RE: PH Heroes: Honda Integra Type-R

[JensenA]

I've got a TVR, but I love the Integra, great drivers car, I'm also a big admirer of Honda, so for all you honda fans who dont know, heres a couple of interesting facts about them, sort of gives you an idea of Honda's attitude.
Most bosses of Car companies come from a Sales/Accounting/Marketing background. Honda bosses all come from an Engineering background.
Honda don't like Turbo-charging, thay regard it as 'Dis-honourable', an easy way to achieve more power, they look for an engineering and engine design solution to get more power.

[Riyazc]

Had an ITR for 3 1/2 yrs and there really isnt a day that goes by that i regret having to sell it.

For those that have one .. go outside, take off the airbox cover, find a quiet road and hammer it ... once it goes into VTEC youll hear a noice like nothing before!

And FYI ... the wheels arent 16's ... there 15's, and should stay that way!

[All2Chewy]

5.5secs 0-60 or even 6.2 secs 0-60 is hard to believe in a standard Integra Type-R, I had one for over three years and even fitted an induction kit and although I would suggest that it could exceed the 0-60 time of 6.7 secs that Honda offically declare, It would be extremely hard pushed to do 5.5 secs unless there was some tinkering going on under the bonnet. At 5.5secs you are talking about a car that can do Super Car acceleration for £19k. I doubt that very much.
Also why would Honda declare a 0-60 time of 6.7secs if it could do it in 5.5 secs???
Don't get me wrong these are great cars, I would have another in an instant but as for 5.5secs for standard non-modded Integra UK spec then your having a laugh.

However if your talking about the newer model with the more curvy body and a 2.0litre engine that's being sold overseas but not in the UK (Honda you have missed a trick!) Then that I can believe.

[stew-S160]

All2Chewy said:

5.5secs 0-60 or even 6.2 secs 0-60 is hard to believe in a standard Integra Type-R, I had one for over three years and even fitted an induction kit and although I would suggest that it could exceed the 0-60 time of 6.7 secs that Honda offically declare, It would be extremely hard pushed to do 5.5 secs unless there was some tinkering going on under the bonnet. At 5.5secs you are talking about a car that can do Super Car acceleration for £19k. I doubt that very much.
Also why would Honda declare a 0-60 time of 6.7secs if it could do it in 5.5 secs???
Don't get me wrong these are great cars, I would have another in an instant but as for 5.5secs for standard non-modded Integra UK spec then your having a laugh.

However if your talking about the newer model with the more curvy body and a 2.0litre engine that's being sold overseas but not in the UK (Honda you have missed a trick!) Then that I can believe.

not everyone tests their cars the same way. alot of manufacturers test with two people, half/full tank of fuel and timing gear. some with just the driver and less fuel. i have no trouble believing 5.5 or sub 6 seconds to 60mph.

[allforone]

[quote=EvoBarry. And even then, a quick run round the block will leave you wondering what the fuss is all about, you need to really push the car to feel it working at its best.
[/quote]

It took me a while to really understand it, probably a good year (honestly). The rear balance and front end grip is very good. You always have massive confidence in the front end of the car, which to me makes it very fast on the road. It was always going to be a classic but only now that lots of people are overlooking the badge snobbery and seeking them out is there any fuss. 8 years ago when I had mine no-one gave it a second look.

[Scottie - NW]

JensenA said:

Honda don't like Turbo-charging, thay regard it as 'Dis-honourable', an easy way to achieve more power, they look for an engineering and engine design solution to get more power.

I'd say turbo charging IS an engineering and design solution to get more power. Simply increasing engine capacity isn't. Sounds like Honda engineers stuck up their own exhausts to me, to put it in engineering terms for them ;-)

[ExPat2B]

With a car like an Integra the slowest part is the launch and its all about grip under VTEC conditions. If you put grippy tyres on a grippy surface on a warm day, like an airfield you can get much better times and launch 1000-2000rpm higher. 1/2 second either way is not a lot of time.

[allforone]

Scottie - NW said:

JensenA said:

Honda don't like Turbo-charging, thay regard it as 'Dis-honourable', an easy way to achieve more power, they look for an engineering and engine design solution to get more power.

I'd say turbo charging IS an engineering and design solution to get more power. Simply increasing engine capacity isn't. Sounds like Honda engineers stuck up their own exhausts to me, to put it in engineering terms for them ;-)

The reason that they (Honda) used to talk down turbo's was the lag and throttle response of forced induction.

[EvoBarry]

senna786 said:

If you want a rear wheel drive cult classic go for the corrolla RWD AE86... great handling, but a little pricey nowadays!!

wish I had kept a hold of mine all those years ago!!! and not chopped it in at the auction for pennies!!

I've had two, the last one alongside the ITR I agree that they are great cars but not in the same way as the ITR is imo. Nearest thing to an Hachi these days is an MX5 actually...

[Gazzab]

Alex said:

I've owned my DC2 for three and half years. It really is one of the best value performance cars out there. It's reliable, cheap to run, and I average 32mpg. I've done dozens of trackdays and 70 laps of the 'Ring in it and the only major expense has been a replacement gearbox, which is probably the mechanical weak-spot, if there is one.

Forgot to add: it doesn't use a drop of oil, pulls as hard as it did when new, yet has done 126k miles (50k with me)!

Edited by Alex on Wednesday 30th April 12:21

But you look so lovely driving it as well.

[Montaver]

Indeed, awesome car, I will own one someday, either that or an EK9. If anyone is interested, there is an awesome video called 'Type R Legend', its about 70 mins long, but talks about the development of the NSX, Integra, EK9 Civic and shows some S2K on the ring. Plus the voice over is quality

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-533066467...

enjoy!

[Antonio 82]

Montaver said:

Indeed, awesome car, I will own one someday, either that or an EK9. If anyone is interested, there is an awesome video called 'Type R Legend', its about 70 mins long, but talks about the development of the NSX, Integra, EK9 Civic and shows some S2K on the ring. Plus the voice over is quality

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-533066467...

enjoy!

Or better still, buy the DVD: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Best-Motoring-Legend-NSX-R...

[Digital]

EvoBarry said:

To those of you wondering what the fuss is about, the only way to find out is to drive one and feel the car for yourself. And even then, a quick run round the block will leave you wondering what the fuss is all about, you need to really push the car to feel it working at its best. It'll feel like a "nice" hot hatch up to a point but then when you get it really loaded up into a bend, squeeze the power, feel the car settle in that four wheel drift stance, then the diff starts to tighten and the nose comes in line even more... the howling engine hauling you to past the apex and out of the corner, still with revs to spare... awesome cars for the money. Someone said it earlier, everyone should try one at least once!

Interesting you should mention that, my first test drive of an Integra was from a garage, so not much chance to really get a feel for it. After that test drive I left feeling the car was a bit one-dimensional and was underwhelmed. It was only 6 months later when I went to view the car I ended up buying (privately) that the owner showed me what it was capable of, and was fully encouraging me to see for myself too - without that I think it would have taken me a while to realise just how special it was.

I think there are still a lot of people out there completely ignorant to just how good the ITR is. On a more mainstream (i.e. non car oriented) forum recently, I responded to a thread about "what performance car to buy for 7K" suggesting the Teg, but the response was that it was "too chav" - I think it eventually boiled down to everyone else suggesting the Leon Cupra, which is a fine car but nothing like as special as the Honda. Alternatively people just resort to the old line about "no torque", as if it's a hardship to rev the engine and use one of the best gearboxes I've experienced.

I eventually "upgraded" from the Teg to a VX220 Turbo, but despite the extra power (and torque), I missed the way you could just attack a back road in the Honda. The Exige I have now is much closer in spirit to the Integra and is much easier to take by the scruff of the neck than the VX ever was. I know some people have suggested the ITR is the closest thing to an FWD Elise, but I'd go further and say it's the closest thing to an FWD Exige

[Chris_R]

I miss mine every day. True the S4 is faster but its a bulldozer to handle in comparison to the teg.
Nothing has made me smile as much as stirring the gear box of the ITR and threading a few corners together down the Chepstow - Monmouth road...something I enjoyed so much on the test drive when I bought the car that I returned a further 5 times just to have a go again (I live in Bath so not a short drive by any means)

[rallycross]

The first generation Integra Type R certainly deserves to be a PH Hero, one of the very best in fact.

Have owned 3 of them, and at the same time had lots of other cars to compare them with (cars that on paper would be much better; EVO's, Porsches, BMW M's, Impreza's, VX's etc etc).

If you've ever had the chance of a proper drive in a DC2 Type R you will know what I mean...

Everything is perfectly weighted, the car offers amazing grip yet perfectly balanced handling, and the way it performs give you the choice of either going out and having an amazing drive (ie on track) or if not in the mood (or the girl/f is driving) can be driven like any Civic giving 30+ mpg and docile manners.

Have driven Integra Type R's round a few circuits, and Brands and Lydden Hill are particular memories of one of the best handling cars I've ever driven on track.

Its only been mentioned briefly above, the LSD really makes a huge difference on a twisty or damp circuit (eg Lydden) and these cars can be made to behave like no other fwd car I know off (and I've driven most), the confidence they give you and the liberties you can take are amazing.

Try one if you can

[speedtwelve]

Digital

Thanks for the ITR/Corrado comparison. I reckon the Corrado could do with an LSD for track work. I've always been impressed with some DC2 ITRs I've seen at trackdays, hustling some much more expensive machinery that weren't exactly being driven like Miss Daisy themselves.

[Teggy_R]

stew-S160 said:

seeing as others are posting theirs, here is my old one-








i miss it badly.

I think i remember seeing this on the forum, awesome car and great read.

[gmackay2]

i had a wee play with one of these recently on a late winter's evening when the roads were quite greasy, and they don't exactly go round slippy roundabouts very well, the guy just understeered straight on and nearly put it into a grass banking, meanwhile me with my ASC (e39 sport)doing its stuff was able to briskly go round the roundabout as well as brake and avoid the ITR ploughing straight on! Also the guy must have tuned his up quite a bit cos it did sound good, but it just couldn't put any power down i think he was spinning right up to 4th, while again i pulled away every time and mine must weigh twice the ITR???? A lot of respect for them but would never buy one.

[pbirkett]

gmackay2 said:

i had a wee play with one of these recently on a late winter's evening when the roads were quite greasy, and they don't exactly go round slippy roundabouts very well, the guy just understeered straight on and nearly put it into a grass banking, meanwhile me with my ASC (e39 sport)doing its stuff was able to briskly go round the roundabout as well as brake and avoid the ITR ploughing straight on! Also the guy must have tuned his up quite a bit cos it did sound good, but it just couldn't put any power down i think he was spinning right up to 4th, while again i pulled away every time and mine must weigh twice the ITR???? A lot of respect for them but would never buy one.

Either something wrong with the car, or the driver was a complete tool, wet roundabouts are one of the best things about the ITR, great fun

ETA: Yours is a 525i Sport ? Very nice I must say, but absolutely no chance on corners or on a straight against a well driven ITR

Edited by pbirkett on Friday 2nd May 06:06

[joesnow]

This is turning into a realfanboy thread! Great stuff.

Tip it into a tight corner on the brakes, changing down with a bit of fancy footwork, and the active rear toe-in gets woking allowing you to slip the back. Wait for the apex.... wait, and nail the throttle in second, lsd tightening your line, revs rising and then wallop, the vtec cam engages, the note hardens into a superbikesque wail, and you're violently pulled to the next corner. This time a nice sweeper with great vision. Lightly touch the brakes, setting up the car for the turn and hint steer the car in. With the throttle pinned the Integra keeps it's line, engine wailing, the lsd preventing any understeer, and beautifully balanced with the back wheels tucked under the arches, nose high, the Type R dances over the tarmac in a foursquare nose lead drift. Next, to a T junction where you join the rest of the hum-drum traffic. You remember where you are going. Home. The long way 'round. The road you just nailed remaining a secret between you and your banzai friend.

You had TOTAL confidence in it's abilities, and could drive it at an alarming rate over A and B roads.

I had a UK Integra for two and a half years, swopping to an M3 Evo last year, and I miss the Integra's immediacy. The balance of the car, and the way it would attack the road on it's skinny tyres with the throttle pinned, engine wailing in the far numbers of the tacho was just an awesome driving experiance.

It's brilliance was that it was accesable peformnce at reasonable speeds, and flattered the driver. Combine this with a predictable fwd chassis, and you have a cult car that begs to be driven as hard as you dare.

Edited by joesnow on Friday 2nd May 07:32