Don't let this distract you from the fact that Hector is going to be running three Honda Civics with Spoon engines. And on top of that, he just went into Harry's and ordered three T66 turbos with NOS... and a Motec system and exhaust.
Thanks for doing an Ep3! I have an '03 all stock with coilovers and it is SO practical. When i moved I could fit ~8 moving boxes in the back with the seats down. Another time I transported a giant 40" tube TV in the back. If I was a little shorter I think I could sleep back there... Mini-Odessey FTW!
@@noahbell7297 another year later The ep3 was never available in the states, ep3 is the model for the type R only available from Japan with a k20a making 212bhp or a European version with a k20a2 making 200bhp. Biggest difference from the us k20a3 is only the intake camshaft has vtec whereas both intake and exhaust are vtec on the k20a/a2 making them more powerful and rev much higher. There are many other differences between these and the SIR civics America got such as more chassis strenghtning seam welding ect, limited slip differential bodywork ect. Unfortunately America never got the real type r so you couldn't classify it as an ep3.
@@remonmiranda1327 I sold my car last year, sorry! I miss it. I can't remember off the top of my head, its probably near the firewall? I would look on rock auto dot com look up the part and hopefully it will have a schematic to show you where it goes. good luck!
That is a super-clean Si. A good friend of mine purchased one of these new and I loved to drive it. It had the quickest revving engine that I have ever experienced. I used to bounce off the rev limiter quite often when spiritedly taking off from a stop. You really hit it fast. I really liked my friends Si when he purchased it but I think they look even better today. They have such a unique design. Honda sort-of borrowed from this design for the first gen Fit but I still like this better than the Fit. I think that this car has the perfect proportions for the design. The Fit looks skinny and long and these just look perfect. Take care of that Si Cameron, there aren't too many of these around that haven't been abused and this one really is a beautiful one.
I've owned 2 EP3's one for track and one for a daily driver , great car and with the right swap or modifications to the stock engine you'll have s nice little track car that's fun to drive ! I agree with some of the other commentators, the type r version of the EP3 should have been mentioned because that car is so much better than the US spec version !
parrishwl EK9 99-00 is my favorite, then EM1 99-00 So, then these EP3's. Alot of people dont like an ep3, but I've always liked them. I just think they should have had the close ratio 6speed, and it would have felt a little quicker and been more fun to drive.
I have owned a stock ep3 and one that had a K20a2 and 6 speed swap from an rsx type s. The swapped was so much better to drive. The gearing in the A3 is garbage in comparison to the close ratio 6 speed. You drop out of vtech any time you down shift on the 5 speed. Really though i think the EP3 would have been awesome if it game with the tsx engine and trans.
I used to have one, 2004 Civic Si. Bought it brand new. It had an AEM intake, DC Sports Headers, Megan Exhaust System and a Buddy Club short shifter. It needed a little more power. It was/ is a great car to have. I recommend it to anyone looking for a hatch.
problem with just lowering them, is the tie rods get pointed at super funny angles because they're high up. If you lower them a lot you have to get inverted tie rod ends and maybe even extra adjustable inner tie rods.
A mini van for little people! There's something about having a peppy car like this that is awesome though, and they are durable as hell plus a timing chain so you don't have that fear of snapping the timing belt and destroying the engine. At least I think I'm right on that last bit anyway....
A lot of people in the UK much preferred the EP3 Type R over the FN2 Type R that replaced it because of the suspension setup. But many people in the US seem to really dislike the EP3 because of its looks and the 'lesser' suspension setup.
google images a stock 2002 usdm ep3 civic and you will see why no one wanted it. fugly isn't even close. lower it a bit and put in a proper power plant and yes, good car.
+Mussh Wins Meh I've seen worse looking cars than the EP3. In Europe, its much more common to see hatchbacks so we're use to the hatchback-look whereas in the US, they're rarer so whenever americans see one, they seem to get freaked out by its looks
smilepermile I prefer the ep3 over the fn2, but the fn2 was junk. But keep in mind, our ep3 was underpowered with a terrible 5 speed gear box and out 8th Gen was based on the fd2 jdm typeR. So that's the reasoning for the majority dislike for the usdm ep3.
+Benjamin Addison I'm with you on that one. I much prefer the looks of the EP3 over the FN2 too. With the FN2 only gaining 1 hp, more weight and cheaper torsion beam suspension at the rear (making it ride like a skateboard yet can't get traction), it was nothing to write home about.
I didn't know they never got that. I comment above on how now they are cheap enough for all the 18 yo to now have them. Well with a stupid insurance bill. I did love the type R of this gen, untill about 18months ago. Which is when they all started popping up in kids hands, driving like idiots.
Official request for Matt to swirve in a Harley Davidson Powered Kit Car!! Keep up the good work dude, your videos are still mint! You have the dynamic trio down pat; car knowledge, unpredictable guest / car and of course super high quality audio/visual!
The stock Michelin tires ride pickup truck hard until I swapped them out for Goodyear Eagle RSA's. Much smoother ride, still good handling, QUIET, and perfect on coarse roads in the canyon. My EP3 is a sweet heart.
I love how he recommends a rally suspension set up and the kid says, well it hasn't bottomed out yet! And then Matt just pounds on it and makes the kid cringe the rest of the ride.
I daily an 03 and it's comfortable for road trips. The cup holder next to the steering wheel comes in clutch everytime. Going to be getting it ready through the winter for some autocross and track time. Good car overall just needs a better k series engine.
Toss a K24A2 in one of these with some decent headwork, cams, nice exhaust, and a standalone, and these cars really wake up. I've always had a soft spot for these EP3s
Sergio Aguirre I agree. I used to have a DC2 I put entirely too much money into. I'm just saying if someone is set on modding a 7th gen Si, an engine swap is the best idea, imo
It's probably not even that stiff Matt.... It just doesn't have any suspension travel. There's a difference :P Oh, and those shocks are kinda crap, more or less replacement shocks.
Here in South Africa they sell the Type R version of this ep3, Had the k20a inside with around 220hp. Very agile for such a little car and you can bounce off 9000 rpm all day without the engine blowing up. Throw some ITB's on and enjoy that N/A sound they make.
in 2002 my older brother bought the first gen s2000. he joined a car club that would do track days. I would tag along occasionally. one day a k20a swapped track ready ep3 showed up at the track. it lapped every s2000 there. I wanted one bad. I built one and smile every time I drive it.
This was the car I really wanted but couldn't afford in the early 2000s, bought a Nissan Sentra SE-R instead which was pretty shit quality but way cheaper.
Your comment and every other comment like it is the reason why I refuse to get rid of mine! I will literally buy another car for my commute to work just to preserve this 05 SI and everyone else thinks I’m nuts but y’all get me
I had the facelift EP2 Sport (UK) 110bhp 1.6L with a similar 6.6krpm redline for 5 years. I'm not surprised the US SI reviews very similarly. No LSD, less power, all the points you hit, definitely shortfalls. I installed a short shift and full aluminium bushings kit for the gearbox, if I can suggest anything, don't go full metal! Lovely notchy feeling with around 40-50% reduction in travel (3-4 really sees the difference) but it gets a little much, I'd say leave the shifter frame's bushings as rubber. The linkage and lever is good to swap. If you don't, you'll get a real "ka-thunk" into 2nd and 4th on a regular basis. Standard suspension with sticky-ish tyres (Avon ZZ5s for the meager power) really woke it up. Even the EP2 1.6L came with a rear sway bar across the back of the boot floor. Not sure about your comments on removing those as I only added a front one myself for a short time, even then that didn't quite fit with the 1.6, as the 2.0 has a shallower intake manifold. If there's anything I would suggest with a high miler, it's engine bushings. Do NOT replace all of them with poly. Get fresh OEM (equivalent) rubber, and if anything, only poly the rear engine mount. When they're worn, you get a lot of axle slap from the engine rocking on hard launches.
Bought mine a few years ago the Type R version and it already has a k20a, all i did was get a LSD and man, This light body with 220hp is more than enough to have fun with, Throw some ITB's on and enjoy the N/A sounds!
Geo GMZ you can get one for around 6k and lower. They are very fun little cars. Don't let the "ricer" stigma stop you from buying one, It can bounce off 9000 RPM and 10 000 if you get it tuned.
I bought my ep3 in 2006 so I paid a lot more for the car than youll get one for now hahaha. kid in this vid said his car was between 4-5k. but for a project car, the ep3 is a pta. none of the parts fit right, you have to modify just about everything. but once you get it right, it is a crazy fun car. I like hatchbacks. I prefer the ep3 look to the rsx, but they basically have the same potential (I can fit a lot more groceries in my hatch).
Ep3s are an amazing base to start modding with, chasis is fun and good engine swap potential! Hopefully Matt will get back in one thats been swapped or tuned with a good suspension setup!
Nailed the review. I've had an 02 EP3 in Euro Yellow for 2 years and it's a great car. I'd take it over an RSX any day. See way too many RSXs on the road and hardly any EP3s
I didnt look to see if ppl were hating on this kid for not knowing much but all i have to say is ...thats ok man. He has the car and enjoys it. Hes having fun! Let him enjoy his whip😊
Matt, less sway in the back is always good (to some extent), while a lot of sway in the front is also good. Extra stiff sway bars in the rear will induce unnecessary oversteer (think older mustang solid axle problems), and more stiffness up front provides less roll, which results in less understeer.
Dude... if you ever drove *my* Civic SI like that, I'd be forced to climb your frame! Poor owner, though I'm guessing he asked for it. Sure, *this* original owner pushes it when she has to, knowing it'll come through -- but I take good care of him. Almost 22 years old sporting an impressive 😆 82k. Only body work needed was after a hellacious hailstorm in Dallas... one of the many reasons we moved back to SoCal. (Almost everything IS bigger in TX. ALMOST.) I admit though, this video made me fall in love with my car all over again. You guys covered quite a few of its delicious features, many I've taken for granted. I don't ever intend to relinquish my ride. Doing so would be a sad day indeed. 🚗
I got my si 2002 on 2003 still working excellent almost everything stock only. intake short brand K&N and exhaust injen with carbon tip. 130k miles on it.
As an ep3 owner, I love mine. Type-s swap with 6 speed with 05. Final drive and my car is real fun, little ride height and h&r coilovers and 05 type s sway bars it's real fun, quick and does daily duty great. 180k on the clock and reliable as all hell
i've heard of ep3 owners removing the front sway for over steer in autocross events. Rear is as stiff as you can go. i found one hiding in a mazda dealer with 47,000 miles, the little thing surprised me i love it.
Such a shame you never got the Type R. The extra power and higher redline really wake them up! This car sounds really healthy with the unmistakable K20 sound. Ruined being so low.
ubanoob What holds this car back is the gearbox. Those spaced out gears and a five speed aren't good for this setup. However if the kid ever wanted to turbo the car itd be epic; but in this setup he needs to get the gearbox from a 05-06 RSX TypeS. 4.77 final drive with lsd.
I agree, the longer gearing would suit the power delivery of a turbo motor much better. The shorter gearing suits that narrower N/A power band at the top.
I love this car, it hurts my soul to see these stanced and all that bullshit with 23 stickers and mismatch panels. God bless this man for keeping it close to stock.
Boy you'd love the one that's for sale on Facebook marketplace in Ohio not far from me. 117k miles or so, stock suspension, just really great. Thinking of getting it really and sell my Dodge Magnum RT with 187k miles
I don't get why they sell this as "SI" Here in South Africa they only imported Type R JDM k20a with 220hp stock. and then they have the B16 and B18's as well for the hatch.
I have an 05' ep3 with 150k, it's my first car and i have had it for 10 years got it when I was 16. I'm looking to buy a new car in the next couple years, but I'm for sure going to be sad to see it go, super fun car.
It may have a "lowly" Honda K20A3, too damn low of a suspension, and an open differential, but wow, the sound of that i-VTEC kicking in is still sweet!