RE: Honda Civic Type R EP3: Catch It While You Can

[Kozy]

At £2-3k worth a punt.

At £5k, no. Not when a bit more picks you up a PROPER Type R...

[X5TUU]

jon- said:

X5TUU said:

And the final nail in the coffin for them for me is how the front and back seats don't match, red inserts (or buckets) in the front, black in the back ... that has my OCD going bonkers!

So your ocd bought a car with doors that open in different directions. Still, at least you bought a car that runs on equal parts of petrol, oil, and good intentions.

Suicide doors don't cause a confusion (unlike a mismatched colour scheme) and are actually easier for access in and out ... and the latter point is just plain rubbish from the uneducated and mass-lambasting many, I used 1L 2stroke oil in the fuel tank every 160L(ish) and topped the oil every couple of thousand miles, hardly massive and not a big deal and the rotors and compression were bang on performance when I sold it ... the same with my second one too.

Anyway back on topic ...

[kiethton]

Loved mine and wish I kept it for longer, only issue was the chavvy image....

Made a great road tip in it though and was absolutely faultless (if far too low!)

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=130...

[kerryt5r]

Kozy said:

At £2-3k worth a punt.

At £5k, no. Not when a bit more picks you up a PROPER Type R...

I would have my EP3 over that any day..

[TheJimi]

Durzel said:

Have never been able to bring myself to sell it...

Can confirm


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[Marc p]

Having been lucky enough to have driven all incarnations of the Civic Type R, I have to say that although the EP3 is not a bad car by any means, it is by far and away the worst Honda to sport the Type R badge.

In essence, the EK9 is quick, with a very raw feeling, you really feel everything the car is doing, but it is un-refined and not fantastic for day in-day out use.

The later FN2 lacks the raw feeling of the EK9 and the sense of speed, but it is a nice and comfortable place to be and a great car to use on a daily basis.

The EP3, in my opinion, takes the worst charateristics of both the above and combines them into a car, that has no refinement, but it has no sense of speed or the raw driving experiance that the EK9 offered either, which is why I would always try and steer people away from the EP3.

[Martin_Hx]

I like mine, had it since 2007!

[ALBA MELV]

Decent standard ones will probably become rarer as the prices come down. I'm starting to see more chavs with them. "Slammed" so that the back bumper is 1" from the tar, a crappy backbox with a 8" tailpipe, crazy colured wheels and stickers obscuring view from the front and rear screens. That, plus being driven at 8k revs at any possible opportunity.

[Kozy]

kerryt5r said:

I would have my EP3 over that any day..

For what reasons, out of interest?

[SeanEP3]

I'm on my 3rd EP3 now. Great cars. Each time I've sold one, I haven't really found anything that is as versatile as it, and ended up getting another one.

[ST150HB]

Nearly bought one a few years back, 2005 cosmic grey, 76k IIRC for £6800. However, when there was an '08 Fiesta ST, 14k up for £6500 at the same dealer, my head went for that instead. Do sometimes wonder if I missed out, although the ST was a cracker for me!

[MrHanky]

On my 2nd EP3 at the moment that is mainly going to be for track days. Had an Anniversary edition new when they first came out as well. Overall I like them but do not love them.
Good all rounder and good value for money. Handling wise they are transformed with a change of springs and camber adjusters.

But if I had more spare money I would go for a DC5. Had one of these as well and loved it. Looks great (not like the bread van) and has a few nice bits on as standard (Brembo brakes, LSD, prefer the red Recaro's and a bit more power).

Still value for money wise the EP3 is good. I use it for a 100 mile commute sometimes and always get about 32mpg whilst having a bit of fun also.

[P4ROT]

EK9 ftw

[JamesD1]

I really want a type r and ep3 has been on my radar for a long while but they seem very expensive. I think it'll have to be an integra when I do have the means to buy (next year possibly) but i'll definatley not rule out the ep3.

[Nezquick]

X5TUU said:

And the final nail in the coffin for them for me is how the front and back seats don't match, red inserts (or buckets) in the front, black in the back ... that has my OCD going bonkers!

Funny you should mention that as when I wanted to trade mine in a good few years ago the salesman told me that due to the seats being different colours, he couldn't offer me the type of money I was looking for, as they clearly "weren't original".

[Durzel]

TheJimi said:

Can confirm


( )

Sorry

[dufunk]

Unsure about worlds best gearbox it seemed to be the weak point in them, also no lsd made them crap of the line and not on par with handling of dc2.

[Neil_M]

ST150HB said:

Nearly bought one a few years back, 2005 cosmic grey, 76k IIRC for £6800. However, when there was an '08 Fiesta ST, 14k up for £6500 at the same dealer, my head went for that instead. Do sometimes wonder if I missed out, although the ST was a cracker for me!

IMO you made the better choice. I'd an '08 Fiesta ST back in the day too, superb car.


The EP3's are now at a price point, that would make them into an intriguing project car... A good base to improve upon. I'd be tempted to have one as a track toy.

Not unburstable as people would lead you to believe, but a good car all the same.

They get more and more relevant due to their engine and the on going march to kill off n/a sporting engines...

[integrasi]

Being a Honda fan (enthusiast) for the last 12 or so years I regally find myself constantly defending the EP3 when discussing the type r brand with customers and friends. Having owned two DC2's, an EP3, DC5, S2000 + charger and now an FD2, I still rate the EP3 as its a lot of car for the money these days with great all round performance, reliability and rewarding - just find the right one and you will be happy!

Since the price of the car has dropped its hit the normal problem most older hatch back/affordable performance models suffer from when it gets in the hands of the wrong sort

If you haven't driven one - get it done as you will be surprised - sure it not the quickest car our there but they are great fun when pushing along your favourite roads

[Mastodon2]

Neil_M said:

IMO you made the better choice. I'd an '08 Fiesta ST back in the day too, superb car.

I'm struggling to think of any area where the ST matches or beats the EP3, apart from weight. 30kgs lighter, but being 50bhp down on the EP3. Smaller, not as nimble handling, worse fuel economy, decidely average Ford gearbox with only 5 gears vs the slick, close ratio 6 speed of the Civic. And worst of all, where the EP3 gets a glorious screaming VTEC unit, the ST got a gruff, untuned lump from a Mondeo dumped in it.