The seven best affordable hot hatches (List) | GRR

Honda Civic Type R EP3

A design that has aged rather well, the now 21-year-old EP3 is currently in the sweet spot of affordability with prices starting to rise. So if you’re looking for that hot hatch experience that may potentially end up making you money, then the second generation Honda Civic Type R may be the perfect one for you.

Why is the EP3 the one to go for? Well, its predecessor, the EK9 is a rare beast and you won’t find an example in good condition that isn’t going to break the bank. Despite only being three or four years older than the EP3, the EK9 prices have gone through the roof. The EP3 hasn’t gone that way yet, mainly due to them being much more common on the ground, but finding one that hasn’t been modified is becoming increasingly difficult. The successor to the EP3, the FN2, wasn’t a favourite amongst Type R fans, so there is a big gap between the EP3 and the next cult classic Civic Type R, making it more and more desirable.

If you find your EP3 unmolested and in good condition, you’ll be the owner of a high-revving, well-made and great handling cult classic. With prices ever creeping up, you should still be able to find a relatively low mile example in good condition around the £7,000 mark. You can always take the risk on a higher-mile example, but these are cars that love to be driven hard and they often are.