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Integra. I get that the base Integra was never fast, but this new one is too big, too heavy, too expensive ($36k minimum for a stickshift), and too slow relative to contemporary cars.

 

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Maybe because I owned a 90’s Integra but I find this new one really disappointing. Then again I think the new CTR is more like an Accord Type R. It’s probably more a criticism of Honda’s weight/size gain as a whole. They don’t make any compact sporty cars anymore, which is what I loved them for. If you’ve never owned a 90’s Honda, this might not make sense to you since objectively the new Hondas are fine/good. Plenty of space, nice interiors, turbocharged engines. But that’s not what classic Honda was to many people.

The Civic nameplate has had time to evolve over the years and get progressively fatter/heavier so people got acclimated to it slowly. But the Integra nameplate was suddenly revived and thrown on a now fatter/heavier Civic and of course it’s jarring for folks who owned the original 20+ years ago and think it’s nothing like it.

 

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I'm not a fan of the larger size but it's reflective of the state of the car market these days...

I am a big 90s Honda guy. Have 4 of them! Besides the size, the latest Civic and Integra really do share the same DNA, just refined 10 times over.

Nice you know what I’m talking about then. I remember my old Integra being small, light, high revving NA, and double wishbone front. What I really remember about the driving experience was how low slung it felt paired with an expansive view out the front, sort of like the NSX of that era.

The new Integra misses out on all of those things and it makes me wonder if modern Honda doesn’t understand what made the original so memorable and fun to customers. This new one feels like an attempt to cash in on the nameplate rather than recreate the experience.

I agree with you, this new Integra is a rebadged more luxurious Civic like the original was, but that’s about where the similarities end for me.

 

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Unfortunately NA engines just aren't competitive in this market of larger, heavier cars and high performance and fuel economy expectations.

I can tell you however, that the Integra and CTR engines (the ones I've tried) feel smooth, responsive, and rev-happy like those of old. Even the traditional Honda engine note is there, just at a lower volume. So, although they don't have a B18C or an F20C, you can sense they are related. And the transmission, dear god, it is perfect. Better than any FWD 90s Honda ever was. Only the S2000 is better.

The driving position is not as low as that of a dedicated sports car but is the lowest in class. It's roughly two inches higher than that of the GR86, and two inches lower than a typical C-segment car. Visibility is excellent like in the old days, with a low cowl and door-mounted mirrors. It's better than on the 86, particularly because the mirrors are smaller.

It may seem like a cash grab at first glance, but if you actually give it a chance and dig deeper I think you'll find it is actually a great car that embodies the old Honda spirit very well, just adapted to current market conditions.

Haha you make me want to believe! I’ll give it a shot. Honestly though I’ve been disappointed in Hondas I’ve tried from the past 10-15 years, just not the same for me.