Honda Ep3 track car & FN2 for everyday
Discussion
So yeah, after trying out other stuff (mainly Renaultsports and BMW's) I've stuck with trusty Hondas with the awesome K20 unit,
Yes my 276bhp Megane R26 was a lot quicker (or felt it) but it got boring far too quickly, the Mazda MPS was a straight line rocket but otherwise just an absolutely unbalanced and expensive tank of a car, the 330ci was refined but dull, Clios are awesome but a bit flimsy and small, but the K20 is just such an awesome unit with a great noise and reliability & build, I've chosen to have one for track and one for everyday - but don't be fooled, they're 2 very different cars.
In a nutshell -
Ep3
PROS: independent rear suspension, really nice gearchange feel (best gearchange in any car I've had), cable throttle, K20a engine (no balancer shafts), raw N/A power (even better when mapped with a Hondata ECU), loads of parts (although not particularly cheap), reliable, cheap servicing, amazing induction sound
CONS: awful electric steering (aided with multiple suspension and steering mods but still not as good as other cars - don't mix up steering with handling though, it handles brilliantly), bit of a chavvy image, expensive mods (in comparison to Renaultsports)
FN2
PROS: same(ish) great sounding K20 engine, mega slick mechanical feeling gearchange, awesome dashboard layout, LSD from factory (all models manufactured from mid Apr 2010 onwards and champ white/mugen editions), looks great (hated them at first but they've aged really well), shares a lot of EP parts, great knowledge base, torsion rear but still sharp handling, great seats and interior, decent build quality, cheap servicing, reliable, LOADS of space inside especially with the rear seats down, can be had for a bargain as Top Gear has drastically reduced their value (incorrectly)
CONS: Very firm ride (bone shakingly stiff shocks), quite a high seating position, K20z feels a bit lazy in comparison to the K20a in the EP as it has FBW throttle and balancer shafts in the engine, expensive mods
Yes my 276bhp Megane R26 was a lot quicker (or felt it) but it got boring far too quickly, the Mazda MPS was a straight line rocket but otherwise just an absolutely unbalanced and expensive tank of a car, the 330ci was refined but dull, Clios are awesome but a bit flimsy and small, but the K20 is just such an awesome unit with a great noise and reliability & build, I've chosen to have one for track and one for everyday - but don't be fooled, they're 2 very different cars.
In a nutshell -
Ep3
PROS: independent rear suspension, really nice gearchange feel (best gearchange in any car I've had), cable throttle, K20a engine (no balancer shafts), raw N/A power (even better when mapped with a Hondata ECU), loads of parts (although not particularly cheap), reliable, cheap servicing, amazing induction sound
CONS: awful electric steering (aided with multiple suspension and steering mods but still not as good as other cars - don't mix up steering with handling though, it handles brilliantly), bit of a chavvy image, expensive mods (in comparison to Renaultsports)
FN2
PROS: same(ish) great sounding K20 engine, mega slick mechanical feeling gearchange, awesome dashboard layout, LSD from factory (all models manufactured from mid Apr 2010 onwards and champ white/mugen editions), looks great (hated them at first but they've aged really well), shares a lot of EP parts, great knowledge base, torsion rear but still sharp handling, great seats and interior, decent build quality, cheap servicing, reliable, LOADS of space inside especially with the rear seats down, can be had for a bargain as Top Gear has drastically reduced their value (incorrectly)
CONS: Very firm ride (bone shakingly stiff shocks), quite a high seating position, K20z feels a bit lazy in comparison to the K20a in the EP as it has FBW throttle and balancer shafts in the engine, expensive mods
Edited by Danith on Saturday 9th December 12:11
Edited by Danith on Saturday 9th December 12:12
Ha yeah I'm always on Cliosport. What's your username on there?
I've got the Eibachs on the FN2 with full setup again by Grinspeed. It's better handling but the ride is pretty much as it was when stock, maybe a little less crashy on the springs/bumps but still bloody firm and OTT on a bumpy road.
I think the FN is just hindered a bit by the weight and the FBW throttle. When I get back in my EP it feels like its an FN that's been on a severe weight loss through excessive drug use, cos it just feels nuts.
I've got the Eibachs on the FN2 with full setup again by Grinspeed. It's better handling but the ride is pretty much as it was when stock, maybe a little less crashy on the springs/bumps but still bloody firm and OTT on a bumpy road.
I think the FN is just hindered a bit by the weight and the FBW throttle. When I get back in my EP it feels like its an FN that's been on a severe weight loss through excessive drug use, cos it just feels nuts.
But yeah FN2 for everyday is miles better, just a nicer place to sit in and a lot better build quality feel to it, probably cos it's newer though.
Cruise control and auto lights/wipers are great too, and mine has HIDS from factory which are a billion times better than the crap preface Ep lights which might as well be birthday candles sellotaped to the front
Cruise control and auto lights/wipers are great too, and mine has HIDS from factory which are a billion times better than the crap preface Ep lights which might as well be birthday candles sellotaped to the front
MyVTECGoesBwaaah said:
Not registered on there, just searching for pictures of EP3s on Evo wheels and yours caught my eye. Enjoyed reading the thread over lunch!
Interesting to hear regarding the ride, thank you!
Yeah Evo wheels are the ideal offset for the EP (et38). I had Evo 5 GSR rims before and they were the same offset but 7.5j, which I actually prefer, but they cracked on the way to Nurburg (fun). These Evo 7's are 8j like the popular Evo 8s.Interesting to hear regarding the ride, thank you!
I'm having issues with the rear driver's rubbing now as the bushes are all worn, so hopefully a full rear end polybush over Christmas (and some other upgrades) and it'll be spot on again and more responsive.
The EP3 looks best in red.
I've got a FN2, I'd be interested to hear your back to back and updates. I'm 6ft2 and my workmate is about 6ft4 and his EP3 feels quite small inside compared
My only niggle is the a pillar visibility at junction on the FN2. Especially with wind deflectors fitted.
I've got a FN2, I'd be interested to hear your back to back and updates. I'm 6ft2 and my workmate is about 6ft4 and his EP3 feels quite small inside compared
My only niggle is the a pillar visibility at junction on the FN2. Especially with wind deflectors fitted.
Edited by Sa Calobra on Friday 22 December 08:07
Sa Calobra said:
The EP3 looks best in red.
I've got a FN2, I'd be interested to hear your back to back and updates. I'm 6ft2 and my workmate is about 6ft4 and his EP3 feels quite small inside compared
My only niggle is the a pillar visibility at junction on the FN2. Especially with wind deflectors fitted.
The driver's seat in the Fn is really high but at least it's adjustable. The passenger seats aren't and my mate got in and looked like he was sat above me!I've got a FN2, I'd be interested to hear your back to back and updates. I'm 6ft2 and my workmate is about 6ft4 and his EP3 feels quite small inside compared
My only niggle is the a pillar visibility at junction on the FN2. Especially with wind deflectors fitted.
Edited by Sa Calobra on Friday 22 December 08:07
Sa Calobra said:
Danith in your first pic. I think you were in the same spot that I was a couple of weeks ago...My lads stood next to the 'no flying drones' sign...
Ha yep that's it. top of the moors by Slaithwaite/Marsden reservoir/M62.I see you've got the Honda mudflaps on yours? I've got a set myself to go on when they get sprayed to match the car. Looks good
Butter Face said:
That rear end setup looks ace. I really need to crack on with getting stuff like that on mine done!
It's at Tensport Performance now and getting fitted next week. Apparently the lower rear hub bush is an asbolute BIATCH to remove (Grinspeed quoted a full day to fit the 3 trailing arm bushes! £480 labour! which shows how much of a job it is).I managed to find a set of trailing arms/hubs that had had the bushes already removed so would've been daft not to drop it all with the powder coaters, only cost £30 to powder coat it all.
It's a mish mash of brands of bush though - 2 x superpro 24mm ARB bushes, 4 x strongflex upper hub and camber arm bushes (yellow), 6 x energy suspension black trailing arm/hub knuckle bushes (top trailing arm bushes not pictured), 2 x hardrace bushes (hardened rubber not poly) in the LCA's.
Was a lot easier to polybush my megane R26!! Only 2 RTA bushes in those, with them having non independent suspension and a rear beam (like the Fn2).
Been offered some XYZ coilovers too which aren't expensive but my front shocks are knocking already and the XYZ get half decent reviews (used to be sold by the likes of Tegiwa and VTEC Direct but they've moved onto Meister, Tein and Yellow speed now so not as 'fashionable')
Build thread (sort of) is here. After we'd bumped it at the ring. It had already got the front caster increase kit done to it, lighter facelift flywheel, poly mounts, camber arms, FRSU etc
https://www.cliosport.net/threads/ep3-back-from-th...
https://www.cliosport.net/threads/ep3-back-from-th...
Danith said:
Build thread (sort of) is here. After we'd bumped it at the ring. It had already got the front caster increase kit done to it, lighter facelift flywheel, poly mounts, camber arms, FRSU etc
https://www.cliosport.net/threads/ep3-back-from-th...
Bruges should be a mandatory stop off for decent 9% beers. Always stopped there on the way to Germanyhttps://www.cliosport.net/threads/ep3-back-from-th...
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