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Acura Integra - (All years/styles)
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Let me get this straight--you're kvetching about a ball joint failing after 11 years on potholed, Mid-west roads? You're joking, right?
While I can understand your immediate concern over the wheel becoming partially detached from the car (and I'm glad that you weren't injured), you must realize that ball joints are a wearable part that will eventually fail (sometimes suddenly if you don't take the time to inspect them twice a year).
Your car suffered from a condition known as "daily use." Regular maintenance only prolongs the inevitable.
As far as new rides go, I think you'd have a tough time finding a better car than a WRX, particularly when you consider this last winter. You could probably find a really good deal on a new Prelude right now, since it's dead after this MY. And there are going to be fire-sale prices on all 2001 Integras come July/August, courtesy or the RSX with its bonehead McStruts up front--(Memo to Honda--Up yours!) If gas prices in your region have you bummed, look for an Insight. It may not be a backroad burner, but with the money you save on gas, you could buy a cycle or jetski. Or some stocks.
Well...in any case...looking for a new ride anyway...perhaps a bimmer this time. :-) My wife has the other Honda. I'm a life long Honda fan but I'm not sure if I can resist the beauty and fun of the 325i. I drove the WRX and I'm just not enthused with it's tinniness.
I agree about the stupid struts. Honda was already warping time-space to make the inside bigger than the outside on it's cars (kinda like the Tardis), why ruin the suspenion to gain a tiny bit more?
Unfortunetly wheel alignment shops and most mechanics don't check all the suspension components carefully. To troubleshoot a ball joint or most suspension problems, you have to grab the car by the wheel hubs or control arms while it's up on the lift and shake the hek out of it and listen for unusual noises.
I just got a wheel alignment too because my '97 Civic DX HB had been pulling to 1 side and when I turn the wheel half way or more to the left (left turn) I hear a little bit of grinding kind of sound. I told them to check everything including ball joints, CV joints, bushings and look for bent control arms.
Well the couldn't do a complete wheel alignment. The caster was off (which I suspected) and they can't adjust that. They just adjusted the toe a little because I was out of spec. So I said how does the suspension look or the ball joints? "Well we just glanced at them quickly and they look ok, but you 'd have to come back in and make another appt. to check everything out very carefully since the caster is not within spec.." I 'm like wtf? They probably want to charge me to check everything out. They suck. they just wanted me outta there because they had others waiting for wheel alignments.
I 'm going to a "frame & axle" shop that specialize in this stuff and have them look at things. My Civic has 130k mi. It 's very common for the ball joints to go on a Civic between 120-140k mi when doing a lot of city driving. My car was in a bad accident with all suspension damage! They had replaced the lower control arms and the LCA bushings, nothing else. I 'm sure as a result of that accident (drove over a truck's axle at 65mph! and then went airborne and landed with a lot of force, plus the airbags came out and slapped me in the face), my ball joints and other things will go prematurely.
'06 Civic LX coupe
'11 BMW 335i coupe xDrive
'13 Honda Accord sedan (wife's car)
'06 Civic LX coupe
'11 BMW 335i coupe xDrive
'13 Honda Accord sedan (wife's car)
On a different note...what platform was the 90 Integra based on? I thought it was a Civic but somebody else told me that it was based on the defunct Accord Hatchback...which would account for the suprising room and width of the car (compared to a 90 Civic).
Pretty sure the 90 'teg was based on the Civic running gear, even though they might not have shared the same floorpan. The late '80s Accords all had IRS, not a beam axle. Honda probably killed the Accord hatch in an attempt to position the car up-market, in a time when hatches were viewed as a lesser breed. Maybe Honda will re-think that fateful decision when MB lands the C-class sportcoupe over here. (Yeah, right!)
Here's an idea: Imagine a new CRX, built on the same light-weight (under 2,000 lbs.) design principles as the Insight, with the 2.0 160hp motor from the 2002 Civic Si in it (or the Type-S engine from the RSX). Shoehorn in double-wishbones at all 4 corners, a LSD, and a 6-speed tranny, and then price it under $21,000.
Gee, I wonder if Honda could make a few extra bucks with THAT? At least it would give enthusiasts on a budget a reason to shop Honda again!
Wishful thinking.
As for my 90 Integra, I'm quite sure it has IRS, not a beam axle. I believe that it's double wishbone all around.
As for the Bimmer...I checked with my insurance company...a 2001 325i wagon will add about 33% onto my insurance cost. Considering the insurance for my Integra was quite cheap (even with State Farm), it isn't too bad. Probably because it's a 4 door wagon versus my old 2 door hatchback/coupe.
If Honda made that dream vehicle you were speaking of, I might not be so quick to leave the brand.
I spend about $1000 per year in maintenance, which is still far less than car payments. It had been leaking oil at a small rate for a while, but now is beginning to show signs of burning some oil. Still though, it is dependable transportation. I am putting close to 1200 miles a week on it now. So as long as I'm putting that many miles on a car, I see no reason to switch to a newer car now.
I saw the discussion in this forum a while back about whether high RPMs are good or bad for the engine. Well, most of my 300K are highway miles (higher RPMs). My current weekly commute has me going 70 - 80+ mph for hours at a time. No problems here. This car was made to be driven!
The 3 wagon sure looks sweet, and you can't beat the practicality of a 5-door. As I think about the WRX wagon, it becomes more difficult to find a reason to stay in the Honda/Acura family, other than the outstanding reliability.
It'd probably still get the Integra...although I'll reserve judgement on the new one.
hprickettx: I know what you mean, I felt "guilty" buying a new car because my car still runs. I will keep her until something expensive needs replacing.
$1,000/yr is ok but I wouldn't go much higher than than because you 're still driving an older car, and what if you just spend $1K on it and then the motor ceases? or the tranny? But it seems that it has worked out very well for you. You certainly saved a few thousand $$ a year from not owning a new car every 4-5 years. Keep it going! Now let us know every 10k mi. increments how it's doing :-) If you hit like 350k mi. I 'd go to the Acura dealer or call up Acura and tell them how you have really high mileage and would they like to use you in any advertising that they do and you might get a new car out of it. You have to talk to the right people at Acura though.
Good luck!
'06 Civic LX coupe
'11 BMW 335i coupe xDrive
'13 Honda Accord sedan (wife's car)
I'm in Chicago, by the way.
uge123:
From the sound of it, your '90 is in good shape for its age (low miles, too). I'd start the asking at $4500 and see what kind of response you get.
We still have one Honda...and I'm expecting that one to last at least as long as my Integra.
Imprezas are unpopular here on LI, I've only seen one 2002 on the road so far, and I was the only one checking them out at the dealership.
Caroline
Carol: Based upon my observations gathered while visiting various acounts on the Island, I'd have to say that the most popular car for your area is a late-'80s Camaro, done in a rich hue of primer gray. (Attempted humor)
'06 Civic LX coupe
'11 BMW 335i coupe xDrive
'13 Honda Accord sedan (wife's car)
My Civic has 130k mi. and I think one of my ball joints is going on the front left too! I 'm hoping the tapping I hear is a crushed/cracked bushing but when I crawled under the car, the lower control arm bushings looked ok to me, could be the shock too but Hondas are notorious for ball joints after 120k mi.
'06 Civic LX coupe
'11 BMW 335i coupe xDrive
'13 Honda Accord sedan (wife's car)
My new car (yes, I know it's an integra discussion). Steel Blue Metallic. and yes...got the Sport package for the wagon. BEAUTIFUL! If you want more info, e-mail me since this is an Integra discussion. I don't want to offend or bore people. uge123@yahoo.com
only1harry: Thanks! My ad was for $4500 and I'll see. Retail is right around 6k, but considering the minor rust and work that needs to be done (brakes in about 10k miles, possible R ball joint, etc) I thought that $4500 was a good place to start. I'll let ya'll know how things work out.
Even if it dies immediately after spending my yearly $1k on it, I'm still ahead of the game with respect to car payments, insurance, etc. And of course, can't predict when a total loss wreck might ocurr either. But in the meantime, it just keeps going and going and going
'06 Civic LX coupe
'11 BMW 335i coupe xDrive
'13 Honda Accord sedan (wife's car)
Should be able to get it for mid to high $8K.
Any thoughts, gotchas, caveats?
Thanks in advance.
Any help will be appreciated.
I hope this is a 5-sp.
'06 Civic LX coupe
'11 BMW 335i coupe xDrive
'13 Honda Accord sedan (wife's car)
David Guelich MD
By the time you spend $2K on an Integra, it will have over 150k mi. on it, counting maintenance items too like timing belt, tune-ups, brakes, etc.
'06 Civic LX coupe
'11 BMW 335i coupe xDrive
'13 Honda Accord sedan (wife's car)
My uncle used to lease a new Porsche every 2yrs and bought a new BMW every 3 but he was surgeon.
'06 Civic LX coupe
'11 BMW 335i coupe xDrive
'13 Honda Accord sedan (wife's car)
I can see the GSR dropping a few more hundred $$ but not much more. That's a really good price and over $3,000 below sticker. I paid $19.8K for my '99 GSR when there was a $1,000 factory to dealer incentive. They must have a $1500 or $2K one now. Check the Edmunds Rebates & Incentives section.
'06 Civic LX coupe
'11 BMW 335i coupe xDrive
'13 Honda Accord sedan (wife's car)
'06 Civic LX coupe
'11 BMW 335i coupe xDrive
'13 Honda Accord sedan (wife's car)
1-Whenever it rains, there seems to be a puddle under the passaenger mat. I've followed the water trail and it seems to be coming from under the dash somewhere, but I have no idea what's under there or what can be causing the leak.
2-There seems to be this annoying rattle and squeak coming from the rear. I can't tell if its the suspension or the hatch.
3-There seems to be this rattle coming from either inside the dash or in the driver's side door. It sounds like a small plastic piece, and you can only hear it when I brake (not so much when I go over bumps).
4-When I first got the car, the ABS light would stay on all the time, but now it doesn't. Does that sound like an electrical problem, or a brake problem?
I know these are minor problems, but its driving me crazy. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
jim
$14,835 using TMV. Is anyone getting this type of deal on a new car? Thanks.
Thanks
By the way, I'm loving the car so far! It's a fun, sporty little car, even if it is "a little long in the tooth"!
'06 Civic LX coupe
'11 BMW 335i coupe xDrive
'13 Honda Accord sedan (wife's car)
You guys got some great prices on them! Enjoy!
Now all you gotta do is throw out that POS 14mm sway bar and get a Comptech 22mm one to improve handling (and some decent ZR tires too).
'06 Civic LX coupe
'11 BMW 335i coupe xDrive
'13 Honda Accord sedan (wife's car)
How much below invoice do you pay?
I am interested in getting a LS or GS, but not sure usually how much dealer charge?
Any infos are appreciated.