GTP Cool Wall: 1995-2001 Honda/Acura Integra Type R

[Tornado]

This was about as close the US ever got to getting a true "good version" JDM Honda performance model (as opposed to all of the sporty Honda flagships that were in reality down a couple dozen horsepower on their Japanese and European market equivalents), NSX Zanardi Edition perhaps excepting. Even better, unlike the cartoonishly expensive Supra, RX-7 or 3000GT, this was a perfectly attainable performance vehicle.


And that alone makes it very uncool indeed, though not seriously so because it really was that good. Too bad the entire segment died immediately after it went out of production.

 

[Rage Racer]

Type-R - automatically cool.
DC2 is my favourite Integra.

 

[GT Pro]

Another great sports car whose image has been significantly tarnished by tasteless individuals who should not have ever been allowed anywhere near a car.

 

[Liquid]

This is the coolest Honda to be polled until the Accord Type R, which is in the queue somewhere.

 

[INEEDNAWZZZ]

What kind of logic is this? They're both manufactured by Honda. It's just a different front clip.

Should point out that there's an urban rumour that Acura models were apparently a fair bit heavier. Since Acura are seen as a more 'upmarket' company, the story goes that dealers only imported in models with full A/C, stereo, optional tool kit etc. to spec it up a bit more and easier to market. As a result, most were supposedly slower than their Honda badged variants, so that might have affected their view on the Acura version. No idea if its true though.

 

[Heldenzeit]

Authentic, unmodified Type R is cool.

A normal Integra would be uncool.

 

[Tyger]

It's a cool car in isolation, so gets a Cool from me. Revvy, planted and fun. Odd though that folks are saying the ricer crowd don't so much get their hands on these, as I think every one I've seen has had some work done on it. Also not overly scarce around here, almost as common as Civic Type Rs anyway. Starting to think the neighbourhood I moved to recently is ricer central though, not a week goes by without me seeing a local Civic, Integra, Skyline or Silvia crawling over a speed bump diagonally.

 

[1241Penguin]

Obligatory Best Motoring video. Driving by Gan-san:

 

[Niku Driver HC]

Obligatory Best Motoring video. Driving by Gan-san:

Man, that is all the FF driving I need to see, punctuated by some Akira Kamiya (Don't know who he is? Google it, you'll find an acting legend.) narrating at the start. Perfect driving by a driving legend, with a FF legend. That's why I love Best Motoring. 👍

 

[guywithanAE86]

Not with those stupid Celica wannabe headlights. The standard DC2 with the normal headlights is all right though. The only problem with them is that the majority of their owners don't know the first thing about cars...or tuning.

Ultimately, I don't think they're very cool. Honda made much better cars in that time frame and I don't see many people fondly looking back on the Integra in a few years.

 

[Murcie_LP640]

Ultimately, I don't think they're very cool. Honda made much better cars in that time frame and I don't see many people fondly looking back on the Integra in a few years.

...Eh?

Aside from the NSX which was significantly more expensive, what other Honda/Acura vehicles were "much better" than the Integra Type-R?

The S2000 of course came at the end of the DC2's production run but again was more expensive.

 

[Tornado]

Ultimately, I don't think they're very cool. Honda made much better cars in that time frame and I don't see many people fondly looking back on the Integra in a few years.

This reads like the response from some bitter Prelude owner circa 2001.

 

[ScottPuss20]

Too much of a street kid's car. At least it looks half decent. Meh

 

[TheCracker]

...and I don't see many people fondly looking back on the Integra in a few years.

Ooops.

http://www.evo.co.uk/features/features/260035/birth_of_an_icon_honda_integra_typer.html

 

[Niku Driver HC]

Ooops.

http://www.evo.co.uk/features/features/260035/birth_of_an_icon_honda_integra_typer.html

Now that is what I call a "egg on your face!" moment. (For the person who said the Integras would not be considered as icons in the future)

 

[AlvaroF]

And Hammond also has a small "Hammond's Drives the Icons" collum that featured the Integra Type-R

http://www.topgear.com/uk/photos/Hammond-drives-the-icons-Integra-Type-R-2013-06-12

 

[CarBastard]

Only recognizable by either the weirdo "Hottu Vershon" crowd or the insufferable "DJM tyte yolo, Ride or DIE 'CUZ!" crowd.

Seriously uncool.

(And man, I wish I had one of those cars)

 

[ImaRobot]

The only problem with them is that the majority of their owners don't know the first thing about cars...or tuning.

Weird, the only people I knew that owned some where actually the most well informed people that I've met. Doesnt have to do with a Type-R but my brother built his base model LS in our garage, at 18, and was keeping up with Evo's and the like with a Non turbo 4 Cylinder. Where did this baseless assumption come from?

It's probably based around the same idea that people who watch Initial D instantly start idolizing the AE86 and end up buying one(usually ending up with an SR5), with little to no knowledge about the car, or tuning, outside of the anime.

I voted Sub Zero, for both faces. I love the JDM fronts, they're beautiful, but they are so played out and I'm sick of seeing them. I've actually always wanted to get one and swap the JDM front on when I was younger, but over the past 12 years(from when the idea first originated with me) I have seen so many horrible(and tasteful) examples that I've just grown sick of it. If I still plan on getting one(not a Type-R), which I most likely will because they are cheap and relatively good looking, I will stick to the USDM front.

While I never got a taste of how the Type-R performed, I have experienced its Less-powerful B16 in the Si. Even with its 160HP it was still very fun and very rev happy, which I liked. I've also owned an 06 Civic SI and even though it was significantly heavier, it was still plenty fast and gripped the corners, so I can only imagine how the Type-r could handle, given its similar HP specs but with far less weight. These cars feel like they are on rails, and made for plenty of fun ripping through the canyons.

As for the crowds these cars attract, unless these people are actually built in as part of the car from the manufacturer, I dont see how its relevant.

 

[SlipZtrEm]

The only problem with them is that the majority of their owners don't know the first thing about cars...or tuning.

A bold statement to make, seeing as how the ITR wasn't a terribly good ownership prospect for someone with just a passing interest in cars (well, unless they were looking at it as a long-term investment). If this were a GSR, you might have a point.

But as an owner of one of the two main poster cars for the mad-tyte-drift-yo crowd, I'd keep a close eye on that glass house of yours.

 

[huskeR32]

VTEC YO!


Seriously uncool.

Two things that have been said before, and will doubtlessly need to be said again:

1. This has never been funny. It will never be funny.

2. The admitted idiocy of the crowd that fits the "VTEC YO" stereotype is matched, step-for-step, by the the crowd that won't shut up about V8s, RWD, muscle cars, and torque, and who thinks saying "VTEC YO" is funny and/or conveys anything of value.*

---

I voted the Integra uncool myself. I like it just fine, as I do most any other Type-R or Si Honda. But it just doesn't strike me as cool. Looks kinda bland, and to most people is just an over-priced Civic. I'd love to own and drive one, no doubt, but it's not cool.


*Full disclaimer: I used to be in that second crowd myself. Oh how I laugh when I look back at teenaged me.

 

[Slash]

Two things that have been said before, and will doubtlessly need to be said again:

1. This has never been funny. It will never be funny.

2. The admitted idiocy of the crowd that fits the "VTEC YO" stereotype is matched, step-for-step, by the the crowd that won't shut up about V8s, RWD, muscle cars, and torque, and who thinks saying "VTEC YO" is funny and/or conveys anything of value.*

It wasn't meant to be a knock for the stereotype but typically the owners I see with this car are pretty bad about it.

 

[huskeR32]

It wasn't meant to be a knock for the stereotype but typically the owners I see with this car are pretty bad about it.

Then what was it meant to be a knock on? The actual VTEC system itself? If so, what are you basing that on? Have you driven one of these?

 

[Slash]

Then what was it meant to be a knock on? The actual VTEC system itself? If so, what are you basing that on? Have you driven one of these?

What does driving one have to do with anything? The tuner guys ruined the image of these cars. Stereotype or not, it's stained.

 

[ImaRobot]

What does driving one have to do with anything? The tuner guys ruined the image of these cars. Stereotype or not, it's stained.

Driving one(not restricted to, however) and having knowledge about the car your judging has a lot to do with this thread. That is, if we are going for accurate judgement of this car, rather then blind hate.

 

[Slash]

I don't hate the car at all. I'd love to take one for a rip. I'm just saying the image of Acura/Hondas is stained.

 

[huskeR32]

What does driving one have to do with anything?

Well, if your original "VTEC YO" wasn't meant as a knock on the Honda/Acura crowd, as you claim here, then the only other thing I could imagine it referring to would be the VTEC-equipped engine in the car itself. Which if you've never driven one, would be a silly thing to say.

You reaction above, however, seems to indicate that you were knocking the Honda/Acura crowd after all. Further confirmation of that seems to be found here:

The tuner guys ruined the image of these cars. Stereotype or not, it's stained.

At which point I would refer back to:

2. The admitted idiocy of the crowd that fits the "VTEC YO" stereotype is matched, step-for-step, by the the crowd that won't shut up about V8s, RWD, muscle cars, and torque, and who thinks saying "VTEC YO" is funny and/or conveys anything of value.*

Care to address that? Or do you just want to keep blithering on about how bad the first group is while being completely oblivious that you're looking like a card-carrying member of the second group?

 

[guywithanAE86]

This reads like the response from some bitter Prelude owner circa 2001.

Bro, you see my profile pic? I wouldn't step foot in a wannabe Celica.

Anyways, it's interesting to hear all the other stuff, I guess things are more different over here in cali as far as car enthusiasts go than I figured.

I'm still not a fan though, the drivers in them or BMW's are the ones who keep trying to race me on a backroad when I just wanna get home.

 

[Tornado]

The Prelude didn't have much to worry about in regards to the Celica when the latter spent most of the 1990s in America being a Camry with a less practical body.

 

[niky]

I don't see no SR20s... where are my SR20s?

Thankfully, the "scene" has moved on from putting stickers on Integras to stuffing V8s into 240SXs and 240SXs into walls... (okay, there's still the Hellaflush crowd, but let's be honest, they'll do anything with four wheels) ...so it's safe to come out and admit these are seriously cool, again. One of the best small sports cars ever, with one of the best engines to go into a road car, ever.

 

[TheCracker]

Don't know where the 'Celica wannabe' tag comes from. That model of Celica and this model of Integra came out at the same time. Any similarity can only be a coincidence.