Civic Type R

The EP3 Civic Type R

The EP3 was the first Civic Type R built in England. Production began at Swindon in September 2001 and ended in August 2005, and Japan had it from late 2001, its K20A engines built in Japan and shipped to Swindon to be fitted. It is a three-door hatchback with the gear lever set high on the centre of the dashboard, MacPherson struts at the front and double wishbones at the rear.

The Japanese car is not the one Europe had. Its K20A makes 215 PS at 8,000 rpm and 202 Nm at 7,000 rpm, against the European K20A2's 200 PS, and it has shorter gear ratios, a helical limited-slip differential, Recaro seats, firmer suspension and the option of Championship White. The facelift of September 2003 brought projector headlights, a new front bumper and recalibrated steering to reduce understeer, and the 2004 C Package added air conditioning and HID lights.

What EP3 owners upgrade

EP3 owners buy electronics most, then pads and calipers from the brakes range and pedals from the interior range. Engine mounts are a common early fit, since the factory ones tire on tracked cars.

Deeper engine work starts with forged pistons from the engine range for higher compression or boost, headers from the exhaust range, and clutch kits and clutch-type LSD upgrades from the drivetrain range. Spoon, Mugen, HKS, Toda, KAAZ and Project Mu are among the makers owners choose.

Genuine parts

The timing chain and its tensioner are the parts to budget for: some last about 80,000 miles, others twice that. Noisy tappets usually just need adjusting. Second gear's synchro can wear, worst when cold, and a creaking or pulling steering rack has usually failed. Dampers and bushes wear, the Recaro bolsters go, and facelift cars' rear arches can rust where the added sound deadening holds water.

Chains, mounts and bushes are in our genuine Honda parts catalogue.

Wheels

The EP3 came on 17x7 +45 wheels with 205/45R17 tyres, on a 5x114.3 bolt pattern with M12 x 1.5 nuts. The full list is under wheels that fit the EP3.