- Doors and Seats
2 doors, 4 seats
- Engine
1.8i, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
141kW, 178Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (95) 7.9L/100KM
- Manufacturer
FWD
- Transmission
Manual
- Warranty
3 Yr, 80000 KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
2001 Honda Integra Type R review: Type righter
Honda's Integra Type R won't suit drivers whose idea of fun is a quiet and comfortable doddle to the shops. Instead, says Joshua Dowling, it's a heart starter with racing in its veins.
Pigeonhole: Honda's answer to Subaru's WRX.
Philosophy: R is for racing.
Who's buying it: Mainly males, 25 to 35, many of whom have traded in an older Integra, Civic or ... Commodore! According to Honda, 81 percent of buyers don't have kids. Figures.
Why you'd buy it: You are happy to sacrifice creature comforts for race-bred performance.
Why you wouldn't: You have a bad back.
Standard equipment: All the important stuff which, in this case, means Recaro racing seats, Momo leather steering wheel, titanium gearknob (for weight, of course), alloy wheels and Type R stickers. Oh, and central locking, power steering, windows and mirrors. Conspicuous by their absence are air conditioning, keyless entry and a CD player.
Safety: Dual airbags, anti-lock brakes, good headlights, a rigid body and an excellent chassis.
Cabin: Lashings of carbon fibre over the instrument cluster are a subtle reminder about the car's racing pedigree. Good vision up front, not so good at the rear thanks to the tall rear wing.
Seating: Recaros have as much street cred as the car itself and pin the driver and front passenger in the fastest and most furious turns. Big side bolsters make getting in and out a real bugger, though. Rear leg room: what rear leg room?
Engine: All Honda engines love to rev, this one loves to scream. The 1.8-litre four-cylinder makes 141kW. To put this in perspective, that's almost as much power as a big family six from about half the cubic capacity. An absolute ripper.
Transmission: Like a Sega arcade game. Short, sharp, precise.
Steering: Slightly heavier than you'd expect from a Japanese car but this one's biased towards performance and feedback. Front-wheel drive cars with this much power are supposed to torque-steer badly but a sophisticated limited-slip differential overcomes this.
Ride: Great, until you hit a pothole. Honda insists this car is designed for enthusiasts who are prepared to ride the bumps.
Handling: Excellent. Sits flat and feels nimble. On the right road, in the right conditions, you'd almost wonder why you need all-wheel-drive. Until it rained.
Fuel: The Integra Type R has expensive tastes: premium unleaded preferred. Expect a best of 9.0L/100km around town and 7.2 on the open road. If it's an open, winding road, expect it to drink a lot more.
Brakes: Solid, precise pedal feel from four-wheel discs. No complaints.
Build: Honda = Excellent.
Warranty: Three years, 80,000km.
Security: Engine immobiliser but no alarm. The seats are a definite thief magnet and an immobiliser won't save them.
Audio: Average sound through four speakers from AM/FM radio cassette. A CD player should be standard given the price and the buyer type but Honda argues the real music is under the bonnet. They're probably right.
Cost: There is only one model and it is $39,950 plus on-road costs. Air conditioning, standard on most cars in this price range, is another $2,000. Metallic paint is $259.
Verdict: A road-going race car but sort of like marrying a supermodel: everyone wants to steal her.