Small update
So as I've been getting on in years, I've needed new things from my R. A few years ago, it saw a decent amount of track time. I stopped doing track events quite a while ago, but never really got the car back to full road-car trim. It was loud, noisy, and dirty.
So I sold my track wheels/tires, Mugen wing, and Spoon N1. Replaced them with Kumho ECSTA ASX, stock wing, and stock exhaust.
First, the tires. I really have nothing bad to say, and I'm glad I went with 195/55/15 instead of the 205s I had on the car the past few years. The car feels almost the same way it did on the OEM Bridgestones, just 75% as capable. Oversteer is ever-present but easily controllable, which was never the case when I had Azenis on. This has furthered my feeling that better tires quell the ITR's natural tendency to swing its butt out with the slightest provocation. At $60/each, the Kumhos kick ***.
Wing - what is there to say? Visibility was much better with the Mugen, but other than that I don't miss it at all.
Exhaust has made the car infinitely more tolerable. I've taken a few long(ish) trips in it since then, and my ears only ring slightly after an 8-hour trip, which is about 8 times as long as it took them to start buzzing when I had my full aftermarket exhaust.
So after all this, I discovered that my car was way more fun to drive than it used to be, and that I found myself stomping on it more often. To that effect, I jumped on a good deal on a used V1 (details here: https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1812309). High-speed touring and short sprints on the highway are two of the ITR's great strengths.
Next bauble arrived today - a Honda Access roof console. I'm sure there's another post in that once I figure out what to put in it.
I'm rediscovering that the R is a killer daily driver, and even though there are perhaps more economical cars out there, I just can't bear to get rid of it. There really isn't much out there that balances old-school mechanical clunkiness with refinement and technology the way the DC2 in general does. Most cars produced after it (that don't cost $140K) just don't have that organic clunk.
This car has a lot of life ahead of it, at only 47K, and hopefully I will be able to enjoy it until they ban petroleum-fueled cars.
So I sold my track wheels/tires, Mugen wing, and Spoon N1. Replaced them with Kumho ECSTA ASX, stock wing, and stock exhaust.
First, the tires. I really have nothing bad to say, and I'm glad I went with 195/55/15 instead of the 205s I had on the car the past few years. The car feels almost the same way it did on the OEM Bridgestones, just 75% as capable. Oversteer is ever-present but easily controllable, which was never the case when I had Azenis on. This has furthered my feeling that better tires quell the ITR's natural tendency to swing its butt out with the slightest provocation. At $60/each, the Kumhos kick ***.
Wing - what is there to say? Visibility was much better with the Mugen, but other than that I don't miss it at all.
Exhaust has made the car infinitely more tolerable. I've taken a few long(ish) trips in it since then, and my ears only ring slightly after an 8-hour trip, which is about 8 times as long as it took them to start buzzing when I had my full aftermarket exhaust.
So after all this, I discovered that my car was way more fun to drive than it used to be, and that I found myself stomping on it more often. To that effect, I jumped on a good deal on a used V1 (details here: https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1812309). High-speed touring and short sprints on the highway are two of the ITR's great strengths.
Next bauble arrived today - a Honda Access roof console. I'm sure there's another post in that once I figure out what to put in it.
I'm rediscovering that the R is a killer daily driver, and even though there are perhaps more economical cars out there, I just can't bear to get rid of it. There really isn't much out there that balances old-school mechanical clunkiness with refinement and technology the way the DC2 in general does. Most cars produced after it (that don't cost $140K) just don't have that organic clunk.
This car has a lot of life ahead of it, at only 47K, and hopefully I will be able to enjoy it until they ban petroleum-fueled cars.
Your post reminds me that I have not driven my ITR on the street since about 3 months ago. Still sitting in the garage in drag strip trim. I am going to put that bitch back together cause I miss my ho' ..
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Ross »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It was loud, noisy, and dirty.
</TD></TR></TABLE>
Just like the owner.
</TD></TR></TABLE>Just like the owner.
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by George Knighton »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Just like the owner.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Does that mean your car is old, ugly, and full of hot air?
Just like the owner.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Does that mean your car is old, ugly, and full of hot air?
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<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Ross »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Am I the red or blue guy?
</TD></TR></TABLE>
Does it matter? You're both ghey.
</TD></TR></TABLE>Does it matter? You're both ghey.
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by neo_ »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Did you get that VAFC installed yet?
I can't wait to finally drive my ITR after it's been sitting on jackstands for 2 months
</TD></TR></TABLE>
Not yet. I installed the sunglass holder today, so when I get some time/cash I will get the VAFC installed in there.
Why's your R on jackstands?
I can't wait to finally drive my ITR after it's been sitting on jackstands for 2 months
</TD></TR></TABLE>Not yet. I installed the sunglass holder today, so when I get some time/cash I will get the VAFC installed in there.
Why's your R on jackstands?
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Ross »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Why's your R on jackstands?</TD></TR></TABLE>
You didn't ask me that at the meet
1-2/3-4/5-R Syncro Sleeves and 1-2/3-4 Shift Forks really do prevent you from driving your car.
But might as well get a higher final drive while you have the tranny opened.
Why's your R on jackstands?</TD></TR></TABLE>
You didn't ask me that at the meet
1-2/3-4/5-R Syncro Sleeves and 1-2/3-4 Shift Forks really do prevent you from driving your car.
But might as well get a higher final drive while you have the tranny opened.
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Opie »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Does it matter? You're both ghey.
</TD></TR></TABLE>
He's just trying to make sure he has the role he imagines for himself.
Does it matter? You're both ghey.
</TD></TR></TABLE>He's just trying to make sure he has the role he imagines for himself.
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by vivid 02 »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Your post reminds me that I have not driven my ITR on the street since about 3 months ago. Still sitting in the garage in drag strip trim. I am going to put that bitch back together cause I miss my ho' ..
</TD></TR></TABLE>
LOL 3 months? ha. I got mine state inspected last December to make her street legal again, something that hasn't been done in like 3 years. Well I looked at the sticker this passed Monday and noticed that she's up for inspection this December again and has only 500 miles on the odo passed last years inspection. Kinda a shame but she's always waiting for me when I get the chance to go over her, tune her up and have fun again.
Ironically Ross is putting his back to stock and I keep stripping parts off of mine. But I understand completely since mine was pretty much stock for so many years. Now I'm looking to remove the rear muffler section and add a turn down
Louder is better albeit not faster
...
</TD></TR></TABLE>LOL 3 months? ha. I got mine state inspected last December to make her street legal again, something that hasn't been done in like 3 years. Well I looked at the sticker this passed Monday and noticed that she's up for inspection this December again and has only 500 miles on the odo passed last years inspection. Kinda a shame but she's always waiting for me when I get the chance to go over her, tune her up and have fun again.
Ironically Ross is putting his back to stock and I keep stripping parts off of mine. But I understand completely since mine was pretty much stock for so many years. Now I'm looking to remove the rear muffler section and add a turn down
Louder is better albeit not faster
...
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 1GreyTeg »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Ironically Ross is putting his back to stock and I keep stripping parts off of mine.</TD></TR></TABLE>
My ITR was a daily driver for years and years, which is how it ended up with 98,000 miles on it before it became a dedicated track car. I understand completely why people would like to keep them as daily drivers.
When all those ITR showed up at the Thanksgiving meeting with full interiors, I became wistful.
But...
Fact is, we have some very nice daily drivers available to us now, and as much as I remember the good ol'e days I have to face the fact that a 2007 FG2 Civic Si is a much nicer, more comfortable car than the 2000 DC2 ITR was, and for about the same amount of money.
More comfortable, same performance. And $25K in 2000 was a lot more money than $25K is in 2007.
My ITR was a daily driver for years and years, which is how it ended up with 98,000 miles on it before it became a dedicated track car. I understand completely why people would like to keep them as daily drivers.
When all those ITR showed up at the Thanksgiving meeting with full interiors, I became wistful.

But...
Fact is, we have some very nice daily drivers available to us now, and as much as I remember the good ol'e days I have to face the fact that a 2007 FG2 Civic Si is a much nicer, more comfortable car than the 2000 DC2 ITR was, and for about the same amount of money.
More comfortable, same performance. And $25K in 2000 was a lot more money than $25K is in 2007.
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Ross »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I'm rediscovering that the R is a killer daily driver, and even though there are perhaps more economical cars out there...There really isn't much out there that balances old-school mechanical clunkiness with refinement and technology the way the DC2 in general does. </TD></TR></TABLE>
Preach it my friend. It seems like my '97 went from 24k to 78k in the blink of an eye being a DD. I just got my wife an IS 300 5-speed and I figured that I'd want to drive it every day (I can't, it's "hers"
) but other than the torque I'll stick with my old '97. The rawness and sound of the R is a lot more exciting than a luxury car that you can't even tell is running.
-Matt
I'm rediscovering that the R is a killer daily driver, and even though there are perhaps more economical cars out there...There really isn't much out there that balances old-school mechanical clunkiness with refinement and technology the way the DC2 in general does. </TD></TR></TABLE>
Preach it my friend. It seems like my '97 went from 24k to 78k in the blink of an eye being a DD. I just got my wife an IS 300 5-speed and I figured that I'd want to drive it every day (I can't, it's "hers"
) but other than the torque I'll stick with my old '97. The rawness and sound of the R is a lot more exciting than a luxury car that you can't even tell is running.-Matt
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Utilitarian »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Preach it my friend. It seems like my '97 went from 24k to 78k in the blink of an eye being a DD. I just got my wife an IS 300 5-speed and I figured that I'd want to drive it every day (I can't, it's "hers"
) but other than the torque I'll stick with my old '97. The rawness and sound of the R is a lot more exciting than a luxury car that you can't even tell is running.
-Matt</TD></TR></TABLE>
I see what you mean. I recently went home and had the opportunity to drive my parents' cars, a Mustang GT ragtop and a Mercury Grand Marquis. I switched cars with my Dad and he told me, "It is way too easy to go stupidly fast in your car." The ITR eats up the highway like nothing else.
George - if I had your Accord, I probably wouldn't drive my ITR either.
Preach it my friend. It seems like my '97 went from 24k to 78k in the blink of an eye being a DD. I just got my wife an IS 300 5-speed and I figured that I'd want to drive it every day (I can't, it's "hers"
) but other than the torque I'll stick with my old '97. The rawness and sound of the R is a lot more exciting than a luxury car that you can't even tell is running.-Matt</TD></TR></TABLE>
I see what you mean. I recently went home and had the opportunity to drive my parents' cars, a Mustang GT ragtop and a Mercury Grand Marquis. I switched cars with my Dad and he told me, "It is way too easy to go stupidly fast in your car." The ITR eats up the highway like nothing else.
George - if I had your Accord, I probably wouldn't drive my ITR either.
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