Nicholas Hawn / 39 / Tampa, FL
@vrooomish
Before I bought this car, I had an ND2 Miata and a Mazda3 Turbo. Both were fun in their own ways—the Miata was a blast on backroads, and the Mazda3 had just enough punch to keep things interesting on the daily drive. I wasn’t really planning on anything crazy when I walked into the dealership—I just wanted a regular Civic. Something simple, practical, nothing too wild.
But then I saw it. My 2024 Type R, sitting there on the showroom floor like it had been waiting for me the whole time. I didn’t even plan to look at one, let alone buy one, but the second I laid eyes on it, I knew. I'd like to think it was fate.
Since then, it’s been everything I hoped for and more. I love heading out to Cars and Coffee, catching up with other enthusiasts, talking shop, and just enjoying the atmosphere. There’s something about being around other people who just get the car life.
Between those meets and my general obsession with all things automotive, it didn’t take long before the Type R started getting some upgrades. Staying stock just wasn’t in the cards.
Modifications
PRL High Volume Intake
PRL Titanium Inlet Pipe
PRL Front Mount Intercooler
PRL Charge Pipes
TSP High Efficiency Downpipe
PRL Front Pipe Upgrade
Borla Atak Catback Exhaust System
PRL Rear Motor Mount
Mishimoto Coolant Expansion Tank
TSP Red Cerakoted Valve Cover
Hondata FlashPro w/ Custom e-Tune
Hybrid Racing Short Throw Shifter
Hybrid Racing Alcantara Shift Boot
Hybrid Racing Shift Boot Collar
Acuity Shifter Cable Bushings
Acuity POCO Shift Knob
Swift Springs R-Spec Lowering Springs
PRL Front Strut Tower Bar
PRL Rear Strut Tower Bar
PRL Subframe Reinforcement System
Paragon P2 Brake Pads (Front/Rear)
Paragon Titanium Front Brake Pad Shims
Paragon Front Slotted Rotors
Paragon Rear Slotted Rotors
Dress Up Bolts - Stage 2 Engine Bay
PTP Turbo Blanket
PRL Billet Oil Cap
PRL Wing Risers
Spoon AntiGlare Convex Mirrors
Spoon Sports Clutch Slave Line
J's Racing Radiator Pipes
Enkei TS-7's (18x9.5+45)
Continental ExtremeContact Sports (265/35/ZR18)
Mugen Rain Guards
Scorche Pro Clip Angled Dash Mount
Scorche MagicMount Pro 2 (Mag Safe)
Custom Spinnywhoosh MHA Deku Themed Underwing Livery
Custom Spinnywhoosh MHA Deku Themed Center Console Livery
Wrapped in Inozetek Liquid Metal Aventurine Green
Hands down, my favorite mod so far has been the Hybrid Racing Short Throw Shifter. If I had to do it all over again, that would be the very first thing I’d install. The shifts are insanely crisp, and the overall feel is just night and day compared to the stock setup. It completely changes the driving experience in the best way.
Next up on my list are the rear lower control arms (A arms and B arms). I’m planning to swap those out not just for the added durability, but also so I can really dial in my alignment—especially if I decide to take the car to the track. I’ve also been toying with the idea of throwing on a new steering wheel, a lip kit, and a radiator. My build has always been about making the most of the near 400WHP, and for that, keeping everything cool and tightening up the handling is key.
Some of the work I’ve tackled myself, but if there’s ever something I’m not 100% confident in doing, I take it over to Foxx Autoworks in Brandon, FL. Those guys are incredible—I’ve built a solid relationship with them, and they always go above and beyond to take care of me and the car.
Honestly, my favorite thing about this car has been all the memories it's helped create. From going on rallies with my wife (@grrrrfour), to becoming friends with Joe Raiti, and meeting so many awesome people along the way—it’s been a blast. The car community has really opened up for me since getting the Type R. Shoutout to Two Step Performance too—they’ve been a huge part of this build and journey, and I’m excited to see where we take it next.
The biggest low point? Definitely that time I accidentally hit a turtle driving home from Sebring. A truck swerved ahead of me, and it just barely cleared—I didn’t even see the turtle until it was too late. It was honestly heartbreaking. Thankfully, the only real damage was a hole in the skid plate. Ever since then, I’ve been focusing on dialing in the handling. I want the car to respond exactly how I expect it to, every time.
I’ve put over 20,000 miles on this car, and I still don’t like driving anything else. It’s easily the best car I’ve ever owned. Sure, there are plenty of other great cars I could’ve gone with for the money, but none of them feel like this one. Even now, I haven’t come across anything that makes me think, “Yeah, I’d trade mine for that.” It’s been an amazing ride so far—and I’m just getting started.
#twostepperformance, #tsp_tuned