checkpoints

Engine

Maz Christofi at Honda tuning specialist Hond- R. com loves the EP3. ‘ Brilliant cars,’ he says. ‘ Best way to get into a hot hatch. Cheap, reliable, easy to fix, plethora of parts available. You go to any trackday, there’s an EP3 there, because they’re cheap, reliable fun.’

So what do you need to look out for? ‘ Regular servicing,’ says Maz. ‘And monitoring how much oil it burns, because revving them hard will inevitably cause engine wear.’ So frequent oil checks are essential – if you’re buying privately, check the owner knows this. ‘ Properly maintained, the engine is incredibly strong,’ says Maz. ‘ We’re running a supercharged EP2 with 437bhp, standard internals. Phenomenal.

‘ The only issue we see is with chains and tensioners. There’s no rhyme or reason to when they go. We’ve seen them fail at 80,000 miles, others go on to 150,000. It’s around a £ 650 job for genuine Honda parts and labour. Once that’s done, they go on forever. We look after cars that have done 180,000 miles and more. If you’re buying one with around 100k and it hasn’t had the chain done, for peace of mind budget an extra £ 650 and fit a chain, then you’re going to have hasslefree motoring.’

If the car feels like it wants to stall when it’s warm, that typically means the idle control valve needs adjusting – a simple fix. A light tappety sound from the engine usually simply means the valve clearances need adjusting – part of the big, 72k service.

Transmission

The gearchange can be obstructive – it’s quite common to get a crunch from the gearbox when changing into second, especially when the ’ box is cold. So try to drive the car before it’s been warmed up. And check for a heavy clutch, too – a sign that it’s on the way out.

If the car’s had a limited- slip differential fitted by a reputable specialist, that’s a big tick. ‘ It’s the best modification that you can have done to an EP3, for fast road driving and trackdays,’ says Maz. If you want to add one later, various options are available, starting from around £ 750 fitted.

suspension, steering, brakes

Steering- rack problems are a known issue, particularly on prefacelift cars, though many were replaced under warranty. ‘ They start creaking and they don’t self- centre,’ says Maz. A replacement from Honda is around the four- figure mark, so find a used rack from a facelifted car and have that fitted.

The suspension’s robust, but the alloys are quite prone to corrosion, so check them carefully. Honda replacements are £ 250 a corner.

body, interior, Electrics

‘ The build quality on these isn’t quite what it was on pre- 2000 Hondas. You can tell the accountants were involved,’ says Maz. That said, though some of the materials look and feel a bit cheaper, they’re holding up well.

Check for any signs of accident repairs, but note that differences in paint between the bumpers and the bodywork are not uncommon and don’t necessarily mean the car’s had a respray.

Ensure the electrics all work, including the air con, if fitted.

Underneath, the structure was beefed-up, the suspension lowered and stiffened. The mini-mpv looks that earned this CTR its ‘ breadvan’ nickname weren’t universally admired, though the subtle bodykit, Recaro-style bucket seats, thin-spoked 17inch alloys and sprinkling of Type R graphics upped the want-one factor.

In fact, in our initial Driven ( evo 035, September 2001) we were a little lukewarm about the new hot Honda, Richard Meaden declaring that the chassis ‘lacked sparkle’. Truth was, we were still in awe of the DC2 Integra Type R, one of the all-time greats, and the Swindon-built Civic wasn’t quite in that league. But at £15,995 it was conspicuously good value and was soon attracting a strong following.

Even better was to come with the facelifted version introduced at the end of 2003. The styling tweaks, which included triple projector headlamps, a new front spoiler and a larger H badge on the grille, were only part of the story. A lighter flywheel and clutch assembly improved throttle response, while stiffer mounts for steering and suspension, recalibrated springs, dampers and anti-roll bars and a new variable-ratio steering rack all helped sharpen the handling. The 0- 62mph dash was cut to 6.6sec.

A couple of special editions to be aware of: the pre-facelift 30th Anniversary (celebrating the Civic’s 30th birthday) and the post-facelift run-out Premier Edition. Both came with some tasty extra kit, including genuine Recaros, air con as standard and a Momo steering wheel. You might also come across JDM cars. These featured uprated engine internals, freer breathing, different gear ratios and a limited-slip diff, along with the Recaros and Momo, but they’re rare and hence a chunk more money.

The EP3 CTR has sustained a strong following – there’s a vibrant tuning and trackday scene and a supportive online community – with good reason: