Honda Civic Type R FL5

There are hot hatches… and then there are cars that reset the benchmark.

The FL5 Type R is exactly that. In an era of increasingly complicated performance cars, Honda stuck to the recipe that made the Type R legendary; a six-speed manual gearbox, a turbocharged VTEC engine, front-wheel drive and a chassis so good it makes you wonder why you’d ever need driven rear wheels. Evo Magazine summed it up perfectly, calling the FL5 “the best front-wheel-drive performance car ever made.”

It’s a statement few argued with. This stunning Japanese-market example is finished in the iconic Racing Blue Pearl, paired with the unmistakable red suede Type R bucket seats and matching carpets. It’s a colour combination that perfectly captures everything a Type R should be; bold, purposeful and just a little bit outrageous. Having covered just 21,000 kilometres, the car remains in as-new condition throughout and drives exactly as Honda intended.

The Japanese specification also benefits from a slight power increase over European cars, producing 330PS, along with the attention to detail that has made JDM models so desirable among enthusiasts. Protection has clearly been a priority from new, benefiting from a full ceramic coating together with paint protection film applied to the bonnet, headlights, side skirts, roof edge and other high-impact areas.

A driver’s seat bolster protector has also been fitted from new to prevent the common wear seen on many performance cars. It comes complete with both keys and its Honda service invoice. Power comes from Honda’s phenomenal 2.0-litre VTEC Turbo engine producing 330PS, driving the front wheels through one of the finest manual gearboxes ever fitted to a production car.

The shift is mechanical perfection, the steering is alive with feedback and the grip available from the front axle borders on unbelievable. It simply has to be driven to be appreciated. The FL5 is already proving to be one of the most sought-after modern performance cars.

With production numbers remaining limited, demand continuing to outstrip supply and manual performance cars becoming increasingly rare, many believe it is destined to become one of the defining Japanese performance cars of its generation.

Examples this fresh rarely become available, and at the time of advertising this is the newest Honda Civic Type R currently offered for sale in Ireland. If you’ve been waiting for the right FL5, this is it.

A car that’s every bit as thrilling on your favourite B-road as it is admired at every petrol station. Buy it now, thank yourself every time you open the garage door.