FK8 vs FK2, is it worth the extra money??
Discussion
After deciding I don’t want to blow all my money on a price dropping fuel guzzling M4/C63, I decided to be sensible and get something much cheaper but more fun with more accessible performance.
I drove the FK2 2 years ago and found it very stiff and frankly bonkers when hitting the red line, I did like it but I wasn’t bored of my BMW at the time so I decided to leave it.
Fast forward to today and after 2 test drives in the FK8, one normal and one extended, I am 99.9% sure it will be my next car, my budget is up to 27k max and I’m struggling to find nearly new cars at that price that aren’t red or white, I really want black or grey and they all seem to hold their money a lot better. I check AT 4 times a day to see if any new cars are up for sale and I keep finding myself looking at the FK2’s, I can’t remember exactly how it drove, only what I remember thinking but it brings me to this, is the FK8 worth the 7k minimum premium over the FK2?
It’s a big amount of money to be saving, certainly big enough to accept some compromises.
So, my question to FK2 owners / drivers of both that remember well enough,
How bad is the ride of the FK2
Is the torque steer as bad as I remember? I’m currently driving a Mini Cooper S with 190 bhp and coupled with the shocking steering, this Mini was unbearable to drive after driving the FK8 for a few hours.
The FK8 is a masterpiece in my opinion, loved everything about it but if I see an opportunity to save 5-7 grand, I’ll take it.
Any help will be greatly appreciated
I drove the FK2 2 years ago and found it very stiff and frankly bonkers when hitting the red line, I did like it but I wasn’t bored of my BMW at the time so I decided to leave it.
Fast forward to today and after 2 test drives in the FK8, one normal and one extended, I am 99.9% sure it will be my next car, my budget is up to 27k max and I’m struggling to find nearly new cars at that price that aren’t red or white, I really want black or grey and they all seem to hold their money a lot better. I check AT 4 times a day to see if any new cars are up for sale and I keep finding myself looking at the FK2’s, I can’t remember exactly how it drove, only what I remember thinking but it brings me to this, is the FK8 worth the 7k minimum premium over the FK2?
It’s a big amount of money to be saving, certainly big enough to accept some compromises.
So, my question to FK2 owners / drivers of both that remember well enough,
How bad is the ride of the FK2
Is the torque steer as bad as I remember? I’m currently driving a Mini Cooper S with 190 bhp and coupled with the shocking steering, this Mini was unbearable to drive after driving the FK8 for a few hours.
The FK8 is a masterpiece in my opinion, loved everything about it but if I see an opportunity to save 5-7 grand, I’ll take it.
Any help will be greatly appreciated
The FK8 may cost more to buy but will likely be worth more when you sell.
By all accounts the FK2 and FK8 are quite evenly matched on track but the FK8 is meant to be a lot more liveable on the road and has a better interior with more modern tech. I have only driven the FK8 so can't comment on the differences between that and the FK2 other than what reviewers have said.
By all accounts the FK2 and FK8 are quite evenly matched on track but the FK8 is meant to be a lot more liveable on the road and has a better interior with more modern tech. I have only driven the FK8 so can't comment on the differences between that and the FK2 other than what reviewers have said.
I have had my FK2 over 2 years now and I still love driving it. The suspension is firm but not too bad unless you put it into R mode, then its absolutely rock hard far to hard for normal road use. The FK8 is said to be a better car daily due to the comfort mode etc but I much prefer the looks of my FK2. I think you should test drive the FK2 again and then see if you think the price difference is worth it. I have never driven the FK8 so I can't comment of how it rides or performs.
Long time FK2 owner, had mine since November 2015, it's a second car so its only on 6000 miles. Great for Sunday early-morning hoons, good on track and you don't see many around. +R mode is best left for the track or if the road has been newly resurfaced if you want to hang on to your fillings (got lots of those!). Longest drive I've done in one go was returning from Cornwall to the South-east last year and frankly I didn't enjoy the last hour or or so, its certainly not a car to glide along in.
But then again I'm an old git now, wrong side of 60. Still makes me smile though and takes me back to my EP3 days, blatting round, giggling like kid...
But then again I'm an old git now, wrong side of 60. Still makes me smile though and takes me back to my EP3 days, blatting round, giggling like kid...
I've had my FK2 for nearly two years now, switching from the Continental's to the Pilot Sport 4s tyres did actually improve the ride with no loss of grip.
My friend with a Mk7 Golf R doesn't think the ride is too far off his Golf and he doesn't like cars with a harsh ride.
Torque steer isn't much of an issue in the FK2.
My friend with a Mk7 Golf R doesn't think the ride is too far off his Golf and he doesn't like cars with a harsh ride.
Torque steer isn't much of an issue in the FK2.
They are very similar in many ways but the ride in the FK2 is undeniably hard. In my experience its firmer than sport mode in the FK8 and almost unusable in +R on UK roads.
FK8 is more supple , has a pretty easy going comfort mode as an option as well but is still an absolute weapon in +R.
It's also slightly roomier, has more up to date tech but there's not a lot to choose between them , the older car is still a great choice.
FK8 is more supple , has a pretty easy going comfort mode as an option as well but is still an absolute weapon in +R.
It's also slightly roomier, has more up to date tech but there's not a lot to choose between them , the older car is still a great choice.
Not much in it for me. Had the FK2 2.5 years, 14500 miles from new, and it's been a blast.
It's a bit firm, but it lets you know you're driving something special and it looks daft. Prefer the look of FK2 to FK8.
Honda did persuade me to test the new one - I liked it, a lot, but not enough to justify changing, and I think I will pay the balloon on mine. FK8 has a more forgiving ride, better tech (e.g.: wireless phone charging and apple play) and it somehow feels roomier. It also has rev-matching on downshifts which is a bit of a gimmick, but I did kinda like it...
But the FK2 is rarer, for my money looks better and another vote here for an analogue rev counter. I love mine - fantastic cars, you'll enjoy whichever you decide.
It's a bit firm, but it lets you know you're driving something special and it looks daft. Prefer the look of FK2 to FK8.
Honda did persuade me to test the new one - I liked it, a lot, but not enough to justify changing, and I think I will pay the balloon on mine. FK8 has a more forgiving ride, better tech (e.g.: wireless phone charging and apple play) and it somehow feels roomier. It also has rev-matching on downshifts which is a bit of a gimmick, but I did kinda like it...
But the FK2 is rarer, for my money looks better and another vote here for an analogue rev counter. I love mine - fantastic cars, you'll enjoy whichever you decide.
I think the biggest difference between the FK2 & FK8 is probably that the FK8 has independent rear suspension (like the EP3 chassis) whereas the FK2 has a torsion beam setup (like the FN2 before it). I don't think torque steer is an issue with either of the cars - they are Hondas after all 
You ought to consider this instead.
https://www.torque-gt.co.uk/purple-fd2-200619.html
Far, far rarer.
That's a 6k miler.
The FD2 can be found, rarely, at higher mileage around 10-14k. You can thank me later - should be depreciation proof, you can enjoy the rarity and purity of the construction and strength of those engines. :-)
https://www.torque-gt.co.uk/purple-fd2-200619.html
Far, far rarer.
That's a 6k miler.
The FD2 can be found, rarely, at higher mileage around 10-14k. You can thank me later - should be depreciation proof, you can enjoy the rarity and purity of the construction and strength of those engines. :-)
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