RE: Honda Civic Type R (EP3): PH Heroes

RE: Honda Civic Type R (EP3): PH Heroes

Author
Discussion

WCZ

10,537 posts

195 months

Monday 4th June 2018
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blade7 said:
Thanks. The Mrs ST is due it's first pair of front tyres at 15k, the rears still have plenty of life. Are the Michelins that much better?
the difference is massive, you won't regret it. I changed all 4 at once

WCZ

10,537 posts

195 months

Monday 4th June 2018
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996GT3_Matt said:
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
how much would it be to replace the steering rack? just curious

FK2R

32 posts

71 months

Monday 4th June 2018
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Great cars these. I owned one for 11 years and never had any trouble with it at all. Traded it in Feb last year for an FK2 which I am also enjoying.



culpz

4,884 posts

113 months

Monday 4th June 2018
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blade7 said:
EP3 v mk7 Fiesta ST, comparable on B roads?
Seems a bit of an odd comparison, given the age gap between the two cars.

culpz

4,884 posts

113 months

Monday 4th June 2018
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raceboy said:
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.
What are your thoughts on the 197, coming from the Type R? The Clio is the car that i've always wanted. I'd be interested to hear your further comments from the two.

minismithy90

19 posts

154 months

Monday 4th June 2018
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Always appreciated these for what they are, but never loved them enough to actually buy one.

Think it stems back to a guy i used to hang around with had one and took me for a few passenger rides, it just didn’t ‘feel’ fast at all and i know that’s not the point of a hot hatch but i had a 172 Clio at the same time and to me it felt a fair bit quicker! So couldn’t see where the extra money for one was justified.

Still i think they are looking better with age and would love to try a JDM version.

996GT3_Matt

200 posts

205 months

Monday 4th June 2018
quotequote all
WCZ said:
996GT3_Matt said:
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
how much would it be to replace the steering rack? just curious
Honda will charge £1000+ for a new EPAS rack, before labour. That said, I believe a refurbished rack can be bought for £150-200 on an exchange basis.
If you’re handy with spanners, it’s not too expensive.

raceboy

13,120 posts

281 months

Monday 4th June 2018
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culpz said:
What are your thoughts on the 197, coming from the Type R? The Clio is the car that i've always wanted. I'd be interested to hear your further comments from the two.
Not really put that many miles on the Clio yet but being an F1 with the cup chassis and Recaros the feeling of grip is considerably better than the EP3, it doesn't feel as quick but probably is, it's just a bit less manic, the EP3 was probably a bit more comfy and being a little bigger a bit more practical but it depends how important these type of things are.

designforlife

3,734 posts

164 months

Monday 4th June 2018
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You can also fit a DC5 rack and hydraulic PS pump...both go for about £150-175 each second hand.

Got both under my bed if anyone wants!

Jon_S_Rally

3,418 posts

89 months

Monday 4th June 2018
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A car that I've never really got the hype about to be honest.

Can't help but think it was launched at the wrong time as, a couple of years later, the likes of the MK5 Golf GTI came along. While I love a normally aspirated car, the Golf (and subsequent turbocharged hatches) have showed just how much better they are in the real world. Being able to rev to 8000rpm is all well and good but, on a miserable commute to work, mid-range grunt and a bit of comfort go a long, long way. In a daily driver, the exciting engine just doesn't make up for all of the flaws. I've always lusted after the EK9, but this just felt a bit too compromised and immediately out-of-date to me.

That leaves it in the realms of weekend car/track toy and, in this budget, I just couldn't have one over a Renault Sport Clio.

blade7

11,311 posts

217 months

Monday 4th June 2018
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culpz said:
blade7 said:
EP3 v mk7 Fiesta ST, comparable on B roads?
Seems a bit of an odd comparison, given the age gap between the two cars.
Why?

culpz

4,884 posts

113 months

Monday 4th June 2018
quotequote all
blade7 said:
culpz said:
blade7 said:
EP3 v mk7 Fiesta ST, comparable on B roads?
Seems a bit of an odd comparison, given the age gap between the two cars.
Why?
Simply as i stated really, that there's quite an age gap between them.

otolith

56,206 posts

205 months

Monday 4th June 2018
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Jon_S_Rally said:
Can't help but think it was launched at the wrong time as, a couple of years later, the likes of the MK5 Golf GTI came along.
At the time, the equivalent Golf was a lame pudding of a car. I suspect that Honda pushed the hot hatch market forwards.

Jon_S_Rally said:
While I love a normally aspirated car, the Golf (and subsequent turbocharged hatches) have showed just how much better they are in the real world. Being able to rev to 8000rpm is all well and good but, on a miserable commute to work, mid-range grunt and a bit of comfort go a long, long way.
I don't really get that argument, to be honest. It wasn't like the smaller capacity, more Jekyll and Hyde VTECs of earlier Hondas, it was after all a two litre petrol engine in a 1200kg car. It was perfectly tractable and "normal" around town without having to rev the nads off it.

df76

3,639 posts

279 months

Monday 4th June 2018
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Ellb123 said:
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
Looks really nice, especially on those wheels. My car has a dodgy looking exhaust manifold and cat, thinking of replacing with a Japspeed manifold and sports car - it's a track car so not expecting massive use. Do you know what's on yours?

tactical lizard

166 posts

132 months

Monday 4th June 2018
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A set of adjustable camber arms/bolts and a fast road set up really transforms the car.
The steering goes from feather lite to an acceptable weight.

Still got mine after 9 years

Edited by tactical lizard on Monday 4th June 17:55

blade7

11,311 posts

217 months

Monday 4th June 2018
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culpz said:
Simply as i stated really, that there's quite an age gap between them.
Which means they're not in any way comparable down a B road?

sheepman

437 posts

161 months

Monday 4th June 2018
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Brilliant cars, it's a shame so many have been ruined with dodgy mods or just looking tired. I must have looked at 8+ before giving up the search.

I ended up with an FN2 which is every bit as good imo having driven both back to back.

Butter Face

30,340 posts

161 months

Monday 4th June 2018
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I’ve got a replacement slider to go in my steering rack, a brass (I think) to replace the plastic OEM one which should help give it a bit more feel too.

But yes, camber, updated bushes and shocks/springs make so much difference.

MRobbins1987

509 posts

131 months

Tuesday 5th June 2018
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RS Grant said:
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?
Yes it was for sale on eBay and on here, I need the space of an estate really having two kids a Labrador pup and a wife who doesn’t know how to pack lightly. I got nothing but tyre kickers from the adverts so I lost the will to sell it, if someone offered me something close to what I feel it’s worth I would part with it, failing that I should be in a position to buy an estate and keep the civic early next year.

It’s going in for a service, mot and to have the Renault sport brembo conversion later this month and I’ve got a track day booked at Oulton on the 17th July.

Butter Face

30,340 posts

161 months

Tuesday 5th June 2018
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MRobbins1987 said:
have the Renault sport brembo conversion later this month
Nice. wink