2019 Honda Civic Type R Review - Haunting My Dreams

As I’ve mentioned before, reviewing cars here at TTAC is not my primary career. At best, I get a few hours a week working in my basement office to pound out prose that the Best and Brightest loves to critique. As such, I don’t always get around to writing about each car I’ve driven until several weeks (or more) later.

As the calendar pages tear away furiously toward a new year, like many I’ve taken stock of what I’ve done over the past eleven months. I’m realizing that of the cars I’ve had the pleasure of wheeling, there are only a few that I can legitimately picture myself buying. These cars are objects of desire and obsession for a gearhead like yours truly.

The 2019 Honda Civic Type R is at the top of the list, certainly. The blend of incredible performance and everyday utility make it a favorite of many reviewers. But that’s the problem – everybody’s written about it. What can this part-time auto scribe say about it that hasn’t yet been said?

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  • ToolGuy I have 2 podcasts to listen to before commenting, stop rushing my homework.
  • ToolGuy Please allow me to listen to the podcast before commenting. (This is the way my mind works, please forgive me.)
  • ToolGuy My ancient sedan (19 years lol) matches the turbo Mazda 0-60 (on paper) while delivering better highway fuel economy, so let's just say I don't see a compelling reason to 'upgrade' and by the way HOW HAVE ICE POWERTRAIN ENGINEERS BEEN SPENDING THEIR TIME never mind I think I know. 😉
  • FreedMike This was the Official Affluent-Mom Character Mobile in just about every TV show and movie in the Aughts.
  • Offbeat Oddity The RAV4, and I say this as someone who currently owns a 2014 CR-V. My aunt has a 2018 CR-V that has had a lot of electrical issues, and I don't trust the turbo and CVT to last as long as Toyota's NA engine and 8-speed automatic. Plus, the RAV4 looks sportier and doesn't have the huge front overhang.