2001 Honda Integra Type R from UK and Ireland - Comments

Depends what model your talking about. the DC2 integra type R and the old civic vti's that I've driven do indeed give you a nice kick when vtec engages, but the newer ivtec engines have been tuned for smoother power delivery.I've driven the new civic type R and it was too smooth for my liking.

Hi.

I have owned a black 99 Integra Type R for a year now. I don't know much about cars and all the Techy issues, but I know what I like and I love this car. So much fun it should be illegal. The amount of power generated by a naturally aspirated 1.8 engine is astonishing.

Regarding the question about "feeling a kick" when the Type R hits the VTEC zone, the answer is most definitely you feel it take off again. In fact to get the most out of this car you would have to be driving constantly in the VTEC range, and you would have a driving licence for about 5 minutes.

To the WRX fan, I am sure the Rex is faster and, due to all wheel drive, grippier as well, but it also has a bigger engine, a turbo and costs more. All things considered the ITR represents incredible value and won't often be beaten!

I have a cvic vti b16a2, and when vtec kicks in the car screams, and gives you a nice boost a bit like a turbo.

A friend was trying to guess the type of car I drove, eventually she gave up. Suddenly I remembered starting this post a few years back and did a quick search for it out of curiousity; I found it on the first link I clicked.

I've not grown up one bit since originally posting this, and still act exactly the same whenever I climb into my car...

... yes, I still have it!

Great review there, was very entertaining to read.

I own a 1998 Japanese spec Type-R and what a fantastic car it is. Who cares if a WRX will outpace it - incidentally, I had a little "play" with a WRX up a dual carriageway, a steep bank, where there was little, if anything to separate us... In fact if anything I began to pull away at higher speeds slightly. We parted company with a wave; I think the guy was quite surprised.

Anyway, its not really about straight line speed, because frankly, its not really the fastest thing in the world. No, what it does is gives great level of feedback, a sense of involvement, a sensation of speed, and THAT engine. There are only 2 other Honda's that can match, or exceed the handling and feedback of the DC2 and they are the NSX and EK9 CTR.

This car turns me into a hooligan. It just begs to be revved constantly, and I give mine hell at every opportunity just to hear the engine howl. Its definitely the best sounding 4 cylinder engine out there IMO. The car is, as said, not the fastest, but I find it has just enough power to be able to exploit on the road, and it has plenty in reserve for overtaking. All that said, on a long, empty stretch (of racetrack, naturally), I kept my foot down and only lifted off when an indicated 150 mph came up on the speedo, and it was still accelerating. Who knows what speed it would end up doing by the time its the limiter in 5th. What impressed me with the car is that even at that speed, it felt planted and safe.

And the way it goes around corners, occasionally defies belief. Even in the wet, I find it handles really well, and the car generally resists understeer superbly once going at anything much more than running pace, instead adopting a gentle "drifting" motion when traction limits are exceeded. And the way that you can accelerate hard out of corners (due to the LSD) is also fantastic. Basically, I don't feel this car behaves anything like a typical FWD car.

To put the cherry on top, its extremely practical, very reliable, and even reasonably economical - I can get over 30 MPG if I can resist the urge to drive at 9000 RPM everywhere!

To be honest, I really wanted an Elise, but sadly it was out of my price range. But to be honest, having been in one since, I don't actually feel like I'm missing out too much, as the ITR has a far better engine than most of the entry-level lizzies. Although it doesn't handle quite as well as an elise, its still surprisingly capable and handles far better than most hot hatches.

My previous cars were a Mk2 Golf GTI and a Clio 182 and neither car was a patch on the teg. Great car, I possibly may never sell it...

It doesn't handle anywhere near as well as an Elise. In fairness, neither does much else.

It does handle as well as an Elsie, and an Exige, at least in the hands of an average driver. A skilled and experienced track driver could no doubt be quicker in an Exige, but for the same skill and effort, the Integra will be quicker, I have seen this first hand on several track days, the last one being two days ago.

Heavier and front wheel drive. No it doesn't. You can't make excuses for driver skill. Given a skilled driver, the Lotus is in a different league.

Far too many Honda fanboys on this site.

To the above poster, I'm not really a 'Honda fanboy', just realistic, having spent all day at Bedford Autodrome passing Lotus Exiges amongst other various 'exoticar'.

An Integra drives unlike a normal FWD car as standard, a lot of this is due to the LSD, but having a plate diff and being fitted with Ohlins coilovers make the car I was driving totally balanced and able to oversteer at will. Also weighing just over 1000kg against an Exige at 935kg makes the weight difference negligible. In fact your average passenger probably weighs about as much as the difference between the two cars. Because of this the car is firmly in the same league as a Lotus, to say they are miles apart is nonsense.

I passed up the chance to take my Integra to the Nurburgring in favour of a Porsche 968 Sport, RWD and famed for being one of the best handling cars ever. It wasn't me unfortunately, but the best driven 968 clubsport out there was no better or faster round the track than a standard Integra. The point I am making is that I have no allegiance to Honda specifically, and having owned various cars including an Elise, an Sti, 968, 944, 911 SC and a 993 C2, I have no desire to 'big up' a certain brand, and my observations aren't naive like the term 'fanboy' would suggest.

You are probably basing your comments on your experience sitting indoors, why don't you go out to a track and see for yourself, it would be an eye opener for you, I promise you an Elise would not outrun an Integra Type R when similar standard drivers are in control!

I'm just after reading your comments.

I'm driving a 00 model Integra Type-R with a set 0f 18 inch Akuma white wheels semi deepdish. Full Mugen kit, (really rare and cool with side skirts), carbon hood with carbon GT style wing, seam welded chrome pipe from throttle body to k&n filter, aka cold air induction kit.

Lowered and hardened on k sport coilovers.. Factory exhaust with Mugen cat back, and to top it off, Spoon ECU with 10000 rev limit.

My point is lads, nothing to beat this, looks or speed wise at least in the category of cars you are discussing.

And in terms of handling, mental, and it retains reliability and comfort...

Why would you tamper with something that works so well to start with? The wheels on it are made of light weight materials and the suspension is back-breaking as it is. The integra is a collectors car and as such I hope you are able to return it to standard if/when you sell it on or else you will find you have just spent money making your car undesirable to most people wanting one of these.