You can thank Sydney traffic and NSW Police Highway Patrol for that one. Anyway, surely you’ve seen/heard an EP3 being driven deep into the rev range before, there’s not much I can add that hasn’t already been said.
Had one when I was younger. Was one of the most engaging cars I’ve owned to date. Besides dealing with broken engine mounts often, a bad 02 sensor, hazy front headlights and constant torque steering, it was a great car and very reliable in stock form.
I have one of these jdm version in the uk, always puts a smile on my face when I drive it, they are not the most comfiest of cars but very engaging, the value of these are also creeping up all over the world and should be worth more in a few years
I’ll watch every video anyway but I will always be very happy when they review one of my favourite cars that are actually affordable to someone like me
Ep3 (UK prefacelift) (and Mk6 Fiesta ST owner so a little smaller than the ep3 sized mk7 you mentioned). Bought the ep3 at the end of covid with a recent rebuilt bottom end due to blown engine. Travelled 150 miles, bought it as it was all undersealed and rust free, rest id budgeted for. Had a complete refresh of all suspension (all standard) and had all the missing undertrays replaced, all missing bolts replaced, and the thing back to how it should be. I got the head gasket done as it was found to be starting ot leak and caught it before anything happened, new exhaust front to back, remap. Prefaclift seats were green (???) so I've binned the back seats and got some Premiere trim seats to go in it now. (those JDM seats fetch 1500 quid over here atm) Also subsequently had an Integra diff fitted which my Honda man put me onto - it wa a lot but i bought it so i could say it was original and i imported it from Japan. Its tranformed the driving. I love my ep3 - i used to stare and dream about having one as my neighbour had one sat outside their house back when these came out (in my early 20s) . The EP3 is so fun, the map dropped VTEC to 4800 and gave me 221BHP (from UK 197 standard, JDM is 215 i believe) which all makes up for the lack of torque low end (i was a bit disappointed after a week of owning it tbh and that how much you had to rag it to get anything out of it meant most of the time it felt a bit "wet" - VTEC i expected something to happen other than a change in noise.) However the remap made it a different machine altogether. its droney on motorways and 6th gear has you at 3300 rpm at 70 mph, even with the quietest performance exhaust i could find> it does about 28mpg. The ST is also fun with less power but unless i have to at some point I wouldn't get rid of either. For the Ep3 always carry oil and always check it and keep it topped up. Oil starvation is the biggest killer of these engines (so my Honda performance garage man tells me) . If tracking an ep3 he's also recommended to have a baffle fitted as that can cause issues of oil starvation too, once you start chucking it about . My advice get as standard a one as you can find (they are fairly common here) bung on an exhaust add a cold air intake and remap that's all you need to have LOT of fun.
Hey ReDriven team, I thought I'd leave a comment to reach out about being on the show for an episode. I have a completely factory 2007 Subaru Forester Cross Sports S Edition that I've recently purchased, and thought it could make a great piece for a look into an older car. It's a rarer spec than a Forester STI, and hasn't been modified!
Any milano red honda has the nickname Milano Pink for a reason. They all fade to look like a pink powder colour. And all panels fade at a different rates.
Clio RS 172 / 182 is really one of the main competitors for the EP3. You should drive one! Come to Tassie and you can drive mine 😄 Great review as always. Heard the steering feel is not great on the EP3 (the words used were "feels like you're driving the car in front of you" 🤣). No mention of that here?
Same here, just sold mine last year for something else I ultimately never managed to get. Huge regret 🙃 I had experienced FN2s (owned one), EP3s, an FK8 even, but the DC2R by far has the best balance (sound, performance, feeling, reliability etc) Epic stuff
I’ve owned an FN2R for four years but the EP3R is on another level. The power to weight is mind blowing and nothing beats Honda induction noises. I will happily own one of these one day. It’s a P Players wet dream
@@zaidonthemoon144 its the more modern car, easier to live with, My 2011 had bluetooth, LSD, etc. and the spoiler that everyone complains about is in the perfect position to block headlights from the cars behind you at night. The magic seats do not stay up for some reason. that always bothered me. but once i did fit a single matress in the back. goodluck doing that with a megane
@@michaelinzitari HAHA I have purchased two in the last 5 years! These cars are amazing in factory form. What factory car gives you that screaming NA sound and with a nice set of brake pads you can go straight to the racetrack. All while beinng fancy and budget friendly. I don't understand what you mean when you say magic seats do not stay up?
@@zaidonthemoon144 well if you look at the 2012 to 2015 Honda Civic Hatch or if you look at the Honda jazz hatch you’ll see they have magic seats that can fold up so you can put a bicycle or pot plant in the car from the back doors instead of using the rear-hatchback with the seats folded down
Id say the ONLY 2 things ep3 has over fn2 is a slightly faster 0-60 and the independent rear suspension...but the fact a fn2 offers better laptimes despite these 2 things proves fn2 is all around a better built car.@@zaidonthemoon144
I had face lift civic exclusive CTDI with heated seats and leather...the overall car is medium, like every japanese car of that decade. plastics are acceptable...brakes are good, comfort good, handling very good, engine was great because was Isuzu. but answering to your question, yes, I love this type-r from year 2001.
One of the most reliable hot hatches of all time compared to German etc, engine will outlast the chassis, no sensors etc very easy and cheap to maintain, go for the jdm version they have less rust
Nice review - I have a 2003 UKDM EP3 from new I shipped out here to WA in 2009. Corrected the UK model shortfalls with Toda racing cams and exhaust, and a Quaife ATB LSD, Hondata K-Pro dyno tune etc and other NA mods, and still absolutely love it after 21 years of ownership. Don't see many in WA, and possibly I have the only UKDM EP3 in Aus? The one in this vid is pretty low, as mine's on Spoon Sports progressive lowering springs (25mm drop), which looks higher than this one, and I still only have 75mm exhaust clearance when it went over the pits for first reg. Luckily mine's a personal import so exempt from all ADR's apart from lights and seatbelts !
This is when Honda made a good car really good. They are magic, and with top suspension and R spec rubber they are even better. I wonder what they could have done with rear wheel drive.
Australian versions are more dangerous because there is probably a venemous snake or spider hiding in the glovebox, ready to bite and kill you. All the while grinning because he got you and now you are dieing. And if that's not the case, a roo will jump through your windscreen because he can.
i had a S2000 about 10 years ago. Then we where with 3 so i swapt it for an ep3. Now many cars later, my ep3 stil stands in my garage. For daily i have a mk3 Leon Cupra, but if i want to have fun, i take my Honda :-) About the last question. If it's a daily, i would go for the Mazdaspeed 3/mps as they call in Europe. Lovely cars :-) Greetz from Holland!
Used to own a EDM one of these. Had to laugh at the remark at the end about this being a good alternative to a S2000 if you want more practicality, as that was the reason I chose it over one of those at the time 😂.
Living in Florida, I have seen countless red Hondas and acuras of this era with faded paint. The red that Honda used of this time is so weak to UV light
Hopefully the next will be EK9 Type-R, but that car is almost unicorn now and really expensive. I was expecting this EP3 to be compared to FN2 which was reviewed year ago. For me EP3 is better for actual hot hatch and to be turned into project track car. FN2 is a cheapest Type R alternative that is more modern and better for daily driver, but still great fun and K20Z is still have more room for more power. Great review, nonetheless. Hoping to see more of these classics.
Yeah imo if you only have one car then the fn2 is the better option just cause it’s newer and easier to find in good condition but the ep3 is better weekender
Great video as always - I honestly think it would be really nice if you could take the car up to the mountains or some twisty roads for a bit and do a segment on spirited driving - how it handles, how the breaks feel, the power delivery etc. Would really bring the videos up a notch
I drove a Toyota Hi Ace manual for about week not long ago with the stick mounted up high like this type R and I quite like it. I didn't think it look good but it's actually very functional bieng mounted up high.
I didn't buy an ep3 instead I bought an Accord Euro like what's been reviewed on this channel on the cheap so I have lots of money left to make the car just as enjoyable with mods(not cheap ones either) for less and can confirm does do better around a track but is way better as a daily driver.
These are awesome cars. However I have 2 caveats on this. Please do your research carefully as if you get one that has some shitty mods run a billion miles away number 1. Number 2 make sure it has a bullet proof service history check the engine oil dipstick make sure it is not jet black it should be brown if it isn’t then just be careful.
This is a seriously tempting car, even if dickheads have been the main owners if them. This is the definition of a sleeper when it comes to looks as it's so unassuming that anyone dumb enough to challenge one will be picking their jaws up off the floor a la Looney Tunes style. Doesn't surprise me that the main issues are mostly related to dickhead ex owners doing shitty mods. Great work as always guys and look forward to Sunday's video as per usual 👍
DC2 and EK9 are much better overall. Yes the EP3 has the iconic and hugely tunable K20 but the B16 and B18 are also legendary (and they sound better). The EP3 was let down by the driving and shifter positioning, mcphearson suspension and electric steering rack. Also being over 100kg heavier for what seems little reason for such extra weight.
@@elliot438bcfcVTEC its mainly the steering rack design and placement, it sits halfway up the firewall and the tie rods come out from the middle of the rack
@@arcanevoid9199 yeah, very strange. I had a DC5 Type R and it was similar but still felt way better. Have an S2000 now and although it's still an electric rack it's completely different
@@arcanevoid9199 and yet an ep3 with Torsen is faster than an integra dc2, the mcpherson type suspension equips many sports cars like the megane rs and its road holding is incredible. the suspension does not do everything the chassis of the ep3 is more rigid than that of dc2
EK9 is a waste of money, get the EP3 & spend half the money for the same outcome. Not sure why the EK9 went through the roof, at one stage they were a lot cheaper than the DC2r, they are no better plus what i've seen & read the DC2 is the better option for track use so maybe just get one of them as you will also spend half as much as to buying a EK9.
@@HashDogg06 having been lucky enough to drive all 3 that you just mentioned, EP3 is definitely the easiest to live with on a daily basis. DC2 and EK9 are both raw purists. I personally just prefer the EK9 over the DC2. Honestly not sure why. Just do. I think it’s just I prefer the ek civic over the integra shape. Not a right or wrong just personal preference. Btw where I’m from the ek9 was always more expensive than the dc2.
@@Theautomotiveaddict In NZ you could get the EK9 for as little as 8k(5k USD) around 10 years ago, no one wanted them. DC2r would set you back 10k(6k USD). Now the DC2r is around 20k nzd with double the k's/miles & EK9 around 30k nzd, some are asking 60k plus nzd. EP3 is around 20k nzd however the UKDM imports are cheaper at around 15k nzd.
@@HashDogg06 that’s interesting. It was the other way around in the uk when I lived there before moving to Aus. Ek9 was about 20-30% more than UKDM dc2 and about 15% more than the JDM dc2.
@@Theautomotiveaddict Not sure why either however there are more DC2r's than EK9's here. I kind of made a false statement in previous comment, although DC2r's were averaging around 10-12k that wasn't to say there weren't cheaper ones, it was more so a wider price range going from as little as 6-7k but also much higher where as the EK9 was more steady with narrower price range but yeah roughly 8k was the lowest so i guess they were a tad bit more expensive than DC2r's but weren't fetching as high dollar as DC2r's.
@@user-vk4vd7vr5t there are no timing chain issues if maintained properly, I got mine at 130k very well maintained and had no issue but I changed it anyway, here in UK there is a place called Honda HQ, they use OEM parts and done it for 450, I did have a oil leak from the filler cap, replacement O ring fixed that and now on 150k with no issues ( apart from the 3rd gear syncro ... it's been a bit tempermental when changing from 2nd to 3rd at 3-4k, when changing higher in the rev range it's fine)
What a vanilla review. You can't even drive it properly. This EP3 in your hands comes across as an old persons car which they are definitely not! Type R's are meant to be driven hard they rev to 9000rpm you redline then shift! Don't get one if you can't handle it.
That's a totally valid critique and we agree, we'd love nothing more than to drive this thing at ten tenths, but you should remember, we don't own these cars. Every single car we've reviewed on this channel is owned by someone else. Our viewers are generous enough to lend us their car for half a day so we can review it. Driving them in any spirited way just isn't possible. That and driving in any kind of enthusiastic way in Australia, especially in Sydney is made even more difficult by a police force that would probably ticket you for smiling if they were given the direction to.
