Ok....I'm getting into the market to buy a ep3. But have a couple of Q's since I have never owned any civic newer than 00. Are all the EP3 the same from 01-05? Are there any diffirences just like the 96-00 civics? Which year is the best? Thanx in advance for any input that can help me choose the righrt car. On a side note: is the damm stick shift position hard to get used to?

 

haha hear is your first problem this is a non-si fourm you need to go hear https://honda-tech.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=32

 

The shifting position is awesome and comfy imo. Before anyone tells you anything, go drive one. Stock height is annoying so plan on buying some coilovers or springs and struts. Other than that, it gets good mpg and looks great slammed with hid's and a replica R wing

 

I just got one about 4 months ago and absolutely love it. The shifter is awesome, and the interior is great, so much back seat room. 5 speed is so much fun and it does get good gas mpg's. Seriously though, test driving is the only way you'll know for sure, and plan on lowering it cause i got teased about owning a minivan when i first got it. it's all good though cause the jokes stopped when I took them for a drive

 

02-03 4lugs, different headlights, taillights, no sideskirts
04-05 5lugs, different headlights, taillights, with sideskirts

 

Fixed.

 

No cam galling probems??? Wth? I don't get it? So on your guys opinion which year looks best? Cuz I've seen some I like but I had no idea what year they were.

 

I like my 02 and will be swapping over to the 5 lug. Like stated above, they a pretty identical other than simple things like head/taillights (the 03-05 headlights got kind of a wierd bubble shape to them). Overall though EP's are great, and the minvan joke is way played out...

 

04 05 would be your best bet, and this is coming from an 02 owner. none are bad, just 5 lugs and sideskirts stock is nice. and i hear something about the 02 03 third gear grind, never experienced it but it supposed to be fixed too?

 

Yeah, mine has been grinding going into 3rd for about 4-5 years, but shes still running. I'll probly spend some of this years deployment money to get it fixed when I get back though, it is kind of annoying!!!

 

Thats weird cause i've never grinded ever going into third. maybe the previous owner had it fixed. Was there a recall for it?

OP: Just test out third gear and make sure it doesn't grind

 

The 2-3rd gear grind is only a problem on the 6spd transmissions. The 5spd transmissions are bullet proof (provided you know how to shift properly ).

The 02-03 models have a problem with the cams getting pitted/galled from poor quality castings. This causes driveability and performance problems in higher mileage cars because the pitting gets worse over time. The 04-05 models are not supposed to have this issue.

Check out ephatch.com

 

If it isn't to much to ask.... Anyone got pics of some ep3's where I can see the diffirences? TIA

 

heres my pretty much stock EP: its an 02




you can see in these shots the h4 headlights (one bulb), the Red tailights (clear on 04 05), the lack of sideskirts and the lame 15" 4 lug wheels

 

Headlights 1 bulb? What exactly does that mean? And as for 4 lug or 5 lug makes no diffirence to me. I really don't know what's the point about that. Is one better than the other? And thanks for posting your car. Sorry for all the Q's but like I said... Never had anything but eg's and ek's. But I love the ep3 hatches. And now that my ek was stolen and gone, I now plan to buy the car I've wanted for the longest. The si hatch.(EP3)

 

One is not better then the other its just preference!

I have an 02 and I prefer the headlights on the 04-05 so I'm going to swap them... but the back lights on the 02 most ppl prefer them over the 04-05 and they all get them.. so ya its all about preference!

 

Well then I guess one can do vice versa. If I were to get a 02-03 I can add the sideskirts and headlights right? The only thing that worries me is that cam issue. Can this be prevented somehow? Like replacing the cam with one from a 04-05 or maybe even a other type of cams?(Skunk2) for example?

 

Aftermarket cams in the A3 are generally going to require valvetrain upgrades as well, along with tuning (generally meaning you have to buy k-pro). I have 125xxx miles on my 02 SI, and haven't had any cam problems. I'm sure at some point, you'll get like the rest of us and either want to boost (where you can upgrade to turbo cams), or swap the engine all together. I love my car, even with the subpar A3. Fun, quick, looks nice...great to drive every day. Personally, if I could get an 02-03 with the same miles for less money, I would just take the difference and fix what you don't like about it...making it more of your own.

EDIT* : yes you can add sideskirts, and whatever headlights / tailights you prefer. CTR knock off sideskirts and lip kits are getting even less expensive these days. The only thing I've found that I was displeased at was that they only sale the HFP lip kits for the 04-05...unless I'm mistaken.

 

Ok...here comes the "stupid question". I had a ek with a gsr swap with bolt ons and to me that car was the ****. Will the ep hatch see the same response as my gsr? With bolt ons and all? Or will it be slower than what I already had? Sorry but its just I'm so used to my old ek that I don't want a turtle again.LoL.

 

^^ The Ep is unique, and it is going to be slower than your modded gsr, basically the Ep should have come with the A2 instead of the A3, but it didn't so if your going to keep the A3 in it then you probably wanna turbo/supercharge it. Or you could swap in the A2....


Thats not true, I know several ppl with 02 model Si's including myself, and most of them have had/still have grinding problems with the tranny. I know mine has been like that since I've had it, although I cannot say what the previous owner did shifting wise, but the rest of the car was in great shape.

 

What?? I tought K20 would be better than a B18? A2 or A3? What's the diffirence between them?

 

The k20a3 only has 160hp.The A3 doesn't have "true" vtec like the a2.It's only got vtec on the intake side I believe.

 

For the cam issue the problem was using the 5w20 weight of oil... just use 5w30 or higher you wont have the cam problem anymore...

The EP3 is unique and fun to drive probably more the your GSR... being fast isn't everything when it comes to having fun behind the wheel! You'll love the short gearing on the EP3!

 

Well as far as a K20a2 is from what car? And how much hp diffirence is it? I'm guessing I can keep my old tranny on it right? Or no?! I should be getting my ep3 in the next 2 months. So I'm really looking foward to as what upgrades I can do both cosmetic, engine and suspension wise.

 

The K20A2 comes in the rsx type-s 02-04 models, then they switched it out for the K20Z1. Its roughly 40 hp and 4 Tq. difference. If you haven't bought the car yet. I would suggest not. A close friend of mine had the ep3 first, traded it in and got the type s. I've driven both pretty extensively. Stock and modded. You're going to be disappointed with the power of the K20A3. There is not distinctive VTEC like your gsr motor had, it's an "economical" VTEC. Yeah Honda dropped the ball on that one. However I don't mind the look of a cleanly done Ep3 hatch, they're relatively clean.

Also it was the 04-05 and we still had small grinding issues.