2002 Honda Civic Type R

Highlights

• Consummate service records and a file full of invoices
• U.K. supplied and four owners from new – current one nearly 13 years
• Really tidy-looking example inside and out
• Crucially, it’s standard and hasn’t been messed with
• Also crucially, it has a K20A2 screamer under the bonnet – meaning 8,300rpm

Overview

No reserve, folks. So don’t be reserved: get your bids in and buy British! Yes, this Honda Civic Type R is a fine example of British craftsmanship. Why? Well, it’s an EP3, which makes it the first Civic Type R to be sold officially in the U.K., and built here too, of course. In Swindon, no less.

For the record, this is an official European Domestic Market car, rather than a JDM EP3 that was still built here but sent to Japan. So it doesn’t have the red Recaros and the tricky diff, but think not about what you don’t get and, instead, what you do. A 200hp screaming 2.0-litre four-pot engine, which all Type R enthusiasts will know as the K20A2. And with the famous VTEC box of tricks that means craziness when it comes to revs. The limiter isn’t far off 8,500rpm, for heaven’s sake, which would be noteworthy in a Ferrari but unheard of in an affordable hot-hatch.

What’s even crazier is that, despite the complexity and stresses heaped upon it, Honda managed to imbue this engine with its renowned reliability. Bravo Honda – that’s why we love you. There are other aspects that made this car a hit with enthusiasts, too, such as the close-ratio six-speed gearbox to keep that amazing engine boiling away like a broken kettle. Then there’s the uprated brakes, the seam-welded chassis and the kerb weight of around 1,100 to 1,200kg.

These are just some of the reasons why the EP3’s an amazing bit of kit. And this one could be yours, and here’s why you’d want it. Unlike some examples, it’s not had a gazillion owners. At the last count, there were four, which ain’t many in 22 years. Nor is it modified – in any way as far as we know. And look how tidy it is, both inside and out, and it has more history than Hampton Court. Well, relatively speaking at least.

The point is, it’s a proper thing, honest and unmolested, which is how you want to buy an EP3. And with no reserve, remember. So just stick your bid in and, who knows, it could be you… And don’t talk yourself out of it because you live in London – this car’s ULEZ compliant, too.

History and documentation

• V5 registration document included
• Declared new at first registration on the 2nd March 2002
• 96,651 miles showing when pictured
• HPI clear
• The current owner has had this car for almost 13 years
• MOT’d until 16th June 2024 and, other than a worn tyre, it’s sailed through its previous two DfT exams
• Complete with its original Type R wallet, book packs and a red binder (always a good sign) full of neatly curated invoices stretching back years
• The service book is brimming with stamps as follows: 08.03.03 at 10,273 miles; 25.08.04 at 18,020 miles; 30.09.05 at 23,607 miles; 02.05.07 at 30,614 miles; 25.07.08 at 38,177 miles; 03.06.10 at 45,660 miles; 02.06.11 (mileage not recorded); 13.10.12 at 57,660 miles; 12.11.13 at 61,927 miles; 15.11.14 at 64,467 miles
• Invoices for later services: 24.02.17 at 68,376 miles; 13.12.18 at 70,412 miles; 20.06.19 at 79,159 miles; 18.06.20 at 85,951 miles; 10.06.21 at 87,815 miles; 13.06.22 at 91,418 miles
• x2 keys
• And yes, it’s London ULEZ compliant, in case you were wondering

Interior

• Spec includes air conditioning, radio/ CD player with aux input, electric front windows, black-on-white dials, leather-trimmed steering wheel
• Classic Type R aluminium gear knob atop that famous dash-mounted gear lever
• The stamped and riveted-on Type R build plate showing number 04293
• Superb Type R-specific sports seats trimmed in Alcantara with contrasting technical cloth inserts and red stitching
• No reports of any of the features malfunctioning
• Other than some wear on the driver’s seat bolster, the front seats look in good condition and the rear seats appear hardly used. It’s a Honda, though, so you’d expect it to have stood up to the years and miles well
• No cracks in the dashboard as far as we can see, and the door cards look as they should do, too
• The headlining looks clean and tidy
• Those red Type R over mats are in great condition
• The most notable issue is a relatively easy fix – the leather steering wheel could do with retrimming, which isn’t a biggie

Exterior

• The striking red paintwork still looks the business today
• Black 17-inch seven-spoke wheels (refurbished in 2013) still appear to be in good fettle
• We understand the paintwork is mostly original – the only reported repair was due to a stone chip on the bonnet, which was repainted last year
• Other than the odd small scratch here and there, and faded wiper-blade arms, the owner says that this EP3 is in great condition
• We have to agree with the above; from what we can see the pictures back-up the fact that this car’s in near-top-drawer nick for its age. Just the odd mark, like the one by the nearside-rear light cluster, the lower edge of the front bumper and a couple of imperfections on the lower part of the rear bumper
• The underside is smart, too. As can be seen from the pictures, there are no nasty scraps or dings underneath. The sills look straight, the underseal appears to be in great condition, and the only rust looks like surface rust – which you’d expect on a 22-year-old car

Mechanical

• Fabulous 2.0-litre naturally aspirated K20A2 four-pot. In this U.K.-spec it’s rated at 200hp with torque at 145lb ft. VTEC cleverness means it’ll happily spin at up to 8,300rpm. It’s the heart and soul of the Civic Type R
• Lovely six-speed manual gearbox
• Type R suspension tuning and brakes
• Seam-welded chassis
• The owner tells us this EP3 ‘starts, stops and goes as expected with no issues’
• Apparently, the tyres were replaced in 2023 – they’re Michelin Pilot Sport 4 all round and still showing plenty of tread
• Under-bonnet pics describe a car that’s not been cleaned recently to hide any issues – there aren’t any obvious oil or coolant leaks as far as we can see
• No advisories (other than worn tyres) were reported on the last two MOTs

Summary

You don’t need us to tell you about the classic status the EP3 Civic Type R has garnered. It’s a car for people who know cars, and appreciate something raw and exciting but, equally, something perfectly suitable as a daily. It’s all about that engine, really; that unhinged rev limit. But the problem with EP3s is finding an honest, unmodified example with a well-documented history.

Well, that’s a problem no more, because this car ticks all the right boxes. That’s not to say it’s perfect – there’s room for its next owner to enjoy bringing it up to tip-top condition – but, crucially, you’re starting from what appears to be a high bar. And remember: no reserve. The highest bidder takes all.

To arrange a viewing, please request this in the Q&A section. You can click through to the seller's profile and use the 'Email Me' function to arrange a viewing privately. This seller is located in Reading, Berkshire.