Why did you choose a Type S?

[JPx1967]

My Mach-e GT lease was up and I wanted to go back to petrol. I was too impatient to wait for 2025 Golf R Black Edition to show up. Originally wanted an FL5, but I could get a DE5 10K cheaper here in Canada

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[jedi03]

I started my car life with an 85 Mr2 that needed so much help. Was gifted a 2003 civic coupe for graduation which I modded significantly while wishing I could get a k20 when they came out. I bought a 91 Mr2 that needed to much work alongside a CRX that I b-swapped. I somehow got an LSD transmission with my swap an that car was great til (while mountain racing a 350z an s2000) the girl i was dating freaked out an i slid it sideways into the mountain. I traded the stripped body for a 240sx an went through 3 with sr20s an simultaneously 2 rx8s, a 99 corolla, got a 91 sentra SE-r an a mid 90s ranger abandoned by my brother an somewhere in there my own 350z later in 2010 a STI SE both which I returned to their respective dealerships for problems...the STI at a loss since I was young an dumb an subaru of America are a bunch of jerks...then when I had some money saved up from only having the corolla I got an 86 rx7 an put an sr20 in it, that was fun but met my wife an went onto a 2012 focus titanium and her a 2009 civic. She got tired of my continued showing her STIs an told me to just get one so I did...about the same time we traded the civic for a minivan as she wanted 12 kids am we were at 1.5. Had those two cars an after not having time to diagnose a dying fuel pump in my car I decided need to come back to a Honda...the type r is to flashy for me an im starting to feel the miles lol. I looked at a SI an it looked nice but the seat didnt feel right. I probably could have messed with the adjustments but thought I should go sit in an integra to make sure. That dealer tried saying the SI was the same as the integra where i reiterated multiple ti.mes tgat i would be looking at the type s an not the regular integra. My dealer didnt have a type s but said the seat was the same. I liked the seat an material an talking with the dealer that I would have similar performance to my STI, I convinced the wife it was a good idea an put the deposit down an am still waiting for it to come!

Part of convincing the wife was trying to help her understand that it was a car to replace the STI an not just an extra for her to joyride in or for our kids when they start driving. Once she understood that she was on board. I also wanted the honda reliability, the k series engine and a decent ride where I can still have fun when traffic is less present

 

[shownfu]

I couldn't come up with anything that was a better value at $50K with:
- awd or fwd (we get snow here)
- quick-ish
- decent MPG
- 4 doors

The ITS being a more unique option definitely helped. Less common around here. Although, I'm the few who didn't necessarily pick it because it was a 6spd. I honestly think it'd be even better with a ZF8.

 

[BrandenL]

I wanted an FK8/FL5 for awhile, but they didn’t come with heated seats. The FK8 also looked like a toy (in a good way, just not an everyday way). Once the DE5 came out I was interested, but I didn’t like the sticker price. Bought a used one for 48K with a bunch of options.

I’ve owned an S2000, GTO, Corvette C6, Miata, etc. I’d been driving a 22’ accord 2.0 for awhile after starting my business, and was looking to feel that lively style of driving again in a daily. This car checks every box: It’s quick, comfortable, well-geared, great sound system, lovely driving modes. It’s hard to complain for 48K. It does everything well.

 

[Victorofhavoc]

For me it was about having an aggressive car from the factory with backseats that work and a manual.

The only options were:

FL5 - I find them ugly and I'm not a teenager so that went out fast

M3 - getting car seats into the back was tough and ordering one was a process. Ultimately it was numb and heavy on the clutch, steering was imprecise, and it felt heavy overall. Makes the best noise out of any of these cars, including the ct5v. If you're a highway cruiser that likes to go fast, and you like top shelf luxury, this is your car.

Ct4v - barely passable in the rear seats and felt a bit numb to drive. Track use requires very heavy modification.

Ct5v - brilliant car, best on this list. Insurance was stupid... Between tires (i track my cars), insurance, and brakes (again... Track time) it is roughly 7-8k/yr more expensive to drive and obviously 120k+ when speced. Juice just wasn't worth the squeeze. Plus it's a caddy, so I'm 30 years too young to be seen in one, and that means I could only drive it at night and keep it in the garage out of sight ?. Like owning a corvette... You can do it, but you just don't want to admit you did.

Elantra N - same problem as the FL5... Very ugly car. Not aggressive enough on alignment. Better build quality than fl5/De5 though.

Gti - my mk7 was much higher interior quality than the its and almost everything on this list except for the M3. The audio system was far superior. The mk8 interior went way down hill, and again, alignment wasn't aggressive enough.

Gli - almost bought one, but brakes and alignment held me back. Most things are pedestrian oriented, so track use requires heavy modification.

De5 - alignment can be factory set to pretty aggressive specs...enough for track oriented street tires. Back seats are usable. A bit gaudy in areas, but overall appearance is far superior to all but the m3 (sometimes and some angles Gli). Tires in 18" sizing for track are reasonable, brake pads are cheap and the brembo 1001 pad sizing has endless options. Two piece factory rotors up front. Most oe parts are dirt cheap. Factory sizing 265 tire with easy ability to run a 285 in bmw sizing, making for many options.

Wrx - better build quality than the its generally, but everything is very pedestrian oriented so it needs significant suspension, brake, and alignment modification to be tolerable in longer, warmer track sessions. I could have gone for a few year old sti and it would have solved the brake and suspension problem, but the alignment would still need decent work. The sti shifter is far superior to almost everything on this list. If you just drive around town (no track) and you like a manual, the sti is the best car out of this bunch. I also just didn't want back into an sti after my last two imploded.

 

[bdisco]

Short version: Manual transmission w/ a usable rear seat.

Long story: >
https://www.integraforums.com/forum/threads/‘24-its-a-long-story…w-pics.51471/#post-841813

 

[jedi03]

Oh also consideration was against a GR corolla, it looks to small for my needs on top of weird reliabilityissues...an a few years ago I raced against a CTR an beat it by a few inches so knew it wouldn't be sacrificing performance in a stock vehicle

 

[crepr12]

My 2017 Ford Focus RS had over 90K plus hard miles and I needed a new daily, GR and R were both above MSRP...So up popped the ITS, looks and decent performnce for what it is..no brainer.. 24k+ miles later and I still enjoy wringing ITS neck

 

[elh0102]

I've been retired a few years, so age, financial and family considerations convinced me that it was time to give up the track and high-performance sports car hobby. The ITS seemed to offer a fair compromise of performance and utility, and the understated styling helps avoid the boy-racer wannabes out there. Having driven several other front-drive cars, I frankly was not expecting to buy one. But I was impressed with the job that Honda has done with this one. The LSD and dual-axis suspension have done a remarkable job in creating a decently handling car. Folks sometimes ask me if I like it as much as some of my previous cars. What I almost say is, "hell no, I'd like to throw this in the dump and get back into a GT3 or ZO6", but what I usually say is, "it's a nice little car that's fun to drive". That's all I can give it, but that's enough for me now.

 

[crepr12]

#elh0102...wow..I just retired and my plan is to do just what you decided not to do... The ITS and my GT-R should cover my ZO6 purchase late next year..I got to have a V8 back in my life before its too late to enjoy it...and its a way to down size at least thats how I'm pitching it to the wife...

 

[elh0102]

#elh0102...wow..I just retired and my plan is to do just what you decided not to do... The ITS and my GT-R should cover my ZO6 purchase late next year..I got to have a V8 back in my life before its too late to enjoy it...and its a way to down size at least thats how I'm pitching it to the wife...

Congratulations on your plan, and I know you will enjoy the ZO6. After enjoying regular track events for about 12 years, I'm not interested in owning such a car as a second vehicle that sees only street use. But the track schedule is something I've decided is no longer appropriate to continue, so I just made the decision to break it off and go another way in this segment of my life. The ZO6 is an incredible car, huge power and a proper dual wishbone suspension.

 

[joemama]

Honestly, wanted a Type R but wasn't willing to spend the time or effort to locate one at MSRP. Went to several Houston Honda dealers who wanted at least 5k+ mark up on the FL5 and straight up laughed at me for trying to negotiate lol. Gave up after one day - my time is too valuable to be doing this over a Honda, it's not a Porsche.

So, I cross shopped with:
Mk8 Golf R - too small IMO and hated the infotainment

Supra - couldn't fit my fishing poles but absolutely rips

CT4 Blackwing - dealer was closed the day I tried to test drive it, Acura dealer was next stop

I was basically impatient, wanted a fun car that looks great, and found one at MSRP (and great OTD price due to trade in.. GX460). Got the DE5 with minimal effort and purchased within 24 hours of finding it in the spec I wanted. Perfect daily for me and personally think it looks better than the CTR.

Also, figured this and its competitors will be the last of its kind due to the push to electrification.

 

[elh0102]

Perfect daily for me and personally think it looks better than the CTR.

Well, I have to say it, that's a very low bar. But, they seem to sell well, so I guess there are more teenagers than oldsters out car shopping.

 

[Victorofhavoc]

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparison-test/a64918457/compact-performance-sedans-compared/

 

[AsianEd]

I'd owned a 2013 Focus ST since it was new. I loved that it was manual, had personality, and was a hatch. Not very many cars on the market fit that criteria anymore.

Golf GTI/R: went for a test drive, found it kinda boring to drive, despite it being extremely capable.

GR Corolla: not the nicest place to be, the Focus might have had more "luxuries."

Elantra N: not a hatch, brace in trunk made the pass-through pretty much useless.

That led me to FL5/DE5. FL5s were still marked up to high heaven. The DE5 added a few nice premium features and had a more fun stock exhaust. I also found the styling to be very appealing.

It was the perfect successor to the ST for me. ?

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