2018 Civic Type R - Benjamin Gutierrez

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2018 Civic Type R

Benjamin Gutierrez

Instagram: @_benjamingutierrez

Photographer: @shanket_bhikha

I was born and raised in San Diego, CA, I’m a Corpsman in the USN. I spent 23 years loving my life in SoCal until I joined the Navy and got stationed in Japan, then Hawaii, back to California for a few months and now in South Texas.

Unfortunately for me, I did not have many if any car role models in my family. I’m one of the few that got sucked into the black hole of the car world. Cars to me are a love-hate relationship. I love driving them and working on them when they don’t cause me problems, but I sure do hate it the second something goes wrong. I think just like any other kid born in the 90s The Fast and the Furious franchise definitely made an impact, I have no shame in admitting that. The more I learned about cars the more I was able to make better decisions about what I wanted to do with mine, and here we are now.

I went with a Type R due to its heritage and practicality. I moved to this platform after owning a 2016 STi which is a love-hate relationship as every Subaru owner knows. I saw an opportunity to buy the Type R brand new off the lot and I couldn’t pass it up. I do not regret it and haven’t looked back once. For being a FWD car it feels amazing as a daily and on the track.

I’ve been modifying cars for the better half of the last 10 years. Some of my previous builds have been a 95 Prelude, 09 Civic Si sedan, 95 Silvia (S14), 93 Miata, 16 Sit and now my 18 Type R. I got this car with the intention of modifying and tracking it which is exactly what I’ve done with it. I knew this car would be reliable as long as I kept the tune safe, which is what I have done. I’m very happy with how it has come out and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

I love it. It’s such an iconic car that is able to drive it every day making all the hard times and sweat putting it together worth it. At the end of the day “it’s just a Civic” but what people don’t understand is that for some this is a dream car and there’s no point in taking that away from there or talking down about it simply because it’s a Honda. Sometimes it is crazy to me the compliments I get on my car, especially in south Texas where it is polluted by muscle cars and trucks. I always have the most unassuming people come up to me and compliment the way I have built it which makes it all the more worth it.

I think the most obvious answer to why I think my car is unique or stands out is my wheels and my fitment. It’s not the most common for someone with the platform to run bimmer spec wheels or even be at my height. Even at my height, my car is still very functional and I don’t really have any issues going anywhere. With my current height and alignment, I can easily go from aggressive daily wheels to a set of track wheels and go have some fun without batting an eye. 

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Other than that one of my most unique mods is my Craft Square side mirrors. I would like to say I am one of maybe 3 people with the on, the evasive FK8 and another guy in Japan. This is actually a custom setup with universal Craft Square mirrors and a custom base plate to hold the mirrors onto the car which I made myself.

Spec List

Engine- 

•  Hondata flash pro
• HKS Downpipe/ Front pipe
• HKS Intake
• HKS Intercooler
• HKS Legamax Exhaust
• HKS Blowoff Valve w/ Recirculating Kit
• HKS Oil cap
• HKS Radiator cap
• Hasport 62A RMM
• HKS Oil Cooler

Exterior-

• Varis Bonnet
• EVS FRP lip
• Custom Homemade Front Splitter
• Aeroflow Side extensions
• Artwork Bodyshop rear spats
• Custom grille cutouts
• Badgeskins Side marker deletes
• Voltex Type 2 w/ Renegade CF solid stands and wrapped end plates
• Craft Square Side mirrors with custom mounting plates
• OEM rain guards

Interior-

• Works Bell Short hub/ SRD/ Tilt hub paired with a MOMO Monte Carlo 350mm
• Chasing Js steering wheel hardware
• NSX Type S horn button
• Exposed Hybrid Racing Short Shifter
• Chasing Js extended Shift lever
• Renegade black shift knob
• Didupholsrey Alcantara shift plate, side wing and gauge hood

Wheels, Suspension, Brakes-

• Desmond Regamaster EVO II 18x10 +25 paired with 265/35 tires
• HKS Coilovers
• Stock Brembo breaks with Gyrodisc Rotors

All the work on my car has been completed by myself or myself and a couple of friends in the garage. I’m always up for a challenge if I feel like might be able to do it. My splitter is made out of wood like most other aftermarket ones are. With an angle grinder and a can-do attitude, I get to smack my splitter on all kinds of surfaces and live worry-free knowing I can make another one whenever. 

Future Plans

For right now I think I’m going to chill in the car. I’m very happy with how it looks and drives. Eventually, when my seats get extra worn I’ll opt for a Recaro pole position, but who knows when that will actually happen. I think at this point I’m just going to worry about maintenance and hope I can make a track event in Texas soon. Last time I went to the track I drove to California and back. That took a lot out of me and the car, I don’t really want to do that again.

Advice/Tips

If anyone is in the market for one I would say be patient. Unfortunately, right now the car market is terrible with any car, but I feel like its especially bad for the Type R. So just be patient, wait for the right one, don’t settle, don’t overpay, and once you are able to get your hands on one you won’t regret it.

Don’t be afraid to be different. There might not be a lot of options when it comes to lip kits or aero in general for this platform, but it's still growing. If you don’t like something on the market, make something work for you. I think one of the most important things tho is to know what you want to do so you don’t waste money buying things twice. If you know what you want save your money and buy it, don’t rush it. I don’t think I have bought any piece on my car and have later said, “darn, I want this one instead” I get it, sometimes you like one thing one week and something else the next, nothing wrong with that. Just do your research and always build for yourself, not for others.  

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Groups/Shout Outs

I wouldn’t really say I’m a part of any particular clubs. I used to be into that when I was younger and new to the car scene, but I think at this point instead of associating myself with a group of people because of their cars I have a few very close friends who also happen to have dope cars, but I would hang out with them regardless of what they drove.

The car scene has definitely opened me up to a different world. I can be a pretty shy person by nature, but cars make you a more open person. I have met a lot of great people and also some not so great people. I just like expressing myself through my car and I enjoy doing things that aren’t in the norm, it's honestly the best part and when people love it, that makes it all the better.

Dream Car

If I had to choose a dream car for me it would be a 2000 Civic Si in electron blue pearl, but who doesn’t have this as a dream car? It’s a simple dream car for sure, but nothing can beat that nostalgia to me. To me a dream car isn’t about price, it’s about a car that I only wish I could have since an EM1 that is untouched is very rare and if I did find it, it would probably be out of my price range. Hence it is my dream car. 

What do you think?

Please leave your comments in the comments section at the bottom of the page

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