My Honda Accord Type R
Discussion
This is my 2nd ATR & 3rd Type R. Previously owned a UK DC2 Integra for 30k fantastic miles.
The current ride was a purchase from a friend. It's a runout 2002 car & had only 69k on it. Purchased in standard form I've slowly started tweaking it.
As many others have previously attested to- they are something of a Q-car. Good but not the finished article as standard IMO. Maybe not quite as involving as a DC2 & hurt by the extra 200kgs, similar gearing to a jdm 96 dc2 but hampered by 17" wheels (instead of 15's). Also the standard engine mapping narrows the VTEC powerband to ~2000rpm making it an effort to keep in VTEC between gear changes
However these niggles can all be sorted to make a really complete car- breathing mods, shorter final drive & a decent remap are all in the pipe(dream) line...
Chris
The current ride was a purchase from a friend. It's a runout 2002 car & had only 69k on it. Purchased in standard form I've slowly started tweaking it.
As many others have previously attested to- they are something of a Q-car. Good but not the finished article as standard IMO. Maybe not quite as involving as a DC2 & hurt by the extra 200kgs, similar gearing to a jdm 96 dc2 but hampered by 17" wheels (instead of 15's). Also the standard engine mapping narrows the VTEC powerband to ~2000rpm making it an effort to keep in VTEC between gear changes
However these niggles can all be sorted to make a really complete car- breathing mods, shorter final drive & a decent remap are all in the pipe(dream) line...
Chris
Edited by chrismc1977 on Saturday 6th December 03:48
Thanks!
No tin worm issues for me luckily & probably average 25mpg. Have always found my Hondas thirsty. Partly the standard (rich if anything) mapping & the addictive VTEC noise.
It still rates as the best sounding production 4 pot for me!
I do find many folk are unaware of what they are capable of (given a twisty run)
No tin worm issues for me luckily & probably average 25mpg. Have always found my Hondas thirsty. Partly the standard (rich if anything) mapping & the addictive VTEC noise.
It still rates as the best sounding production 4 pot for me!
I do find many folk are unaware of what they are capable of (given a twisty run)
25 is an overall figure for the MPG- it only gets used for the blast to/from work so no tiring extended motorway runs.
What it really needs for me is a shorter final drive as the heady limiter & 17" wheels still allows for top end indicating 150! I'd sooner trade that off for some better acceleration. Fortunately you can get FD kits to go from ~4.2x to 4.64 (or shorter if desired). A sixth gear would top it off. Never mind!
Remapping done properly is ~£1k all in. ECU/harness/Hondata & a couple of other bits & pieces. With the right bolt ons the engine can be suitably optimised. Nice linear stronger pull across the range rather than being an engine of 2 characters. As/is it is all too easy to be caught off guard in the wrong gear by other motorists with torque!
Going in for a once over in the new year with my local Honda specialist- clearances/belts/fast road geo etc. Will get a health check on it at the same time
What it really needs for me is a shorter final drive as the heady limiter & 17" wheels still allows for top end indicating 150! I'd sooner trade that off for some better acceleration. Fortunately you can get FD kits to go from ~4.2x to 4.64 (or shorter if desired). A sixth gear would top it off. Never mind!
Remapping done properly is ~£1k all in. ECU/harness/Hondata & a couple of other bits & pieces. With the right bolt ons the engine can be suitably optimised. Nice linear stronger pull across the range rather than being an engine of 2 characters. As/is it is all too easy to be caught off guard in the wrong gear by other motorists with torque!
Going in for a once over in the new year with my local Honda specialist- clearances/belts/fast road geo etc. Will get a health check on it at the same time
A few little tweaks of late
Fitted a poly front mount insert, short shift & have just received a s/h pair of Remus backboxes (dealer option back in the day) to go with the Solid Fabs down pipe I already have ready to go on
Going to fit these along with a resonated decat- should beef up the tailpipe noise without being intrusive
Just ticked over 71k miles too. So much life left in it!!
Fitted a poly front mount insert, short shift & have just received a s/h pair of Remus backboxes (dealer option back in the day) to go with the Solid Fabs down pipe I already have ready to go on
Going to fit these along with a resonated decat- should beef up the tailpipe noise without being intrusive
Just ticked over 71k miles too. So much life left in it!!
Edited by chrismc1977 on Friday 23 January 19:58
No pics of the seats I'm afraid. Has to be said they are as comfy as any road car seats I've ever sat in!
My commute is only ~20mins but I really wish it was a bit further- would allow the car to stretch its legs a bit more
Remus backboxes are all clean & fettled ready to fit...
Fortunately my missus is away with work so I won't get a b*llocking for putting exhausts on the kitchen floor😚
My commute is only ~20mins but I really wish it was a bit further- would allow the car to stretch its legs a bit more
Remus backboxes are all clean & fettled ready to fit...
Fortunately my missus is away with work so I won't get a b*llocking for putting exhausts on the kitchen floor😚
Taz1383 said:
Why did Honda never implement something across the powerband? The VVC system didn't just give more power (40bhp over standard), but was also economical.
Not sure I understand what you mean? The VTEC technology is pretty long in the tooth nowadays- only 2 separate fixed profiles rather than a single profile whose duration can be electronically adjusted...
The stock mapping isn't that clever tbh- gives the engine that all or nothing feel- deliberately done no doubt
The obligatory breathing mods plus a remap really brings them to life though (as well as making ithe motor more frugal)
Thanks for the comments everyone...
As standard it's very noticeable how sedate progress is until VTEC. Only musters maybe 135lbs/ft of twist pre-vtec (~5800). Certainly not enough for the kerbweight- thus you have to be in the mood to keep it on the boil. Great fun, rewarding but hard work.
Adding my K&N typhoon hasn't helped at all- though it's stronger up top & sounds as good as any VTEC I've heard!
Down pipe, Decat & backboxes will certainly improve matters
As standard it's very noticeable how sedate progress is until VTEC. Only musters maybe 135lbs/ft of twist pre-vtec (~5800). Certainly not enough for the kerbweight- thus you have to be in the mood to keep it on the boil. Great fun, rewarding but hard work.
Adding my K&N typhoon hasn't helped at all- though it's stronger up top & sounds as good as any VTEC I've heard!
Down pipe, Decat & backboxes will certainly improve matters
A few little changes of late with the car
I have fitted dark smoked foglight covers, removed the wing 'VTEC' badges & renewed the faded bootlid 'type r' emblem.
Looks a bit more stealthy & modern now.
Remus boxes & new stoppers to follow- thinking of going red with the front Calipers too....
I have fitted dark smoked foglight covers, removed the wing 'VTEC' badges & renewed the faded bootlid 'type r' emblem.
Looks a bit more stealthy & modern now.
Remus boxes & new stoppers to follow- thinking of going red with the front Calipers too....
Squirrelofwoe said:
The sound is quite something isn't it 
Yours looks fantastic in red.
I've had mine just over 2 years now and it's pushing 138,000 miles. With regular servicing and new bushes recently it still feels fresh as a daisy.
Funnily enough I also got mine having previously owned a DC2 for 30,000 miles!
Certainly does!! Thanks- the red really comes up a treat with a polish. Yours looks fantastic in red.
I've had mine just over 2 years now and it's pushing 138,000 miles. With regular servicing and new bushes recently it still feels fresh as a daisy.
Funnily enough I also got mine having previously owned a DC2 for 30,000 miles!
My DC2 sadly was more milano pink, but the Accord has resisted the fade well
For me, my first ATR after a tweaked UKDM dc2 Integra was a disappointment.
The killer was the kerbweight added to the stunted gearing on 17" wheels. Yes it might have had more torque but the ITR never ever felt 'flat' off VTEC the way the ATR does. Some of this can also be attributed to the stock mapping which only gives VTEC @ 5800 til 7900 limiter...
In the ITR it was 5900 til 8400 limiter. Those extra 500rpms make a real difference to keeping the car in VTEC without needing to rev to the limiter in each gear.
This ATR is a better example- but I still believe they need some essential fettles to really make the most of them. A K&N typhoon, decat & 2.5" exhaust really help free them up. Add a decent remap (Hondata for example) & you get substantial gains across the board- especially with the mid range torque. A slightly stretched limiter & lower VTEC engagement make it far more linear & progressive...
A 4.64fd brings the gearing back to ITR levels which still equates to a ~140mph top speed on the (standard) limiter in 5th & more accessible performance lower down. How they should have been from the factory...
I've never ever understood those that say type-R's are too busy on the motorway etc. Sure they cruise pulling more rpm's than most- but then they Rev further than most & are so smooth they are not intrusive in the slightest...I never ever got out of the Integra or the Accords feeling fragged.
The killer was the kerbweight added to the stunted gearing on 17" wheels. Yes it might have had more torque but the ITR never ever felt 'flat' off VTEC the way the ATR does. Some of this can also be attributed to the stock mapping which only gives VTEC @ 5800 til 7900 limiter...
In the ITR it was 5900 til 8400 limiter. Those extra 500rpms make a real difference to keeping the car in VTEC without needing to rev to the limiter in each gear.
This ATR is a better example- but I still believe they need some essential fettles to really make the most of them. A K&N typhoon, decat & 2.5" exhaust really help free them up. Add a decent remap (Hondata for example) & you get substantial gains across the board- especially with the mid range torque. A slightly stretched limiter & lower VTEC engagement make it far more linear & progressive...
A 4.64fd brings the gearing back to ITR levels which still equates to a ~140mph top speed on the (standard) limiter in 5th & more accessible performance lower down. How they should have been from the factory...
I've never ever understood those that say type-R's are too busy on the motorway etc. Sure they cruise pulling more rpm's than most- but then they Rev further than most & are so smooth they are not intrusive in the slightest...I never ever got out of the Integra or the Accords feeling fragged.
Hoping to get a new B-pipe in the next couple of months then my resonated decat can be fabbed and fitted along with Remus back boxes. Having driven an example with a decat they make a very noticeable difference in how the car picks up lower down
Have had a minor drama with a 'properly' seized NSF caliper this month. Pads/discs to follow
Have had a minor drama with a 'properly' seized NSF caliper this month. Pads/discs to follow
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