Integra (DC2) vs Corrado VR6

[acme]

Possibility I might be offered a late VR6 Corrado. It got me thinking, another (iconic to me) car I come back to time and time again is an ITR.

So, pointless to compare them, utterly different cars, need to decide what I want? Has anyone owned both & has any observations?

Neither will be a daily, neither will be garaged and both will in large measure be to tick a box.

Cheers for any input.

[rallycross]

Both great coupes was lucky enough to have low mileage examples of both at the same time, the DC2 makes the VR6 feel like a blunt instrument but was much better for long trips, both future classics.

[everyeggabird]

My son has an Integra,it is bloody awful,it is too loud,too low,too noisy.(It is far from standard though). BUT..............It puts a huge smile on your face when having a go in it.
I had to borrow it one day and did look like a bit of a loser driving it but oh my god it goes round corners so well.One of those cars you would want to really get used to driving so you could wring its neck at every opportunity.

[FD3Si]

Owned a dc2 for three years, and drove a 16v Corrado a fair bit, and drove a vr6 once
I'd take the Integra every single time. Very different cars on my eyes, the DC2 is all about feedback, experience, and feel, whereas the Corrado felt nowhere near as sharp. I just didn't get the what the fuss was about.

The 'teg was basically bombproof. Only ever needed servicing items in our ownership. It did track days, holidays, bike transportation, daily duties, and everything in between, and was faultless.

My friends Corrado always seemed to need some work, but to be fair it was a bit older (but not much).

My only complaint about the 'teg was that it just goads you into wringing it's neck the whole time! I've had quite a few fast cars, but none seemed to have the ability to make me nail them on every back road like the 'teg! The Corrado never did anything like that.

I'd have another in a heartbeat.

[ubbs]

I'd say corrado vr6 but then I'm biased I had 2 in the 90s a brand new one in 95 then a 16k mile one I found at a vw dealership which I just had to have in 98 fantastic cars, I think replacement parts are an issue now on these cars now you just don't see them that much

[rb5er]

ITR no contest. Corrado is just a cacky mk3 golf in a frock.

[HiAsAKite]

rb5er said:

ITR no contest. Corrado is just a cacky mk3 golf in a frock.

No it isn't.
Like saying my Chim is a fiesta as it has fiesta rear light, or a cavalier on account of the steering column (ok - that's an extreme example- but it is not a mk3 golf)/

Had a VR6 Corrado for 7-8 years and 90,000 miles.
Awesome car, not the fastest by todays standards, and not lightweight and pointy like an elise or suchlike, but when the trick suspension did its thing, it really would tuck into corners well, and the smooth VR6 sounds fabulous, and not in a 'boy racery' way.

Compared to an ITR? not driven one, heard good things, however the Corrado was/is a very good car (still regret selling mine!)

Drive both, decide which you like. Note that finding a 'non-tired/sh@gged' one may be hard now, without paying silly money for them,

[SidewaysSi]

Integra by some distance. Brilliant car and thoroughly recommended. One of the best, if not the best front driver ever made. Responds fantastically to being thrashed and with a bit of LFB, can get it at some interesting angles!

Had mine over 4 years as a daily and even alongside an Elise S1 and Caterham, it was a blast. It could do it all-trackdays, popping to the shops, long distances etc. And it never ever broke down.

The VW is fine but very different - bloated, heavy old boat in comparison. Refined and good on motorways but that's not my thing.

[nickfrog]

Only ever driven a DC2 on track so maybe not that relevant. But what a chassis, pointy front end, mobile rear end turning in on the brakes, surprising traction, little fade even on oe pads, brilliant engine when on it.

Corrado probably the better road car for longer journeys but as a second car no real contest.

[rb5er]

HiAsAKite said:

rb5er said:

ITR no contest. Corrado is just a cacky mk3 golf in a frock.

No it isn't.
Like saying my Chim is a fiesta as it has fiesta rear light, or a cavalier on account of the steering column (ok - that's an extreme example- but it is not a mk3 golf)/

Errm your example as you acknowledge is ridiculous.

Now if your chassis, brakes, suspension, layout and interior were all fiesta then it might be levelled that it is basically the same car underneath but this is not the case with the Chim. Sharing 1 part does not do that.

Much like an Audi A3 is basically a Golf/Leon and a Passat is basically an A4/Octavia etc etc, just as is with a mk3 Golf and Corrado as they are the same chassis with the same interior and near enough the same engines etc etc. Sharing 90% of parts does do that.

Chim is nothing like a fiesta. Corrado is 90% mk3 golf.

Edited by rb5er on Monday 31st August 13:20

[egor110]

Which is most important engine noise or handling?

The vr6 will have that engine noise from the second you start it up, the integra will only feel special if you track it or have nice b roads to hustle it around.

[SidewaysSi]

egor110 said:

Which is most important engine noise or handling?

The vr6 will have that engine noise from the second you start it up, the integra will only feel special if you track it or have nice b roads to hustle it around.

The Integra's engine is better than the VW's in every way except perhaps low sped noise but does that really matter?

Plenty of places to exercise the Honda's engine too due to sensible gearing.

As for feeling special, it does that very well at all speeds due to brilliant seats, great damping and the feel only a homologation special can give.

The only negative with the Honda as a driving tool is the lack if granular feel through the steering when the diff isn't being worked. If only it had proper steering feel, it would be nigh on perfect.

[egor110]

SidewaysSi said:

egor110 said:

Which is most important engine noise or handling?

The vr6 will have that engine noise from the second you start it up, the integra will only feel special if you track it or have nice b roads to hustle it around.

The Integra's engine is better than the VW's in every way except perhaps low sped noise but does that really matter?

Plenty of places to exercise the Honda's engine too due to sensible gearing.

As for feeling special, it does that very well at all speeds due to brilliant seats, great damping and the feel only a homologation special can give.

The only negative with the Honda as a driving tool is the lack if granular feel through the steering when the diff isn't being worked. If only it had proper steering feel, it would be nigh on perfect.

Depends what the o/p wants to hear a creamy v6 or the howling vtec.

I'm not talking about 0-60 or top speed figures , i'm also not knocking either car.

[V8RX7]

acme said:

So, pointless to compare them, utterly different cars

I was about to post this ^^^ when I saw the thread title.

I've owned both.

Basically the DC2 is a track car it is the most frustrating car I've owned on the road - possibly great if you commute through Wales at 2am but awful in the Midlands.

The VR6 is a good, reasonably fast car although I've never understood where the pricing comes from - an E36 328 is the better car at half the price.

[acme]

Thanks for all the responses fellas.

In many respects this confirms all that I've read, they're very different, both great, but likely for me the ITR is the more appropriate. I'm lucky to already have use of 6 cylinders, and the ITR would allow me to occasionally track it. That it's a homologation special in essence is great, that it can be frustrating but wonderful when you access that special 10% is also fine. I want a challenge!

Cheers

[kambites]

rb5er said:

Corrado is 90% mk3 golf.

I'd like to see your maths there, I'd say maybe 10%. In fact it shares more with the mk2 Golf than the mk3.

Edited by kambites on Monday 31st August 17:46

[hombrepaulo]

kambites said:

rb5er said:

Corrado is 90% mk3 golf.

I'd like to see your maths there, I'd say maybe 10%. In fact it shares more with the mk2 Golf than the mk3.

Edited by kambites on Monday 31st August 17:46

Agreed. Depends on model (8v/16v/G60/Vr6) and the age, plus they went through quite a few changes during the production run. But at no point were they 90% Mk3 golf

[iloveboost]

kambites said:

I'd like to see your maths there, I'd say maybe 10%. In fact it shares more with the mk2 Golf than the mk3.

Edited by kambites on Monday 31st August 17:46

Think the front subframe is Mk2 Golf aka Mk1 Seat Ibiza, rear is Passat I think.

[300bhp/ton]

acme said:

Possibility I might be offered a late VR6 Corrado. It got me thinking, another (iconic to me) car I come back to time and time again is an ITR.

So, pointless to compare them, utterly different cars, need to decide what I want? Has anyone owned both & has any observations?

Neither will be a daily, neither will be garaged and both will in large measure be to tick a box.

Cheers for any input.

Both cool cars, but both daily drivers IMO, not weekend warriors. Although the DC2 is special enough to take for a blast just for the shear hell of it. The Corrado, well I'm sure it's nice, but I think it's a car you'd enjoy driving because you are going somewhere, rather than simply going for a drive to enjoy the car.

[acme]

300bhp/ton said:

Both cool cars, but both daily drivers IMO, not weekend warriors. Although the DC2 is special enough to take for a blast just for the shear hell of it. The Corrado, well I'm sure it's nice, but I think it's a car you'd enjoy driving because you are going somewhere, rather than simply going for a drive to enjoy the car.

Kind of agree, ITR's great but no Elise/Caterham/Westfield etc.

Part of the logic is that it's usable, occasionally fulfilling commuting etc. I'm trying to enjoy naturally aspirated, revvy cars for as long as possible