I like cars. I am not belonging to Street Racers but like to try drive fast(if conditons are reasonable) and like modification to have fun in the time.
My first car, comes to me when I was tenty(20) years old, was well-miled Nissan Skylline 2000GT(Type GC110), reaching to 65,000miles. After about a year of driving of Skyline, I got Totyta Starlet Si(Type KP61), then Toyota MR2(AW10), Honda Civic Si(E-AT), Mazda RX7(FC3S). Spend about three(3) years with RX-7, I moved to United States and driving "NICE and BORING" company cars until my close friend KOTATSUNEKO passes me over his '82 Fiat Pininfarina Spider. I was rescued by Fiat Spider with full hands of fun of open air motoring, then came back to Japan.
When I came back to Japan in the end of March, 2000, I found that cars I can choose are very few. My budget is limited up to middle class cars, and try to find a sporty car I can afford. Final candidates were Totyta Altezza and Honda Integra TypeR. Altezza will be facelifted shortly and possibly add a variation with higher horsepower engine, but design is later and carries six-speed transmission on FR layout. Integra TypeR is reported as very nice car but full model change is not so far.
After a week of turining between them, I finally ordered Integra TypeR. Three weeks later, Integra TypeR is delivered to me with Championship White color with two red RECARO sheets. It was first contact to the car ranked as "Limit of Japanese mass-produced car".
On the brochure, base of development of Integra TypeR(Type : Honda GF-DC2(Coupe) DB8(Sedan)/ Type : TYPE R, "DC2R" hereafter) is located in the racing track. Body, engine, and suspensions are specially prepared for DC2R, or drastically modified against to standard components. For example, steps on intake ports are manually ground-out by craftman which is very rare for mass-produced car. Standard grade DC2R does not equipped with audio system, let alone clock. For daily use, I chose a grade TypeR-X which carries audio system, air-conditioning, SRS Air Bag, and added car navigation system. Dry weight under this condition mighr become about 1,130kg(2,510lbs) against to standard grade's 1,090kg(2,645lbs).
Car dealer puts main unit of car navigation system at right behind right-rear seat's backrest. When fold the backrest to make luggage room wider, the unit is placed at the right-center of space. I decided to move unit to underneath of passenger seat and started to remove interior. Then I was feeling something - no insulation coationg on the floor which most of cars have under fabric lining. There is only a painted steel. How does it work? Splash sounds pretty rouder, and hot in summer/cold in winter more than people assume. Actually it was advocated in brochure as "Sacrified comfort slightly...", "Insulator is not applied on...." - now I am made to realize what car I bought. I have to address DC2R in all seriousness.
When I report those kinds of discoveries with e-mail to YOUSHIRO who meet via internet, he explains deeper about the topics. YOUSHIRO is well-skilled and experienced DC2R driver and always give kind answer based on his practice. In fact, almost of my knowledge of DC2R and location of information on internet are given from him. I can not stop bother him.
In July,/2001, new Integra(Type DC5) has been released. Then DC2R became a "Previous Model". Anyway production of DC2R was finished in around March/2001, and contents of "Integra" has been removed from Honda's internet corporate site(revived with updated contents at release of DC5).
DC5 TypeR is given 2.0 litre engine(K20A). Output is 162kw(220ps), raised 13kw(20ps) from B18C engine for DC2R. Body is wider and higher and weighs 75kg(165lbs) more however acclaimed in test report as outstripped DC2R in right evolutiuon. Anyway, the design and technology should be updated and can feel refined performance eventhough my short trial driving(:I am not a real well-skilled sport driver). But in personal opnion, I think a speciallity giving an appeal to DC2R, in other words, identity of DC2R is reduced.
Raison d'etre of DC2R is "a car tuned by original manufacturer from stock production condition with minimunm compromise", in other words, "genuine modified car", I think. I am not jerousing of DC5R (I hope so :-)) which is considered to have TypeR in its line-up at start of development. But value of DC2R I personally guess is to overcome a bunch of limitations and restrictions because of stock-based, then completed as TypeR. Of course everyone has own opinion and DC5R have to be excellent.
But still I am feeling lucky that I can own and drive DC2R which is benchmarked for performance of front wheel drive cars even after five(5) years from release.
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