Honda Civic Type R: What’s It Really like to Live With?

Sure, the new Civic Type R is great in short spurts. But is it a suitable daily, or a pain like many other special editions?

We already know that the new Honda Civic Type R is a fantastic machine. One that performs way better than physics should allow it to. But while we’ve read/watched every kind of Civic Type R review out there, none of them address the long term. Even in our case, reviews typically span a couple of hours or maybe a day. And how can you really get a feel for what a car is actually like to live with in that short period of time?

Thus, this recent review by YouTuber ThatDudeinBlue really piqued our interest. Because this isn’t your average thrash it at the track and then drive it a few miles on the highway kind of bit. Instead, our host, David Patterson, actually borrowed his buddy’s Civic Type R for a whole week. Thus, he was able to dive pretty deep into the car’s attributes, far beyond just the typical stuff.

Of course, there’s no better place to start than with a jaunt in the mountains. And our host is mostly loving it. “I just want to start off by saying this car is great,” he notes. “It’s so good as a daily driver. It’s so good driving around town.” The only bad thing? “Josh did a muffler delete to this car. And I have to say, the drone is atrocious.” But the same time, he isn’t a fan of how quiet the stock setup is, either.

ALSO SEE: Honda Civic Type R Track Tested

Other niggles are equally minor. He isn’t a fan of the various-sized exhaust tips. But he also calls the interior “great,” and far superior to the Focus RS. “It has so much downforce it’s ridiculous,” he adds. The super bright headlights are “the best I’ve ever used.”

But at the end of the day, what matters is that the Civic Type R makes an excellent daily. Unlike many other “special” rides. “I have no gripes going to the store,” Patterson notes. “Running errands. I get in the Type R and I’m satisfied.” And if that isn’t the definition of the ultimate daily, we don’t know what is!

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Brett Foote

Brett Foote has been covering the automotive industry for over five years and is a longtime contributor to Internet Brands’ Auto Group sites, including Chevrolet Forum, Rennlist, and Ford Truck Enthusiasts, among other popular sites.

He has been an automotive enthusiast since the day he came into this world and rode home from the hospital in a first-gen Mustang, and he's been wrenching on them nearly as long.

In addition to his expertise writing about cars, trucks, motorcycles, and every other type of automobile, Brett had spent several years running parts for local auto dealerships.

You can follow along with his builds and various automotive shenanigans on Instagram: @bfoote.