Very interested in the EP3 Civic Type R

[pistonpie]

I'm very interested in purchasing an EP3 Civic Type R, I know there's probably a thread on this and if there is could someone point me to it? Anyway, i'm just looking for some general advice on these, and to ask what are the common faults to look out for? I am 21 and I have a budget of about £6-7k, i've got some quotes for insurance which seem reasonable. Would the Japanese import version be too expensive to insure for someone of my age? Cheers for the help.

Edited by pistonpie on Sunday 11th September 15:04

[motor mad]

The UKDM EP3 is group 17 and the JDM EP3 is group 20. At 21 I'd have expected an annual premium to be over £1k on the UK car and even more horrific on an import (if you can get a quote at all).

[itsnotarace]

Insurance on the import will likely be eye watering

Buyers guide

http://civictype-r.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&a...

[Mehdi]

I will be selling my 2005 EP3 Premier edition in NHB in about 3 weeks if you are interested, let me know if you want details.
Med

[iphonedyou]

I'd venture so far as to say you won't get insured on the import. At least, not for under 3k.

I'm 25 and my insurance is still comparatively eye watering for my DC5. The bottom line is, insurers don't want you. That said, try Bell

[DanDC5]

Try Greenlight insurance, they insure JDM Civic's with only a small premium on top of the UK cars if any at all unlike most other companies. Sadly they don't cover DC5's or I'd be with them now....

[Mastodon2]

It's always going to be a tough time with Type Rs, they are one of the brands insurers just don't like young men driving, probably because so many cack-handed chavs have crashed them and cost them so much money!

[mistermexican]

I have just bought an EP3 in April. BEWARE! 95% of the cars you will see have been thrashed or are in appalling condition even in your budget. Independent dealers are also rubbish. I went to see one and the oil was not even on the dipstick and the salesman didn't care! Frequest oil cahnges are essential.
Having said that, if you bide your time you WILL find one evetually that is right for you. I bought mine from an older chap who had everything done at Honda (even the tyres!) and it was immaculate on a 54 plate. It had 60k on the clock and I paid £5.5k for it.
With regards to insurance I pay £590 on an accellerate NCB (25, 1 year NCB, 0 points but I live in the middle of nowhere).
You'll get about 350 miles to a tank, more on motorways, less if driven hard.

[Jimslips]

mistermexican said:

I have just bought an EP3 in April. BEWARE! 95% of the cars you will see have been thrashed or are in appalling condition even in your budget. Independent dealers are also rubbish. I went to see one and the oil was not even on the dipstick and the salesman didn't care! Frequest oil cahnges are essential.
Having said that, if you bide your time you WILL find one evetually that is right for you. I bought mine from an older chap who had everything done at Honda (even the tyres!) and it was immaculate on a 54 plate. It had 60k on the clock and I paid £5.5k for it.
With regards to insurance I pay £590 on an accellerate NCB (25, 1 year NCB, 0 points but I live in the middle of nowhere).
You'll get about 350 miles to a tank, more on motorways, less if driven hard.

I found it very hard to drive it anything but hard!
20mpg was regular.

[mistermexican]

I tend to drive normally to and from work. I can't extract the performance in rush hour. I tend to take it for a weekend blast on a Saturday but I've never had below 290 on a full tank. Was remarkably surprised by a 380 on the motorway. I used to own a 1.6 Fiat that only got 400 (same size tank).
Was recently in Germany and they have 100 octane fuel. Wish we had that here!

[Jimslips]

mistermexican said:

I tend to drive normally to and from work. I can't extract the performance in rush hour. I tend to take it for a weekend blast on a Saturday but I've never had below 290 on a full tank. Was remarkably surprised by a 380 on the motorway. I used to own a 1.6 Fiat that only got 400 (same size tank).
Was recently in Germany and they have 100 octane fuel. Wish we had that here!

Why do you wish that ? Very little performance difference than 99 ron especially on a <200bhp NA engine.

[mistermexican]

Just seemed to have a bit more oomph than ususal.

[SteellFJ]

Its a fantastic car, got my nhb 56 plate premier in february with only 24500 on the clock and serviced every 6k, great fun to drive and not to bad on fuel but 290-310 a tank, getting the itch for a JRSC but :-)

[TaylotS2K]

Maybe consider an S2000 if insurance isn't too bad? I know most S2000, especially purchased from an enthusiast, will be in much better condition than an EP3 type R. And it won't be so boy racerish.

[Grovsie26]

Oh no, not a Type R thats been thrashed..............

I wouldn't buy one that hadn't been thrashed, put it that way lol.

[GingerWizard]

mistermexican said:

I tend to drive normally to and from work. I can't extract the performance in rush hour. I tend to take it for a weekend blast on a Saturday but I've never had below 290 on a full tank. Was remarkably surprised by a 380 on the motorway. I used to own a 1.6 Fiat that only got 400 (same size tank).
Was recently in Germany and they have 100 octane fuel. Wish we had that here!

Im sorry but you have riduclous mpgs, god it must be boring at times.

[mistermexican]

GingerWizard said:

Im sorry but you have riduclous mpgs, god it must be boring at times.

There's no point driving it hard to work and thrashing it all the time as it'll just get ruined like all of the others I went to see. I just drive it hard once or twice a week.

[Squating Neville]

Crying about mpg i vtec'd a civic coupe vti all the way back from alton towers to watford got 200 miles on a tank, thats juicing it, its prob got a 40 litre tank

[Jimslips]

Squating Neville said:

Crying about mpg i vtec'd a civic coupe vti all the way back from alton towers to watford got 200 miles on a tank, thats juicing it, its prob got a 40 litre tank

Cool story bro.

[Squating Neville]

The story is not that good i wouldnt worry