Integra Type-R, Prelude VTI or Civic VTIS

Jonnycoupe · 4 Jul 2006 at 13:10

200sx a drivers car :confused:

Soft GT handling suspension and a lazy torquey 2.0 does not bode for a drivers car.

Id try them all out tbh, Prelude are overlooked often though and offer great VFM (once you insure them)

Gaijin · 4 Jul 2006 at 13:20

Although I have a VTI-S myself, for some reason I find myself recommending the prelude. It kinda sits in between the Teg and VTI-S, with a torquey-er 2.2 and 4ws. Comfortable coupe with Honda reliability. Only thing is I think the looks are an acquired taste. I did see a 5th gen Motegi on HR for £3500 a while ago too.

If the teg is too impractical then I dont think you can go much wrong with the VTI-S

Whilst, its not mindblowing as stock, throw a bit of money at the right places and you have a very tidy car. Has made me very happy over the last year, will be sad to see it go later this year.

Jonnycoupe · 4 Jul 2006 at 13:27

TBH the teg is only impractical if you need 5 doors ( I manage okay with mine)
The boot is silly, easily swallows IKEA dining tables or mountain bikes.

Although reading your brief you want a plaything, so anything with 5 doors has to go

Getting a VTi-S to be as capable as an ITR would take up more cash than the difference in purchase price and the ITR is likely to lose less value over ownership. How about an Mx5? Are you after play as in loadsa grunt for straightlines or blasting round lanes with a smile on your face at speeds less likely to kill you.

IF you do decide a VTI-s at that money you have to realise not much more cash with stretch to the Accord Type R and theres really no questions there which is the better car.

Bleek · 4 Jul 2006 at 13:32

James said:
Why not a 200sx?
Get one in black with cream leather and black out the rear lights... looks good then
Awesome drivers cars!

Huh?

Its a soggy and lazy tourer, not a drivers car.

[TW]Fox · 4 Jul 2006 at 13:41

Edleake said:
Huh?

Its a soggy and lazy tourer, not a drivers car.

Bit like a Prelude then?

g0th2000 · 4 Jul 2006 at 13:42

Gaijin said:
I did see a 5th gen Motegi on HR for £3500 a while ago too.

It's still there for sale :eek:

Rare as hens teeth. It's in Scotland too, definately could be worth a look for the OP.

If the teg is too impractical then I dont think you can go much wrong with the VTI-S

It's worth noting that the ITR is waaaay more practical than the prelude, I don't know why they bothered with the back seats and it's a letterbox boot rather than a hatch.

Any of these three will be good cars if you can find the right one, but finding the right one is getting more of a battle!

I think if you had a little more cash then the ITR would be the one, but if 5k is your top limit I'd take a minter of a lude or VTI-S over an average (or worse) ITR.

Confused · 4 Jul 2006 at 13:43

[TW]Fox said:
Bit like a Prelude then?

And a Prelude, with it's weighty 4ws, air con, sunroof, climate control, cruise control, and "insert other electronic trickery gizmo here" to give it a weight of ~1360kg, still goes round a track just as fast as an ITR, which is a "raw, stripped out trackday machine"

[TW]Fox · 4 Jul 2006 at 13:45

ConfusedTA said:
And a Prelude, with it's weighty 4ws, air con, sunroof, climate control, cruise control, and "insert other electronic trickery gizmo here" to give it a weight of ~1360kg, still goes round a track just as fast as an ITR, which is a "raw, stripped out trackday machine"

I bet it doesnt, given the same driver on a reasonably decent track

Confused · 4 Jul 2006 at 14:05

The ITR vs Prelude arguement comes up all the time on Honda Revolutions, and there has never been a rock-solid answer one way or the other. On many trackdays the Preludes and ITRs are lapping at very similar paces, both with experienced drivers behind the wheels.

Simon · 4 Jul 2006 at 14:16

ConfusedTA said:
The ITR vs Prelude arguement comes up all the time on Honda Revolutions, and there has never been a rock-solid answer one way or the other. On many trackdays the Preludes and ITRs are lapping at very similar paces, both with experienced drivers behind the wheels.

Agreed, Ritchies Red 2.3 Prelude is an absolute beast too.

Psycrow · 4 Jul 2006 at 14:37

I recon I'm swaying towards the prelude just because of the condition of car I could get for my money. The only UK Tegs I have seen for 5k are all pushing 100k miles, is this really a problem? A friend of mine is a honda specialist and will do any work I would need such as a cambelt change very very cheap (he did the belt on my Accord for £30).
As far as what conforts do I need, aircon is about it really. The drive to my Girlfriends parents is the only long drive I would be going on but thats 50 miles of nice fun backroads, so if the teg likes smoothness Im not sure how it would fair to be honest.
Will give them both a try and see whats what. That prelude in Glasgow on HR would be perfect if I didn't really dislike the green paint.

Does the VTI-S have an LSD?

Confused · 4 Jul 2006 at 14:48

If it's been regularly serviced, high milage won't be a problem.

I got my Prelude last May with 158k on the clock - it's now approaching 174k

g0th2000 · 4 Jul 2006 at 15:02

Psycrow said:
I recon I'm swaying towards the prelude just because of the condition of car I could get for my money. The only UK Tegs I have seen for 5k are all pushing 100k miles, is this really a problem? A friend of mine is a honda specialist and will do any work I would need such as a cambelt change very very cheap (he did the belt on my Accord for £30).

Like I said, if they've been maintained miles aren't a problem for the engine, it's the other wear bits that can be the issue

The Teg and VTI-S are pretty simple cars really, a lot of the things that wear out are more expensive in labour than they are in parts so having access to a cheap specialist would be a great asset. The prelude has a bit more trickery with it's 4ws shennanigans and I would expect it to be a little trickier to maintain.

As far as what conforts do I need, aircon is about it really. The drive to my Girlfriends parents is the only long drive I would be going on but thats 50 miles of nice fun backroads, so if the teg likes smoothness Im not sure how it would fair to be honest.

The teg loves smooth roads, but unless it's pot-hole city a stock DC2 won't have a problem with b roads, it's a decent road setup. IME the ride in my mates MG ZS180 is somewhat harsher down the backroads :eek:

Does the VTI-S have an LSD?

The 1.8 does yes. Not sure if it's viscous or torsen, sure Gaijin will be able to answer that

James · 4 Jul 2006 at 16:28

Jonnycoupe said:
200sx a drivers car Soft GT handling suspension and a lazy torquey 2.0 does not bode for a drivers car.

Id try them all out tbh, Prelude are overlooked often though and offer great VFM (once you insure them)

Suspension is easily sorted with a set of TEIN or D2 Coilovers.
1K on a 200 will see late 200bhp

Jonnycoupe · 4 Jul 2006 at 17:07

Yes but i was trying to keep it relatively simple with how they perform out the box.

VTI-S is the capable Torsen unit as fitted to the ITR's and really is key to how these things drive on the road. Very neutral charateritics.

96 spec ITR's could be a good call, or if you like the idea of a B18 for Prelude money how about an Integra Si with 180bhp? Has the twin headlights but is pretty much the same spec as mine and tends to be a more road focusd drive and power delivery with insurance no where near as much as a sting as a typeR.

AmmoWaster · 6 Jul 2006 at 22:09

I don't know if it's still for sale but there was a Prelude Type-S for sale on preludeUK.co.uk Roughly £5500 but it's in Ireland

Engine
H22A (engines alone go for $5K in america)
220 BHP
150lb/ft of torque
The type S is easily as quick as a standard ITR and is as close as Honda got to a Prelude Type R

Mileage 105000miles
Year 1996

Price €8,000ono

The car is located in Co Waterford Ireland