not sure if this is a TECHNICAL post but i wanted to hear it straight form ep3 owners.

anythings to look out for?
are the engines exactly the same for the 03 and 04/05? other than 5 lugs for the newer?

ive never driven an ep3 but i heard vtec kicks in around 2700?! is that even possible? and theres little to no VTEC kick?

PS: I DO LOVE the EP3 though

 

the i-vtec system in the si is for fuel conservation. like what you see in the d16 engines with vtec. it's not geared towards performance like the rsx type-s is.

look at the topics below this one and you'll find a bunch of other people asking the same question as you.

 

thanks for the info. i checked and most owners hate the "synchros" withthe tranny? what does this mean? less play with the gears?

 

v tec dont kick in until 6000rpm for ep3. its posible for vtec to kick in at 2700rpm if they have vtec controller

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BB1LOViN &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">thanks for the info. i checked and most owners hate the "synchros" withthe tranny? what does this mean? less play with the gears?</TD></TR></TABLE>

It means you'll grind the 1-2 shift every single time at WOT.

 

ohhh so does that mean you only have 500 rpm of VTEC? since it redlines at 6500?

 

ohh so its mainly 1-2nd or all throguh 5th? ive read from other people's experiencese too.

thanks you all have been helpfull. just wondering do u guys own ep3s too?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by wishbear &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">v tec dont kick in until 6000rpm for ep3. its posible for vtec to kick in at 2700rpm if they have vtec controller</TD></TR></TABLE>

What!? With your response you should be Banned from Honda-Tech...Your response makes you sound like a FORD or CHEVY person...Double check your answer and come back to post...It has been post over and over...EP3 with K20A3 vtec kicks at 2200 rpm not 6000rpm...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BB1LOViN &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">ohh so its mainly 1-2nd or all throguh 5th? ive read from other people's experiencese too.

thanks you all have been helpfull. just wondering do u guys own ep3s too?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah, I own a 03 EP...gears that you should watch out for is 2nd mostly...Sometimes I have minor problems with 1st & Reverse but hardly anymore after I changed the tranny fluid...

 

yeah my second gear has always been a little hard to slip into as well...'03 ep3

 

ohh so its similar to my BB1 these suckers usuall have a problem slipping into 1st and REVERSE always grinds unless youre at a FULL STOP

and about the vtec kick at 2200rpm, so theres no "KICK" when vtec engages?

broad question but. any specifics onwhats the top speed a stock EP3 tops out at?

 

so if you shift from 1st-2nd at WOT it always grinds?

 

My 02 hardly ever grinds second. And I drive like an idiot.

 

any opinions on which would be a better track car/auto x?of course mods will always help but im just comparing a stock ep3 vs. a BASE rsx.?

i know the RSX type s has the k20a2 but can the ep3 campare with it as well?

 

If you're deciding between an EP3 and a Base RSX, get the EP3. It's much more fun to drive, and has a bit better numbers to boot.

I, of course, am biased towards the Type-S, but if you have an opportunity, go for the Type-S. Stock for stock, the others aren't even in the same ballpark as the k20a2. I had an EP3 before my current Type-S, and I wish I would have had the k20a2 all along.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by wishbear &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">v tec dont kick in until 6000rpm for ep3. its posible for vtec to kick in at 2700rpm if they have vtec controller</TD></TR></TABLE> You have absolutely no idea what the f*ck you are talking about, I-VTEC doesn't engage at 600RPM!!! I-VTEC engages at 2200 RPM on the 2002-2005 Honda Civic Si's. These are not the Type R's off of you GT4 game!


Anyway there is no gay "VTEC" kick, just a constant stream of torque and power to redline. Power transitions are super smooth from the K20a3. Don't waste money on gay VTEC controllers, they will do you no good. If you want to aim for performance, save up $1000 for KPRO! AEM EMS is no good for the Si's no matter what people say. If you need to know more info on the EP3's go to ephatch.com.

 

The EP3 is a fun car hands down! I love this thing it's super addictive once you are rid of the stock suspension, and when you add a LSD and KPRO! I have no grinding issues with my transmission what so ever, and i race auto-x and circuit regularly.

If you are going to drag race, either expect to put a turbo on it instantly or look for a faster car on the straits. The car is slow when it comes to dragging. Other than that good luck with the buy!

 

from all ive learned/ was told

im deciding on a RSX TYPE-S IF I CAN AFFORD IT

but if its between a rsx BASe vs ep3 im thinking ep3. mainly all ill be doing to the car is all out asuspension setup minor + bolt ons.

idk much about ECUs so how does the hondata K PRO work?is it just plug in or would i need some expensive hardware etc to program it? once installed is everything PRE SET? higher REDLINE?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BB1LOViN &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">from all ive learned/ was told

im deciding on a RSX TYPE-S IF I CAN AFFORD IT

but if its between a rsx BASe vs ep3 im thinking ep3. mainly all ill be doing to the car is all out asuspension setup minor + bolt ons.

idk much about ECUs so how does the hondata K PRO work?is it just plug in or would i need some expensive hardware etc to program it? once installed is everything PRE SET? higher REDLINE? </TD></TR></TABLE>KPRO is a plug and play unit. It's the only thing to use when it comes to tuning the k-series. Although you may hear many people say that the AEM EMS is the same, it isn't. You send out the stock ECU to hondata and they send it back to you with KPRO installed. Then you install one of their calibrations for your setup on and go. It's always better to get it personally tuned at a shop that has experience with KPRO.

If you want a car that you'll never want to get rid of go with the EP3! You can always swap later on, but the car itself is the SH*T! I'll never sell mine! NEVER! Don't get scared because it's underpowered, you don't need a lot of power to have fun in a car. When you can master your car at low HP and TQ you will be much faster in the long run!

 

great its plug and play.so other than the ability to adjust my ecu what gains do get with the KPRO.would there be any difference even if my car is stock?


+ i get what you mean about how power isnt all that matters..its how you drive it.

 

I have heard of up to a 15WHP gain by adding just K-PRO to a stock k20a2. I've also heard that this destroys fuel economy.

 

:X DESTROYS?! any info on how much exactly? the stock ep3 gets about 26(city)/30(hwy) stock. i dont mind losing a little mpg for performance but id hate to have it like my BB1 16mpg if i push it. 18.5 if im being conservative.

 

If your doing just bolt ons and that is it you can do just the reflash from hondata. I prefer it to k-pro. K-pro $1,000 and then you have to get it tuned by a pro... Est. expense for tune $300 to 400. Reflash is built just for bolts on and it is ready to go for about $500. And it is a vast improvement over stock with bolt ons of course! So if your just doing bolt ons K-pro is over kill. But if you see boost or swap in the future bit the bullet an get K-pro.

I love my EP... just like someone else said I will never get rid of it (well maybe, LOL). RSX type S is awesome for speed but the EP has way more character!

PS... the grinding in trans is common but I have had no trouble!

 

great thats more of what im looking for because i wasnt planning on going crazy with boost etc and it fits my budget better. but whatsup with this

"We suspect there is something not quite right. With a CAI, Flash and headers it made the same or less power than a stock Civic Si with flash under 5500 rpm."

quoted from the site. so i guess id loose low end torque?

 

I personally don't know, but I will tell you reflash is better than the stock ECU with bolt-ons hands down!