2025 Integra Type S | I really wanted to like it.

[STi from DSM]

I'm always looking for my next car. I wish I could find something that would be that Golden Goose.

Sponsored

 

[slowcountry]

How's that working out for you?

To be fair, you can do a lot more than what he had listed to an ASpec while keeping it under the ITS MSRP. You've got like $17,500 to play with! Of course, still on the 1.5L though.

 

[optronix]

To be fair, you can do a lot more than what he had listed to an ASpec while keeping it under the ITS MSRP. You've got like $17,500 to play with! Of course, still on the 1.5L though.

Sure, you can. I'm not here to debate whether it's a "good idea" or not, but money can do crazy things. Personally I think that $17,500 in engineering by Honda professionals would take you farther, but I'm just a bro on the internet.

But calling the ITS a "parts bin special" or however he articulated it, that's where the irony sets in.

 

[optronix]

I'm always looking for my next car. I wish I could find something that would be that Golden Goose.

You already have it, it's just about perspective.

I went through a lot of cars too, always with the thought in the back of my mind of what's next- sometimes when I was in the dealership buying the current car.

I'd say the DE5 fixed that, but I think most of it was I was just ready to stop that shit.

A car does not materially affect the overall quality of your life. I'm speaking from my own perspective, but that statement is probably laden with enough fact I'll leave it as it's written.

My significant vehicle history (not counting the mundane cars of my youth, the several vehicles I've bought for my college-age sons, or the 3 Macans my wife has owned serially, currently a 23 GTS):

1968 Chevrolet Chevelle (400 small block = slow but loud)
1995 Eagle Talon TSI/AWD
1990 240SX "Sileighty" conversion
1997 BMW M3
2007 BMW 335i
2015 Subaru STI
2015 BMW M4
2015 Porsche Boxster GTS/2016 Audi S3
2017 Porsche 911 Carrera S/2018 Audi S4
2021 Audi RS5
2019 Porsche 718 Boxster GTS
2023 Porsche 718 Boxster GTS 4.0
2024 Acura Integra Type S
...

Again, current plans hover somewhere between adding another Boxster/Emira or importing a DC2... but all plans INCLUDE keeping this Integra around.

I type this as I'm sipping my coffee, about to head out to my nth autocross of the season, the penultimate before I sadly will have to switch to all-seasons and wait impatiently for spring to start again. It's not a stretch to say I'm having more fun with this car than all the other six-figure sports cars I've had in the past, and it's all a state of mind- powered by an exceptionally engineered car that comes in at a fraction of the price and lets me do all the fun motorsports-type stuff I want to do with it, AND I can fit my dog in whenever I want to.

White knight, gatekeep, excerpt from my book, ignore list, blah blah blah. Last I checked, we're all here to talk about this specific car. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

 

[bullitt]

Finding the gas tank complaint funny. It's only 3,5gal less than I have but I also only get 21MPG when I baby it. Your tanks probably still easily outlasting mine. I've been daily driving a Ford Performance suspension for the last 6yrs. The Integra is VERY soft in comparison.

I keep coming back to wanting an ITS but my problem is I just don't know if I want to keep doing manual in my heavy traffic commute, and I don't have space for a 2nd car. My head keeps going between it and a Golf R.

 

[slowcountry]

I just don't know if I want to keep doing manual in my heavy traffic commute...

Drink the FBO CVT cool aid

 

[bullitt]

Drink the FBO CVT cool aid

A CVT with tune has crossed my mind, I just don't wanna go from 500HP all the way down to 220~. I have a feeling I'll be searching for a replacement to soon after getting it.

 

[Justpassedu]

My Type S was stolen recently with only 9,000 miles on it. I loved the look and ride but out of my 30 cars in my lifetime this one was the absolute worst in terms of fit and finish for me. Non stop rattles , poor paint and misaligned panels. I have by far had the worst customer service I ever experienced from dealers and corporate was no help either stating the dealerships are privately owned. I am almost happy it was stolen even though I lost a ton of money through the process. I ended up going with a new type r and while I know they are basically the same , so far the fit and finish has been great and owning at least 8 Hondas I have never had a customer service issue. I do miss the looks of the type s though.

I'll also add , I wanted another manual and out of all the choices it was always between the Type S , R and M2. I daily the car and we do get some snow so M2 had to be passed up.

 

[optronix]

My Type S was stolen recently with only 9,000 miles on it. I loved the look and ride but out of my 30 cars in my lifetime this one was the absolute worst in terms of fit and finish for me. Non stop rattles , poor paint and misaligned panels. I have by far had the worst customer service I ever experienced from dealers and corporate was no help either stating the dealerships are privately owned. I am almost happy it was stolen even though I lost a ton of money through the process. I ended up going with a new type r and while I know they are basically the same , so far the fit and finish has been great and owning at least 8 Hondas I have never had a customer service issue. I do miss the looks of the type s though.

I'll also add , I wanted another manual and out of all the choices it was always between the Type S , R and M2. I daily the car and we do get some snow so M2 had to be passed up.

The dealership experience is a joke, but good luck getting any better out of Honda. If you do just know it's not systemic, you just got lucky. They're every bit as trash as Acura, but at least you get some nice pleather chairs and free coffee in an Acura dealer (and an extra year of warranty...).

The fit and finish can apparently vary widely so I won't try to act like it isn't a fair criticism, but I will push back that it's fair to broadly generalize it. Personally, I have some rattles now but I've also extensively modified my car (it got particularly buzzy after the exhaust...)- plus I'm pretty sure the dealer broke at least 2 dozen clips (and left the traction control button unplugged...) chasing down what ended up being the wastegate rattle that I had to diagnose for them. As for paint and panel alignment, zero issues here.

I did have a plastic piece in the cowl missing from the factory, but it was replaced by the dealer during the first oil change.

I still maintain that it fits within reasonable expectations of the price point, but there are particular examples out there where that may not be the case. @Victorofhavoc has documented his share of fit and finish issues, for example...

 

[Justpassedu]

The dealership experience is a joke, but good luck getting any better out of Honda. If you do just know it's not systemic, you just got lucky. They're every bit as trash as Acura, but at least you get some nice pleather chairs and free coffee in an Acura dealer (and an extra year of warranty...).

The fit and finish can apparently vary widely so I won't try to act like it isn't a fair criticism, but I will push back that it's fair to broadly generalize it. Personally, I have some rattles now but I've also extensively modified my car (it got particularly buzzy after the exhaust...)- plus I'm pretty sure the dealer broke at least 2 dozen clips (and left the traction control button unplugged...) chasing down what ended up being the wastegate rattle that I had to diagnose for them. As for paint and panel alignment, zero issues here.

I did have a plastic piece in the cowl missing from the factory, but it was replaced by the dealer during the first oil change.

I still maintain that it fits within reasonable expectations of the price point, but there are particular examples out there where that may not be the case. @Victorofhavoc has documented his share of fit and finish issues, for example...

I'm just saying from my personal experience with Acura vs Honda . My last Acura was a Type R way back and I never took that to the dealer once. This is my first service experience with them and I went to 3 different dealers that all treated me terrible. I have had 8 Hondas and never had a service issue but bonus with this is my family member is GM at the dealer. The Acura dealers scratched my steering wheel and shift knob with a ring or something , put a huge gash in my tire and dashboard. Got something on my all weather floor mats that would never come out. They would not own up to any of it.

I also agree on the fit and finish. I know Honda is the same and I am sure something will come up on the type r but hoping it doesn't. I am just saying my type s was really bad. I had multiple rattles and a very loud one under the dash , misaligned panels , peeling paint and my steering wheel would randomly buzz and rattle. 1st issues came at only 300miles . I even ordered a new clock spring with no luck.

When the vehicle was trouble free for those few miles it drove like a dream. The type r drives just as good , maybe even better imo but that could be bc I was used to the Acura and picked up the type r at 5miles. It felt very tight with the clutch , shifting and steering feel. I'm only 150 miles in and have yet to go over 4500rpm.

 

[PRDE5]

I’ve also had my fair share of curbed wheels, scratched steering wheels, missing clips, super glued parts that they broke, loose fasteners etc. I only take my car to a dealer nowadays if something mayor/expensive breaks and it’s covered under warranty.

 

[Victorofhavoc]

I'm just saying from my personal experience with Acura vs Honda . My last Acura was a Type R way back and I never took that to the dealer once. This is my first service experience with them and I went to 3 different dealers that all treated me terrible. I have had 8 Hondas and never had a service issue but bonus with this is my family member is GM at the dealer. The Acura dealers scratched my steering wheel and shift knob with a ring or something , put a huge gash in my tire and dashboard. Got something on my all weather floor mats that would never come out. They would not own up to any of it.

I also agree on the fit and finish. I know Honda is the same and I am sure something will come up on the type r but hoping it doesn't. I am just saying my type s was really bad. I had multiple rattles and a very loud one under the dash , misaligned panels , peeling paint and my steering wheel would randomly buzz and rattle. 1st issues came at only 300miles . I even ordered a new clock spring with no luck.

When the vehicle was trouble free for those few miles it drove like a dream. The type r drives just as good , maybe even better imo but that could be bc I was used to the Acura and picked up the type r at 5miles. It felt very tight with the clutch , shifting and steering feel. I'm only 150 miles in and have yet to go over 4500rpm.

Out of every car I've ever purchased, used or new, this has been the biggest POS on build quality and material quality. The brake fluid being putrid is a straight out safety concern. It drives well for the most part and it's a lot of fun if you ignore the obscene amount of rattles, squeaks, creaks, and just general things falling apart (like hatch handles, plastic trim cover pieces, etc). The type r has the same center screen design and has had the same tsbs for it. I'm still shocked they can't figure out how to implement these fixes at the factory. The paint looking 3 years old off a dealer lot was something else. I can't even fathom how we got there.

I've driven a couple Fl5 on track and sat in half a dozen of them out there. With some miles on them, they're really no better. Similar buzzes and rattles. In most case they're actually worse because the suspension is so much stiffer. Keep in mind I live in the Midwest and we have shit, chip sealed roads and potholes everywhere. If you live someplace with immaculate roads, you probably think the car is comfy and doesn't make much noise. We all have to keep in mind that each individual's experiences with this car can vary from road to road, state to state, and of course everyone's tolerance and expectations of noise. If you're coming from a Kia sportage this car probably feels like a space age rocketship. If you're coming from a miata or 86, you'll probably feel like you're stepping into an suv.

I've spent countless hours fixing rattles and sound deadening. It has dramatically improved things, but it seems every week or two I find a new rattle. Today on a conference call headed to Kinder pickup one guy's voice specifically kept creating a high pitched buzz from the very edge of the driver door trim by my shoulder. Super hard to pinpoint... I will find you and fix you eventually.

I cannot overstate how poor the interior quality is, but for everyone that these comments will piss off, keep this in mind: despite how much I think the quality is garbage, I do think the drive overshadows it. I wouldn't be spending countless hours chasing rattles and fixing Honda stupidity if the car wasn't worth it. I could have nearly any car, and with my wife giving me the go ahead to buy another family vehicle (sq7 most likely) with a 3rd kid coming along I could certainly have just gotten rid of the its and gotten another racecar, rebuilt my totaled racecar that's still sitting at a bodyshop, or just bought something like a cayman, vette, mustang, 86, or some other legitimate sports car that comes with a manual... But instead I'm sitting here collecting parts and sitting on hundreds of green pop clips I expect to break one to two at a time.

 

[optronix]

Out of every car I've ever purchased, used or new, this has been the biggest POS on build quality and material quality. The brake fluid being putrid is a straight out safety concern. It drives well for the most part and it's a lot of fun if you ignore the obscene amount of rattles, squeaks, creaks, and just general things falling apart (like hatch handles, plastic trim cover pieces, etc). The type r has the same center screen design and has had the same tsbs for it. I'm still shocked they can't figure out how to implement these fixes at the factory. The paint looking 3 years old off a dealer lot was something else. I can't even fathom how we got there.

I've driven a couple Fl5 on track and sat in half a dozen of them out there. With some miles on them, they're really no better. Similar buzzes and rattles. In most case they're actually worse because the suspension is so much stiffer. Keep in mind I live in the Midwest and we have shit, chip sealed roads and potholes everywhere. If you live someplace with immaculate roads, you probably think the car is comfy and doesn't make much noise. We all have to keep in mind that each individual's experiences with this car can vary from road to road, state to state, and of course everyone's tolerance and expectations of noise. If you're coming from a Kia sportage this car probably feels like a space age rocketship. If you're coming from a miata or 86, you'll probably feel like you're stepping into an suv.

I've spent countless hours fixing rattles and sound deadening. It has dramatically improved things, but it seems every week or two I find a new rattle. Today on a conference call headed to Kinder pickup one guy's voice specifically kept creating a high pitched buzz from the very edge of the driver door trim by my shoulder. Super hard to pinpoint... I will find you and fix you eventually.

I cannot overstate how poor the interior quality is, but for everyone that these comments will piss off, keep this in mind: despite how much I think the quality is garbage, I do think the drive overshadows it. I wouldn't be spending countless hours chasing rattles and fixing Honda stupidity if the car wasn't worth it. I could have nearly any car, and with my wife giving me the go ahead to buy another family vehicle (sq7 most likely) with a 3rd kid coming along I could certainly have just gotten rid of the its and gotten another racecar, rebuilt my totaled racecar that's still sitting at a bodyshop, or just bought something like a cayman, vette, mustang, 86, or some other legitimate sports car that comes with a manual... But instead I'm sitting here collecting parts and sitting on hundreds of green pop clips I expect to break one to two at a time.

I'm finding I'm landing in the exact same place. This car has so much political capital with me it's nearly impossible for it to piss me off to the point where I'd want to get rid of it.

I flirted with the idea for a bit, but only because I fucked up the way it drove! When I first installed the springs I instantly noticed a shitload more understeer during my first autocross event, but after chasing that down by adding more front camber I feel like the car is dialed in about as good as I need it to be.

Admittedly what got me over the hump and kept me from test driving CT4Vs and M3s is the fact that competition just isn't where it should be in this segment. My criteria are just 4 doors and a manual. I would have had to spend at least $20k more to get a CT4V that didn't check all the same boxes. I think I'm completely over BMW (except the Z4- I really like that one but not in this segment), and even excluding the manual requirement I've been there, done that with Audi and left unimpressed from a driving dynamics perspective, and have zero interest trying to deal with Alfa's reputation and lack of dealers- especially out of warranty now that the Giulias are going extinct. Unless you want to step backwards into a Golf- what else is there?

It isn't an excuse for the build quality issues, I get that- and hopefully @Justpassedu you have better luck this time around with this particular example FL5. I can't fault you at all for going that route, in fact if anything happened to mine I'd at least consider trying an FL5... but as long as you have the mindset that there isn't a better option if you like driving, you can get over the mild grievances.

 

[bigfx]

I had an fl5 for about a year and then went to my S, let me tell you if you think the S has quality issues hold on for the R. Both cars are very devoid of any real creature comforts for being as expensive as they are and unless you are nostalgic for either manual transmissions or Honda/acura either car is not really that great, but if they fit the niche for you then they are the bee’s knees.

I don’t want to come across as being a hater for the platform bc I actually do enjoy my S a lot and it’s a wonderful family car. IMHO the s and the r are wildly over priced for what they are. The fwd platform is always a hinderance but Honda/acura do a great job at fixing that but the cost to do so has taken the “budget” weekend racer into a weird space competing with luxury sedans that have way more features and power. Honda/Acura know they have a great fan base and have delivered the minimum amount of product to ensure that continued fan base at the highest price possible.

The type s and type r are special in particular to the nostalgia and legend that is Honda/acura but defending the car on pure merits of performance or features outside of the mantra that it’s the best fwd car ever is pretty difficult. That being said it’s fun to drive and I love manual transmissions so it works for me.

 

[bullitt]

I'm just saying from my personal experience with Acura vs Honda . My last Acura was a Type R way back and I never took that to the dealer once. This is my first service experience with them and I went to 3 different dealers that all treated me terrible. I have had 8 Hondas and never had a service issue but bonus with this is my family member is GM at the dealer. The Acura dealers scratched my steering wheel and shift knob with a ring or something , put a huge gash in my tire and dashboard. Got something on my all weather floor mats that would never come out. They would not own up to any of it.

I also agree on the fit and finish. I know Honda is the same and I am sure something will come up on the type r but hoping it doesn't. I am just saying my type s was really bad. I had multiple rattles and a very loud one under the dash , misaligned panels , peeling paint and my steering wheel would randomly buzz and rattle. 1st issues came at only 300miles . I even ordered a new clock spring with no luck.

When the vehicle was trouble free for those few miles it drove like a dream. The type r drives just as good , maybe even better imo but that could be bc I was used to the Acura and picked up the type r at 5miles. It felt very tight with the clutch , shifting and steering feel. I'm only 150 miles in and have yet to go over 4500rpm.

Sounds like me with Infiniti. Dealers are why I'll never own another, yet every Nissan dealer I've been to was great. You'd totally expect the opposite. It's why I've had so many Fords. Every dealer by me has treated me right when it came to service and I don't like risking another Infiniti experience.

Sponsored