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I'm tempted to get a Type-R, preferably the GT variant. I've spotted some decent 57/58 plates for 7,500-8,500 which is aroundabout what I wanted to pay.
What are they like to live with though? I've seen wildly differing accounts of real world mpg, but then I suppose that's down to different driving styles.
I realise the shape isn't exactly universally admired, but I think it looks pretty good. The most likely alternative would be a MK 5 GTI.
AWESOME input welcomed.
Got all excited, then read the rest of the thread title. 52 plate EP3 here and I LOVE it. However, it does love s drink, but I don't treat it gently all the time.
Good luck with the hunt, I actually really like the new model styling and sod reports it still felt pretty nice to test drive when I was looking.
[EDIT] forgot to say there is a thread, maybe up to a year old with loads of Civic info on here someplace.
I really wanted the EP3 when it was released, I had to make do with the rather less glamorous VW Polo 1.3 instead (it was the coupe though, not the other one that looked like a hearse for gnomes).
My wife has a 57 plate Type R GT.
Its a great car, loads of fun, reasonably quick.
She gets about 27mpg on really short trips, and about 35 on a steady motorway run.
Its cavernous inside, really spacious.
Servicing is pretty cheap, reliability has bee excellent.
The ride is pretty harsh though, and the seats could be considered difficult to get in and out of , so it wont be for everyone.
I used to own a 52 plate EP3 and absolutely loved it. When i came to buy a new car i did test drive the new style Type R but found it to be no where near as much fun as the old style. The EP3 was all about the driving and didn't have much in the cabin at all. Honda seem to have changed that with the new style and while the interior is nicer, it just doesn't drive or handle as good as the EP3.
In the end i went for a Golf GTI.
Check you like the steering at all speeds. I hated it. My Citroen C1 has more feel to its steering.
First post here but I couldn't miss this!
I sold my EP3 in February (huge mistake) and I loved every second of it, I could not fault it in any way.
A pal of mine has the FN2 and he is in love with it and has invested a fair few quid into it. They run the K20 as far as I am aware, the same motor as what is in the EP3 but a different variant so there should be many modification options if that is what you choose to go down.
I have read some reviews on the FN2 and many of the complaints they have with it are also apparent on the EP3, and I loved my EP3, so go and buy one!
wasn't there a dude selling a FN2 on here?
http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/honda-civic-type-r-fn2-2007-7700
i have the poor mans version S type in the older shape... still great fun to driver
VW just boring!!!
Having owned 2 Ep3's (old focus-esque shape) and a FN2 (the one you're looking at). I'd say get the Golf.
As stated, 27 ish round town, 35 tops on a run, I once did a whole tank of fuel in 120 miles....
If you can find a EP3 that has been looked after they are far superior to the FN2 in pretty much every way, other wise the Golf. The MK5 GTI feels more like a TYPE-R should than the FN2 does.
I used to own the EP3. Best car I have ever had, loved every minute of it.
Got wife and kid now...Got a Honda FRV 😐
superfli - Member
I used to own the EP3. Best car I have ever had, loved every minute of it.
Got wife and kid now...Got a Honda FRV
feel your pain... Passat here, they had stopped FRVs on the scheme or I'd have had one of those too.
I also had an EP3 and now have the newer FN2. Had mine since 2007 and done nearly 70,000 in it, excellent to drive, whole bike fits in the back with the seats down, no problems at all, still on original exhaust and average 32 mpg on a mix of 30/60mph run. I normally change cars every 2 years but have kept this one much longer.
Had 2 fn2 s. now on a mugen m200. Average 28.2 mpg in the mugen over the last 5500 miles.
Averaged 31mpg in my first fn2 in 33000 miles.
The latest fn2 has the all important LSD....
Also had an EP3 here, fuel consumption once went down to 9 mpg on a late night run from the coast 😯
Front tyres every 6k miles too.
The car I miss the most out of all I have owned. Utterly reliable though, never any problems.
Go drive one and then a Renault Sport Clio/Megane 8)
I had the standard diesel Civic so the only thing I can tell you about is the ride.
Even with normal alloys it's ride was very harsh, I've say the Type R will be even rougher. Apart from the ride it was a great car.
Guy at work has one - harsh ride but expected for the type of car it is. Seats are a pain - they default to bolt upright every time you let someone in the back - he now only allows people to get in the back via the passenger door!
They are heavy on petrol a bit bumpy on the road but what a car! Ive only owned the older one, had to sell it as it was far too much fun to drive.
A ban was due.
Did a track day with it and it really held it's own.
I've just sold an 08 FN2 in GT trim.
Good fun to drive, nothing This side of an Elise steers as quickly but the ride is pretty hard for those days when you're just not in the mood. The cabin can have a few rattles, the standard radio/speaker combination is pretty terrible and the brakes are a bit crap too.
When you're in the mood though it's great fun. Way, way more fun to drive than a Golf or Focus. Gearbox is nice too. it could do with a 9,000 rev limit, I bounced off the limiter a lot - it spins up so easily.
I sold mine because I was just getting fed up with the fuel economy (expected, I know). Mixed driving like an old lady got me 27mpg, normal driving (for a hot hatch) would never break 20 and my six month average was 22.1. The worst I ever got was 11mpg from Alston to Melmerby.
My insurers asked for a Tracker. First time that's ever been asked.
Note the fn2 addressed the odd steering feel of the ep3....
ON the subject of security, the Mrs was car jacked in hers at the trafford centre. They do seem to attract the wrong sort of attention.
As someone else above mentioned, they have an awesomely sharp initial turn in.
Cracking car, preferred it to my Audi S3 really, the civic wasnt as fast or as nice a place to sit, but it was more fun.
Its still just a hot hatch at the end of the day, but I think it is probably amongst the best of the ~200hp class.
The mrs is still on the original tyres after 30000 miles - she doesnt really drive it like its intended.
Ex EP3 owner. Did 60,000 miles in it over 8 years. Warmed it up then spent most of its manic life being bounced off the limiter. Never missed a beat, never complained, nothing ever broke, chewed tyres and drank like a fish. Loved it
Nothing to say about the Type R as never driven one, though like the looks. Have a Mk V GTI and would recommend considering as an option - really good fun. I get close on 30mpg if I drive carefully, more like 25 if less so....
Re the comments on harsh ride, a sports car shouldn't have harsh ride its normally a sign of a poorly 'tuned' normal car, which in essence a Type R is
Had a 24hr test drove a few years ago (it was never a contender as I was commuting 125 miles per day). I loved it. However, with that fantastic engine tone, you'll find yourself forever dropping into third just to hear it! It's a Honda, so reliability is covered.
Ex EP3 owner also... had new in 2002 on a 52 plate... 3 years owned... 60K not a single problem...
Best car owned to date... reliable... raw... quick... bang for buck...
priorities change, now on a Mk1 Fabia VRS 06 plate... different type of quick 🙂
...if your your at stage of life where you can factor a TypeR in... do it...