Hot Hatch 17k+-?

[Iron Chef]

EK9s don't exist in Australia, and when they do they're closer to $30K. $20K-ish would probably get you an EP3 though...

What are Aussie delivered Integra Type Rs fetching these days?

[astrotristan]

EK9s don't exist in Australia, and when they do they're closer to $30K. $20K-ish would probably get you an EP3 though...

What are Aussie delivered Integra Type Rs fetching these days?

yeeh i guy i used to work with had an ek9 - i think he paid 32k for it

[Toni X]

the average price for a gtir is around 10 grand man..

Haha.. I wanted to type "impressive", not expensive.. lol..

How about the proton satria gti? Are they great?

[joeyjoejoejuniorshabadoo]

buy this

[Turk1]

Hottest hatch would have to be the Golf R32 but I don't think it would be in the price range.

[(OO)SKYLINE(OO)]

Hot Hatch back...

You know you want it...

[poppin13b]

As a BTiR owner myself i would recommend one to anyone IF (and this is a big IF) you have the time and skills (or $$) to maintain it like you would an R32 GTR, they are old and finicky but oh so much fun.

The Gearboxes are a weak point If you treat it like shit, but in saying that they got the rep as people would put the heaviest brass button clutch in after the stock one slipped and then wonder why the box shattered. Treat it right and it will be good to you

What i would recommend for the price range is this.

http://forum.gtiroz.net/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=10543

Just look at the mod list and add it up. Its a bargin!

Have a look around on the for sale page on the site, there are some pretty good stockish ones going for less than $10k.

Cheers

Edited November 2, 2009 by poppin13b

[scathing]

How about EK9? It is very rare rite??

I thought you wanted torque in "not so high RPM"? Why would you opt for something that has a Honda B series engine if low-end torque was one of your requirements?

My shortlist are: Colt Ralliart, 206 GTI 180, Polo Gti or a Corolla Tivo..

I like a car with lots of torque in not so high rpm, a great "dancer" and still be able for a daily commuter with high quality and cheap parts

The last 2 requirements rule out any French car, so you can drop the 206 as well.

FYI - RenaultSport Clio is better than 206 GTi if you do decide to get a physically small money pit.

If you're willing to go grey import then, as the ferrous cook says, if you can find an EP3 Type-R then your search is pretty much over. Personally I'd still get a Polo GTi as a "reliable, not to be modded" daily driver if I could afford either (due to local manufacturer support with a not-assholeish dealer network, VW's legendary reliability, and the extra low-end torque from the turbo strapped to a decently-sized engine, and the ECU reflash option) but otherwise it'd be hard to beat the EP3R based on your listed requirements.

Choosing between an EP3R and a RalliArt Colt, on the other hand, would be a harder choice.

[Toni X]

I thought you wanted torque in "not so high RPM"? Why would you opt for something that has a Honda B series engine if low-end torque was one of your requirements?

The last 2 requirements rule out any French car, so you can drop the 206 as well.

FYI - RenaultSport Clio is better than 206 GTi if you do decide to get a physically small money pit.

If you're willing to go grey import then, as the ferrous cook says, if you can find an EP3 Type-R then your search is pretty much over. Personally I'd still get a Polo GTi as a "reliable, not to be modded" daily driver if I could afford either (due to local manufacturer support with a not-assholeish dealer network, VW's legendary reliability, and the extra low-end torque from the turbo strapped to a decently-sized engine, and the ECU reflash option) but otherwise it'd be hard to beat the EP3R based on your listed requirements.

Choosing between an EP3R and a RalliArt Colt, on the other hand, would be a harder choice.

Oh.. Is EP3 and EK9 engine have the same charateristics?

Have you driven the Colt?

Or do you have other ideas mate?

[Toni X]

I saw this ad: http://cgi.ebay.com.au/DAMAGED-HONDA-CIVIC...=item3ca6f2072e

And I see I can buy this with my price range..

Do you guys know how much to get the car fixed?

I think if I don't need to spend too much on fixing the car, maybe I want to buy this type R, and I will fix the damage step by step..

What do you think guys?

[scathing]

Oh.. Is EP3 and EK9 engine have the same charateristics?

The EK VTEC Civics have a B16 if I remember correctly. 1.6L, with the old-school VTEC cutover. The EP3 has a 2.0L K20A, the same engine as the locally delivered DC5 Integra Type-R.

The K20A still revs cleanly all the way to its very high limit, but it also has a lot of bottom end torque. When VTEC kicks in its not as noticable from the seat of the pants, but you do pick up a nice induction note.

In terms of civility, the K series is miles ahead of the B series (as you'd expect from a generation-newer engine). The power curve is almost dead straight and it'll happily pootle along from 2000RPM. Which, for a daily, is important.

The latter is more "fun" since there's a noticable kick in power when the big cam comes on, you have to wring its neck to get it to move, and it feels more raw. But from a technical standpoint the K series is better, and around town the B series will not be as comfortable to drive.

There's a reason why Honda boys are shoehorning the K series into everything they can make it fit into, and why Rover-engined Elise owners are opting for that motor rather than the Toyota engine Lotus uses in the current Elises if they look at replacing their boat anchors.

In terms of the chassis, the EP3 is meant to be a gem (better than the FN that Honda Australia is currently selling). The EK is pretty long in the tooth. British reviewers found the EP3R to be the best hot hatch available in its day in a region where the hot hatch is the only affordable sports car available.

Have you driven the Colt?

Not yet but quite a few friends have them. I've ridden in one with a few mods (not much is available off the shelf for the car, powertrain-wise). The chassis isn't bad, but I just don't like the idea of a 1.5L engine (turbo or not). The Recaro seats are really, really, nice though.

He gave it a hit for me, and if you want to talk about straight line oomph it has nothing on a Polo GTi with the ECU reflashed.

[Toni X]

The EK VTEC Civics have a B16 if I remember correctly. 1.6L, with the old-school VTEC cutover. The EP3 has a 2.0L K20A, the same engine as the locally delivered DC5 Integra Type-R.

The K20A still revs cleanly all the way to its very high limit, but it also has a lot of bottom end torque. When VTEC kicks in its not as noticable from the seat of the pants, but you do pick up a nice induction note.

In terms of civility, the K series is miles ahead of the B series (as you'd expect from a generation-newer engine). The power curve is almost dead straight and it'll happily pootle along from 2000RPM. Which, for a daily, is important.

The latter is more "fun" since there's a noticable kick in power when the big cam comes on, you have to wring its neck to get it to move, and it feels more raw. But from a technical standpoint the K series is better, and around town the B series will not be as comfortable to drive.

There's a reason why Honda boys are shoehorning the K series into everything they can make it fit into, and why Rover-engined Elise owners are opting for that motor rather than the Toyota engine Lotus uses in the current Elises if they look at replacing their boat anchors.

In terms of the chassis, the EP3 is meant to be a gem (better than the FN that Honda Australia is currently selling). The EK is pretty long in the tooth. British reviewers found the EP3R to be the best hot hatch available in its day in a region where the hot hatch is the only affordable sports car available.

Not yet but quite a few friends have them. I've ridden in one with a few mods (not much is available off the shelf for the car, powertrain-wise). The chassis isn't bad, but I just don't like the idea of a 1.5L engine (turbo or not). The Recaro seats are really, really, nice though.

He gave it a hit for me, and if you want to talk about straight line oomph it has nothing on a Polo GTi with the ECU reflashed.

Wow.. You give me alot, man..

But, I don't know why, I prefer Japanese car, I just think that Japanese makes the best sport cars and European for the luxury cars..

[scathing]

I I just think that Japanese makes the best sport cars

Really?

When I think the "best sports cars" the names that first come into my head are Ferrari, Porsche, Lotus and, to a lesser extent, BMW.

FYI the EP3 Type-R Civic, while a Honda, is actually designed and manufactured in the UK.

[Toni X]

Yeah, maybe European makes the best exotic cars..

But, the Japanese makes the best sport cars..

Asan example, Evo can keep up with a Lambo..

[scathing]

Yeah, maybe European makes the best exotic cars..

The cars I've listed are only "exotic" because they're thin on the ground in Australia. In Europe, the corollary is true. They hardly get any Japanese cars over there, so for them an RX-7 or GT-R would be an "exotic".

BMW 3 Series are dimes a dozen the world over, and in Germany they use 5 Series as taxis and cop cars. If a BMW is "exotic" because its rare for us, then so is a Holden because its rare for them.

Half my car enthusiast colleagues in the UK drive Porsches, Lotuses, BMWs or the like. And they're not exactly upper management.

But, the Japanese makes the best sport cars..

I'm still voting for Europe on this one. I'd still class the Elise as a sports car, and the only Japanese roadster on the market (the MX-5) doesn't even compare. Nor does the MX-5 do that well against the Boxster or Z4. I'd take any of those Euros over an S2000 as well.

I'd take a BMW 335i over a V36 370GT, let alone a M3. I'd take a VW Scirocco over the FN2 Civic Type-R hatch. Europe gets a buttload of hot hatches based on the Golf platform, and the Seat Cupra RR is a lot cheaper than the Golf GTi it shares most of its parts with. I don't think I could buy a Mazda3 MPS over them. As I said earlier, personal preference has me choosing a Polo GTi over a RalliArt Colt.

Japan might make sports cars we can afford more easily, but overall it's hard to say they're "better" from a technical perspective.

Asan example, Evo can keep up with a Lambo..

If you're referring to Clarkson's video on TG, then you should be fully aware that Clarkson loves to ham things up on a regular basis.

Secondly, that Evo wasn't the stock vehicle that came out of Japan. It is tuned by Mitsubishi UK, and its service intervals got halved. It's a tuner car in how it behaves, and how finicky it is to maintain. I wouldn't consider it an OEM vehicle, aside from the warranty.