How do you guys juggle between not coming off as an elitist D-bag but at the same time protecting yourselves from potential thieves.

I feel this question is a catch 22 no matter how you answer. Taking ownership of a PY this year I quickly realized how much attention the caR attracts, and rightfully so with the limited amount of ITR sightings nowadays. I have only taken my car out a handful of times and already been asked this very question. I have responded with Yes, but paranoid my caR may be a target from these particular parties. I guess the dilemma for me is I love talking about cars and with others that share that common interest.

 

Any thief will know if it's an Itr anyways. Most ppl laugh at the condition of my Itr anyways lol. Daily driven FTW.

 

My CRX is a poster child for high end name brand parts. I have entered and won a few car shows so the cat is out of the bag on all the specs. Many people have told me to never leave my car in a parking lot. I am in the hobby for the enjoyment I get out of driving something awesome that I built. I wont let potential thieves ruin that for me.

 

A lot of replicas now days, my Itr is beat up a little and miss colored, I get asked all the time if it's real or not. I Just say yup.

 

I always say no, nah, laugh and say "I wish", or something else of the sort to deny it. Not worth having the nut swingers or attention to attract potential car thieves. Word spreads quickly and people you don't know, will know you. Horrible feeling of insecurity knowing the high risk of theft with any nice Honda for that matter.

 

There is no right answer..the best is to not expose the Vin number/lisence plate(cars expo) and never let the car alone anywhere ,anytime...i never let the car alone even if go to see other cars at a car show ....and for those who ask if my car is a real itr...now i just answer ....take your iphone and google: acura integra type-r and learn my friend......and yes there alot of replica..but real fan will dont ask they admire!!!

 

I would risk theft instead of look like some moron that builds a "clone" car.

Some weirdo did follow me into a parking lot to "make sure it was real and nothing funny was going on". You meet the creepiest people in a Honda.

 

People could give a **** about a Type R in Vancouver. I guess I should feel fortunate but sometimes wish someone(a non-douchebag, knowledgeable ITR person) would strike up a convo with me one day. It only sees the streets in the spring and summer though.

OP: I'd say it is a judgement call based on who is asking. There is really no "blanket" answer since there are as many douchebags as there are nice/curious car people.

 

hehe that's why there's H-T , ITRCA and the ITR expo

good places to meet people, make friends and go to other track days or just driving around together once you know who you can trust.

If you have a local place where there are regular/weekly track days or track clubs, go without the car first a few times, see what the crowd is like from week to week and talk to people, then make up your mind if it's a good place to bring the R later on. Keep the discussions car related or general, who gives a sh** about personal matters anyways? unless you know people personnaly, there's so much other stuff to talk about.

P.S. local car meets and shows are like car thieves' supermarkets in many places, don't go with the R. Take the beater or get a friend to drive you and go with you if you like to spend some time there talkin' to people (but still be careful about what you say though).

 

...and...don't know if its because of my post I left yesterday in the other tread that you are asking here, but just in case here's what I said:

''depending on who's asking, I simply reply ''no'' it's not and walk away smiling
not to be an ***, but I don't care if people think it's fake!
people who know, just know and will often give you just a thumbs up''

IMO I'd rather look like an *** than be on foot the next morning when I'm in doubt...I mean who cares you're probably never gonna see these people again and even if you do, just ask yourself do they really matter in your life?

ok I'm not saying you should be stiff with people all the time , just depends on the situation.

True, we have special caRs and most people are just car enthusiast and most people who come to you never had a chance to own one or see one in person close by and will often tell you how they've ever dreamt of buying one when they came out and stuff...so I try to be as generous as possible whenever I can but there are some subjects that remain off-topic and if they ask, I tell just them politely.

Off-topic subjects are full name, where I live, work (even the area), train, hangout or whatever. Never discuss insurance company, security, pretend you have a garage even if you don't, don't go into details about mods unless there're obvious, very rarely pop the hood, never let somebody take a pic of the engine bay because of serial # or pics of the back of the car, don't mention it if your car has low mileage, just pretend you just detailed it yesterday or repainted it recently after an accident if you have to....you get the idea...you can still have friendly conversations and talk about driving pleasure of your car and stuff without having to discuss the unnessesary and remember that you are never obligated to answer any questions if you don't want to...

If you don't feel comfortable telling people that some questions will unfortunately remain unanswered, just prepare some bogus answers to these questions and stick with 'em, always!

 

I say "yes".

Over the past 10ish years, I have learned that they are just as surprised to see one, as I am to be approached.

 

I always say it's real. My whole life people say I come off intimidating, so I use that to my advantage, I'm usually very polite and professional with them, unless they're an actual R enthusiast themselves. Once they see I'm being formal with them they can see I don't want to be bothered and I'll let them end it there.

 

now im more like sr-71..i dont trust anyone here(local place) except my friends,,but i keep in mind that about 12000$ for a mint itr not salvage and the difficulty to find one(province) its not every''fan'' that can buy/have one..sometime its good to share the ''precious''

 

I've found that our little "bubble" has less to worry about than those in the metroplexes.

The few times I take the ITR out around here, most people assume it's a GSR.

 

hummmm ...gsr....without sunroof

 

Only once has someone said something to me. He was a Costco employee and talked to me about different specs that he knew about ITRs. I couldn't say much because I was changing my battery with the hood up.

No one else even looks twice besides some eight year olds who think it is a ferrari or supercar because it's low and brightly colored.

If people asked if it is real, I would say yes.

 

I can usually tell the difference between the championship white and the other white. I've always thought having a RHD type R would be enough to be seen as real, but I've had people come up to me at gas stations asking if I want to buy a shift **** from them, and they also asked me if I converted it myself. Even driving through revscene the other year I heard someone say "oh 4 lug conversion" I really wanted to reverse and teach them the difference of 96 and 98spec JDM models.

 

This made me chuckle haha

 

JDM ITR's are quite common here, so I get a lot of questions about my NZDM (Which is basically an RHD USDM!) ITR, with most people telling me that there's no such thing as an NZDM ITR! I've noticed lately a lot of middle aged men looking at it, have had a few say that back when it was new they really wanted one but their wives said no!

 

Ya it's funny who asks whether mine is real or not. Guy at the local gas station saw it one day and asked, and the security guard at my work. His son has one, so he knows what they are. I definitely feel better knowing that while the R is at work it is being watched by an armed security guard.
Being CW does have it's advantages though as it does not stand out as much. Almost thinking I'll keep the Rota Slips dull black as they do not stand out as much as the OEM wheels.
Unfortunately whether your R is real or not, if you have all the R parts on a GSR, it is just as valuable to a thief.......... Just my .02

 

this is true.

 

I just say yes and walk away. I try not to hold a converstation about my R.

 

I've found this to be true for many years. People have approached me endless times and asked, aren't you (my local nickname) or, aren't you the guy that drives the PYR? Kinda creepy sometimes.

 

EVERYONE knows you, and you don't know them. Remember, you're driving every Honda fan boy's dream car. They're going to know where they always see it, where the house is, ect. You have no idea.

 

You must not drive your car very often. I only had mine for a little over two years but tons of random people would wave or talk to me and ask about it. I was all over the lower mainland though. In Maple Ridge everyone just thought I drove some ricer honda car....