27 replies to this topic

[tapham91]

Okay i need some help. I've been searching around and found a few fairly low priced pre-facelift ep3's and I'm wondering, apart from the visual looks, if there's any difference between the pre-facelift and facelifts performance? Has anything been changed to the performance between the two? What i plan to do is get a pre-facelift ep3 and put the facelift headlights and front bumper on as an cheaper alternative. Do you think this is a good idea or am I better of just paying a bit more a facelift ep3? Your comments will be much appreciated. Thanks

[coco-loco17]

i think the only difference is the suspension, but if your going to lower the prefacelift one that'll all change anyhows
buying a prefacelift and adding the bumper and headlights is a good plan and gives you all the looks and saves money, good plan

[DeanCTR]

Take a look here on TRO

http://type-r-owners... ... ifferences

[coco-loco17]

that link was a bit biased towards facelift
prefacelift ftw! better front bumper, better tail-lights, and there cheaper

[brizbraz]

Apparently there were an enormous number of documented changes between the pre and post facelift cars, but these are the most noticeable:

Projector headlights
Different rear light clusters
Different grille
Different front bumper
Wheels are slightly darker and no longer have "Enkei" stamped on the back (I've read arguments about this on other forums, but I think the wheels are identical apart from these two very small differences, i.e. neither are lighter or "better" than the other)

Red inserts on the front seats
Red inserts on the door cards

Lighter flywheel (original changed for that found in the JDM CTR)
Some slight changes to the steering
Some slight changes to the suspension (though I'm thinking probably just a tiny geometry change tbh)

Some more soundproofing making the facelift slightly heavier, but the lightened flywheel more than compensates for this as far as acceleration is concerned.

Engine, gearbox and brakes are exactly the same

[tapham91]

Thanks for the link hmm so there's suppose to be loads of tiny changes bettern the two. Just wondering if there is a major difference with the sound deadening? Is the pre-facelift that noisy in comparison to the facelift?

[DeanCTR]

Oh i forgot the facelift has 1 touch on the drivers side window.

[coco-loco17]

preface has one touch on the way down that sounds well dirty eh
and hold it on the way back up that sounds even dirtier

[DeanCTR]

Facelift doesnt need to be held on the way up or down.

Facelift FTMFW

[coco-loco17]

i quite like hoding the button on the way up
one click down just looks suave when you pull up at the petrol station though

keep your lexarse lights, pre pre prefacelift ftw!

[DeanCTR]

PMSL @ Lexarse lights

[coco-loco17]

i love it when i pull up next to people with windy windows, all that effort for a breath of fresh air

[ctrlee]

I'm sure i read somewhere that the Vtec was a bit more fierce on the pre facelift model! But having never driven one i cant be sure. Can anyone verify this?

[coco-loco17]

same engine and ecu so doubt it!

[Gus-ep3]

Pile of guff!!

The facelift has a lighter flywheel, so rev's easier.