EP3 questions

[CleanNeon98]

So its that time again. Owned the civic for almost a year, and im already bored with its lack of power, among other things. Its a great daily driver, but im looking for something with a bit more kick to it. Maybe some owners can help me with this

MPG
VTEC (on some cars it kicks in LOUD), and on some you really cant hear it at all
Reliability
Responsiveness to mods (intake, exhaust, etc.)
Comfort
Handling
SNOW DRIVING

Id be looking for a DD that isnt a back breaker with a super tight suspension, but something that can perform well when I want it to (something my civic lacks VERY much)

Words of wisdom apretiated. Im looking into a newer car during the upcoming fall or winter (sell the civic, and have money left to pay the difference, maybe finance a bit but not a whole lot). SRT fell out of the question because of what I heard about its lack of snow capability. I figure if I sell the civic for 6k, have another 4 to pay difference, I can borrow 2-4 more thousand from parents, or finance it and start learning to pay bills and such

[awdriver]

so you plan on paying 4 and borrowing 4 i was in the same boat. i wanted more power . the si had i,h,e and still wasn't that fast (15.1) so i put my 7k into awd 4g63 and i love every minute of driving it . It kicks ass in the snow, its got a rebuilt engine and i take it to the track for fun.Its first time out on the stock turbo it whent 12.9. After i got the ep i swore i wouldn't get a new car again too much debt and big payments and full coverage. the talon is payed for and the ep has 12 months left on a 6 year loan. good luck with your decision.

[awdriver]

ep3 mpg around 26 as far as vtec you cant hear it kick in but it has a way fatter power curve compared to th 99 si my nieghbor has one and my ep is just a half a car faster it has torque at low rpms. Reliability the car has been great, it has taken a ass wuppin 40 passes at the track 3 autox's placed 2nd in the last one. all that i have replaced is the pads twice with ebc and i killed the clutch at 60k but know she is retired and i take it easy on her As for bolt ons when i first got it it ran 16.1 i,e =15.6 Header/test pipe 15.1@91 Comfort is great the seats are nicer than most cars and it goes ok in the snow i have put 93K on my ep and it has been good to me.

[CHR!S]

the newer civic's and rsx's front suspension is imo the worst thing about them. my uncle bought an ep3 for a daily driver and i have driven it before. the motor is the same motor that is in the base model rsx.there is no real rediculous vtec crossover, since its the i-vtec-e motor.
the motor isnt that great for modding, but you can easily find a totalled rsx-s and swap the motor in. you can also use the 5-lug conversion as well, giving you the larger brakes as well.
as far as handling goes, i was disappointed when i drove it with the stock suspension. i thought that it being an si was an overstatement, there wasnt anything really sporty about the suspension (but that was coming from someone who was used to driving a car with track ready suspension everyday). that isnt anything that coilovers can change, but they are a bit more money compared to lowering springs.

[Nors]

02 RSX or GSR.

[sisforsurfing]

A reminder that it doesn't have VTEC for power (the high-lift part, which is what people like about VTEC.) It's just for economy, so there is no high-RPM VTEC crossover.

One of my good friends has one. He's not that into cars and it suits him just fine... he can beat on it and still get good mileage, the seats are very nice (the high point of the car for me), and it's reliable as any car will be.
They're very economical cars, and if you're looking for power, it'll definitely be faster than what you drive currently. But I can see you getting bored of it quickly...

[CleanNeon98]

Originally Posted by sisforsurfing

A reminder that it doesn't have VTEC for power (the high-lift part, which is what people like about VTEC.) It's just for economy, so there is no high-RPM VTEC crossover.

One of my good friends has one. He's not that into cars and it suits him just fine... he can beat on it and still get good mileage, the seats are very nice (the high point of the car for me), and it's reliable as any car will be.
They're very economical cars, and if you're looking for power, it'll definitely be faster than what you drive currently. But I can see you getting bored of it quickly...

There lies the problem. With an srt-4, i can just upgrade bits and piece to make it faster..i dont have to spend thousands to turbo it, but a few hundred here and there to give it more pep. the srt-4 i hear isnt very good in snow, so it would require a seperate set of tires for the winter time, and i do not know how it will hold up with increased miles. then again with the ep3 I will get tired of it. after BCCC (when i go to abington) il probbably make the change over, and since abington is 10 minutes from me, i wont be racking miles on the srt like crazy, but still I trust Honda more than dodge. I hate this situation!

[sisforsurfing]

Honestly, the Honda isn't going to exactly conquer the snow either. And if you're spending over $10k on a car, what's another $500 on a set of brand new snow tires that will last you two seasons... especially when you consider it evens out in the long run, since you're not wearing your summer tires when they sit in your garage.

Not that I'm crazy about the SRT either, but here's what you do... go test drive both cars. The internet is good for asking people's opinions, but real life is a lot better when you're deciding between two cars. Go see them in person, feel out the interior, transmission, engine, suspension... all things the internet can tell you, but you'll be actually able to decide in person.

[CleanNeon98]

Originally Posted by sisforsurfing

Honestly, the Honda isn't going to exactly conquer the snow either. And if you're spending over $10k on a car, what's another $500 on a set of brand new snow tires that will last you two seasons... especially when you consider it evens out in the long run, since you're not wearing your summer tires when they sit in your garage.

Not that I'm crazy about the SRT either, but here's what you do... go test drive both cars. The internet is good for asking people's opinions, but real life is a lot better when you're deciding between two cars. Go see them in person, feel out the interior, transmission, engine, suspension... all things the internet can tell you, but you'll be actually able to decide in person.

Yep. Then there is always the STi which I hear nothing but good things about. if not that, then just a WRX. it has good power, and with AWD seems to be more controllable and more refined than the srt as far as interior and styling and engineering. il have a LOT of options when the time comes, so for now I am just trying to narrow down my list so when the day comes Im not running around looking at 50 different makes and models.

[dubjinc]

especially with that $30,000 price tag.

[dubjinc]

Not to mention you will pay a premium for any respected performance part for either the WRX or the STI. And then theres insurance.

[CHR!S]

Originally Posted by dubjinc

Not to mention you will pay a premium for any respected performance part for either the WRX or the STI. And then theres insurance.

this is true, but parts for the ep3's and rsx's alike arent as cheap as parts for any previous chassis civic/integra. insurance for an ep3 or an rsx (base or type-s) wont be nearly as much as much as an sti though, theats comparing apples to oranges (200hp n/a fwd hatchback vs about 300hp turbo awd sedan)

for what your looking for and for a not-so-bank-breaking price, i would suggest a 94-01 integra.

[Danronian]

Yes sir.

Find yourself a newer GSR and enjoy nice power, comfort, and super-easy bolt-on-ability. Simply add on a supercharger, turbo, or some type of cams and valvetrain work, and you'll be breaking out of the 14s (in the 1/4 mile) quickly.

Integras (3rd gens at least) are wonderful in the snow from my personal experience. I invested in a set of snow tires and my car never got stuck, even when it was two inches from the ground, plowing through snow banks left from the plows.

[Danronian]

or finance it and start learning to pay bills and such

Oh god. Don't get into that habit. Simply buy yourself a $4k CLEAN integra LS and be happy until you save some money. Swapping in a low-mile GSR a few years later, when you have the money, will make the car run forever and just that much more fun to drive (just avoid the lsd version for snow travel).

But since you have limited mechanical experience and a limited budget, I'd look for something with around 120k on it, with good brakes, good axles, and a changed timing belt, that is clean, "rice free," and that looks like it was taken care of. A clean, unabused car with 120k on it will last twice as long as an abused and not kept up with car that has 40k on it. I purposely make the mistake of buying abused and cheap cars, but I know what I'm getting myself into. If I bought the cars I do and couldn't work on them myself, I'd be broke as fack.

[CleanNeon98]

yea im not into that whole swapping and buying old cars deal. i dont track my cars, but i do want some pep in the city while driving, as well as the ability to be able to beat some people. comfort is a big deal, and so is reliability and MPG...part of the reason im going to take a look and test drive the new Si tomorrow.

[CHR!S]

Originally Posted by CleanNeon98

yea im not into that whole swapping and buying old cars deal. i dont track my cars, but i do want some pep in the city while driving, as well as the ability to be able to beat some people. comfort is a big deal, and so is reliability and MPG...part of the reason im going to take a look and test drive the new Si tomorrow.

any car will be old in time, whats it matter? if you got a 98-01 integra ls, got some h&r race springs, tokico shocks, and a turbo kit. you will still have reliability, still get good gas mileage (as long as you dont drive like a complete dick) and have a quick car for cheap. any honda you buy, as long as it hasnt been beaten and has been well maintained, will last.

[CleanNeon98]

Originally Posted by CHR!S

any car will be old in time, whats it matter? if you got a 98-01 integra ls, got some h&r race springs, tokico shocks, and a turbo kit. you will still have reliability, still get good gas mileage (as long as you dont drive like a complete dick) and have a quick car for cheap. any honda you buy, as long as it hasnt been beaten and has been well maintained, will last.

A turbo integra is a LOT more likely to be stolen than an EP3 with an intake, exhaust, and some other little mods

[CleanNeon98]

For me its basically between a few cars

Honda 07 Si sedan
Honda 04/05 Si hatch
Mini Cooper S Supercharged
Acura RSX Type-S
BMW (any model)
Neon SRT-4
Impreza
Chervolet Cobalt SS Supercharged
Ford Focus SVT (roush if I ever find one)
Brabus Smart (they are kickass)

These would all have to be 5-speed models (BMW as well)
LOT of choices that I want to narrow down, and there are a few more id be interested in...just dont pop into my head right now

[CHR!S]

rsx-s isnt 5-speed,neither is the cooper s (i believe). did you mean manual?

how much are you looking to spend on a car? i might be getting rid of my type-s if your interested

[CleanNeon98]

Originally Posted by CHR!S

rsx-s isnt 5-speed,neither is the cooper s (i believe). did you mean manual?

how much are you looking to spend on a car? i might be getting rid of my type-s if your interested

Yes I meant manual lol. Im so used to calling it a 5-speed...i call my parents that they drive a bore-o-matic (auto)