dc2r= too many rattles and noises and its hard to find a good example of one anymore
dc5r+ep3r = most of the parts are interchangeable and being a later model car it doesnt creak and whatnot that the dc2r does.
IMO, if your after something which brings out the race driver in you all 3 of these cars can do it, but the dc2r i think truly is a racecar. The dc5r and ep3 were more "luxury" for me. I was in the exact same position your in and i was leaning towards the dc5r because the ep3 didnt look aggressive enough for me and the dc2r was just too old. So instead i bought an s2000 haha. Non-biased opinion so dont flame me =(