• You can’t depreciate a Honda Civic Type R
• The Honda Civic Si is the best fast car under $30,000
• Don’t buy a Honda Civic Type R right now

Sometimes, it’s kind of fun to make the argument that the slower car is better. In fact, it’s often a pretty solid argument. One could argue for a myriad of reasons that older, cheap BMW M3 models are better than the current six-figure sports sedan. Now, we’re going to make largely the same argument of the 2022 Honda Civic Si as compared to its big sibling: the Honda Civic Type R. It’s time for a battle of the hottest Honda Civics.

VTEC twins the Civic Si and the Type R are set apart by money

To be clear, the issue is something that’s rampant in the automotive world today. The car everyone wants is often the car they can’t (or shouldn’t, for one reason or another) get. Take the new Corvette. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a new 2022 Chevrolet Corvette at MSRP. But you could argue the C5 Corvette is a better buy. To return to the topic at hand, we think the 2022 Honda Civic Si is a better buy than the Honda Civic Type R.

At least, it is right now. The Honda Civic Type R is by far the superior driver’s car, as well as being more practical thanks to that cavernous hatch. But, you’re not paying MSRP for a new one for two reasons. First, you can’t order a new one anymore. Honda is making room for the 2022 Honda Civic Type R and has stopped taking orders. Second, the, er, secondhand market.

Is the Honda Civic Type R worth buying?

A brief perusal on AutoTempest reveals that values for the current Honda Civic Type R have gone utterly insane. It’s impossible to depreciate a used Honda Civic Type R. If you’re wanting to pay MSRP for a Type R, it’s going to be a used one. Most of those below the hot hatche’s $40,000 or so MSRP are now well-used. They have tens of thousands of miles, with some approaching 50,000. Like many Honda Civics, they’ve also been modified.

Now, that’s not to say that these cars aren’t worth buying. The Honda Civic Type R is a fantastic car. It’s arguably the best FWD car out there right now. But the ultra-hot Civic Type R LE is not worth the $70,000 some dealers are asking. Nor are these modified higher-mileage examples. As soon as the new Type R leaves the Nurburgring and comes Stateside, values will drop for the first-gen car.

The 2022 Honda Civic Si is all the fast car you need

Frankly, the 2022 Honda Civic Si is a much safer new car buy. It’s still plenty practical, and plenty fast, with 205 hp and stick shift. Plus, the car’s $27,300 MSRP is far more palatable. Yes, the Type R will hold its value better, but if you’re going to hop on a lease, make sure it’s for the 2022 Honda Civic Si. If you want a Honda Civic Type R, we’d suggest waiting for values to calm down. After all, the 2022 Honda Civic Si is all the car you need.