I like the 02-05 civic si, do thieves?

I had to reply to this post because I've debated on getting one for years. I love these cars. They seem to be a great daily, reliable touring car with a decent boot in the back. My brother had one and it's one car he misses. Engine was smooth and quite. Drove it on a 6 hour round trip once and and the seats were great I thought, unlike his previous 1999 prelude. Like most people have said, one of the least favorite civic's among theives and tuners. Looks great with the type-r look. Top gear did a test on the Type-R and loved it, especially handling. I've heard the Si has the same suspension tuning, just smaller tires. Anyway, a great daily car as is, but not aggresive. By the way, my Crx Si will turn 180,000 today, run's like a top.

This is the Ep3 I would like: http://www.hondatuningmagazine.com/features/0308ht_honda_civic_type_r/index.html

One other thing I'll add is that this car is something a little different for a Civic, which makes it a little more enjoyable for me.

The gearstick, of course

The only US Civic to be produced in England

It doesn't share a body panel, light fixture, or otherwise with any other US body style Civic (except maybe the doors). I like having a car when the biggest question I get from repair shops and Honda dealers alike is "What is it?"

At <50,000 imported to the US, it's relatively uncommon for a US Civic

I am a former ep owner that has since switched to the smarter world (domestic). But I can't help to laugh about comparing two underpowered cars.

Celica gt-s -- isn't that 180 crank hp with 20 crank torque? That with it's awesome transmission gets a whooping 30 mpg on the interstate. Hell my 400 wheel hp camaro got 29 with a 6 speed.

Does it handle better, yes sure it does. Is it faster in a straight line. Really a toss up. Better at turns? Yes. Looks like somebody at toyota got drunk and designed the exterior, yes. Along with that, the interior feels like it was pieced together with leftover gm parts (Yes that E36 M3ty of a feeling).

As a dedicated track car, why even talk about these two cars. As a DD I would take the ep hands down. It will be cheaper to buy, cheaper to insure, and cheaper on gas. Along with plenty of interior room and easy to mount a bike rack on it.

If you want .01% more performance out of a dd sure get the celica but honestly is the sacrifice in ride comfort and a high reving lack luster car worth it?

The newer gt-s , toyota really dropped the ball on. Honda also dropped the ball on the ep3 but not nearly as bad. They kept it on par with performance of the previous gen si at least. What ever happened to good ole' toyota with the awd celica that actually was appealing to the eyes?

Hell goto the middle ground, get a focus svt. Handling is great, ride is decent, and gets about the same as the gt-s if I am not mistaken. Along with that you can still mount whatever you want to it. I have had an ep3, driven a few gt-s, and owned a focus svt. I enjoyed the ep most, the focus svt an easy second, and would enjoy running the celica off the nearest cliff. It is sad when Fords interior is on par with Toyotas.

Going to see a 1 owner/bone-stock/all receipts 43k mile 2005 EP3, only thing is he's asking $11,800

It's in immaculate shape, hopefully I can get him down 1k to blue-book value...

kenscivic wrote: I am a former ep owner that has since switched to the smarter world (domestic). But I can't help to laugh about comparing two underpowered cars.

Sorry couldn't help myself.

Matt B wrote:

kenscivic wrote: I am a former ep owner that has since switched to the smarter world (domestic). But I can't help to laugh about comparing two underpowered cars.

Sorry couldn't help myslef.

Lmao, it's all good. There are fast imports and fast domestics. I chose the drag racing cheaper route. Imports have some of the best motors out there, they just don't sound as purrty as a nice big ole' v8 with a cam

Po-ta-to Po-ta-to Po-ta-to.

At one time I did check out the mazda 3s, pretty nifty little car there too. P.s: threadstarter, I know somebody selling a 2003 vivid blue pearl Civic Si with under 100k miles for 6500$.. He bought a trailblazer ss and really has no use for it. Clear title and all.

paul wrote: Going to see a 1 owner/bone-stock/all receipts 43k mile 2005 EP3, only thing is he's asking $11,800 It's in immaculate shape, hopefully I can get him down 1k to blue-book value...

Anyone have input on that price?

Assuming I get him $500 above bluebook, would it be worth it?...

Mine was $15,000 3 years ago and it was perfect with 24,000 miles. That was a full 1k under KBB. Somewhere around 11 sounds fine to me for the newest, unmolested example with low miles. 10 would definitely be a great price.

Awesome, thanks for the input!

Well, the GRM guys really liked the EP3 and they're pretty smart so it must be a good car!

I have one (02 Model) and it's both a wonderful car and a turd in stock form... (Type-R's excluded) If you just want a nice grocery getter and don't plan to do any sort of motorsport it's a great car. If you want handling or power it's not pretty.

HOWEVER, the EP3 is very easy to change - for the better. Consider that the chassis is really that of an RSX. So for handling all you need to get a good start is tires and a rear sway. Once installed it's much better. Throw on a $600 HFP suspension and it's fantastic. Motor needs boost or swap.

My EP3 has been a labor of love and the car is just fabulous - K24a2 (TSX Motor), DC5-R LSD, HFP Suspension, Kpro blah blah... Better than a Type-R and it rocks for autocross. I love it because people are always surprised how well it does on the Solo II scene. Fairly comfortable as well.

The car weighs in at 2750 so it's not heavy and with a good motor swap can be a delight. Reliability is typical Honda so maintenance costs are low.

Try it and you'll be hooked. Especially once you get on ephatch.com

MCarp22 wrote: Do you guys live in a world where the celica didn't come with the "Action Package" or something?

SWEET!!!

Out of curiosity, I just went to ephatch dot com and got an animated banner ad for the this-weekend-only Toyota red tag sale. I have no problem with banner ads (sites have to be paid for somehow) but putting a Toyota ad on a Honda enthusiast site kind of communicates that Toyota's marketing people are desperate, stupid, have way too much cash, or all of the above.

Sorry to thread jack.

The ads come from a different company that just knows ephatch is a car site, so all the car ads get thrown in the mix. I think. I've seen a Seat ad on there before.

kenscivic wrote: I am a former ep owner that has since switched to the smarter world (domestic). But I can't help to laugh about comparing two underpowered cars. Celica gt-s -- isn't that 180 crank hp with 20 crank torque? That with it's awesome transmission gets a whooping 30 mpg on the interstate. Hell my 400 wheel hp camaro got 29 with a 6 speed. Does it handle better, yes sure it does. Is it faster in a straight line. Really a toss up. Better at turns? Yes. Looks like somebody at toyota got drunk and designed the exterior, yes. Along with that, the interior feels like it was pieced together with leftover gm parts (Yes that E36 M3ty of a feeling). As a dedicated track car, why even talk about these two cars. As a DD I would take the ep hands down. It will be cheaper to buy, cheaper to insure, and cheaper on gas. Along with plenty of interior room and easy to mount a bike rack on it. If you want .01% more performance out of a dd sure get the celica but honestly is the sacrifice in ride comfort and a high reving lack luster car worth it? The newer gt-s , toyota really dropped the ball on. Honda also dropped the ball on the ep3 but not nearly as bad. They kept it on par with performance of the previous gen si at least. What ever happened to good ole' toyota with the awd celica that actually was appealing to the eyes? Hell goto the middle ground, get a focus svt. Handling is great, ride is decent, and gets about the same as the gt-s if I am not mistaken. Along with that you can still mount whatever you want to it. I have had an ep3, driven a few gt-s, and owned a focus svt. I enjoyed the ep most, the focus svt an easy second, and would enjoy running the celica off the nearest cliff. It is sad when Fords interior is on par with Toyotas.

Faster in a straight line a toss-up? I see stock Ep3s struggling to get into the 15s. I've driven a GTS to a 14.812.

As for the rest... i lol'd.

U MAD?

But really. I mean this in fun. Choose what you want. But personally? Considering that i've had no problems embarrasing EP3s in the Escort and the Celica (both with stock motors), i'm less than impressed with them. For the price, the looks, the performance, the interior (though the seats are awesome), really... everything.

*Note: The more powerful of the two cars i reference, the Celica, makes a whopping 135 crank HP. Or it did at least. 19 years ago when it rolled off the assembly line.

93celicaGT2 wrote: Faster in a straight line a toss-up? I see stock Ep3s struggling to get into the 15s. I've driven a GTS to a 14.812. As for the rest... i lol'd. U MAD? But really. I mean this in fun. Choose what you want. But personally? Considering that i've had no problems embarrasing EP3s in the Escort and the Celica (both with stock motors), i'm less than impressed with them. For the price, the looks, the performance, the interior (though the seats are awesome), really... everything. *Note: The more powerful of the two cars i reference, the Celica, makes a whopping 135 crank HP. Or it did at least. 19 years ago when it rolled off the assembly line.

Stock eps are rated around mid 15s in the 1/4 stock, some have gone lower some have gone higher. Some folks toss on drag radials with i/h/e and run mid 14s. Not too shabby for a slow fwd 4 banger.. The all tracs had 190 hp 190 torque. That 19 year old technology defeats your newer celicas.

It is funn how logic escapes so many "enthusiasts" these days.

So on a serious note, you race your stock celica? Does your g/f get mad you take her car out and do this with it? Bragging about one sub 200 hp car beating another sub 200 hp car at a drag race is alot like masturbating with sandpaper. Sure you might get your jollies off but was it really worth it.

Use your car for what it's good for, putting your purse in the back.

Also 135 hp and at what weight? To make up the difference in power your celica should be around 2600 lbs or less. I am not up to date on celicas so who knows, you probably did beat a super duper race car like the almighty si.

Just remember, worse comes to worse, a stock 1993 z28 with 2 spark plugs pulled out can still pull away from both all day and get the same mpg on the interstate as the newer celica gts while having a price tag around 2000$ (When a 4 banger with 6 gears can't get the same as a v8 on the interstate it is the day you might want to switch cars)

kenscivic wrote:

93celicaGT2 wrote: Faster in a straight line a toss-up? I see stock Ep3s struggling to get into the 15s. I've driven a GTS to a 14.812. As for the rest... i lol'd. U MAD? But really. I mean this in fun. Choose what you want. But personally? Considering that i've had no problems embarrasing EP3s in the Escort and the Celica (both with stock motors), i'm less than impressed with them. For the price, the looks, the performance, the interior (though the seats are awesome), really... everything. *Note: The more powerful of the two cars i reference, the Celica, makes a whopping 135 crank HP. Or it did at least. 19 years ago when it rolled off the assembly line.

Stock eps are rated around mid 15s in the 1/4 stock, some have gone lower some have gone higher. Some folks toss on drag radials with i/h/e and run mid 14s. Not too shabby for a slow fwd 4 banger.. The all tracs had 190 hp 190 torque. That 19 year old technology defeats your newer celicas. It is funn how logic escapes so many "enthusiasts" these days. So on a serious note, you race your stock celica? Does your g/f get mad you take her car out and do this with it? Bragging about one sub 200 hp car beating another sub 200 hp car at a drag race is alot like masturbating with sandpaper. Sure you might get your jollies off but was it really worth it. Use your car for what it's good for, putting your purse in the back. Also 135 hp and at what weight? To make up the difference in power your celica should be around 2600 lbs or less. I am not up to date on celicas so who knows, you probably did beat a super duper race car like the almighty si. Just remember, worse comes to worse, a stock 1993 z28 with 2 spark plugs pulled out can still pull away from both all day and get the same mpg on the interstate as the newer celica gts while having a price tag around 2000$ (When a 4 banger with 6 gears can't get the same as a v8 on the interstate it is the day you might want to switch cars)

This is getting dumb.

1) The AllTracs are SLOWER than the 2000-2005 Celica GTS. Wrap your brain around that one.
2) I'm talking about bone stock GTS 6spds.

As for the rest? Mannn... how did you guess it was my girlfriend's car? It's pink, too! It's my favorite! You want to go on a date later? That'd be THUPER!!!! <3

You like my girlfriend's pink car?

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/reader-rides/126/

It's threads like these that make me wish this board had a "subscribe" option