2002 Honda Civic Si 'EP3' Hatch - One Take
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ก.พ. 2025
- This 2002 Honda Civic SI is an odd bird in the Honda family, in North America at least. This hatchback body style was the only way you could get an Si for this generation, and you couldn't get the hatchback at all with any other powertrain. These Hondas are best remembered for their signature dash-mounted shifters (also used in the Element), but make great secondhand practical runabouts. This example features basic suspension modifications as well as an intake.
this dude spews numbers and engine codes like a boss. Seems to know the entire honda lineup.
Andrew A Still, he said that the Integra never had a K20.
The US spec Integras never came with a K series. The USDM RSX came with a K series, which isn't called an 'integra' even though it is.
@@brad_a9088 word
@@ImadHadjersi because they didn't here
@@ImadHadjersi He meant USDM Integra, UK DC5 Integra is called RSX
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.
Jimmy lmaoooo
Jimmy 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
#CooyPaste but that’s ok is still funny.. Is getting old but still some fun on it..
You won the comment of the day. Calling it now.
I've been seeing this comment everywhere lately. I die laughing every time.
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!
You dont have an ep3. Youve a ep2.
Fabien Durand A year later, but even if you’re right you wouldn’t of known that from what he said. Tell me why you think that?
@@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.
Bro I have a ep3 I can’t find the steering fluid reservoir. Can you help tell me where that reservoir is located? Thank you in advance
@@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!
11:24 must be the money lmao
haha t_t
th-cam.com/video/5XhCGR6MoSE/w-d-xo.html
This guy seemed cool
Ayeeee
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.
At the end Matt says "ayyyyy" and the kid says "must be the monayyy" 😳
I love that kid for it! LOL He saw the challenge and he accepted it.
Matt never fails to make the jdm scene feel subculture. He always gives proper insight though, that's a plus
Car sounds surprisingly nice! I think he's right... it's all in the intake.
Nice car and nice dude. 👍
K20s sound lovely, the k20a2 specially.
The intake sound on these NA 4 bangers is just insane, reminds me a lot of Initial D lol
this one is very meek. check my vids for actual k20a type r.
Honda nerds are cool
..."hatchbacks are where we do Malibu"...Matt Farah 2017
I think he meant they had Sex on the Beach first? Wait, that doesn't have Malibu in it...
Without a doubt, my favorite Civic of all time
Oh Yea! Civic hatchback love. Great vid
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 !
Finally an EP3! My Canadian 2002 sir is converted to Type R specs but with a K24A2 from a 2007 TSX with. JRSC for 310hp and 290 tq! Great little car.
I did the same motor, but turbo. 415whp. Woot
Tyler Hunt Oh yeah mines has 416whp
lol. I'll be getting a retune to make that elusive 417whp.
this is not an ep3 :D
MrTemper yeah, it is.
The best looking civic, and yet the most overlooked.
I just bought one of these and looked through the entire account a couple days ago for a review. Got so excited when I saw this upload.
The owner is extremely smart, nice to see... so many owners don't know their specs.. this guy was on the dot.
Fricken love it. EP3s are my favorite. I call mine EPZ3 because I swapped in K20Z3 and 6 speed. So much fun!
Love ur channel bro.. I bought my ep3 3 months ago and love every minute
i always thought this one was the best looking one from the outside of all civics
Ek Dawg
Not even lol. It's a Honda fit with some balls.
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.
Bee Rice my favorite is ek and Fd2, fun fact Acura Canada designed the Mugen si design look up 2006 Acura CSX.
It looks like a mini-minivan.
I used to have this exact car for 8 years. A black '02 Si.
That intake made the engine sound really good.
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.
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!
Oh the EP3 ! A great, fun little "mini van" haha. ( owned one and would probably get another in the future !)
MiniVan Coupe!
Yup!
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....
It's a micro van lol
Imagine if he said “ this must be a d series right?”
D for delightful
Wait is this the type R.....18 ?hahahah
Martin Quin D for disappointing
@@theejoeylee 😂 the r18 is the most aggressive sounding code for a single jingle
@@NinaMango789 Seriously hahaha. Sad its been out like 14 years and still no love.
Sounds AMAZING and love that hes got 160k on the clock.
The K20A3 should have never made it into the "Si" EP3.
Welshy Acura couldn’t handle having a civic be faster than the rsx type s atthe time
What if they made it with the A2 on both the Type-S and EP3.
At the time, Honda was also touting the fact that their entire car lineup was ULEV rated. The A2 wouldn't have qualified for ULEV status.
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 think you're mistaken. Have you driven a DC5? That gearing is short as shit
This is proper af!!! No fart canny sound and it’s super clean.
I've always had a soft spot for the ep3 civic body style. Nice clean example, too (barring suspension).
this Civic always looked so futuristic to me. nice.
his is so clean, it still looks modern compared to todays cars.
Looks awesome. What a soft spoken dude!
The little thing looks really clean, and sounds surprisingly good, relatively. Always loved those XXR wheels. Cheap wheels, but they look great.
Lol I liked that Nelly reference in the end of the video
That was mint lmao
EP3! haven’t seen one of these in awhile, pretty cool little car. Drove one and enjoyed it.
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.
I like it, very clean.
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.
Usdm ep3 is bad because of engine, electronic steering and suspension
its a shame you yanks never saw an NA type r civic, would have been nice to see more content on them
I'm a yank, I put a jdm type r in my usdm. btw my chassis was built in the uk. check my vids.
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.
it is very hard not to engage vtec in this car. it begs to go fast.
Americans got the Integra Type R... In 97/98 and 2000/2001.... Pretty much a Civic lol.
@Sergio Aguirre just no
Makes me miss my '05 SI soo much!! I had the same color!
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
9:10 Farah just kicked in yo!
Lmfao
LITERALLY EVERY VIDEO, YOU'RE HERE.. I start to wonder if you're just here for attention..
Bunka Fas Yep, you got me. How dare I enjoy TH-cam like every other car enthusiast, I’m such an attention seeking loser.
Hit a nerve much?
Al Denino edgy af
This kid knows his Honda's, nice work!
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
Redhead Metalhead so basically change everything...just buy the right car to begin with ffs
I'd stick with the k20. But use a k24 block. So you have the extra torque. And the higher rpm from the k20 head. Best of both worlds
THE TRUTH MACHINE Reking bullshitters everywhere! But most enthusiasts wont buy the right car. Its more fun doing work yourself.
I have a ep3 I was thinking to run a turbo till the A3 engine went out the swap in a k24 plus tbh 260 hp is enough power for me as a daily lol 😂
Matt: I don’t know my Honda engines
Also Matt: this needs a k24 swap 😂
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.
Looking good in that EP3, the Si has always been a decent sporty car. They really should have brought over the EP3 Type R with 200 HP
Matt you are such a Honda head I love it. I think you drove more Hondas then anything else.
I just bought a super clean Canadian SiR as my first car and these things are pretty much perfect.
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.
finally an Ep3!... they becoming rare af
that bottom out made me cringe
Wich one....
Czar Gazzetti yes
Dude is super knowledgeable and really cool car! Lift it up a little and get that ride quality back up!
My favorite Si of all time! Still looking for a low milage one that isn't modded to no return.
Sounds sooo good! Will watching this more than once.
must be the money. hahahaa. I like this dude.
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. 🚗
Finally someone with an ep3!!
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.
Sweet Jesus that’s the cleanest ep3 I’ve ever seen
I liked the ep3 chasis so much, I swapped a jdm k20a type r into my usdm.
Mussh Wins how much is an used one?? I’m not a Honda fan but I always wanted to build a project on either this chassis or the RSX
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!
Also sold it already.
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).
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😊
Had a '02 EP3 that went 263k miles before I replaced it with a '15 FIST. Wish the FIST had the EP3 seats and Honda's build quality.
CerberaLM My buddy's has an ep3 as a daily. It currently has 268k and he beats the hell out of it nearly every day lol still runs great though.
how do you like the FiST compared with the ep3? Driving wise?
Miss this car. Had to sell it after owning it for 11yrs. But the 2017 subaru civic hatchback sport is growing on me.
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.
I have a soft spot for these cars and love this look...have to agree with Matt - id have it higher for more practicality while attacking corners
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.
owner seems like a real nice dude
Beautiful! that looks great with those wheels. Beauty!
Thumbs up for the best owner of a car in one of these vids ever...!
Looks very clean in regards to the body style and appearance. Sounds good too.
I saw an old school Honda Accord with the same shifter placement. It was so cool.
More likes kids. You might not know but this car was great in the 2000s
David Ha still seems good to me in the late 2010’s. 🤷🏻♂️
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.
These cars with a stock motor suck. Theyre very slow. Thats why more rsx's were sold in the US
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.
Yeah it was slightly faster but definitely not Honda quality or support
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.
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
Blakslee Woody I've still yet to see an EY ep3 in person.
steve zee the only other one I've seen is in a drag racing video on TH-cam
@@stevezee6286 😓🤥
Thanks for sharing your car, Cameron (sp?). Seems like a genuinely nice, chill guy with a love for cars.
I always wanted one of these. Now they are pretty rare.
"AYYYE, MUST BE THE MONAYYY!"
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!
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
What year is your car?
Finally the ep3 one take.
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
Another entertaining video, funny as heck when the owner was pointing out the fact that it does not rub and the Matt is like, huh, except that it bottoms out like a mo fo.
The suspension being that low actually makes it slower.
People who ride that low don't care.
really?...
Werks Guy really really.
wats ur reasoning behind this...........................?
Nothing but style. Same as the VIP lexus that was here a while ago.
I miss my ep3. Had it for 5 years and sold it. Now I'm looking to buy one as a project car.
Look for a Base RSX with a manual you'll have even more fun.
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.
I like it. Sounds really good.
Where the shifter is located is the best part good thing I own one
Made me miss my 2003 Type R, so light and nimble and super forgiving , could through it in any corner and somehow you make it to the other side 😁. Drove it like I stole it for 3 years and nothing went wrong .
Gotta drive them like that or they break. Tried to be nice to my 06 si for a year had to replace a bunch of shit started smashing limiter every day not a single issue for 3 years now
@@killem8057 I absoLUTely disagree with your statement. I've been a reasonable driver with my now almost 24-y/o. I've done nothing to it all those years other than regular maintenance. It's damn near perfect.
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.
Best car I ever owned. Broke off a lot of more powerful cars in the hills. Never got to finish the k24 swap though 😢
Dude's rad, knows his shit too.
I love my ep3! I swapped mine here in the states. The US version got neutered.
Loved these and test drove one new only to find out it had steering like a shopping cart.
Finally an ep3 on here
People always laughing about doing an intake, but it does sound very nice without the obnoxiousness and expense of an exhaust
I have this car but type R version, best car iv ever had, very fast and reliable
The RSX is an integra DC5 everywhere but in America, Matt was right owner was wrong (techinically)
Just saw one today with integra on the rear boot. Looked clean af with type r wing too
dudes so right about the rally suspension.
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!
The dc5 has a k series engine, so Matt is not totally incorrect. The dc2 has a b series.
Well, the dc5 integras have the k20
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.
Kyle Palmer DC2 integras are called integras in the US and DC5 integras are RSXs in the US
TH-camr But only the U.S. matters
Martin Quin Since the people in this video are American, for the context of this conversation yes you are correct.
2nd gen CR-Vs too