Who here has their R as an everyday driver?

[Xmetal]

These replacement parts might no longer be available.

This should be your main concern on an older car, especially one that isn't produced in large quantity. I had to part ways with my BMW Z4M Coupe because replacement parts were getting really difficult to find and it was only less than 18 years' old! Simple things like waterpump, hoses, expansion tank, etc. One crack in the windshield, and I'm done! Granted, they only sold 1815 copies of that car in North America, nonetheless, it's an issue that most people often overlook until they need a part!

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[BLU RRR]

This should be your main concern on an older car, especially one that isn't produced in large quantity. I had to part ways with my BMW Z4M Coupe because replacement parts were getting really difficult to find and it was only less than 18 years' old! Simple things like waterpump, hoses, expansion tank, etc. One crack in the windshield, and I'm done! Granted, they only sold 1815 copies of that car in North America, nonetheless, it's an issue that most people often overlook until they need a part!

This happens with most cars produced in limited numbers. I had three 94-96 Impala SS and figured parts would never run out since so many caprice cop cars and taxi cabs were made and there were a lot of common drivetrain parts. Well the cops and taxis crashed so much there was virtually nothing left to find when you needed something. about 35,000 total were made over the 3 years and the one off parts unique to the car quickly became hard to find.

Similar story with my 04 GTO after 12 years I had to start sourcing unique parts that broke from Australia until that became a PITA and no longer worth the $$$.

I dont save anything anymore. I drive them and enjoy every minute. I still take extremely good care of them but I know they wont last forever, nor will I.

Yeah the car might be worth "a lot of money" someday but honestly the $$ you burn on insurance, climate controlled garage parts that neeed to be replaced to make it run after 20-30 years and inflation, likely eats up any $ you would have realized over that time. Far better off investing it.

 

[Nothing]

As far as daily driving. I drive it as much as I can. I work from home, but use any excuse to drive it...

I could care less about resale value. I tend to keep my cars to about 180K-250K miles (15-20 years). my previous was a 2007 FA5 with over 180K miles when I saw rumors that the 2025 might be the last year of the FL5 and decided to get it "NOW".

In less than two years and 10K miles I have several minor body dings/scratches/scuffs, and curb rashes on each wheel, I could care less about these. I believe I washed it only once so far, maybe twice...

But I do care very much about keeping the drive train lasting for a long time. I let it warm up thoroughly before WOT and shifting at the red line. I let it cool down as I drive home or in the garage. I added some mods to help with cooling

I change the oil/filter every 5,000 miles (first at 3,000) using good quality oil (PUP 0W-20 and Fram for the first change. M1 ESP 0W-30 and Purolator One for the upcoming oil change). I also replaced the the transmission fluid to get rid of any break-in metals.

I am not an expert driver, said multiple time that I drive like an ape... but I love driving it. Several times after I came home after a fun drive, for example after test driving the DSC module for the first time, and especially after the Cobb intake and custom tune, my wife asked: "what happened? why that silly grin on your face?". Tried to explain, she did not get it, and stopped asking...

It is also a very practical car, lots of stuff fits in the trunk esp with rear seats folded. For example, I recently had to deliver a twin mattress, it fit inside with the hatch fully closed.

Even with a lead foot I get 23-24mpg on a regular basis, though now I am aiming for less fun and more miles and was able to get 25mpg on the latest tank.

I did consider getting the FK8 spare and keeping it in my garage, and only putting it in the trunk for long multi-day trips. but I then recalled that only once in over 180K miles I had to use the spare on the FA5. I might still get it, but it is way down on my wish list.

I just posted my long list of "Quality of Life" mods here:

A mattress... That's impressive. Honda could do a commercial with that.

In my experience the biggest impact to mpg is ignition cycles and amount of city driving. Highway is really good, so fuel map is light on low load.

 

[zumbooruk]

A mattress... That's impressive. Honda could do a commercial with that.

In my experience the biggest impact to mpg is ignition cycles and amount of city driving. Highway is really good, so fuel map is light on low load.

I needed my wife's help to carry the mattress. She kept saying that it would not fit and that I am wasting her time. One of the extremely rare occasions that I was right and she was wrong

I have the Cobb intake and AccessPort with a custom tune by @JST Performance

I've asked Brian for a more power, but conservative as far as stress on the engine, for the +R and a neutered map that maximizes the gas mileage for the Comfort mode. Sport should be somewhere in between, but I haven't tried it yet.

I was still able to get around 23 mpg with the +R map, driving normally (for me...)

I actually had to ask him to lower torque in 1st and 2nd since I could not modulate gas pedal and kept breaking traction too easily. (I mentioned before that I am not an expert driver, I drive like an ape, not easy for me to "feel" the feedback from the car, or respond/correct quickly enough)

Third gear is a beast.

I was having so much fun driving with the +R tune

But I then realized that I've never tested the Comfort mode.

So I switched to the Comfort mode at the previous fill up

I was also driving much more gently than normal and was able to get 25 mpg for the last fill up.

My driving routes did change, it is a mix of streets, rural roads, and freeways

Even with gentle driving, the Comfort mode still feels very strong and fast. Yet definitely not as strong or as fast as +R.

Overall, I am very happy with the custom tune, even though it is still a "work in progress". I still owe Brian more logs and feedback for final refinements.

 

[Unity Performance]

The same thought crossed my mind... I even looked into what it would take to store a car long term.

The car will have to be stored in a museum-style conditions climate-controlled indoor storage at 50–70 °F and 40–50 percent relative humidity, with no UV or ozone sources.

The car must sit on stands or a lift so tires and suspension carry no load.

Engine internals will have to be treated to prevent rust, periodic inspections. Pest exclusion.

Even then it will not be ready to drive without substantial component replacement.

Rubber hoses, bushings, seals, gaskets, belts, and tires will degrade. Oxidation, ozone attack, plasticizer migration, and loss of elasticity occur whether the parts are used or not.

These replacement parts might no longer be available.

Yes, it’s much less appealing to store a low mileage car once all of this is considered. Plus it sucks to see a driver’s car sitting there as a static object.

Not here to offer financial advice but S&P 500, and other options will earn you more if an investment is what one is really after.

 

[Mrjustin81]

I think These will hold their value really well, doubtful fk8 or fl5’s will go up. As much as I love mine

 

[jcb]

The type R specific body panels may be an issue in 20 years...the civic parts probably less assuming Honda stays healthy. Agree with a lot in this thread - just use and enjoy the car. Take good care of it for sure...but it is a Honda Civic factory tuner.

 

[Pekingduck]

I daily mine for almost two years. I put over 50k miles. For me it wasn’t a good daily for the amount of miles I put for work. I went through 5 sets tires, two rear pads, two front pads, front rotors, and those were my biggest expense. I think it a good daily depending on your daily commute as inhow fun your drive is. If it mainly freeway I think it throw away and need to find the fun route home. I daily my electric car and never been happier.

 

[moborb]

Daily for me since the start, year-round. Thinking about trying some all-seasons this year, not ideal in the winter. Absolutely love it. Three years, about 35K.

Bolsters are dying (they never stood a chance), double-flatted when the first set of PS4S's were getting low on tread (huge pothole on the turnpike), little imperfections here and there (got swiped in a parking lot, dinged the spoiler on the garage door a couple times, kids and car interiors). No complaints.

Has been rock solid. I smile every day I get to drive it. Consistent on the highway and then spirited when you want it. Could not be happier. Will I keep it forever? Not sure and I don't really think about it. Don't need that stress. Ha.

 

[Cueyo]

I daily mine for almost two years. I put over 50k miles. For me it wasn’t a good daily for the amount of miles I put for work. I went through 5 sets tires, two rear pads, two front pads, front rotors, and those were my biggest expense. I think it a good daily depending on your daily commute as inhow fun your drive is. If it mainly freeway I think it throw away and need to find the fun route home. I daily my electric car and never been happier.

You went through 5 sets of tires? What are you doing, burnouts in your front yard? I drive spirited everyday and haven't even gotten through the OEM tires yet with ~11k miles. If you tracked it that wouldn't be weird to have a track set and use those up, but with normal commuting 5 sets over 2 years is like a new set every 5-6 months and like 10k miles per set.

The pads and rotors are no big surprise, that's just what you get when you have a car that has brake torque vectoring and all the fancy braking to control the body.

What electric car did you go to? Tires aren't much better with how heavy EVs are.

 

[ThunderPigeon]

You went through 5 sets of tires? What are you doing, burnouts in your front yard? I drive spirited everyday and haven't even gotten through the OEM tires yet with ~11k miles. If you tracked it that wouldn't be weird to have a track set and use those up, but with normal commuting 5 sets over 2 years is like a new set every 5-6 months and like 10k miles per set.

The pads and rotors are no big surprise, that's just what you get when you have a car that has brake torque vectoring and all the fancy braking to control the body.

What electric car did you go to? Tires aren't much better with how heavy EVs are.

If you keep putting PS4S on there, then 50k miles on 5 sets of tires sounds about right. Mine barely lasted 10k miles. If I did that kind of mileage I would have switched to something else.

 

[getRIGHT]

After reading this thread I am having an overwhelming urge to go drive my car.

I also agree with zumbooruk, the DSC module is absolutely the best thing you can do for daily driving comfort if you are still using stock suspension. It really makes all 3 drive modes more enjoyable on even the most undesirable roads while making the full range of suspension travel accessible

 

[Spart]

Main thing I worry about is damage of course, the summer tires, and the lack of a spare.
One flat and I'm dead in the water.

Regarding the tires: I have been extremely happy with Pirelli P Zero AS Plus 3's on my ITS. I did step down from 19 to 18. But they're a really good three-season, performance oriented tire and they're comfortable to drive on. I don't have a ton of miles on them yet, but by all accounts they hold up well - certainly better than 200 or 300TW summers.

Regarding the flat: while you could get yourself setup with a spare, you'd also do really well to have a decent tire plug kit and inflator. Even if you have a spare tire, a plug is often a faster and better solution on the side of the road provided you have a way to inflate the tire. And some leaks are minor enough that you can just use the inflator every 15-30 minutes or so to hobble somewhere better to inspect the issue. I'll pretty much do anything to avoid changing a tire on the side of a highway.

For the plugs, there are a ton of options but I carry around one of these: https://www.sherco-auto.com/product...duty-flat-tire-repair-plug-patch-tool-kit-usa

I've only had to use it twice in the past however many years, but it saved my bacon both times. I have two of the same kit (one for the truck, one for the car) after watching a pretty comprehensive Project Farm video on them.

Something you'll want to add to the kit is a really good set of pliers. You'll generally have to remove something from the tire if you're going to plug it - nail, screw, etc. A pocket knife is also easier to shave the plug off with vs. the included razors.

And as to the inflator, I have a DeWalt that can run off a battery or the 12V power point. Milwaukee has a similar option if you're already invested in those batteries (Milwaukees do better in the cold anyway.)

 

[Mawfuqqa]

my commute for 6 months was 5 miles street 25 miles twisties 3 miles highway every day one way and then back. Without extra curricular driving that's about 10 street, 50 touge, and 6 highway. Solid as a rock.
DE5 ADS + eibachsportline + 265/35/18

 

[zymmer4]

If you keep putting PS4S on there, then 50k miles on 5 sets of tires sounds about right. Mine barely lasted 10k miles. If I did that kind of mileage I would have switched to something else.

My PS4 tires were shreaded in 5000 miles..I drive on WV goatpaths. When I went to Conti DWS 06, I got 15000 miles on the same roads..I have another set of 0 6 on now..Three sets in 21000 miles..

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