Coming soon: Civic Type-R vs Lancer Evolution (X)

A shootout between a RM199k Honda Civic Type-R and the RM323k Mitsu Lancer Evolution? Possibly a mismatched duo or perhaps a comparo bordering on insanity, you may wonder.

Well, both of them are top-drawer, high performance halo models of their respective range, yes? One wears the the much-revered Type-R 'talisman' while the other has the iconic WRC-bred Evo heritage.
Coincidentally (seriously!) both of them have ended up on the test platter of this writer over the last weekend. And the findings are rather baffling and outcome not as straightforward as A, B, C.
Watch this space for more details soon...

In the meantime, you may want to read this:
First Drive: Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution with TC-SST

On Test: Honda Civic Type-R

I have always loved Honda's K20A engine for what it represents: smooth, willing and sweet to the redline; having owned the 7th gen Accord for quite a while back in 2004.
However, I didn't quite subscribe to the early understeer tendency and easy chirping/squealing of its front tyres - which I blamed on the FWD dynamics (and maybe poor OE-grade tyres) - and decidedly switched to a rear-wheel drive sedan ever since.

In addition, my first car back in the 1990s was a Proton Wira 1.3GL manual, which was incidentally also in white. Thus, it was with a tinge of scepticism that I took out an 8th gen Civic Type-R (sedan) for my NST-CBT Car of The Year (COTY) 2008 review. Yep! It's another front wheel driven car equipped a stick shifter, albeit a 6-speed 'box.
Also, having driven the Golf GTI Mk5 (DSG) countless times, I swored that this has to be one of the best FWD car around. Now I guess that the crown - in my book at least - will be taken over by the Civic Type-R, with another accolade added to it: the best front-wheel-drive AND manual tranny car I have ever driven so far!



Watch out for the full test report coming up soon and possibly a mini shootout with the new Lancer Evolution (X) :)