Never started a thread about this car, can't remember why!
September 2016
Here I am, back in another Honda and my second DC5. As much as I enjoyed driving the Evo, I never really gelled with it. I should have learned after my first one; they’re quick, there’s no doubt about that however there’s some things which really detract from the ownership experience. As a point to point car they’re a complete weapon, there really isn’t much on the road that could keep with one. Pick the right gear, usually 3rd or 4th, as long as you are above 3500 rpm, point in the direction you want to go and squirt. Some magic 4WD stuff happens and before you know it you’re doing insane speeds for the public road. Therein lies part of the problem.
As a drivers’ car they can feel a little soulless, you don’t really have to work for the performance. A lot of people will say that it’s like driving a PlayStation on wheels. I don’t agree with that, but for outright fun, for me at least, I get more out of wringing the neck out of something. Then there’s the interior, the IX is based on a car that came out in 2001 and it shows. I distinctly remember when I viewed it, I thought to myself ‘why on earth am I spending £16k on something that’s got this interior?'. I almost walked out that day without buying it. They’re not comfortable either, there’s little cushioning under the arse of the Recaro and anything over an hour really grates. I remember doing a stint up to Croft for a track day and I got out barely able to straighten my back or walk properly. Because racecar I said.
On track it’s extremely capable, with the right tyres, some brake upgrades and suspension mods you will be faster than 90% of things that turn up. Okay, that figure is made up, but you get the idea. The weight of the car soon takes its toll, though. If you’re a crap driver, like me, you’ll overdrive the car and go through brakes and tyres quicker than you can max your credit card. 2 sessions and you need fuel; I think I was getting 5pmg on track which is a little disturbing for a stage one car. I did a full day at Spa and I went through 5 or 6 tanks at a cost of £300 or so. The track day itself was only £150 I think? Then there’s the tyres afterwards, and the brake refurb, and the SAS valve broke and… you get the idea. One final thing that I couldn't get out of my head is the overwhelming sensation that something would break. Driving an Evo on track is like dating a stripper, it’s good fun however you soon realise it isn’t the best idea and you expect the worst to happen.
The older I get the less interest I have in having an uncomfortable and noisy car to potter about in. The Evo was sat outside the garage not getting used. I’d take it out now and then for the sake of it. I loved driving it then, but it felt more of a case that I was doing it to justify owning it. Of course when I took it out I’d cane it which involved high fuel usage and speeds on the public roads which could see me losing my license. More track days must be the answer; I always enjoy going to them. But the Evo is a heavy car. I could have stripped it, but I looked at its value and thought better of it. I guess in the end I never really gelled with it either. So I decided to sell it and get something that I could wring the neck of and not worry too much about.
I’d spoke to a few people about this I’d originally looked at a track EG with a K20 in it. They’re quick cars, but there’s something about the image of the EG that I don’t like so I was never 100% on the idea. I’d spoken to a good friend about it and he mentioned that a DC5 was at TGM and needed some TLC. To this day I miss my old one, there’s something about the DC5 that I’ve always loved.
1 owner from import, 66k miles and pretty much off the road for the past 3 years as the owner got banned. I made an offer in the £5k region and it was accepted. So here it is, in its far from perfect paint finish. The sun really has done some work on it!
Here’s the spec:
01'C/W Red seats Black oem wheels.
Gruppe M
RBC
Mapped by Romain @ Eurospec 243bhp.
Full DC Sports system. DC Battery tie bar.
Front and rear Mugen struts, Mugen oil filler/radiator caps.Mugen gear knob.
Eichbach springs TGM FRSU. Oem springs inc (if you want them).
B&M short shift.
Spoon ETD, Spoon Front brace,
Genuine Seibon C/F Rear spoiler.
C/F Bonnet. (Make unknown-oem style).
And some other bits.
Plan at the moment is to get it back on the road so I can use it! There’s an issue with the brakes so I have bought a 332mm Brembo kit, not cheap but worth it I hope. Once it’s on the road and I know what budget I have to play with I’ll start looking at coilovers, seats and maybe some weight loss.
September 2016
Here I am, back in another Honda and my second DC5. As much as I enjoyed driving the Evo, I never really gelled with it. I should have learned after my first one; they’re quick, there’s no doubt about that however there’s some things which really detract from the ownership experience. As a point to point car they’re a complete weapon, there really isn’t much on the road that could keep with one. Pick the right gear, usually 3rd or 4th, as long as you are above 3500 rpm, point in the direction you want to go and squirt. Some magic 4WD stuff happens and before you know it you’re doing insane speeds for the public road. Therein lies part of the problem.
As a drivers’ car they can feel a little soulless, you don’t really have to work for the performance. A lot of people will say that it’s like driving a PlayStation on wheels. I don’t agree with that, but for outright fun, for me at least, I get more out of wringing the neck out of something. Then there’s the interior, the IX is based on a car that came out in 2001 and it shows. I distinctly remember when I viewed it, I thought to myself ‘why on earth am I spending £16k on something that’s got this interior?'. I almost walked out that day without buying it. They’re not comfortable either, there’s little cushioning under the arse of the Recaro and anything over an hour really grates. I remember doing a stint up to Croft for a track day and I got out barely able to straighten my back or walk properly. Because racecar I said.
On track it’s extremely capable, with the right tyres, some brake upgrades and suspension mods you will be faster than 90% of things that turn up. Okay, that figure is made up, but you get the idea. The weight of the car soon takes its toll, though. If you’re a crap driver, like me, you’ll overdrive the car and go through brakes and tyres quicker than you can max your credit card. 2 sessions and you need fuel; I think I was getting 5pmg on track which is a little disturbing for a stage one car. I did a full day at Spa and I went through 5 or 6 tanks at a cost of £300 or so. The track day itself was only £150 I think? Then there’s the tyres afterwards, and the brake refurb, and the SAS valve broke and… you get the idea. One final thing that I couldn't get out of my head is the overwhelming sensation that something would break. Driving an Evo on track is like dating a stripper, it’s good fun however you soon realise it isn’t the best idea and you expect the worst to happen.
The older I get the less interest I have in having an uncomfortable and noisy car to potter about in. The Evo was sat outside the garage not getting used. I’d take it out now and then for the sake of it. I loved driving it then, but it felt more of a case that I was doing it to justify owning it. Of course when I took it out I’d cane it which involved high fuel usage and speeds on the public roads which could see me losing my license. More track days must be the answer; I always enjoy going to them. But the Evo is a heavy car. I could have stripped it, but I looked at its value and thought better of it. I guess in the end I never really gelled with it either. So I decided to sell it and get something that I could wring the neck of and not worry too much about.
I’d spoke to a few people about this I’d originally looked at a track EG with a K20 in it. They’re quick cars, but there’s something about the image of the EG that I don’t like so I was never 100% on the idea. I’d spoken to a good friend about it and he mentioned that a DC5 was at TGM and needed some TLC. To this day I miss my old one, there’s something about the DC5 that I’ve always loved.
1 owner from import, 66k miles and pretty much off the road for the past 3 years as the owner got banned. I made an offer in the £5k region and it was accepted. So here it is, in its far from perfect paint finish. The sun really has done some work on it!
Here’s the spec:
01'C/W Red seats Black oem wheels.
Gruppe M
RBC
Mapped by Romain @ Eurospec 243bhp.
Full DC Sports system. DC Battery tie bar.
Front and rear Mugen struts, Mugen oil filler/radiator caps.Mugen gear knob.
Eichbach springs TGM FRSU. Oem springs inc (if you want them).
B&M short shift.
Spoon ETD, Spoon Front brace,
Genuine Seibon C/F Rear spoiler.
C/F Bonnet. (Make unknown-oem style).
And some other bits.
Plan at the moment is to get it back on the road so I can use it! There’s an issue with the brakes so I have bought a 332mm Brembo kit, not cheap but worth it I hope. Once it’s on the road and I know what budget I have to play with I’ll start looking at coilovers, seats and maybe some weight loss.
