Right now i have a 96 GST, a 12 sec daily driver and i'm tired of fixing the bullcrap on it so its getting sold once the tranny is in.....anyway, i'm thinking of getting a GSR, i know they arent as fast as a is gst stock but i'm sure they can be pretty quick with some mods...but yea, is it worth getting a gsr and maybe turbo or nitrous? i know both of those just ask for problems but DSMs are built like ****, its hard to find parts and hard to work on. My brother can do all the work on it so thats a plus but he tells me they are weak and i'll never be happy with it. From what i've read they are pretty sweet..... Any info is appriciated...thanx

 

it's only WORTH it if you want to do it. You are asking for opinions.

I would've sold my Teg a long time ago if I didn't like it. DUH Why would I mod a car I didn't like ? Doesn't make sense to me. And stock for stock...i bet a GS-R doesn't lag all that far behind a GS-T

 

I was originally thinking of going the DSM route before I bought my GSR. Never looked back since...

 

I've owned a WRX and even a Turbo Porsche, but my Integra is easily the most fun car I've ever had, I think a lot of people would feel the same way if they were to get one. At one point I almost went down the DSM path, however nothing I could say to myself convinced me that it was worth all the headache associated with them. A GSR can be very quick if properly set up, the key word being properly. Too many people blow their money on stuff that really doesn't make a difference in the end.

 

The Integra has a huge aftermarket especially the gsr, there are many options/routes you can take to be happy. You'll like it although goign from a turbo eclipse you'll miss boost compared to your new Na gsr, but you can always boost the gsr

 

The layout of the integra cockpit and the feel of the shifter going through the gears in a buttery smooth tranny that rarely breaks down will keep you from ever looking back to that dsm with high dash board and crappy shifter feel and even crappier tranny. The dsm motor is great but the b18c is no slouch either. You won't regret it.........but like said above, opinions are very subjective, yours might be different than mines.

 

What does he mean by they are weak? As long as you keep throwing money into it you can get it as fast as you want. Though they are limited by fwd.

 

i love my gsr, ive had a 5.0 and a volvo(5spd...i loved my volvo, dorkiness and all), and the gsr by far the most fun to drive...also easily modded and has a powerplant potential of a whole lot of reliable power. plus u'll get all the ladies

 

Definetly 2 thumps up for a gsr. Good power band with good suspension. Really excellent car to rely on for daily driven. My brother in law gave me his GSR and he purchased it brand new in 95 and the only thing I can think of fixing the car was changing the radiator and axle boot. Other then that, I havent done anything to the car besides adding minor stuff to it. I have about 160+k miles on that car and still running strong. I just need to change clutch and timing belt along with water pump then I can probaly go another 100K miles on that car. If you looking into getting a LS I dont recommend it (no offense to LS owners) but I've driven LS and it lacks high end power, so I say get a GSR, if not Type R.

 

I had a 90 gst a while ago. I loved it but... I agree with the problem of being built like crap. I was always working on it and one mistake, and next thing you know there are 5 things to work on. I now have a 98 gsr and am learning the "proper way" to set it up. I love it and it is much less expensive than my old dsm. I think you will agree if you get one.

 

Let me tell you all the cars that I have driven for over a few months. My family goes through a lot of cars and they make me run errands so I drive all the cars a lot

1987 Grand National
1992 Integra LS
2002 RSX Type-S
2000 Civic Si
2002 Sentra Spec V
2000 Integra gsr
1992 Integra gsr
Geo Storm (forgot the year)

The GN was probably the funnest and the fastest, but after that it would have to be the gsr. Just my opinion. You should drive one and see for yourself. I have driven a talon TSI AWD and that was A LOT faster than my gsr. You have to remember the dsm has about 210lb-ft of TQ ( forgot the exact #) and the gsr only has 128 at a whooping 7600 RPM

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BlackSage &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

1987 Grand National
1992 Integra LS
2002 RSX Type-S
2000 Civic Si
2002 Sentra Spec V
2000 Integra gsr
1992 Integra gsr
Geo Storm (forgot the year)

</TD></TR></TABLE>


wasnt 93 the first year of gsr's? even then they are rare... typo? or...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by LSTEG96 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">


wasnt 93 the first year of gsr's? even then they are rare... typo? or... </TD></TR></TABLE>

Nah, 92 was the first year.

I'd say boost and LS/GSR and walk on DSMs all day.

 

Actually the integra LS is a 1992 and the gsr is a red 1993. You just got lucky on that call out because they did make gsr's in 1992

 

Im on my second GSR. You will love the reliablity. They are easy to work on and very fun to drive. I would say go N/A and stay away from the spray. You will have a beast of a car and not lose any reliablity. Get it tuned

 

i am a current dsm owner (92 gsx 11.6 1/4), who also has a 95 gsr. the teg is as much fun, if not more fun, to drive as my eclipse is. i don't have to baby the tranny, it actually pulls on the top end of the tach, and stuff doesn't break. i'm now selling my eclipse so i can mod the teg more.

 

the thing with DSMs is that yeah they are great and all and the turbo models are quick but the trannys suck, everyone and their mother knows that, when i went up to epping to the strip i was talking to people with gs-t's and gsx's who ran high 11's and 12s-13s, and i asked them each about their transmissions, they were ALL (about 4 or 5 eclipses) on either their 3rd or 4th tranny, i dont have the money or resources to replace trannys every few months, so ill take my chances with an integra, plus they look great, are easy to mod and have alot of differnet avenues u can explore in them (n/a, turbo, sc and so on)

 

I have owned
1998 V6 Camaro auto
2000 SS camaro auto
2000 GT 5 speed
1998 Escort ZX2 (my beater)
And now my 1999 GSR

I love it. My SS had bout 330whp, and it was a beast, but the tightness and quickness of my GSR is sooooo fun. I can't wait till I get out out college and can really build it. My best friend has an auto 2000 GT vert, with quite a few mods, and he rode with me yesterday, and heas like damn you car feels so much faster than mine. Its not, but the lightness and all around construction of the car, and the 5 speed makes it hellafun.

I amost went DSM route, 1999 GST vert 5 Speed, white. I like the Turbo idea, but I am glad i didn't, I love my GSR. If you have the moeny to fix one up like you want, you will love it.

There is such an aftermarket, as already stated, and the customization is unlimited.

I promise you if you are a car person, the GSR is the car for you.

 

I own both a 1995 Eagle Talon Tsi AWD 5speed and a 1994 Acura Integra GS-R. The DSM makes around 320-350 crank HP. I can pull a lot on stock EVO's on the highway and can beat my friends lightly modded NSX no problem. Both of these kills were at only 15psi boost. I can run 17-19 on 93 and 22 on Race gas. I guess what I'm trying to say here is that the DSMs are very cheap to go fast. Their acceleration when properly modded is in supercar territory. The GS-R I own is stock except for an aftermarket intake. So I'm comparing a basically stock GS-R to a fully modded DSM. However I want to keep it N/A so even w/ I/H/E, Skunk 2 Intake manifold and cams, it will probably add at most 20hp. I've only owned it for 3 weeks. The DSM's are very fast, HOWEVER the GS-R makes for a better overall driving experience.

--------&gt;GS-R STREGNTHS over the AWD DSM

1.) You aren't fighting w/ the trans. to shift. Buttery smooth!

2.) It's a lot lighter and therefore more agile than DSM's

3.) The engine though not powerful is very entertaining. The sound of the VTEC engaing @ 5800 rpm is so intoxicating.

4.) Though I've never had any problems w/ my DSM including trans problems, the general consensous is that the GS-R is more reliable than DSM's.

5.) The steering seems to be a tad more responsive w/ a better feel for the road.

---------&gt;AWD DSM STREGNTHS over the GS-R

1.) More power and more potential for hp w/o having to strengthen the engine internals. (350-450 WHP potential stock internals depending on source) The 4G63 is an incredible motor which is still used today w/ some changes in the new EVO.

2.) Better brakes (On AWD only) 2 piston calipers in the front vs. 1 piston calipers w/ dinky rotors in the GS-R. The early production 95 AWD's (like mine) even have vented rotors in the rear.

3.) ALL WHEEL DRIVE w/ Limited Slip =Unbelievable launches! Great for harnessing the potential of the 4G63 motor.

So you pick. You see the strengths. DSM's are great cars and so are Integras. To each his own. I love them both and never want to sell either.

-MIKE


Modified by dsm_mikey at 11:04 AM 3/12/2004

 

Nice write up, dsm_mikey!

I think the tranny problems with DSMs are way overrated. I know people with modded turbo Eclipses with no problems at all.

 

you will love the gsr(i do) but you will miss the DSM. Great car if you like to work on cars.

zer0

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dsm_mikey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
--------&gt;GS-R STREGNTHS over the AWD DSM

1.) You aren't fighting w/ the trans. to shift. Buttery smooth!

2.) It's a lot lighter and therefore more agile than DSM's

3.) The engine though not powerful is very entertaining. The sound of the VTEC engaing @ 5800 rpm is so intoxicating.

4.) Though I've never had any problems w/ my DSM including trans problems, the general consensous is that the GS-R is more reliable than DSM's.

5.) The steering seems to be a tad more responsive w/ a better feel for the road.

Modified by dsm_mikey at 11:04 AM 3/12/2004</TD></TR></TABLE>

VTEC most certainly does NOT engage at 5800rpm

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by LSTEG96 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

VTEC most certainly does NOT engage at 5800rpm </TD></TR></TABLE>

very true it engages at 4400rpm's on the gsr

zer0

 

I am a former DSM driver. I had a 91 GSX... that thing was awesome... but when I sold it to get a GS-R I never looked back... sure the DSM was quick as hell, but the teg is just so much more refined... besides I was getting tired of getting spanked by guy's in all motor honda's.

 

Thanks to the replys everyone. I got more than enough positive feed back to the DSM is out the door thats for sure......The trannys in DSMs are ****, i'm on my 2nd one now and yes the car is a beast, i beat hondas all day but i guess i cant always be the fastest and i cant afford to be fixing the car every month, but one fun part is starting over and modding a car. Now all i have to do is figure out what mods to keep it fast but reliable and what year to get...Are there any big differences in the motor from the early years to the 01's? i'll do a search