Honda Civic Type R (EP3): Spotted
We say konnichiwa to a low mileage EP3 Civic Type R in 215hp JDM-spec...
The first Civic Type R to be officially sanctioned for Britain was also the first to be built at Honda’s UK manufacturing plant in Swindon. Every single example of the EP3-generation hot hatch was produced there, even those exported back to Japan’s domestic market - despite those cars being finished to a higher specification that made them even faster than the European models.
What you don’t know can’t hurt you though, so British buyers expressed no frustration at the less potent example they were offered, revelling in the car’s lust for revs and its stratospheric 8,250rpm limiter. Little did the (vast majority) know that buyers in Japan were sent a car powered by an atmospheric 2.0-litre delivering even more revvy lunacy to the front axle via an even shorter ratio gearbox and factory-fit limited slip differential. Really, it was a very different car.
Honda Civic Type R (EP3): PH Heroes
Don’t just take our word for it, look at the stats. JDM cars used Japan-built K20A four-cylinders (rather than UK made ones) that produced 215hp at 8000rpm, which was 15hp more and 600rpm later than the EDM (nothing to do with David Guetta, we’re talking European Domestic Market) models. They also spun all the way to 8,600rpm, meaning cars sold in Britain were denied 350 glorious revs above the VTEC barrier. On road performance was therefore quicker, with the 0-62mph sprint taking 6.4sec, two tenths quicker than European cars. This added potency wasn’t from a simple ECU map either, because JDM cars provided their extra ferocity thanks to upgraded engine components including higher specification cams, a unique inlet manifold and different headers, as well as a heightened compression ratio.
The chassis was different too. Ok, so the body in white was identical and was assembled down the same line as the EDM cars, but Japanese models used a slightly firmer spring rate and tauter damping to enhance overall responsiveness. And let us not forget the more forgiving Europe-spec setup wasn’t exactly lacking in driver-appeal, so this Japanese version was hailed as one very serious proposition in factory trim.
Not many cars stayed that way, of course, as is tradition in the Land of the Rising Sun, with buyers provided with an aftermarket parts list taller than Mount Fuji almost as soon as the EP3 landed on Japanese shores. That’s what makes the unmolested 5000-mile-old JDM import listed on the classifieds such a rare find. Not only does it come in Japan-only Championship White (not offered in Europe until the following FN2-gen model), it gets standard-fit JDM paraphernalia including red Recaro seats, a leather-wrapped gear knob and HID headlights (not included on EDM cars until the facelift).
Civic Type R facelift spied with more options
Interestingly, this one-owner car was imported back to Britain in 2015 but is yet to receive a UK custodian, which leaves some questions as to what it’s been up to these past three years. We’d like to think its Japanese owner relocated here and brought their pride and joy with them; the recently replaced brake pads, oil service and new tyres certainly suggest it’s continued to receive no-expenses spared maintenance.
Either way, there are few better ways to experience a breed of hot Civic that has long since passed, where revving the nuts off its engine was a requirement rather than an option, where the gear lever was located within a palm’s reach and at elbow height, and where exterior design was still fairly restrained. If only we had a spare £14k...
SPECIFICATION - HONDA CIVIC TYPE R (EP3)
Engine: 1,998cc, four-cylinder
Transmission: 6-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 215@8,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 152@7,000rpm
0-62mph: 6.4secs
Top speed: 146mph
Weight: 1,204kg
MPG: 31.7 (NEDC combined)
CO2: 212g/km
First registered: 2002
Price new: £15,995
Price now: £13,995
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