Having driven a 240 bhp TDI North tuned EP3 (decay manifold, cat back, K100 ECU and carbon airbox) half way to Le Mans and back I've got a good flavour of the EP3.
First up tuned they're fast - I sat with my mates mapped R26 away from a toll booth up to 130+ and got the legs on my other mates mapped 225 (just) in the same scenario. I also got pushed out of the way by an old Frenchman in a 307 derv in top gear at 80mph (bear in mind vtec is mapped at 3500 on this, god know what a standard one is like). They sound unreal!
The gearbox is absolutely next level. I was changing gear form changing gears sake. Combined with razor sharp throttle response I think I could teach my nan to double clutch downshift within half a mile.
The steering feel and handling did feel fairly robotic to me, I also didn't like the cabin, it felt like stepping back in time, even compared to a 182.
Overall standard v standard I'd have a Clio all the way, the Civic do respond so well to mods though but you're talking decent money to see them up over 230 where they come alive.