Models · Honda
Honda Civic Type R FN2 buying guide
The FN2 Civic Type R, built for Europe from 2007 to 2011, with a 2.0 VTEC K20 engine and a six-speed manual. The engine has no major known issues, and the faults to look for are few and well understood.
The versions
- 2.0 i-VTEC K20 four-cylinder, 198bhp at 7,800rpm and 142lb ft
- Three-door hatchback, front-wheel drive, six-speed manual, torsion beam rear suspension
- GT spec adds automatic headlights, cruise control and rain-sensing wipers
- Limited slip differential on the Championship White Edition, the Mugen 200 and all cars built after March 2010
- Type R Mugen: 240hp, about 40 made
What to check on a FN2 Civic Type R
3 model-specific things to look at when you view one. They're a starting point, not the full inspection.
Third gear on early cars
What to look for: On the drive, change into third several times, both gently and briskly. It should go in cleanly. Note a notchy change, a gear that is hard to select, or the gearbox jumping out of third. Ask whether any gearbox work has been done.
Why it matters: Early 2007 cars could suffer worn third gear synchromesh. Replacing the synchro fixes it, and many cars had this done under warranty, so a 2007 car with the work on record is fine.
Rust at the top of the doors
What to look for: Open each door and look along the top edge of the door and around the seal next to the central pillar. Lift the trim edge where you can. Look for bubbling or brown staining.
Why it matters: On pre-facelift cars the door seal near the pillar traps water and the top edges of the doors can rust from under the trim. It spreads quickly if left, so early treatment matters. Facelift cars have a revised seal.
Valve clearances and the timing chain
What to look for: Look in the history for valve clearance adjustments at about every 25,000 miles, and for any timing chain work on higher-mileage cars. A light tappety noise just after a cold start is normal.
Why it matters: The K20 needs its valve clearances checked regularly to stay healthy. The timing chain gives no warning before it fails, so on a high-mileage car with no record of a new chain, renewing it as a precaution is sensible.
Also in the full guide
- Clutch, second gear and the oil level
- The cold start, test drive and paperwork checks for the exact version you're viewing
The full guide to the FN2 Civic Type R
The CrankSight guide walks you round the car on your phone at the viewing, with every check for the exact version you're looking at: what to look for, where to find it, and what anything you find is likely to cost. As you go it builds an assessment of that car, and if you view more than one, it lines them up side by side.
£29 for the model, used on as many cars as you like, delivered within 72 hours or your money back.
Other generations
Honda Civic Type R EP3 · Honda Civic Type R FK2 · Honda Civic Type R FK8 · Honda Civic Type R FL5
General points for the model, last checked October 2026. Every car is different, so treat this as a guide to what to look at, not a verdict on any car. CrankSight is independent and has no connection with Honda.