Civic Type-R test drive (steering comparison)

[dave23572]

Originally Posted by Dan1971

And when you've checked your car out and find that there's nothing wrong with it - accept that a CTR does what you want from your car better ....

Find the thousands you'll need to change and go get one.

There are years between the cars you're comparing, and gaziliions in the budgets for developing them.

We love our Zeds - but there are better cars out there - sounds to me like you've found yours.

You may be right, but same as you, I love my Zed (had it 8 years and done 115000 miles in it now). I love it's rarity (these days) and it's underdog status, it's a bit alternative.

Ideally I'd like to keep it, but I also want to enjoy my driving more.
My taste in handling is a very tight/responsive/direct front end.
If I can't mod my ZS to make it so, I may have to go for a CTR, but that will be a sad day for me.

Also a much more expensive route to take. With the cost to change and depreciation. Also the CTR fuel economy is only 1 or 2 mpg better and with probably having to run it on V-power fuel may cost more to fuel than the 180. It will be a hard decision, so I hope I can improve my 180 and just keep it.

[ian zs180]

Originally Posted by dave23572

You may be right, but same as you, I love my Zed (had it 8 years and done 115000 miles in it now). I love it's rarity (these days) and it's underdog status, it's a bit alternative.

Ideally I'd like to keep it, but I also want to enjoy my driving more.
My taste in handling is a very tight/responsive/direct front end.
If I can't mod my ZS to make it so, I may have to go for a CTR, but that will be a sad day for me.

Also a much more expensive route to take. With the cost to change and depreciation. Also the CTR fuel economy is only 1 or 2 mpg better and with probably having to run it on V-power fuel may cost more to fuel than the 180. It will be a hard decision, so I hope I can improve my 180 and just keep it.

How can you not enjoy the drive of a zs dave . Its one of the best drivers cars out there even by todays standards I love my zs and its a match for most things on the twistes and stuff . I remember tiff needell saying its the best front wheel drive car he has driven I know that's going back sometime now but like I said its still one of the best handling cars out there .

[Eddie]

I would look at the ZS steering rack ratio as well as the power steering.
Most Honda's are built with a fast rack and a very well matched and balanced power assisted steering.
Once you have confirmation of the steering rack ratios have a word with Quaife as they make after market quick racks.
It's something I noticed after driving a ZS for many years and jumping into an ITR, also you have to account for the weight over the front axel, ZS compared to a Honda is going to be miles different so reaction will suffer. I think MG managed to engineer out the front end weight through clever geometry so you may be stuck with what you have.

[Mark S]

the 180 is meant to have a quicker rack than the other zeds and rovers, but these are unobtainable and there is a slim chance it may not be a 180 rack - especially if rover were short when they built your car.

Why not pick up a used 180 rack, as they're 30quid or so, and mod the torsion bar so the pas is not so active, it will add loads of feel through the wheel as well as weight?

[talkingcars]

A zs180 rack is treated as an upgrade by civic owners.

[Ritchy]

I think the newer civics may have epas

[petet16]

I wouldn't be surprised to find it's a 45 rack, a bit like the deal with arb's, they just fitted whatever was available.

[dave23572]

Originally Posted by petet16

I wouldn't be surprised to find it's a 45 rack, a bit like the deal with arb's, they just fitted whatever was available.

I will get my garage to check those.

Was that a common thing then?
For the assembly line to fit non-180 parts to 180's?

That's really bad if they did.
People paying for what they thought was a full-spec 180 but getting something less.

Does anyone on here know what the ARB diameters should be for a 180?
Also what the turns lock-lock should be for the steering rack

D

[petet16]

The rear arb should be 20mm, it's not uncommon to find an 18mm bar fitted.

[petet16]

The front should be 24mm.