i recall my "oh **** the calls rolling backwards" on an incline.......sigh those were the days of stalling out.

 

Okay guys, so far I've been learning with my friend's 99 Civic, and I realized I'm not that bad xD
The only problem really is my timing with clutch and gas. I can definitely get it.

But now here's my dilemma... I live about 20 mins outside Atlanta, and I travel out the state (mainly Alabama, a 2 and half hour drive) and I was told with traffic and my long journeys, stick shift might be a pain.
The stick shift I wanna buy will be my daily car. So I'm wondering if it is a good idea to get a stick given my circumstances of traveling. I know people that have auto as daily and a stick for fun, but obviously as a college kid, having 2 cars is kinda out my reach at the moment.

So any advice?

 

Get the damn stick... Stop worrying about little littl like "traffic".
All you have to do is get enough momentum in 1st &/or 2nd and go back into neutral. You'll do better with spacing yourself in between cats over time, and give them (and yourself) room to maneuver.

This manual transmission will also help you learn tip start running heavier traffic patterns to possibly avoid it altogether. Win-win.

 

Hahaha! Thanks for the motivation. I already have my eyes set on a couple Integras I wanna buy, just saving up and hope they're there when I get enough.
Wish there was an easier way to communicate with people here because its kind of a drag using my phone on this site and I barely use my computer since I'm out of school for now. I say that because I could definitely use a second pair of eyes on the potential cars.

 

That's why this is called a forum. You want instant messaging, go to FB or AIM and find some people there.

Use the damn computer.. School or no school. That's how this forum had started, and that's how it'll stay. Stop young-actin'... you're fine.

 

For some reason, people with instant messaging (not everyone) seems like they don't know as much as the people here. Which is probably why I'll have to come back every time I need great advice.

Hopefully by the end of January I can save enough, so a couple weeks from now, I'll provide an update with potential cars.

 

That's because on average, we're older, more stubborn in our ways, and honestly, don't have the time to instant message, unless you're willing to pay for that instant message time from the professionals. (Which some do), because we know what we're talking about (most of us, anyway.)

 

Okay back again with an update. So I've been pondering a lot of things these past weeks.

I found a couple options that I could potentially buy:
-94 Integra LS with 230k miles. Owner says nothing is mechanically wrong with it, Exterior: minor chips on paint job, obvious signs of cars age. Interior isn't bad, actually better than some of the others I've seen. PRICE: $2,000 (Negotiable)

- 98 Integra LS with 250k. Mechanically sound from questions I've asked.New timing belt, axles, spark plugs, water pump. Exterior, paint is faded, front bumper is... bad (at best). Interior is, ok I'd say. PRICE: $1,500 (firm)

These two stand top of my list because they were the only ones I could find that haven't been heavily modified, and are less than $3,000.

My other option was to buy a shell, then get a swap done. I can't do the swap myself so I would have labor cost ($500 or so from a mechanic I know) $500 shell. Then the motor itself.

Let me know what you guys think.

 

Get the one with new mechanical equipment. If he's firm on the price, I'm pretty sure to bank on it's been performed. go ahead and do that.

Start learning already.. times a wastin'

 

So that would be the one for $1,500? With new timing belt and all that.

I forgot to ask, what's your opinion on stock GSRs vs getting a stock LS, besides the obvious power they come with. In my area, GSRs are about an extra $1,000 (maybe) compared to an LS. Would you say that's worth it?

 

I've always found the GS-R every bit worth it over the B18B1 , especially if you plan to modify it for more power naturally aspirated, with still having the option to use forced induction later. The B18B1 has always been more of a forced induction workhorse from the start, and a bit waste of money trying to get more power / torque out that platform NA.

IN addition, you now don't have to worry about LS/VTEC conversion kits, VTEC wiring work-arounds, and the aftermarket just has a much larger variety of parts and services to choose from with the B18C1 (GS-R) over B18B1.

 

Lol that was very informative.

My immediate plans for modifications is pretty much all bolt ons, exhaust, intake.

Along with the other two options I posted, I found a LS that has a B20 with a GS-R transmission. What you think about that combo? 167k miles on the B20. Price is $2,000.

 

The transmission isn't the engine. You've basically got two LS components w/ a GS-R transmission. It's best in this case to avoid the hybrid stuff. If you can get a GS-R, get the GS-R.

 

Welp, not having much luck finding true GSRs so I might as well stick the LS then. Apparently, everyone in my area likes that b20, GSR transmission combination.

I don't mind the lack of power from the LS compared to the GSR because I'll probably never be racing my car or anything like that.

 

When I first learned to drive manual I went to a dealership test drove a samba sol on cut springs (No intention on buying) I was gone for like 2 hrs lol... I definitely learned that day, avoided a side swipe too. Now I love del sols and couldn't see myself in anything but one.

 

Lmfao! That's crazy, I never thought of that.

I know what you mean by falling in love with it. I really have no idea where my slight obsession with Integras came from. My friend has one, don't think I've been it. But now I wanna learn so much about them, which is gonna take some time seeing that I'm still trying to figure cars out on a whole.

 

You'll learn as you go. One day something will go wrong on the integra and you'll either get tried of paying for shops to do it or want to learn how by doing it yourself. I can say I never really even needed a manual with Honda techs search bar.

My first car was a auto integra. Boy I hated that car, I liked the body and that it was a teg but it being auto kills all enjoyment of driving it. I remember faking like I'm shifting gears with the auto lever going from 1,2,3 and D4 lol. I was even thinking like you, the auto to manual route. Once i added all the costs in and it started going past 1k. Selling the car was my first objective, got more than I paid for it too.

My sol only has 100hp from factory and being a manual I find it far more fun to drive I like literally downgraded in a sense of hp and couldn't be happier. I know it'd beat a auto integra off the line too lol.

 

So far I've been learning as I go, especially with my current car (04 Civic).

Lol! I do the same thing with my auto, especially at stop lights, I'll I have the windows down and sunroof open with people looking in the car wondering if it's a stick the way my hand is moving.

I thought long and hard about the auto to stick shift, thanks to the people here I realized it's better to just get the stick from the get go. Hopefully I can find a decent one.

 

Welp. I finally got enough to get an Integra. But now, only thing is, the cars I wanted, seem like they aren't available or some other issue.

Question, when purchasing a car such as an Integra, how do you guys feel about buying cars that have swapped engines, where the odometer doesn't match with the miles the seller claims the engine has? Because every car I see has that problem.

Besides the car I listed before with the original miles at 230k.

The way things looking now, I might just have to stick with my car and let go of my Integra "dreams" for the foreseeable future.

 

When i started driving a manual, I had only a vague idea of how to do it. Even so, bought a 97 EX Civic and never looked back. My daily car has been a stick since 2003 and I have no plans to change that.

Once you're accustomed to it, you won't even think about clutch/ shifting when you drive...until you jump in an auto and are down a pedal

 

2000 Acura Integra GSR
2000 ACURA INTEGRA GSR F/T,F/S
They are out there, but like you pointed out, they are almost all going to be high mileage. My GSR is over 250K, but the engine only has 20K. It's starting to feel it's age, with power lock, power window, starter motor, suspension and climate control problems. I just love the car so much, I can't let it go.

 

Yeah, I've been told. Unfortunately I haven't been able to practice much being that I don't own a stick shift yet. But I'll eventually get there.

They are out there, true, but when you're not as knowledgeable like I am, then you're pretty limited in options. I've come across some with rebuilt engines, and swaps but I couldn't tell if either one was done correctly. Lol every time I ask which one suit my needs, I get a different answer. Like getting stock LS, a true GSR or one that has been swapped with a b20.

 

Probably my last update on this post before I make a new one.

So I finally did it, yesterday I went out and bought an '01 Acura Integra LS. Of course, it is manual, which obviously I now have to learn how to drive but that should be no problem.
I actually can't wait to start driving it. Just waiting to get it registered and insured.

Thanks to everyone who gave advice on buying a car. I really appreciate it.

Look out for more posts.

Here's a picture... Or two.

 

 

Hahaha! 😂