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Acura Integra - (All years/styles)

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Comments

  • verozahlverozahl Member Posts: 574
    Maybe you consider yourself lucky, then? News just reaffirmed today - Integra is most stolen car! There a a thousand reasons to pilfer one... excellent handling, yes, but you are looking at very high-quality parts when you open the hood.
  • nerdnerd Member Posts: 203
    My wife's '97 GS coupe is due for new tires. The original ones are Michelin XGT V4 in 195/55R15 size. Michelin still makes that tire, but not in that size. They recommend the same XGT V4 tire in a 205/50R15.

    I am wondering if any of you have any experience with this different size.

    By the way, this has been a terrific car. Absolutely bullet proof in the five years she has had it.
  • himilerhimiler Member Posts: 1,209
    You can do far better in terms of traction and price.

    I went thru 2 sets of Dunlop SP Sport 5000 tires in 205/50-15 size, and really loved 'em on my GS-R. They're quiet, very grippy, and have a comfy ride (at the expense of some steering sharpnes). Treadwear is somewhere around 300 -- I was able to get 60K miles from each set of four.

    www.tirerack.com has them for around $90 each, I think. Worth a look.
  • nerdnerd Member Posts: 203
    Thanks for the advice. I have been disappointed in the treadwear of the XGTs. They will have lasted only about 25K miles.
  • only1harryonly1harry Member Posts: 1,140
    The Michelin XGT-V4 is a mediocre tire as far as grip and handling goes but are undeniably BAD in the rain/wet (forget about snow).
    The Dunlop SP5000 or even SP4000 are excellent All Season tires and are also classified as high performance at the same time (not ultra-high perf). Although I 've never owned them I 've heard nothing but good things about them. I plan on getting a set for my '01 Civic soon.
    BTW, I don't believe the Dunlops (or most tire companies) make the 195-55 so you 'll need to get the 205-50-15". It's the better size anyway. A little wider and is almost the same circuimfurance as the 195-55 size so your speedometer won't change much. It 'll only be off by 1mph. It'll show 1mph faster. So you will actually be going 64mph if the speedo reads 65. Don't tell your wife that so she won't compensate for it and get a ticket :=)
    You can order the Dunlops from Tirerack.com too or shop around, and then get them mounted and balanced (usually costs $60) at a Firestone or reputable tire shop. They have pretty good prices. If you go to Mavis Tire or others you might pay $30+ more per tire, so shop on line if you can..
    '99 Integra GSR
    '06 Civic LX coupe
    '11 BMW 335i coupe xDrive
    '13 Honda Accord sedan (wife's car)
  • nerdnerd Member Posts: 203
    Only1harry and himiler have convinced me to go with the Dunlops. I checked the price at Tirerack, and it sure is reasonable compared to the Michelins. And, Tirerack shows a certified installer in my town - it is a company I have done business with before. I assume the two of you have had good experience with Tirerack.

    By the way, I am wondering what pressure you (plural) run in the 205/50 tires. I have run the recommended 35 front/33 rear on the 195/55 Michelins. They are wearing uniformly, albeit too quickly. Michelin did tell me that they no longer make the 195/55, and they recommended the 205/50.

    Thanks to both of you for your help. I get to drive the Integra more now (it is my wife's car) since she took delivery on her new BMW 325Ci in February. Otherwise, I drive a Mazda pickup.
  • himilerhimiler Member Posts: 1,209
    Yes, Tirerack is excellent. I have been a loyal customer since 1995. One time, they sent me a tire in the incorrect profile size (which I did not notice until after it had been installed), and they paid the return shipping and sent me a check for the mounting/balancing fees of the wrong tire AND the correct tire.

    Pressure-wise, I usually ran them a little high at 38psi front and rear. This pressure worked well for me because I was primarily doing highway miles and 38psi gave me slightly better mileage. The SP5000 is a reinforced tire (very strong) that will max out at 51psi, so the extra pressure didn't bother it.

    If you're just zipping aroung town, there's nothing wrong with running 33psi in all 4 tires. You will be impressed with the additional grip (particularly in the wet), I promise!
  • nerdnerd Member Posts: 203
    Again, thanks for the advice. I plan to get a set of the Dunlops this summer.
  • acuramaniaacuramania Member Posts: 1
    Hi everyone. This is my first time in this forum and I am very happy to be a part of it.
    I have an 92 Acura Integra RS, manual, 158K. I had been very satisfied with it until the last year. It just could not start in the summer while it was left under the sun for the day. But after the car is cooled down, no probloem with the start. Since I am living in Cleveland and it is ok if I parked the car in the shade. But I will go to Texas soon and I am sure it will be a very annoying problem. Does anybody has the same experience? I was told by a friend it is a sensor problem. Could anybody tell me in more detail what could be wrong?
  • himilerhimiler Member Posts: 1,209
    ...temp sensor, ignition, fuel pump leak.

    Whatever the problem is, I'd suggest you let a Honda/Acura specialist take a whack at it.
  • nerdnerd Member Posts: 203
    I ordered a set of the Dunlop SP 5000 tires (205/50WR15) from Tirerack this morning, and they were shipped this afternoon. Since we are only 60 miles from the warehouse, they should arrive on Friday. I had them drop shipped to a local installer, so maybe I can get them installed on Saturday. I have already alerted the installer.

    These tires surely have received rave reviews from Tirerack customers. Everyone said they are much better than the Michelin XGT.
  • cjhannancjhannan Member Posts: 201
    Good move on getting the Dunlops. As Harry said above, the Michelin XGT are mediocre at best in dry driving conditions (and I'm being kind here) but they are absolutely scary/dangerous in wet weather. I have no idea what Michelin was thinking when the designed the XGTs. =:-o) Another good and reasonably-priced tire in that size is the Kumho Ecsta 712. I've had Bridgestone RE730s on my car for the past year and they are wonderful, a step up from the 712s, but also about $20-30 more per tire.
  • himilerhimiler Member Posts: 1,209
    Let us know what you think of them once they're on your car.
  • nerdnerd Member Posts: 203
    I had the Dunlop SP Sport 5000s installed on my wife's Integra this morning. My initial impression is that they are a dramatic improvement over the XGTs. They ride much smoother and are much more resistant to ruts and bumps in the road. The XGTs always rode like they were filled with concrete, and they were bad about following ruts. I will give the Dunlops the normal break-in time before seeing how they handle when pushed. I am glad that I got the 205/50 size; they just look better on the car.

    The service from Tire Rack was terrific. The tires arrived at the installer a mere 27 hours after I ordered them. In fact, the installer told me that he buys a lot of tires for customers from Tire Rack and that they are the most knowledgeable tire folks he has ever dealt with. He also said that Dunlop has improved their tires over the past few years; he even complimented me on my choice.

    Thanks to all of you for the advice. Read my next post for another question.
  • himilerhimiler Member Posts: 1,209
    Cool! Just wait until you get a couple hundred miles on 'em -- then they'll really start getting sticky. Wheeee!

    PS--Keep them happy: remember to rotate them regularly (every other oil change or every 5,000 miles, whichever works best for you).
  • nerdnerd Member Posts: 203
    If you had $1,000 to spend on performance and handling improvements on a '97 Integra GS with 21K miles, how would you spend it? It has new tires but otherwise is completely original. I don't expect ever to autocross or do other competition, but I do enjoy driving a car that performs and handles well.

    Looking forward to your suggestions.
  • himilerhimiler Member Posts: 1,209
    You've got lots of choices:
    Springs, adjustable coilovers, cold air intake, brake pads, underdrive pulleys, exhaust header, etc. It all depends on what your priorities are.

    The only major thing I did to my GS-R was add a DC Sports 4-2-1 ceramic-coated header, which made the car feel like it grew an extra cylinder.

    I would suggest you check out the Integra forum at www.honda-tech.com

    You can ask questions directly, or just lurk and pick the brains of others. It's a good resource.
  • nerdnerd Member Posts: 203
    Thanks for the tip. I'll check out the Integra forum.

    I will need to pay attention to the tire rotation on the Integra as you mention.

    By the way, I was in your fair city a few years ago visiting the Miller brewery in the area. They were a customer at the time, but I recall hearing that Miller closed it. I was there in January, but the weather tolerable.
  • fomafoma Member Posts: 1
    this sounds stupid...but ever since I got my Integra used ('94) the car's auto lock/unlock system worked silently, meaning no single and double beeps unlocking and locking the doors using the key-fob thing. (2 buttons marked "I" and "II." I think it came with the car, a black square with 2 buttons attached to the keychain. Suddenly just a few days ago somehow the car started to make the beeps, once when I get out and close the door, and again when I press "I" to lock. It would double beep if I pressed "I" again to unlock.
    All this would be OK, but my wife has a spare key made at a mall (not a genuine Honda Key) and it worked fine until the beeps came alive. Now whenever the spare key is used the alarm goes off. I somehow think all this time the alarm was in off mode or valet mode or whatever, I can't seem to set the alarm back to the noiseless mode (no annoying beeps locking and unlocking). I seriously doubt my car will get stolen anyway, so if anyone knows how to reset the alarm system back to "silent," please advise.
  • nerdnerd Member Posts: 203
    I can sympathize with your dilemma.

    You didn't mention if the alarm system is the Acura dealer-installed unit or an aftermarket. However, your description of the remote matches that of the Clifford Arrow system on my daughter's Laser. If it is a Clifford, holding down the II button while pressing the I button will silence the beeps. Regarding the use of a spare key...I suspect you had inadvertently turned the valet mode off and on. I don't have the manual, so I can't help with programming.

    In either case, I would assume that an Acura dealer could help you with the Acura system. If it is an aftermarket system, I could only suggest contacting a local vendor.
  • chem123chem123 Member Posts: 272
    -ITR rear sway bar
    -AEM CAI
    -better tires?
    -AXXIS Ultimate front pads/Valvoline Synpower fluid
    -Koni Yellows/H&R, Eibach, Ground Control, etc.
    -if money left over, DC Sports JDM 4-1 header
  • verozahlverozahl Member Posts: 574
    ... rubber floor mats in mine to keep gunk out of the nice "A" and "Integra" floormats. Rear seats, too. I actually convince friends to ride back there at times!

    Wicked mods.
  • nerdnerd Member Posts: 203
    Thank you for the list. I'll investigate.
  • himilerhimiler Member Posts: 1,209
    Word! Weathertech rubber mats rule.
  • bong_dongsbong_dongs Member Posts: 1
    I'm being offered a 2001 Integra GS, 4 Dr, Auto, 10K miles for $17K (from an Acura dealer) in Houston, TX.

    Seems like a pretty reasonable deal to me, could probably get similar car for $16K in a private trade but am not having much luck finding one in Houston.
  • himilerhimiler Member Posts: 1,209
    Yeah, that's a good price. I ran the info you provided thru Kelly Blue Book and got a retail value of $21,000.

    Sounds like the dealer wants to get rid of it quick. Try to work them for another couple hundred bucks off around the end of the month, or have them install mats or flaps for free. Hey, it never hurts to try!

    Good luck.
  • revkarevka Member Posts: 1,750
    Have you checked Edmunds' Used Vehicle Appraiser? It will give you the average price other people are paying in your region. Good luck.

    Revka
    Host
    Hatchbacks & Wagons Boards
  • bumblebee2bumblebee2 Member Posts: 4
    Hey Everyone,
    The recent discussion (esp. about the tires) has been VERY helpful to me. I just bought a 1997 GS - in awesome condition but needing 4 tires and brakes.

    Which brings me to my question: Do I need to be careful about what kind of brakes I put on my Integra? Do you recommend any brands/any kinds? I started looking on the web and saw some green and red brake pads that looked like they were for high performance. I'm not a racer, so it's not about that. But I do want to get stuff that lasts and does the job well. I'm not sure how careful I have to be about picking brakes. Are they all the same? Well, I hope some of you all have some advice for me! Thanks, wise ones....
  • himilerhimiler Member Posts: 1,209
    Brembo makes OE-sized rotors for your car that are less than $30 apiece. They're much better quality than the original equipment, which do tend to warp easily. Resist the urge to go for looks and avoid a slotted or cross-drilled rotor. They will chew your pads up like a cheese grater, and often develop hairline cracks.

    As far as pads go, your best best is to stick with the OE Honda/Acura part. They're cheap, quiet, and leave hardly any dust. Paired with the Brembo rotors, the stock pads will give you improved performance over the factory pad/rotor combo.
  • verozahlverozahl Member Posts: 574
    Has anyone ever owned any car they loved more overall than the Integra? Just wondering! I don't have any problems with my car, and I've had it over a year... I dunno, I think maybe the stock horn isn't loud enough... but that's it...
  • nerdnerd Member Posts: 203
    My wife bought a '02 BMW 325Ci earlier this year, and it has won her heart over her '97 Integra GS. Considering the difference in price and target markets, she and I both don't consider them to be comparable cars. She would have considered the Acura CL Type S, but the styling wasn't sporty enough. Still, she can't bring herself to sell the Integra, and she still likes to drive it. BTW, both cars have manual transmissions.

    I see you live in Michigan - GO BLUE!
  • verozahlverozahl Member Posts: 574
    The Integra/RSX has always been called "the poor man's BMW" among Honda types and it would explain my lack of surprise at your comments (and how I found myself reading my 2002 model year BMW brochures I requested in the mail last night)!

    If BMW and Honda had a kid (gender: FWD! >;p), it would look like an Integra/RSX and grow up to be a CL. People gripe all the time about Acura... hey, if you want the BMW, get the BMW, it won't offend me whatsoever.

    My Integra is an automatic, and I'd get an automatic in my next car unless I suddenly feel like shifting gears in traffic. But other than that, your wife makes perfect sense to me. A five-year-old Integra is a good trade for a new BMW 3-Series. Hopefully she figures out which one she wants more, and if she does opt for the Bimmer, make sure the Integra gets into good hands!
  • nippononlynippononly Member Posts: 12,555
    Integra/RSX are the deal of a century. BMWs cost too much, even for what is a very worthy car.

    I wonder what will happen in the rivalry between these two when Bimmer starts selling that 1-series here - it will be the first four-cylinder and the first BMW to undercut RSX pricing in a long time.

    Seems that in the past the four-cylinder BMWs were always the ones with problems - I think I would still get the RSX vs the new 1. But a three or four year old 330i, now that is a whole other story!

    2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)

  • nerdnerd Member Posts: 203
    You are right, verozahl, about selling the Integra to "good hands". In fact, she has said that she will not sell hers to "some teenager who will trash it". She would just as soon give it to one of our daughters who are well past the teenage years.

    She did look seriously at the RSX. She really liked the S-type, but there would have been a long wait to get one. She said that the standard model drove too much like her Integra. We both agree that the RSX is a great deal. If it proves to be as reliable as the Integra, Acura will surely have a winner for years to come. I think the RSX will be the most formidable competitor against the BMW Mini.

    BMWs are expensive. But, as persons who like performance cars, we think they are worth the price.
  • verozahlverozahl Member Posts: 574
    Bimmers are expensive but you do get the Ultimate Driving Machine when you buy one. However, I like Acura's "no optional equipment" policy. With BMW, you can add on $$$$ thousands of dollars if you want sunroof, automatic transmission, metallic paint, Xenons, and so on. Most of the things I would ever want come on Acuras standard... sunroofs, metallic paint, automatic climate control, keyless entry. NAV system? Don't need or want. All I lack on the Integra is automatic climate control and keyless entry. Maybe I'll want leather heated power seats in my next ride.

    MINI is a fadmobile toy. Hardly practical or sensible. Sporty? Hah, whatever.

    Upgrading from an Integra/RSX, you will get into Acura CL, BMW 3-Series coupe, or Infiniti G35 coupe territory. If Lexus and Audi (it is rumored that they will somehow, probably based on IS300 and A4) would join the fray, then there would be plenty of choices.

    Acura TSX will fulfill the entry-level sport sedan segement sorefully missing in the Acura lineup. As I said, of course it will be FWD. If you want RWD, get the BMW or the Nissan-Infiniti and stop complaining about Honda-Acura & FWD specialization. With TSX, the 3-Series looks less 'necessary' (not that there is anything 'necessary' abotu the 3-Series... it is the Ultimate Driving Machine).

    If I wanted a four-door entry-level sport sedan, I would have probably gone with the rock-solid reliable Infiniti G20 which I like (Integra sedan, I don't like as much as the coupe). Upgrade from Integra to four-door? Well, you have Audi, BMW, Lexus, Infiniti to pick from... and Acura TL as well. Nothing is compelling at this time.
  • optimusprime25optimusprime25 Member Posts: 2
    Question: Can you use the same oil filter from the civic on an integra? I'm assuming that they are the same size, and that buying an OEM filter from Acura only wastes money.

    I have a 99 Integra LS. When i go to the parts counter at Honda, do i just tell them that i have a 99 civic? And do all civics use the same filter too, or should i specifiy a certain model (LX, EX)
    Thanks for the input!

    BTW- Just bought my teg used from a dealer. ~34,000 miles for roughly $14k. i was pretty happy with the deal. There have been no modifications done to the car, and it already went through acura/honda's 'glittery 150 point inspection.' Life is good when you get rid of your old college beater car and can drive something fun.
  • verozahlverozahl Member Posts: 574
    Life is good when you bought a new 2001 Integra LS and drive it throughout the last three years of college. Man, but I feel deprived, not having a beater Buick-! >:(
  • bumblebee2bumblebee2 Member Posts: 4
    Hey Everyone,
    I'm wondering if anyone knows of any ways to make the Integra's ride less bumpy and quieter than it is in stock. I have a 97 GS.

    I figure good tires will do a lot - anything else?
  • nerdnerd Member Posts: 203
    My wife has a '97 Integra with only 22K miles.

    While the Integra suspension is rather stiff, I did find that replacing the original Michelin XGT tires made a big difference. I replaced them with Dunlop SP Sport 5000 tires in 205/50-15 size. The ride is still firm but not nearly as harsh. The Dunlops are much quieter, and the handling is significantly better. They look better on the car since they are wider. And the effect on the speedometer is about 1.5 mph at 70mph (the speedometer reads high).

    I ordered the tires from Tire Rack, and they arrived the next day at the installer. I am very pleased with them.
  • himilerhimiler Member Posts: 1,209
    Check out some Dynamat, a sound-absorbing/supressing material that can be found at better car stereo shops and online. You can put it on the underside of your hood, inside the doors, in the wheel wells, on the trunk floor, etc. It does a good job of getting rid of road and wind noise, but it isn't exactly cheap, either.

    Nerd's suggestion about tires is a good one. Those Dunlops offer major grip and are much easier to live with than most ultra-high performance tires. If I could get them in the size my Prelude requires, I would.
  • bumblebee2bumblebee2 Member Posts: 4
    Ahh...I see... in regards to the tires, I really want to put Dunlop 5000's on (it seems there's a consensus on this and other forums about their quality) but practicality seems to point me to Dunlop SP Sport A2's. Does anyone have experience with these??

    I've been doing my homework and it tells me that while being $7-$8 cheaper than the 5000's (and I am strapped), the A2 got higher marks in every department at Tirerack. Also, the A2 has a 50k treadlife warranty and its treadwear rating is 420, while the 5000's is 340. The only thing that falls short is the speed rating.

    Any thoughts on this tire?

    (Thanks for the Dynamat suggestion!!)
  • ranaldranald Member Posts: 147
    I have SP Sport A2's on my Civic. I love them, though I have no direct experience with the 5000's so I can't compare them directly.

    They're superior in every way I've tested to the OEM Firestones, if you have any experience with those. Wet traction, dry traction, noise, ride, milage... I'm happy all around. The one thing I have yet to do is drive them in snow.

    I suspect the 5000's would be a bit sportier, the A2's might be a bit better in snow and have a bit longer treadlife. But that's just from driving on A2's and comparing reviews of the 2 tires on tirerack. :)

    I don't think the speed rating is going to make much of a difference.
  • nerdnerd Member Posts: 203
    Himiler recommended the SP 5000 to me, and his comments were consistent with the reviews at the Tire Rack website. So, I didn't look at the A2s very close. You might want to read the reviews for each and then decide.

    Since price is a big concern for you, following Ranald's advice is likely your best choice.
  • himilerhimiler Member Posts: 1,209
    The new A2 is an excellent tire, but it won't hold a line thru a corner like the SP5000.

    Decide whether grip or treadlife is more important to you, and vote with your wallet.
  • bumblebee2bumblebee2 Member Posts: 4
    Ranald, Nerd, Himiler,
    Thanks for the info and comments. Totally appreciated. I'm so happy these boards are around!
  • littleteglittleteg Member Posts: 6
    I have a 92 Integra Ls with 193,000 miles on it!!
    I expect to reach the 200K mark by December this year. This car has been asbsolutely bullet-proof. The engine is rock solid and has had no noticeable power loss since it was new. The only negative has been the distributer failing every 45-55K miles. Other than that I have replaced normal wear items such as brake rotors, cv boots, spark plugs, etc. I did upgrade the suspension to KYB struts and Eibach Pro-Kit springs. These springs lowered just enough to get rid of the huge gap between the fender and tire. I didn't go for the low-rider look. Handling although very stiff, is still a great improvement over stock, which i felt was a bit loose, though not bad.
    The original michelins did suck! I initially upgraded to Bridgestone Potenza RE71 which greatly improved handling in dry and wet. They stopped making those in my size 14", so now I use Yokohama AVS Intermediates, which are still a big improvement over stock, and the price is very attractive also. By the way did I say the factory Michelins suck?, they are horrible, i can't believe Honda puts such a bad tire on this care including the Gsr's.
    I plan on upgrading to 15" wheels soon. I shall probably switch to Bridgestone Potenza RE730, 205-50. does anyone have experience with this tire?. I have looked at the reviews on TireRack and they seem very positive.
    Anyone else with a very high mileage teg? What have your experience's been?
  • brekkebrekke Member Posts: 304
    I have an '87 3dr hatch with 225K (Someone on this board has close to 300K). We recently took a 1000 mile road trip with two dogs. No problems, although I was a little nervous when we went off-road. My 60lb dumb dog didn't like sharing a back seat so she climbed up onto the back shelf and laid there for most of the trip. I can't believe how well this car still runs. Insurance is insane, tho.
  • nerdnerd Member Posts: 203
    I am interested in learning how many Integras have been built over the years. Does anyone out there know where I could find this information (preferably over the internet)? Thanks for your help.
  • daddylegosdaddylegos Member Posts: 1
    The rear defogger/defroster on my '92 Integra LS has started to malfunction. Sometimes the light on the dashboard button indicates that it has turned itself on when I've started the car, then when it times out in 30 minutes, it can't be turned back on. Other times, it can't be turned on at all. One time, I couldn't turn it off at all. Other times, it functions normally -- it can be turned on and off with a button push. No apparent pattern. Anybody else?
  • himilerhimiler Member Posts: 1,209
    Sounds like the switch has gone bad, or maybe the timer/delay circuit is croaking.
This discussion has been closed.