Highlights
- Excellent service record
- Factory-fit leather upholstery
- 82,268 miles indicated
The Appeal
When the EP3 Civic Type-R arrived with its ‘monobox’ design, at first many of us weren’t quite sure what to make of it – it was so different from the hot-hatch hegemony. Then we drove one and, crikey, that was a revelation. Screaming V-TEC, excellent handling, one of the finest gearboxes ever made and a low kerb weight made it an absolute riot to pilot. It’s little wonder they remain popular today.
Here we have a very nicely kept example, complete with factory-fitted leather and a couple of choice modifications. If you’re after a well presented example of one of the all-time great naturally aspirated hot hatches, then look no further.
The History and Paperwork
- First registered in March 2004
- Seven owners from new
- Current owner since January 2022
- Only selling to make room for another vehicle
- The vendor tells us the car comes with a full service history, comprising a mix of main dealer and independent specialists
- Complete with the owner’s handbooks and two keys
- 82,268 miles indicated, verified by the MOT record
- Fresh MOT with no advisories valid to 29 February 2024
The Interior
- Factory fitted black leather Recaro sports seats with red inserts and white contrast stitching
- The front seats present in very fine order, with minor creasing and signs of use, but no excessive wear or damage
- Rear bench appears to be near immaculate
- Black carpets, complementary black floor mats with red binding, all of which show very well with no evidence we could see of damage or staining
- The headliner appears to be secure, with no staining or damage we could see
- There are a handful of minor scuffs and blemishes to the door cards, handles and the gear lever, otherwise all the internal switchgear and trim looks to be in fine fettle
- Electric windows and door mirrors
- Air conditioning
- Factory CD/radio system still fitted
- The boot is trimmed out in black carpet and presents well
- We’re informed by the vendor that everything works just as it should
The Exterior
- Milano Red paintwork is presented in excellent condition, with minimal evidence of wear and only minor blemishes – we didn’t see any notable marks or damage
- All of the bodywork looks nice and straight, with smooth panels and typically even Honda panel gaps
- Original 17-inch seven-spoke alloy wheels are in very good order, with no kerbing or lacquer peel apparent
- The wheels are shod in tyres that seem to be in good order, with decent tread levels
- We’re told by the vendor that the rear arches and inner sills have previously had some welding done
- There is some minor surface corrosion to some drivetrain elements, but otherwise the underside looks nice and solid, with no signs of major corrosion or damage we could identify
The Mechanics
- Iconic K20A2 1,998cc four-cylinder VTEC unit delivers 197hp to the front wheels
- Six-speed manual transmission, renowned as one of the finest units ever fitted to a hot hatch
- The engine bay is nice and clean, with no signs of leaks or overheating we could see
- Tegiwa carbon fibre airbox and induction kit fitted
- The original factory airbox and passenger side scuttle panel are included
- We’re assured by the vendor that the car sounds lovely, drives perfectly, and has no mechanical issues to report
Summary
It’s always difficult to predict what will be a future classic, but we’d be surprised if the EP3 Type-R didn’t go on to be very collectible indeed. It marked a sea-change in the capability of ‘everyday’ performance cars and introduced a whole generation to the joys of naturally aspirated responses and pure induction noise.
With so many heavily modified examples on the road, it’s wonderful to find one that’s been kept almost entirely stock. And it’s all the better for it. With a good service record and presented in very good order, we can’t recommend this cheeky little B-road burner enough.
Just remember to hang on when the VTEC kicks in. Yo.
We’re so sorry.
We’re so sorry.
