I love the way the engine note tightens as the rev-counter needle passes 5200rpm and picks up speed

This isn’t my first Honda long-termer, but it is my first four-wheeled one, and needless to say, a Civic Type-R couldn’t be much more different to the CBR125R motorbike I ran back when I worked at MCN!

The Civic’s seats are a lot more comfortable for a start. In fact its cabin is a great place to be. With a name like Championship White, you might expect this special edition of Honda’s hot hatch to be a stripped-out, R26.R-style trackday special, yet it’s actually quite luxurious. Based on the GT-spec Type-R, it gets auto lights and wipers, power-folding door mirrors, dual-zone climate control and a refrigerated glovebox as standard, while this particular car’s spec has been further enhanced with a voice-recognition satnav system (a £1600 option). Admittedly, the dash can look a bit chaotic at first, with its displays on different levels and buttons here, there and everywhere, but to be fair I found I got used to it all surprisingly quickly. 

My last Honda had 13bhp – paltry by any standards – so the 197bhp 2-litre engine in the Type-R is a serious step up. Being a VTEC unit it does feel a bit lacking in poke lower down the rev- range, but I do enjoy the way the engine note tightens as the rev-counter needle passes 5200rpm and picks up speed, a strip of LEDs on the dial lighting up to help you time your upchange to perfection as the 8000rpm red line approaches.

Arguably the most significant element of the Championship White is its limited-slip diff, something that you won’t find on any other current UK-spec CTR. It seems like it’s well worth having too, as front-end grip and traction are quite exceptional in all weathers. The steering – which has come in for some bad press – isn’t as bad as I expected either. There’s more than enough feel to know what’s going on down at the front wheels, giving me the confidence to tackle corners with enthusiasm.

There is, of course, another thing that’s unique to the Championship White Civic, and it’s one you can’t escape: the Persil-white colour of the bodywork and wheels. It’s been said that white is the new black, and the number of tasty but pasty cars we’ve seen at the office of late would seem to confirm this (Scirocco, Cayman S, Golf GTI, Audi TTS, Caterham R500 – the list goes on). White paintwork is nothing new for Honda, though. Way back in the early ’60s the company’s first Formula 1 cars were painted in the national Japanese racing colour, while more recently road-going models like the DC2 Integra Type-R and NSX Type-R wore the colour even when it wasn’t at the height of fashion.

The sheer whiteness of this Civic certainly makes it stand out from the crowd even today, although judging by the reactions of walkers, joggers and fellow drivers, I get the impression that the colour scheme is a ‘Marmite’ one – some people give an appreciative smile or nod, others simply cringe…

Now, I’m not one to complain about the attention – I even feel quietly smug when I pass a lesser, standard Civic Type-R – but there are downsides to standing out like a sore thumb (presumably a bandaged one). Just a few hours after taking custody of the Civic, I parked up at my local gym, forgetting that it isn’t situated in the most savoury part of town. As I grabbed my gym bag and shut the door, I heard someone shout ‘Nice car, mate!’ and turned to see three mischievous-looking figures eyeing up the Honda. Worried, and with nowhere better to park nearby, I wimped out, headed home and went for a run instead.

Avoiding unwanted attention is likely to be the least of my problems when it comes to looking after this long-termer, though; the main battle is going to be keeping it white. In the few weeks I’ve had the Champ I’ve already cleaned it more times than I ever did the CBR125R, but that’s not going to dull my enthusiasm for it. In fact I’m already planning to take it on a road trip abroad. Better start saving up for the car washes I’ll need on the way…