Civic Type R's (EP3's), trying to find out about them

Stormster

Stormster

Stormster

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As title :)

Trying find out a bit about them, namely problems and running costs for parts and the like...

Does anyone know much about what goes wrong? I'm sure I heard somewhere about steering racks failing/being faulty? Window clips or something being dodgy so rattly windows when opened a bit... but don't know a lot else about these cars.

So if anyone knows anything detailed about them, common issues, faults and repair costs, it'd be good to hear.

Also fuel consumption, I am assuming these have to run on 98ron+ fuel? What are they like for pottering about in?

Just having a think as can afford one around 5k but they have no doubt had a hard life so I'm a bit wary and I am unsure if I can live without low down torkz! lol. I've never driven one but a friend had one and it seemed a pretty capable, fun car, if not feeling lightening quick.

I quite like them in red, just lowered a little on nice springs, something like this. I was looking at Fiesta ST's but I feel it'd be a little small long term.

Picture008.jpg
 
I've albeit briefly driven a friends old 172 cup. Fast, but... just didn't feel right :( I don't think I'd get on with one and read too much about problems, I was looking into the 172's when I got my Golf as they were similar money. The Clio felt like a faster version of my Corsa Sport lol.

You're right though, CTR's are a bit over priced.
 
I've posted a few times about the EP3 in similar threads before, sear hint aint easy on my phone tho.

Servicing is average. Majors at 50k and 70k with timing chain checks and valve clearance checks. Probs cost you £300 or so for those all in. Tyres cost £400 for a full set of decent ones and you can go through hem quickly depending on your driving. Fuel is 20 to 30mpg in reality. I never did motorway stuff much but I generally got 200 to 240 miles to 40l of fuel on my daily drives with spirited driving. You can use regular fuel, in fact it's recommended you do in the book IIRC. Ther'a no harm either way.

Steering rack was a big issue for a select few, but they all went within warranty period assuming the owner noticed. Test drive a few, you'll easily tell the difference as the broken ones have noisy steering.

Check for even tyre wear as they are not fully adjustable from the factory. If you go for the -30 springs like the pic then a fast road setup with camber adjustment kit is highly recommended, transforms the car.

The only main think to look at is oil levels. You should keep them at max and it's not uncommon to drink 1l per 1k miles. With these being so cheap it will be easy to find thrashed ones that have improper oil maintenance and they're an oil sensitive car. I would have the oil changed for piece of mind after purchase.

Otherwise, I have two friends with high milage cars and they've not had any issues not caused by themselves. One had his clutch done at about 80k, but some have done 120k on the original clutch.

When test driving make sure you can take it to the redline in the 1st 3 gears to get a real feel for the capability and gearbox as they are a very marmite driving experience.

Apologies if this post has been iphowned, they need a mobile friendly version!
 
Thanks for the info there Dup some good reading :)

Are they good on gearboxes, with them getting such a pasting? I aren't sure if I read something about crunching into third somewhere before, unless that was DC2 Tegs.

Thanks for those details though :)
 
They're bulletproof.

You don't need to use 97+ RON fuel unless you've had it remapped for it (i.e. running a supercharger or turbo)

Interior can develop rattles which is pretty much par for the course for Honda really.

Servicing (main dealer) is more expensive than it ought to be really imo.
 
I haven't heard of many gearbox problems to be honest, not enough to be classed as "an issue on EP3s". Not rose tinted glasses there or anything, just genuinely haven't heard of a specific problem with these cars other than the steering rack issue mentioned above.

I'm running over 300bhp through my standard gearbox and clutch and it's been solid :) (I'm very mechanically sympathetic though)
 
Well it's not really a known "issue". It's something you tend to get when changing gear at 8500rpm for 120,000 miles:p

(for 5k the OP is going to have to settle for a high-miler).

Actually saying that, when cold, mine would struggle to go into 2nd. Only had 30k on it.
 
Has the price gone up My Black 04 facelift with 57k and ac for only 6k 2 years ago. Surely 5k can get a decent red facelift with lowish miles now?

Fuel is pretty much as said. Get used to rattles and squeeks. Terrible standard headunit and speakers. Seat belts that are hard to reach. Paint that scratches when you look at it. And every pot hole or speedbump feels like a mountain.
I love mine and the noise and feeling when pushing it is fantastic.
 
DAvE18 said:
Has the price gone up My Black 04 facelift with 57k and ac for only 6k 2 years ago. Surely 5k can get a decent red facelift with lowish miles now?

Fuel is pretty much as said. Get used to rattles and squeeks. Terrible standard headunit and speakers. Seat belts that are hard to reach. Paint that scratches when you look at it. And every pot hole or speedbump feels like a mountain.
I love mine and the noise and feeling when pushing it is fantastic.
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Let's see what PH shows...

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2503356.htm

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2502743.htm

Looking around, £5K should easily get you an early Type R. If you want the facelift model (post 04), then it would be a little squeeze. This won't be an issue because you can always rely on haggling to bridge the gap. If you do set your eyes on Type R, then I'd highly recommend going for the AC model and preferably post 04. Oh, and what ever you do, don't buy an EK9 because you'll upset Fox and myself, hugely.
 
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Second gear crunching was a small issue for some from new which should have been fixed under warranty. The FN2 had the same but with 3rd gear.

Engine and gearbox wise they're bulletproof assuming the oils been looked after. Same as any car really, but the engine really should be kept at max level so see if you check the level before buying. It's quite easy to let it drop low.

As mentioned before they did a Facelift 04 plus, easy to spot as they have projector lights, different front bumper, half clear rear lights and red seat insert. Honda said they made a 101 minor tweaks although the main change is a lighter flywheel. Not an amazing difference but if you prefer it it will help resale easier. The same with air con, it was a £1000 factory option so it's well worth finding one with air con even just for resale.

I bought my 2003 plate with about 40k miles on it at 5 years old and it still felt very solid, no interior rattles etc. I sold it after 20k very hard miles (60k) and it was still very solid then. Main thing I noticed was the wheels corroding. Typical Honda trait but easily fixed.
 
Get a DC2, spend the saved few thousand on an overhaul or buy one with everything done.

Men who are a little older = FD2
Men with big balls = DC2
Boys = EP3
Nobody = FN2

:D
 
Most people I knew with an EP3 were 30+, although I agree with the FD2. DC2 is more bravery than balls. In fact they're more for boys as their body can handle it is a daily crash (over the bumps) :p

I was in my local specialist once I walked past a red EP3 with carbon Mugen bonnet and spoiler, Toda cat back whale penis and it was lowered a little on very nice wheels. When I was in paying up there was a short stocky old guy, 50+ with full on grey beard and long grey hair with socks and sandals on and this younger lad with him.

Not long after he left I heard a roar and this car raced off. Turned out the modded car was his, supercharged to over 300bhp! He looked like my dad! The young guy his son, with the coolest dad with socks and sandals in the world.


Aren't DC2s about £5k for a decent example anyway?
 
Dup said:
Most people I knew with an EP3 were 30+, although I agree with the FD2. DC2 is more bravery than balls. In fact they're more for boys as their body can handle it is a daily crash (over the bumps) :p

I was in my local specialist once I walked past a red EP3 with carbon Mugen bonnet and spoiler, Toda cat back whale penis and it was lowered a little on very nice wheels. When I was in paying up there was a short stocky old guy, 50+ with full on grey beard and long grey hair with socks and sandals on and this younger lad with him.

Not long after he left I heard a roar and this car raced off. Turned out the modded car was his, supercharged to over 300bhp! He looked like my dad! The young guy his son, with the coolest dad with socks and sandals in the world.


Aren't DC2s about £5k for a decent example anyway?
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That EP3 sounds sensational. A properly modded one with an LSD or JDM version would be on my list of wants.

Not that bad over the bumps at all, and I'm on poly bushes and coilovers, an OEM car would be very comfortable in comparison. Very good on the fuel too.

A good example probably would be about £5k, but for that it would be well sorted and I would look for with with the bushes and suspension done.

sovietspybob said:
Fixed that for you
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I completely forgot about the DC5, bad me...... DC5 = Men with smaller balls than DC2 owners :D
 
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