My own "learn me" thread: Integra Type R

It's been over 15 years since I last drove a 3G Integra (had one as a loaner while my '91 was being serviced). I'm still casually looking for a back-up DD/auto-x and a one-owner 2000 in black was just posted on a local forum. Meticulous enthusiast owner. Ran D-Stock for awhile, but not since 2009 at least (when I first me him, he was running a Miata in CS; now runs a S2K in STR). It has basically been an occasional DD ever since. Looks clean in the pics, 114K miles. Basically stock and original other than Konis. Asking price is good, but not smoking. He's been talking about selling this car for years (literally) so he's obviously in no hurry. But, it's in nice shape and would (hopefully) be a nicer car to be a back-up DD than my E30 (which I kinda hate) while I take the TDi down for service for a month or two.

Any major pitfalls with these cars? Are they still the theft-bait they used to be? MPG?

I don't think that they are as big theft bait as they used to be, but I wouldn't own one without a garage.

mtn wrote: I don't think that they are as big theft bait as they used to be, but I wouldn't own one without a garage.

Yeah this.

Well, it would have to live outside as the Mini and GT6 get the garage space. The car in question has lived outside for a few years now. It'd get full coverage, so if it's stolen... oh well...

Anyone here owned one?

I can't speak for the Type R, but I had a GS-R which was fairly close. Yes, I'd say they're still theft bait.

They're a freakin' blast to drive. My memory of my car was that it was surgically precise in steering/chassis response. I never raced it, but sure wish I had. Awesome fun. You have to rev the puppy snot out of it to get power, the engine is fairly flat below 5k rpm. I got somewhere around 32mpg when driving it like a commuter, low-mid 20's when beating it.

Demand for ITR parts is lower than it was in the F&F days, but it's still a Honda, which means it's still easy to steal; thefts still happen. I don't know if A/C was still an option in 2000, may want to confirm that before getting one as a DD. Gas mileage in the high 20s on the highway, they're not geared for economy.

Car thieves are too young to remember when Acura made cool, awesome cars. You should be safe.

pinchvalve wrote: Car thieves are too young to remember when Acura made cool, awesome cars. You should be safe.

Pfffft. While they are young, they know what a whole slew of Type R parts are worth.

It will be a lot of fun to drive. It will have good handling. Plus the song of that VTEC at 8500 rpm... If the price is decent you should get it. It's one of those cars you buy and drive for a few years and then sell for what you paid or a slight profit.

In reply to clutchsmoke:

I guess that's sort of my question. "Tuned" Hondas and Acuras aren't very common anymore. Does anyone still give a crap about the ITR except from a handful of remaining enthusiasts?

The car still has the factory "Type R" decals as well as the red Acura hood badge, so it won't be invisible. In all seriousness, if replacement decals are available, I'd be tempted to remove them and swap on a std hood badge to make the car look more 'stealth'. Of course, the boy-racer factory wing is hard to hide...

That is sort of my plan: buy it and drive it for a few years until I can get the Sprinter I want.

I used to own one on the UK that was bone stock. Only issue I had was it needed new motor mounts and trailing arm rubber bushes replaced. Replacing them with Mugen parts sharpened up the handling somewhat.

I'd buy it without hesitation if it has been looked after.

Oh, and with R888s and no other mods I managed to keep up with an ex BTCC ITR, but I think they were dialing in that car. No driving god, me.

Only issue I had with it was that it ate the front R888s like candy. They survived two track days...

Ian F wrote: In reply to clutchsmoke: I guess that's sort of my question. "Tuned" Hondas and Acuras aren't very common anymore. Does anyone still give a crap about the ITR except from a handful of remaining enthusiasts? The car still has the factory "Type R" decals as well as the red Acura hood badge, so it won't be invisible. In all seriousness, if replacement decals are available, I'd be tempted to remove them and swap on a std hood badge to make the car look more 'stealth'. Of course, the boy-racer factory wing is hard to hide... That is sort of my plan: buy it and drive it for a few years until I can get the Sprinter I want.

Your strategy would help, but they can spot the special goodies inside if they get up close like the ITR seats, steering wheel, 5 lug wheels, etc. I'm not sure where you live, but around Chicago Hondas go missing with alarming regularity.

I live in an odd little rural town in the middle of suburbia. A landscape dominated by domestics with a smattering of imports (although my neighbor has a RSX). Not exactly the sort of area that sees a lot of car thefts in general (potential thieves are likely to be shot).

Hmm... I'll have to think about it... maybe take a test drive. I was originally considering a WRX wagon as a 2nd car, but clean ones seem to sell for good money around here - about the same as the asking price for this car. This car includes a set of snow tires as well. Current PA inspection... basically get in and drive, which is what I need right now - if I wanted a nickel & dime project I'd keep the E30.

You should probably be fine then. I would get an ITR over a WRX wagon anytime especially for the, "Just get in and drive." And in the snow I'm not sure which would be more fun...

The first thing my buddy did when he bought his was debadge, desticker, and de-wing it, then told anyone who asked that he was trying to make an ITR clone.

It was never messed with, but he was really careful about where he left it.

Well, it would have to live outside as the Mini and GT6 get the garage space.

Well then don't get it. That's not just a theft thing. It's a "If you think a Mini deserves garaging more than an ITR that's still nice, dont get an ITR" thing. The world is not in any danger of running out of decent MINIs. Common cars are owned. I'd like to think rare and special cars are stewarded. You clearly HAVE garage space. If you're not willing to use it to keep a nice rare car nice, i'd think you should look for something that doesnt have as far to fall in the first place. Like a GSR with some mods.

Still theft bait. They come over from orlando to steal cars still

In reply to Vigo:

Mini, not MINI. The ITR is rain proof and is made of metal that doesn't dissolve in water quite as quickly. A Mini is not... Hell... that thing rusts in my dry garage...

Mini, not MINI.

Ahh. I assumed you still owned a newer one. In that case your position is more justifiable but i think my opinion remains the same. Get a GSR that's just as nice for less money and watch nobody care as nature takes it course.

A close friend of mine is a multiple typer owner, and I have spent many miles driving his (both stock and heavily modified) cars in anger. I like them quite well when driving them hard, but tire of them quickly when not. The problem that I have is that, because I so prefer them when driven hard, I end up going 10/10ths everywhere until I trade back with him in order to preserve my freedom (and tell him he might want to hide it in the garage for a while). I truly believe these cars will appreciate over time, and stock ones are becoming VERY rare, partly because they improve greatly when modded and partly because of the typical owners. Aftermarket is ridiculous, everything you could imagine. Like many great cars, typers are more than the sum of their parts. Raw, but fantastic.

IMHO championship white is the color.

mtn wrote: I don't think that they are as big theft bait as they used to be, but I wouldn't own one without a garage.

Anything with a H badge on it from that period is theft bait, lol.

Oh, I forgot, one of my friend's got stolen at one point but was recovered. lol theft bait for sure.

It is absolutely still theft bait. I wouldn't leave an R out even if it weren't.

Klayfish wrote: I can't speak for the Type R, but I had a GS-R which was fairly close.

Yes and no. I don't mean any offense to GS-R owners, but the two are the same, except for the Type-R's handbuilt engine with special internals and cams, special ECU, plus the limited slip differential, and the special final drive, and the different chassis stampings/extra bracing in the body, and the thinner window glass, and the special springs, dampers, and swaybars, and the special brakes, and the special hubs and wheels, and the unique interior bits, and the aforementioned exterior trim pieces. In my experience, the GS-R is almost a Type R the same way a Mustang GT is almost a Shelby GT, a MINI Cooper is almost a Cooper Works, or a 911 is almost a GT3RS. Get it! They are special cars, truly Jekyll and Hyde, with very focused handling and great performance on track.

Based on my experience, expect about 30mpg with careful driving on the street, and 8-9mpg with sticky tires at a fairly large roadcourse trackday.

Hence why I said "fairly". No, I couldn't have rattled off every last difference, but they're not polar opposites. And no worries, no offense taken, I had my GS-R many moons ago.