Car History leading to FN2 Type R
Discussion
So I'm turning 22 in 2 months and I finally have a car that I plan on keeping for a substantial amount of time, well 2 years at least.
Thought I'd go through previous cars leading up to current:
My first car was a Peugeot 106 1.1 Independence. I bought it for £500 from my uncle who sold old bangers. I paid for it in 2 instalments using all the pay I had saved up from working part time at McDonalds. I then waited 9 months until I turned 17 and in that time saved for lessons and insurance. By September 2010 I was passed and insured for more than twice the value of the car but I honestly didn't care, I was on the road.
I adored this car, it did everything a first car should. It taught me how to drive, how not to drive, helped me learn the limits of grip on 165/60/13 tyres and most importantly gave me a tool to go pick up friends and girlfriends!
I owned it for exactly a year covering 20k miles with only a service, tyres and head gasket to be paid for, and the following September decided it was time for an upgrade in performance.
I replaced the 106 with a Peugeot 206 XSI 1.6 16v. An upgrade from 60bhp to 110bhp. It cost me £1600 and at first I loved the extra power, more creature comforts and more modern looks.
However it didn't feel as fun as my old 106, there was more grip and I pushed my luck with it a bit too much...
It lasted 2 months before that happened. My friend overtook me on a bend one Friday evening and when he lost control of his car he took me with him. I came off the road at around 60mph spinning into multiple trees and telegraph poles. The police officer said I was lucky to be alive, I had taken the headrests off due to them not being comfortable and the only thing stopping me from breaking my neck was the passenger in the back behind me headbutting me acting as my headrest. I came out with bad whiplash and afew bad cuts but nobody else was injured. We both chose not to go through insurance as the costs would have been astronomical. So I took £500 out of savings and started again from the bottom, learning a hard lesson in the process.
I still wanted a reasonably nippy car and found a black Citroen Saxo Vtr locally for £500. It was a bit chavved up but I didn't care. It was lowered 50mm, had a crap induction kit and a chavvy 3" back box. However for all its faults I fell in love with it. It was only the 90bhp model but felt so much faster than the 206. It handled like my old 106 and I liked how it looked eventually as well. Before I sold it I checked under the rocker to find it had an uprated cam in it, the idle was smooth as well so I guessed it must also have been mapped which would have taken it to around 110-120bhp. This explained how it felt so much quicker. I sold it 3 months later due to getting a company car for £675, he owned it up to 140k and sold it on for £300. Such a great little car.
I got a 2003 Mini Cooper S as my company car, the 163bhp model and I was ecstatic. It was leagues ahead of anything else I had driven and the supercharger whine was addictive. It was very unreliable and spent more time in the garage than on my drive but it was great fun all the same. Whilst I was saving costs with my fuel card I decided to take a loan out to buy myself a weekend car as well. Looking back it was silly, especially at 18 but you live and learn...
I spent £3000 on a Ep3 Civic Type R as my weekend car at 18. It was insured through my work as a company car so only cost me £60pm to insure. It was great having such a capable car at a young age. Surprisingly I was very careful with it and didn't kill myself. I kept it clean, took it to a few car meets and felt like the dogs danglys tbh! I had it for only a few months when it was flood damaged and I had to write it off
I then changed job at the same time so gave back the mini, and had £3450 to spend on something a little nicer on insurance costs. I couldn't go back to something too slow now I had tasted some performance, so there was only one option for me. A car I had wanted to own since I bought my first car.
I saw it on ebay for £850 with 40mins left. I knew I wanted a Cherry Red or Sundance Yellow so put a max bid of £1100 and waited. I won it for £940 and went to pick It up the next day. It was 100% factory standard. It had been owned by the son of a Peugeot dealer since new and was truly immaculate. I drove it home with such a grin!
In the 10 months I owned it I made a few subtle changes including an enclosed induction, a 2" Pugsport Decat Exhaust, replaced the rear beam and lowered it 10mm, replaced the wheels for 15" TD lightweight wheels and a supersprint stainless manifold. It was dyno'd at 138bhp on the same day other Gti's with breathing mods were running 125-130bhp. As you can imagine I was pretty happy with this!
It was everything I wanted from a car, it handled superbly, looked brilliant, sounded excellent and was comfortably as quick as my Ep3 was. I ended up selling it for £1500 due to needing the money for moving house. If I could buy it back now I would, some more pictures after various changes...
I had several sheds while I saved money for another nice car. None of them lasted long, a special mention would be to the Puma Millennium which for £525 was a bargain and although was incredibly faded, it was a superb car.
I eventually had the money together to buy myself something nice. After months of deciding what to get, I spent £2100 on a RenaultSport Clio 182 in silver.
It was owned by someone that a few friends knew, and I knew she looked after it well. It took a while to get used to but I did start to bond with it. it handled well, sounded nice with a Miltek exhaust and went quite well. However, everytime I startd to love it, it would go wrong. Nothing major, just small niggly problems with the Cruise control, or with the lights. I ended up hating the thing and I sold it 6 months later for £2000, to be replaced with what I should have bought it the first place...
I bought another Ep3 Civic Type R for £2500. It was on 116k, had 2 previous owners and FHSH. This, unlike the Clio was not a dog. I had really picked a winner. It had always been serviced at Barnsley Honda, so although it had the stamps, I wanted the invoices too. A quick call to their service dept and they sent me £2750 worth of service and MOT work...very nice!
I loved this car nearly as much as the 106 Gti, it was a better example than my black one even though it was nearly on twice the mileage.
I owned it until it was on 130k. I was still happy with the EP3 but I had got a new job where I would be car sharing so the savings on fuel could go towards a new car. I found the perfect upgrade 10 miles down the road...
I bought an FN2 Civic Type R GT in black, on 49k for £7450. I have owned it for 2 months now, put 2k miles on it and I love it. It is everything the Ep3 was and so much more. I won't go into too much detail here but anyone who says the FN2 is a step backwards after the EP3 is soooo wrong. The engine sound, the handilng, the power delivery and obviously the looks, interior and spec of the newer car are all superior and I couldn't be happier with it!
Plans for the FN2 are to buy some Eibach 30mm springs to improve the ride and handling, I will get the car Fast Road Setup at the same time. I will then look at potentially getting an HKS RSK induction to hear that changeover more, but that is not going to be anytime soon. For now I'm enjoying the car how it is.
I'll try to update this as and when is necessary, but thanks for reading so far!
Thought I'd go through previous cars leading up to current:
My first car was a Peugeot 106 1.1 Independence. I bought it for £500 from my uncle who sold old bangers. I paid for it in 2 instalments using all the pay I had saved up from working part time at McDonalds. I then waited 9 months until I turned 17 and in that time saved for lessons and insurance. By September 2010 I was passed and insured for more than twice the value of the car but I honestly didn't care, I was on the road.
I adored this car, it did everything a first car should. It taught me how to drive, how not to drive, helped me learn the limits of grip on 165/60/13 tyres and most importantly gave me a tool to go pick up friends and girlfriends!
I owned it for exactly a year covering 20k miles with only a service, tyres and head gasket to be paid for, and the following September decided it was time for an upgrade in performance.
I replaced the 106 with a Peugeot 206 XSI 1.6 16v. An upgrade from 60bhp to 110bhp. It cost me £1600 and at first I loved the extra power, more creature comforts and more modern looks.
However it didn't feel as fun as my old 106, there was more grip and I pushed my luck with it a bit too much...
It lasted 2 months before that happened. My friend overtook me on a bend one Friday evening and when he lost control of his car he took me with him. I came off the road at around 60mph spinning into multiple trees and telegraph poles. The police officer said I was lucky to be alive, I had taken the headrests off due to them not being comfortable and the only thing stopping me from breaking my neck was the passenger in the back behind me headbutting me acting as my headrest. I came out with bad whiplash and afew bad cuts but nobody else was injured. We both chose not to go through insurance as the costs would have been astronomical. So I took £500 out of savings and started again from the bottom, learning a hard lesson in the process.
I still wanted a reasonably nippy car and found a black Citroen Saxo Vtr locally for £500. It was a bit chavved up but I didn't care. It was lowered 50mm, had a crap induction kit and a chavvy 3" back box. However for all its faults I fell in love with it. It was only the 90bhp model but felt so much faster than the 206. It handled like my old 106 and I liked how it looked eventually as well. Before I sold it I checked under the rocker to find it had an uprated cam in it, the idle was smooth as well so I guessed it must also have been mapped which would have taken it to around 110-120bhp. This explained how it felt so much quicker. I sold it 3 months later due to getting a company car for £675, he owned it up to 140k and sold it on for £300. Such a great little car.
I got a 2003 Mini Cooper S as my company car, the 163bhp model and I was ecstatic. It was leagues ahead of anything else I had driven and the supercharger whine was addictive. It was very unreliable and spent more time in the garage than on my drive but it was great fun all the same. Whilst I was saving costs with my fuel card I decided to take a loan out to buy myself a weekend car as well. Looking back it was silly, especially at 18 but you live and learn...
I spent £3000 on a Ep3 Civic Type R as my weekend car at 18. It was insured through my work as a company car so only cost me £60pm to insure. It was great having such a capable car at a young age. Surprisingly I was very careful with it and didn't kill myself. I kept it clean, took it to a few car meets and felt like the dogs danglys tbh! I had it for only a few months when it was flood damaged and I had to write it off
I then changed job at the same time so gave back the mini, and had £3450 to spend on something a little nicer on insurance costs. I couldn't go back to something too slow now I had tasted some performance, so there was only one option for me. A car I had wanted to own since I bought my first car.I saw it on ebay for £850 with 40mins left. I knew I wanted a Cherry Red or Sundance Yellow so put a max bid of £1100 and waited. I won it for £940 and went to pick It up the next day. It was 100% factory standard. It had been owned by the son of a Peugeot dealer since new and was truly immaculate. I drove it home with such a grin!
In the 10 months I owned it I made a few subtle changes including an enclosed induction, a 2" Pugsport Decat Exhaust, replaced the rear beam and lowered it 10mm, replaced the wheels for 15" TD lightweight wheels and a supersprint stainless manifold. It was dyno'd at 138bhp on the same day other Gti's with breathing mods were running 125-130bhp. As you can imagine I was pretty happy with this!
It was everything I wanted from a car, it handled superbly, looked brilliant, sounded excellent and was comfortably as quick as my Ep3 was. I ended up selling it for £1500 due to needing the money for moving house. If I could buy it back now I would, some more pictures after various changes...
I had several sheds while I saved money for another nice car. None of them lasted long, a special mention would be to the Puma Millennium which for £525 was a bargain and although was incredibly faded, it was a superb car.
I eventually had the money together to buy myself something nice. After months of deciding what to get, I spent £2100 on a RenaultSport Clio 182 in silver.
It was owned by someone that a few friends knew, and I knew she looked after it well. It took a while to get used to but I did start to bond with it. it handled well, sounded nice with a Miltek exhaust and went quite well. However, everytime I startd to love it, it would go wrong. Nothing major, just small niggly problems with the Cruise control, or with the lights. I ended up hating the thing and I sold it 6 months later for £2000, to be replaced with what I should have bought it the first place...
I bought another Ep3 Civic Type R for £2500. It was on 116k, had 2 previous owners and FHSH. This, unlike the Clio was not a dog. I had really picked a winner. It had always been serviced at Barnsley Honda, so although it had the stamps, I wanted the invoices too. A quick call to their service dept and they sent me £2750 worth of service and MOT work...very nice!
I loved this car nearly as much as the 106 Gti, it was a better example than my black one even though it was nearly on twice the mileage.
I owned it until it was on 130k. I was still happy with the EP3 but I had got a new job where I would be car sharing so the savings on fuel could go towards a new car. I found the perfect upgrade 10 miles down the road...
I bought an FN2 Civic Type R GT in black, on 49k for £7450. I have owned it for 2 months now, put 2k miles on it and I love it. It is everything the Ep3 was and so much more. I won't go into too much detail here but anyone who says the FN2 is a step backwards after the EP3 is soooo wrong. The engine sound, the handilng, the power delivery and obviously the looks, interior and spec of the newer car are all superior and I couldn't be happier with it!
Plans for the FN2 are to buy some Eibach 30mm springs to improve the ride and handling, I will get the car Fast Road Setup at the same time. I will then look at potentially getting an HKS RSK induction to hear that changeover more, but that is not going to be anytime soon. For now I'm enjoying the car how it is.
I'll try to update this as and when is necessary, but thanks for reading so far!
JFReturns said:
Nice write up. Big fan of the latest CTR and 106 GTi.
Cheers! Yeah I would love to drive that 106 Gti again. the guy I sold it to was planning on buying some ITBs for it I think, so would like to know how he got on. I know he was member of Driftworks forum as he had a 200sx beforehand so if anybody knows anything about the car now I would love to see it!DannyScene said:
Awesome list of cars there! But the FN2 being better looking than the EP3? Not by any stretch of the imagination
There was a time I would've killed for a 106GTi, I still wonder if I should scratch that itch at some point but jap keeps calling me away
Thanks! Haha I guess the look side of things will always be subjective, the whole FN2 vs Ep3 debate goes on forever amongst the owners clubs. There was a time I would've killed for a 106GTi, I still wonder if I should scratch that itch at some point but jap keeps calling me away
If you get the chance then the 106 Gti should definitely be scratched, in standard form they are huge fun and always make driving a pleasure. With breathing modifications they open up even more and will pop and bang on gearchange, quite amusing if not a bit childish.
billy939 said:
DannyScene said:
Awesome list of cars there! But the FN2 being better looking than the EP3? Not by any stretch of the imagination
There was a time I would've killed for a 106GTi, I still wonder if I should scratch that itch at some point but jap keeps calling me away
Thanks! Haha I guess the look side of things will always be subjective, the whole FN2 vs Ep3 debate goes on forever amongst the owners clubs. There was a time I would've killed for a 106GTi, I still wonder if I should scratch that itch at some point but jap keeps calling me away
If you get the chance then the 106 Gti should definitely be scratched, in standard form they are huge fun and always make driving a pleasure. With breathing modifications they open up even more and will pop and bang on gearchange, quite amusing if not a bit childish.
I always had a thing for a 106GTi but never bought one. I ended up with a Saxo VTS instead.
Nice EP3's too. I had a 54 plate cosmic grey one which was the best car I've ever owned. 70k miles from new and not a thing went wrong with it. I still miss that car.
I personally don't like the FN2's though - there's something about them that just looks wrong and I just can't accept that they're in any way better than the model they replaced.
Good history though for 22 years old!
Nice EP3's too. I had a 54 plate cosmic grey one which was the best car I've ever owned. 70k miles from new and not a thing went wrong with it. I still miss that car.
I personally don't like the FN2's though - there's something about them that just looks wrong and I just can't accept that they're in any way better than the model they replaced.
Good history though for 22 years old!
Nezquick said:
I always had a thing for a 106GTi but never bought one. I ended up with a Saxo VTS instead.
Nice EP3's too. I had a 54 plate cosmic grey one which was the best car I've ever owned. 70k miles from new and not a thing went wrong with it. I still miss that car.
I personally don't like the FN2's though - there's something about them that just looks wrong and I just can't accept that they're in any way better than the model they replaced.
Good history though for 22 years old!
I went to view a Saxo Vts before I bought the gti but it was sold on my way to view it, blessing in disguise I guess as i loved the Gti. Cosmic Grey is the best colour for an Ep3 IMO but I couldn't afford one when I bought mine so settled for red. They are so reliable if looked after though, keep them supplied with oil and they will be happy.Nice EP3's too. I had a 54 plate cosmic grey one which was the best car I've ever owned. 70k miles from new and not a thing went wrong with it. I still miss that car.
I personally don't like the FN2's though - there's something about them that just looks wrong and I just can't accept that they're in any way better than the model they replaced.
Good history though for 22 years old!
Yeah the FN2 is very marmite, I chose it over a Mazda 3 Mps and stand by my decision, not as quick but there is just something about that makes me smile.
Thanks for the positive feedback guys!
billy939 said:
I went to view a Saxo Vts before I bought the gti but it was sold on my way to view it, blessing in disguise I guess as i loved the Gti. Cosmic Grey is the best colour for an Ep3 IMO but I couldn't afford one when I bought mine so settled for red. They are so reliable if looked after though, keep them supplied with oil and they will be happy.
Yeah the FN2 is very marmite, I chose it over a Mazda 3 Mps and stand by my decision, not as quick but there is just something about that makes me smile.
Thanks for the positive feedback guys!
Slightly older than you, would have killed myself at your age with an FN2. I have had my FN2 for over 3 years now and love it, so much so, cant think what to change it with and don't want to give it up. Its fast, I like how it looks and inside its brillant. Never had a problem with it either, it has its critics but I can't fault it.Yeah the FN2 is very marmite, I chose it over a Mazda 3 Mps and stand by my decision, not as quick but there is just something about that makes me smile.
Thanks for the positive feedback guys!
AMG01 said:
billy939 said:
I went to view a Saxo Vts before I bought the gti but it was sold on my way to view it, blessing in disguise I guess as i loved the Gti. Cosmic Grey is the best colour for an Ep3 IMO but I couldn't afford one when I bought mine so settled for red. They are so reliable if looked after though, keep them supplied with oil and they will be happy.
Yeah the FN2 is very marmite, I chose it over a Mazda 3 Mps and stand by my decision, not as quick but there is just something about that makes me smile.
Thanks for the positive feedback guys!
Slightly older than you, would have killed myself at your age with an FN2. I have had my FN2 for over 3 years now and love it, so much so, cant think what to change it with and don't want to give it up. Its fast, I like how it looks and inside its brillant. Never had a problem with it either, it has its critics but I can't fault it.Yeah the FN2 is very marmite, I chose it over a Mazda 3 Mps and stand by my decision, not as quick but there is just something about that makes me smile.
Thanks for the positive feedback guys!
I agree though, I love it at the moment and I think I'll still be enjoying it just as much in a years time too.
andymc said:
Am I the only one thinking why the f
k you removed your headrests? very dangerous
No, I agree with you, it was very stupid! However at 18 having a bad accident wasn't even something I considered so I took them off for comfort reasons and thought nothing of it. Learned my lesson from that though and have been very particular about seating/driving position ever since. k you removed your headrests? very dangerousbilly939 said:
However at 18 having a bad accident wasn't even something I considered so I took them off for comfort reasons and thought nothing of it.
Thinking in general is not the forte of many 18 year olds! A practical Fwd hatchback seems an unusual choice of 'weekend car' to me too, but each to their own.
Enjoy the new one
GravelBen said:
billy939 said:
However at 18 having a bad accident wasn't even something I considered so I took them off for comfort reasons and thought nothing of it.
Thinking in general is not the forte of many 18 year olds! A practical Fwd hatchback seems an unusual choice of 'weekend car' to me too, but each to their own.
Enjoy the new one
If I was to buy a weekend car now it would be a very different affair, a Rev 3 Mr2 Turbo is an itch I would like to scratch, however saving for a mortgage is my boring but sensible situation at the moment so the 2 seater sports car will have to wait for quite a while!
Thanks for the comments though
JFReturns said:
Yeah I cringed when I read you removed the headrests for comfort... But I also cringe thinking about some of the idiotic things I did at 18!
How was the red EP3 running when you sold it? It looked in great condition and shows how mileage is not as important as good maintenance.
The red Ep3 was running really well tbh, I have no doubts it was still making the full 197bhp although I have no proof. In the time I had it I had to replace 2 tyres, a set of front brakes, 2 services and a couple of litres of oil to top up. The only thing to go wrong was the Aux pulley needed replacing and the bushes were probably overdue a refresh. It still handled well, pulled really strongly. It didn't have a dent or scratch on it when I sold it but due to needing a quick sale I only got £1750 for it How was the red EP3 running when you sold it? It looked in great condition and shows how mileage is not as important as good maintenance.
jc84 said:
Lovely 106 gti. Such underrated little cars. Used to make me laugh out loud every time I took a roundabout! Surprised so many cars. Wish I never sold also ??
Closest modern equivalent probably Panda 100hp or Swift Sport?
Cheers! Closest modern equivalent probably Panda 100hp or Swift Sport?
I really loved my Gti, I do regret selling it but I needed to at the time. It was also the first car I really put some money into with modifications/improvements etc. I think made me feel more fondly of it as well. They are surprisingly quick! At one point when it was running the full exhaust/manifold/induction I had a run against a friend in a Corolla T Sport and another friend in a Clio 182....abandoned airfield of course, living in Bomber County there are plenty of them! I pulled past both of them and stayed ahead until over 100 and then they both slowly crept by me. But on the road those sort of speeds aren't relevant, in real driving it was possibly the quickest car I have owned.
jc84 said:
Lovely 106 gti. Such underrated little cars. Used to make me laugh out loud every time I took a roundabout! Surprised so many cars. Wish I never sold also
Closest modern equivalent probably Panda 100hp or Swift Sport?
Closest modern equivalent probably Panda 100hp or Swift Sport?
In terms of fun, yes those two are right up there. Though the 106 GTi is a fair bit more rapid then my 100hp!
Great looking car, but then again I'm biased since I also have an FN2 in the same colour! I also owned a Puma at some point, another good one there. A lot of cars for your age, weirdly enough I liked the 106 GTi, seemed in very good condition. Keep the FN2, for the money there aren't a lot of cars that offer the same benefits.
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