Honda Integra Type-R & Honda "Factory Performance"

[traversn]

Hi All,

I am looking at purchasing (Through a Leasing Company) a 2002/(2003) Honda Integra Type-R. I have had numerous conversations with Honda Australia and a few different Honda dealerships (Both Sales and Service departments) regarding modifying the car.

The Leasing company I am going with (My Employer restricts me to this Leasing company) requires that any modifications made to the car are done so by the manufacturer, which leaves me with few options - however there are possibilities.

Honda (Well, Acura) in the USA are offering a performance upgrade in early 2003 through their "Factory Performance" brand (more info here ) which is provided as an upgrade for the Acura RSX Type-S. A few of the components of the kit (Body kit, gear knob, etc) are available for the Type-R by default, however the Wheels, Brakes, Springs, Shocks, etc are not.

My question is, does anyone know how I might possibly arrange for a Honda dealer to import and fit these parts for me? I would be happy with just the suspension upgrade and wheels, but I am getting a bit frustrated with Honda, who share little of my enthusiasm in getting a kick ass factory Integra.

Any Help / Advice would be very much appreciated.

Travers

[^status]

Why don't u just look for aftermarket parts for your brakes, springs, shocks etc locally ( in Aust. )?

[IMOA]

Be careful with the warranty. Dealers tell you 100k, it's actually 80k. Mate just found out the hard way after he blew his completely stock Type R motor at 86k. Love the cars but too many are having serious reliability problems for my liking.

[macquered]

Originally posted by IMOA
Dealers tell you 100k, it's actually 80k.

Huh?

How does that work?

[IMOA]

Exactly that, they tell you 100k but buried deep in the paperwork it says 80k. Bit of a bugger when you blow your engine.

[macquered]

That seems uber strange - I'd be taking that up with consumer affairs.

Is this in relation to a certian erm.....brightly coloured ITR?

From the Honda website;

Every new Honda sold comes with a 3-year New Car Warranty - 100,000 km (after Jan '01) or 80,000 km (before Jan '01).

[Spunkymonkey]

well..the latest model type R is a re-badged RSX anyway. Except they've made a few changes like rims, brakes, etc.

Not much point getting the package from Acura in the states.

Oh, and I'd say pretty much forget getting help from Honda Australia to get you anything. I doubt they would go to the trouble.

Gee, your leasing company makes it difficult don't they. Is there any way you could buy aftermarket parts, and get perhaps a honda recommended service centre to fit them?

Another option may be Honda New Zealand. It's honda central down there, and they are plenty of imports over there. I think there is this parts place called Strong as well, which gets a heap of parts in.

[IMOA]

Yep, thats the one.

Personally I think it's time Honda bit the bullet and went turbo, the N/A motors just won't put out the power they want in the package they want reliably.

[Spunkymonkey]

Originally posted by IMOA
Yep, thats the one.

Personally I think it's time Honda bit the bullet and went turbo, the N/A motors just won't put out the power they want in the package they want reliably.

they have had a couple of turbo cars in the past

[traversn]

Thanks Spunkymonkey, I will give them a try in New Zealand that's a good idea. You're right, the leasing company is making it difficult, but this is due to the fact that if I don't want to own the car at the end of the lease and opt out of the "buy out", they are stuck with it. You can imagine the depreciated value of a badly modified car after 3 - 4 years of driving. I have been told that another company "Prosperian" allows a whole range of aftermarket mods to your leased car, however my company has a "special" arrangement with the company I am to deal with, meaning I don't have much of a choice.

Regarding having Honda install the aftermarket parts, I have spoken to a few of the service departments (One in Paramatta, and one in or around North sydney somewhere), they were both as unhelpful as each other asking me "Why I would want 17" wheels", and "What's the point in changing the factory suspension?".

To be honest, the only real reason I have for making these two mods is looks. I'm sure it wouldn't change the handling that much (And if I were to make badly informed decisions I might suffer from a performance decrease).

Ahh well, I might go for a test drive of an XR6, they look fun.

Travers

[Spunkymonkey]

LOL. I was thinking more like a recommended repair/mechanic centre like Hanny's.

LOL....I might not have a type R, but I have 17's and suspension change, and the suspension makes it handle better

[DaiOni]

I buy my cars through a honda primo dealership in japan - they do in-house honda mods (mugen) they have a mile of stuff that they do.

Would genuine mugen parts be okay?? if so... you're in luck :p

[coyote]

I'm not surprised that neither Honda Aust nor a dealership service department want to help you out.

What would surprise me is if there isn't salesperson you could get to do the work for you. I don't think the new model TypeR is exactly in high demand and it should be worth a salesman's while to do a little legwork in order to move one of the suckers.

XR6T or TypeR.. that's weird.

[Spunkymonkey]

Originally posted by projectmagna


Would genuine mugen parts be okay?? if so... you're in luck :p

yes please

Travers...if you could find out the "fine print" in terms of what the leasing company policy is that would be helpful lol.

I mean changing a set of rims isn't that hard. Suspension a bit harder.

I'd really suggest buying aftermarket suspension, not that honda don't make good suspension, but you can get better for better $. I mean think of how much the parts cost here anyway!

set of standard vtir teg rims goes for about $3500 new.

anyway....find out more...I have a friend who works for a honda dealership here, so I may be able to ask later on for you....

or otherwise..I believe one of our members....blackbart?? works for Honda.

[slip]

IMOA, maybe because turbo fwd's arent a great concept.