I've been shopping Acura Integra GSR's lately...

I've been in an acquisition mode lately since I sold my last project and I've had all the kids I'm going to have. Time to get back to HPDE's and such.

I've been looking for interesting cars and remembered a session I did during Chump in a GSR. The car felt great. I loved it. I checked into those.

I'm not shopping in the high end for these. It would seem that some well cared for examples are still going for $5k and up in my area. Ouch. So I've been shopping at a little over half that. I've seen a few cars in that range. They seemed alright but every last one of them is poorly modified. One car had it's shifter cut down in height. Short shifter I guess? I'm beginning to feel like I'm shopping in The Matrix. Instead of every guy I see being Agent Smith they're all Jesse Pinkman.

Here's an example. A car with 160k on it. I'm checking it out. The PO neglects to mention that the front tires are bald and the inspection is due next month. Ok, it's craig's list. I get it. The PO also forgot to mention it's "got a JDM engine swap yo!" Then, as I open the hatch I see a ton of stereo equipment. I joke with the guy "How much are you going to knock off the price if I let you take that out?" He says "Oh..that's not included. I'm going to put that in the car I'm going to buy after this one." "Ok..."

I'm still walking around the car and notice it hasn't been cleaned...during this year. I say "Seats are in good shape." To which he replies "I'm taking those too. I'll put in the leather seats from the other car. That should work because they're worth more!" I then ask "What condition are they in?" He says "They have a few tears but not much."

I've looked at two cars and the interaction has gone much the same. I've talked to three or four guys on the phone and I feel like the interaction would be similar if I was buying weed from them. It's all guarded silence and withheld information.

I don't remember buying cars being this way when I was picking up Miata's or Camaro's.

I find the worst part of being a Honda guy is dealing with "Honda Guys"...

I swear I've read the same post from you before? anyways..

The Honda scene sucks. Big hairy testicles. The good cars are being held onto or if for sale, listed for crazy prices. Which means everything listed at a reasonable price is always (in my experience) a huge basket case. I wish Honda thieves weren't lurking around every corner and that it wasn't impossible to find a well kept car.

clutchsmoke wrote: I swear I've read the same post from you before? anyways..

No idea. I haven't shopped for Honda's before. Maybe it was when I was waxing eloquent about kids staying the hell off my lawn?

guess my '01 Integra LS is out of the question … asking $6500ish … 91k miles …lived outdoors all it's life, so the paint isn't the best… but it's never seen a salt road (underside is clean), and it's never been smoked in

right now it has a DC sport 4-2-1 header and 2 1/2" exhaust (which will probably stay), AEM V2 CAI, and Comptech rear sway bar and brace … any removal of any of these will, of course, be reflected in the price

glwys

Id suggest looking at rs/gs/ls as well. 90% the same car with better day to day driving, IMO.

A prelude is an all around better experience, too. Huge(relatively) power for the same or less cost, 5 lug, big brakes, slightly better suspension design, and awesome to daily, way more comfortable. Magazine testing usually had them ranked better in almost all testing, especially the SH. On a budget? Buy an Accord, the 98-02's are a real bargain and STF friendly.

Ive owned a few civics, a few integras, a few accords, and had my hands on a couple different preludes. For daily, I'd take an Accord. Daily/autocross with more performance, Prelude, hands down. Id only consider the Integra again if it was a really great deal, and i really wanted the lightness and scaled down interior, strictly to make a track car. I hate dealing with most of the current Integra owners, and you really gotta sort through the crap to find a good one, same with quality parts, but its a much better supported platform than the Prelude/Integra in that sense.

I would say to just buy a high end car from a seemingly respectable individual. Dealing with douchebags sometimes isn't worth it, especially if their cars aren't as in good a shape.

Dude, you're in Richmond? We should get a beer sometime!

And in a weird coincidence, I'm trying to sell an Integra! Mine's not a GSR (it's a Special Edition). It's far from perfect, but I drive it daily. I'd do $2500 for a GRM'er.

The offer for a beer stands regardless :). I'd actually prefer to try and sell it on CL for extra $$.

Wait you guys are in richmond? Im sort of nearby. Grm meet soon haha

failboat wrote: Wait you guys are in richmond? Im sort of nearby. Grm meet soon haha

Awesome! Maybe G-force karts?

Ohh yea been a while since ive been karting

Small world I'm in RVA also, would be down for a g-force meet sometime. On the main topic, I about beat a buddy senseless about 6 months ago. Hr traded in a stock 98 GSR with like 160k towards a new civic SI. Dealer gave him like $1500 after telling him it needed a timing belt, water pump, etc. Of course I hear about this when he pulls up in the new civic face palm

Not a GSR but seems pretty clean at first glance bro http://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/4438521036.html

http://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/4446218119.html

Flynlow wrote: Dude, you're in Richmond? We should get a beer sometime! And in a weird coincidence, I'm trying to sell an Integra! Mine's not a GSR (it's a Special Edition). It's far from perfect, but I drive it daily. I'd do $2500 for a GRM'er. The offer for a beer stands regardless :). I'd actually prefer to try and sell it on CL for extra $$.

What year is your Integra?

The Honda "scene" is pretty much straight ghetto now. I hope that when the day comes to sell my 99 Civic Si, it will have transcended the people who want them now (ghetto trash). At this point, the "great" Hondas from the 90s-early 2000s have been driven into the ground. Anything that's left is on its last legs, on its second or third rebuild or has been preserved and commands a high price.

I'd go with the higher priced stuff, just because you'll likely know its history and the owner probably had it for a long time.

I found a two owner four door GSR when I was shopping for my forester xt replacement. It was over priced, but not modded into oblivion. Just header and lowering springs. Receipts for everything, I just sucked it up and bought it. Rather pay the extra money than deal with honda guys.

This.

gamby wrote: I'd go with the higher priced stuff, just because you'll likely know its history and the owner probably had it for a long time.

I had a thread about the civic si not too long ago that sparked some discussion about the GSR. As others have said, expect to pay a lot for a nice specimen. Most everything I saw was owned by the #yoloswag crowd and had way too many Monster energy decals, cheap HIDs, slammed coilovers, and a crap ton of deferred maintenance. These cars are also still pricey because of the cartard tax. Expect to pay at least $8-9k for a car owned by a respectable person.

ryanty22 wrote: Not a GSR but seems pretty clean at first glance bro http://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/4438521036.html

poster deleted ….

johndej wrote: Small world I'm in RVA also, would be down for a g-force meet sometime. On the main topic, I about beat a buddy senseless about 6 months ago. Hr traded in a stock 98 GSR with like 160k towards a new civic SI. Dealer gave him like $1500 after telling him it needed a timing belt, water pump, etc. Of course I hear about this when he pulls up in the new civic *face palm*

Awesome! I'm out of town this weekend, but I'll put something in Off-Topic later today for a G-force meet in 2-3 weeks.

beans wrote: Id suggest looking at rs/gs/ls as well. 90% the same car with better day to day driving, IMO. A prelude is an all around better experience, too. Huge(relatively) power for the same or less cost, 5 lug, big brakes, slightly better suspension design, and awesome to daily, way more comfortable. Magazine testing usually had them ranked better in almost all testing, especially the SH. On a budget? Buy an Accord, the 98-02's are a real bargain and STF friendly. Ive owned a few civics, a few integras, a few accords, and had my hands on a couple different preludes. For daily, I'd take an Accord. Daily/autocross with more performance, Prelude, hands down. Id only consider the Integra again if it was a really great deal, and i really wanted the lightness and scaled down interior, strictly to make a track car. I hate dealing with most of the current Integra owners, and you really gotta sort through the crap to find a good one, same with quality parts, but its a much better supported platform than the Prelude/Integra in that sense.

I'd be interested to hear why you think a non-vtec model is better than a GSR for daily driving, as I can't see any advantages beyond price and availability (owned both, on my 3rd Integra).

I completely agree on the Prelude though. They make better street cars imho. More torque and they have a more special (lower/wider) feeling to the experience. The disadvantages being a higher insurance rate (for me at least) and less usable interior. The hatch on the 2-door integras swallow a TON of stuff with the seats folded down.

I'll just add that my wife and I LOVE our GSR. We "share" it for daily driving, but most of the time Michelle steals it before I have a chance to wake up . It is really a fantastic all-around car. We're both making more money now and have considered upgrading to a another car, but honestly I can't really picture myself getting rid of it. It's just too good at what we use it for.

Xceler8x wrote: Instead of every guy I see being Agent Smith they're all Jesse Pinkman.

i LOL'd

Matt B wrote: I'd be interested to hear why you think a non-vtec model is better than a GSR for daily driving, as I can't see any advantages beyond price and availability (owned both, on my 3rd Integra).

I can only speak to my own situation, but I like the non-vtec cars as a daily for the regular vs. premium fuel requirement, and the 3-4 mpg boost in average fuel economy...I get about 34 mpg driving mine normally. If it was primarily a weekend or fun car I'd obviously want the yummy Vtec noises.

The biggest reason for an Integra over a Prelude or Accord (for me) is the hatchback. I've carried several sets of wheels, done many Home Depot runs, and carried lots and lots of things that wouldn't fit in a normal trunk.

beans wrote: Id suggest looking at rs/gs/ls as well. 90% the same car with better day to day driving, IMO. A prelude is an all around better experience, too. Huge(relatively) power for the same or less cost, 5 lug, big brakes, slightly better suspension design, and awesome to daily, way more comfortable. Magazine testing usually had them ranked better in almost all testing, especially the SH. On a budget? Buy an Accord, the 98-02's are a real bargain and STF friendly.

Thanks for the hot info. I'm a Honda/Acura newb. I went for GSR's because that's what I knew. No idea about the Preludes. I'll open up my search.

Flynlow wrote: Dude, you're in Richmond? We should get a beer sometime! And in a weird coincidence, I'm trying to sell an Integra! Mine's not a GSR (it's a Special Edition). It's far from perfect, but I drive it daily. I'd do $2500 for a GRM'er.

RVA REPRESENT! Can you message me some details on your ride? If nothing else I'm always down for talking cars and learning about models or marques.

failboat wrote: Wait you guys are in richmond? Im sort of nearby. Grm meet soon haha

I was debating on setting up a GRM meet but had no idea there were more than two of us in the city. Small world. Maybe time to have a once a month dinner and see what develops. Did you guys see that manual trans SC300 in the east end? I emailed on it...no response yet.

johndej wrote: Small world I'm in RVA also, would be down for a g-force meet sometime. On the main topic, I about beat a buddy senseless about 6 months ago. Hr traded in a stock 98 GSR with like 160k towards a new civic SI. Dealer gave him like $1500 after telling him it needed a timing belt, water pump, etc. Of course I hear about this when he pulls up in the new civic

Oh f@rt. I would've loved to buy that off of him. What dealership was it? It's most likely gone now since it was 6 mo's ago.