Monday 8th June 2015

Honda Civic Type R: Market Watch

Not sold on the newly turbocharged Type R? Let's look at the market for used ones then...

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Track-bred kudos and a VTEC heritage which stretches back to the 1989 (Honda's fourth-generation Civic SiR/VTI was the first to feature variable valve-timing and lift-control technology) have invested Honda's Civic Type R with a unique persona. Appealing to the purist these key elements set the Civic Type R apart from its hot hatch rivals; and although the first 1997 EK9 Type R was only ever officially available to Japanese buyers, the second generation UK-built EP3 Type R became one of the best-selling hot hatches of all time.

With a headline grabbing 100hp per litre the 2001 model quickly established itself as the benchmark hot hatch for a generation. And although its 2007 FN2 successor never quite attained the same dizzy heights, limited edition Mugen versions helped maintain the allure of the Civic Type R brand. Once more there was a hardcore Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) version - the FD2 - which was imported by a few dedicated fans. The Type R is now of course entering a revolutionary new phase with the new fourth-generation turbocharged FK2 model.

And that makes now the ideal time to look back at those three previous generations and find out which Type R Civics make the best buys, which are most likely to become collectable in the future and to discover which incarnation offers the finest track day drive.

Introduction
Honda Civic Type R (EK9, 1997-2000)
Honda Civic Type R (EP3, 2001-2005)
Honda Civic Type R (FN2 and FD2, 2007-2011)

Many thanks to the Civic Type R Owners Club, the Type R Owners Club, TDI-North, CPL Racing and Glass's Guide for their help with this feature.

[Photos: Tom Begley]

[Happyjap]

I think all of these are acceptable choices, but these are not exactly Japans best, like going to a bar for whieght watchers meeting and being told "Help yourself boys" yes okay if you like fatties okay but please represent Japanese motors better PH, MR Dan gets all stinky finger for Mercedes or other Europe cars but we also have allot to offer!!!!

[Daveyraveygravey]

Er, these ARE the best hot hatches Japan has produced, unless I've missed something? Maybe not the best 4 wheel drive rally inspired saloons or the best rwd coupes, but no Japanese manufacturer has made a better hot hatch.

[Butter Face]

The EK9 was great, but the DC2 was better (IMO)

The EP3 was awesome, the FN2 eclipsed by the superior JDM FD2.


Therefore I declare that the Swindon build EP3 (ok, the JDM variant) is the best CTR made.



All IMO, I may be biased etc.

[TameRacingDriver]

Awaits the inevitable FN2 bash fest. I love mine (ex DC2 owner). Driven the EP3 and still prefer FN2, seemingly an unpopular opinion...

EK9 I would like to try.

[Butter Face]

The EK9 is good fun, but a pain to live with day to day. Also (IMO) it doesn't feel much better than a sorted VTI.

I liked the FN2's I drove, but they felt bigger than the EP3 and weren't my cuppa.

[Axionknight]

TameRacingDriver said:

Awaits the inevitable FN2 bash fest. I love mine (ex DC2 owner). Driven the EP3 and still prefer FN2, seemingly an unpopular opinion...

EK9 I would like to try.

But but but Clarkson says the FN2 is bad, and he knows all

Great car.

[PapaJohns]

Daveyraveygravey said:

Er, these ARE the best hot hatches Japan has produced, unless I've missed something? Maybe not the best 4 wheel drive rally inspired saloons or the best rwd coupes, but no Japanese manufacturer has made a better hot hatch.

Nah, Nissan pulsar gti-r

[Butter Face]

PapaJohns said:

Daveyraveygravey said:

Er, these ARE the best hot hatches Japan has produced, unless I've missed something? Maybe not the best 4 wheel drive rally inspired saloons or the best rwd coupes, but no Japanese manufacturer has made a better hot hatch.

Nah, Nissan pulsar gti-r

Hatch, yes, but more of a 4WD rally car than a hot hatch.

[PapaJohns]

Axionknight said:

But but but Clarkson says the FN2 is bad, and he knows all

Great car.

Stig voted it hot hatch of the year if memory serves me right

[PapaJohns]

Butter Face said:

PapaJohns said:

Daveyraveygravey said:

Er, these ARE the best hot hatches Japan has produced, unless I've missed something? Maybe not the best 4 wheel drive rally inspired saloons or the best rwd coupes, but no Japanese manufacturer has made a better hot hatch.

Nah, Nissan pulsar gti-r

Hatch, yes, but more of a 4WD rally car than a hot hatch.

Hot hatch in the same way the escort cosworth and landis intergrale are , hatch backs

[Axionknight]

PapaJohns said:

Stig voted it hot hatch of the year if memory serves me right

He certainly did, Sir.

http://www.hothatchheaven.com/files/the_stig_test....

Outright speed isn't everything, fancy that.

[PapaJohns]

Axionknight said:

PapaJohns said:

Stig voted it hot hatch of the year if memory serves me right

He certainly did, Sir.

http://www.hothatchheaven.com/files/the_stig_test....

Outright speed isn't everything, fancy that.

I sold mine after 3 month, we didn't like. Replaced it with a bmw 130i m sport

[Axionknight]

I'm sorry to hear that.

[Happyjap]

Daveyraveygravey said:

Er, these ARE the best hot hatches Japan has produced, unless I've missed something? Maybe not the best 4 wheel drive rally inspired saloons or the best rwd coupes, but no Japanese manufacturer has made a better hot hatch.

This of course is only your opinion my round eyed friend which I of course respect but yes for my money DC2 definitely is top but we all get stinky finger for different things for different reasons, I had a DK9 type are and hated it, it handles like an obese woman on a skateboard!

[redroadster]

Best just to put the engine into a mini bodyshell much more fun, our roads are too congested for engines with little torque , a turbo diesel can keep up with civics in normal driving I,ve proved it several times a race track would be a different matter.

[stephen300o]

As usual I like the look of the first one best, though probably like driving a shopping trolley over gravel,
That last space ship was pretty dire, huge with massive blind spots.

[AH33]

My EP3 is still going strong after 165k miles. As long as you keep on top of servicing it's unlikely to bite you.

It is however very loud even as standard (in vtec) and has a firm ride, especially over crap roads. It feels slow if you are out of the powerband, if you do need a quick burst in town to get into a gap or something you'll need 1st or 2nd gear, which can get tiring if you don't like changing gear a lot - fortunately I do and the ep3 has a nice slick change even after all those miles. The box also has very close ratios so you will be doing 4000 rpm at 80 mph in 6th. Bzzzzzzzzzzz!!!!!

Mine is currently away having its exhaust, cat, brake discs and pads changed and a service, that's all I've had to do in the year I've had it. Parts are cheap. Fuel is pretty good, I'm currently doing about 24mpg round town and about 35-40 on the motorway. There are no cars available under £6k that I would change this for.

Oh and with the Ep3 get a black one. Silver looks crap, red fades and the facelift ones, while being better, do unfortunately come with awful "lexus" lights.

[RacingBlue]

I've had my FN2 for about ten months now, and I'm already contemplating getting rid. The ride is absolutely atrocious and ruins the whole car. I'm almost embarrassed to take passengers as pretty much all of them have commented on how rotten it is. The engine and gearbox are still great - it just seems the car that surrounds them is sh*t.

Build quality is pretty ropey too - I've had numerous bits of loose trim, interior rattles, and now the infamous rusty roof above the windscreen. Paint quality is crap too - my car has only done 41K and is stone chipped to hell.

I really wouldn't have another.

[AH33]

RacingBlue said:

I've had my FN2 for about ten months now, and I'm already contemplating getting rid. The ride is absolutely atrocious and ruins the whole car. I'm almost embarrassed to take passengers as pretty much all of them have commented on how rotten it is.

"Downstairs on a tea tray" has been mentioned and it's true, my ep3 is on toyo t1r's with nice squishy sidewalls and it's still rock hard. I do notice that sorting the interior rattles does make it SEEM more comfortable. If in doubt, that's what your stereo is for.

My Mrs sometimes makes unhappy noises when going over potholes. I just call her a girl.

[Ved]

Had an EP3 for a couple of years and it was immense fun. Now I think the EK9 would appeal but purely as a weekender for me.

As the article suggests, I can see values going up on these and perhaps the DC2s as well. They'll be a rare breed soon enough and who wouldn't want a small car to pop around in nowadays especially one that sounds so fantastic.