1996 Acura Integra GS-R from North America - Comments

By 45,000 miles, all the platinum tipped spark plugs had to be replaced, both front wheel bearings have been replaced. The motors on the power windows, both driver and passenger side have been replaced. The door panels have to be replaced because the plastic above the armrests was bubbling up. The power antenna mast has been replaced three times and the car has never gone through an automatic car wash.

First of all, never deal with Acura of Libertyville in Chicago, they are totally inconsiderate towards their customers. I can't believe we pay top dollars for garbage like this. I will never buy from Honda again, this is pathetic.

Sorry to say but you got hit with a lemon. You should have given Acura a call and had it all taken care of at their expense. I am extremely sorry to say that you had a rude dealership to deal with.

Sorry to hear you got stuck with a lemon. I have a 95 Acura Integra. I run the snot out of it. I haven't had one single problem. It has 150,000 miles on it too. I have had American cars, they have always tore up automatically, but this Acura hasn't tore up a lick. I am going to continue to run the crap out of it too. Just wanted to tell ya, bye.

I can't believe you had this experience at Acura of Libertyville. I have bought several vehicles from them and never had one problem. When I walk into the place, I feel like I'm visiting a Ritz Carlton or a Neiman Marcus - first class service all the way. (And that is how it should be.) I wouldn't consider doing business at another Acura dealer. Kudos to Glenn and Dave and their operation!

Sorry, guys, but Honda or Acura lacks a lot of things. First of all it's a death trap. Secondly those cars have timing belts, if they break your engine valves will be bent. This means you need a new engine. Toyota on the other hand has a saftey feature for this. GM has timing chains in all its cars. Toyota is starting to put chains in their vehicles. As well Acura integras have some special battery, and the altenator is not visible so if you have a minor oil leak and it comes into contact with the alternator. Your going to be changing your alternator very often. Timing belts changed by a human being is never the same as when its done by a robot in the factory. The engine will never perform the same. As well the belt has to be changed every 100 000Km. Thats why a chain is better does not have to be changed.

Good luck to you all.

Timing belts must be replaced on a regular basis, the valves sticking down and bending when a timing belt has broken was only on early models. This problem was addressed long ago. Chains do last longer, BUT when they go a lot more work is needed to replace them. Chains make for more engine noise.

Why must you knock the timing belts. First of all they are not made to break, but to stretch. 2nd of all if they do break you were probaly hitting about 9k revs. 3rd I have seen one person who baught a cheap timing chain installed it only to have it break 3 months later causing him to get a new engine (it was messy) 4th if the timing belt breaks in the first 100k miles acura replaces your engine because that is a manufacturers defect and the OEM belts are not meant to break thank you:)

Timing belts are used over chains for two reasons, they are cheaper, and they are yet another reason you will have to take your car back to the dealer to give them money on a regular basis. The fact that they slightly reduce noise is a secondary point that manufactures are grateful for so they can pretend they have reasons other than dollar signs for using them.

My parents until recently were always buying cheap high mileage older cars, all with chains. The timing chain went on only one. A 10 year old K-car with close to 300 000 kilometers. When the chain went he knew right away, the rattling clanking noise gave it away. The car was so crappy he decided to drive it 30 km home and had it towed away the next day. The point is he heard the chain go and could have stopped right there and had no engine problems.

With a belt you have to get it replaced before it goes, otherwise you'll never know its snapped, or stretched excessively, until your valves are slapping your pistons.

I don't know much about the difference between belts and chains, but I have 215000 miles on my Integra, and it's still running better than any of American cars I have owned.

Hondas are death traps? First of all, that is a gross generalization. This manufacturer has produced so many different models over so many years that you simply can't make a blanket statement like that. Many of their cars are among the safest models in several given model years.

And the 1996 Integra in question's safety rating can be found here: http://www.safercar.gov/Index2.cfm

Not exactly a death trap if you ask me.

I've owned three Hondas and one Dodge. My wife has owned a Pontiac and one Acura. Night and day as far as maintenance costs!

550,000 km on my 89 Honda Civic before the crankshaft bearing seized. Second Honda was totaled by a reckless transport truck driver. 435,000 km on my 92 Accord and it still purrs. I average about $1,000 in repairs PER YEAR on a 15 year old car with high mileage.

My 88 Dodge Shadow was crap. Had the engine rebuilt at 45,000 km at Chrysler's cost because a connecting rod wrist pin broke, and I had to fork out another $1,200 out of my pocket for a steering flywheel, a strut, a radiator hose, and a leaky sunroof. And that was just the beginning. I was paying $300 a month in repairs on that car.

My wife's 95 Grand Am she bought for $2,500 with only 170,000 km on it and she has paid $2,700 to repair it in the last six months. She's selling it now, and now is driving a 96 Integra with 250,000 km on it. She knows that this car will NOT need expensive repairs any time soon.

When we shopped for a car six months ago, and she bought the Grand Am, we looked at a couple North American cars. One was a 96 Ford Taurus with a nice rust-free body, and only 160,000 km on it. We took it to a mechanic, and he said two motor mounts were rotted out and needed to be replaced. I thought what the hell? I'm now convinced Fords are crap too.

I am sold on Honda, and both my wife and I will not repeat our past errors. A bad experience with a Honda would have more to do with complete neglect and abuse by previous owners, and the use of cheaper after-market parts (trust me - I know from personal experience)!

Another reason a timing belt is used instead of a chain is because the belt produces less friction and therefore improves fuel economy. Changing a timing belt is a hassle, but if you do it at the recommended intervals, you will never have to worry. How often is a timing chain supposed to be changed? The answer cannot be never, because nothing lasts forever. I would rather change a belt and know that I don't have to worry than to put faith in the unknown lifespan of a chain. Also, one doesn't have to rev an engine wildly to break a timing belt. If you drive 50,000 km past the change interval, it will likely break easily, because the mechanical properties of the rubber break down with time and use (as does steel - just more quickly with rubber). Early in my driving experience, my ignorance of the timing belt change resulted in having one break in my Honda Civic, at a stop light, while the engine was idling. Fortunately for me, the valves were in the right position, and the repair was just replacing the belt.