lift is not the same as downforce.
lindstrom26 sorry im german and it sounds basically like the same thing, what is the difference?
Wow, a 310 HP Honda faster than a 280 HP Seat and a 275 HP Renault, how surprising... Please put those mighty Michelin PSC 2 tyres on the Renault and the Seat to get a true winner.
I would like to see the Cupra with DSG in the track.
David Cabañas Martinez Check out our track battle vid with the DSG Cupra here: th-cam.com/video/4tgdtVhQzJM/w-d-xo.html
Auto Express A question from driver. As you test these cars on a track,do you have any statistics of how many people who actually buy these will use them on track,or if they even take it there,how many days per year that would be? Thank you!
David Cabañas Martinez i would guess it might be slower because the 'Ring lap times with both the SC and ST versions were achieved with manual boxes. i know if i was going to spec another 280 id choose manual next time over DSG.
+David Motorlover A proper enthusiast never picks a DSG over a manual!
Orfeas Christodoulou
When i tested a DSG i changed my mind. If you think about it, track cars aren`t manuals.
R+ button on or off?
Very good times from all three cars!!! Most stripped out trackday toys only do around 49-55 seconds there!
What can Type R to do against a DSG Cupra?
That Civic has the looks only a mother could love and I've never seen a car tester bounce around so much.
surprised with the Seat, although i wonder if ohlins suspension upgrade on the renault would make a difference and new brake pads
I know it's primarily been the same for the last decade but it's a type r people! It's supposed to be the most aggressive very version of the civics! They put a whole new kit on it and finally really tuned that insanely reliable and well performing motor from Honda and put a turbo on it ,"Finally"! I really like the quad tip exhaust and rear and front kit but don't care for the rear spoiler though! But other than some minor pre-production complaints, I'm happy the SI finally has some balls and looks like a type R style car ,IMO!
The Type-R is the fastest of all of these at the Nurburgring and a few other tracks.
It's got the best 6 speed manual of this entire group.
It's at least ~200lbs lighter than any of the AWD options.
Type R stands for Racing, so stop complaining about the suspension
That beep in the Megane is awful. Was the mic near the beeper?
Nearly 350bhp and AWD. Optional Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires.
On paper, these hatches don't even stand a remote chance to the RS.
perfect test wonder what is the result with DSG Seat ???
Hmm makes me want to test drive a Seat. We don't have them in the US though.
I didn't know Ricky Gervais did car reviews. 😛
So they tested two brand new cars against one that was older and wondered why the brakes weren't as good? Plus isn't that the old 250 not the new 275?
Why wasn't the Trophy R used ? Think the results would have been different!
Does anyone know how it compares to an STI or S3/Golf R on this same track? I'm curious if the Civic is like 1% off or actually faster than other relatively fast hatchbacks.
Test drove the Leon in different versions. Best looking and driving hatch around atm! I was blown away by how much fun it is. It even rivals my Miata. Neither the Renault nor the Honda can match it in overall qualities imho.
Why the Seat doesnt have the DSG gearbox? and where is Golf R?
what's with the ride of that Civic. Skip skip jump jump. Doesn't look anywhere near nice.
Martijn Kösters Again, Type R stands for Racing. It's effective... For a poncy "pretend" hot hatch you can get a GTI.
TassieLorenzo Type R stands for racing just as Civic stands for family hatchback.
But Sutcliffe was probably in track mode, or I hope he was.
+Martijn Kösters Honda's definition of the new type r: road legal race car. It has blinkers and gps just so that you can drive to the track on time. the japanese domestic version took out the sound proofing and I think you can choose no radio/gps as an option. As far as how bumpy the ride is, that's not their concern.
Thanks, didn't know that!
Lol the Seat without the Sub8 performance pack beats the Megane RS Trophy.... Oh dear.
amapolishplummer Yea, with old brake pads. This is the first test out there where the Seats beats the Megane, ever. Strange isn't it? Besides, did you see the Seat in the EVO drivers car of the year awards? Did you see the Seat in the Chris Harris best cars of the year choice? Did you hear him say that of all the cars he had driven on track that time (including Porshces, Astons, BMW's) the Megane RS reminded him the most of the Ferrari 458 Speciale because of how focused and precise it is on the track? Nope. It was the Megane. The same as in the last couple of years, it is consistently chosen as the best hot hatch to drive and most to drive on the track. .
derbigpr500 Yeah it is probably the best to drive on track, and it's also arguably the worst to drive on the road due to the ride, practicality, fuel economy, sound isolation, interior quality and maybe options on the car.
I know which I'd buy. The car thats better 98% of the time.
***** Hello (?)
derbigpr500 I think he was talking about the Trophy-R. No doubt the Megane is a great driver's car though.
amapolishplummer well I own a 2014 RS with the cup chassis and I can definately tell you that the ride is stiff but definately managable on a daily basis! And most of the compliments for the car I get are about the interieur, which is focused and nicely build, if the materials were a little better, this thing would be up there with the Seat definately! So make up your own opinion instead of just listening to 50 year old test drivers complaining about the ride!
It sucks that we don't get any of these cars here in the US.
Whay you didnt come with seat sport pack.
would like to see the renault megane 275 trophy r in this battle
The Leon and the Megane aren't exactly good examples of automotive design, but that Type R has to be one of the most ridiculous, chavvy, over-the-top cars of the last decade. I appreciate its speed but my god what a mess...
Ricardo Lourizela I think I would feel somehow embarrassed while driving it.. People would stare at it, but not because it's actually nice looking...
Mzn T you seem to be insecure if you're worried about how others view you in a car. You have problems with yourself.
vtecnegro85
I totally understand what you mean, man, but is not about insecurity (at least not this time :P). Is about associating (or being associated) with something that doesn't represent you and your beliefs.
Mzn T Which means you're going to miss out on something you like to suit what you think other people will find acceptable or which you think will paint you in a good light to them?
Screw that. Buy what YOU want and to hell with everyone else's nosey opinion.
If they aren't paying for it why should you care?
Is this a real track to test the handling?
I see a lot of straights, some very low speed corners and less than 50 seconds lap.
dont understand... have your Cupra opcional mechanical differencial lock or not?
would it be worthwhile to try the golf r? it has about as much power as the type r, it has the same platform as the cupra, and it could possible handle better due to the 4 wheel drive
What about a Golf R? How would it compare to these three?
do type r vs vs golf r and golf r400 when it is released
That view at the start of the Cupra run up through the center was awesome.
A win for the Vee Dub again, I reckon with the DSG it would have matched the Type Rs lap time
Also Honda is light years behind VW,Renault,Ford, etc
I expected more from Honda,
the new Type R is good still no way better than a German shopping trolley hot hatch
Correct me if I am wrong but didn't the Civic achieve the record Ring time without any seats (apart from the driver's one) and without AC and all sorts of things? Meaning not with this street version?
aquaphoenixx Civic that did the lap was not a production car at all. It was a pre-production vehicle, it had slick tires, it had a roll cage, no passenger or rear seats, probably either a lot of weight saving elsewhere or a lot of power added considering how fast it is in the straight line, so that time around Nurburgring is totally irrelevant, which makes it more annoying when everyone seems to mention it. Play the Megane and Type R Nurburgring videos side by side, start at the same point in the lap, you'll see how much faster Honda is in the straight line, it literally goes like it has closer to 400hp than 300, and in the every braking zone and every corner the Megane makes up a lot of time.
derbigpr500 Rubbish - totally wrong.
Did he press the R button on the Honda? never saw him doing it..
Great idea for a video. In a few months I'll have my Leon Cupra and I'm extremely excited.
How impressive is the Seat? The Honda looks so tightly sprung he's bouncing around inside like a pinball.
The Seat is still the hot hatch bargain (price advantage) of the decade and the understatement bonus. With the Typ R exterior you expect much more.
At 6:18 it looks like you're really bouncing in the seat. Is the track that bumpy, or is the Type R that stiff?
What an awesome video. Three top class cars battling on a winding track and the TypeR wins out HondaPro Jason
If they chose the Megane 275 Cup or Trophy (instead of the 265), a version with the closest power to the Leon’s 275-280 bhp, then it would’ve dropped the Leon. I bet it would’ve been very close to the Civic too!
I would like to see the civic typeR and the Seat plus FR and MR cars that do similar times or even a 996(1) GT3, then have them do a number of laps around a given track. I'd like to see how they go over a "race" time trial over 15 laps. Then we can see these FWD cars are one lap wonders or if the pace can be sustained.
has the seat got good brakes??
Turn on CC and 6:45 for a good time
In fairness, the new Focus RS won't be competing with these cars, it'll be gunning for the A45 AMG & RS3.
Would you get around a track faster with a manual or dsg in the same car
James Landale dsg
James Landale but depends on the car
Type r setup is same az an evo. Evo
Is mivec with turbo. So vtec with
Turbo tallys up to how fast it actually is
You should do a segment about engine tuning these 3 cars !
Was that a 'Sub 8' pack Cupra?
CoopersSpecC It isnt equipped with the Performance Package (Brembo Brakes, 19'" Wheels).
did you pres R+ on type r? :D
He was bouncing about in the Honda like crazy. The Seat is a bargain and is easily the best all rounder here. Pity it doesn't look a bit hotter, a bit of a sleeper. Stark contrast to the other two, especially the Honda.
Throw a nice downpipe and exhaust on the Type R, and Sham Wow! more character coming from the engine.
Sutcliffe or Harris on a track?
what about the golf r?
Gawd I love the Leon... the Honda looks awful and the Megane is 7 years old. And no, the hot hatch king is the RS3.
ReventadorLP1500-2 I agree in 100%
ReventadorLP1500-2 you cant compare the RS3 with those three.... RS3 is AWD... ;)
ReventadorLP1500-2 Compare S3 instead, but still too expensive compared to these two.
Fraiser5 Well Sutcliffe mentioned the upcoming focus RS which is ....... yes AWD, so why can the RS3 not be compared?
Fraiser5 I can't and I won't, I'm just saying it is the king, you certainly pay for it, but it is.
I prefer the looks of the Seat over the other two. You don't need big wings and ugly vents to have a nice looking car. If you're happy with front drive then you gotta get the cupra.
Much respects to the Cupra but the Type R's ride looks very bumpy.
Maybe the TypeR is a little bit faster in the racetrack, but I think the acceleration is more important (0-200, 100-200 or 100-vmax). At this point the Honda has no chance. I have driven the Cupra a few times and I really love its power! But I like the interieur of the Civic.
3 of them runs a limited slip differential, means they all about the same comes to front end handling. For FWD cars, it's all about suspension stiffness, height and suspension caster adjustment, you may want the rear to have a smaller negative caster angle and a bit steeper positive caster at the front for decrease the weight affect during handling test. Also, taller rear suspension and stiffer rear suspension will gain front end grip for sure.
Unlike RWD and AWD, FWD cars are all about the same comes to turn out acceleration, the weight transferred to the rear, the front lights up and started to push when he apply throttle.....
So, the reason Civic won is because the Civic have way closer gear ratio, it advance its straight line acceleration.
I know all 3 will likely be privately owned but surely if one has been poorly maintained (budget tyres/brakes) then it's a pointless test? I am speaking about the Mégane obviously.
yes,,,,,,,, Civic is faster but.... tell us the price differences...... Cupra 290(now) is much cheaper and its optional equipment is much cheaper .....
seat didnt have preformance pack, i think then would be another time to beat.
The king is back!
Not a fanboy here but how good of a time would he have gotten had he not SHORTSHIFTED?
David Bern true,why the hell would you shortshift? :-) honda did al those efforts to get the power down but are 'racing driver' schows us how its done ;-)
I would take the Leon Cupra 280! Sleeper looks, handles like it has claws, but looks to be very comfy!
Cant argue with the numbers, the type R is the quickest there. For me though id still go for the SEAT simply because its a better road car and i spend 99.9% of the time on public roads. The civic is trying too hard in my opinion with that rediculous wing and 4 massive exhausts at the back.
Doesn't even go into vtec band on the type R ????
Honda makes steve looks driving a turbocharged trampoline.
Seat is without the performance pack and with the de-tuned engine software (identical engine makes 300hp in the Golf R)... Performance pack Seat is the king, awesome :) (until the Focus RS kills them all with rear biased 4WD and more power!)
wow. the suspension leaves me puzzled, as you were bouncing so much in the seat it seemed like your head was going to hit the roof. hmmmm
Best part is: no quality issues to go with that fastest time.
Every model of car has its own quality i like most of the hot hatches out there ... its just up to u to choose witch one fits u best ... there all pretty close in performance who cares if u are like half a second faster or slower once ur in a 300 hp car ur gonna have fun and thats what its all about in my eyes
Wow people here debating the CTR ring times because it had a rubber mounted cage and all the sudden "it's a race car!!"... This is not 1970 anymore. Body stiffness has increased drastically and cages don't nearly have as strong of an effect as they did.
ESPECIALLY A RUBBER MOUNTED ONE!!! Honda Type R's are legendary for chassis stiffness. I have seen the differences in person. A friend had a real Type R and you can see extra bracing in the floor that was not there on the regular GSR DC2 Integra's. When Honda puts Type R on their cars, its not just because they stiffened suspension and made more power...
Voor mij de Seat a.u.b. ondanks het verschil van 30PK slechts 0.4 sec verschil. Verder als ik kijk hoe hij door de stoel van de Civic stuitert moet het comfort als daily driver waardeloos zijn. + het koppel van de Leon is al op een lager toerental beschikbaar wat hem onder normaal gebruik vlotter maakt.
The civic is awesome, the seat looks super boring, how come the vauxhall wasn't included?
The Honda looks ugly though. The guys who dream about the Honda are usually not the age to drive yet. I would be ashamed to drive the Honda for those looks alone. Come to think of it, its been ages Honda designed a good/slick looking car.
MS Im glad someone else out there thinks the same thing... This car is disgusting to look at, and the Honda name has been ruined by those same kids that barely know how to drive.
MS At least theyre having a go at making something look purposeful, than the bland looking offerings thats it up against. You cant knock Honda for trying. Theres one thing for sure. Pull up along side it, and you know what youre up against. The other two? well, you'd have to wait and look for badge on back.
Ste Young Well I live in the US so I won't be seeing the other two anyways. Yes they are trying something "new" with their design but to me it looks like they didn't try. Just a half circle on wheels.
Just Joshing I take your point about its overall appearance. Stand back and it looks like a reject from Darth Vadars helmet shop. The basic shape could've been bettered for sure.
Ste Young Now that cannot be unseen lol. I feel like they could have slimmed it down and make the front have more angles.
Lol, how bouncy was that Honda, made me chuckle
Seat is my favourite amongst these cars, whic surprised me quite a lot, :)
I cant comprehend after 10 years these cars are old.
Why does any so called motoring journalist mistake the mégane Trophy for the record setting Trophy-R?
i just hit the 999th like
Glad to see Honda back in speed, wish this Type R going to be sale in my country
By the way, i'd like to see you guys compare this New Type R with Mini Cooper S or JCW, both are great cars, Mini ( even not so mini anymore ) Cooper S with it's classic looks and new Civic Type R with Turbo for the 1st time, i'm sure that's gonna be a HOT Battle
Keep up the good job guys, best regards for all of you
ridiculous video, sweated his a$$ to be able to pull the Megane last. Lol :-P
6:37 Not sure about the motor? Characterless? That's a i-VTEC Turbo K20, bro. What more can you ask for?
Yeees, giving it some beans right there Steve. Proper driving, great stuff.
And wow that Honda has the jiggliest ride I have every seen, godawful.
funny how he said "bang there u go" but the clock stop almost one second sooner on the civic...at least it seems like it lol