Tell me about Integras...

[Kavalree]

Ok, so I have been without a car for ages now, and after being a driver for a bit and paying back work more than I should, I have payed my license cost off, so I have more 'free' cash about, so would like to spend it.

I was thinking of something nice and worthwhile, not stupid expensive and not a cheap rust bucket.

I like the look and styling of the Integra Type-R. But I do not know much about the machine itself. Care to tell about them OCUK, and care to tell me about other cars I should look at? I can potentially afford about £300 a month to cover costs of fuel and parts. I have saved for a long time, since clearing my debts, and have accrued a fair amount of cash. It wouldn't take much longer to get to £5K.

So, OCUK, can you talk to me about Integra Type-R's and anything else that might tickle my fancy?

 

[Muffin`]

If you cba with rust then don't get a DC2's, it'll be a constant battle. If you're looking for something which you don't mind chucking the odd few quid at but ultimately still want something quick and cheap look at Civic Type-R's or Clio 182's (Trophy's are dropping to about 5k now). The running costs will be lower and with £300 a month disposable you're laughing.

For 5k you can defiantly get a face lift (04+) CTR or a 182 with both cup packs or a little more for a Trophy. CTR will probably be more to insure, but cheaper to run.

 

[Skeeter]

An Integra will fail the 'not stupid expensive' criteria.

If you are after 'a fun car' rather than strictly wanting a Teg, then there are a lot of other options, like the CTR or Clio that Muffin suggests.

EDIT: What about a Corolla T-Sport? I hear they are great

 

[ubersonic]

*Just my 2 cents*

I owned a DC2 Type-R for 4 months in 2009, My general feeling is that they are overrated and overpriced, im not saying they are not a good car as they are, quite good but they have developed a reputation they don't live up to and the scene tax accounts for the majority of the value of the car.

The greatest weakness of the Type-R is also its greatest strength, its a Type-R. This isn't a bad thing ofc because as everyone knows Type-R's are fast and cool and worth a lot. The downside is that with the exception of the NSX a Type-R is basically a slow car (Accord, Civic, Integra) made to go fast, in the case of the DC2 this is very apparent as the base Integra of the day was outclassed by the Escort/Astra of the day. As such the DC2 Type-R is a good car but you have to bear in mind its a slow car with a factory engine swap, handling upgrades and recaros (or at least I was told the recaros in mine were standard).

I moved to the Integra from a Prelude and was pretty disappointed tbh as it didn't live up to the hype, it was roughly the same speed in a straight line and better in the corners, added to that it was noisy, cramped, and lacking in the features department. After I sold it I bought another Prelude (import spec, 200PS, 2ws, LSD) for a grand then had some strut braces and teins fitted, it was quieter, better equipped and more comfortable than the Integra, just as fast and handled better.

 

[Jonnycoupe]

in the case of the DC2 this is very apparent as the base Integra of the day was outclassed by the Escort/Astra of the day.

Huh?

They were never sold in the same markets for a start and the base Integra DC2 came in a number of flavours. My SiR-G was in a different league to something like an Escort or Mk3 Astra!

 

[ubersonic]

Huh?

They were never sold in the same markets for a start and the base Integra DC2 came in a number of flavours. My SiR-G was in a different league to something like an Escort or Mk3 Astra!

Actually they were just not here but that's not really important. I said the base Integra wasn't as good as the Escort/Astra, the SiR-G may be better then an Escort or Mk3 Astra but that's about as relevant to my comment as a Focus ST being better than an Astra Mk4

 

[Jonnycoupe]

Actually they were just not here but that's not really important. I said the base Integra wasn't as good as the Escort/Astra, the SiR-G may be better then an Escort or Mk3 Astra but that's about as relevant to my comment as a Focus ST being better than an Astra Mk4

Which markets? It is important else you wouldn't have thought it appropriate to make the statement. I have issue with its background appearing to be nothing more than conjecture.

Im not sure which part of the automotive journalism sector would have conducted such a test... it has to be that rather than something you have decided your self?

Focus ST in 1993? Nope. The Focus didnt exist then.

Amusingly the step change from the Escort to Focus was the rear setup with a trailing arm pretty much identical to the Honda chassis. VW then played catch up a generation later.

 

[[TW]Fox]

I am no Integra fan at all but to state that the Astra or Escort were better cars is just completely ridiculous and serves only to undermine what was generally a pretty good point..

 

[-Ad-]

I completely agree with ubersonic, the Integra Type-R is just a tarted up old Honda Coupe that has pretty poor handling for a FWD car and a silly little 1.8 engine.

I recommend you better handling FWD cars, maybe check out reviews from car mags or look in the large lists of top 100 handling cars here and there to see what you can find. Or get a Civic Type-R that has a stunning image and is rarer than a Dodo.

Found a pic of one on my HDD and can tell you it looks horrible and slow for a start:

 

[ci_newman]

I completely agree with ubersonic, the Integra Type-R is just a tarted up old Honda Coupe that has pretty poor handling for a FWD car and a silly little 1.8 engine.

I recommend you better handling FWD cars, maybe check out reviews from car mags or look in the large lists of top 100 handling cars here and there to see what you can find. Or get a Civic Type-R that has a stunning image and is rarer than a Dodo.

Found a pic of one on my HDD and can tell you it looks horrible and slow for a start:

I really hope that the OP's sarcasm meter is working for his sake

The DC2 is reputably a great car, as is the Prelude. The Mk1 MR2 has a scene tax and that is probably slower in a straight line and in corners than a DC2, it doesn't mean that it's not fun to drive though.

If you really can afford to waste £300 a month on running costs, then a DC2 is probably fine. If you want something that *should* be more reliable and cheaper to run, have a look at the CTR.

As for Ubersonic's argument, that's like comparing a 1.1 diesel Peugeot 205 to a Peugeot 205 GTi - both wholly different cars and practically a world apart in their driving experience.

 

[Dogbreath]

The downside is that with the exception of the NSX a Type-R is basically a slow car (Accord, Civic, Integra) made to go fast,

You mean like every hot hatch or performance variant of a model ever made? That is a ridiculous argument, but somehow you managed to do even better:

in the case of the DC2 this is very apparent as the base Integra of the day was outclassed by the Escort/Astra of the day.

Are you actually old enough to be able to comment on this? How many base spec. Escorts, Astras and Integras have you driven?

The Integra had a fundamentally excellent chassis with double wishbone front suspension and multi-link rear. It was then mated to Hondas typically excellent engines. The Escort and Astra both had super budget beam axles and McPherson struts, and both had the dynamics of a bowl of porridge. The Escort in particular had a dire range of engines, clanky old pushrod dinosaurs or the mediocre 8v CVH. At least GM managed to make some half decent small engines back then.

Of course the base spec Integra was never going drive like a Type R, it simply wasn't designed to, in same way the Escort Popular was rather different to drive to the RS Turbo (though sadly not different enough).

Such utterly ridiculous comparisons make a nonsense of any kind of point you were trying to make.

 

[ubersonic]

Which markets?

Australia/America, but like I said its not really important, all my point was trying to illustrate was that when the base DC2 was on sale the were cars in the same class over here that were as good if not better.

Focus ST in 1993? Nope. The Focus didnt exist then.

Ok im pretty sure your just being silly now but if not ill clarify that point, that point was in response to you saying that your SiR-G was in a different league to an Escort/Astra. Of course it is, but I was talking about the base model Integra not a higher spec one. your point about the SiR-G was about as relevant as saying all Focus are better than base model Astras because the ST is.

I am no Integra fan at all but to state that the Astra or Escort were better cars is just completely ridiculous and serves only to undermine what was generally a pretty good point..

Having had the misfortune of having driven a number of Astras/Escorts form that era as well as a 1.6i Integra I genuinely believe the Integra to be the worst of the three, Im not basing that on performance ofc but on the total package.

I completely agree with ubersonic, the Integra Type-R is just a tarted up old Honda Coupe that has pretty poor handling for a FWD car and a silly little 1.8 engine.

Oh come on

I never said it had bad handling, I said it was a slow car (and I mean slow before the Type-R treatment) with factory engine swap, handling upgrades and recaros (has nice wheels too) I also said I liked it

You mean like every hot hatch or performance variant of a model ever made? That is a ridiculous argument

Its not ridiculous when its very relevant to the point, why pay through the nose for a performance model of a slow car when you can just buy a fast car for less than half the price?

 

[Muffin`]

Found a pic of one on my HDD and can tell you it looks horrible and slow for a start:

http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/4383/87080911.jpg

Even though it's 300kg's lighter than it's same gen bigger brother, it just can't handle as well

 

[Skeeter]

Why do all Type R threads go this way?

The Integra is good.
The Integra is also expensive.

If you want 'a hot hatch', then your money is better spent else where. If you absolutely must have an Integra, well then nothing anyone is going to say is going to change that, so buy a Teg.

The OP needs to expand a bit more on what he wants and also his age and position regarding insurance. So far we have a £5k budget and £300 running costs for something worthwhile and decent, and presumably hot hatchy. So how many miles do you do? What level of comfort do you want? What do you consider the key points you want from a car? How will it be used? How long do you plan on keeping it?

 

[Spunj99]

Ok, so I have been without a car for ages now, and after being a driver for a bit and paying back work more than I should, I have payed my license cost off, so I have more 'free' cash about, so would like to spend it.

I was thinking of something nice and worthwhile, not stupid expensive and not a cheap rust bucket.

I like the look and styling of the Integra Type-R. But I do not know much about the machine itself. Care to tell about them OCUK, and care to tell me about other cars I should look at? I can potentially afford about £300 a month to cover costs of fuel and parts. I have saved for a long time, since clearing my debts, and have accrued a fair amount of cash. It wouldn't take much longer to get to £5K.

So, OCUK, can you talk to me about Integra Type-R's and anything else that might tickle my fancy?

They probably can be considered stupid expensive though, £5k for a 11+ year old Honda? Since I own one though, thank god for that scene tax.

Other than that, unless you buy a lemon they are bulletproof and will require very little maintenance beyond an annual oil change and the usual consumables.

I've had mine for 2 and a half years, 250+ miles a week and my only costs have been oil for services and tyres. Almost unbelievable really, its so solid...but thats perhaps mainly because its built by quality Japanese engineers rather than some chump in...Swindon?

 

[-Ad-]

ci_newman as sensible as ever, I'm not

Even though it's 300kg's lighter than it's same gen bigger brother, it just can't handle as well

Why do all Type R threads go this way?

The Integra is good.
The Integra is also expensive.

If you want 'a hot hatch', then your money is better spent else where. If you absolutely must have an Integra, well then nothing anyone is going to say is going to change that, so buy a Teg.

The OP needs to expand a bit more on what he wants and also his age and position regarding insurance. So far we have a £5k budget and £300 running costs for something worthwhile and decent, and presumably hot hatchy. So how many miles do you do? What level of comfort do you want? What do you consider the key points you want from a car? How will it be used? How long do you plan on keeping it?

Not going anyway, just bringing up teh fact is based upon a crappy old model doesn't really matter, as you can't easily get one over here and it the Type-R is a fantastic drivers car, there's no denying that.

They might be expensive for their age, but they are still excellent, more raw and dare I say it better than the later Type-Rs. They are also rusty and noisy

Would love to have a go in a 182, they are getting silly cheap these days, but with all older hot hatches and the like, as these cars get on more and more will need doing to them, so bare in mind they won't be as fresh as they were all those years ago.

£300 pcm. Well I hardly pay anything, since moving up to Aberdeen I've had my outer CV boot go (£10 + a crate of Peroni to fix) and that's it in 4 months. The same for many months before for the previous year, but then again I did spend £4k during the first year fixing problems and carrying out a massive overhaul and preventive maintenance.

 

[Skeeter]

I meant 'going this way' as in just people who aren't the OP having pointless arguments.

The OP needs to detail its use. Personally, I did 70 miles (A road in traffic) a day for 10 months in a 172 and it was ok. The leather and auto wipers and climate etc all made it bearable. I would imagine the same commute in a DC2 with a shouty exhaust and less of the toys would have been a pain, and also 'spoilt' the car some what (kinda made if less special, if you know what I mean?).

I now get the train to work, and only use my 172 for track days or hooning or the odd occasion we don't use my GF's car. In this situation a Teg would be ideal, or even better (ignoring the cost of it).

(We will now get people going "I did 200 miles a day in a Teg and it was fine!". Thats nice for you, the key point here, is personal preference, hence the reason I said 'personally'.)

We need to know what the OP wants.

 

[-Ad-]

I meant 'going this way' as in just people who aren't the OP having pointless arguments.

The OP needs to detail its use. Personally, I did 70 miles (A road in traffic) a day for 10 months in a 172 and it was ok. The leather and auto wipers and climate etc all made it bearable. I would imagine the same commute in a DC2 with a shouty exhaust and less of the toys would have been a pain, and also 'spoilt' the car some what (kinda made if less special, if you know what I mean?).

I now get the train to work, and only use my 172 for track days or hooning or the odd occasion we don't use my GF's car. In this situation a Teg would be ideal, or even better (ignoring the cost of it).

(We will now get people going "I did 200 miles a day in a Teg and it was fine!". Thats nice for you, the key point here, is personal preference, hence the reason I said 'personally'.)

We need to know what the OP wants.

Completely agree with you on all points in there.

200 miles in a Teg is tiring, no matter what people say. My ass starts to hurt after about 1.5hrs in teh seat, and then the leg goes onto hurt. Not fun a tall, but I have a 10mile daily commute and go for fun drives, that's it, so your point in knowing what the OP wants and does day to day is most important.

I have to say that driving the Teg daily is a pain as it's mainly through or around town with no fun routes does becmoe annoying, but that one time you get a nice piece of road and enjoy a drive just restores your faith in the car

 

[Kavalree]

Why do all Type R threads go this way?

The Integra is good.
The Integra is also expensive.

If you want 'a hot hatch', then your money is better spent else where. If you absolutely must have an Integra, well then nothing anyone is going to say is going to change that, so buy a Teg.

The OP needs to expand a bit more on what he wants and also his age and position regarding insurance. So far we have a £5k budget and £300 running costs for something worthwhile and decent, and presumably hot hatchy. So how many miles do you do? What level of comfort do you want? What do you consider the key points you want from a car? How will it be used? How long do you plan on keeping it?

I am 21, and my insurance is clean, have 1 fault accident where I crashed my BMW into a tree, entirely my fault, driving too brisk...

I would drive the 6 miles round trip to work and back, also go out to places on Saturdays. Driving seat doesn't have to be bed style comfy, only mediocre and bearable as my trucks...

Key points would be looks and style. Definitely handling over raw speed, otherwise I would have had a Camaro SS...Also I like engine sounds...

It would be used to get back and to with work and out at weekends as detailed earlier. I would keep it until I could afford something awesome, so probably a long-ish time 5+ years...

 

[Skeeter]

I think, as you don't sound like a passionate Integra fan and instead seem to want a decent hot hatch or fun car, the other options are a good bet. The CTR, or a Clio for example, but there are also a lot of other cars that can fit in this catagory. I don't know what fast Fords go for for example? Or other Jap stuff? Maybe even into 2 seat sports car teretory with an MX5 or similar?

Basically, I don't think an Integra is what your after.