My EP3 CTR

[imprezaworks]

Have you just advertised this on ctro or the type r owners forum? Looks superb mate if its yours

 

[Slammed172]

Only on CTRO at the moment. As I need a car for work I ideally need to buy a car before I sell this. I'll up the selling once I've found myself a car. I made that mistake when I sold my 172, couldn't find a decent Type R for 4-5 months.

Yeah course it's mine, lol. Going away travelling so don't want to stick this in the garage for 1 year, I'd rather stick a skanky old 182 in there

 

[imprezaworks]

I wasnt quizzing mate i just noiticed the ad and didnt look at the username, then you put it on here and 2+2= your car. Very nice btw

 

[Slammed172]

Might be keeping this after todays disaster.

Go to "side step" to a Clio 182. Step in the 182 to drive it, and it's a bag of sh*t. Really makes me wonder why I'm selling. The driving position is AWFUL, the clutch is rock solid, your toe get's caught on clutch when driving round town. The gearbox is utter sh*t. Oh, and don't forget about the bus driver steering wheel.

I have owned a 172 for 3 and half years, but I really do not think they are a "side step". I bought my 172 without test driving it. As soon as I got in it to drive it home,I hated it, yes it grew on me but that same feeling happened again today.

Granted, todays one was a sh*tter; "MINT", scuffs all round. FSH, 1 stamp missing, NOT FSH. People are really deluded.


Rant over. EP3 TYPE R > RenaultSport Clio. And I feel I'm in a position to say that.

 

[Mr Burns]

Have to agree, I don't think I could go back to a 172/182. I think a 197 might be disappointing too.

 

[Slammed172]

I'm pretty sure I saw you say it was a side-step, lol !

We we're talking about you today (wierdly), the same person that went to view your car came to see mine, Mike from Surrey.

 

[Mr Burns]

Small world! Did he spend all day at your house too??

I suppose it can be a sidestep depending on how you look at it, as they both offer different things. I don't think I could go back to French build quality now though, which is a shame because I feel it's the only major flaw with the Clio.

 

[imprezaworks]

Lol did he spend all day at your house. Kind of miss the Clio because if I'm honest it's like Everton (Clio) and Liverpool (type r) I'm a blue but allways wondered what it was like on the other side.

 

[Slammed172]

Lol, nah he didn't I had to shoot off to view the 182 in question so he didn't stay long.

Love the comparison Impreza, ha ha. A good one at that.

It's not back going from a Clio to a Civic, I missed the Clio, it's going from Clio to Civic and BACK to Clio which causes the problem !!

Oh, and I've decided the keep the Civic after a time waster didn't show his face today after numerous PM's on CTRO and texts. Really not worth selling for the sake of 1-1.5k.

 

[Slammed172]

Seeing as I'm keeping this now I've just booked two front track rod ends and an FRSU at ABP Motorsport next week, should tighten the front up nicely.

I'm also tempted to take a duvet day off work this week and go to http://www.citypowdercoating.co.uk and get a wheel refurb. £120 drive in drive out, sounds a cracking deal, I'd need to get it done before FRSU though..hmmm.

 

[kpowell911]

I didnt think City did drive in service?If I was going to go to Brum to get a refurb Id go Laptab!

 

[alexr19]

Seeing as I'm keeping this now I've just booked two front track rod ends and an FRSU at ABP Motorsport next week, should tighten the front up nicely.

I'm also tempted to take a duvet day off work this week and go to http://www.citypowdercoating.co.uk and get a wheel refurb. £120 drive in drive out, sounds a cracking deal, I'd need to get it done before FRSU though..hmmm.

Ill be picking up my f1s from there tomorrow. Have to say for the money they look like they do a decent job.

 

[Slammed172]

Yeah KP, they do drive in drive out. I decided to not opt for it as it's not essential at the moment.

Anyway, UPDATE - had the FRSU done at ABP yesterday.

Before:

After:

As you can see before was some way out. Unfortunately ABP didn't have the attention to detail I was expecting.

ABP specialise in the Honda Civic Type R and this experience allows us to offer something a little bit special.
Even if your civic type R is within Honda’s tolerance range you can still experience poor handling, excessive tyre wear and vague steering.

Camber and Toe should be BANG on the same either side, no excuses in my opinion. Paying £130 for a specialist FRSU and then getting the, "it's within the tolerances" is un-acceptable. It's in the tolerences and there is only difference of a few minutes but it's not the point.

Another rant is the rear camber arms. I was advised pre-set-up that camber arms would be needed to get to -1 deg on the rear. As you can see anything less that -15mm of lowering rear cambers are really not needed - i'm 20 minutes off that. Mine have been modified using elongated holes and I have got pretty close to -1 at the back. ABP advised me to get them, I said it wouldn't make a ~£150 difference, low behind I would be right as I was then told by them that the few minutes out on the front wouldn't make a difference. Ironic really as the front have got adjustability yet they couldn't get the exact same on either side, granted it's a few minutes and within tolerances, but it's the attention to detail. End rant.

Anyway, while I was there I got 2 new track rod ends fitted before the FRSU and it is infinitely tighter and a pleaseure to drive, turn in is fantastic and everything is how it should be although at the back of mind I want both camber and toe at the front to be the same.

Here's some extremely mucky photos of it in it's current state. 2 weeks of british roads.

 

[imprezaworks]

Get that washed lol. How do tou find abp overall mate?

 

[Adamm.]

Nice mate, could do with a clean though

Can tell you do a bit of B road driving round here with those original alignment settings lol.

 

[Slammed172]

Lol, it's a state.

ABP are good, I had my car serviced there last year. It's a 200 mile round trip (mental I know). There customer service really is great. On a saturday they have 1 tech in, god knows why, so he probably couldn't be bothered to adjust, check the computer, adjust etc. From my previous bodyshop we always used to set-up cars in pairs as it's a PITA.

Anyway, overall they are good and this is by no means a bad experience, but when I go to a specialist, I expect specialist results, not "that'll do" results. I could have just gone to my local hunter laser align for that, although granted they wouldn't mod my rear arms.

 

[imprezaworks]

Cheers. Im no experrt but looking at those figures it looks pretty good, are you not expecting too much? Im not being funny btw

 

[Adamm.]

Bad times mate I had a similar experience with Northampton Motorsport, ended up spending £100's on alignment in the end :banghead:.

Is ABP a Honda specialist then? Never heard of them lol.

 

[imprezaworks]

yeah they are mate

 

[Adamm.]

Ahh fair enough.

On another note do you like your log fires mate? Got 2 massive stacks there lol.

 

[kpowell911]

Not trying to offend here, and im sure it doesnt really matter in the real world, but Im a little shocked at those FRSU Tolerances from ABP. I went to a small back street (in Comparison to ABP) paid £45 and these were my results:

Bear in mind "60" is one Degree. This Picture is poor but it shows mine. The bloke spent over an hour getting it right, and mine Vary from 0.56 to 0.58. I was annoyed they werent all bang on

Bare in mind I paid £45 not £135.......

IF you cant make it out, 3 wheels are at .58, and one wheel is at .56.

My Toe is .9mm total as opposed to the 1.0mm I expected. I honestly thought my results were a little out, but was pleased for the £45? That was too my spec, as I requested.

As I say I dont mean to offend you, but I expected more from ABP...

 

[Slammed172]

Cheers. Im no experrt but looking at those figures it looks pretty good, are you not expecting too much? Im not being funny btw

They are pretty good and within tolerences, I'm not expecting too much I'm expecting a specialist job for the price.

Bad times mate I had a similar experience with Northampton Motorsport, ended up spending £100's on alignment in the end :banghead:.

Is ABP a Honda specialist then? Never heard of them lol.

Yeah they are, it's not a bad result by all means, it's just I expected more from ABP.

Ahh fair enough.

On another note do you like your log fires mate? Got 2 massive stacks there lol.

Gotta keep warm in the winter !

Not trying to offend here, and im sure it doesnt really matter in the real world, but Im a little shocked at those FRSU Tolerances from ABP. I went to a small back street (in Comparison to ABP) paid £45 and these were my results:

Bear in mind "60" is one Degree. This Picture is poor but it shows mine. The bloke spent over an hour getting it right, and mine Vary from 0.56 to 0.58. I was annoyed they werent all bang on

Bare in mind I paid £45 not £135.......

IF you cant make it out, 3 wheels are at .58, and one wheel is at .56.

My Toe is .9mm total as opposed to the 1.0mm I expected. I honestly thought my results were a little out, but was pleased for the £45? That was too my spec, as I requested.

As I say I dont mean to offend you, but I expected more from ABP...

Lol, did you read my post KP..I know..how would that offend when I've already typed it !

At the end of the day the real world difference is zero, it's just I expect more attention to detail from the tech. He should have thought that it's not bang on either side I'll make further adjustments regardless of how it would drive as it's within tolerances, which is the whole point of tolerances, no real world difference. Specialist money, you should get a specialist service.

A good bodyshop doesn't allow cars to leave their forecourt with holograms, 95% do, this is a perfect example IMO. There's nothing wrong with the paint, but it's not a specialist finish.

 

[kpowell911]

I think Im going back for 1mm Toe In on the Rear, I had 2x FRSU advice, went with Zero, but can go back at any time and get some adjustments.

Anyone in the West Mids should check them out

http://www.alineyourcar.co.uk/

Do alot of Lambo's and Porsche's from what I could see, theres even a Driftworks S15 getting done there!

Quite dissapointed with ABP, they win loads of awards and everyone on fthe forum raves over them!

 

[Slammed172]

Haven't updated this in a while so heres a few photos from this thread I made a few weeks back http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?693523-Winter-road-salt-detail-CTR

Plans are to get something new now. I do 16k a year and 10k is probably dualys and no torque is starting to gripe a long with having to drop down 2 cogs just to get going.

Looked at every single car and can't decide. Budget is 8k for something decent or 6-7k for something new.

Was set on R32, but MPG really isn't a good ideal when doing that kind of mileage. Even though the sound is epic.

R26 im scared about their GB's, flywheels and clutches.

Focus ST - bore, just not an RS.

CTR FN2 - Same as above.

VW Golf GTi Mk5 - Looking good especially for commuting, but a bit of a bore at the weekends, and my previous MK4 GTi felt like a tank, it's been a few years since I've driven the MK5 so I forgot if that feels like a tank too.

Seat LCR - 5 doors, me not want.

Clio 200/197 - s**t MPG and too much like a CTR in the torque dept.

Clio Sport before that - too small.

Mini CS - as above.

Astra VXR - I do like them, but their steering and power delivery disappoints and I don't trust Vauxhall with reliability.

Audi S3 8P only - PERFECT - Just a little out my budget.

..pretty much exhausted every option, but I really want a new car, so maybe I'm just being picky. Needs to be a hot hatch and 3 doors and that's it really. Really I'm in the market for an S3, but a little out my price range.

 

[imprezaworks]

Is for sale on ctro? Think danh90 is looking for one of these

 

[Mr Burns]

I personally think most German cars are unrewarding to drive, with the exception of higher powered Mercs, Beemers and Porsches.

 

[Slammed172]

Need to find a motor before I sell due to needing it for work..so won't be for a while yet I doubt.

I know what you mean Ste. They all feel heavy. However I think the S3 is the exception, even though I shouldn't spend that much on a motor.

 

[DanielJames]

Sounds like you want a turbo motor..

The lack of torque thing always makes me smile..

​When on da internetzzzzzz

 

[imprezaworks]

I've experienced no lack of torque issues tbh.

 

[DanielJames]

Me neither.

Came from a 280ftlb 240bhp 1000kg turbo car too.

 

[Mr Burns]

Also agree... Sure it's obvious when pedalling it that it doesn't have bags of torque, but it doesn't hinder the cars performance or ditract from the driving experience. Steering feel and fuel economy were my only gripes, but the steering can be sorted with a FRSU which I may have mentioned before lol.

 

[DanielJames]

Ah well, I could be a c**t and say judging by his username "Slammed172" that the OP is more internet hero than driving enthusiast...

but I wont say that

 

[Slammed172]

Sounds like you want a turbo motor..

The lack of torque thing always makes me smile..

​When on da internetzzzzzz

I've experienced no lack of torque issues tbh.

I probably experience it a lot due to the dual carriage way driving, cruising a 70 in 6th, foot down down...nothing (literally) - where as a torquey motor you wouldn't have that problem.

Also agree... Sure it's obvious when pedalling it that it doesn't have bags of torque, but it doesn't hinder the cars performance or ditract from the driving experience. Steering feel and fuel economy were my only gripes, but the steering can be sorted with a FRSU which I may have mentioned before lol.

Is the economy really a gripe ? It's the same as any other hot hatch. I've had the steering sorted with an FRSU but it wasn't a big problem before tbqfh.

Ah well, I could be a c**t and say judging by his username "Slammed172" that the OP is more internet hero than driving enthusiast...

but I wont say that

Seeing as it's been my username for 5 years, times change.

 

[imprezaworks]

A change is allways good mate. Good luck in the search

 

[Slammed172]

ha ha, definitely, too much moaning, 16k in a car a year certainly makes you want to change. A year on Thursday as it happens although I didn't drive it for 2 or 3 weeks later after I sold the Golf.

 

[Ian_182]

I can vouch for the fn2 being a nice car.Its a little more grown up with dual climate and the likes as standard on the GT model.The interior is still awsome and by no means dated yet.You already know the engine but the vtec kicks in a little earlier on this version.

Ive had mine over 2 years now and its a great car and still hasnt let me down.It is on an 08 and has done 46k and has just had its first set of discs.Other than that ive not repaced anything exept the usual tyres and stuff.

 

[Slammed172]

I am tempted Ian, they are getting extremely cheap too. I've driven a couple at my old bodyshop and the interior is brilliant, love it, not quite as nice on the exterior to the EP3 however.

Whats the difference between standard and GT ?

The main reason for me wanting a new car is the engine, and it'll be stupid to go to an FN2 considering the engine, lol.

 

[Ian_182]

Im not too sure what you get in the old type r as standard but in the new one its auto lights,wipers dual climate and all the toys you would get in a 182 ff but just done better.As you agree the interior is brill but the engine is the same.Ill try to find a pic of mine out for you.

 

[Slammed172]

Pretty much set on a meg now after reading this thread: http://civictype-r.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=270170

Just going to have to look for a well looked after one and hope the GB is ok on the test drive. I think it would be stupid not to buy the car purely on GB horror stories. *touches wood

 

[Slammed172]

Finally found a dent bloke that wasn't charging £90 to remove a simple dent bang in the middle of the N/S door.

Paid £20 as he couldn't get it 100% out as the metal had stretch as it was such a sharp dent, as you can see MUCH better than before (almost un-noticable to the camera).

Before:

After:

And one for good luck..

Now currently on the hunt for a MK5 Golf Gti - Need some turbo, torque and general low-end grunt in my life.