If You Want An N/A Honda Civic Type R, This Mint EK9 Is The One You Should Buy

Earlier this week, we were in Slovakia trying out the new Honda Civic Type R. The biggest change compared to Type Rs of old is the inclusion of a turbocharger, and while it makes for a much more flexible car, some will always prefer the old naturally-aspirated fast Hondas.

Sure, they need to be revved pretty hard for you to get anywhere quickly, but when you do, you’re treated to a swift VTEC kick and an epic noise. And if you want all that in a small package, the EK9 Civic Type R is quite possibly the ultimate choice.

The EP3 might be more powerful and cheaper, but the considerably lighter EK9 remains the most celebrated of all Civic Type Rs. Under the bonnet there’s a 1.6-litre B16B four-pot, and although that sounds like a fairly dinky engine, it’s a pokey thing: it’s good for 182bhp at a screaming 8200rpm. To make sure that power is effectively transferred onto the tarmac, there’s also a limited-slip differential up front.

Sound tempting? Unfortunately, there is a catch. These cars were never officially sold in the UK, so it’s quite tricky to find one for sale on these shores, and when imported examples do come up for sale, they’re not cheap. This one, for instance, is £6750. We’ll forgive the seller for uploading some stupidly tiny pictures, because it looks like a great example. It has been modified, but not excessively so: changes include Koni adjustable dampers and a 2.5-inch stainless steel exhaust system.