2005 Honda Civic Type R (EP3)

Highlights

• Unmodified and in factory specification
• Just 47,485 miles on the clock
• MOT to December 2025
• Exceptionally clean example, inside and out
• 197bhp K20A2 iVTEC powertrain

Overview

Dissociative identity disorder (sometimes called “multiple personality disorder”) is a strange and intriguing psychological phenomenon. Rare and little understood, it has fascinated experts for decades. At this point you may be slightly confused as to what this has to do with noughties hot-hatches. Bear with.

When Honda introduced the EP3 Civic Type R in 2001, there was a collective round of bemusement from the motoring press and enthusiasts alike. The one-box, mini-MPV like styling raised a few eyebrows and made many wonder whether Honda was going to turn the rorty Type R variant into a more GT-like, altogether softer affair. Then we all got to drive it and realised that we needn’t have worried.

And this is where the multiple personality thing comes in. You see, the Type R is excellent as a daily. It’s roomy, practical, comfortable, and more than happy to pootle about in fifth gear at 30-40mph all day long as you drop the kids off at school and nip to the corner shop. It’s gentle, refined and beautifully built. Not much sporting intent, you may think. Maybe those red front seats are a lie.

At 5,900rpm, however, the little EP3 goes full-on “HULK SMASH” and, as the more aggressive cam-lobes kick in, unleashes the kind of mechanical fury and banshee-like howl usually reserved for track specials. This insane aural assault and charge for the redline continues unabated until the 8,300rpm redline (usually supercar territory), when you get to start the whole dance all over again. And don’t forget that Honda make some of the best engines on the planet, with the K20’s reputation for reliability being second-to-none. So chances are that you’ll get to enjoy that hedonistic rush of revs for many, many years to come.

Add to this duality the fine handling and sublime, short-throw action of the transmission, and you have something really rather special. It’s the perfect antidote to modern hot hatches, which may be more powerful but are also much heavier, laden with electronic nannies and (let’s be honest) usually not quite as much fun.

This is a properly rare example too. Presented with low mileage, with gorgeous metallic grey paintwork, in factory specification, unmodified (barring a K&N cone filter), and showing as cleanly as you could wish for from a 20 year old car, we think you’ll go a long way to find another in this kind of condition. Indeed, the current owner tells us they searched for years to find the perfect example. In fact, they’re only letting it go now because the need for five doors and ISOFIX has reared its head.

With the vast majority of EP3 Type R Civics now either run as track cars or having been crashed through Halfords by a 19-year-old Kevin, such a fine example is quite a collectible and desirable machine. Make sure this one doesn’t pass you by or, forget the VTEC kicking in, you’ll be kicking yourself. Yo.

Sorry.

History and documentation

• UK-delivered, 2005MY
• Purchased by the vendor in December 2022 from PistonHeads
• Three previous owners, one of which was a mechanic
• 47,485 miles on the clock, verified by the MOT record which will increase slightly before the auction closes
• Full document pack, including a part-stamped service book, contained in the original embossed leather folder
• Collection of invoices and old MOT certificates, which indicate the car has been very well cared for and, in more recent years, regularly serviced by the owners
• Two keys
• Current MOT expires December 2025 - one advisory for slight play on the NS ARB ball joint, which is being replaced before the vehicle is sold
• V5 present in owner’s name
• HPI clear, checked in February 2025
• London ULEZ compliant
• Enthusiast owned, with OEM parts used wherever possible
• Supplied with a custom-fit indoor cover (not waterproof)
• Comes with a spare standard Honda air filter as well as two spare front brake calipers, which are in need of refurbishment

Interior

• Black, red and grey fabric upholstery is factory standard and presented in fine condition
• The rear bench features silver-grey centre sections for both seats
• Both front seats features the usual Type R red centre sections, red contrast stitching and embroidered headrests
• All the seats look firm and supportive with no sagging, tears or damage, just a small amount of wear to the outer bolster of the driver’s seat
• Original black carpeting is fitted through the cabin and boot space, with a set of original Type R carpet mats with red binding – all appear to be in very good order
• Factory fitted CD/ radio
• Air conditioning said to function perfectly, blowing both hot and cold
• Electrically operated windows
• Electrically adjustable side mirrors with heating function
• Standard brushed aluminium gear shifter
• The internal trim and instrumentation all looks to have been very well kept, with a few minor scratches from use to the plastics, as you’d expect, but no damage to note
• All of the door shuts, as well as the boot shut, look to be clean and free from any corrosion or damage
• The vendor tells us that all of the cabin’s features and functions operate just as they should, with no faults to report

Exterior

• The handsome metallic grey paintwork is in very good order, swirl-free and mostly original, with just a few minor marks and stone chips
• We’re told that there was some minor paint damage caused to the OS front corner of the front bumper and wing in December 2023, but that this was professionally repaired and corrected in February 2024
• All of the bodywork looks to be in superb condition, with no damage, corrosion or panel misalignment that we could discern
• Similarly, the external trim and badging is all present and correct, with no issues or damage we could identify
• The light lenses and glass areas look to be clear and undamaged, with no chips or cracks to note
• Looking underneath it’s incredibly well preserved for a 20 year old vehicle - the floor pans, sills, seams and suspension components all look to be straight, clean and free from any damage or notable corrosion
• It is riding on the correct, smoked finish, 17-inch, seven-spoke alloy wheels, all of which appear to be in very good condition, with only a small amount of kerbing to the lip of the offside front wheel
• The wheels are shod in a matched set of Bridgestone Potenzas (205/45), with the fronts having been fitted in March 2024 and the car having covered very few miles since

Mechanical

• 1,998cc four-cylinder iVTEC, DOHC K20A2 engine
• Six-speed manual transmission
• Factory figures: 1,204kg, 197bhp, 0-62mph in 6.5 seconds, top speed of 146mph
• The VTEC kicks in at 5,900rpm, with the engine redlining at a heady 8,300rpm
• Anti-lock braking system
• Power-assisted steering
• Independent rear suspension for superb road-holding and handling
• Lovely, clean engine bay, with no leaks or corrosion we could see – even the red paint of the rocker cover is intact with no signs of flaking
• The MOT flagged an advisory for the NS ARB ball joint, but the vendor has booked this in to be changed, so the work will be completed prior to sale
• The bonnet release cable has just snapped, but a new OEM part has been purchased
• We’re assured that the car starts, idles and drives just as it should, with no mechanical or electrical faults to report

Summary

You just know some cars are going to become future classics, and we reckon the EP3 Type R is definitely one of them. It’s rare to find in unmodified condition and is genuinely usable as an everyday vehicle too. They’re a great drive too, with good handling and a totally unexpected level of savagery from the engine at the top end. It’s addictively silly. Which is the best kind of silly.

This fabulous example has clearly been cherished and beautifully maintained, and is being sold with a heavy heart by the owner. We’d snap their hand off, and quickly, because you’ll go a long, long way to find another unmodified, low mileage EP3 Type R in this kind of condition.

To arrange a viewing, please request this in the Q&A section. You can click through to the seller's profile and use the 'Email Me' function to arrange a viewing privately. This seller is located in Bury.