Honda Integra DC5 Type R
Discussion
Life can have it's ups and downs, and the end of my 2016 was particularly painful, however some good fortune at work meant I found myself in the position to purchase one of my JDM bucket list cars....A DC5.
I've been tooling around in a daily/project MIVEC mitsubishi for the last year or 2, and ever since being exposed to driving a high revving NA engine, the desire for a VTEC honda just increased.
I managed to narrow it down to either a DC5 or S2000, with the DC5 ultimately winning out due to being more practical as a daily, and also my love for all things coupe shaped.
The hunt for a car just before Christmas, with the original plan to buy a freshly imported DC5. There were a few about, but nothing really grabbed me in terms of a combo of price/condition/extras. I was fairly open on exterior/interior colour, but had been leaning towards championship white.
So there I am, on New year's eve-eve, having a look on autotrader, and up pops a Milano red DC5, with low miles, in my price range, and from the photos, looked very tidy...I had a good feeling about this car.
So, bright and early at 5:30am on New Years Eve, I left the comfort of bed in St Albans, to drive down to Crewkerne in deepest Somerset. 3 foggy hours later and I'm faced with the Integra in the flesh.
It soon transpired that the trader had decided he was going to keep the car for himself if I didn't buy it...he was probably the most petrol-headed car dealer I've ever met, and has a sizeable collection of rare Evos and other interesting metal tucked away, we spent a good while just chatting about JDM stuff. All things considered, I felt lucky to have found this window of opportunity, the car had only been up on autotrader 2 days when I phoned.
Gave the car a thorough once over and was very impressed, nary a mark on it, and no rust anywhere. So onto the test drive...wow, did not feel like a 14 year old car, incredibly tight and solid, and compared to my 22 year old Mitsi, very quick indeed. Instantly liked the short throw gear change and purposeful interior.
So here she is- 2002 DC5, FSH, 63,000 on the clock, one UK owner for the last 8 years, Milano red with red interior, and pretty much entirely standard barring an aftermarket midpipe and backbox. Also has the stupidly expensive optional parcel shelf! Negotiated a service and fresh underseal into the sale, and I collect it this coming saturday...or Christmas 2 as I'm dubbing it.
More pics to follow and a write up of my first proper driving experience when I venture down to collect it this coming weekend.
I've been tooling around in a daily/project MIVEC mitsubishi for the last year or 2, and ever since being exposed to driving a high revving NA engine, the desire for a VTEC honda just increased.
I managed to narrow it down to either a DC5 or S2000, with the DC5 ultimately winning out due to being more practical as a daily, and also my love for all things coupe shaped.
The hunt for a car just before Christmas, with the original plan to buy a freshly imported DC5. There were a few about, but nothing really grabbed me in terms of a combo of price/condition/extras. I was fairly open on exterior/interior colour, but had been leaning towards championship white.
So there I am, on New year's eve-eve, having a look on autotrader, and up pops a Milano red DC5, with low miles, in my price range, and from the photos, looked very tidy...I had a good feeling about this car.
So, bright and early at 5:30am on New Years Eve, I left the comfort of bed in St Albans, to drive down to Crewkerne in deepest Somerset. 3 foggy hours later and I'm faced with the Integra in the flesh.
It soon transpired that the trader had decided he was going to keep the car for himself if I didn't buy it...he was probably the most petrol-headed car dealer I've ever met, and has a sizeable collection of rare Evos and other interesting metal tucked away, we spent a good while just chatting about JDM stuff. All things considered, I felt lucky to have found this window of opportunity, the car had only been up on autotrader 2 days when I phoned.
Gave the car a thorough once over and was very impressed, nary a mark on it, and no rust anywhere. So onto the test drive...wow, did not feel like a 14 year old car, incredibly tight and solid, and compared to my 22 year old Mitsi, very quick indeed. Instantly liked the short throw gear change and purposeful interior.
So here she is- 2002 DC5, FSH, 63,000 on the clock, one UK owner for the last 8 years, Milano red with red interior, and pretty much entirely standard barring an aftermarket midpipe and backbox. Also has the stupidly expensive optional parcel shelf! Negotiated a service and fresh underseal into the sale, and I collect it this coming saturday...or Christmas 2 as I'm dubbing it.
More pics to follow and a write up of my first proper driving experience when I venture down to collect it this coming weekend.
Edited by designforlife on Sunday 1st January 09:47
I was a bit wary of the colour, I know about the tendancy for it to be more Milano pink! Luckily the previous owner has been pretty diligent with wax and polish, so it really does look very good all things considered.
My only slight bugbear, is that darn foglight placement on the rear...but at least it is red on red I suppose.
A friend who also recently got a DC5 has been having trouble reversing in the dark since his foglight has been relocated to the reversing light, so at least I don't have that problem.
My only slight bugbear, is that darn foglight placement on the rear...but at least it is red on red I suppose.
A friend who also recently got a DC5 has been having trouble reversing in the dark since his foglight has been relocated to the reversing light, so at least I don't have that problem.
CrouchingWayne said:
Great cars, I wouldn't worry too much about it going pink as apparently it's all under he lacquer anyway so not much you can do to stop it if it happens. Funny you mention the parcel shelf - I had an EK9 previously and had to pay a fortune to get one.
Are the Recaro's in good condition? I love those seats!
And while I agree with you on the fog light position, it doesn't look as obvious on the Milano as it does on the CW - sticks out like a sore thumb on them and I barely noticed on yours.
The bolsters are actually in excellent condition, the lower one on the drivers side isn't crushed at all.Are the Recaro's in good condition? I love those seats!
And while I agree with you on the fog light position, it doesn't look as obvious on the Milano as it does on the CW - sticks out like a sore thumb on them and I barely noticed on yours.
They need a good clean but generally the interior is pretty much immaculate.
Risotto said:
On a DC5 I imported many years ago, I mounted a slim fog light on the underside of the bumper, in the middle where the bumper is further from the ground:
yeah that's the setup on my Mitsubishi.Edited by Risotto on Sunday 1st January 10:49
But like I say, minor gripe given the rest of the car tbh.
BrotherMouzone said:
Great New Year present!
Just need to respray the wheels to a slightly darker shade, and get a new/second hand rear bumper to relocate the fog light and Bob's your uncle.
- Milano pink DC2 owner
Yeah the wheels need refurbing anyway, so the general plan is to get them done in a dark grey/graphite over summer.Just need to respray the wheels to a slightly darker shade, and get a new/second hand rear bumper to relocate the fog light and Bob's your uncle.
- Milano pink DC2 owner
Really rather like them for OEM wheels.
In my excitement on the day, i didn't take any pics, these are the dealer ones...I'll snap a load of the interior next weekend and furnish the thread with the excitement of a parcel shelf.
The irony is that the factory tint on the rear window is dark enough that you wouldn't technically need the parcel shelf unless you wanted to put a box of tissues on it!!
The irony is that the factory tint on the rear window is dark enough that you wouldn't technically need the parcel shelf unless you wanted to put a box of tissues on it!!
Toilet Duck said:
Lovely looking example OP 
Don't know if they are your cup of tea or if you are aware, but Ariel are based 2 miles from that dealer in case you fancy having a look at Atoms/Nomads etc whilst you are in the middle of nowhere in deepest somerset.
Ooh top knowledge, I'll swing by once I've picked it up!! Cheers mateDon't know if they are your cup of tea or if you are aware, but Ariel are based 2 miles from that dealer in case you fancy having a look at Atoms/Nomads etc whilst you are in the middle of nowhere in deepest somerset.
Toilet Duck said:
designforlife said:
Ooh top knowledge, I'll swing by once I've picked it up!! Cheers mate
No worries, if you're into that type of car etc it will be worth it, they are very open/welcoming and you can see vehicles in build etc. I make an annual pilgrimage every year to get my Atom serviced, it's the only reason I "know" Crewkerne.Apologies for the slight thread derail
SeanEP3 said:
Beautiful!
Im a Honda man through and through, and am going to get a DC5 this year, unfortunately, the Milano is out of my price range!
I'm in hemel, so i'll have to keep an eye out for you.
Enjoy!
I'm over hemel quite a lot (work at the snow centre), so keep an eye out!Im a Honda man through and through, and am going to get a DC5 this year, unfortunately, the Milano is out of my price range!
I'm in hemel, so i'll have to keep an eye out for you.
Enjoy!
I got quite lucky finding this, it was £9k, which is less than higher mileage fresh imports coming in. The Milano red swung me bigtime.
Edited by designforlife on Tuesday 3rd January 11:41
rich85uk said:
Ooh, that's more like it 
Collected the car on saturday morning, so thought I'd relate my first 48 hours with it.Set off from Crewkerne and up the M5 to Bristol, with the biggest car related grin and sense of elation I've had when picking up a new motor, marvelling at how comfy those red recaros are.
It's such a quick and capable car, and is so eager to go, like an excited puppy. Planting foot to floor in second is an experience indeed. But at the same time it's pretty solid and planted...driving it normally is a relaxing experience, and sitting in 6th on the motorway it just happily bumbles along. It's been fairly wet so I haven't been able to truly push the car yet, but the handling feels brilliant for an FWD car sofar...i think the bridgestone potenzas it's shod in should do the job.
And then, on day two...I had to call the RAC!
I loaded the car and started it up, to drive back home to St Albans...was stood on the driveway chatting to my mum, and i hear that telltale central locking clunk.
Sure enough, the car had locked itself...would seem the cobra alarm system has a really *useful* feature where it auto locks after a set time or over a set speed...
Of course, the spare fob was in the boot with all the paperwork and my bags...so had to resort to calling RAC while the car sat there, occupant-less, idling away!
one door wedge and thin wire later, he pushed one of the power windows down...literally a 3 minute job, seems so simple once you see it done!
The car is safe and tucked up now, first impressions have been fantastic...my only minor gripe is the lack of view out of the back window...reversing is going to be an interesting experience!
It's going to be booked in with a specialist in the next couple weeks for a good look-over, also needs the oil dropping, as when the garage appointed by the dealer serviced it they used 10w40 instead of 5w40 (for cheaps i'd imagine).
Aside from the bootlock seemingly randomly locking and unlocking itself when driving along, I haven't yet discovered any niggles after the first 300 or so miles of Integra-ing.
Few pics to follow shortly
It's such a quick and capable car, and is so eager to go, like an excited puppy. Planting foot to floor in second is an experience indeed. But at the same time it's pretty solid and planted...driving it normally is a relaxing experience, and sitting in 6th on the motorway it just happily bumbles along. It's been fairly wet so I haven't been able to truly push the car yet, but the handling feels brilliant for an FWD car sofar...i think the bridgestone potenzas it's shod in should do the job.
And then, on day two...I had to call the RAC!
I loaded the car and started it up, to drive back home to St Albans...was stood on the driveway chatting to my mum, and i hear that telltale central locking clunk.
Sure enough, the car had locked itself...would seem the cobra alarm system has a really *useful* feature where it auto locks after a set time or over a set speed...
Of course, the spare fob was in the boot with all the paperwork and my bags...so had to resort to calling RAC while the car sat there, occupant-less, idling away!
one door wedge and thin wire later, he pushed one of the power windows down...literally a 3 minute job, seems so simple once you see it done!
The car is safe and tucked up now, first impressions have been fantastic...my only minor gripe is the lack of view out of the back window...reversing is going to be an interesting experience!
It's going to be booked in with a specialist in the next couple weeks for a good look-over, also needs the oil dropping, as when the garage appointed by the dealer serviced it they used 10w40 instead of 5w40 (for cheaps i'd imagine).
Aside from the bootlock seemingly randomly locking and unlocking itself when driving along, I haven't yet discovered any niggles after the first 300 or so miles of Integra-ing.
Few pics to follow shortly
Edited by designforlife on Monday 9th January 09:12
A few pics. After I got it home on sunday I set about removing those black door protector strips, then gave the car a good wash, polish and sealed with some poorboys EX-P.
Couple of shots of the £££ parcel shelf, and interior...which is in excellent nick considering the car is 14 years old!
Next on the list is replacing the boot badge, as the current one has taken on a bit of water and rusted/discoloured...simple thing but should be quite satisfying.
Booked into Dream Automotive in a few weeks time for a thorough going over...then after that I'll look at getting the wheels refurbed, and she'll be ready for spring/summer
Couple of shots of the £££ parcel shelf, and interior...which is in excellent nick considering the car is 14 years old!
Next on the list is replacing the boot badge, as the current one has taken on a bit of water and rusted/discoloured...simple thing but should be quite satisfying.
Booked into Dream Automotive in a few weeks time for a thorough going over...then after that I'll look at getting the wheels refurbed, and she'll be ready for spring/summer
Butter Face said:
Looks good and still very red which is nice, or does it look redder in pictures than it is?
My EP3 is pretty pinky.
Unbelievably, for Milano red, it is actually that red IRL...I thought the same when i saw the original sales ad pics, but was pleasantly suprised when i viewed the car.My EP3 is pretty pinky.
Previous owner must have been pretty diligent with the polish...the only part of the car that is a little pink is the plastic grill insert on the front of the bonnet which has the honda badge on.
shakindog said:
Had a jdm dc2 a few years ago the only car I've ever regretted selling. Couldn't stretch to a dc 5 so settled for an accord type r in the fastest Honda colour Red.
Lovely motor and top choice of colour.
I got incredibly lucky tbh, this one just came up at the right time...any other month i'd have probably ended up with a championship white or blue one.Lovely motor and top choice of colour.
Decided to a few days of daily driving this week, as the weather has been so sunny.
Such a joy to drive...and i'm starting to zero in on the weird central locking issue, I have my suspicions that it's the car battery itself, as the locks only play up when the cars been sat a few days...as soon as i've started using every day those gremlins seem to have disappeared.
Obligatory work car park shot, couldn't help stopping to have a little look at it once I parked up.
The car is booked in for a little service in a couple weeks, and fitting of a tegiwa intake, which should liven up the crossover noise a bit.
Such a joy to drive...and i'm starting to zero in on the weird central locking issue, I have my suspicions that it's the car battery itself, as the locks only play up when the cars been sat a few days...as soon as i've started using every day those gremlins seem to have disappeared.
Obligatory work car park shot, couldn't help stopping to have a little look at it once I parked up.
The car is booked in for a little service in a couple weeks, and fitting of a tegiwa intake, which should liven up the crossover noise a bit.
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