[Desert Driver]

I finally got to test drive the Integra today--a white ASpec Tech 6MT with that gorgeous red interior. As a demo, it had all the add-ons, including black 19" wheels and tires, carbon fiber mirror caps and spoiler, and black badges. Here are my thoughts, in no particular order, based in part on recent(ish) drives of the Kia Stinger GT (auto), Elantra N (6MT), and Subaru WRX Premium (6MT):

• I'm 6'5" and had no problem fitting in the driver's seat, though I do have to have the seat all the way down, but definitely not all the way back. Not a lot of head room but certainly enough. I always test drive in a baseball cap and that was not hitting anywhere. But I didn't get in the back seat as I know headroom there is bad; good thing I wouldn't be driving from the back seat!
• The seats are comfortable and very adjustable, but my right knee (or knobby bone that is below the knee on the outside) hits against the center console to the left of where the shifter is, which is a bit uncomfortable. I don't think it's annoying enough for me to not move forward, in and of itself, but if I notice it on the test drive I'm sure it'll be a factor unless I can adjust the seat differently. (I had the same issue, but to a much more disturbing degree, on a new Kia Stinger). I was wearing shorts.
• The material on the seats is nice, but the microsuede inserts get pretty warm when hot outside. It was 96 degrees when I did my test drive. AC works great, but even with that blowing full force, my back was always warm thanks to the microsuede. It's really a shame the seats aren't cooled, as heated seats don't do much for us out in the desert. The sales agent who was with me agreed on that one. If I was to decide against the Integra, this may be the biggest reason since I live down in the desert.
• The interior is very nice--definitely much nicer than the Elantra N (though the N's dash is so cool) and the WRX, though I'd say on par with the Kia Stinger I drove, which had a surprisingly nice, sporty interior. The red is just gorgeous; as others have said, darker than what we've seen in many of the photos and videos. I like it a lot more than the black because it's offset from the dash, footwells, center console, etc., really nicely.
• I was pleased with the proximity of the 9-inch touchscreen (in some cars I feel like I have to really reach for those; not the case here). And the other dials, from HVAC to driving mode, are all within easy reach. Once I got used to them, they were easy to use without having to look at (or for) them.
• The head-up display was nifty; never had a car with that. Essential? No, but it was a neat trick and cool with how far forward it seems to appear.
• The adaptive dampers are great. Switching between my "default" sport mode and comfort mode on bumpy roads was quite noticeable, and much appreciated. That's a big selling point for me in this top trim. I like how the sport mode tightened up the steering, as well.
• Speaking of steering, the steering wheel feels great plus the steering itself is responsive. On par with the N and better than the WRX.
• I was pleasantly surprised with the peppiness of the Integra. After driving the N and WRX I was afraid I'd be disappointed, but I wasn't. Of course it's not as powerful as either of those, but this is a car that delightfully wants to go, and in doing so rev high, though I never took it above 4,500 RPM. I thought this would be the make-or-break for me on this car, and it falls into the "make" side of the spectrum. Which is to say: it's peppy enough for my needs, and I look forward to a lot of high revving.
  
• I love the sound of the exhaust outside the car, and inside while subdued it's not bad. Piped in a bit more in sport mode but never over the top as it is in, say, the BRZ or GR86.
• The size of the Integra seems just right to me. At my age (53), and predominantly as an empty nester, the four doors and even hatchback aren't essential, but certainly are nice to have. All in all, though, it feels about right. I think it's larger than the '94 Accord I had, but doesn't feel quite as large as the '14 Accord I had. Like Goldilocks, I find the Integra to be just the right size.
• Design-wise, I think the Integra is a beautiful car, particularly with the black appearance package (though wow is that front Acura badge huge!). It's more attractive than the N and WRX, though not as aggressively styled. I really love the front end. I've got a few not terribly exciting photos of the tester below.

So after my drive I plan to move forward with my liquid carbon metallic ASpec Tech 6MT when it arrives at the end of the month (I have the VIN for that now; it's just awaiting transport out here), but I may take one more test drive in the demo (or a longer drive in mine when it arrives) to double-check on the knee vs. the center console. That drives me crazy on my wife's CR-V. I may also drive the WRX one more time if the local dealership gets one in that's compatible before my Integra arrives, just to compare one more time now that I've driven this one. But the Ingtegra's MPG is a big selling point over the WRX. Assuming I do move forward, I'm tempted to add the Sport Black Styling - A-Spec package, though at a titch over $1,800 it's pretty pricey. But the black side underbody spoiler and rear diffuser plus emblems do look pretty sweet; and I can offset some of the other dumb add-ons (LoJack, blinking third brake light) my dealer is otherwise adding with that package, it appears. It all comes down to final numbers, I suppose...

View attachment 1267

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I should also mention they hadn't yet detailed the demo when I drove it.

 

[86amr]

I’m going to take a test drive on Friday, really looking forward to it.

I must admit though, I’m somewhat clueless about VTEC. Is there anything special about the MT+VTEC+Turbo combination I should understand or pay specific attention to? I don’t want to miss something stupid and come away disappointed.

Do you generally hold gears longer or shift at higher RPMs with VTEC? I saw from reviews the gauges will flash when it’s time to shift. Should I just pay attention to that and have fun?

So VTEC (Variable Timing Electronic Control) was essentially a second cam profile with larger lobes that would keep the valves open longer that were triggered at higher RPMs and allow more air/fuel into the cylinders. So down low you would have a mild cam profile for MPG purposes and up high you would have the more aggressive profile where you would experience higher power. When under heavy acceleration you would hit that RPM threshold and experience an instantaneous boost in power....you would also hear it..quite dramatically. Then on the upshift, if you went to redline the RPMs would fall back down above that VTEC activation threshold and you go on your merry way. So back in the day Honda engines were known to have no torque/power in the lower rev range but were an absolute blast if you ran those gears out...but you HAD to be above 4500-5000 RPMs in order to have any real power. That's where I think a lot of the mythical status of the older Si's and Type R's come from because of how much more aggressive the second cam profile was.

With the turbo, the power and torque come on really low (1800 RPM). There is never a dramatic shift in power towards the top of the rev range. Ideally, this helps with the driveability of the car. Lower peak power with lower displacement but with power coming on WAY earlier but you don't feel that surge of power. I have seen a number of people mention the car having turbo lag...I have no idea what they are talking about. There is no lag...but there is no build-up of power either. It's just there...

I think if the redline was increased so that you could hit 60 mph in second gear the car would look way faster on paper. I don't think it would feel faster though.

I should also add with this last statement....unless you are racing from street light to street light or racing on the highway, the Integra feels really quick at "normal person" driving speeds and the short gearing forces you to work with the gear box more often. You arent going to just leave it in 2nd or 3rd and keep the pedal down for a while. You gotta shift which is why I wanted the 6mt anyways.

I absolutely will upgrade to the Type-S though. The overall package itself is fantastic and the features are fantastic. I just really like that feeling of being pushed back in my seat though lol.

 

[Leehro]

Great explanation, thanks! Sounds like the turbo and VTEC complement each other here nicely then.

 

[Slowcarfast]

(though wow is that front Acura badge huge!)

I may have to get the black A-emblem. I hate dinner plate logos

 

[Desert Driver]

I may have to get the black A-emblem. I hate dinner plate logos

It's crazy how big all the front emblems have gotten.

 

[Xcfool]

Took home my Carbon 6MT yesterday!
I won't even attempt to write an as in depth review as to those prior.
I'm use to my '03 Matrix xrs 6spd with a big CAI that helps the motor sound glorious above 4k rpm. So at first I was unimpressed with the 1.5T and it's reserved acoustics and slight turbo lag.
But once I got used to it I was impressed by how quickly it gains speed without feeling like it's straining. It's not fast but plenty quick to hang with or out run traffic in my urban hwy maze it will spend the majority of its time navigating.
Even in Sport it's not harsh on choppy roads. Does 80mph calmly with little exterior noise intrusion.
Shift knob is a little small as I'm used to a larger weighted knob(I may change to) and the lever could be a little shorter. Clutch is pillow soft and agree catches a bit too high.
I was worried about the red interior but now agree with most others that it's fabulous and frankly takes the car to a higher level. I suspect hearing damage is easily achieved if desired from the stereo but you'll love it till it hurts!
The exterior is sleek friends have said. Beyond maybe blacked out badges IMHO the liquid carbon models don't need anything more.
Last night I was thinking there were some driving dynamics I preferred on my Matrix and then took that '03 for a Walmart run this morning and quickly realized I was delusional.

 

[Desert Driver]

Took home my Carbon 6MT yesterday!
I won't even attempt to write an as in depth review as to those prior.
I'm used to my '03 Matrix xrs 6spd with a big CAI that helps the motor sound glorious above 4k rpm. So at first I was unimpressed with the 1.5T and it's reserved acoustics and slight turbo lag.
But once I got used to it I was impressed by how quickly it gains speed without feeling like it's straining. It's not fast but plenty quick to hang with or out run traffic in my urban hwy maze it will spend the majority of its time navigating.
Even in Sport it's not harsh on choppy roads. Does 80mph calmly with little exterior noise intrusion.
Shift knob is a little small as I'm used to a larger weighted knob(I may change to) and the lever could be a little shorter. Clutch is pillow soft and agree catches a bit too high.
I was worried about the red interior but now agree with most others that it's fabulous and frankly takes the car to a higher level. I suspect hearing damage is easily achieved if desired from the stereo but you'll love it till it hurts!
The exterior is sleek friends have said. Beyond maybe blacked out badges IMHO the liquid carbon models don't need anything more.
Last night I was thinking there were some driving dynamics I preferred on my Matrix and then took that '03 for a Walmart run this morning and quickly realized I was delusional.

Congrats!

 

[Leehro]

I test drove a Carbon+Ebony 6MT today. Very happy with the drive overall and looking forward to my car being built next month.

I'm coming from a 2012 MDX that I bought in 2013, haven't driven an MT regularly since before that (a 2010 Mazdaspeed 3). As others have said, this MT was very easy to drive and to get back into. The rev-matching and brake hold/hill assist are great features too, for occasional stick-shift drivers. I'll probably keep those off but my wife will appreciate them.

I found the Integra plenty fun and powerful. Coming from the MDX it felt so great to sit low, row through gears, and take corners. My MDX is actually faster 0-60 (6.8s) than this car, but it sure doesn't feel like it. Speed in a straight line isn't the only thing. I wasn't driving the Integra terribly fast, but it felt fast and was tons of fun. That's a winner in my book.

I had a mix of highway driving, 65mph freeway, small town downtown, and backroads. It felt quick and responsive. I was alternating between sport mode trying to see what it could do and comfort mode trying to show that it's not a boy racer. I didn't really notice any turbo lag (certainly nothing like the Mazda), but I wasn't pushing it super hard.

I really liked the HUD, that looked a lot cooler in person than I was expecting. I kept the radio off and didn't pair my phone or anything. Happy to have knobs for volume, A/C, and steering controls. I was expecting the rear-seat headroom to be tight. I'm 6'0" and it was better than I expected. Lots of legroom, too so it didn't feel cramped. If I leaned back and stuck my head straight up I'd brush the ceiling. I doubt I'll ever ride back there personally but it'll be fine for my occasional passengers.

Last thing - the cargo space was a little bit smaller/less usable than it looked in videos to me. I tried to measure the largest solid block behind the rear seats and got 40"x37"x18", which comes out to 15.4 cu ft (compared to 24.3 on the spec sheet). That 18" might be an under-measurement. It's hard to tell how high it is when closed. Everyone was amused enough that I brought a tape measure, I wasn't about to climb in and shut the liftbackt to measure. I was looking to fit 30"x24"x18", so I should still have enough space.

The Ebony interior was...fine. From pictures the Orchid and Red both look stunning, but I know the white won't hold up for me and the red isn't available with red exterior. So Ebony it is!

 

[houndrunner]

As others have said, this MT was very easy to drive and to get back into. The rev-matching and brake hold/hill assist are great features too, for occasional stick-shift drivers. I'll probably keep those off but my wife will appreciate them.

I was wondering about this; I know that you have to go into the menus to disable rev matching, but is the hill assist just an as-needed button? Didn't test that one out.

The Ebony interior was...fine. From pictures the Orchid and Red both look stunning, but I know the white won't hold up for me and the red isn't available with red exterior. So Ebony it is!

I really want to see the Ebony interior in person to make the call. I really liked the red interior, and my preorder is for white over red, BUT I'd be pretty happy with either the Apex Blue or the Performance Red over Ebony if it's still a nice interior. I'm sure it will be, I just hope it still feels "special."

One thing I missed on my test drive was the HUD, though I don't know if that was simply because I wasn't actively looking for it, or if it was hard to see because I was wearing sunglasses. Other than that, I had a similar experience to you -- it felt fun and engaging, and that's huge!

 

[Leehro]

I was wondering about this; I know that you have to go into the menus to disable rev matching, but is the hill assist just an as-needed button? Didn't test that one out.

I might be mixing up two features but there's a "Brake Hold" button below the parking brake switch. There's an light in the instrument cluster for it. When I was at a stop light, I took my foot off the brake to press the clutch. The light came on in the cluster and the car didn't roll. When I started driving, the light went off. So I think it's just that button down by the drive modes and parking brake.

Edit: just checked the manual - they're two separate things and there's no documented way of turning hill start assist off.

I really want to see the Ebony interior in person to make the call. I really liked the red interior, and my preorder is for white over red, BUT I'd be pretty happy with either the Apex Blue or the Performance Red over Ebony if it's still a nice interior. I'm sure it will be, I just hope it still feels "special."

With Ebony, I was mostly underwhelmed by the seats compared to how the orchid and red look in pictures. The microsuede black next to black "leather" just didn't stand out. Picked up a lot of lint and felt like cloth. But I'll be covering that with my body and it was comfortable. It's not bad looking, just not flashy or exciting.

One thing I missed on my test drive was the HUD, though I don't know if that was simply because I wasn't actively looking for it, or if it was hard to see because I was wearing sunglasses. Other than that, I had a similar experience to you -- it felt fun and engaging, and that's huge!

+1

 

[2006rxs]

So VTEC (Variable Timing Electronic Control) was essentially a second cam profile with larger lobes that would keep the valves open longer that were triggered at higher RPMs and allow more air/fuel into the cylinders. So down low you would have a mild cam profile for MPG purposes and up high you would have the more aggressive profile where you would experience higher power. When under heavy acceleration you would hit that RPM threshold and experience an instantaneous boost in power....you would also hear it..quite dramatically. Then on the upshift, if you went to redline the RPMs would fall back down above that VTEC activation threshold and you go on your merry way. So back in the day Honda engines were known to have no torque/power in the lower rev range but were an absolute blast if you ran those gears out...but you HAD to be above 4500-5000 RPMs in order to have any real power. That's where I think a lot of the mythical status of the older Si's and Type R's come from because of how much more aggressive the second cam profile was.

With the turbo, the power and torque come on really low (1800 RPM). There is never a dramatic shift in power towards the top of the rev range. Ideally, this helps with the driveability of the car. Lower peak power with lower displacement but with power coming on WAY earlier but you don't feel that surge of power. I have seen a number of people mention the car having turbo lag...I have no idea what they are talking about. There is no lag...but there is no build-up of power either. It's just there...

I think if the redline was increased so that you could hit 60 mph in second gear the car would look way faster on paper. I don't think it would feel faster though.

I should also add with this last statement....unless you are racing from street light to street light or racing on the highway, the Integra feels really quick at "normal person" driving speeds and the short gearing forces you to work with the gear box more often. You arent going to just leave it in 2nd or 3rd and keep the pedal down for a while. You gotta shift which is why I wanted the 6mt anyways.

I absolutely will upgrade to the Type-S though. The overall package itself is fantastic and the features are fantastic. I just really like that feeling of being pushed back in my seat though lol.

I like ur explanation of what a vtec is. It was spot on.

 

[2006rxs]

Pic of blue and black

 

[2006rxs]

Pic of blue and black

Few more

 

[Acumich]

I test drove a Carbon+Ebony 6MT today. Very happy with the drive overall and looking forward to my car being built next month.

I'm coming from a 2012 MDX that I bought in 2013, haven't driven an MT regularly since before that (a 2010 Mazdaspeed 3). As others have said, this MT was very easy to drive and to get back into. The rev-matching and brake hold/hill assist are great features too, for occasional stick-shift drivers. I'll probably keep those off but my wife will appreciate them.

I found the Integra plenty fun and powerful. Coming from the MDX it felt so great to sit low, row through gears, and take corners. My MDX is actually faster 0-60 (6.8s) than this car, but it sure doesn't feel like it. Speed in a straight line isn't the only thing. I wasn't driving the Integra terribly fast, but it felt fast and was tons of fun. That's a winner in my book.

I had a mix of highway driving, 65mph freeway, small town downtown, and backroads. It felt quick and responsive. I was alternating between sport mode trying to see what it could do and comfort mode trying to show that it's not a boy racer. I didn't really notice any turbo lag (certainly nothing like the Mazda), but I wasn't pushing it super hard.

I really liked the HUD, that looked a lot cooler in person than I was expecting. I kept the radio off and didn't pair my phone or anything. Happy to have knobs for volume, A/C, and steering controls. I was expecting the rear-seat headroom to be tight. I'm 6'0" and it was better than I expected. Lots of legroom, too so it didn't feel cramped. If I leaned back and stuck my head straight up I'd brush the ceiling. I doubt I'll ever ride back there personally but it'll be fine for my occasional passengers.

Last thing - the cargo space was a little bit smaller/less usable than it looked in videos to me. I tried to measure the largest solid block behind the rear seats and got 40"x37"x18", which comes out to 15.4 cu ft (compared to 24.3 on the spec sheet). That 18" might be an under-measurement. It's hard to tell how high it is when closed. Everyone was amused enough that I brought a tape measure, I wasn't about to climb in and shut the liftbackt to measure. I was looking to fit 30"x24"x18", so I should still have enough space.

The Ebony interior was...fine. From pictures the Orchid and Red both look stunning, but I know the white won't hold up for me and the red isn't available with red exterior. So Ebony it is!

Hey Leehro,
Did you feel any torque steer? Not as bas a Speed3 I would hope.

 

[Leehro]

Hey Leehro,
Did you feel any torque steer? Not as bas a Speed3 I would hope.

LOL no. And I know torque steer 😆

 

[A-Spec]

Here's another Integra review. This one's from Sam CarLegion.

 

[A-Spec]

Pic of blue and black

Is this your car @2006rxs? Or is this one you looked at?

 

[86amr]

Here's another Integra review. This one's from Sam CarLegion.

How come my mirrors don't tilt down in reverse? Am i missing a setting or is that just in the Canadian spec?

 

[Integra23]

How come my mirrors don't tilt down in reverse? Am i missing a setting or is that just in the Canadian spec?

Same thing I'm wondering.. its listed as a feature

 

[Leehro]

Same thing I'm wondering.. its listed as a feature

spec sheet says it’s on tech package and manual (p. 190) says it’s just the passenger mirror when activated. Try putting the selector switch to passenger side. That’s what controls it in my MDX