hi mate.
i had a civic type R for around 3 years bfore trading in and getting an ST. i had bought a new house and wanted something a bit cheaper to run etc.
I thought id give you my opinion of the CTR experience...
Pros == First off, the car is A LOT quicker than the ST, but thats no surprise as they shouldnt be compared anyway.
The 6 speed, unusaul positioned gearbox / stick is a joy to use, very short and very easy to handle.
At times the car feels as though it is on rails, it holds the corners very well but it does lose that responsiveness in steering at lower speeds, the steering is a lot better the faster you go.
The interior is very well built and looks very good - the seats being some of the best ive sat in.
Cons == The CTR is expensive to run, it eats oil nearly as quick as pertol. the IVETC engine can feel sluggish at low revs and really has to be worked hard to achiev any performance. The engine relies on a good supply of oil in order to change cams and provide that "kick" of power.
Prepare yourself for chips and scratches. Honda paint is notoriously thin. My CTR, in Nighhawk black was a pain to wash due to swirl marks and after only a few months was covered in stone chips.
Overall i would say that the ST is a fun, nippy hatch not to be taken too seriously, whereas the CTR is more of a balls out racer, but will cost more to insure, tax and keep on the road.
.just my opinion, hope it helps/