UK Integra R. Low miles & minty fresh

[Squirrelofwoe]

SidewaysSi said:

Cracking car and loved mine. But missed the ability to power oversteer so changed for something RWD.

Also felt the steering wasn't as communicative as I would have liked.

The Accord Type R was the one to have in that regard, best steering feel of any car I've driven and certainly an improvement over my DC2 (sounded even better than the Integra too).

I do miss my DC2 though, utterly bonkers cars that I believe every petrolhead should at least experience at some point. I still grin like a kid whenever I see one go by, particularly when you get to hear the engine being wound up to almost 5-figure revs

The only negative to the rising prices these days is that if I had another I would still want to modify it (suspension aside)- my '97 DC2 had an ARC air intake, Mugen exhaust manifold, stainless-steel system with 5Zigen backbox, 282mm brakes with 98-spec calipers, lowered bride driver's seat rail, a-pillar oil pressure & temp gauges, and a set of lightweight 15" Volk TE37s in white- along with a few other bits and pieces. In my opinion it went, stopped, and sounded better than a standard DC2 so to hell with OEM originality- it got used as intended!

One of VERY few £5k cars that I'd still love to take out for a sunny Sunday drive ahead of the TVR now and again.

A wonderful car, and probably the only thing that would stop me having another is that an Accord Type R is less than half the price and (whisper it) I actually just about preferred it to the Integra. Just.

To the OP- your example looks as clean as any I've ever seen!

[chrismc1977]

I have had both & the Integra is now replacing my Accord.

Accords are peanuts in comparison- however they just aren't quite there out of the box

Heavier, worse gearing (thanks mainly to 17" wheels) & (to my mind) needs work on the standard car to improve matters- final drive, lightened flywheel, breathing mods etc. As standard they are horrendous off VTEC

Even with that done it's still a 1300kg car vs 1100 for the Integra

[xjay1337]

looks very good condition :-)

[anonymous-user]

One of my favourite cars, owned mine for 6 years, flogged it mercilessly and it never missed a beat. Very rare in that condition now is wager?

[Squirrelofwoe]

chrismc1977 said:

I have had both & the Integra is now replacing my Accord.

Accords are peanuts in comparison- however they just aren't quite there out of the box

Heavier, worse gearing (thanks mainly to 17" wheels) & (to my mind) needs work on the standard car to improve matters- final drive, lightened flywheel, breathing mods etc. As standard they are horrendous off VTEC

Even with that done it's still a 1300kg car vs 1100 for the Integra

That's interesting, I personally found my Accord a far better drive off Vtec than my Integra was- mainly due to that H22 engine. In ordinary day-to-day use I didn't feel the need to reach the Vtec crossover anywhere near as often as I did in the Integra. Obviously the flip side was that it wasn't quite as bonkers as the Integra flat out, due to the lower rev limit and as you say the 200kg weight difference is a biggie. But because of the H22 I just found the Accord more fun more of the time, although I know a lot of other people didn't particulary rate that engine compared to the B18 and K20. I guess it's personal preference. My ATR had a Mongoose exhaust system and the obligatory K&N Typhoon, and the noise, even from 3k rpm was just

In my opinion the main thing the Accord really benefited from though was a lower Vtec crossover.

I'm now sat up pondering what a DC2 would be like with a tweaked H22 engine

Do you still have the Prelude mentioned in your profile Chris?

[chrismc1977]

Squirrelofwoe said:

chrismc1977 said:

I have had both & the Integra is now replacing my Accord.

Accords are peanuts in comparison- however they just aren't quite there out of the box

Heavier, worse gearing (thanks mainly to 17" wheels) & (to my mind) needs work on the standard car to improve matters- final drive, lightened flywheel, breathing mods etc. As standard they are horrendous off VTEC

Even with that done it's still a 1300kg car vs 1100 for the Integra

That's interesting, I personally found my Accord a far better drive off Vtec than my Integra was- mainly due to that H22 engine. In ordinary day-to-day use I didn't feel the need to reach the Vtec crossover anywhere near as often as I did in the Integra. Obviously the flip side was that it wasn't quite as bonkers as the Integra flat out, due to the lower rev limit and as you say the 200kg weight difference is a biggie. But because of the H22 I just found the Accord more fun more of the time, although I know a lot of other people didn't particulary rate that engine compared to the B18 and K20. I guess it's personal preference. My ATR had a Mongoose exhaust system and the obligatory K&N Typhoon, and the noise, even from 3k rpm was just

In my opinion the main thing the Accord really benefited from though was a lower Vtec crossover.

I'm now sat up pondering what a DC2 would be like with a tweaked H22 engine

Do you still have the Prelude mentioned in your profile Chris?

Yes still have the Lude for track fun

I guess all cars are different- this is now my 2nd of each. Engine-wise, the H22 makes more power up top for sure. However it feels very much like it has two different characters. The need to rev it to within an inch of its life to stay in VTEC is tiresome too. The A7 in particular is also noisy compared to other H22's (something to do with piston skirts etc so I'm told)- & noisier than the B18 too!

The mapping on the B18 is just far better as standard- & it's a sweeter motor.

Performance Autoworks are my local specialist & Rich won the title a couple of years back with his H22 DC2 (~270bhp!). Wiped the floor with the competition

[danllama]

I absolutely love DC2's though i'm yet to own one. Watch out for the 6two1 meets as i've been to a couple now and they are always good, with crazy numbers of mint cars. They take place at the store in Colchester. In fact, check out the youtube channel, the owner Adam makes some very good Honda content, if youtube is your thing.

The UK front end has really grown on me in the last year or so as well, I used to hate it compared to the JDM front.

Enjoy!

[Mike1990]

So regret not buying one of these when they were affordable for a good one.

[SidewaysSi]

They haven't gone up that much in price - most are £4-6k which they have been for a while.

[Squirrelofwoe]

chrismc1977 said:

Performance Autoworks are my local specialist & Rich won the title a couple of years back with his H22 DC2 (~270bhp!). Wiped the floor with the competition

st the bed!

I have to say the idea of even a mildly tweaked H22 in an Integra is extremely appealing! My favourite Honda engine in my favourite Honda chassis- win win

[Turn7]

My DC2 remains the best car Ive ever driven, and despite me buying a wrong 'un, I d still have another.

That one in the OP is stunningly well presented, and Id guess north of 10k.

Enjoy the car, they really are fabulous NA cars to drive.

[chrismc1977]

SidewaysSi said:

They haven't gone up that much in price - most are £4-6k which they have been for a while.

I'd say that points at most available cars being 'average' examples.

Residuals for really good ones are something north of that

[chrismc1977]

A few more pics after this mornings wash:

[chrismc1977]

A couple more as it was a crisp dry day:

[heners54]

Stunning car

[doogle83]

stew-S160 said:

Bloody hell that's clean! I will always miss the one I had. Such an epic fun car, even for FWD.

x2!

I went out for a hoon in the S2000 today round some old haunts that I used to drive in my DC2... Did kind of wish I was in that instead, definitely inspired more confidence in the corners!

[Yazza54]

Looks in fantastic condition, I have the same engine in my GTM and it's an absolute gem.

[chrismc1977]

Lighting upgrade en route

Warm white LED sidelights to replace the OEM yellow candle-power jobbers

Going to compliment them with some philips clear vision 4300k dipped bulbs.

Hopefully freshen up the look of the car with lights on without looking like a chavvy HID'd monstrosity!

The lighting is probably the one area where the car shows it's age. Given it does get used in the dark I consider it a wise move

[SebringMan]

ExPat2B said:

Very very nice, forget the power figures of the bloated new "hot hatches" this is one of the purer cars to drive.

Always amazes me how the Japs can make a car that can be outside in all weathers, pummeled by the road and driven with enthusiasm and still be 100% reliable, but a seat bolster that doesn't look like crap after 50k is beyond them.

Add rust to that list, but that goes for most Japanese cars IME.

That looks immaculate! Has it had much beautification done do to it over the years?

[Alex]

The bolsters in my DC2 were still good after 160k miles. I was always very careful to avoid sliding over them when getting in and out.