I've had my Type R 2003 plate from new. I have a great mechanic and in 2 years I've had 2 battery changes and 1 new exhaust this year. Those are the only major changes. And it's the only place I can listen to my old CD's 🤣
Hi I'm currently been viewing a ep3 2003 today and very on the verge of treating myself too one....the one I viewed I am going back soon to take for test drive etc reason we didnt test drive was low fuel but we gone top it up next viewing....when I was sat in it noticed are the clutches on them very short ? If any advice how the clutch should feel for when test drive it, is the bite point snappy etc too look out for 👍
@@MrLiloakes in my experience the clutch don't have much travel compared to over cars. So when you press the clutch it gets to the floor sooner. But it should have constant pressure all the way down. An the normaly start biting slows to the bottom. An listen for bearing noise when press an unpress the clutch. A little bit is OK as long as thr clutch feels good Check the spear wheel well for rust cuz they go there.
I had a 03 for 4 years and decided on a change . I went for a mk5 gti then a 07 s3 but I've recently gone back to a 05 ep3 . There so much fun and tbh cost less and work better than the 2 I replaced it with . I'm sticking with them and looking at a fk2 in a few years
I have a 55 plate premier edition - just took it out the garage today for the first time in 8 years to get it running again. 27K miles and standard out the box. Lets see what the garage have to say on this beauty of a car.
Thanks so much. Your videos are so informative and add so much value! Always a pleasure to watch! And these Civics are so much fun 😍 Way better than a Clio RS or 206 RC imho
Nice guide! - Key fob/immobilser - the later pre-facelifts (mine's a 53 plate) have the standard Honda alarm/immobiliser and key fob. The one in this video is the older H&P alarm/immobilser
I was in the market to treat myself to a new car in 2002 and at the time I drove an Accord 1.8i Auto and had a shortlist of Civic Type R or Focus ST 170 as the Accord Type R was outwith my price range. I drove both cars but the Civic won hands down and was so close to giving the go ahead to put my deposit on an upcoming special edition with red seats etc but after speaking to a friend who I fished and shot with he suggested another vehicle so I ended up with a pre reg Land Rover Freelander 3 door and I think I made the right choice as I moved out to the Isle of Lewis shortly after that and it was the perfect car for that environment. I had always thought about the Civic so recently I bought a second car and plumped for the Civic sport + not exactly a type R but fairly close in BHP to that Type R of 2002 and certainly more comforts and it is red like the car I nearly got in 2002. A very useful review for anyone in the market for such a car.
I'm planning on buying one when they become legal to import into the u.s. in the next two years. Going to getting one already imported though as I don't want to go through the trouble of importing a car myself and have to deal with all the stuff that comes with it.
I sold this car two years ago. Really decent ep3 was a friend of mines, engine got robbed out of it for what ever reason so it’s not it’s own engine. I also fitted facelift seats into it!
my grandma has this same car but the motor was blown up my uncles girlfriend i was thinking about putting a new motor in it and driving it not sure if it would be worth it or not
U forgot to mention bad hand brakes and rear caliper failure. Leaking boot into the spare wheel area. Drive shafts are made of chocolate, tbh there’s loads to look out for. Preface didn’t rust as bad as facelift either, but if it’s been parked in the sea all it’s life run a mile. Personally I’d rather not buy any that are cover in underseal. My 03 was immaculate with me being the 4th owner and my current 04 is also just as clean but with better paint work. Sadly most have been abused from day one and rammed from reverse to 1st and valve bounced daily
There at the age now if you want to look after them sadly unless it's a show car they need undersealing. Best strip it take lots of pics to prove there's no rust then underseal. Least then if it's sold the new owner can have peace of mind its solid
@@martinallsopp8941 mine will never be covered in the crap all the while I own it. There’s barely a spot of rust on it and all the usual places are spotless with solid sills too. Even ppl I’ve met along the way in the Honda scene couldn’t believe it nor the MOT guy where I work. Not being my daily keeps it from getting worse too. By the time that’s needed I probably won’t even own it. It’s crazy to think that many with 30k less miles than mine are so far gone. It’s also a know fact the preface didn’t rust the same way
@@martinallsopp8941 my 03 was immaculate, sadly hit fit behind beyond repair. Sold to a guy for breaking and they couldn’t believe the condition once they stripped out the interior. Sad times that was
Had done the checks on mot history unfortunately it was misleading as my next mot it failed because of rust... within 10 months I doubt it. Mot had no mention of rust or corrosion. Check underneath too my tip
All crap in comparison. Rs blow up, golf every1 has one or had one. Seat Leon same car but for the poor man. Fiat punto looool really. Mini not to bad if ur a girl that leave ls the Renault, put a k20 in it and ur have more fun
You're not entirely right either, the golf's didn't get turbo until 2003 (MK5 GTI), Punto GT's were 133hp NA, and Clio RS literally didn't get Turbo's until 2013 😯
It's not brilliant I agree but there is a vent above that feeds cold air in so it's not as bad as it first looks. The better kits have an enclosed scoop (cold air intake) though like gruppe m.
8:21 this smile tells everything
I've had my Type R 2003 plate from new. I have a great mechanic and in 2 years I've had 2 battery changes and 1 new exhaust this year. Those are the only major changes. And it's the only place I can listen to my old CD's 🤣
Batterys normally have 3 or 5 year warranty if you had 2 in 2 years I'd have a look what batterys you putting on
Hi I'm currently been viewing a ep3 2003 today and very on the verge of treating myself too one....the one I viewed I am going back soon to take for test drive etc reason we didnt test drive was low fuel but we gone top it up next viewing....when I was sat in it noticed are the clutches on them very short ? If any advice how the clutch should feel for when test drive it, is the bite point snappy etc too look out for 👍
@@MrLiloakes in my experience the clutch don't have much travel compared to over cars. So when you press the clutch it gets to the floor sooner. But it should have constant pressure all the way down. An the normaly start biting slows to the bottom. An listen for bearing noise when press an unpress the clutch. A little bit is OK as long as thr clutch feels good Check the spear wheel well for rust cuz they go there.
Great car in its day, looks a little dated now. Will be a proper classic car one day, great video Scottie.
I had a 03 for 4 years and decided on a change . I went for a mk5 gti then a 07 s3 but I've recently gone back to a 05 ep3 . There so much fun and tbh cost less and work better than the 2 I replaced it with . I'm sticking with them and looking at a fk2 in a few years
I have a 55 plate premier edition - just took it out the garage today for the first time in 8 years to get it running again. 27K miles and standard out the box. Lets see what the garage have to say on this beauty of a car.
Thanks so much. Your videos are so informative and add so much value! Always a pleasure to watch! And these Civics are so much fun 😍 Way better than a Clio RS or 206 RC imho
Love my EP3 and smile every time with the VTEC crossover. It's made rarer by being on 47k miles and completely stock.
What a beauty! Hang on to it. Values are rocketing.
Nice guide! - Key fob/immobilser - the later pre-facelifts (mine's a 53 plate) have the standard Honda alarm/immobiliser and key fob. The one in this video is the older H&P alarm/immobilser
Cheers man, I’ll be getting mine in the next couple of months so this was super helpful 👌🏼🤓
I was in the market to treat myself to a new car in 2002 and at the time I drove an Accord 1.8i Auto and had a shortlist of Civic Type R or Focus ST 170 as the Accord Type R was outwith my price range. I drove both cars but the Civic won hands down and was so close to giving the go ahead to put my deposit on an upcoming special edition with red seats etc but after speaking to a friend who I fished and shot with he suggested another vehicle so I ended up with a pre reg Land Rover Freelander 3 door and I think I made the right choice as I moved out to the Isle of Lewis shortly after that and it was the perfect car for that environment. I had always thought about the Civic so recently I bought a second car and plumped for the Civic sport + not exactly a type R but fairly close in BHP to that Type R of 2002 and certainly more comforts and it is red like the car I nearly got in 2002. A very useful review for anyone in the market for such a car.
Also rear brake pads can stick 👍
Input shaft bearings tend to go out too on the transmissions.
I'm planning on buying one when they become legal to import into the u.s. in the next two years. Going to getting one already imported though as I don't want to go through the trouble of importing a car myself and have to deal with all the stuff that comes with it.
I'm currently doing a nut and bolt restoration on mine will be for sale next year
I sold this car two years ago. Really decent ep3 was a friend of mines, engine got robbed out of it for what ever reason so it’s not it’s own engine. I also fitted facelift seats into it!
Any more info on how the engine was robbed!? Haha thanks for commenting
@@ScottishCarClan someone had taking its own engine out for what ever reason but had lower miles engine fitted back in!
Subscribed mate
my grandma has this same car but the motor was blown up my uncles girlfriend i was thinking about putting a new motor in it and driving it not sure if it would be worth it or not
Hello what's the link for the battery for the key fob please..
U forgot to mention bad hand brakes and rear caliper failure. Leaking boot into the spare wheel area. Drive shafts are made of chocolate, tbh there’s loads to look out for. Preface didn’t rust as bad as facelift either, but if it’s been parked in the sea all it’s life run a mile. Personally I’d rather not buy any that are cover in underseal. My 03 was immaculate with me being the 4th owner and my current 04 is also just as clean but with better paint work. Sadly most have been abused from day one and rammed from reverse to 1st and valve bounced daily
There at the age now if you want to look after them sadly unless it's a show car they need undersealing. Best strip it take lots of pics to prove there's no rust then underseal. Least then if it's sold the new owner can have peace of mind its solid
@@martinallsopp8941 mine will never be covered in the crap all the while I own it. There’s barely a spot of rust on it and all the usual places are spotless with solid sills too. Even ppl I’ve met along the way in the Honda scene couldn’t believe it nor the MOT guy where I work. Not being my daily keeps it from getting worse too. By the time that’s needed I probably won’t even own it. It’s crazy to think that many with 30k less miles than mine are so far gone. It’s also a know fact the preface didn’t rust the same way
@@craiggibson3523 I've got a pre face-lift 03 with 190k an my drives side sill has just started to go
@@martinallsopp8941 my 03 was immaculate, sadly hit fit behind beyond repair. Sold to a guy for breaking and they couldn’t believe the condition once they stripped out the interior. Sad times that was
The driveshafts arnt chocolate. The amount of times i wheelspin my ep3
Honda prelude 💪
Very expensive at present… fn2 whilst *not as good* to me is more of a bargain.
Rust is 100 percent the killer
It’s rusts cause ur weather is shitty and u have to give it care and keep it inside garage and wash salt sometimes
I had two of these £3600 and £1500 would never find any for that price now rust free mot tax both clean. Was a few years ago
Had done the checks on mot history unfortunately it was misleading as my next mot it failed because of rust... within 10 months I doubt it. Mot had no mention of rust or corrosion. Check underneath too my tip
Yes 100%. A lot of “friendly” mot garages out there.
Ive had an 03 from new am my alarm is not like that
Review an s2000!
Coming soon!
You are wrong. In 2001 besides the Clio Rs the others Hatch were Turbo. Ford Rs, Vw Golf GTI, Seat Leon, Fiat Punto Gt, Mini Coopers, etc.
Wrong about what? Also, a comment for the algorythm.
@@jamesmaybrick2001listen at 0.36
All crap in comparison. Rs blow up, golf every1 has one or had one. Seat Leon same car but for the poor man. Fiat punto looool really. Mini not to bad if ur a girl that leave ls the Renault, put a k20 in it and ur have more fun
You're not entirely right either, the golf's didn't get turbo until 2003 (MK5 GTI), Punto GT's were 133hp NA, and Clio RS literally didn't get Turbo's until 2013 😯
That air filter will be reducing power , the placement is ridiculous.
Sooking in horrible hot air .
Listen to that crossover noise though 🎺
It's not brilliant I agree but there is a vent above that feeds cold air in so it's not as bad as it first looks. The better kits have an enclosed scoop (cold air intake) though like gruppe m.
Fancy selling me your ep3
My old ep3 she's seen some abuse
There’s about 7 previous owners popping up in the comments mate 😂
Early