RE: Honda Civic Type R (EP3): PH Heroes
Discussion
IanSC said:
I’ve had my EP3 Premier for 12 years and still find it fantastic to drive. It’s definitely at its best on B roads, up and down the brilliant close ratio gear box, and very chuckable round the twisties. Had great fun on the Spa track a few years ago with fellow Type R owners. It’s been extremely reliable and cheap to maintain over the years. It is still on the original exhaust, brake discs, and suspension. The original battery packed up only 3 months ago. Honda really do make high quality cars in an unassuming manner. Nowadays, mine is just used occasionally, but this article has reminded me of why I held on to it for so long, resisting temptation to replace with a Scirocco around ‘08. It now has a Thule bike rack on the roof and has a huge boot for trips to Calais for wine. Current used prices are very reasonable compared to Fords and VW’s which have more of a cult following. Decent XR2’s can fetch £7k which makes the EP3 a bargain in the current market.
Had mine about 9 years now, was my daily and it never missed a beat. Got the trackday bug and with tasteful mods it serves me well as my trackday toy now. I have an M135i for my daily, which is a great car but it doesn't give the feeling I get from my Type R. Will find it very difficult to part with it.
Had one for a year. The engine + gearbox combo is really special. You really don't get any hot hatch nowadays that revs to 8000+ rpm and flicks through the gears like that. Lived on an island for a month last summer. Renovated a house during the day and on most evenings drove to the other side of the island for a swim. Was extremely fun wringing it out in the back roads. Now have a mapped MK5 GTI. It's faster, far torquier and more livable day to day. But a bit less rewarding and not a 10/10ths car as the R was.
Still love this
Still love this
As you can probably guess from my handle, I'm a typeR owner. But i have an FN2 rather than an EP3. Before i bought the FN, i tried many cars (Focus ST, Mk.5 GTi, Leon Cupra R, Megane 225, Octavia Vrs) including an EP3 and settled on the FN. Why? The steering on the EP3 was just dreadful! My wife had a bargain basement basic EP3 at the time and I though that had dreadful steering for feel and feedback, but everything i read about the TypeR constantly sung its praises for handling. Personally I just couldn't get on with how numb the steering was. In fact, her current steer (a 2006 A3 diseasel) has better feedback, and that's saying something!
The FN was also a much nicer place to sit, despite the stupidly high driving position. Plus it was just more grown up with things like dual zone climate control, cruise control and integrated bluetooth handsfree and Sat Nav (in the one i went for). It was just easier to live with day to day. Vtec made it way more fun and engaging than any of the turbo competitors, the Focus had an astonishing drinking problem, the Gti was boring, the Cupra was dated and cheap inside, The Megane was...well... French and the Octavia was just a more practical Golf which made it even more boring!
I think the FN was unfairly punished by its lack of ability on the track compared to the EP, but where it mattered most (every day driving) to me, the FN was the much better car.
The FN was also a much nicer place to sit, despite the stupidly high driving position. Plus it was just more grown up with things like dual zone climate control, cruise control and integrated bluetooth handsfree and Sat Nav (in the one i went for). It was just easier to live with day to day. Vtec made it way more fun and engaging than any of the turbo competitors, the Focus had an astonishing drinking problem, the Gti was boring, the Cupra was dated and cheap inside, The Megane was...well... French and the Octavia was just a more practical Golf which made it even more boring!
I think the FN was unfairly punished by its lack of ability on the track compared to the EP, but where it mattered most (every day driving) to me, the FN was the much better car.
I bought one new in 2002, kept it for 3.5 years. I loved the engine and gearbox. I liked the interior - functional, massive space with the seats folded - and the seats, wheel and gear knob were nice. The steering feel was a bit artificial, but I enjoyed the handling, which was nicely throttle sensitive. Ride quality was awful, and though I never found the engine noisy on the motorway there was an awful lot of tyre roar. Traction was good on new tyres, but got pretty woeful as they got near to replacement.
My sister had one a couple of years ago - it was weird driving one again, and to be honest it felt a bit slow - spoilt now by driving faster stuff, I guess.
My sister had one a couple of years ago - it was weird driving one again, and to be honest it felt a bit slow - spoilt now by driving faster stuff, I guess.
Had one for just over two years now, was a colleague at works pride and joy and i remember ribbing him about how slow it was (all noise and no go) that was until he gave me a go in it.....suddenly that close ratio gearbox and screaming K20 all made sense, it was pushing 245hp which in a 1200kg car is ideal for screaming down a B road.
i pestered him for weeks till he caved and sold me it. Suddenly my 45 mile commute to work was way more fun and the cluster of quiet roundabouts en route gave me a chance to push the handling/grip which i never managed to find the limit off.
I would agree with other comments on the steering feel as it was pretty vague compared to my previous hatch however getting a Fast Road Setup done totally transformed the car and would highly recommend it to anyone buying one. I did have the car up for sale a few months ago but i took it down as i really cant think of another car for the price that provides the same reliablity/looks/performance for under 3k.
i pestered him for weeks till he caved and sold me it. Suddenly my 45 mile commute to work was way more fun and the cluster of quiet roundabouts en route gave me a chance to push the handling/grip which i never managed to find the limit off.
I would agree with other comments on the steering feel as it was pretty vague compared to my previous hatch however getting a Fast Road Setup done totally transformed the car and would highly recommend it to anyone buying one. I did have the car up for sale a few months ago but i took it down as i really cant think of another car for the price that provides the same reliablity/looks/performance for under 3k.
I've never driven the EP3, but I do have an FN, so I completely understand the interest in this car. Now everything is turbo, low down grunt that runs out of breath. They aren't the fastest car in the world, but who is racing anyway, stick it on a B road and just listen to that scream and the engines desire to keep revving, how can you not enjoy that.
Just sold my 335i and got an EP3... Best decision i have ever made.
It's worth noting i used to own an FN2 Type-R before the BMW. Completely agree the steering is better in the FN2 it just feels a little sloppy at slow speeds in the EP3, having said this push it into V-tec on a twisty road and you don't notice a thing.
Interior is better on modern cars but if you want a nice interior dont buy an early 2000's hot hatch...
It's worth noting i used to own an FN2 Type-R before the BMW. Completely agree the steering is better in the FN2 it just feels a little sloppy at slow speeds in the EP3, having said this push it into V-tec on a twisty road and you don't notice a thing.
Interior is better on modern cars but if you want a nice interior dont buy an early 2000's hot hatch...
Great cars and with a few small modifications to sharpen the handling and release a little VTEC noise, the driving experience is enhanced massively.
MRobbins1987 said:
I love mine, the right modifications make all the difference to these. They make a great cheap track toy too.
I've been looking for another EP3 for a wee while and I'm sure I saw yours on eBay a few weeks/couple of months ago? Did you decide to keep hold of it?Just got rid of mine after 3 years in an early pre facelift EP3.
Was great fun for the a daily and even after weekends in the 'toy' cars it would still put a smile on my face, cost very little to run over the 3 years and was by far the most practical car I've had for ages, now made way for a Clio 197 which runs rings round it handling wise but somehow seems a bit less bullet proof and not quite as fast.
Was great fun for the a daily and even after weekends in the 'toy' cars it would still put a smile on my face, cost very little to run over the 3 years and was by far the most practical car I've had for ages, now made way for a Clio 197 which runs rings round it handling wise but somehow seems a bit less bullet proof and not quite as fast.
WCZ said:
blade7 said:
EP3 v mk7 Fiesta ST, comparable on B roads?
had both and the fiesta will comfortably win imo (esp on michelins)the steering on the EP3 was truly awful, sold it shortly after buying
I’ve just bought one! After three years of building an EK with a B series engine, I wanted something I could enjoy as a daily and still use on track, ended up with this!
Facelift, full honda history, folder full of receipts, carbon intake, exhaust, lowered on springs with the camber bits done… ideal!
Tempted to make a thread on here for it
Facelift, full honda history, folder full of receipts, carbon intake, exhaust, lowered on springs with the camber bits done… ideal!
Tempted to make a thread on here for it
The write up is spot on.
I bought a ‘shedy Type R’ to run alongside my S1 Elise a few years back. I didn’t expect to like it but it really got under my skin. Superb grip in the dry, an epic drivetrain and fabulous seats. They’re very practical too.
I replaced the tyres, drop links, bushes and track rod ends but the steering remained duff and somewhat vague. It never seemed to self-centre properly either.
As awesome as the gearshift is, I am afraid the steering is equally lame.
Replacing the steering rack was not economicaly viable for me so I bought a new Fiesta ST back in 2015. I love my ST all the same, but I sorely miss the Type R shift at 8000rpm. I doubt we’ll see another Hatch of this ilk again... 8,000+ rpm and naturally aspiration is a special place to be.
A nostalgic look through the classifieds beckons!
LF53 UYD I hope you’re alive and well.
Matt
I bought a ‘shedy Type R’ to run alongside my S1 Elise a few years back. I didn’t expect to like it but it really got under my skin. Superb grip in the dry, an epic drivetrain and fabulous seats. They’re very practical too.
I replaced the tyres, drop links, bushes and track rod ends but the steering remained duff and somewhat vague. It never seemed to self-centre properly either.
As awesome as the gearshift is, I am afraid the steering is equally lame.
Replacing the steering rack was not economicaly viable for me so I bought a new Fiesta ST back in 2015. I love my ST all the same, but I sorely miss the Type R shift at 8000rpm. I doubt we’ll see another Hatch of this ilk again... 8,000+ rpm and naturally aspiration is a special place to be.
A nostalgic look through the classifieds beckons!
LF53 UYD I hope you’re alive and well.
Matt
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