Best bang for buck - £3000
- Thread starter TacticalFish
- Start date
What I did or did not buy is completely irrelevant.
Plus it doesn't have moon miles, and it is a lot more fun than a stock EP3... Or it would be if it was working.
If you could stop dragging it up pointlessly, that would be appreciated.
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Said no-one, ever.
Opinionated badge elitists who haven't driven both of the two cars they are comparing quite often say things like that, I'm used to it. 
But trust me, even with crap tyres it handles a darn site better than an EP3.
Just like an EP3 handles a darn sight better than a Corolla T-Sport.
But trust me, even with crap tyres it handles a darn site better than an EP3.
Just like an EP3 handles a darn sight better than a Corolla T-Sport.
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Man of Honour
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No they won't, as far as the turbo jap stuff the Impreza is fairly bomb proof as long as it's not a 2.5
Not badge elitist in the slightest. I chose my SEAT LCR (oooh, posh!) over an EP3 at the time because I preferred the seating position and the interior layout/quality (as well as the power delivery), but I was in no way under the delusion that it would out-handle the EP3.
I had 2 main impressions when I tried a celica were of being oddly cramped. I'm not tall at 5'10 but quite a long upper body and short legs - my head was rubbing on the roof liner. But mainly disappointingly slow - it could have handled really well but definitely didn't have the power to match its looks or sporty pretentions. Possibly a nice car if you want the styling but doesn't belong in a "bang for buck" argument really, there are tons of better options
I'm sure there are! I wasn't saying it was a valid choice, I was just defending it, again.
Driving position is excellent, and it handles really well. It is also by no means slow. Disappointing if you expected more, sure! But I knew what to expect in the speed department because I had already owned a car with the same engine. Handling wise it is excellent.
And yes Honda people can be very opinionated and often deluded. To be honest I assumed you were a Honda fanboy, I was on my phone (no sigs showing) and I remember people by their sigs. Sorry Paradigm!
I didn't buy the Celica because it handles better than an EP3, I just happened to drive it quick and think "Wow, this is so much more fun than an EP3" - and yes I've driven an EP3, before anyone asks. It was fantastic. It was quicker at lower RPM's than the Corolla, but there was nothing in it in the high RPM's, handling wise it was leagues ahead of the Corolla. My Celica (i.e not a stock one), I think is probably a bit quicker than the EP3, not masses, but a bit. The lightweight fly and the aftermarket gearing help with that because it picks up better at lower revs, and it stays in lift between first and second gear.
Still a much better option than an Omega V6... Seriously? Who let him in?
Driving position is excellent, and it handles really well. It is also by no means slow. Disappointing if you expected more, sure! But I knew what to expect in the speed department because I had already owned a car with the same engine. Handling wise it is excellent.
And yes Honda people can be very opinionated and often deluded. To be honest I assumed you were a Honda fanboy, I was on my phone (no sigs showing) and I remember people by their sigs. Sorry Paradigm!
I didn't buy the Celica because it handles better than an EP3, I just happened to drive it quick and think "Wow, this is so much more fun than an EP3" - and yes I've driven an EP3, before anyone asks. It was fantastic. It was quicker at lower RPM's than the Corolla, but there was nothing in it in the high RPM's, handling wise it was leagues ahead of the Corolla. My Celica (i.e not a stock one), I think is probably a bit quicker than the EP3, not masses, but a bit. The lightweight fly and the aftermarket gearing help with that because it picks up better at lower revs, and it stays in lift between first and second gear.
Still a much better option than an Omega V6... Seriously? Who let him in?
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and yes I've driven an EP3, before anyone asks. It was fantastic. It was quicker at lower RPM's than the Corolla, but there was nothing in it in the high RPM's, handling wise it was leagues ahead of the Corolla. My Celica (i.e not a stock one), I think is probably a bit quicker than the EP3, not masses, but a bit. The lightweight fly and the aftermarket gearing help with that because it picks up better at lower revs, and it stays in lift between first and second gear.
Did you drive a FL EP3? They have a lighter fly and some other bits and bobs the earlier ones didn't.
Stock v stock a Celica isn't quicker going round a corner than an EP3. If you think your Celica handles better than an EP3 then you weren't driving the EP3 properly.
The EP3 never drops out of VTEC if you change up at the line.
Stock vs stock maybe not, but the GT has 30mm lowering springs and wider wheels, and mine has an LSD
It was a preFL EP3. 2002.
Celica/Corolla T-Sport/GT/whatever will only drop out of lift on the 1st - 2nd shift, but you can keep it in lift if you put your mind to it.
Anyway it doesn't matter, mine is a dog and I wish I had that EP3 instead of it, but if mine wasn't a dog I'd rather it than the EP3.
It was a preFL EP3. 2002.
Celica/Corolla T-Sport/GT/whatever will only drop out of lift on the 1st - 2nd shift, but you can keep it in lift if you put your mind to it.
Anyway it doesn't matter, mine is a dog and I wish I had that EP3 instead of it, but if mine wasn't a dog I'd rather it than the EP3.
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Sorry dude I don't know where you get the idea that yours would be far better than a standard EP3??? When I got my EP3 (bog standard bar exhaust) I was amazed how well the thing handled, the feel of it etc. They had a brilliant rep for a reason. Probably the best out of the box car I've ever had, kinda ruined mine by lowering, I should have put new wishbone bushes in and be done, it was so nice to drive when I first got it. Not too stiff, not crashy, only issue was off the line/low speed traction. When the guy I bought it from took me out in it I was like whoa as if you can get around corners at those speeds, I never dared matching his skills myself lol.
As said they never drop out of vtec if you keep the revs up as you should!
I think you need to drive many more motors, properly, before you are hell bent on forcing your opinions out there.
As said they never drop out of vtec if you keep the revs up as you should!
I think you need to drive many more motors, properly, before you are hell bent on forcing your opinions out there.
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A stock Celica will go round a corner quicker than an EP3
But on point, the EP3 is an great car all round and 3k is great money for them. It ticks so many boxes as being piratical and a fun drivers car its going to command that sort of money for some time to come.
Did I say it handles far better? If so that's not really what I meant, better yes, far better no. Maybe it just feels like it handles better because you sit so low.
Either way its more fun because of it, even if it isn't "better"
EP3 at that price maybe isn't such a bad shout after all to be honest...
How much are ATR's these days? Might be another option.
Either way its more fun because of it, even if it isn't "better"
EP3 at that price maybe isn't such a bad shout after all to be honest...
How much are ATR's these days? Might be another option.
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If we are going off on a tangent, my silver Fiesta ST on AP Coilovers handled better still than my EP3 on the road I thought... as in quite a bit better.
But it was a lot slower acceleration wise
EDIT having had a few sub 3k cars.... one of my personal faves was..... a Vauxhall Astra.
2.0 Z20LER turbo, coilovers, turboback exhaust, crossover delete and pipercross air filter, stage one remap etc it ran 260BHP/270LBFT, fairly agressive power delivery, pretty quick, Q car looks. Wish I kept it and didn't bother with the Focus ST for the amount I lost on it! You can buy these Astra's real cheap now if you want something easy and cheap to mod. I thought it handled quite good too! And I have had enough hot hatches to compare it to
And the noise
But it was a lot slower acceleration wise
EDIT having had a few sub 3k cars.... one of my personal faves was..... a Vauxhall Astra.
2.0 Z20LER turbo, coilovers, turboback exhaust, crossover delete and pipercross air filter, stage one remap etc it ran 260BHP/270LBFT, fairly agressive power delivery, pretty quick, Q car looks. Wish I kept it and didn't bother with the Focus ST for the amount I lost on it! You can buy these Astra's real cheap now if you want something easy and cheap to mod. I thought it handled quite good too! And I have had enough hot hatches to compare it to
And the noise
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while iv had both, the ep3 was more solid when putting the power down but i sold it for another celica after 3 weeks because i enjoyed the celica more.