Cheers for the article Ralphy. The whole car is awesome in my opions simply because everything about says ' Civic's are not for your Grandad anymore'. Dissapointed with the 1.8 as you say especially the 'paddle-shift' models. Fucking well hard to get those gear changes right. Diesel still the best one of the 3 so far, but still looking forward to the Type R. Funny you mention the Astra VXR. Never have I test drove a car that made so much noise from the engine yet put so little on the road. Very poor.
220 bhp is about as much as you can safely and effectivly put through the front wheels. The VXR is quick in a straight line when you can get traction but damm right scary around a track or b road.
The Alfa 147 is the same, 250 bhp in a front wheel drive car with no traction control, great.
The R32 is great on the other hand due to 4 wd.
One of the best handling cars i've ever driven is the DC2 Integra. only has 185 bhp but would kill the VXR, Renault Megane 225, Alfa 147 around a track.
Manufacturers these days try to appeal to the 'max power' brigade by putting turbocharged engines with massive horsepower in front wheel drive cars. Honda is the only manufacter that doesn't use a turbo in it's performance cars and focuses more on handling and driving enjoyment.
Long may it continue.
