HONDA CIVIC TYPE R ( EP3)

Just £ 2000 could get you behind the wheel of one of these high- rev ving , hard- wearing Japanese hot hatchbacks

ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY-SEVEN BHP barely raises an eyebrow these days, but back in 2001 this was proper hardcore. ‘The specification suggests the Type R is about as focused a front-drive machine as there has ever been,’ we declared in our original Driven review ( evo 035).

The bald stats – 0- 62mph in a claimed 6.8sec, top speed 146mph – were impressive but not exceptional. As ever with Type R Hondas, it was the way the Civic delivered its performance that was special, the 2-litre I-VTEC engine providing an extra kick at around 6000rpm, with peak power at 7400rpm, matched to a wonderfully snickety six-speed manual gearbox.