1992 Acura Integra RS 1.8L 16v DOHC

Summary:

Great car, and I'm going to miss it badly

Faults:

Up until about 90,000 miles absolutely nothing went wrong with it. The only costs were ordinary maintenance, exhaust, and brakes.

At 95,000 the timing belt let go and took 3 valves with it. Also replaced the distributor and radiator (rusted out) at the same time the engine was rebuilt.

Replaced original battery 3 months later.

Replaced gas tank 1 year later as original rusted out.

Exterior rust is starting to take hold.

I live in Vermont and have driven this car daily for 12 years in all sorts of weather. The winters have taken their toll.

It's now starting to lose a transmission bearing.

General Comments:

In some ways this review is my eulogy for the car. I love it - it's the most fun car I have ever owned, it's been reliable and never left me stranded in almost 12 years of daily use except for the timing belt incident, it's great on gas, handles wonderfully, and can carry a surprising amount of stuff in the back with the seats folded down.

I could fit an entire bureau in the back of it, or 2 passengers, or my bike, or a rototiller with the handle removed.

I used it as a sports car/passenger car/economy car/truck combo and it did everything I asked of it well.

It was even good in snow. I have 4 snow tires for it on separate rims, and it can go through snow so deep the front air dam acts like a tiny plow.

I drove it cross-country 7 years ago and camped out of it (sleeping in it on stormy nights). On one leg of the trip I got 36 mpg. It gets great mileage if you don't wind it up too high.

It was the first new car I ever bought.

It's been fast, fun, reliable, useful, and my buddy for a long time. But the winters have done a number on it and the rust is taking over. It's also losing a transmission bearing and I'm not willing to put any more money into it as I need a 4 door with air conditioning at this point in my life.

I would buy another one in a heartbeat, in spite of the problems this one has had. Some of them may have been caused by lax maintenance on my part so I'm reluctant to blame the car.

I'm hoping I can sell it to someone who will turn it into a project and bring it back to its glory days. The idea of it sitting in a junk yard breaks my heart.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 29th September, 2003

1992 Acura Integra

Faults:

Absolutely nothing major. All repairs have been due to wear, and even then they have been few.

General Comments:

This car has been amazingly reliable in every way.

It is fast and maneuvers on a dime.

The body and interior still look great.

Truly one of the greatest engines ever built.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 14th September, 2003

1992 Acura Integra GS 1.8

Summary:

A four cylinder with a lot of potential

Faults:

I had to replace all brake pads and one rotor at 140,000 miles

I had to also replace a cooling fan motor at the same time which was expensive.

General Comments:

This Car is very nimble and quick

However, the top end speed aspect is not so good.

This car stops extremely well and there is no hesitation with the four wheel disk brakes.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 14th September, 2003

5th Mar 2004, 07:28

The Integra is great. But there is also a slow top speed without exhaust because the back pressure cannot be released above 100 miles per hour properly.

1992 Acura Integra

Faults:

The Distributor froze up which resulted in the timing belt to skip which resulted in a cam overhaul. Very costly. The mechanics don't know why it happened. Only had the car two weeks. The repairs were almost as much as the car.

General Comments:

Very nice car. Comfortable.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 22nd April, 2003