Thoughts on FL5 vs FK8 (by savagegeese)

[UFO CTR]

Question SG:
since the spring is essentially the same as the FK8, is it safe to order a set of lowering spring from the FK8 catalog? kinda like Honda Pro Jason at Button Willow...Spoon seems to have a set of springs ready to go, so are they the same as the Spoon Fk8 springs?

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[wl222516]

Absolutely. There is nothing that stands out as an improvement in the new FL5, but it is the sum of subtle improvements and exterior styling changes that make the FL5 an amazing car. Would I pay the asking MSRP for it? In a heartbeat. But would I spend upwards of the asking ~10k or more markup? Probably not, because at that price point, the playing field opens up and there are a lot of other compelling competitors.

I'm genuinely curious about what options do I have with 54 55k if I want a fun, good manual transmission, and super practical car. Could you list out a few?

 

[Negitoro7]

I'm genuinely curious about what options do I have with 54 55k if I want a fun, good manual transmission, and super practical car. Could you list out a few?

Considering that (IMO) Volkswagen manual gearboxes are trash, there really is no substitute for a Type R’s combination of top tier gearbox, driving dynamics/performance, and practicality. The Elantra N is a decent choice if you can get past its looks and lack of hatchback practicality. At no price point above the Type R is there a competitor either: The BMW M cars’ rubbery-feeling manuals don’t come close to the Hondas’ feel, and they’re an impractical (compared to a hatch) shape. The GR Corolla is small, and might not be available to be purchased anymore either.

 

[Stick_shifter96]

I'm genuinely curious about what options do I have with 54 55k if I want a fun, good manual transmission, and super practical car. Could you list out a few?

Elantra N (one of the best cars in its price range if you can stomach the exterior styling)
GR Corolla (great lil hot hatch, small cabin, non premium material)
FL5 CTR (ADM is outrageous, but definitely worth it if you can get it at sticker price)
Golf R (user unfriendly infotainment, but it can still do everything very well)
Golf GTI (same as Golf R, fully loaded spec is great, but then price not too far off from the R, rather spend a few more and get AWD and 315hp)
Subaru WRX (punchy boxer engine, all season beast, stiff ride, slightly below par interior)
Civic Si (underpowered 1.5L engine, not as fast as others but still fun though)
Acura Integra (premium Si, gets expensive and does not offer as much as other competitors)
Subaru BRZ/ Toyota 86 (poor man's 911, super fun RWD car, proves you don't need insane power to enjoy driving, unsuitable year round DD)
Mazda Miata MX-5 (Slightly underpowered than competitors, but still offers an exhilarating driving experience cus you can experience the entire rev and hp range)

Question is, what pros are important to you and what cons are you willing to live with

 

[wl222516]

Considering that (IMO) Volkswagen manual gearboxes are trash, there really is no substitute for a Type R’s combination of top tier gearbox, driving dynamics/performance, and practicality. The Elantra N is a decent choice if you can get past its looks and lack of hatchback practicality. At no price point above the Type R is there is competitor either: The BMW M cars’ rubbery-feeling manuals don’t come close to the Hondas’ feel, and they’re an impractical (compared to a hatch) shape. The GR Corolla is small, and might not be available to be purchased anymore either.

I did cross-shop between the Elantra N when I was considering my fk8. but ultimately the comment about the gearbox being not great put me off (At the time Hyundai was doing engine recalls and dealing with Child labor lol). I love hatchbacks and I'm still waiting to see more reviews on the GR Corolla (what is like dailying it ).

 

[wl222516]

Elantra N (one of the best cars in its price range if you can stomach the exterior styling)
GR Corolla (great lil hot hatch, small cabin, non premium material)
FL5 CTR (ADM is outrageous, but definitely worth it if you can get it at sticker price)
Golf R (user unfriendly infotainment, but it can still do everything very well)
Golf GTI (same as Golf R, fully loaded spec is great, but then price not too far off from the R, rather spend a few more and get AWD and 315hp)
Subaru WRX (punchy boxer engine, all season beast, stiff ride, slightly below par interior)
Civic Si (underpowered 1.5L engine, not as fast as others but still fun though)
Acura Integra (premium Si, gets expensive and does not offer as much as other competitors)
Subaru BRZ/ Toyota 86 (poor man's 911, super fun RWD car, proves you don't need insane power to enjoy driving, unsuitable year round DD)
Mazda Miata MX-5 (Slightly underpowered than competitors, but still offers an exhilarating driving experience cus you can experience the entire rev and hp range)

Question is, what pros are important to you and what cons are you willing to live with

Thank you for giving me a detailed list.
I came from the 86 platform so I wanted something with a bit more power.
I'm still waiting for more reviews of GR Corolla on the street and what is like living with it.
Golf R is a good competitor at that price point.

 

[Stick_shifter96]

Thank you for giving me a detailed list.
I came from the 86 platform so I wanted something with a bit more power.
I'm still waiting for more reviews of GR Corolla on the street and what is like living with it.
Golf R is a good competitor at that price point.

I'm in Canada and we're only getting 546 CTRs over 3 years, so the likelihood of getting a CTR is slim. I've already put a down for the Golf R myself. 315hp, AWD, heated/ventilated seats and steering, decent manual shifter. Its a win. There are a few software kinks currently, but my wait time is almost a year, so I expect most of them to be resolved by then.

 

[Stick_shifter96]

FL5 vs FK8 FDR comparison

Found this on Reddit. A great side by side data based comparison.

 

[Negitoro7]

I'm in Canada and we're only getting 546 CTRs over 3 years, so the likelihood of getting a CTR is slim. I've already put a down for the Golf R myself. 315hp, AWD, heated/ventilated seats and steering, decent manual shifter. Its a win. There are a few software kinks currently, but my wait time is almost a year, so I expect most of them to be resolved by then.

The MK8.5 Golf R should be great, interior-wise too. I believe VW has admitted they were wrong with the over-usage of capacitive touch buttons and it will be rectified.

 

[ssheff55]

The MK8.5 Golf R should be great, interior-wise too. I believe VW has admitted they were wrong with the over-usage of capacitive touch buttons and it will be rectified.

I really like the way the Golf R looks. Always have. But for whatever reason, the car just doesn’t pull me in like the Type R does. FK8 and FL5 both. They just do something the Golf R does not for me.

 

[Boostlag]

I think Golf R is a better over all livable car. It works better as a DSG than manual imo. Comes with torque vectoring rear diff, parking sensors, heated/ventilated seats, rear climate control and over 10 adjustable settings for damping. I just tend to like the wide body look of the Type R more, enough so that I can over look its straight line speed. Also I just don't like the hybrid squinted look of the mk8 in general.
mk8.5 models are getting a bigger screen and buttons are coming back to the steering wheel so that might be a good option if you can find one.

 

[Stick_shifter96]

I think Golf R is a better over all livable car. It works better as a DSG than manual imo. Comes with torque vectoring rear diff, parking sensors, heated/ventilated seats, rear climate control and over 10 adjustable settings for damping. I just tend to like the wide body look of the Type R more, enough so that I can over look its straight line speed. Also I just don't like the hybrid squinted look of the mk8 in general.
mk8.5 models are getting a bigger screen and buttons are coming back to the steering wheel so that might be a good option if you can find one.

A bigger screen like that would just eat up into the windscreen real estate and might prove to be a greater distraction. And personally, I don't care about the touch controls. Phones came with buttons before, but now you cannot imagine a phone with physical buttons on it. Its just a learning curve which you have to embrace.

 

[Geezer]

FL5 vs FK8 FDR comparison

Found this on Reddit. A great side by side data based comparison.

Negligible difference plus the FL5 makes more torque everywhere. Certainly not enough of a disadvantage to get pulled by multiple car lengths. I still contend that the blue FK8 TH had is quicker than your average stock FK8 for whatever reason.

 

[Stick_shifter96]

Negligible difference plus the FL5 makes more torque everywhere. Certainly not enough of a disadvantage to get pulled by multiple car lengths. I still contend that the blue FK8 TH had is quicker than your average stock FK8 for whatever reason.

Its unexplainable how that happened. But its funny how one video has completely broken the internet ?

 

[Geezer]

Its unexplainable how that happened. But its funny how one video has completely broken the internet ?

Agreed I am not far from Ontario afaik the blue FK8 is from Toronto I would be willing to join that car for a dyno day along with a stock FL5 to see the difference imo that car is making an easy 30 wheel more based on how it pulls.

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