Looking at buying a 1996 Integra GS-R

[Shawn]

I sold my sister's beater car and I'm looking at getting something to replace it. Can't find anything good that's automatic for around $3000. All the good deals are for manuals. I found a 1996 Acura Integra GS-R that's local for $3500. I was thinking that maybe I could get something like that and just give my sister back her automatic 2001 Civic EX. It was her car for 3 years and my dad took it away from her and gave it to me because she was irresponsible. I've had it for the past 2. I love it but really want a manual again and perhaps something a little faster.

The Integra I found has a lot of engine modifications though so I'm not sure I should consider it. Here is what the guy told me:

I wanna say 146k on the body/chassis
like 3000 or 4000 on the motor, which I put ACL bearings in, ARP rod bolts and head studs, the block was bored 1mm over size, and the pistons are 1mm oversize Factory Honda Type-R (P73), the rods were shot peened, and the Head gasket is a Mr. Gasket Multi-Layer Steel 82mm gasket, 0.030 thick, new oil and water pump both are Honda OEM Type-R, Bando Timing belt (they actually make the OEM honda belt, but the HEAD is a stock untouched Civic Si head, that has 72k miles on it.
The plan was to turbocharge it, but I bought the SRT-4 and it produces torque so well, It became my focus, and now I just need to sell them both and get a paid off bike and a beater old truck. like a nissan hardbody or toyota tacoma

At this point I'm more concerned about reliability than anything else. think it would be reliable or should I just move on? Also would the price of those mods increase or decrease the value of the car? Bluebook is 3200 in excellent condition.

 

[ballmode]

no. Driven hard why else would they put those parts on there


I used to have a 1995 GSR sedan that I owned from 76k miles to 135k miles, PM me if you want to know everything about the car

 

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: ballmode
no. Driven hard why else would they put those parts on there


I used to have a 1995 GSR sedan that I owned from 76k miles to 135k miles, PM me if you want to know everything about the car

Same here. I would never buy a car with mods on it. Especially a "tuner" car where kids drive them hard. You don't want someone else's problem.

 

[Shawn]

That's what I was thinking. Still, having the engine rebuilt makes me wonder. Typically that would be beneficial, but I don't know what stuff like using oversized pistons, etc would do to the reliability of the block. He said the head is from a Civic SI . Not sure what the differences are between an SI head and a GSR head.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Shawn
I sold my sister's beater car and I'm looking at getting something to replace it. Can't find anything good that's automatic for around $3000. All the good deals are for manuals. I found a 1996 Acura Integra GS-R that's local for $3500. I was thinking that maybe I could get something like that and just give my sister back her automatic 2001 Civic EX. It was her car for 3 years and my dad took it away from her and gave it to me because she was irresponsible. I've had it for the past 2. I love it but really want a manual again and perhaps something a little faster.

The Integra I found has a lot of engine modifications though so I'm not sure I should consider it. Here is what the guy told me:

I wanna say 146k on the body/chassis
like 3000 or 4000 on the motor, which I put ACL bearings in, ARP rod bolts and head studs, the block was bored 1mm over size, and the pistons are 1mm oversize Factory Honda Type-R (P73), the rods were shot peened, and the Head gasket is a Mr. Gasket Multi-Layer Steel 82mm gasket, 0.030 thick, new oil and water pump both are Honda OEM Type-R, Bando Timing belt (they actually make the OEM honda belt, but the HEAD is a stock untouched Civic Si head, that has 72k miles on it.
The plan was to turbocharge it, but I bought the SRT-4 and it produces torque so well, It became my focus, and now I just need to sell them both and get a paid off bike and a beater old truck. like a nissan hardbody or toyota tacoma

At this point I'm more concerned about reliability than anything else. think it would be reliable or should I just move on? Also would the price of those mods increase or decrease the value of the car? Bluebook is 3200 in excellent condition.

Impossible to tell and mods generally decrease the value of a car if anything unless they are done by a professional and that type of work is desirable.

 

[T2urtle]

something leds me to believe this car was not a STOCK GS-R to begin with. let me see pictures so i can confirm. is it leather?

sounds like to me it was a LS/GS with a SI head put on. so more like a LS- VTEC if anything. stay away. read the tag on the black to see if it was a b18b or a b18c. a GSR block is B18C1.

he said 146k on the body. 4k on the block and 72k on the head. WTF shit dont add up. if he bought a GSR engine and swapped it in why not keep the head. I am willing to be money the car started its life as a GS/LS. Nothing adds up with this car. because the SI head makes no sense, now if he stated both engine and head has 72k and its a SI b16 motor it would understandable as he did a swap.

 

[StageLeft]

At this point I'm more concerned about reliability than anything else.

Then why in all hell are you looking at a 13-14 year old car with all this crap done to it?

What does "wanna say 146k" mean? No odometer? That car is a farce.

 

[Vetterin]

6 responders can't be wrong. POS....stay away!

 

[T2urtle]

if your main concern is reliability, a new yaris/versa can be had for 10-12k. if they aren't reliable least you wont be paying for the repair.



how i look at it is. YOU WANT SOMETHING TO DRIVE THATS NOT A TURD. why look at a 3grand gs-r when you can have any LS/GS teg for 1.5k or any stock SOHC like the one you own right now for 3k. do you want something thats a little faster? do you want a manual? do you want something you can modify? you have to be real with us.

 

[jtvang125]

Originally posted by: T2urtle
something leds me to believe this car was not a STOCK GS-R to begin with. let me see pictures so i can confirm. is it leather?

sounds like to me it was a LS/GS with a SI head put on. so more like a LS- VTEC if anything. stay away. read the tag on the black to see if it was a b18b or a b18c. a GSR block is B18C1.

he said 146k on the body. 4k on the block and 72k on the head. WTF shit dont add up. if he bought a GSR engine and swapped it in why not keep the head. I am willing to be money the car started its life as a GS/LS. Nothing adds up with this car. because the SI head makes no sense, now if he stated both engine and head has 72k and its a SI b16 motor it would understandable as he did a swap.

http://hondaswap.com/engine-bu...head-b18c-block-32597/

Didn't know this myself but this is probably why. Stronger cast head and lowering the compression ratio cause he was planning on going turbo.

 

[Arkaign]

Well. I wouldn't risk it personally. This might be a good buy for a mechanic who was an expert at Honda/Acura stuff. It might actually be a great running car, but when you throw that kind of wildcard into the mix (modifications for performance), it's a crapshot as to reliability, and it's probably a given that it was driven hard. I drove my Jackson SC Prelude like I stole it, and it's still a solid running car to this day with it's happy 3rd owner lol.

 

[996GT2]

Don't buy it unless you know someone who's a mechanic or otherwise an expert on Hondas/Acuras.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

If you want to do a project car like the previous owner did it's potentially a good deal. Though if you knew what to really look for you probably wouldn't be asking here. If you want a reliable daily driver, this one could have some potential hidden issues that would cause a lot of headaches. I'd keep looking. This car and yourself aren't likely a good match.

The oversized pistons are common during a rebuild as when the block is honed larger pistons are used to make up the difference, 1mm isn't anything to worry about (in Chevy SB terms it'd be 0.030), if it was something like 3mm I'd carry a broom and some kitty litter in the trunk.

 

[Deviant Grasshopper]

Run, Run, Run away.

You're more concerned about reliability?? Get a newer focus for $3500. Or, a civic/integra without mods. Or, a ranger. You can get a decent daily driver for $3500.





Fast. Cheap. Reliable.

Pick two.

 

[Shawn]

looks like I'll just keep my civic and keep looking for something for my sister. :-/