What I love about this channel is that all the cars featured are given the same level of enthusiasm it covers everyone with a driving license and all budgets .
@@supraJZA80s that's true my first car an automatic 3 door 2004 1.6 vvti Corolla 110bhp , ( 78,000 miles) ( have dyspraxia and such so only automatic licence) and it's so much fun especially on country roads and it's pretty nippy I haven't even had it in full kickdown mode yet either , handling is pretty good and it so much fun on country and winding roads , feels faster than what it is and I love the sound of that vvti when you put your foot down .For a 3 door of that era it's pretty spacious in the back , I can easily fit in the back without being cramped and I'm 6ft . There is so many storage compartments and the storage box inbetween the seats is pretty cavernous , proper cupholders in the front and rear seats
Nice brother! Mine wouldn't give me the sweat off his balls! I don't know if you young uns today have it better. Cars are safer, more reliable and more economical, but back in 1999 when I passed, we were all driving Nova's and old fiestas. You could work on them with a basic tool kit and the modding scene seemed so much more accesible back then.
Once you get used to it there’s always the tune-ability. £600 for an eBay turbo kit which are reliable for up to 18psi. 8psi would put you at around 220bhp from stock internals. Anything above 8psi you’ll be wanting to up your fuel pump, maybe get some forged pistons or rods as the stock internals will relatively reliably take 280-300bhp. I’m currently looking into buying a late 90’s Civic D16Y8 and doing the turbo route but using a Saab turbo or Subaru turbo from a WRX mating with all the pipes, boost controller and other goodies you get with the eBay turbo kit. Finding a non rotten hatch or coupe is proving difficult. I may have to go down the Rover 200 route instead😅
I've owned a Lotus Elise 111R, Porsche Cayman and Boxster, Z4M, E55, Corvette, and lots more. And til this day, the most fun car I've ever had was my 04 Civic Type S 2.0 5-door that I paid 700GBP for. I ripped that on b-roads for months without a care in the world, wringing the engine out 100% all day every day, never an issue. I miss that car!
But let's also remember that the 147 came with a 2 litre twin spark! 😍 I used to have an EP2. Had it for years. Learned everything about driving quickly in it! Eventually it got rusty and after a small accident it was written off and that was the end. Great car. Couldn't agree more in general with your comments. Friends of mine back in those days also had Fiesta's and Clio's and having driven them I would also put them in this same category of cool first cars 😁
Man I've been following you for a lot but now I LOVE YOU !!! I have this car for years, won't give up on it 320k km on the clock still running perfect and still best city car and everyday driver. Great combi between city and good performance on highway even here in Germany. Thanks for the great videos.
Jay, I had one of these as my first car. Well - not exactly this, it was the facelift 5-door (EU8 I think?) on a 54 plate, but with the same (D16V1) engine, in Vivid Blue metallic, and it was amazing. I bought it at 120,000 miles when I was 20, and it lasted me for six and a half years, all the way through to March last year, when it finally had to go and live on a farm with just short of 200k on it. Age and mileage, as well as the at times unsympathetic treatment of an inexperienced, twenty-something jobbing professional musician, meant that it wasn't mechanically faultless, but I doubt any other similar car would have stood up better. It was the absolute best first car I could possibly have asked for, and taught me more about cars and driving than I ever learned before I passed my test. And it absolutely sealed the deal for me becoming a Honda enthusiast - when the time came to replace it last year, it was inevitable that it had to be another Honda. Because that Civic lasted me so long, I'm now nearly 28 and only on my second car - a black FN2 Type R, which I love and will keep for as long as I possibly can.
I just happen to come across your TH-cam video on the Ep2 and it caught my interest. I live in the High Desert of California and I own since 2005 a 2002 Honda Civic Si Ep3 with 55,000 miles as of now. I bought it from an elderly gentleman who was getting tired of the manual transmission and it only had 25,000 miles and the price was right. All I’ve done to it was replaced the OEM 15 inch wheels with 17’s and installed an aftermarket armrest that looks like it came with the car, it needed it. Sure, the car isn’t super fast like the current Civic Si’s or other cars of today but I love taking it out early in the morning hitting the highway. To me it’s fast enough, handles good and I really enjoy how it drives and the way the engine sounds. The car is functional I’ve always liked hatchbacks and it’s just right for me, my weekend car. Believe it or not, I’ve been asked by a few people young and old the make of the car and the look of surprise on their face when I tell them it’s a Civic was disbelief. I’ve also been asked by several people if I was willing to sell my Civic as of now, no. That’s another thing I like about my Civic, once in while I may see one passing me on the road when I’m in my truck. It’s a pretty rare sight to see one on the road or in the town I live. But I will say the ones I do see never look as good as mine. Now I’m the elderly man, but unlike the gentleman who sold me this car to buy a Lexus in 2005 I will continue to drive and enjoy my Civic until I can no longer do so then maybe I’ll sell it or I’ll just have my son drive it while I sit in the passenger seat. Enjoy your video keep up the good work.
OMG this brings back so much memories! I had a grey EP2 when I studied uni in the UK between 2005 and 2007 and had a blast! Really wanted the EP3 at the time but insurance was 6,000 pounds! Took the EP2 to a bunch of tracks from Donnington, to Oulton Park, to the Ring - running costs were very affordable for a student since its slow so things like brakes took forever to wear down! Thanks for making this video!
I had an EP2 a few months ago and absolutely loved it. Incredibly easy to live with and practical while also being extremely fun. Had to get rid as rust took hold unfortunately 😞
James, so refreshing to see a TH-camr review a car like this. I’ve had one of these since it was nearly new, and 160,000 miles later it’s still unbeatable as a daily. I have much more exotic things to drive but none come close as a daily- not sure i would ever sell the thing
I was the third owner of an EP2 Civic Sport who drove it for five years. The lovely little car was 19 years old when I moved it on. I'm no middle-aged racer, nor did I have any desire to modify it in any way. I was very happy with the way it handled and the excellent fuel consumption it returned. It was a comfortable, nippy little car without being fast in a Type R sense!
The EP2 Civic I had was one car I really miss. I moved on to quicker and more modern Hondas but I absolutely loved mine. It was a Nighthawk Black Pearl 2004 facelift (facelifts are the one to get with the proper Type R style bodykit) and had been very well cared for with stacks of paperwork backing up all maintenance. The only things it needed in my 2-3 years of ownership was a clutch, input shaft bearing (common issue on these, as well as the handbrake CONSTANTLY needing reset and adjusted every few weeks) and an exhaust back box - incidentally is the same as the Type R and I think actually gives it an ever so slight difference in sound over a non Sport variant. Mine also had the optional front fog lights for extra style points. Like you said in the video, without fail it would always return 45mpg. It wasn’t fast at all but handled great and was one car I definitely levelled up my driving skill a notch with (slow car fast sort of driving) to the point I kept up with a less handy driver in a DC5. It did just about everything I needed perfectly. Shame getting a really good one now is pretty much impossible.
Spot on with your review James, I’ve got an EP2 Auto SE same engine and absolutely bulletproof and quite refined one of the best autos I’ve had, 4 speed with torque lock up great on the motorway giving 48mpg & 38 urban. It’s also good fun on the B roads and reliable as a donkey now 78k mileage and runs sweet as a nut.
I loved my old EP3 and always respected the EP2 variant as not everyone was able to have the halo model. At that price range though of these types of cars id have the Corolla T-Sport.
I've got this as a second car after owning ek3 (6gen civic) as a first car. I thought I would use it for few years and upgrade, but now I'm counting my 5th year behind the wheel. It is a wonderful car on many occasions, it managed to keep up with everything I threw at it, we even did three thousand kilometers trip in it as five people with hiking equipment for a week and all managed to fit inside. Now I'm commuting across europe with it to my uni (around 1400km one way) and it keeps on going with all of my stuff piled into it. However since I live in cold climate country, the rust is taking over, laquer is starting to peel (yes I have red honda which in the end seems to be least durable paint) also the car is approaching 300k km and looks like it inside and outside it doesn't help that local honda dealer recently told me that they are done with any part production for this model and now are selling last parts they had. For example when they checked where I could get one small pipe for AC radiator, I was told that there is only one in whole europe, in france, probably stuck behind the shelf somewhere. I'm now in the crossroads where I either have to spend more than it's worth making it all tidy or pass this headache to someone else. Also it's very hard to find a direct replacement for it, all never cars I looked at seem to be really flawed in their own, different departaments. All of this makes me really lost.
I remember at 17 my mate had this, we all had 1.0 and this was a rocketship!! Full Type R Kit and interior, a silly exhaust and we had the time of our life. 5 of us crammed inside bouncing off the limiter everywhere, what a life at 17
i have an EP2, I'm 40yo and is the best car I've ever had. I cannot find a modern car replacement for it. It drives like a small rally car, it's fun to drive and the gear shifter position is perfect. My only complaint is the stiff suspension is annoying in bad roads.
12:35 I think you have just described exactly what I've done! I've had a 67hp 1.4 diesel for a year and now replaced it with a 1.6 2nd gen mini (as the pictures showed) Small boot yes but when you know you are only going to have yourself or just one passenger most the time, it doesn't really matter to me, it's everything else about it that makes it a great car.
Not a video I ever thought I’d see… just got rid of my pre facelift EP2 sport with 180k (on the original clutch) on the clock having done 130k in it over 10 years. Great little cars and generally reliable as you like. Once you get used to the little suspension rattles and seized brake callipers they’re spot on. Sadly the rust killed it. Had the EP3 too but this one stuck around the longest!
Brake callipers on yours too? Damn... I assumed it was just me not keeping on top of checking them. A miserable 5 hours set by the road waiting for recovery after they jammed up and almost cooked the wheel bearing.
these were introduced in the US as Si models, I was lucky enough to test drive it quite a few times back then, it was not as nice as exciting to drive as the 4th gen Si's (1.6L 160hp), but I think was an improvement even tho did not feel as fast, the car as a whole was more composed, almost like more grown up, but don't get me wrong, was still a fantastic car to drive, now with a bigger 2.0L (still 160hp) it was less buzzy, but still a nice unit, the steering was fantastic also the placement of the gear lever was a nice little surprise, these cars were so good, I almost traded back then my 2002 (bug eye) WRX for a 1999 Civic Si in Blue, then I started to lust over a 2001 Audi S4 2.7L Twin Turbo in yellow, the a 1997 Passat VR-6 manual came around and I started to lust over that, then a Acura Integra GSR came about as well... hahaha you get the idea ...
Got one as a backup/el cheapo second car and really love it. The engine has a go fast personality and it's one of the last cars that are crazy easy to work on. Plus, the parts are stupid cheap and easy to source.
Not sure re the availability of the Honda, but I did the Autotrader thing you do. There were only 16 147s for sale. Half of them were diesel and half of the rest were GTA models. You're absolutely right that the Honda being the way to go! It looks faaar nicer than the mini too!
EP2 was my first car when I was 17 and really was fantastic for all the reasons you mention - cheap to maintain, great fuel economy and very fun for a little car while still being wildly practical. Now at 23 I have done over 70,000 miles in it and now have an FN2 on the driveway too but just can't get rid of the EP2 - just such a joy to own as long as you don't mind being stereotyped as a chav! (Even in a standard one!!!)
After driving for 35 years, about 15 where my daily was a Honda, I'd concur they're fantastic little cars. Good handling momentum cars with well made manuals, and often exciting engines (despite their relative lack of power). Perfect cars for youngsters. At age 19'ish, my Honda CRX was my daily, and it was far better than the Triumph Spitfire of my high-school years... albeit that car taught me how to fix a ton of failed components. Like, just about every system on it 🤣 Great video and good suggestions for the young enthusiasts JayEmm, and Cheers from across the pond.
My little blue EP2 was the perfect 2nd car coming from a 60hp skoda. Miss that car dearly, found it on ebay a few years ago as spares and repairs as chassis had gone. Big problem also with these is the rust, affects the EP3 also. Moved onwards and upwards to my current cars of a S2000 and a 350z but do miss the little thing where you can put your foot down and it's not illegal :)
I had an EP2 for about 5 years and really enjoyed it. It did everything very well, was reasonable to run, looked fantastic especially as Type R bits bolted straight on. Highlight was the gear change and setup.
I'm just about to part with my EP2 which has sadly been finished off by rust. There was some creeping in to the rear arches, but when it was up on the ramp, we found very bad corrosion to the sills especially near the back end. Given the cost of the welding to get it sorted, it just wasn't worth the outlay. There are another 2 big issues with these cars. The first is the steering rack. They are prone to failing, and benefit from the slider being regreased periodically (it can be done in situ in a couple of hours), and the torque sensor being lubricated. A worse problem however is the input shaft bearing which can wear out very quickly, especially if you rag it in 2nd and 3rd, which is all too tempting. The engine is lovely, and revs really well, and in spite of the suspension not being as sorted as the previous generation, it's still very good and planted. For throwing around A-roads, it's such a fun car and I'm going to miss mine immensely. They get under your skin these little Civics, and I would implore anybody who wants a fun but not bank breaking car to run, definitely have a play with one. If you do though, check the steering properly corrects to centre from a turn to give you an idea of the condition of the steering rack, and compare the sound in neutral with the clutch down to the clutch up. If you hear a significant increase in noise, it could be indicative of the input shaft bearing going, which will likely require a gearbox rebuild.
I own an EP3 Si (USDM), and it's been an absolute ball driving it around! Definitely one of the best first cars for people who are looking for something that still screams JDM while also still being very safe and easy to handle. The Acura RSX base and Type S (Or the Honda Integra for y'all over the pond), is also quite amazing with that, as you had previously mentioned, they share many similarities in the chassis, just like with the old DC2 and EK9's in the 90's. My only gripe about the EP3 is that it really deserves more than it's been given. The K20A3 is quite a peppy engine, but compared to the K20A2 from the RSX Type S, it seems like the Acura was favored more over the Honda, despite the Si being the highest model trim for the Civic in the US at the time, and the RSX base model sharing the same engine...
I used to own a USDM 2002 Civic Si (K20A3, 160hp) for about 8 years many years ago. Good car, but not a great car. It was definitely a small step back from the 1999-2000 EM1 Si that had the high-revving B16A2 with 160 hp. Honda wanted to cut costs, so they dropped the double wishbone suspension up front and put in MacPherson struts, which just wasn't as good of a setup. It was a practical car though, with a roomy cabin and cargo area. The stock wheel and tire package was a joke (195/60/15), and it needed an LSD. That car *never* rode rough or bouncy during low speeds/around town though. The example you were driving from that 19 year old kid definitely had modified suspension, and was compromised because of it. The stock suspension was soft and comfortable.
That is a mint example. Make sure it has a newish exhaust system, brake lines etc as a lot of stuff rusts out and the calipers bind. The headlight units tend to get condensation or fade beyond repair and aren't cheap as replacement parts are discontinued. The drivers side headlight bulb is a pain to change as well. With 3 doors I wouldn't recommend, the later Type S had more doors and 140BHP.
I do like 3000 miles a year, so needed a car which would be reliable, fun to drive around town and practical. I bought a 2 door, 2005 EP2 with 74k on the clock, and with one previous owner and in mint condition. The car has been perfect, aside from a hefty MOT bill to fix worn suspension. The only issue is someone did a hit and run job on it when it was parked roadside, and the rear bumper is grazed and misaligned. I need to get that sorted and we will be looking at a mint car, reliable, cheap to run and fun to drive. I bought it for £1600 in December 2020.
Bit late and random however, those with EP2s who aren't happy with the stock music system in the car as it isn't the best, simply when tuning your radio, select "fading" or "fad" and put it on +3. From then onwards select your own preferences on bass and treble. Does wonders
I love your videos keep it up, no stupid bias against any car manufacturer. My cousin had this and now has ep3 type r premier. This thing was such a legend, we fitted a mad exhaust which im sure was not legal. The vtec system was awesome and damn what a chasis
In my country we have an EP1 Sport alongside the EP2 Sport. It has the 1.4l 90hp engine. It's mainly for tax reasons. Cars here are heavily taxed and so the more expensive models don't sell, so companies will sell cheaper, more economical versions. This makes the top models more expensive in the used market. I have a EP1 from 2005, bought in 2016, and even now in 2023 you still buy an EP1 Sport for 5000€, a EP2 Sport for around 8000€ and an EP3 Type R costs around 18000€.
I got a completely standard 01 ep2 117k miles for £1250 3-4 months ago and all it needed was a front shock and the cambelt was due a change. But im a mechanic so thats all neither here or there as parts are reasonably priced. Although even at 20 with it being my first car insurance is still £270 a month. But the service book was completely full and i bought from autotrader so abit more respectable that other places so all in im still happy.
Got the CM2 myself, hydraulic steering, K24A3, double wishbone suspension. But super practical because it's a wagon. It was in quite the state when i got it... but i repaired it completely. (axles, brakes, bodywork, the lot). The honda's with Hydraulic steering steer fantastically. But the EPS units, especially the early ones, are really tragic I agree. I had a CU1 before this, horrible.
I've got the five door version of this, the Civic EU8. Used only occasionally as a second car and in very clean condition throughout. Same drive as the EP2 but with van like practically if you flip the rear seats down. Great little cars.
I owned an EP2 around 10 years ago and loved it, although it's definitely a momentum car rather than a hot hatch - they handle great on country roads, but the little 1.6 engine was always a bit meh and lacked character. The plus points are it's a Honda, so you can swap parts and upgrade easily. I fitted mine with Type R seats (which are sublime), Type R alloys and fitted a pipercross induction kit and left the rest standard. They're great little things though and any young driver will enjoy without the risk of losing their licence 🚓🚨👮♂️
Appreciate 2 doors and a bit of trim goes a long way to a "hot hatch" BUT a Type S of the same model has 165bhp, if memory serves, and was a match for many things. A very real wolf in very ordinary clothes.
Reliability, performance and Japanese engineering make the Civic a great buy. It's a better buy than an over rated Golf which does not have the aforementioned features.
Had one of these for my first car then upgraded to the type R Just some things to note like jay said the service items for these are peanuts but they also have a turning circle of a aircraft carrier
I am looking to buy a hot hatch as my first car (when I get my UK license in the next few months) and due to my lack of common sense, I have been lusting over the Alfa Romeo Brera 2.2 JTS. I might have to reconsider for the EP2 Sport since I'm looking to avoid boring cars as my first car, and it just makes more financial sense. But man, I cannot get the Brera out of my mind. It is so beautiful even since I first saw it in real life, that I'm willing to save up for it.
If you’re looking a decently fast Alfa for a first car mate I can recommend the giulietta. I know it’s far from a favourite on this channel but my 1.4TB 170hp has been fantastic as a first car. Not bad at all on insurance and fuel etc and while it isn’t as interesting or striking as a brera, it’ll still beat 99% of everyone’s first cars for style and charm :)
That’s too bad about the single dingle. In the states our Si trim of that model has a k series, although not with the same head as our rsx type-s (integra) from what I remember. Still those are great fun with the dash shifter!
I was never curious about insurance in the UK, since it's not where i live, so hearing that it costs "only 1200£ a year" to insure is shocking. It costs me equivalent of 50£ a year to insure my 2011 2 litre 145hp Ford Focus mk2. And it's only with 1.5 years of experience of driving (which matters to insurance companies. More experienced you're and less accidents you have - the cheaper is your insurance. When my dad used this car, he had to pay only 25£ a year, with 20 years of experience). And 1200£ is the amount you need to insure something like a sportcar with less than 700-600hp.
Uk has expensive insurance, but its cheaper than Ireland. A bog standard 1l car with under 100bhp will cost a young male over 2k euro for the first few years. Ive over 10 years exp no accidents and am paying 400 for a 1l scala monte carlo...
insurance is a big industry here unfortunately, pretty much all drivers below 25 are expected to pay around £2000 yr for whatever heap they drive. And it doesn't get cheap as you get older either, my 40 yr old mum pays £500 a year to insure a 10yr old 2L diesel mercedes.
@@anyau understand. Currently for me it's a bit more than 0.5£. It seems like having a car in the UK must be hell. The only positive thing i see is that cars are generally cheaper than in the place i live. But it makes no difference, since everything else is much much more expensive.
Nice review.. You should drive my Ep2 some day.. I'm sure you'd definitely enjoy the ride and suspension for sure.. Smooth butter mate takes corners and bends like it should.. 😁
I seriously considered one of these before purchasing an Ibiza FR as my first car at the ripe old age of 25. Would have loved an Alfa 147 but insurance on them was disproportionately high whereas the Honda and Seat were much more affordable. The third car of my shortlist was a late Mk1 Focus which was largely comparable to the Honda but a bit more understated. Really enjoy how this channel celebrates enthusiasm for all cars
12:29 James you’re wrong! 😉😂“BMW Mini is cheap and nasty”? Remember what hatches were like in the 80’s and 90’s?? Like them, or loathe them I’ve always said if there’s one thing the BMW Mini did for the car industry, it brought ‘big car’ build quality and refinement to the small hatchback market. Due to circumstances, a couple of years ago I got lumped with my wife’s old R56 Mini One D… (yes it’s a diesel) not my first choice admittedly but I have to concede it’s a beautifully built car and has never gone wrong in 7yrs of ownership. (Now approaching 120k miles) I often think of your ‘cool cars for young people’ series when driving it… Ok it only has 90bhp but it also has 160lbs ft of torque (more then a RenaultSport Clio of the time) It also handles like a go-kart, averages 60mpg and is tax exempt! Having driven a few, I’m convinced this entry level Mini would show a clean pair of heels to the legendary 205GTI of the 80’s 😮 So maybe it’s worth considering for a future episode? Love the channel mate! 😉👍
Would love to see you revisit the Honda CR-Z as a good option for young drivers, a more modern alternative to this Civic, an absolute joy to drive and slightly more power than the Civic
Thanks for that - learn something new every day - I've owned my EP3 from new in 2003, and always thought the Sport had the K20A3 like the US Civic Si (K20A2 in the UKDM CTR)- didn't realise it had the B16 !
Trust me, the little 1.6 packs enough of a punch to forget about the 2.0 when driving. But yes, it does make you wonder everyday what your car with almost twice the power would feel like lol.
A 97 punto was my first car after passing , it was a 1.2(75) and that 75 made all the difference Back then I lusted after the Punto Sporting, not many about now. I sold that at 18 and got a 306gti, great car!!
I wondered why UK didn't get the 1.5L in the Jazz but I guess with models like this present maybe they didn't feel the need. Weird model not seen outside of Europe. Looks like it combines the competent handling of say the base Integra with a pretty anemic engine. Can't help but wonder if a MK1 Focus would be better
Interesting car! And good on him for doing all the work himself! Yet, as a student of motorsport engineering, he should be ashamed though for putting "Davanti" tyres on his car. Lesson 1: all starts with decent rubber. ;)
Back in the day when type r civics where penny’s to buy bought one with couple mates when I was 16 to fix up for £150 still had a weeks mot but yeah never got fixed got thrashed and lost my license over it but we’re all young and dumb at points but it was a 30th anniversary version which is mental to think for the price they go at sold it for £450 after getting it out the salvage yard after police took it so Yeah fast forward few years I have a Honda jazz been a great car want something sporty again but type r prices are insane so was looking buying ep2 sport civic think they look fantastic very much like the type r only searched this video as mentioned there’s a lot breaking for spares was considered about common problems so had a look at this video to find out there not that bad as long as u keep it in good nick and on top of maintenance check rear wheel arches for rust or water build up every now and then probably could prevent that with some better waterproofing make the wheel arch plastic a bit better fit idk haven’t looked into it but sounds like really good car thanks for the advice and excellent review cant wait to get a faster car again jazz is fine and all no problems it is the sport model but means nothing still has the 1.4L as standard one but need something with bit more poke and grunt about it think this is my final choice 🤘💪
i have same car but 1.7 diesel, it has 100hp but it goes way better ,maybe chip tuning ? 🤷♂ anyway, i like it , fast car , very light ,nice seats, terrible turning circle , fuel consumption around 45-50mpg UK
Your civic si had a K20A3, same power plant as an Acura RSX. The UK market Si/Type S had a 1.6 SOHC vtec engine, as we were also sold the EP3 Type R which had the K20A2, so it made little sense to sell two K series Civics priced differently.
Unless u really need the space, I’d recommend the Yaris t sport or ignis sport over this… they’re probs just as cheap to buy, run & insure, but they’re a lot quicker despite the similar hp… the ignis also has the rarity and JWRC heritage going for it too
Best Honda for young people is the CRZ. Cheap insurance and tax, Quick round town, economical at the same time and still looks different. ( some mods available also) . Downsides are the back seats which are useless.
@@Mr330d 57mpg across a full week of mixed driving but trying hard!. Just driving normally across mixed roads I still get 48-50 as town driving doesn't affect the Average.
@@williamfence566 I’ve had diesels that done worse ngl 😂 Toyota diesels are horrendous on fuel I had an Avensis 2.0 diesel and on a long run from cairnryan down to leeds it only managed 52.4mpg and I was being gentle slipstreaming lorries etc on cruise control at 62mph
Glasgow ULEZ rules generally mean no petrol cars before 2006. Otherwise my options for good cheap cars would include this and many other older options.
My cool car for young people is my CRZ, only issue is the lack of back seats but man I love it, such a headturner, gets great fuel economy and it can move when you want it to. I also had a Jazz Sport, not nearly as cool but very practical
Fellow crz owner here and agreed it's a great little car. I don't think there's a better car to drive over country lanes in a cheap way. Had it 3 years and don't see me getting rid of it for another 3
What I love about this channel is that all the cars featured are given the same level of enthusiasm it covers everyone with a driving license and all budgets .
100%. And as it should, because when it comes to cars, fun is not correlated to cost
@@supraJZA80s that's true my first car an automatic 3 door 2004 1.6 vvti Corolla 110bhp , ( 78,000 miles) ( have dyspraxia and such so only automatic licence) and it's so much fun especially on country roads and it's pretty nippy I haven't even had it in full kickdown mode yet either , handling is pretty good and it so much fun on country and winding roads , feels faster than what it is and I love the sound of that vvti when you put your foot down .For a 3 door of that era it's pretty spacious in the back , I can easily fit in the back without being cramped and I'm 6ft . There is so many storage compartments and the storage box inbetween the seats is pretty cavernous , proper cupholders in the front and rear seats
I’m currently learning to drive, and my older brother has kindly given me his EP2 that was his first car, excited to drive it!
Lucky!
W brother
Lucky guy hope you enjoy driving it
Nice brother! Mine wouldn't give me the sweat off his balls! I don't know if you young uns today have it better. Cars are safer, more reliable and more economical, but back in 1999 when I passed, we were all driving Nova's and old fiestas. You could work on them with a basic tool kit and the modding scene seemed so much more accesible back then.
Once you get used to it there’s always the tune-ability. £600 for an eBay turbo kit which are reliable for up to 18psi. 8psi would put you at around 220bhp from stock internals. Anything above 8psi you’ll be wanting to up your fuel pump, maybe get some forged pistons or rods as the stock internals will relatively reliably take 280-300bhp. I’m currently looking into buying a late 90’s Civic D16Y8 and doing the turbo route but using a Saab turbo or Subaru turbo from a WRX mating with all the pipes, boost controller and other goodies you get with the eBay turbo kit. Finding a non rotten hatch or coupe is proving difficult. I may have to go down the Rover 200 route instead😅
Im 24 and thats my first car. Bought it on November and Im absolutely in love
I will be 24 when I buy this car how’s the insurance ?
@@GrindSzn7 Here in Spain Im paying 300 a year so Id say its quite reasonable
@@marcomelgares5682 damn that’s cheap tbf hope you’re enjoying the car
I've owned a Lotus Elise 111R, Porsche Cayman and Boxster, Z4M, E55, Corvette, and lots more. And til this day, the most fun car I've ever had was my 04 Civic Type S 2.0 5-door that I paid 700GBP for. I ripped that on b-roads for months without a care in the world, wringing the engine out 100% all day every day, never an issue. I miss that car!
Element_y , so , a good car for a track day project then ? Thanks
160 hp?
@@utb8536yes
But let's also remember that the 147 came with a 2 litre twin spark! 😍 I used to have an EP2. Had it for years. Learned everything about driving quickly in it! Eventually it got rusty and after a small accident it was written off and that was the end. Great car. Couldn't agree more in general with your comments. Friends of mine back in those days also had Fiesta's and Clio's and having driven them I would also put them in this same category of cool first cars 😁
Man I've been following you for a lot but now I LOVE YOU !!! I have this car for years, won't give up on it 320k km on the clock still running perfect and still best city car and everyday driver. Great combi between city and good performance on highway even here in Germany. Thanks for the great videos.
I had the type r for four years - amazing car, totally reliable, loved it.
Jay, I had one of these as my first car. Well - not exactly this, it was the facelift 5-door (EU8 I think?) on a 54 plate, but with the same (D16V1) engine, in Vivid Blue metallic, and it was amazing. I bought it at 120,000 miles when I was 20, and it lasted me for six and a half years, all the way through to March last year, when it finally had to go and live on a farm with just short of 200k on it. Age and mileage, as well as the at times unsympathetic treatment of an inexperienced, twenty-something jobbing professional musician, meant that it wasn't mechanically faultless, but I doubt any other similar car would have stood up better.
It was the absolute best first car I could possibly have asked for, and taught me more about cars and driving than I ever learned before I passed my test. And it absolutely sealed the deal for me becoming a Honda enthusiast - when the time came to replace it last year, it was inevitable that it had to be another Honda. Because that Civic lasted me so long, I'm now nearly 28 and only on my second car - a black FN2 Type R, which I love and will keep for as long as I possibly can.
I just happen to come across your TH-cam video on the Ep2 and it caught my interest. I live in the High Desert of California and I own since 2005 a 2002 Honda Civic Si Ep3 with 55,000 miles as of now. I bought it from an elderly gentleman who was getting tired of the manual transmission and it only had 25,000 miles and the price was right. All I’ve done to it was replaced the OEM 15 inch wheels with 17’s and installed an aftermarket armrest that looks like it came with the car, it needed it. Sure, the car isn’t super fast like the current Civic Si’s or other cars of today but I love taking it out early in the morning hitting the highway. To me it’s fast enough, handles good and I really enjoy how it drives and the way the engine sounds. The car is functional I’ve always liked hatchbacks and it’s just right for me, my weekend car. Believe it or not, I’ve been asked by a few people young and old the make of the car and the look of surprise on their face when I tell them it’s a Civic was disbelief. I’ve also been asked by several people if I was willing to sell my Civic as of now, no. That’s another thing I like about my Civic, once in while I may see one passing me on the road when I’m in my truck. It’s a pretty rare sight to see one on the road or in the town I live. But I will say the ones I do see never look as good as mine. Now I’m the elderly man, but unlike the gentleman who sold me this car to buy a Lexus in 2005 I will continue to drive and enjoy my Civic until I can no longer do so then maybe I’ll sell it or I’ll just have my son drive it while I sit in the passenger seat. Enjoy your video keep up the good work.
OMG this brings back so much memories! I had a grey EP2 when I studied uni in the UK between 2005 and 2007 and had a blast! Really wanted the EP3 at the time but insurance was 6,000 pounds! Took the EP2 to a bunch of tracks from Donnington, to Oulton Park, to the Ring - running costs were very affordable for a student since its slow so things like brakes took forever to wear down! Thanks for making this video!
I must say you and high peak autos are on point in covering every car for eveybody.
I had an EP2 a few months ago and absolutely loved it. Incredibly easy to live with and practical while also being extremely fun. Had to get rid as rust took hold unfortunately 😞
Sorry to hear that man, bet you had fun in it!!
James, so refreshing to see a TH-camr review a car like this. I’ve had one of these since it was nearly new, and 160,000 miles later it’s still unbeatable as a daily. I have much more exotic things to drive but none come close as a daily- not sure i would ever sell the thing
I was the third owner of an EP2 Civic Sport who drove it for five years. The lovely little car was 19 years old when I moved it on. I'm no middle-aged racer, nor did I have any desire to modify it in any way. I was very happy with the way it handled and the excellent fuel consumption it returned. It was a comfortable, nippy little car without being fast in a Type R sense!
The EP2 Civic I had was one car I really miss. I moved on to quicker and more modern Hondas but I absolutely loved mine. It was a Nighthawk Black Pearl 2004 facelift (facelifts are the one to get with the proper Type R style bodykit) and had been very well cared for with stacks of paperwork backing up all maintenance. The only things it needed in my 2-3 years of ownership was a clutch, input shaft bearing (common issue on these, as well as the handbrake CONSTANTLY needing reset and adjusted every few weeks) and an exhaust back box - incidentally is the same as the Type R and I think actually gives it an ever so slight difference in sound over a non Sport variant. Mine also had the optional front fog lights for extra style points.
Like you said in the video, without fail it would always return 45mpg. It wasn’t fast at all but handled great and was one car I definitely levelled up my driving skill a notch with (slow car fast sort of driving) to the point I kept up with a less handy driver in a DC5. It did just about everything I needed perfectly. Shame getting a really good one now is pretty much impossible.
Spot on with your review James, I’ve got an EP2 Auto SE same engine and absolutely bulletproof and quite refined one of the best autos I’ve had, 4 speed with torque lock up great on the motorway giving 48mpg & 38 urban. It’s also good fun on the B roads and reliable as a donkey now 78k mileage and runs sweet as a nut.
I loved my old EP3 and always respected the EP2 variant as not everyone was able to have the halo model. At that price range though of these types of cars id have the Corolla T-Sport.
Drive a t sport... The Honda is the better driver car.
I've got this as a second car after owning ek3 (6gen civic) as a first car. I thought I would use it for few years and upgrade, but now I'm counting my 5th year behind the wheel. It is a wonderful car on many occasions, it managed to keep up with everything I threw at it, we even did three thousand kilometers trip in it as five people with hiking equipment for a week and all managed to fit inside. Now I'm commuting across europe with it to my uni (around 1400km one way) and it keeps on going with all of my stuff piled into it. However since I live in cold climate country, the rust is taking over, laquer is starting to peel (yes I have red honda which in the end seems to be least durable paint) also the car is approaching 300k km and looks like it inside and outside it doesn't help that local honda dealer recently told me that they are done with any part production for this model and now are selling last parts they had. For example when they checked where I could get one small pipe for AC radiator, I was told that there is only one in whole europe, in france, probably stuck behind the shelf somewhere. I'm now in the crossroads where I either have to spend more than it's worth making it all tidy or pass this headache to someone else. Also it's very hard to find a direct replacement for it, all never cars I looked at seem to be really flawed in their own, different departaments. All of this makes me really lost.
I remember at 17 my mate had this, we all had 1.0 and this was a rocketship!! Full Type R Kit and interior, a silly exhaust and we had the time of our life.
5 of us crammed inside bouncing off the limiter everywhere, what a life at 17
i have an EP2, I'm 40yo and is the best car I've ever had. I cannot find a modern car replacement for it. It drives like a small rally car, it's fun to drive and the gear shifter position is perfect. My only complaint is the stiff suspension is annoying in bad roads.
12:35 I think you have just described exactly what I've done! I've had a 67hp 1.4 diesel for a year and now replaced it with a 1.6 2nd gen mini (as the pictures showed) Small boot yes but when you know you are only going to have yourself or just one passenger most the time, it doesn't really matter to me, it's everything else about it that makes it a great car.
Not a video I ever thought I’d see… just got rid of my pre facelift EP2 sport with 180k (on the original clutch) on the clock having done 130k in it over 10 years. Great little cars and generally reliable as you like. Once you get used to the little suspension rattles and seized brake callipers they’re spot on. Sadly the rust killed it. Had the EP3 too but this one stuck around the longest!
Brake callipers on yours too? Damn... I assumed it was just me not keeping on top of checking them. A miserable 5 hours set by the road waiting for recovery after they jammed up and almost cooked the wheel bearing.
I bought one 6 months ago as my first car and love it so far!! So stylish, fun to drive and wallet friendly
Type R owner here but really appreciate this kind of video. I had an Accord Sport previously and that was a brilliant car. Keep them coming.
these were introduced in the US as Si models, I was lucky enough to test drive it quite a few times back then, it was not as nice as exciting to drive as the 4th gen Si's (1.6L 160hp), but I think was an improvement even tho did not feel as fast,
the car as a whole was more composed, almost like more grown up, but don't get me wrong, was still a fantastic car to drive, now with a bigger 2.0L (still 160hp) it was less buzzy, but still a nice unit, the steering was fantastic also the placement of the gear lever was a nice little surprise,
these cars were so good, I almost traded back then my 2002 (bug eye) WRX for a 1999 Civic Si in Blue, then I started to lust over a 2001 Audi S4 2.7L Twin Turbo in yellow, the a 1997 Passat VR-6 manual came around and I started to lust over that, then a Acura Integra GSR came about as well... hahaha you get the idea ...
Got one as a backup/el cheapo second car and really love it. The engine has a go fast personality and it's one of the last cars that are crazy easy to work on. Plus, the parts are stupid cheap and easy to source.
Not sure re the availability of the Honda, but I did the Autotrader thing you do.
There were only 16 147s for sale. Half of them were diesel and half of the rest were GTA models. You're absolutely right that the Honda being the way to go! It looks faaar nicer than the mini too!
EP2 was my first car when I was 17 and really was fantastic for all the reasons you mention - cheap to maintain, great fuel economy and very fun for a little car while still being wildly practical. Now at 23 I have done over 70,000 miles in it and now have an FN2 on the driveway too but just can't get rid of the EP2 - just such a joy to own as long as you don't mind being stereotyped as a chav! (Even in a standard one!!!)
EP Civic is still one of my favorite designs.
I would get one to simply drive around and enjoy.
I wonder who else would do so?
I had this car over 10 years ago and I loved it.
After driving for 35 years, about 15 where my daily was a Honda, I'd concur they're fantastic little cars. Good handling momentum cars with well made manuals, and often exciting engines (despite their relative lack of power). Perfect cars for youngsters. At age 19'ish, my Honda CRX was my daily, and it was far better than the Triumph Spitfire of my high-school years... albeit that car taught me how to fix a ton of failed components. Like, just about every system on it 🤣 Great video and good suggestions for the young enthusiasts JayEmm, and Cheers from across the pond.
My little blue EP2 was the perfect 2nd car coming from a 60hp skoda. Miss that car dearly, found it on ebay a few years ago as spares and repairs as chassis had gone. Big problem also with these is the rust, affects the EP3 also. Moved onwards and upwards to my current cars of a S2000 and a 350z but do miss the little thing where you can put your foot down and it's not illegal :)
Drove a blue 1.6 sport from kent to liverpool and back was awesome car
I had an EP2 for about 5 years and really enjoyed it. It did everything very well, was reasonable to run, looked fantastic especially as Type R bits bolted straight on. Highlight was the gear change and setup.
I'm just about to part with my EP2 which has sadly been finished off by rust. There was some creeping in to the rear arches, but when it was up on the ramp, we found very bad corrosion to the sills especially near the back end. Given the cost of the welding to get it sorted, it just wasn't worth the outlay.
There are another 2 big issues with these cars. The first is the steering rack. They are prone to failing, and benefit from the slider being regreased periodically (it can be done in situ in a couple of hours), and the torque sensor being lubricated.
A worse problem however is the input shaft bearing which can wear out very quickly, especially if you rag it in 2nd and 3rd, which is all too tempting.
The engine is lovely, and revs really well, and in spite of the suspension not being as sorted as the previous generation, it's still very good and planted. For throwing around A-roads, it's such a fun car and I'm going to miss mine immensely.
They get under your skin these little Civics, and I would implore anybody who wants a fun but not bank breaking car to run, definitely have a play with one.
If you do though, check the steering properly corrects to centre from a turn to give you an idea of the condition of the steering rack, and compare the sound in neutral with the clutch down to the clutch up. If you hear a significant increase in noise, it could be indicative of the input shaft bearing going, which will likely require a gearbox rebuild.
I own an EP3 Si (USDM), and it's been an absolute ball driving it around! Definitely one of the best first cars for people who are looking for something that still screams JDM while also still being very safe and easy to handle. The Acura RSX base and Type S (Or the Honda Integra for y'all over the pond), is also quite amazing with that, as you had previously mentioned, they share many similarities in the chassis, just like with the old DC2 and EK9's in the 90's.
My only gripe about the EP3 is that it really deserves more than it's been given. The K20A3 is quite a peppy engine, but compared to the K20A2 from the RSX Type S, it seems like the Acura was favored more over the Honda, despite the Si being the highest model trim for the Civic in the US at the time, and the RSX base model sharing the same engine...
I had one of these when I was 19 now 35, That car was certainly not perfect but it was a blast to drive back then.
I used to own a USDM 2002 Civic Si (K20A3, 160hp) for about 8 years many years ago. Good car, but not a great car. It was definitely a small step back from the 1999-2000 EM1 Si that had the high-revving B16A2 with 160 hp. Honda wanted to cut costs, so they dropped the double wishbone suspension up front and put in MacPherson struts, which just wasn't as good of a setup. It was a practical car though, with a roomy cabin and cargo area. The stock wheel and tire package was a joke (195/60/15), and it needed an LSD.
That car *never* rode rough or bouncy during low speeds/around town though. The example you were driving from that 19 year old kid definitely had modified suspension, and was compromised because of it. The stock suspension was soft and comfortable.
That is a mint example. Make sure it has a newish exhaust system, brake lines etc as a lot of stuff rusts out and the calipers bind. The headlight units tend to get condensation or fade beyond repair and aren't cheap as replacement parts are discontinued. The drivers side headlight bulb is a pain to change as well.
With 3 doors I wouldn't recommend, the later Type S had more doors and 140BHP.
I love this series! I wish it got as many views as the other vids. These types of cars (affordable daily drivers with flair) are my favorite
My first car! Was a gateway drug into the Honda world. I have EG coupe and Integra type R now, probably more to come as well!
I do like 3000 miles a year, so needed a car which would be reliable, fun to drive around town and practical. I bought a 2 door, 2005 EP2 with 74k on the clock, and with one previous owner and in mint condition. The car has been perfect, aside from a hefty MOT bill to fix worn suspension.
The only issue is someone did a hit and run job on it when it was parked roadside, and the rear bumper is grazed and misaligned. I need to get that sorted and we will be looking at a mint car, reliable, cheap to run and fun to drive. I bought it for £1600 in December 2020.
Bit late and random however, those with EP2s who aren't happy with the stock music system in the car as it isn't the best, simply when tuning your radio, select "fading" or "fad" and put it on +3. From then onwards select your own preferences on bass and treble. Does wonders
I love your videos keep it up, no stupid bias against any car manufacturer. My cousin had this and now has ep3 type r premier.
This thing was such a legend, we fitted a mad exhaust which im sure was not legal. The vtec system was awesome and damn what a chasis
This generation of Honda hatch has aged so well. I wish there were more stock well cared for examples around.
In my country we have an EP1 Sport alongside the EP2 Sport. It has the 1.4l 90hp engine. It's mainly for tax reasons. Cars here are heavily taxed and so the more expensive models don't sell, so companies will sell cheaper, more economical versions. This makes the top models more expensive in the used market. I have a EP1 from 2005, bought in 2016, and even now in 2023 you still buy an EP1 Sport for 5000€, a EP2 Sport for around 8000€ and an EP3 Type R costs around 18000€.
That was an epic review. I had one and did 100k in it and it was faultless. This is the only car i regret selling.
I've had an ep1 for a few years and love it, regularly get 50+mpg, looking at putting an ep2 engine in it 😀
I had a B18C4 Civic VTiS with 169bhp and that lovely DOHC VTEC. I imagine the K20 is lots of fun because that sure was.
I almost put a comment correcting James about it being an EP3 not an EP2 !
I was feeling all smug about it as well. Damn !
Nice content as always...
I got a completely standard 01 ep2 117k miles for £1250 3-4 months ago and all it needed was a front shock and the cambelt was due a change. But im a mechanic so thats all neither here or there as parts are reasonably priced. Although even at 20 with it being my first car insurance is still £270 a month. But the service book was completely full and i bought from autotrader so abit more respectable that other places so all in im still happy.
We had a ep3 type R. Loved it. And hassle free. Awesome seats box and engine. Suspension was too much for motorway cruises tho
Got the CM2 myself, hydraulic steering, K24A3, double wishbone suspension. But super practical because it's a wagon.
It was in quite the state when i got it... but i repaired it completely. (axles, brakes, bodywork, the lot).
The honda's with Hydraulic steering steer fantastically. But the EPS units, especially the early ones, are really tragic I agree. I had a CU1 before this, horrible.
I've got the five door version of this, the Civic EU8. Used only occasionally as a second car and in very clean condition throughout. Same drive as the EP2 but with van like practically if you flip the rear seats down. Great little cars.
I owned an EP2 around 10 years ago and loved it, although it's definitely a momentum car rather than a hot hatch - they handle great on country roads, but the little 1.6 engine was always a bit meh and lacked character.
The plus points are it's a Honda, so you can swap parts and upgrade easily. I fitted mine with Type R seats (which are sublime), Type R alloys and fitted a pipercross induction kit and left the rest standard.
They're great little things though and any young driver will enjoy without the risk of losing their licence 🚓🚨👮♂️
Appreciate 2 doors and a bit of trim goes a long way to a "hot hatch" BUT a Type S of the same model has 165bhp, if memory serves, and was a match for many things. A very real wolf in very ordinary clothes.
Forester15 , do you mean the 2.0 type s 5door? Looking at one as a possible track day car but not much about them on the web
Reliability, performance and Japanese engineering make the Civic a great buy. It's a better buy than an over rated Golf which does not have the aforementioned features.
Had one of these for my first car then upgraded to the type R Just some things to note like jay said the service items for these are peanuts but they also have a turning circle of a aircraft carrier
Big up Jay, appreciate the frequent uploads
I owned one for 5 years - a fantastic car!!!
i have a 2011 Fiesta Zetec Sport, would be sick to see it featured. Brilliant first hot hatch
I’m sure I see this exact motor parked up in the college car park, if so it really is a clean motor!
I am looking to buy a hot hatch as my first car (when I get my UK license in the next few months) and due to my lack of common sense, I have been lusting over the Alfa Romeo Brera 2.2 JTS.
I might have to reconsider for the EP2 Sport since I'm looking to avoid boring cars as my first car, and it just makes more financial sense.
But man, I cannot get the Brera out of my mind. It is so beautiful even since I first saw it in real life, that I'm willing to save up for it.
If you’re looking a decently fast Alfa for a first car mate I can recommend the giulietta. I know it’s far from a favourite on this channel but my 1.4TB 170hp has been fantastic as a first car. Not bad at all on insurance and fuel etc and while it isn’t as interesting or striking as a brera, it’ll still beat 99% of everyone’s first cars for style and charm :)
Thank you for reviewing a Honda product
That’s too bad about the single dingle. In the states our Si trim of that model has a k series, although not with the same head as our rsx type-s (integra) from what I remember. Still those are great fun with the dash shifter!
I was never curious about insurance in the UK, since it's not where i live, so hearing that it costs "only 1200£ a year" to insure is shocking. It costs me equivalent of 50£ a year to insure my 2011 2 litre 145hp Ford Focus mk2. And it's only with 1.5 years of experience of driving (which matters to insurance companies. More experienced you're and less accidents you have - the cheaper is your insurance. When my dad used this car, he had to pay only 25£ a year, with 20 years of experience). And 1200£ is the amount you need to insure something like a sportcar with less than 700-600hp.
Uk has expensive insurance, but its cheaper than Ireland. A bog standard 1l car with under 100bhp will cost a young male over 2k euro for the first few years.
Ive over 10 years exp no accidents and am paying 400 for a 1l scala monte carlo...
insurance is a big industry here unfortunately, pretty much all drivers below 25 are expected to pay around £2000 yr for whatever heap they drive.
And it doesn't get cheap as you get older either, my 40 yr old mum pays £500 a year to insure a 10yr old 2L diesel mercedes.
@@anyau how much do you pay for a litre of 95 octane?
@@KulebyakMaster £1.50 in my local area, it was nearly £2 last year
@@anyau understand. Currently for me it's a bit more than 0.5£. It seems like having a car in the UK must be hell. The only positive thing i see is that cars are generally cheaper than in the place i live. But it makes no difference, since everything else is much much more expensive.
Thanks J, this car ticks so many boxes! 🙏🙏
Nice review.. You should drive my Ep2 some day.. I'm sure you'd definitely enjoy the ride and suspension for sure.. Smooth butter mate takes corners and bends like it should.. 😁
On the subject of fun 20 year old cars. What's your opinion on the bmw 330ci & 325ci. They are dirt cheap at the moment.
I seriously considered one of these before purchasing an Ibiza FR as my first car at the ripe old age of 25. Would have loved an Alfa 147 but insurance on them was disproportionately high whereas the Honda and Seat were much more affordable. The third car of my shortlist was a late Mk1 Focus which was largely comparable to the Honda but a bit more understated.
Really enjoy how this channel celebrates enthusiasm for all cars
I used to have an Ibiza fr great fun 😁
Reluctantly selling my EP2, one of the few that didn't crash through a Halfords store and become a tacky Type R wannabe. I'll miss it when it goes 😔
mate can i buy it?
So happy to have the generation after this one 😁
Best generation of the Civic!
12:29 James you’re wrong! 😉😂“BMW Mini is cheap and nasty”? Remember what hatches were like in the 80’s and 90’s?? Like them, or loathe them I’ve always said if there’s one thing the BMW Mini did for the car industry, it brought ‘big car’ build quality and refinement to the small hatchback market.
Due to circumstances, a couple of years ago I got lumped with my wife’s old R56 Mini One D… (yes it’s a diesel) not my first choice admittedly but I have to concede it’s a beautifully built car and has never gone wrong in 7yrs of ownership. (Now approaching 120k miles)
I often think of your ‘cool cars for young people’ series when driving it… Ok it only has 90bhp but it also has 160lbs ft of torque (more then a RenaultSport Clio of the time) It also handles like a go-kart, averages 60mpg and is tax exempt!
Having driven a few, I’m convinced this entry level Mini would show a clean pair of heels to the legendary 205GTI of the 80’s 😮 So maybe it’s worth considering for a future episode?
Love the channel mate! 😉👍
Would love to see you revisit the Honda CR-Z as a good option for young drivers, a more modern alternative to this Civic, an absolute joy to drive and slightly more power than the Civic
Thanks for that - learn something new every day - I've owned my EP3 from new in 2003, and always thought the Sport had the K20A3 like the US Civic Si (K20A2 in the UKDM CTR)- didn't realise it had the B16 !
It has the D16! Easy to mix up, very confusing
@@dtrain1634 What Air intake would you recommend?
The biggest issue I'd have with one of these is I'd never be able to not wish I had the EP3.
Trust me, the little 1.6 packs enough of a punch to forget about the 2.0 when driving. But yes, it does make you wonder everyday what your car with almost twice the power would feel like lol.
A 97 punto was my first car after passing , it was a 1.2(75) and that 75 made all the difference
Back then I lusted after the Punto Sporting, not many about now. I sold that at 18 and got a 306gti, great car!!
I wondered why UK didn't get the 1.5L in the Jazz but I guess with models like this present maybe they didn't feel the need.
Weird model not seen outside of Europe. Looks like it combines the competent handling of say the base Integra with a pretty anemic engine.
Can't help but wonder if a MK1 Focus would be better
The 1.7l diesel version can somewhat easily be tuned up to 200hp, which brings about 280Nm to the table. Turbo powwaaa
Interesting car! And good on him for doing all the work himself!
Yet, as a student of motorsport engineering, he should be ashamed though for putting "Davanti" tyres on his car. Lesson 1: all starts with decent rubber. ;)
This video made me buy and EP2
Excellent and Outstanding!!!!
My oldest boy is 18 and has 2 twin turbo diesel saab 93’s and pays about the same insurance as one of these
''Only 1,200 to insure'' - Jeez....to be that young again. It's not fair for them.
EP3 Type R is one of. My dream HONDER 's. Hard to find a legit one in America, let alone Alaska
What is that? The D16? I had one in my '98 coupe.
People who have those cars usually drive 5mph below the speed limit while having an abnoxious loud exhaust.
Accurate
There's a 5 door civic type s with a k20a3 with 160hp in this generation which is pretty cheap at the moment
Back in the day when type r civics where penny’s to buy bought one with couple mates when I was 16 to fix up for £150 still had a weeks mot but yeah never got fixed got thrashed and lost my license over it but we’re all young and dumb at points but it was a 30th anniversary version which is mental to think for the price they go at sold it for £450 after getting it out the salvage yard after police took it so Yeah fast forward few years I have a Honda jazz been a great car want something sporty again but type r prices are insane so was looking buying ep2 sport civic think they look fantastic very much like the type r only searched this video as mentioned there’s a lot breaking for spares was considered about common problems so had a look at this video to find out there not that bad as long as u keep it in good nick and on top of maintenance check rear wheel arches for rust or water build up every now and then probably could prevent that with some better waterproofing make the wheel arch plastic a bit better fit idk haven’t looked into it but sounds like really good car thanks for the advice and excellent review cant wait to get a faster car again jazz is fine and all no problems it is the sport model but means nothing still has the 1.4L as standard one but need something with bit more poke and grunt about it think this is my final choice 🤘💪
Nice video. Fun little car. Keep up the good work.
i have same car but 1.7 diesel, it has 100hp but it goes way better ,maybe chip tuning ? 🤷♂ anyway, i like it , fast car , very light ,nice seats, terrible turning circle , fuel consumption around 45-50mpg UK
Did we not get this in usa?
Ep3 si. Guess it was just slightly different in the us.
Your civic si had a K20A3, same power plant as an Acura RSX. The UK market Si/Type S had a 1.6 SOHC vtec engine, as we were also sold the EP3 Type R which had the K20A2, so it made little sense to sell two K series Civics priced differently.
@@unknowntm1724 I see ty
@@hyper8545 Honda have always been confusing as all hell 🤣🤣
I wish they made a hotter version of the jazz/fit
Unless u really need the space, I’d recommend the Yaris t sport or ignis sport over this… they’re probs just as cheap to buy, run & insure, but they’re a lot quicker despite the similar hp… the ignis also has the rarity and JWRC heritage going for it too
My first car!!! I do miss it! 💔
Best Honda for young people is the CRZ. Cheap insurance and tax, Quick round town, economical at the same time and still looks different. ( some mods available also) . Downsides are the back seats which are useless.
What kind of economy are you seeing? Like what’s the best you’ve achieved ?
@@Mr330d 57mpg across a full week of mixed driving but trying hard!. Just driving normally across mixed roads I still get 48-50 as town driving doesn't affect the Average.
@@williamfence566 I’ve had diesels that done worse ngl 😂 Toyota diesels are horrendous on fuel I had an Avensis 2.0 diesel and on a long run from cairnryan down to leeds it only managed 52.4mpg and I was being gentle slipstreaming lorries etc on cruise control at 62mph
i considered getting one of these, but decided on an earlier ej6 civic coupe
Glasgow ULEZ rules generally mean no petrol cars before 2006. Otherwise my options for good cheap cars would include this and many other older options.
I’ve got an Ep2 2004 it is London ULEZ compliant 😊
That is better mpg than my Brother's "duller than dishwasher" Honda Jazz.
My cool car for young people is my CRZ, only issue is the lack of back seats but man I love it, such a headturner, gets great fuel economy and it can move when you want it to. I also had a Jazz Sport, not nearly as cool but very practical
Fellow crz owner here and agreed it's a great little car. I don't think there's a better car to drive over country lanes in a cheap way. Had it 3 years and don't see me getting rid of it for another 3