Monday 18th July 2022

Honda Accord Type R | Spotted

As values for Type R Civics and Integras start to climb, Honda's half-forgotten saloon remains pleasingly cheap

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Whatever happened to the Honda Accord Type R? Think about it. Pretty much anything Honda makes with an R badge is lapped up by enthusiasts. It has rarely missed with numerous generations of Civic Type R, while the DC2 and DC5 Integras are considered some of the best front-wheel drive performance cars of, well, ever. And don’t get us started on the NSX-R, because it’ll just make values creep up even higher.

Granted, Honda would never release a new version of the NSX-R (the Type S was as close as it came) and while the Integra name has officially returned, it comes with an Acura badge and won’t be sold outside of the States. But that hasn’t dented their respective legacies, making it a little bizarre that, even though Honda has continued to build the Accord – albeit as a wafty Toyota Camry rival –the old Type R isn’t necessarily held in such high esteem as its stablemates.

This despite the fact it had all the right ingredients to be an absolute classic. A screaming VTEC engine up front producing 212hp (making it more powerful than the EK9 CTR and DC2 Integra Type R) which, of course, is sent exclusively to the front wheels through a six-speed manual. The chassis was also sublime, as had come to be expected with Honda’s previous Type R offerings, although it tends to be only diehard fans that favour the hot Accord over its more sought-after siblings.

It didn't help the model's cause that it faced stiff competition at the time from other performance legends. When it launched in 1998, the Accord Type R had to compete with the V6-engined Ford Mondeo ST200 and the rally-inspired Subaru Impreza WRX Turbo. The Accord Type R easily holds its own against them - to the point where it's arguably the sweetest car of the lot to drive - but that didn't earn it bragging rights back in the day, and the popularity deficit is still reflected in today's market. You’ll at least be paying mid-teens for a GC8 Impreza Turbo and it wasn’t that long ago when we featured an ST200 for a little under £13,000. With that in mind, this 2001 example looks like a bit of a bargain at £6,250.

Okay, so it’s got a few miles on the clock (105,090 to be exact), but this is as Honda after all. If anything, it’s barely run in. Plus, it doesn’t seem to have spent most of those miles being ragged around on track days. The paintwork looks tidy for a 21-year-old Honda and, sidenote, red does a brilliant job of telling people this ain’t no ordinary Accord. The interior is remarkably clean given its age and we can only assume that the previous owner covered most of those miles with no passengers. Either that, or they’re bloody good with a hoover.

Need a little more persuading? It’s got green-on-black Recaro seats, which are arguably some of the coolest to come out of the golden era of JDM. What’s more, as the ad keenly points out that, like other Type Rs, the Accord comes with a red rocker cover. A bit like a Ferrari Testa Rosso, only with four doors. And made in Japan. And much cheaper.

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SPECIFICATION | HONDA ACCORD TYPE R

 Engine: 1,994, four-cylinder
Transmission: five-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 212@7,200rpm
Torque (lb ft): 158@6,700rpm
MPG: 29.4
CO2: N/A
Year registered: 2001
Recorded miles: 105,090
Price new: £23,250
Yours for: £6,250

See the original advert here

[castag]

Had one many years ago great car lacked torque but when the vtec kicked it didn’t matter, handled brilliantly as they came with a factory fitted LSD and believe was a 2156cc or around that not a 1994cc
Got mine for peanuts back then as well

Edited by castag on Monday 18th July 07:21

Edited by castag on Monday 18th July 07:24

[Pflanzgarten]

Yeah I thought these had a larger engine?

[MakaveliX]

Such a good looking car.
I had the 2002 sport back in the day and it was brilliant

I'd consider getting one but the petrol price and running cost would be way too high, especially for a daily driver

Edited by MakaveliX on Monday 18th July 07:25

[Heathwood]

Always liked these and the price is not too stupid. The exhaust irritates me on this one though; tailpipes don’t line up quite right with the bumper cutouts and what’s with the bend in the pipe at the rear? Clearly aftermarket, but surely it shouldn’t look like that should it?

[howardhughes]

''Okay, so it’s got a few miles on the clock 105,090''

That's only 5000 miles a year. I think you need an opticians visit

[cobra kid]

howardhughes said:

''Okay, so it’s got a few miles on the clock 105,090''

That's only 5000 miles a year. I think you need an opticians visit

Not many a year but still the same amount as if it'd been covered over a year.

[Hippea]

These rust horribly unfortunately, the bulkhead in particular

[Dombilano]

Has it run over some scaffolding? I'm sure the exhaust back boxes were oval, and fitted properly.

Nothing against modding, but at least do it right on such a rare and gorgeous car

[anonymous-user]

Hippea said:

These rust horribly unfortunately, the bulkhead in particular

This, it’s why they’re relatively cheap. Finding a good one is very difficult and the bulkhead rust can be hidden until really serious. Needs a proper inspection by someone who knows them.

[The Rotrex Kid]

Pflanzgarten said:

Yeah I thought these had a larger engine?

Yes, it's a 2.2, a H22A7 to be precise. Cracking engine really. Sound fantastic with an induction kit fitted.

[Jamescrs]

I worked with someone who had one of these probably when they were new, always thoguh they are great looking cars and always fancied one but i've never made the leap and always something else has caught my eye instead, now they don't feel special enough to have as a weekend toy.

Still think they look great though

[996GT3_Matt]

I’ve always liked the Accord Type R, it’s subtly handsome, sharp to drive and quite practical. The lack of torque could be frustrating for daily use, but I don’t recall that being an issue I’m my EP3 because the beer ratios were so well specified.

A nice retro/classic for someone who needs cart kids about in their weekend car.

[hughcam]

Absolutely cracking cars to drive. A proper sports saloon with classic screaming engine.

Just beware of the rot….

[RudeDog]

I had a new one of these back in the early 2000s. It was a fun car to drive when giving it the beans but you really had to wring its neck to have fun in it. under the V-TEC threshold, it was quite boring. I much preferred the Imprezas and 200SX I had before it and I much preferred the 350Z and Cayman S I had after it.

[fantheman80]

The Rotrex Kid said:

Pflanzgarten said:

Yeah I thought these had a larger engine?

Yes, it's a 2.2, a H22A7 to be precise. Cracking engine really. Sound fantastic with an induction kit fitted.

I think this one has judging by the red piping

[Type R Tom]

Always liked these. I had a prelude with that engine and my dad had and accord sport which handled really well, combining was a great idea

[Limpet]

RudeDog said:

I had a new one of these back in the early 2000s. It was a fun car to drive when giving it the beans but you really had to wring its neck to have fun in it. under the V-TEC threshold, it was quite boring. I

I had one for a weekend and thought exactly the same.

While it certainly handled well, I didn't find the chassis anything to shout about compared to the 306 XSi I was driving at the time.

Really did make a wonderful noise on WOT at high revs though.

[KPB1973]

Of the several Vtec engined cars I've owned, the h22 ones always felt significantly more torquey below 6k rpm. Particularly in comparison to the K20 and F20.

That said, they were probably the least dramatic above the vtec threshold though.

I never really had an urge to buy an Accord Type R though. If / when I needed a sporting saloon there seemed to be a lot of more compelling alternatives out there.

[Schermerhorn]

It has the same MOMO steering wheel as the Ferrari 550 Maranello.

[MightyBadger]

Fantastic engines in these, people who say the lack of torque could be annoying on a daily basis have no idea