I currently drive a 94 LS auto. It's time to retire her and buy a "new" car. I'm in the market for a new Civic (probably EX) or a new Integra (probably GSR?)

Any insight on the 98+ integras?

Pro's:
+ I already drive an integra
+ I like the torque
+ blah blah, you get the picture

Con's
- Blind spots SUCK
- Interior is smaller than a Civic (my husband is a big muscular guy)
- Road noise
- My husband drives a hatch, not sure if I want to jump on the civic/hatch bandwagon


Now, I can deal with these Con's - I deal with them now. Is there anything else in the newer tegs that I should be aware of? Common complaints, defects, etc?

Thanks!


EDIT: TYPO I MEANT 98+, NOT 97



Modified by Ashley94Teg at 12:54 AM 5/27/2004

 

first i want to say that an automatic Ls doesnt have much torque, actually it has so little its sad.... And i want to make sure that you know that they dont make gsr's automatic... so if u dont know how to drive a stick i would recommend you learn, cuz you might have a little trouble finding an auto gsr . Get a gsr, you will be happy.

 

Somehow, coming on HONDA-TECH.COM, and asking an INTEGRA forum to list complaints about the Integra isn't going to yield you too many results.

You have one already. The newer, the better. A GS-R is great, just like the LS/RS/GS ones are. The con's you list aren't really cons. Adjust your mirrors correctly. The Integra is a hatchback - you aren't really jumping on any bandwagon. Road noise sucks, but a good set of quiet tires will help significantly.

 

Considering I told her to make her own decision on a newer integra, she came to ask for opinions. The newer the better isnt always true,ask the people with new Si's that had old ones


Maybe the later models had more or less road noise, more or less recalls or service bullitens.
As far as adjustng the mirrors, there is a considerable differance in blind spots in an integra vs. a civic, i have driven both on a daily basis.

Asking for advice in any form is fine, dont be close minded.

 

By the way it would be the same body style if you get the 97, if your trying for the newer look go 98-01. I say go for the Teg since your "husband" has a civic already.

 

I can drive a standard, and I am aware that GSR's only come as standards.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by WeaponR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Somehow, coming on HONDA-TECH.COM, and asking an INTEGRA forum to list complaints about the Integra isn't going to yield you too many results.

You have one already. The newer, the better. A GS-R is great, just like the LS/RS/GS ones are. The con's you list aren't really cons. Adjust your mirrors correctly. The Integra is a hatchback - you aren't really jumping on any bandwagon. Road noise sucks, but a good set of quiet tires will help significantly. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I came here to see if some fellow integra owners could offer me some advice, I don't want to start Integra bashing - that's just stupid. I've adjusted my mirrors - I'm short, sue me. I know tegs are a hatchback - I meant the EK bandwagon - sorry I wasn't specific. I just got new tires; there is more road noise in a teg than in a civic.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dfunkd &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">By the way it would be the same body style if you get the 97, if your trying for the newer look go 98-01. I say go for the Teg since your "husband" has a civic already. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Thanks dude. Typos &gt; me

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Ashley94Teg &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Thanks dude. Typos &gt; me </TD></TR></TABLE>

No prob! Also the Teg would be better because you wouldn't have to drop in an engine like you would for the Civic. EX's are slow and dropping a new engine in it will costs you more in the long run.

That's what made up my decision when I bought my Teg about 3 months ago. I was going to get a silver 98 Civic hatch.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Now, I can deal with these Con's - I deal with them now. Is there anything else in the newer tegs that I should be aware of? Common complaints, defects, etc?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I find it hard to fault a car I adore so much (GSR). With any model of Integra these days, theft would be be the number one issue. . . but that is why we have insurance. Defects AFAIK are non-existant. It is a well build car and the fit and finish is what one would come to expect from Honda/Acura.

I can't speak in great detail on the Civic. Yes, there are alot of Civics but I wouldn't worry about what others are buying and doing to their cars. Buying a Civic isn't jumping on the bandwagon. Modelling yours after someone elses is. With that aside, I suggest buying the car based on your daily needs and not so much on the aftermarket potential.

 

INTEGRA'S RULE

integras&gt;civics

 

learn to drive stick and get a honda in stick... driving a 5 speed and auto is like night and day.

if you really want faster roomier car, i'd suggest getting something other than an civic or integra... but it seems you are gunning with a sub $9k budget so look no further.

Every car will have a blindspot so you wont really get around that unless youre driving a convertible.

 

^-- Can't say it any better, the difference between an auto teg and a manual is night and day.. Before I converted to manual, I'd have to floor it up freeway on ramps in my DA... When you floor the car, it's shift at maximum 4grand.. which is..again sad.. Tranny was geared for the freeway, so there you go. I'm done get the GSR, you'll most likely be happier..

 

I own a '97 Corolla to use mainly as a daily driver. In 2000, I thought about upgrading, but had to stay with auto as my kids were learning to drive and they weren't interested in a stick. I test drove an Integra with auto and was very disappointed in its performance. Better but not dramatically so, than my Corolla. Decided it wasn't worth the loss I'd be taking. (Note, the late '90s Toyota Celica ST used the same engine and auto tranny as my Corolla, so the only difference between those two was in handling).

Now they are out of the house and I came back into the market this year. I can get a stick this time around. So I test drove a couple of Integras w/man. Wow, what a difference! Now I'm in a 'teg.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by IntEGNYC &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">learn to drive stick and get a honda in stick... driving a 5 speed and auto is like night and day.

if you really want faster roomier car, i'd suggest getting something other than an civic or integra... but it seems you are gunning with a sub $9k budget so look no further.

Every car will have a blindspot so you wont really get around that unless youre driving a convertible.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Probably the best post and the most helpful on this page yet.

Ashley94Teg...if it's one thing you must learn, it's that when you as for 'opinions', that's all you're going to get. When it boils down to it, you need to do what suits your needs, abilities, price range, and likes.

Don't go by what a bunch of dudes or dudettes say on a web forum all the time.

 

I say go with the teg so can dust your "big muscles" husband in his little hatch.

 

yea i dont think u should worry too much about your hubbie not liking the teg.. my bf drives mine all the time.. and its purple with a pochacco sticker on the windshield with a stuffed animal in the cupholder... lol.. he doesnt complain about it being too cramped.. and he's 5'11" 180lbs

beh after u've tasted 1.8L u cant really go back to a lil 1.6..

the 98-01 tegs have electronic hatches.. no more of that popping the trunk with the handle nonsense.. but it comes with fun problems like the mechanism failing and then ur interior trunk light doesnt go on.. and thieves start lookin at ur teg cuz they want the front end and all red tails..

ur insurance rates will go up cuz it classfies as a sports car.. but its a good thing ur a female cuz we get lower rates than testosterone filled males who are always trying to kill themselves in cars..

- Blind spots - get a broadway mirror and turn your head more while driving, turn down the radio and crack the windows so u can hear cars around you
- Road noise - yokohama avid h4's(340AA).. super quiet tires
- bandwagon - ?! people dont get them because they are merely trendy.. they functionality, personality, affordability and cross compatibility with just about any other honda makes them an ideal car to have..

i adore my teg.. but its ultimately up to you what u wanna do.. they do make 4door gsrs as well..

 

i'd go with the integra...like others said, this is obviously a biased forum.

have you ever considered what it would be like to drive a civic though? most likely you'd end up feeling like you took a step back - at least in stock form.

i can't really see any pro to going with the civic, other than it would probably be a better daily driver. of course it's not like the integra is impractical...just less so.

 

Word up yo:p So like, I was totally gonna buy a Civic and do a swap and stuff, but like, my girlfriend was like, uh, why don't you just buy something better rather than spend all that money to like fix up your car, and stuff? I had a 98 hatch with a 5 series b16 freak motor that killed gsrs and type rs, but it was stolen I wanted to go the same route, cuz I really loved that car! I listened to my girlfriend though, and started shopping for Integras. I ended up with a 96 gsr and I couldn't be happier!! They're definitely not as slow as I thought. I still love civics, but the styling and what not of the Integra is just damn sexy. They're both great cars though, and I'm sure you'll be super duper happy with either! Hey! I know! Get both! Good luck

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SonicBlueTeg &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">the 98-01 tegs have electronic hatches.. no more of that popping the trunk with the handle nonsense.. but it comes with fun problems like the mechanism failing and then ur interior trunk light doesnt go on.. and thieves start lookin at ur teg cuz they want the front end and all red tails.</TD></TR></TABLE>

This is the kind of info I was looking for - Thanks!!

 

98+

 

i absolutely love my new 00 gsr and i think you could share the love, ex's are slow stock and can never amount to a b series, if you where considering an civic si, that would be a close one and more of what you want, the space and none hatch, either way, good luck, plus if you like leather, go with the gsr. The leathers are sweet