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View Full Version : Driving Impressions: 2002 Civic EP3R



BlackBird
06-07-2013, 12:15 AM
Hi everyone,

For any of you thinking about what car you might buy next, you may want to consider the Civic EP3. There are plenty of technical specs on the car already posted elsewhere, so this post is about my experience with this car so far as I have had it for a few days now.

The photos below I have taken tonight - if you like them and want some shots of your own car get in touch and we can arrange something.

2002 Honda Civic Type-R

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/6074/y3ri.jpg

The mark of excellence.

This is coming from a person that drove an FTO GPX (rival to the Type-R) for a long time (10-11 years)...this Civic Type-R is a fantastic car to drive!

http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/2886/ivv1.jpg

Fantastic to look at also I think...never thought I would say that about a hatchback!

From the moment you open the door, and take a seat inside, you feel like you are in a competant vehicle. Everything just feels rightly placed, from the knobs and switches to the gearshift which makes you feel like you are playing at an Arcade Game machine. There is plenty of room too.

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/6615/4vid.jpg

Some wise old person said once something like, "The more things done to a car, the more problems that are likely to happen". The people at Honda must have overheard, since the amount of techno goodies within the interior is minimal!

The drive itself is wonderful. It is a real pleasure and joy to drive. This is what I would call a real drivers car. I have driven a R34 GT-R Vspec, Porsche 930 and more before...and for everyday driving, this rules. Seriously. The engineering behind it is unbelieveable. I would highly recommend leaving the engine stock unless you really know what you are doing. Being a 4-Cyl means it will be fuel friendly if you want it to be.

I use this car as my daily driver now. It has a nice ride to it, not really bumpy at all. I live in the CBD so it's been fun as I am mostly in either 1st or 2nd gear and when I need to overtake it's not a problem...put your foot down, let VTEC do it's thing and suddenly you are ahead of most cars. On the highway it idles at around 2 1/2 to 3k at 110km in 6th gear roughly so there is little cabin noise also.

Revving it out hard on straights is a pretty underwhelming experience - this car belongs around the corners, throwing it back a gear and letting the VTEC gigglejuice intoxicate you as you slalom through windy roads.

http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/7145/8nos.jpg

I have no intention of doing any mods to the engine. Why would I? It drives so well as is!

Overall, for $18,000 roughly (I know it is expensive here in Aus) it is a lot of car for your money and being a modern Honda, the car will serve you well if you look after it with servicing and so on...

I would recommend this car to anyone looking for a daily driver that will make you feel good to drive. A proper drivers car.

http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/9849/ktmc.jpg


Cheers,

BB

Snoop_gee
07-07-2013, 03:17 PM
while you do say whats the point in doing any mods. There is always going to be doing something.
I think there was someone who had completed a k24 swap in the EP3 R in Syd I think.

From the many things I have heard all of them seem to be positive about the EP3 Type. R
Interesting read to hear your thoughts about the Ep. there is also a 1277 page thread on the Ep3 Type R (http://www.ozhonda.com/forum/showthread.php?76083-EP3-Type-R) most is spam thou .? LOL


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeGAmcLYGQ8

curtis265
07-07-2013, 03:26 PM
The drive itself is wonderful. It is a real pleasure and joy to drive. This is what I would call a real drivers car. I have driven a R34 GT-R Vspec, Porsche 930 and more before...and for everyday driving, this rules. Seriously. The engineering behind it is unbelieveable. I would highly recommend leaving the engine stock unless you really know what you are doing. Being a 4-Cyl means it will be fuel friendly if you want it to be.


Glad you liked it. I must challenge you here though, what's the harm in a few boltons?

bboyzell
07-07-2013, 06:51 PM
Good small write up on the ep3r :)

How do you find the room in the back of the car. I have always considered a ep3 as a daily drive one day but being a tall person with talk friends ( around 6ft )

Is it realist to have a couple of tall friends in the back and still have a good driving position ?

EKVTIR-T
07-07-2013, 07:00 PM
they should have made the centre part dark,like piano black or carbon

its too plain to be light colour,looks like a mass or nothing without many buttons etc.

http://s8.postimg.org/c8vdcvi2d/4vid.jpg

BlackBird
07-07-2013, 08:09 PM
Glad you liked it. I must challenge you here though, what's the harm in a few boltons?

Well the EP3 is now my daily driver so I'm very happy with it. :)

I never said I was against mods or there was harm in that...my previous car had some great mods. I just wrote given the car that it is, doing for example stupid stuff like throwing on cheap coil-overs...yes the car will be low, but you'll also have a bumpy ride. Or adding enhancements to the engine without considering the suspension and so on will compromise the handling performance. Things like that.

Each to their own though.

BlackBird
07-07-2013, 08:11 PM
Good small write up on the ep3r :)

How do you find the room in the back of the car. I have always considered a ep3 as a daily drive one day but being a tall person with talk friends ( around 6ft )

Is it realist to have a couple of tall friends in the back and still have a good driving position ?

Cheers!

I am 6"2 myself and I had a go at sitting in the back of it just to see what it would be like with the passenger seat back to normal position...it's very roomy surprisingly! Much more than my previous car (FTO). I probably would only have one or two in the back though, not three...or if you are a maniac like me, have had seven in the back seat (with previous car lol).

BlackBird
07-07-2013, 08:12 PM
True that, like most Jap cars...a sea of plastic!

bboyzell
07-07-2013, 08:33 PM
I always thought that ep3's where 2 + 2 seating configuration. Couldn't imagine 3 people in there lol

BlackBird
07-07-2013, 08:39 PM
I always thought that ep3's where 2 + 2 seating configuration. Couldn't imagine 3 people in there lol

I consider the seatbelt the two people sitting beside the middle passenger lul. jks.

I've only had one person in the backseat so far and that wasn't a prob...

flop101
07-07-2013, 08:56 PM
Blackbird, how many ep3s did you look at before you decided on your one?

BlackBird
07-07-2013, 09:04 PM
Blackbird, how many ep3s did you look at before you decided on your one?

I looked at three in total, including this one.