To Type R or not to Type R?

Post by **RattyMcClelland** » Sat Dec 29, 2012 4:38 pm

secla wrote:ive just got an ep3. 100k full service history 53 plate 2700.

Bargain. Never realized they were so cheap now. Ek9s, Dc5 and DC2 seem to keep their price.

mercutio · Post by **mercutio** » Sat Dec 29, 2012 4:53 pm

RattyMcClelland wrote:
secla wrote:ive just got an ep3. 100k full service history 53 plate 2700.
Bargain. Never realized they were so cheap now. Ek9s, Dc5 and DC2 seem to keep their price.

thats because the eu keeps adding to its list of things a car has to be/do and it has watered down the rawness of the original type r's or any other hot car the new golf gti's are not a lot quicker if at all than the original!! and people realise what are going to be classic raw sports saloons,coupes,hatches.

secla · Post by **secla** » Sat Dec 29, 2012 4:53 pm

yeh ep3s havnt held there price so well

a bit less focussed and a little more refined + theres so many of them about making it a buyers market

bennyboy · Post by **bennyboy** » Sat Dec 29, 2012 5:18 pm

Also, the EP3 was one of the 'Type R for the masses' - ie air con, practical etc and was only about £15k odd new, therefore very accessible and sold very very well. Built in Swindon, not Japan. EK9 is a bit more cult classic/overrated/overpriced IMHO. At the end of the day it's a torque-less tiny engine you have to rev the absolute tits off in a very ordinary, albeit tweaked, hatchback. You are paying for the heritage of it all.

I do like EP3's for what they are, a capable well specced practical car in the 200 odd bhp bracket, and for the money they are fantastic, it's just whether it suits you, but then that's the same for any car at all and it's why I spent the same as a ten-year-old-bushes-starting-to-go-so-dont-kid-yourself S2000 on my 18 year old Lude. No regrets.

macky_6 · Post by **macky_6** » Tue Jan 01, 2013 2:26 pm

The answer to this question is simple- go find an example of all the cars mentioned above and take one for a test drive

We can debate endlessly on here which is best, but only you will know what you prefer. £4000 is a lot of cash and i know i would be a lot happier knowing i made the right choice

nitin_s1 · Post by **nitin_s1** » Tue Jan 01, 2013 6:34 pm

My Type-S has reached 170,000Km.

chrismc · Post by **chrismc** » Tue Jan 01, 2013 10:19 pm

bennyboy wrote:Also, the EP3 was one of the 'Type R for the masses' - ie air con, practical etc and was only about £15k odd new, therefore very accessible and sold very very well. Built in Swindon, not Japan. EK9 is a bit more cult classic/overrated/overpriced IMHO. At the end of the day it's a torque-less tiny engine you have to rev the absolute tits off in a very ordinary, albeit tweaked, hatchback. You are paying for the heritage of it all.

I do like EP3's for what they are, a capable well specced practical car in the 200 odd bhp bracket, and for the money they are fantastic, it's just whether it suits you, but then that's the same for any car at all and it's why I spent the same as a ten-year-old-bushes-starting-to-go-so-dont-kid-yourself S2000 on my 18 year old Lude. No regrets.

...but then have you ever driven a fresh EK9 (or DC2)? Different league as a drivers car compared to an EP3

lxstuart · Post by **lxstuart** » Wed Jan 02, 2013 3:20 pm

I had an EP3 a few years back.
I honestly can't fault the car, it was a capable car, handled well, was quick, and practical.

But I found it boring.

It had the same problem most newer cars suffer from.
They just dont have any soul.

I sold it eventually, in favour of a Del Sol.

cantaffordannsx · Post by **cantaffordannsx** » Thu Jan 03, 2013 9:07 am

Hi,
If you do like the look of them - buy one!
If you don't you will only be wondering.

My friend loved his, lived on outskirts of London so insurance was highish bit crashy and not so great on long commutes but hey - he had it for 4 years & v happy.

chrismc · Post by **chrismc** » Thu Jan 03, 2013 1:48 pm

newkid wrote:
chrismc wrote:
bennyboy wrote:Also, the EP3 was one of the 'Type R for the masses' - ie air con, practical etc and was only about £15k odd new, therefore very accessible and sold very very well. Built in Swindon, not Japan. EK9 is a bit more cult classic/overrated/overpriced IMHO. At the end of the day it's a torque-less tiny engine you have to rev the absolute tits off in a very ordinary, albeit tweaked, hatchback. You are paying for the heritage of it all.

I do like EP3's for what they are, a capable well specced practical car in the 200 odd bhp bracket, and for the money they are fantastic, it's just whether it suits you, but then that's the same for any car at all and it's why I spent the same as a ten-year-old-bushes-starting-to-go-so-dont-kid-yourself S2000 on my 18 year old Lude. No regrets.
...but then have you ever driven a fresh EK9 (or DC2)? Different league as a drivers car compared to an EP3
Agree with Chris im afraid, the EK9 and DC2 are extremely capable cars, Chris i beleive has owned both, i've owned the DC2 and as much as it pains me to say it but the DC2 would run rings around the lude and of the 2 EP3's that did have a try didnt try for very long.

Have driven EK9s/EP3 & owned a DC2 & ATR

The dc2 was the pick of the bunch for me. Most focussed & a very special drive

Next to nothing in it in a straight line between both Civics & the Integra. More weight in the EP3, but more power & an extra gear.

What the B series engined cars might lack in ultimate power/torque they make up for with such character & the way they handle

As has been mentioned, the EP3 bought the type r badge to the masses, but a true thoroughbred it isn't.

No slip diff on the UK models, macpherson struts rather than double wishbones on the dc2 etc etc. This isn't to say its a poor car by any means, but really does highlight just what fantastic cars the previous generation Type-R's were & are...

I deeply regret parting company with my ITR (expanding family) & would dearly love another one day