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Advice on CL7 Euro R before I buy!

K

Kenata

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abouttobuyCL7EuroR
Hi,

I've decided buy the CL7 Euro R however I have 2 major concerns...

The first is maintenance costs and availability of parts. I've no idea how much in common it has with the UK CL7 Accords which only were available up to the Type S but in the event replacement parts are required, do any of you know if these are going to dampen the experience of owning such a rare and good looking saloon? Ultimately I don't want to be in a position whereby a mechanic tells me a part is unavailable or it will cost a bomb to import and replace. Neither do I want to be faced with huge bills if there are any particular known catastrophic problems with Accords. It's a gamble with it costing about £4K more than the Type S but I hope it shares a lot in common with the UK CL7 Accords. It's getting on a bit at 11 years old but I do intend for it to be a long term car and tuning/modification project.

My second concern is the actual inspection itself. This is my first car I will buy. I previously drove an inherited car for a good number of years. What exactly should I be looking for when inspecting the Euro R. The basics as well as anything that needs special attention exclusive to the Accords would be greatly appreciated! In return I'll post photos of my purchase and of course join in the discussions within these forums!

Thanks :D
 
Is that the blue 1 for sale at Torque Gt? If so I was very tempted by that a while back as they gave me very good part ex quote on my accord. It was £7995 back then too. Thing that put me off was resaleability. It seems theres very few people that are interested in this type of car at that age as theyve had that car up for sale for at least 7 months. Sorry cant help re parts availability.
 
Yep that's the one! There's another one for sale on the civinfo forums and that was posted 7 months ago. The resaleability is a concern but the appeal to me is too strong haha and if I can get a good number of years from it with it being a project car too it will be worth it.
 
I currently own a blue Accord Euro R CL7, also imported by Mike at Torque GT. Torque GT are a very good company to do business with and attentive. When I have got a bit more time, I will reply in full and lots of info. Any specific questions - feel free to ask in here or drop me a PM?
 
toffee_pie said:
there is a 2006 Accord Euro Sport here for Sale in Ireland, its an Australia import and similar to the euro r i would believe?

http://www.adverts.ie/car/honda/accord/2006-honda-accord-euro-sport/3668801?notification=cc6952d0e976cd11b5a18ced2665b942-1391021191&utm_campaign=AdWatchCommented&utm_medium=link&utm_source=email

will cost you alot less than what you are paying in the uk
Click to expand...
It would be similar to a Type S, can see the interior is not Recaro (std seats, wheel, controls), the steering wheel is not a Momo item either, found a quick youtube vid, sounded like the 2.4 not the K20A 2.0. Longer ratios, no LSD. Although seems to have the same wheels?
 
Seem to have a couple more minutes to myself. In 2012, we found out we were expecting our first baby. At the time I had a dc2 ITR and had just sold a mk4 golf diesel. So p/x the ITR in for a 2003 Accord Euro R. Mike gave a good price for the ITR (98 Spec JDM import) and got a good discount on the Euro R at the same time.

Advice

Alarm
Torque GT had an alarm installed on my car and when I bought the car thought it was odd that I no longer had the function to lock the doors from the switch on the drivers door, nor the remote boot release - actually the buttons on the key would no longer work. But you have the fob to dis-arm and re-arm / unlock and lock the car. It was an Autowatch 457Rli. I've had issues with it and am still getting it sorted. Although these issues have been out of the warranty I got with the car Mike has gone above and beyond to resolve (although I hadn't asked him to intervene). However, the original fitter and Autowatch themselves haven't impressed in getting this resolved.

I might have just been unlucky, but if I was to do it again I would ask for an alarm not to be fitted. Get one fitted yourself. And negotiate the price down accordingly.

Brakes
Unfortunately, the Euro R is a little under braked. Not sure why they did, but they didn't fit the Brembo from DC5, but the same single pot 300mm x 25mm disc setup as on the UK Accord Type S, Civic Type R. Economies of scale. As such they have a tendancy to warp their discs. The discs were already warped on my car when I bought. I negotiated the price down accordingly. You have two solutions Accord Type R brakes or DC5 Brembo conversion. The DC5 brembo conversion is the most expensive and requires you to run a spacer for the wheels to clear the brakes. I went for the ATR setup. The disc is still 300m, but the caliper upgrades to a twin pot style and instead of a 25mm thickness, uses 28mm thickness. Cant rate the mod enough, can really stamp on the brakes if needed with confidence. I did it after seeing others on here with Accord and on other forums with other Hondas doing the conversion and rating it.

Tyres
The UK accord 17" wheels are R17 225/45, but the Euro fitment is 215. My car came with 225/45. Not sure if makes too much of a difference positive or negative, but when I need to change tyres, I will look out for 4 x 215 set to try.

Stereo / Headunit
The car is a Japanese import. As such the most the headunit will pick up is radio 2. The headunit is also the control unit for the climate control. You have two options. Get a UK headunit and swap like for like. Or... I wanted to run iPhone - handsfree, iPod connection. I'd tried xcarlink before and didn't rate it. So as a couple on here have also done I fitted an aftermarket headunit below the original headunit, using an adaptor plate that replaces part of the centre console and a conversion harness, so the original headunit still does the climate control and the new one does the sounds. The sound quality, even with the original speakers, is like night and day.

Running one

The accord was sold in the uk, so the majority of parts are the same and available. You can get the unique parts as well if you need to either from a specialist or even from a Honda dealer.

Its a K20A engine? As found in the ITR DC5, the FD2. Also similar to those found in Civic Type Rs. And there are lots of these in the UK and specialists that are used to looking after them. And if needed a few Honda dealers know about them and how to look after them. It has the RBC inlet and a couple of other differences which makes a sweet bit of kit. I've owned the diesel as well. Although this is a performance engine its less hassle than the diesel. Look after it (warm up, etc), fluids (oil, coolant, etc), consumables (filters) and I would say it wouldn't cause you any issues?

I've also owned and ran and FD2 (last japanese import 4 door Civic Type R) and my personal experience is that the petrol cars are cheaper and easier to run than the diesels.

The only thing that might be rare, is the recaro front seat material, I am led to believe you can't get replacement material for it anywhere? Even the Momo steering wheel is same as used in ITR and CTR.

Buy one?
Yes, definitely. They make a practical sports car. Perfect mix for me between being a family car and something I can really enjoy driving.

Some people, and there are few on here don't get why you pay a premium for a fresh import or a UK car. Simple. Condition. History. There are cars in ireland that are cheaper of which some will be minters, but there will also be more dogs. But you get a fresh import, it should be in excellent condition. My car shows this for a 2003 car, it would put some UK 2011 Hondas to shame. Inside and Out and underneath. Condition and history are reasons also to consider a import over a uk car.

Also why buy a Euro R? A type S is cheaper? I must admit I haven't tried a Type S, (watched loads of youtube videos if that counts?) but it won't be the same. Heavier, less powerful, longer gearing, suspension? lack of LSD? IMO I'd still prefer the Euro R. The VTEC engaging lower down, pulling harder, roaring louder, yet still being super smooth and refined when you just want to cruise.

Any more questions feel free to ask.
 
uknowiama said:
I currently own a blue Accord Euro R CL7, also imported by Mike at Torque GT. Torque GT are a very good company to do business with and attentive. When I have got a bit more time, I will reply in full and lots of info. Any specific questions - feel free to ask in here or drop me a PM?
Click to expand...
I sent you a message on the civinfo forum looking for a test drive but I potentially have a part exchange with Mike now. Just need to view each others cars.

How long have you had it? How has the 8000 odd miles of motoring been? No major costs I'm ***uming looking at the work you've done to it?

Can you tell me exactly what you inspected on the Euro when you went to Torque GT to view the car? Again this would be my first car I'm viewing and potentially buying as I previously drove an inherited car for a good many years.

Torque GT do seem well respected by members of japanese car enthusiasts forum so I'm sure the car will be a good one but would like to inspect it too and test drive of course as would anyone else. :)
 
No problem :)

You still selling and looking for a diesel out of interest?

I intend to purchase the car if all is well on my first trip rather that drive down there twice as it's over a 4hr trip for me. So Mike fitted the Autowatch for you? Does the car not come with alarm and immobiliser as standard? If not then it will have to be 2 trips. I would rather the car comply with what my insurance are currently aware of in terms of this import as they have a quote ready for me and all I need to do is phone up and state the part exchange has been done. So to ring them back and tell them there's no immobiliser or something else...well I don't want any insurance difficulties.

Good to know the Euro R has good availability of parts and that many are same as UK spec Accords.

It will be a super difficult sale once I decide it's time to change car but if I can get 5 or more years of trouble free motoring from it with tuning and mods thrown in then I'm happy.

Yes besides the looks of the Euro R, the practicality and the fact it has some pace is a big selling point for me too. You're point about condition is further backed up by the fact that I've read apparently that Japan MOTs are much stricter and they don't salt the roads over there in Japan so cars are less prone to corrosion. Hopefully I will get a thorough test drive and plenty of inspection time. Until that day comes and puts my mind at rest the crazy price to age ratio will not fade haha.

Oh by the way what was your auction sheet ratings for your Euro R?
 
As for my car...

I originally put it up for sale, when we moved back to South Wales and I was still working in Hereford, with the aim of looking for a diesel for the commute. In the meantime, I have got a new job, which is only 10 miles away.

Was toying with the idea of selling the car, to get a Type S estate (bit more practical) or similar and then use the money saved on the new house. Still got a fair few jobs to do.

However at the moment, I need to get the alarm sorted, before it would be in a position to sell.

As for alarm situation, as said I might have been unlucky. This is the first car I have had with an Autowatch alarm, the alarm was alright, as with everything, you're going to get faulty units every now and then. But I don't think the install of an alarm should not remove features from a car. And I didn't find Autowatch to be particularly attentive in getting this sorted.
 
Is it hard to get insured on these motors?
 
I don't think so. My insurance is through Sky insurance. Before I bought mine I had an ITR DC2 98 Spec japanese import. The insurance company wouldn't insure the Euro R. So Sky - the broker found another company. I made sure they knew it was a CL7 Euro R, not a CH1 Accord Type R or a CL1 Euro R. Worked out being a good deal cheaper than before. Guess not many people in the UK have crashed a CL7 Euro R?

Also the car is registered as PLG. I.e anything over 1.5L? Not on emissions so last year 12 months was £220.00 and I just redid the tax and it was £225.00.

A band K car, which is what the FN2 Civic Type R and what my previous FD2 was registered as is now £280.00 a month. Which is what it would also cost for a Type S (2.4L).
 
What kinda of mpg do you get from the euro r?
Ive previously owned a itr and a 2.4 type s so id imagine it would be somewhere between them?
 
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