On the RKM ATR (Accord Type-R):
Yay! My steed's been tuned at last!
Too bad Honda discontinued the Accord Type R. However, good news for us is RKM was more than willing to pick up the slack and churned out a masterfully built ATR.
-Steering feel is light and feedback is communicative. The front tires will let you know if the ATR is nearing the limits of adhesion.
-Front end is firmly planted on flat tracks. Curbs do not upset the ride though dips on the track compresses the suspension which jars the ATR a bit and loses some revs. Pick those racing lines well!
-Body roll and forward/backward movements are minimal. Tire loading shows the front suspension working all the time, as the rear suspension comes into play while cornering or soaking up bumps.
-LSD allows for a high degree of slippage of the front wheels resulting in fast cornering speeds in high-speed transitions (i.e. R246, Monza) whilst retaining traction.
-Even without a rear wing, the car can hug tight racing lines and maintain grip. I was surprised that the ATR lapped R246 faster than my RKM S2000(!), even if the latter had more power. If GT Auto had a low-rising and fashionable rear wing for this car, I'd add one - then the handling will have become sweeter. Nonetheless, the car is capable as-is.
-The ATR is not prone to trail-braking understeer, unless braking was started far too late and deep into the corner.
-Gear ratios kept revs in all gears inside VTEC range, resulting in brisk acceleration. Upshifts are always past 6,000 rpm. I kept my car's piping stock (power is down to 272 bhp) and yet it sounds great. The car always in higher revs makes it sound like there's a forced induction unit under the hood (noticeable in bumper cam).
-Rear brake bias helped the ATR into turn-ins. However, I retained the standard brake balance to maintain the FF feel of the ATR, and not an FR-wannabe.
-Nothing could upset this car except real bad driving.
Overall, the ATR is the dark horse in Honda's Type R stable. Overshadowed by the Type R variants of the NSX, Civic, and Integra, by no means is the Accord a slouch. As I mentioned earlier in the post, it can post faster times than a conservatively tuned S2000 - this alone is a testament to what the RKM ATR is capable of. I guess that is the appeal of the ATR - a dark horse. Overlooked and underrated, but is a bruiser of an FF car. No carbon-fiber trim, no park benches, no side skirts or rear diffuser, the ATR is all-motor and excellent chassis dynamics working hand-in-hand to bring out stereotype-breaking performance.
RKM has itself a real gem of a sleeper in the ATR. Personally, I feel it's a better car than RJ's Atenza.
Now just have to stay connected long enough to do the TT.
