The Weekend Warrior Honda CTR EP3
Discussion
Long time lurker as a guest for some years on here and decided its time to get this going, mainly to keep me motivated and so this poor car gets the work done it deserves. A teeny weeny bit of background, I'm 21, Gloucestershire based, a bit too attached to Japanese cars to the point i cannot fathom owning anything else (i know I'm missing out, maybe someday I'll go to the German darkside!) which my dad played a big role in brainwashing from me during my teens.
|https://thumbsnap.com/mrEVd3Hz[/url]
So here i am with currently a Nighthawk black 54 plate Honda Civic Type R, the cliche of dream car well and truly alive as back many years ago i used to see a black facelift EP3 on my paperound and just remember thinking yeah i really want one of those. so the time came a year and a half ago, i'd saved enough through my apprenticeship and soon to be full time tech role and insurance had dropped just about enough to get one.
As good as i expected? Absolutely! it is just incredible, it has its flaws such as apparently isn't great handling from what others who are far more experienced with other cars have said but to me whose two previous cars are a Mazda 2 Sport and a Toyota Yaris T Sport, it is just incredible, VTEC is just as great as i remember from my dads Integra DC5,Crossover is just memorizing although. Aside to contrary belief of the usual early 20's driver of one of these things i like to think i don't quite fit that, certainly bouncing it off the limiter doesn't do anything for me and to drive it round normally with the odd blip here and there is fun as it is.
|https://thumbsnap.com/2K2xKbjz[/url]
I've tinkered with it very little, so far:
- Tegiwa 70mm cat-back exhaust
- K&N typhoon intake
- Mugen style spoiler with carbon fibre lip (rep)
- Set of 17x8 et35 Enkei RPF1's (removed for now as suspension needs setting up for them not to rub the arches)
Looks even less when i put it in writing!
In terms of what i want the car to be, I use it every weekend for getting to/from gf's house, weekends away, football etc etc so still need it to be somewhat practical and not all out track car. It does do the occasional 10 mile round trip commute to work but that's usually covered by the road bike which saves a thousand or so miles a year. So the jobs (that i can think of) that i want to get sorted as there's lots and lots of niggles:
- New aircon condenser as current one is damaged
- Pair of new headlights as current ones were spares i put on and spent some time in the garage collecting dust and moisture.
- Tiny dent in bonnet needs sorting
- Gearbox needs oil changed as it's getting quite whiney as of recent
- Tegiwa MOT compliant sports cat as current one decided to exit stage left on the M50 although still passes emissions (somehow!)
- Steering wheel retrim by Royal
- New seats, aiming for something like the JDM spec Recaro's but without the pricetag
- Suspension overhaul, coilovers, all new bushings and anything else that needs refreshing down there. camber arms as well and then get it set up to make the Enkei's fit the arches.
- Power steering seems to be whining for some time and now creaks when stationary turning the wheel so potentially new steering rack?
- Sort interior panels out so when music is played somewhat loud it doesn't rattle the door cards to pieces. maybe along with a sound system refresh.
- RUST. Yeah going to have to address the dreaded R-word at some point, as far as i've seen from clambering under the car and after taking bits off it looks okay(ish) so think the plan will be to get a company (Motion Motorsport are the ones I've been made aware of) to have a look, get a price and if its not masses (4k+ish) it'll be worth getting it sorted all at once and then treated for many miles to come.
- Small chip in the windscreen needs fixing
- A short shifter of some sorts.
As i go on hopefully i can cross them out as each one gets sorted but i don't doubt for once second there will be loads more that crop up. this car is to me a definite keeper, there's nothing quite else that could itch the scratch for me, i was close to getting a clio 182/200 before this but resisted it, maybe someday eh but for now this thing is not going anywhere unless it rots to pieces on the driveway!
|https://thumbsnap.com/mrEVd3Hz[/url]So here i am with currently a Nighthawk black 54 plate Honda Civic Type R, the cliche of dream car well and truly alive as back many years ago i used to see a black facelift EP3 on my paperound and just remember thinking yeah i really want one of those. so the time came a year and a half ago, i'd saved enough through my apprenticeship and soon to be full time tech role and insurance had dropped just about enough to get one.
As good as i expected? Absolutely! it is just incredible, it has its flaws such as apparently isn't great handling from what others who are far more experienced with other cars have said but to me whose two previous cars are a Mazda 2 Sport and a Toyota Yaris T Sport, it is just incredible, VTEC is just as great as i remember from my dads Integra DC5,Crossover is just memorizing although. Aside to contrary belief of the usual early 20's driver of one of these things i like to think i don't quite fit that, certainly bouncing it off the limiter doesn't do anything for me and to drive it round normally with the odd blip here and there is fun as it is.
|https://thumbsnap.com/2K2xKbjz[/url]I've tinkered with it very little, so far:
- Tegiwa 70mm cat-back exhaust
- K&N typhoon intake
- Mugen style spoiler with carbon fibre lip (rep)
- Set of 17x8 et35 Enkei RPF1's (removed for now as suspension needs setting up for them not to rub the arches)
Looks even less when i put it in writing!
In terms of what i want the car to be, I use it every weekend for getting to/from gf's house, weekends away, football etc etc so still need it to be somewhat practical and not all out track car. It does do the occasional 10 mile round trip commute to work but that's usually covered by the road bike which saves a thousand or so miles a year. So the jobs (that i can think of) that i want to get sorted as there's lots and lots of niggles:
- New aircon condenser as current one is damaged
- Pair of new headlights as current ones were spares i put on and spent some time in the garage collecting dust and moisture.
- Tiny dent in bonnet needs sorting
- Gearbox needs oil changed as it's getting quite whiney as of recent
- Tegiwa MOT compliant sports cat as current one decided to exit stage left on the M50 although still passes emissions (somehow!)
- Steering wheel retrim by Royal
- New seats, aiming for something like the JDM spec Recaro's but without the pricetag
- Suspension overhaul, coilovers, all new bushings and anything else that needs refreshing down there. camber arms as well and then get it set up to make the Enkei's fit the arches.
- Power steering seems to be whining for some time and now creaks when stationary turning the wheel so potentially new steering rack?
- Sort interior panels out so when music is played somewhat loud it doesn't rattle the door cards to pieces. maybe along with a sound system refresh.
- RUST. Yeah going to have to address the dreaded R-word at some point, as far as i've seen from clambering under the car and after taking bits off it looks okay(ish) so think the plan will be to get a company (Motion Motorsport are the ones I've been made aware of) to have a look, get a price and if its not masses (4k+ish) it'll be worth getting it sorted all at once and then treated for many miles to come.
- Small chip in the windscreen needs fixing
- A short shifter of some sorts.
As i go on hopefully i can cross them out as each one gets sorted but i don't doubt for once second there will be loads more that crop up. this car is to me a definite keeper, there's nothing quite else that could itch the scratch for me, i was close to getting a clio 182/200 before this but resisted it, maybe someday eh but for now this thing is not going anywhere unless it rots to pieces on the driveway!
Edited by Laira on Thursday 2nd March 18:16
[url]Edited by Laira on Thursday 2nd March 18:17
You make me feel old.
10 years ago I was Gloucestershire based, 21 with a black EP3. I’ve owned a lot of cars since (and still own a DC2). The steering on an EP3 is a weak point but in no way does it spoil the car in my opinion and I’d much rather one over a clio.
As others have said good tyres and a proper geo is super important. As with any Honda as long as you look after it with regular oil changes etc it’ll last forever!
10 years ago I was Gloucestershire based, 21 with a black EP3. I’ve owned a lot of cars since (and still own a DC2). The steering on an EP3 is a weak point but in no way does it spoil the car in my opinion and I’d much rather one over a clio.
As others have said good tyres and a proper geo is super important. As with any Honda as long as you look after it with regular oil changes etc it’ll last forever!
Nice op, I also had an EP3 type R, Milano red, bought when I turned 21 (13 years ago Christ!) there fantastic fun hot hatches. All the revs, lift off oversteer on command, look after it and it will probably hold its value also.
I think it’s also the perfect first ‘fast’ car to learn in as I know if Id had the cars I have now back when I was 21 it almost certainly would have ended up badly.
I think it’s also the perfect first ‘fast’ car to learn in as I know if Id had the cars I have now back when I was 21 it almost certainly would have ended up badly.
Welcome OP.
Car looks clean and your plans sound great. Just be warned that these things can snowball!!
Here’s my EP3 Thread if you want a look!
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
For a short shifter, just go for a Hybrid Racing one. Superb kit
Car looks clean and your plans sound great. Just be warned that these things can snowball!!
Here’s my EP3 Thread if you want a look!
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
For a short shifter, just go for a Hybrid Racing one. Superb kit
Welcome to EP3 ownership! I've had my Premier/ Final Edition cosmic grey EP3 for 16 years now and still love it.
I'll be interested took hear how you get on with Motion Motorsport regarding the rust. Mine had to get a bit of welding done to get through it's MOT this year so I'm also weighing up whether to spend nearly a third of the value of the car to get it sorted underneath, or finally sell it.
I'll be interested took hear how you get on with Motion Motorsport regarding the rust. Mine had to get a bit of welding done to get through it's MOT this year so I'm also weighing up whether to spend nearly a third of the value of the car to get it sorted underneath, or finally sell it.
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