G20 versus Integra....

I'm always thinking about my next car, and have come close a few times to buying a "new to me" car and I think I may do it this time. My 2 candidates are a '01 G20 that has about 82,000 miles on it, for $9k, and a '97 Integra with 123,000 for $6K. Both are fully loaded 4 door sedans with power everything, sunroofs, ABS, and automatic (yeah, wish they had manual trannys) and having researched both cars extensively, I THINK I know the full pros and cons of each. I've owned older models of each, a '92 G and a '92 Integra so I know what each is like to live with. The Integra has more aftermarket support behind it, and my mechanic is factory trained on Hondas/Acuras, but the G (besides the lower miles) tends to be nearly bulletproof.

What is there about each I may be overlooking? BTW, the biggest plus for the G20, so far, is the lower mileage and bigger fuel tank (15.9 versus 13.7), Con? higher initial price. Integra? pro is aftermarket support, mechanic, and lower price. Con? high mileage, tho not really, consider the age and the frameless windows that make it a theft target. What else folks?

one is semi luxury and (G20) the other is way more sporty.

Integras still get stolen frequently. Not so much w/ the G. The G looks great w/ wheels and a drop, too.

Either is a great choice.

Gamby....I'm confused, please re-read and clarify. Which is way more sporty? To me, the Integra LOOKS more sporty and yet my '92 G FELT more tossable than my '92 Integra does. I'm not sure if the (slight?) change in the later model G20's rear suspension changes that feeling or not.

To me, if the mileages and therefore the prices were nearly similar, this would be a coin toss.

The G20 has the legendary Nissan SR20DE engine, so it isn't as hard to modify as you may think, at least in the engine department. Plenty of bolt-ons are available, or you could swap a SR20DET from a JDM turbo front-driver. Some G20s had factory LSDs, so if you want to do a manual swap, you may want one of those. The manual transmissions can handle up to ~250hp before requiring serious beefing up. I'm not sure about suspension mods, since newer G20s have a beam rear suspension whereas older ones (IIRC) had similar suspension to the B13 Sentra. A turbo'ed G20 would make a helluva sleeper.

A friend of mine has a totally "grassroots" G20 with a JDM SR20DET swap and a transplanted Subaru hood scoop to use the factory top mount intercooler and that thing goes like stink with 15psi an LSD and $200 worth of Tein coil-overs and sway bars.

I'm a Nissan/Datsun guy, so I kinda lean in that direction. Although, I think you have more potential in an "all-around" performance perspective with the Integra, for a fun "driver", you can't go wrong with either as I think both are "street" upgradeable enough to suit most people's needs.

Both good choices. I don't think you can go wrong with either. Having said that I think the G20 may be the better way to go with the lower miles and that great motor.

integraguy wrote: Gamby....I'm confused, please re-read and clarify. Which is way more sporty? To me, the Integra LOOKS more sporty and yet my '92 G FELT more tossable than my '92 Integra does. I'm not sure if the (slight?) change in the later model G20's rear suspension changes that feeling or not. To me, if the mileages and therefore the prices were nearly similar, this would be a coin toss.

Actually--I was automatically thinking that the Integra was a GS-R. Is it??? If so, I'd say that the GS-R''s B18C1 @8k rpm has more of an air of "sportiness" to it. I'm assuming by '01, the SR20DE no longer had that 7600rpm redline.

Stock suspension-wise, the GS/GS-R is pretty damn tossable. Typical Honda dead-nuts reliablity, too.

Having never driven a G20, I can't vouch for its sportiness per se. Lets just say you don't see many of them at auto-x's. SR20 is a solid, overbuilt motor.

Either is going to run for a solid 200k+ miles and both are nice platforms for modification. The G might be a bit "classier".

The decision-maker for me might be that he G20 has much lower mileage. Also, if it's a GS-R, it would have to run on premium.

The higher chassis weight and automatic transmission make P11 chassis G20s feel very sluggish. The motors are fairly well built but the roller rocker SR20s have a lower redline and don't really tolerate overrevving. The rear beam isn't as bad as it might sound, but if you lower the rear too much the exhaust hits pretty hard. I also prefer the ride characteristics of the Integra to the G20's (which is kind of surprising considering the G's upscale target market).

For pure sportines, I would take the Integra. But If I had to choose between those two particular cars (automatics), I would buy the G20. It's cheaper in the long run when you factor in long-term maintenance costs, insurance, gas mileage, theft rate, and modification costs.

I have never driven an integra, and only driven one G20 so I may not be the one to listen to.

If you guys are talking about the G20 being chuckable, I must have driven the later one with changed rear suspension...Because god was that an appliance car.Not fun to drive at all, The suspension was not inspiring or encouraging... I found it a chore to drive rather then a pleasure.

As I said, no integra experience, but I definitely found the 92 accord sedan I drove to be much more enteraining ... So I can only imagine the integra is much much more fun to drive.

Again, my experiences with a '92 Integra (with auto) and a '92 G20 (with manual):

the Integra corners flatter than the G....so maybe that's why I feel the G is more "tossable",

steering feel? toss-up.

revviness (is that a word?)? I suspect either with auto is slow away from a dead stop, would be about the same....once rolling, and the 250-300 lbs of "dead weight" the G carries over the Integra will mitigate against it in the top end (those situations when you are grossly exceeding the speed limit for whatever reason.)

So it's looking like do I spend more for the G's lower mileage and security from theft? Or less for the Integra...which could probably be "dumped" a little bit easier if I see something I like even better than these 2....