Honda Civic Type-R (EP3)
Discussion
New to Pistonheads so this is the first Reader's Car topic for me!
I've had two cars so far, first was a Lagoon Blue 2001 Toyota Celica VVTi (140). Was a decent car but had no power whatsoever really (0-60 was about 8.7 I think and it was a pain even trying to overtake on a dual carriageway). Still, only cost just over £2000 and only ever needed a new radiator and battery so can't complain about it. Ended up adding a Pioneer headunit, Momo AirRace gear knob and Likwidart rear infills.
After owning that for a year I decided I wanted something with a bit more power. Problem was insurance; I only had 1 year NCB and I live in Middlesbrough so car insurance is ridiculously expensive. I initially looked at something like a WRX but I couldn't justify the insurance costs.
Ended up picking up a 2004 Honda Civic Type-R (EP3) in Nighthawk Black. It'd covered 58,000 miles when I picked it up. Insurance was still expensive but affordable so I snapped it up. The car has an aftermarket B-Pipe from the previous owner but aside from that it's standard. IT was in pretty good condition when I picked it up; only things that needed sorting where the interior map lighting had blown a fuse and there's a couple of minor dings in the bodywork (driver's side door and above the driver's side rear wheel arch). Planning on getting them sorted out soon.
When I picked it up:
As the car stands now, I've just had the spark plugs replaced and am saving to get some of the bodywork dings repaired and resprayed (same colour, I just want it to look better as 8 years of stone chips are starting to show). I've also replaced the (terrible) Honda headunit with a Philips one. Next plans after the respray are to get the alloys sprayed anthracite and then possibly look at new brake discs/pads and a new exhaust. Thinking of either a Buddy Club Pro Spec III or a Spoon N1 so far but haven't decided yet.
As the car currently is:
I've had two cars so far, first was a Lagoon Blue 2001 Toyota Celica VVTi (140). Was a decent car but had no power whatsoever really (0-60 was about 8.7 I think and it was a pain even trying to overtake on a dual carriageway). Still, only cost just over £2000 and only ever needed a new radiator and battery so can't complain about it. Ended up adding a Pioneer headunit, Momo AirRace gear knob and Likwidart rear infills.
After owning that for a year I decided I wanted something with a bit more power. Problem was insurance; I only had 1 year NCB and I live in Middlesbrough so car insurance is ridiculously expensive. I initially looked at something like a WRX but I couldn't justify the insurance costs.
Ended up picking up a 2004 Honda Civic Type-R (EP3) in Nighthawk Black. It'd covered 58,000 miles when I picked it up. Insurance was still expensive but affordable so I snapped it up. The car has an aftermarket B-Pipe from the previous owner but aside from that it's standard. IT was in pretty good condition when I picked it up; only things that needed sorting where the interior map lighting had blown a fuse and there's a couple of minor dings in the bodywork (driver's side door and above the driver's side rear wheel arch). Planning on getting them sorted out soon.
When I picked it up:
As the car stands now, I've just had the spark plugs replaced and am saving to get some of the bodywork dings repaired and resprayed (same colour, I just want it to look better as 8 years of stone chips are starting to show). I've also replaced the (terrible) Honda headunit with a Philips one. Next plans after the respray are to get the alloys sprayed anthracite and then possibly look at new brake discs/pads and a new exhaust. Thinking of either a Buddy Club Pro Spec III or a Spoon N1 so far but haven't decided yet.
As the car currently is:
Edited by Neith on Friday 25th January 20:24
Ordinary_Chap said:
Looks beautiful.
I had a grey 54 plate CTR from new for nearly 3 years and loved it. The sound, gear change and grip were my favourite parts of the car.
Great cars and now they are a lot of car for the money!
Good luck with it!
Lee
Yeah, the noise is unreal- it never really gets old! Coming from the Celica, the difference in power delivery was incredible and the grip is pretty good as well (aside from in the wet, but that's down to the tyres which need replacing; it has cheap ones on currently so I need to change them).I had a grey 54 plate CTR from new for nearly 3 years and loved it. The sound, gear change and grip were my favourite parts of the car.
Great cars and now they are a lot of car for the money!
Good luck with it!
Lee
I wasn't sure if I'd like where the gearstick is originally, but even after a short test drive I was hooked. It's in such easy reach of the wheel and it's such a tight, precise gear change that it's a brilliant car to drive. Occasionally it grinds a bit in Reverse the first time after a cold start but aside from that I haven't really had any issues with it. I'd like to bump up the power a bit, but as I'm already paying £1400 for insurance (thanks to the car's reputation and my postcode) I'm really not sure at this stage.
Definitely wanting to get the bodywork sorted next though, the driver's side door is a bit of a state.
Thanks for the comments though, I'm not the kind of person who understands the mechanics of the car but I do try and take care of it.
@Another Fluffer: I quite often drive from Middlesbrough to Norwich to see family, so plenty of roads to er..'test VTEC' on
Edited by Neith on Sunday 12th August 22:00
Neith said:
Not even 2 weeks after I got it, I was involved in a crash due to a very badly lit exit sliproad and had to get most of the front end minus the engine block replaced. I was absolutely gutted as I hadn't been speeding or driving a like an idiot- I was just unfamiliar with how severe the sliproad turned off.
Which would mean you were driving too fast for the conditions then. Take it easy out there, an EP3 is a lot of car for an inexperienced driver and it may not survive another sloppy move.Baryonyx said:
Neith said:
Not even 2 weeks after I got it, I was involved in a crash due to a very badly lit exit sliproad and had to get most of the front end minus the engine block replaced. I was absolutely gutted as I hadn't been speeding or driving a like an idiot- I was just unfamiliar with how severe the sliproad turned off.
Which would mean you were driving too fast for the conditions then. Take it easy out there, an EP3 is a lot of car for an inexperienced driver and it may not survive another sloppy move.Anyway nice car OP, I have considred them myself but swaying towards an E46 330 for my next car.
Baryonyx said:
Which would mean you were driving too fast for the conditions then. Take it easy out there, an EP3 is a lot of car for an inexperienced driver and it may not survive another sloppy move.
I'd slowed down a lot on the sliproad (was doing about 35-40) but I didn't realise the sliproad was a 90 degree corner at the end as it was dark and had never used that exit before. In hindsight I should've taken an exit I knew but it was my first crash so take it as a lesson learned I guess.Thanks for all the comments on the car, worth it after spending hours cleaning it
Neith said:
I'd slowed down a lot on the sliproad (was doing about 35-40) but I didn't realise the sliproad was a 90 degree corner at the end as it was dark and had never used that exit before. In hindsight I should've taken an exit I knew but it was my first crash so take it as a lesson learned I guess.
Or you should learn to read the road. It's not an issue of 'knowing it', because if you're flying around on roads you 'know' you'll soon come to bother when you encounter an unexpected hazard. If you were thinking about what you were doing as you drove you'd not have been caught out by an expected tightening on the exit.But I digress, enjoy the car...
. Looking like great value at the moment, could be tempted into one as a daily driver.
qwertyuiop021 said:
Totally agree with FRSU, I've owned an ep3 for about six months now (in Newcastle). I've driven a one with the fast road set up (toe, camber, springs, camber arms all sorted) and felt a thousand times better felt much more responsive through the steering too!
FRSU sounds interesting; anyone know rough estimate of cost and any recommended places to get it done?Join TRO forums & message Steve at GrinSpeed. He will supply the camber adjustment parts & carry out the works for around £250 if you ask nicely. Works best if you get it lowered as well, so say £120 ish for Eibach pro's (if you want to go lower than the 15mm & 20mm they provide you'll need to mess with relocating the steering arm) plus whatever Steve would charge for fitting them. Just send him a message, im sure he'll sort you out with a good deal.
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