RE: Honda Integra Type R: PH Carpool

[jatinder]

TegR said:

Coming up to 9 years for me. Really want a VX220, but can't see myself selling the ITR.

Don't Trust me!

if you want a weekend only car then get the VX220.

[Riknos]

Always wanted these as a kid, (in white of course) and used to see one about when I was 17/18... When I turned 20, and insurance was possible / I could afford one, I came very close.. But ended up with a Celica GT4, regretted it ever since. Prices haven't moved much in the 7 years since.
I ended up going for an S2000 earlier in the year as it's been something I've wanted for years, but still have a ITR-shaped hole I need to fill, hopefully before they get too old and rusty, or before they sky rocket in price...!

[MiseryStreak]

EvoBarry said:

I was contacted by someone asking questions about my old car recently yes, the current owners spent some money tidying it up a little more too I believe, wheels aside.

I had a great seven years with mine, did everything in it, including the two EVO features which were really interesting to be involved with as well as vindication for our choice of vehicle. What made it all the more sweet for me was that most of the cars that came to that FWD Drivers car feature were pampered museum cars, or press prepared cars, while mine had 60k miles, original clutch and had been leathered down the motorway to Bedford on the morning of the first test day! It then got caned all day by EVO staffers before I ragged it home again that night, only to be told it made it to the second stage of the test and could I be in NWales the following morning. Lucky for me I'm in Cheshire anyway so it was simples... the rest is EVO history and I'm still proud to have been involved. The EVO guys loved the car and kept singing its praises

If I had the money, space and time I would have another as a fun car but as I run two motorbikes as well as the EP3 currently I think it unwise and unworkable. Fond memories all the same.

That was great reading that. I had a picture of your car (along with all the other front driver contenders) on my wall for years. My wife bought me an EVO print of the magazine cover and had it framed, (not just for the Integra, it had my first three cars on it). One of the best lines in that article was the last one "...Forget the accolade of greatest front-wheel-drive car. The Integra Type-R ranks as one of the truly great drivers’ cars of any kind."

http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/cargrouptests/2055...

I drove mine to the Nurburgring for my Stag, five guys in it and fully loaded with camping gear (amazing amount of boot space for a 'Coupe') did 7 laps of the 'Ring, ragged it all around the local roads for four days, drove it back, all without a hitch or having to even top up the oil. Most fun I've ever had in a car. One of the reasons I sold it was because it was too reliable and I enjoy fettling with cars. What a dumb arse!

[markda]

I managed to dig out a picture of my old Teg last night, the ugly duckling in all her glory!

[leon90210]

markda said:

I managed to dig out a picture of my old Teg last night, the ugly duckling in all her glory!

Wow the front end does look ugly your right. But it is missing the front chin spoiler so maybe not totally fair on the car.

[markda]

leon90210 said:

Wow the front end does look ugly your right. But it is missing the front chin spoiler so maybe not totally fair on the car.

Well spotted! At the time the photograph was taken it had been removed for repainting to repair nasty little scrape after being caught on a low kerb. It marginally improved the look, the car definitely looked better from some angles.

[sege]

BrotherMouzone said:

leon90210 said:

jimbro1000 said:

.....

The one thing I never got was the whole VTEC kick thing - from my perspective if you got to feel that kick then you're driving it wrong. The one time you should get it is in first gear pulling away and then it was a problem rather than something to look forward to as it never happened quite when you needed it (ie instantly)...

'The one thing I never got': is the latter part of this comment unfortunately.
What is meant by - if you hit VTEC you are driving it wrong?
Why should you only experience VTEC in first???
How could the second cam engage instantly anyway?
Screw first gear for all it's worth as you suggest, and as Performance Car verified in 1998, you'll hit sixty mph from rest in 5.5 secs. Or around half a second slower than your Griffith, with the added equivalent cubic capacity of an NSX for good measure.
.....

I think he's talking about the 'kick'. He's implying if one was driving the car right the engine should always be above 5,800 rpm, which is improbable on the road but we all know that.

Edited by BrotherMouzone on Tuesday 8th October 10:37

I didn't read jimbros comment like that. I thought he meant that you should be smoother with the throttle, instead of just stamping on it and letting the revs rise past the switch over point. If so, then that's true to an extent. You can drive it smoothly or like a buffoon and it does make a difference. But the fact is that there is a huge torque spike at that point, so in second gear at least there is usually a bit of a kick.
I think Honda probably made it like like on purpose, to give the engine more character. I've read a few people claiming that on a standard engine you can smooth out the power band (and make slightly more power) by dropping the vtec switch over point a few hundred revs. It could be made 'better' (like the later vtec engines) but it's part of the character of the car.

[sinbad666]

Miss mine too, so much fun and quick too for what they are. Great EVO car. Miss my DC5 just as much if not more.

Mine:




At Oulton Park




At Nurburg following Stew (pierrot)

Edited by sinbad666 on Wednesday 9th October 10:56

[Lewtyper]

Oh go on then, here's mine...

[SidewaysSi]

Echo all the comments above and since we are sharing photos..Here is mine with one of its buddies in the stable:



This is the other car in the garage:



Even in such sharp, punchy company the ITR is still brilliant. Had it 4.5 years and it's still a riot to drive as well as being cheap to run. Stunning car for the money.

[muffinmenace]

Oh go on then. When I picked it up








At Llandow:




Lots and lots of pics of it on Axle stands... I'm on engine number two now, engine one was rebuilt twice but died at Coombe.

[leon90210]

sege said:

I didn't read jimbros comment like that. I thought he meant that you should be smoother with the throttle, instead of just stamping on it and letting the revs rise past the switch over point. If so, then that's true to an extent. You can drive it smoothly or like a buffoon and it does make a difference. But the fact is that there is a huge torque spike at that point, so in second gear at least there is usually a bit of a kick.
I think Honda probably made it like like on purpose, to give the engine more character. I've read a few people claiming that on a standard engine you can smooth out the power band (and make slightly more power) by dropping the vtec switch over point a few hundred revs. It could be made 'better' (like the later vtec engines) but it's part of the character of the car.

If you want less of a transition or kick, then de-cat an integra, but be prepared for extra resonance. The engine and it's second cam nature are pivotal to the whole driving experience and also help to make the car more docile away from a back road or track set up. Last night with the denser cold air hitting the UK, I thought my example was struggling to maintain its composed handling nature. Then I realised I was hitting three figure speeds on a very undulating roller coaster ride of a back road. Nothing would have gone quicker, or overtaken the Teg in that scenario - period.

[leon90210]

In fact I may be interested in a decent offer on my last of line championship white UK Integra, on an X plate in good original condition with 69k. I was intending taking it off the road for winter, but but may be moving to a place with on street parking anyway, so if anyone can give it a good home send me a message. It's the last thing I want to do, but storage may be a bit unrealistic, and it's not fair to use it all year round. Thanks.

[GroundEffect]

I'll echo the other comments in here:

I wish I'd never sold mine. A '99 red UK car.

Pretty it was not, but it made me smile just looking at it. The seats. The driving position. The gear knob in titanium. The pedals set up perfectly for heel and toe. The lovely MOMO wheel...and the 10000rpm rev counter.

Buuuuuuuuurrr-BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARP.

I must buy another.

[DC2 Mark]

Interesting to hear SidewaysSi's comparison comments versus Seven and Elise.

I absolutely love my DC2.

It's recently been treated to new OEM dampers and springs, a full Hardrace rebush (with the exception of IMO the all important OEM RTA bushes), Hardrace drop links plus new ball joints and track rod ends. It handled well before but the refresh has made it feel factory fresh and so full of life. The damping for me is the standout feature, absolutely fantastic and it inspires so much confidence.

I'm running Advan 08s and Carbon Lorraine RC5+ pads, both of which I'm very impressed with.

I'd convinced myself previously I'd keep it forever but have recently been considering moving on and getting a Seven in a couple of years. Having read everyone's thoughts I'm now feeling I will have to find a way to keep it and buy a Seven as well. More man maths required!

[SidewaysSi]

DC2 Mark said:

Interesting to hear SidewaysSi's comparison comments versus Seven and Elise.

I absolutely love my DC2.

It's recently been treated to new OEM dampers and springs, a full Hardrace rebush (with the exception of IMO the all important OEM RTA bushes), Hardrace drop links plus new ball joints and track rod ends. It handled well before but the refresh has made it feel factory fresh and so full of life. The damping for me is the standout feature, absolutely fantastic and it inspires so much confidence.

I'm running Advan 08s and Carbon Lorraine RC5+ pads, both of which I'm very impressed with.

I'd convinced myself previously I'd keep it forever but have recently been considering moving on and getting a Seven in a couple of years. Having read everyone's thoughts I'm now feeling I will have to find a way to keep it and buy a Seven as well. More man maths required!

The Seven and ITR make a great combination but as you would expect, the Caterham is considerably more hardcore. You need earplugs and can't really use it in the winter unless you are prepared to clean it thoroughly after each drive if the roads are salty.

Consequently it is not really a replacement for a 'normal car' and may well be more frustrating if you use it in that role! I love Caterhams but they do have their limitations...

[mp3manager]

leon90210 said:

In fact I may be interested in a decent offer on my last of line championship white UK Integra, on an X plate in good original condition with 69k.

Just in case you didn't know, the last DC2 registered in the UK was on a 51 plate, so there's plenty of later models after yours.

[DC2 Mark]

SidewaysSi said:

DC2 Mark said:

Interesting to hear SidewaysSi's comparison comments versus Seven and Elise.

I absolutely love my DC2.

It's recently been treated to new OEM dampers and springs, a full Hardrace rebush (with the exception of IMO the all important OEM RTA bushes), Hardrace drop links plus new ball joints and track rod ends. It handled well before but the refresh has made it feel factory fresh and so full of life. The damping for me is the standout feature, absolutely fantastic and it inspires so much confidence.

I'm running Advan 08s and Carbon Lorraine RC5+ pads, both of which I'm very impressed with.

I'd convinced myself previously I'd keep it forever but have recently been considering moving on and getting a Seven in a couple of years. Having read everyone's thoughts I'm now feeling I will have to find a way to keep it and buy a Seven as well. More man maths required!

The Seven and ITR make a great combination but as you would expect, the Caterham is considerably more hardcore. You need earplugs and can't really use it in the winter unless you are prepared to clean it thoroughly after each drive if the roads are salty.

Consequently it is not really a replacement for a 'normal car' and may well be more frustrating if you use it in that role! I love Caterhams but they do have their limitations...

You're definitely convincing me it's a good idea!

I've got a sensible daily for the mundane so a Caterham would be a early morning drive and track car.

Out of interest what model of Seven do you have?..... Trying to stay on topic- just interested to know as a gauge against the performance of the ITR.

[SidewaysSi]

DC2 Mark said:

SidewaysSi said:

DC2 Mark said:

Interesting to hear SidewaysSi's comparison comments versus Seven and Elise.

I absolutely love my DC2.

It's recently been treated to new OEM dampers and springs, a full Hardrace rebush (with the exception of IMO the all important OEM RTA bushes), Hardrace drop links plus new ball joints and track rod ends. It handled well before but the refresh has made it feel factory fresh and so full of life. The damping for me is the standout feature, absolutely fantastic and it inspires so much confidence.

I'm running Advan 08s and Carbon Lorraine RC5+ pads, both of which I'm very impressed with.

I'd convinced myself previously I'd keep it forever but have recently been considering moving on and getting a Seven in a couple of years. Having read everyone's thoughts I'm now feeling I will have to find a way to keep it and buy a Seven as well. More man maths required!

The Seven and ITR make a great combination but as you would expect, the Caterham is considerably more hardcore. You need earplugs and can't really use it in the winter unless you are prepared to clean it thoroughly after each drive if the roads are salty.

Consequently it is not really a replacement for a 'normal car' and may well be more frustrating if you use it in that role! I love Caterhams but they do have their limitations...

You're definitely convincing me it's a good idea!

I've got a sensible daily for the mundane so a Caterham would be a early morning drive and track car.

Out of interest what model of Seven do you have?..... Trying to stay on topic- just interested to know as a gauge against the performance of the ITR.

I don't drive my 7 between about November and April and unfortunately there is nothing more frustrating than walking past it even day in the winter. Hence having just a mundane car during those months will become very tedious very quickly!

My Cat is a K series Superlight and quite frankly, it is bloody wonderful! I have been driving Sevens for over 10 years and I think it is pretty perfect, particularly on the road.

If you value balance and an experience where all components just gel, I think this level of Caterham is perfect. And it is considerably faster than the ITR due to being sub 500kg and with its crazy short gearing. Mine has 175 section rears as well which makes it very adjustable! Steering is brilliant as it every facet of the driving experience. However there are definitely downsides to Caterham ownership...

Which is where the Elise comes in. Better steering than the Seven by some distance and with more useability, it is about midway between the Honda and 7 and wonderful to drive. And don't listen to those who say the Lotus is twitchy-get good dampers and a proper geo and it is as benign as the Cat. Mine is running Nitron dampers and I love it...

[DC2 Mark]

You've got pretty much my 'ideal' stable.

Very encouraged to hear you rate the ITR even against such highly regarded company.

I can imagine 175 section tyres make Seven driving very entertaining!

I took my ITR to Bedford Autodrome and Pembrey recently (first times on track) and whilst certainly being no hero, I was surprised by how much pace it could carry, particularly on the brakes and into corners compared to what on paper should be comfortably quicker steers. The rebush has made it feel much better tied down, particularly at the rear.