Test drove an EP3 today.
 

Was thinking of getting some sort of sub 5k thrasher.

Even though it looks like a bread van it was actually not bad. The one I looked at was an 05 plate and had 75k. Yeah they are very Baz and Daz but I'm not too bothered.

It really picked up speed when the V-tec kicked in. I thought it would be slower.

I didn't buy it cos it's the first one I drove, and 1st and 2nd felt very sloppy to me, like the gear box was well worn, or the clutch had a ton of wear on it. It just wasn't slotting home like I thought a Honda should with precision.

Anyone owned an EP3 can advise?

Clio 182.....

I'd worry about the electrics.

Im on my second only thing that has went wrong with them is boiling the brakes lol

I had an ep3. Great cars and surprisingly nippy. But I had a nightmare with the engine. Head gasket went and then the bottom end. My mates has just spun a bearing as well. So don't listen to the "bullet proof engine" pish. No that am saying keep away. This can happen to any car. My gearbox was sloppy i thought and my other friend had one which I drove and that was sloppy.

Yeah even the best engine will let go if someone doesn't service it right or they lose coolant or something and let it overheat.

I thought the gear box would be better, felt like stirring a drum full of stones with a plank.

The gear knob is in a weird position too but it didn't bother me.

I loved the gear stick position. But the gear changes were like shagg1ng a shoe box full of liver!

That's not an image I wanted in my head lol.

Haha.

Gear change should be super smooth if the 'box is in good health. They do wear engine mounts though so could be moment of the engine & gearbox that's causing a sloppy feeling?

I put a new clutch in my ep3 with 76k on it aswell as new box oil and uprated mounts and it completely transformed the gear change, it was precise as a firing pin, there is also an uprated shifter bush kit which can be installed.when I got my ep3 the gear change was awful but after I changed the above it was bang on.i got all my bits from unit 8

Mine had new clutch and gearbox oil when I got it. I had it fitted. Was still pony. Must have been something worn somewhere

I bought a new one 10 years ago. (RD03 CZV)

Couldn't be doing with the lifeless steering and hitting vtec became a bit of a bore - had to be doing silly speeds to enjoy it.

A nicely engineered engine and gearbox though.

yep very good when newish gets a little stiff when cold but suspension is terible on newer models not a scooby eater (wish i still had my ep3 ) and eats front tires

Most of the ep3s are like this afaik, think its down to the long gear linkage etc, however the s2000 and integra are not I belive as the stick is lower down close to the box.

Hi I have bought a s2000 and my mate has ep3 and they are great cars gear changing is a plesure such nice gearbox especially on the s. Engine is brilliant mine is 46k and drives spot on my mates ep3 is on 70 and is like new . The ep3 is light so can be decent on fuel and. I was going to buy one because I wanted 4 seats preferred but love the look better on s2000 so took the plunge. Civic is also very roomy inside I thought

I think the ep3 got car of the year at some point (2005 I think)

The extra 40 ponies in the s2k is gotta be worth it though?

The S2000 is still a bit 'hairdressery' being a convertible. I can really be dealing with convertibles.

It might have 40bhp more but is a lot heavier then the ep3 so not too much difference apart from higher up. but the s is alot more fun car to drive by miles although the ep3 is also very good too
And this thing with 2 seater convertibles being heardresser cars is only becuase people are not man enough to drive them personally ;). silly thing to think I say

can't ?
You've bought your car now so why worry about that?

Rwd ftw! Totally different driving experience to fwd

And I have a gay hairdresser car and couldn't give a toss, it's the driving experience I'm more bothered about.

Yeah I meant CAN'T lol.

It's hard not to look like a bit of a knob with the top down IMHO, and the folding roofs leak and shrink over time, etc.

I used to be very anti-FWD but now I'm not too bothered. A RWD without a proper LSD is a nightmare to drive for me and very bad in the wet. At least FWD is safer in the rain.

Getting a JDM EP3 would be very cool as they have a tad more power and a front LSD. They are twice the price though. :lol1:

are you sure, a quick search on autotrader suggest that the s is 1535kg and the ep3 is 1550kg???
But then autotrader is never accurate.

Ep3 is 1210kg

I'm the same with the roof tbh, I just keep it up. Apart from this really sunny weather we are just having, with my roll cage I get a lot of looks, I think are they looking at me cos I'm a knob or admiring? Feck it, it's the fun that counts. If your going to worry what folk think of you then tut tut tut.

Jdm are the best of course, I think the s2000 in a jdm might have LSD (not 100%) but the best of all would be a dc5 jdm with rwd :thumb:
I have LSD ;)

And depends on your use age wether its rwd or fwd tbh weekend car or dd.

1210 I think it is s2000 is definetly heavier its a suprise to me when I found out but I raced my friend alot of times and was very similar

What's a s2000?
Where's the info from?

I heard from my nowledge with the s2000 uk is better the jdm unlike the civic

1321 sorry I talking about the civic. I not sure what the s is but sounds like what you said above

1,321 kg for an EP3 according to Wiki.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Civic_Type_R
S2000 is between 1250 kg and 1299 kg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_S2000