STI Vs Type R: The full gore

STI Vs Type R: The full gore

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Last weekend I preached the Gospel of Type R the lesson was on Civic performance. By early Sunday afternoon a few members of the Subaru clan were near conversion. At least one of them had experienced the combined rapture of VTEC and Honda’s sublime tuning of their nondescript family car.

The day had started with a quick gathering at a petrol station near the junction towards Batu Dam. The first to arrive were three Subaru Impreza, a WRX, STI and STI Spec C Type RA followed by the championship white silhouette of the Civic Type R.

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Everyone assembled took a look at the car and asked me about the message from Honda so I told them: “ This is the most amazing front-wheel drive car you will ever drive. It has the balance of a gymnast and the delicacy of a ninja.

“Sure or not?” was their skeptical response. Understandable really, their cars had more scoops and wings than a fighter jet and packed enough power through a world rally championship winning all-wheel drive system.

“Trust me,” I said half doubting my own claims.

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The owner of the Spec-C, a balding middle-aged man with petrol in his veins asked for the keys.

“I just want to drive it a bit to see what it’s all about,” he said.

Before I could tell them not to bend anything, he had dragged another Subaru believer into the car and headed towards Batu Dam.

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I stood there with the other Subaru fan speechless for a few moments before saying; “It really is a fast car you know”.

He nodded sagely, knowing that the really reliable verdict would come back in a few minutes.

In a few minutes two more Impreza turned up, an STI and a WRX and after a while the Type R came back.

The driver stepped down and he declared that it would be hard for the STIs to keep up with the Type R and this drew frowns from his clan.

“You really think so?” for I was surprised to hear such a strong verdict.

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We started the first leg with the Type R in front and I wasted no time to start pushing the car on the twisty double backs that made the Ulu Yam road so famous with weekend drivers.

With one eye in the rear view mirror I could see the red Spec C keeping up with the Type R but that is to be expected. I opened up a gap in some corners but he would quickly find the pace and catch up.

We went on like this for the first leg which ended at the junction to Genting Highlands were we stopped to compare notes.

“I had to use 95 per cent of the car and my abilities to keep up with you, that is one fast car,” said the Spec C driver, his clan frowned but said nothing for he had the most powerful car with nearly 300 horsepower. Actually the Spec C has been dyno-ed to slightly more than 300 horses so it was quite hard to believe that it had to break a sweat chasing a front wheel drive Civic with 225 horses on tap.

“And it sounded great,” he added.

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A veteran of the Ulu Yam twisties, he said that it is easier for him to keep up with a Porsche 911 GT2 that the Type R. But then again Porsche owners would probably be more careful than a road tester in a borrowed Type R.

After a short break we decided that the Spec C would lead and the Type R would give chase on the more twisty second leg. I thought it was a foregone conclusion, with better grip from all-wheel drive and more horses to put down on the tarmac, surely the Subaru would run away from the Honda.

We took off and it was immediately clear that our friend was keen to set things right for Subaru. He braked late and powered hard out of corners so I had to keep up pace and took advantage of the Type R’s excellent brakes and front-end traction.

The Scooby would open up a bit on the straights but we would catch up again in the braking zone, in the tight corners he had a small advantage and could power out slightly earlier but the Type R’s amazing suspension and lack of torque steer meant that I could also power out hard and take advantage of the non-turbo VTEC to claw back advantage before the Subaru’s turbo kicked in.

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I cant tell you the details but suffice to say it slowed everyone down afterwards.dsc_0217.JPG

With the Type R’s prodigious grip I am always aware of my own skill limitations so I braked early and powered out early. Slow In fast out was my mantra.

I remember seeing the digital speedometer indicating a speed around 96 or 97 kilometres pre hour as dropped from fourth to third to set up my approach for the corner and began powering out.

At that speed the Civic was stable and you could feel the front tyre fighting for grip. Amazingly the front never washed out and simply tucked in nicely under power. This is the typical behaviour of the Civic Type R.

On the way down we swapped cars with the Spec C chap driving the Type R and me in his beast. He belted it and qucikly opened up a lead while another blue Spec C kept up. I decided to stay back and observe the two cars and it was quite obvious that the Type R was having a better time than the Subaru.

This was later confirmed by both drivers.

The Spec C had its suspension in its softest setting and felt a bit nervous rounding corners. Mind you it was still a firm ride and the car turned in without fuss but the soft setting sapped my confidence slightly.

By the time we hit Gombak Toll, everyone was impressed with the way the Type R ran away from everyone else.

“I can’t believe the grip on that car and on tyres that are two-thirs worn,” said our converted Spec C driver.

“I could have driven with just one hand on the wheel, the car was just so stable. The steering and chassis is so communicative I could tell exactly what the front and rear tyres were doing at all times. It is amazing how Honda minimized torque steer and made the steering so talkative. The limited slip differential just kept everything in check,” said our new convert.

Those are his words not mine. I just smiled.

His friends were scratching their heads by now. They cannot believe that the Type R is such a fast and nimble handler, not in this exalted company.

This is the best handling and fastest front wheel drive car in the world. Full stop.

I don’t care if show me a car with three litres and all the fancy gadgetry in the world I would still prefer the Type R.

I know you are thinking that I made this all up. Well, I didn’t it is the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

If the Spec C had worn its stiffest suspension setting and had the same Potenza RE070 then it probably could have run away from the Type R but then again the Civic was on worn tyres with rounded shoulders that dulled its turn-in.

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With a really good driver in command, I really do not think that a weekend warrior in a Spec C Type RA could keep up with the Type R. Honestly.

Note: If anyone asks, I made all this up ;-)

8 COMMENTS

  1. “For legal reasons we will not state his speed here, suffice to say it was faster than his car could handle.”

    “But then again Porsche owners would probably be more careful than a road tester in a borrowed Type R.”

    It’s all illegal, reckless fun on public roads until you kill a motorcyclist or pedestrian right!??

  2. Biker,
    I understand where you are coming from and there is really no justification for endangering other people

    The thing to remember is that it is public road so don’t go beyond 70 or 75 per cent of your abilities…keep a lot in reserve. slow down when you see other traffic, NEVER exceed speed limit near schools, be sensible,

    brake early enter the corner at sane speeds that the car can handle and power out gently and only put pedal to the metal once you see the road is clear….

    clearly if I am driving my own 600K Cayman S I will only venture 65 to 70 per cent unless on track then its balls out

  3. “If the Spec C had worn its stiffest suspension setting and had the same Potenza RE070 then it probably could have run away from the Type R but then again the Civic was on worn tyres with rounded shoulders that dulled its turn-in.”

    If FD2 type-R have the stiffest suspension, the story will be different too!

  4. At first when we received a call from one of the subaru cifu that there will be a showdown between CTR vs STI i was laughing. In my clueless mind trying to imagined how a FR car want to out run rally bred 4WD STI….
    The real truth came that fateful morning.
    The CTR by itself outshines STI in looks deparment. The sleekness and cuts of the car was simply breath taking. A real opposite sex wooer!

    When the battle proceed the real wolf of the CTR shows it fangs. In the corner we the STI was amazed by the sheer grip and corner entry speed. From our view, the CTR did not show any sign of body roll or steer. The damping of the car suited twisty corners. We are AMAZED!!

    You could say that given any day, be it dry or wet the CTR is a true road warrior. Think twice if u see a CTR on your rear vie mirror. Let him pass or you will be scratching your head on how the CTR can skim pass you on tight hairpin.
    As a true Subaru fans, after seeing the CTR performs i’m still amazed how the Honda engineer gave birth to a possibly one of the best road handling car of current time!..Kudos to the POWER OF DREAMS

  5. Hello Doc Mcrae_Prodrive STI…:=)
    that was certainly a memorable Sunday huh… we should do it again sometime.. if you have some pictures, pass them over cos I did nto take any group shots

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