If pressed to name one car that perfectly represents the import/sport compact pop-culture movement in its heyday, most of us can agree it'd be the '92-'95 EG Honda Civic hatchback. Sure, the JZA80 Toyota Supra and FD3S Mazda RX-7 were the halo cars, and the '99-'00 EM1 Civic Si or the '97-'01 DC2 Integra was what we lusted over, but the lightweight, infinitely customizable fifth-gen Civic hatch was what we had. And damned if we didn't make the most of it.
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Maybe the more powerful and aggressively styled DC5 RSX — out roughly around the same time — stole the limelight, or maybe there was an early lack of interest in the new tech when the older stuff was still breaking new ground. But when Honda announced the EP3 Civic Si hatchback at the height of the import movement—with an improved 2.0L, DOHC, i-VTEC K20A3 engine (sharing attributes with the RSX Type S's more powerful K-series engine), manual transmission, independent suspension, and compact body—nothing really happened among enthusiasts. It was almost as if they hadn't figured them out — yet.
But as adequate as they were from the factory, and as great as they were for modification, there was plenty of room for improvement in their early '90s design. So when Honda announced the production of a new Civic hatch a decade later that promised to do everything better, imagine our excitement at how far enthusiasts would take it. Imagine our surprise when they didn't really like it.
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Today, with a better understanding of Honda's K-series engines and increased aftermarket support, the EP3 is making a comeback. They're inexpensive, ripe for power-adders or more potent versions of the K-family (which have also come down in price), and they enjoy an underdog appeal no longer found in Civic/Integra options. Just ask Joe Pham and Jeremiah Santos—two EP3 loyalists who have seen it all over the past 12 years.
When the import craze caught fire in Southern California, Joe knew he wanted to be a part of the community. When his parents offered to help him out on the cost of his first car (something newer and reliable, they required), he tried his best to steer them toward an EM1 Civic Si coupe, but settled on a brand-new, Vivid Blue Pearl '05 Civic Si. It was his first car, and maybe not exactly what he wanted, but the gears were turning with thoughts of how to modify it.
As two of a very small number of EP3 faithful, each with their own styles and set of friends, there was some "uncertainty" between the two rivals about each other. "I thought Joe was a douche at first," Jeremiah says with a laugh. "He had some gold Work VS-XX wheels while I had XXRs, and he never really talked to me." Conversely, Joe didn't think too much of Jeremiah. "We never really talked, so I just figured he was doing his thing with his own crowd."
Maybe the more powerful and aggressively styled DC5 RSX — out roughly around the same time — stole the limelight, or maybe there was an early lack of interest in the new tech when the older stuff was still breaking new ground. But when Honda announced the EP3 Civic Si hatchback at the height of the import movement—with an improved 2.0L, DOHC, i-VTEC K20A3 engine (sharing attributes with the RSX Type S's more powerful K-series engine), manual transmission, independent suspension, and compact body—nothing really happened among enthusiasts. It was almost as if they hadn't figured them out — yet.
But as adequate as they were from the factory, and as great as they were for modification, there was plenty of room for improvement in their early '90s design. So when Honda announced the production of a new Civic hatch a decade later that promised to do everything better, imagine our excitement at how far enthusiasts would take it. Imagine our surprise when they didn't really like it.
Today, with a better understanding of Honda's K-series engines and increased aftermarket support, the EP3 is making a comeback. They're inexpensive, ripe for power-adders or more potent versions of the K-family (which have also come down in price), and they enjoy an underdog appeal no longer found in Civic/Integra options. Just ask Joe Pham and Jeremiah Santos—two EP3 loyalists who have seen it all over the past 12 years.
When the import craze caught fire in Southern California, Joe knew he wanted to be a part of the community. When his parents offered to help him out on the cost of his first car (something newer and reliable, they required), he tried his best to steer them toward an EM1 Civic Si coupe, but settled on a brand-new, Vivid Blue Pearl '05 Civic Si. It was his first car, and maybe not exactly what he wanted, but the gears were turning with thoughts of how to modify it.
As two of a very small number of EP3 faithful, each with their own styles and set of friends, there was some "uncertainty" between the two rivals about each other. "I thought Joe was a douche at first," Jeremiah says with a laugh. "He had some gold Work VS-XX wheels while I had XXRs, and he never really talked to me." Conversely, Joe didn't think too much of Jeremiah. "We never really talked, so I just figured he was doing his thing with his own crowd."
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