Honda Civic Type-R (2001 - 2005) 2.0i VTEC 3d (2004/04) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

Honestly I have to agree that the car in recent years has become a bit more 'boy-racer' as prices for earlier models are now in the £2000 range. You will get people trying to race you off lights and so on, just a warning.

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

I generally get positive comments about the car, but some of the running costs leave them a bit surprised. Considering tax alone is over £140 for 6 months, I can't say I blame them!

Would you buy this car again and why?

This is a hard question; probably not but only because I want to drive a variety of different cars. If I was in the market for a hot hatch again though, a EP3 Type-R would be one of my first choices.

What are you likely to buy next?

I'm looking at buying an imported Nissan S15 Silvia Spec-R for my next car if possible.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Independent

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£6,000

When did you buy the car?

February 2012

Did you get a good deal and why?

Wasn't able to get the price down much (was listed only about £200 higher than I ended up paying) and didn't get much for my old car either. Unfortunately, this was the best Type-R I'd seen in a long time and didn't fancy looking for much longer.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

I wanted to experience what the Type-R was all about, having heard rave reviews about it.

What was the dealer like?

Easy to talk to, very nice showroom but I have had problems with the garage since (no MOT certficate was included after I'd checked the file when it was present, claimed to have been serviced when brakes were obviously in need of replacement soon).

What's it like to drive?

Depends on where you're driving it. If you plan on doing long hours on the motorway, avoid this car because the tyre/wind noise and induction noise will end up driving you up the wall. If you're taking it down some twisty backroads, it's an incredible machine. Very accurate and sure-footed (though a bit unpredictable at times in the wet due to no traction control or LSD in the UK model). The howl from the engine is unlike anything I've heard, and I don't believe you can get a better sounding car for this kind of money. The gearbox and the engine are masterpieces, my hat is off to Honda on this.

What's it like to park?

It's generally not too bad to park; visibility is very good and the car isn't huge. However, the turning circle is catastrophic but this is to be expected with a car set up for blasting round on track days.

Have you had any problems with the car?

I get an occasional engine management light which I've had checked out and turned out to be an electrical problem; prior to this it had blown some interior bulbs/fuses. Cheap enough to get fixed and no problems now. Aside from this, the only things I've had to replace are consumables like bulbs and wipers. I was actually in a accident once and the engine bay was almost completely unaffected; Honda engines are bombproof.

What's most practical about your car?

Rear folding seats and a big boot. This generation Type-R (EP3) is pretty big even for a hatchback so the boot space reflects that.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

I love where the gearstick is located. At first I didn't like the idea because it reminded me of cars like the Xsara Picasso, but you quickly come to realise that the positioning is perfect, merely inches from the wheel. It helps that the gearbox is an absolute joy to use.