Thursday 27th July 2017

Honda Integra Type R (DC5): Spotted

With DC2 and DC5 values appearing to converge, could now be the time to try the later car?

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Yes, an Integra Type R that isn't the original. So, no, this car was never sold officially in the UK. And, yes, it is a bit heavier than a DC2. From those who know the cars well, you will hear that the original is the more involving, more exciting car to drive as well. So why bother?

More modern than a DC2; that's not saying much...

Well all these things are relative; a DC5 is heavier than a DC2, but only by 60kg, and it still weighs less than 1,200kg. The 2.0-litre engine was actually lighter than the old 1.8 and anything that revs beyond 8,000rpm should always be of interest. And being one of the best front-wheel drive cars to drive, as opposed to perhaps the very best, is hardly a bad place to be.

Arguably more important than all of those points, however, is just how closely aligned the values of DC5s and DC2s now are. UK market DC2s are becoming very hard to get hold of in good condition, as evidence by a car we found for sale at £10K with 100,000 miles. Moreover, as values begin to rise, would you want to be putting more miles on an Integra? Is it worth the risk? Yet, with the best will in the world, it's not one you're going to drop into a collection simply to admire either.

Therefore the plethora of DC5 cars becomes more appealing. This one is standard, in Championship White with the red Recaros, and for sale at £8,495 with 100,000 miles. While values are stronger than they used to be, they don't seem to be climbing as rapidly as those for earlier Integras. Without the official UK status, there's a possibility they won't ever be as coveted, meaning you can get out and enjoy a great Type R Honda.

The star of the show

In fact there are more DC5s than DC2s in the PH classifieds at the moment, and not a single UK market car. Given the amount of cars that have been imported since 2001, there's a strong support network to keep DC5s running. And, well, you were planning for rust with a DC2, weren't you? Probably wise to do the same with this Integra.

Given £8.5K isn't exactly pocket change, it's interesting to consider what else is around at the money. The 2000s weren't a great time for driver-focused coupes, what with hot hatches enjoying their resurgence, so you're looking at Audi TTs, Alfa GTs and... what's that? A rear-wheel drive Japanese coupe for the same money? That's far newer? Yes, the 350Z does make a rather compelling case against the Integra, albeit from a slightly different perspective. And if you love Hondas, there's the S2000 to think about as well. You're not far off M3 money here either. Or an Impreza...

Alright, so there's no shortage of alternatives to the Integra. And while more liveable than a DC2, it's going to take some time to get used to compared to a newer car. Of course the argument will always be that the world would be rather dull if we all liked the same cars so, if you're committed to the VTEC cause - yo - now looks like the time to grab one. Cars like this aren't coming back!

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HONDA INTEGRA TYPE R (DC5)
Engine: 1,998cc, 4-cyl
Transmission: 6-speed manual, front-wheel drive, limited-slip differential
Power (hp): 220@8,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 152@7,000rpm
MPG: N/A
CO2: N/A
Recorded mileage: 104,000
Year registered: 2003
Price new: c. £23,000 (import only)
Price now: £8,495

See the original advert here

[spreadsheet monkey]

Nice car. As you say, Honda isn't making cars like this any more. Still a lot of money for a 100k mile four cylinder coupe, even with all that VTEC goodness.

I'm hardly a fussy cleanliness freak, but that layer of grime on the bolsters of the red seats in the photos looks disgusting!

[Krikkit]

For £8500 they can clean the interior, polish the headlights and detail the engine bay... Even so, a coveted car for a reason. I think I'd plump for a DC2 though, the original is always the winner imo!

[designforlife]

As an owner, it's good to see the prices of these gradually climbing.

Bloody brilliant car, and some very nice examples for sale at the moment.

[designforlife]

Krikkit said:

For £8500 they can clean the interior, polish the headlights and detail the engine bay... Even so, a coveted car for a reason. I think I'd plump for a DC2 though, the original is always the winner imo!

Thats a fairly middle of the road price for these now, i'd expect a clean low mile pre facelift to be about £9k, and a low mileage facelift north of £10k now.

[ecksjay]

Always loved this gen of hondas.

I had an ek9 many moons ago and it was a riot. I can see those going skywards in the near future, I think you can still pick them up for around the £5-6k mark although they are a rarer sight than both the dc2 and dc5.

[designforlife]

ecksjay said:

Always loved this gen of hondas.

I had an ek9 many moons ago and it was a riot. I can see those going skywards in the near future, I think you can still pick them up for around the £5-6k mark although they are a rarer sight than both the dc2 and dc5.

theyre already there, saw a low mileage, clean fresh import ek9 up the other day for £9k

[FN2TypeR]

These are brilliant IMO, I would love to own one - that one needs a bit of a clean and fettle though, does a dog live in side it?

Still, awesome

[DaveCWK]

I like them, but I honestly think these are still way over priced due to scene tax for what you actually get.

[ecksjay]

designforlife said:

theyre already there, saw a low mileage, clean fresh import ek9 up the other day for £9k

there have always been ones up at that value. They still pop up for 5-6k so i dont think they've moved all that far. yet...

[Mike1990]

Love these, but it's a mine field when buying one! overpriced rust boxes that have that JDM Tax Scene.

[designforlife]

Mike1990 said:

Love these, but it's a mine field when buying one! overpriced rust boxes that have that JDM Tax Scene.

rust wise the only place they really suffer is the rear arches....most all of them get undersealed on arrival so really aren't too bad.

Mine has been in the UK circa 11 years, and looks pretty decent underneath, my UK mk2 mx5 was the same age and far far worse.

The DC2s haven't faired so well corrosion wise, but then they are that bit older.

Fresh import and UK based car prices are about the same, so it's pretty easy to pick up a spotless fresh one and get it all sealed up...waiting for it to arrive kind of sucks though.

[greenarrow]

I think these are great, but second hand prices are so silly now for cult cars that I keep thinking of stuff I'd rather own that's equally as interesting but lots cheaper!!

E.G. a Mazda RX-8, the pro-drive one....Available with half the miles and warranted engine for less than half the money and its RWD!!

Or the Nissan 350Z - again much cheaper, RWD and faster, to boot.

Or the Megane R26 F1 - ok the engine is boring compared with the Intergra, but again thousands cheaper and just as capable in the chassis dept!!

There's really an awful lot of choice out there for the discerning buyer.....

[dollyboy]

greenarrow said:

I think these are great, but second hand prices are so silly now for cult cars that I keep thinking of stuff I'd rather own that's equally as interesting but lots cheaper!!

E.G. a Mazda RX-8, the pro-drive one....Available with half the miles and warranted engine for less than half the money and its RWD!!

Or the Nissan 350Z - again much cheaper, RWD and faster, to boot.

Or the Megane R26 F1 - ok the engine is boring compared with the Intergra, but again thousands cheaper and just as capable in the chassis dept!!

There's really an awful lot of choice out there for the discerning buyer.....

A sensible comment on PH, surely not

[Mike1990]

greenarrow said:

I think these are great, but second hand prices are so silly now for cult cars that I keep thinking of stuff I'd rather own that's equally as interesting but lots cheaper!!

E.G. a Mazda RX-8, the pro-drive one....Available with half the miles and warranted engine for less than half the money and its RWD!!

Or the Nissan 350Z - again much cheaper, RWD and faster, to boot.

Or the Megane R26 F1 - ok the engine is boring compared with the Intergra, but again thousands cheaper and just as capable in the chassis dept!!

There's really an awful lot of choice out there for the discerning buyer.....

The R26 is a good shout! Get one in the desirable Colour, GW or LY and your laughing, just as good in the Chassis department and just as special.

Last time i looked K-TEC had a minty LY one for sale that had around 19k on the clocks. Perfect.

Edited by Mike1990 on Thursday 27th July 17:17

[rtz62]

Looks wise, I prefer this model over its predecessor, and isn't this the one where forums always advise to make sure the rear parcel shelf is present and healthy, as replacements are £££££?

[s m]

See quite a few of these around here

I like the look of them but the 4-door Civic Type R I see a couple of locally would probably be more practical for me to own

[rossub]

rtz62 said:

Looks wise, I prefer this model over its predecessor, and isn't this the one where forums always advise to make sure the rear parcel shelf is present and healthy, as replacements are £££££?

The parcel shelf was an option in Japan and therefore incredibly rare. Most of them have tinted rear windows (with the C package), so you can't even see from the outside if it has one.

If you pass on a nice DC5 because it's not got a rear parcel shelf, you've missed out!

[SidewaysSi]

I would go for the much better FD2 if it were me. I loved my DC2 but the temptation to enjoy oversteer in a RWD car was too much of a pull...

[MRobbins1987]

Honda got the styling spot on with these, such great looking cars, prices are getting close to fd2 money though for clean examples and that's where my money would go. I was at Mimms on Sunday, some lovely examples on display.

[Resolutionary]

The DC2 surely deserves it's cult status, being largely agreed as one of the best handling FWD cars made, moreso for the screaming V-Tec action.

Trouble is, rising / appreciating prices don't tell the story of what lies beneath - several friends have chopped theirs in after throwing handfuls of cash at things like:

- Rust; commonplace in the rear quarter panels and other places
- Paint; the difficulty is getting a competent body shop to do a sympathetic repair or respray where a chip or damage is found
- Interior; unbelievably dated now, and the red seats (although beautiful) seem to look very tired and shagged very quickly
- Leaks; water ingress causes the rust, but sunroofs and seals are a bit troublesome too it seems

I'd genuinely love one as a weekend toy, driven a few and loved them. But a good'un would be far more expensive than most would be willing to pay, and when a car like this encroaches on M3 / R26 money, as a track day option it's less desireable than a DC5 to say the very least, for the aforementioned reasons.