evlsmurf
Senior Member
I almost purchased a '24 Blue Flame GRC, but just couldn't do it. There were a few things that kept me from pulling the trigger and ultimately going with the FL5. The clutch was a massive concern. Also, the car can't handle much extra power before having clutch slippage and needing upgraded internals. The AWD overheating was also a concern. Not that I planned to track it. Ultimately, I was familiar with the CTR, as I owned a '21.
1970B302
Member
The clutch is very soft. I am at almost 4500 miles , and it is the softest cluch I have experienced In any manual transmission performance car....and I have had many. I am thinking about the CTR but the Honda dealers in my state CT are historically bastards.
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fredzy
Senior Member
- Thread starter
- #35
The fake noise in the CTR isn't too bad. I left it on the medium setting until I deleted the smaller resonator from the exhaust and no longer felt like I needed it to tell me what the engine was up to. If I tracked the car I would probably have to turn the fake noise up to help hear what was going on.
Funny thing today. A week ago I turned the suspension into +R mode to see how it handled a certain stretch of road. It was better than I thought it would be. So much better I guess I forgot to change it back to a softer setting. I didn't realize until today going over some rail crossings lol, it was really obvious then. I will leave it there for now just to see. It really does seem like the suspension is good in +R until you start driving like a maniac and it "adapts" to that. Even then I enjoy it so long as my tires are in contact with the road ?
Funny thing today. A week ago I turned the suspension into +R mode to see how it handled a certain stretch of road. It was better than I thought it would be. So much better I guess I forgot to change it back to a softer setting. I didn't realize until today going over some rail crossings lol, it was really obvious then. I will leave it there for now just to see. It really does seem like the suspension is good in +R until you start driving like a maniac and it "adapts" to that. Even then I enjoy it so long as my tires are in contact with the road ?
1970B302
Member
Ik I should do my own forum searching instead of being lazy and asking but is there a pipe or connector that can be pulled/removed to stop it??
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fredzy
Senior Member
- Thread starter
- #37
Oh haha, it's just a setting you can change. Change it to "comfort" setting in individual mode and I think it's completely off. Either that or it's quiet to the point of not being able to tell it from real engine noise.
Along the same lines you can do some fuse tricks to get the exhaust valve to stay open all the time and get some more natural noise. I like it, some people feel it causes the car to run funny.
Cornercarver
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Excellent write up, thank you. i thought with a smaller wheelbase the GRC might feel more 'toss-able' but with the lighting steering response of the Type R - apparently not so much.
Seems to me if you live where snow and ice is not a thing, the CTR is the way to go. Or even if you do have winter, apparently still not a bad option. RWD cars are the ones that fail on ice and snow. FWD or AWD both do okay.
It's good that enthusiasts actually have more than one hot hatch to choose from. At least for now.
Seems to me if you live where snow and ice is not a thing, the CTR is the way to go. Or even if you do have winter, apparently still not a bad option. RWD cars are the ones that fail on ice and snow. FWD or AWD both do okay.
It's good that enthusiasts actually have more than one hot hatch to choose from. At least for now.
Icehawk
Senior Member
I took a brief test drive of a Base GRC a couple months ago courtesy of AspecR when I was getting my oil changed.
It's nice. The interior didn't offend me quite as much as expected even if it's clearly an entire grade lower than the FL5's IMO. The things that stood out to me were the heavy steering, heavy clutch, and hilariously small hatch (with a high floor). Power felt a little down from the FL5's but still punchy enough, you could hear a little bit of turbo noises which was fun. I left thinking it would be a good daily for my wife (if the clutch weight didn't bug her in traffic) but that I was very happy I didn't go for one.
It's nice. The interior didn't offend me quite as much as expected even if it's clearly an entire grade lower than the FL5's IMO. The things that stood out to me were the heavy steering, heavy clutch, and hilariously small hatch (with a high floor). Power felt a little down from the FL5's but still punchy enough, you could hear a little bit of turbo noises which was fun. I left thinking it would be a good daily for my wife (if the clutch weight didn't bug her in traffic) but that I was very happy I didn't go for one.
VarmintCong
Senior Member
RWD is fine in snow, drove RWD BMWs for 18 years in Massachusetts. You need snow tires and a rear LSD helps (I didn't have one).
For people who want to be able to mindlessly stomp on the gas in corners in the snow, and not have to enact any car control, they need AWD.
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fredzy
Senior Member
- Thread starter
- #41
Not sure if I followed up on my thoughts on the CTR for winter, but compared to WRX or GRC (all on snow tires) I felt a bit helpless in actual snow. It was perfectly fine functionally. I had no problems getting where I needed to go, there wasn't a time where I decided against going when I would have if I had AWD. I just didn't have the authority to drive however I wanted due to the huge traction limitation. I was surprised I felt the lack of that superpower as much as I did.
VarmintCong
Senior Member
That's where RWD is superior, cause while you don't have a lot of traction, you have enough to go drifting around at low speeds, which is a total blast. FWD is not much fun in snow.
I usually buy Nokians for my winter set - the Si had great traction in the snow on Nokian Happas. I've tried supposedly good snow tires from other brands and they don't compare.
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fredzy
Senior Member
- Thread starter
- #43
Well, update here. I traded my CTR for a Buick today 
The CTR had the same issue this year that the GRC had last year. Sitting in the garage next to the GR86 it's just not fun enough to justify it. Obviously it's way faster and a ton of fun when you're ripping it. But for how I use it, what I use it for.. it's a bit silly to pay for all of that and not use it.
So that's been on my mind and then a red TourX popped up for sale down the street. Loaded, clean as a whistle, low-ish mileage. I bought it with the CTR's equity. I've always had an eye for these things. I test drove one when they came out (one of the very few test drives I've taken in the last 15 years, actually) and would have bought one then if they were available in manual. So here I am with an AT DD for the first time since 2005. That's the only thing I'm worried about.
The CTR had the same issue this year that the GRC had last year. Sitting in the garage next to the GR86 it's just not fun enough to justify it. Obviously it's way faster and a ton of fun when you're ripping it. But for how I use it, what I use it for.. it's a bit silly to pay for all of that and not use it.
So that's been on my mind and then a red TourX popped up for sale down the street. Loaded, clean as a whistle, low-ish mileage. I bought it with the CTR's equity. I've always had an eye for these things. I test drove one when they came out (one of the very few test drives I've taken in the last 15 years, actually) and would have bought one then if they were available in manual. So here I am with an AT DD for the first time since 2005. That's the only thing I'm worried about.
Noize
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VarmintCong
Senior Member
So that's an Opel Insignia wagon? I'm not a wagon fan but I get the appeal. We're looking at a Mercedes GLB 250 cause it's basically a boxy 5 door hatchback in disguise.Well, update here. I traded my CTR for a Buick today
The CTR had the same issue this year that the GRC had last year. Sitting in the garage next to the GR86 it's just not fun enough to justify it. Obviously it's way faster and a ton of fun when you're ripping it. But for how I use it, what I use it for.. it's a bit silly to pay for all of that and not use it.
So that's been on my mind and then a red TourX popped up for sale down the street. Loaded, clean as a whistle, low-ish mileage. I bought it with the CTR's equity. I've always had an eye for these things. I test drove one when they came out (one of the very few test drives I've taken in the last 15 years, actually) and would have bought one then if they were available in manual. So here I am with an AT DD for the first time since 2005. That's the only thing I'm worried about.
