Nooo. Not this one. (This picture is just for affect.)
I received a call from a young man from Valley Stream, N.Y. hoping to plop down some hard earned dough on his first whip (ride.. oh um. Car.)
He was told that I’m pretty good at this stuff (insert huge grin here) and that he hoped that I could be of help.
‘Okay’, I told him, ‘No problem. I just need to ask you some questions.’
He was told that I’m pretty good at this stuff (insert huge grin here) and that he hoped that I could be of help.
‘Okay’, I told him, ‘No problem. I just need to ask you some questions.’
Him: ‘Sure.’
Me: ‘Do you have an idea of what kind of car you’re looking for?’
Him: ‘Yep. A ’94 to ’95 Acura Integra coupe.’
Me: ‘Good choice!’
Me: ‘Do you have an idea of what kind of car you’re looking for?’
Him: ‘Yep. A ’94 to ’95 Acura Integra coupe.’
Me: ‘Good choice!’
The 1994 Acura Integra
1.8 Liter, 170 hp – 128 ft-lbs/torque, Inline 4 cylinder, Front Wheel Drive
Manual: 25 mpg / 31 mpg
Automatic: 24 mpg / 31 mpg
Best Fuel Economy: 27.3 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 21.3 mpg
‘Back in 1986, Honda started the Acura brand to create a separate luxury brand to appeal to up-market buyers. Its first model, the Acura Integra, was a sporty hatchback that emphasized Acura's focus on engineering excellence and build quality. The Integra's balance of reliability and performance made it an instant hit, especially for those buyers looking for a cheaper alternative to German imports.’ – Edmunds.
The 1994 was the 3rd iteration of the now defunct hot rocket model from the Honda Motor company, spin off brand Acura. Your choices were either a compact 2-door hatchback coupe and 4-door notchback based on the Honda Civic front-drive platform. Acura's least-expensive model came in three levels: base RS, luxury LS, and sporty GS-R, each available in both body styles.
It was considered a ‘Premium Compact Car’ and awarded a Consumer Guide ‘Best Buy’.
Pros: Strong and economical engine, racecar-like handling, contemporary good looks.
Cons: Dated interior design, uncomfortable seats for the long haul, limited passenger space.
‘Back in 1986, Honda started the Acura brand to create a separate luxury brand to appeal to up-market buyers. Its first model, the Acura Integra, was a sporty hatchback that emphasized Acura's focus on engineering excellence and build quality. The Integra's balance of reliability and performance made it an instant hit, especially for those buyers looking for a cheaper alternative to German imports.’ – Edmunds.
The 1994 was the 3rd iteration of the now defunct hot rocket model from the Honda Motor company, spin off brand Acura. Your choices were either a compact 2-door hatchback coupe and 4-door notchback based on the Honda Civic front-drive platform. Acura's least-expensive model came in three levels: base RS, luxury LS, and sporty GS-R, each available in both body styles.
It was considered a ‘Premium Compact Car’ and awarded a Consumer Guide ‘Best Buy’.
Pros: Strong and economical engine, racecar-like handling, contemporary good looks.
Cons: Dated interior design, uncomfortable seats for the long haul, limited passenger space.
- via Edmunds.com
‘The Acura Integra is more than a sports car. It is a comprehensive display demonstrating how the old adage: " win on Sunday, sell on Monday" can still be applied to todays' production cars. It is the engineering, suspension, combustion and safety technology learned from winning professional racing experiences which can practically be applied to production showroom cars that makes this car much more than just a styling experience.’ - theautochannel.com
According to the Consumer Guide, any Integra should be reliable, but high resale value means they're not cheap secondhand. A Honda Civic actually offers many of the Integra's appealing features, at a considerably lower price.
Pros: Fuel economy, Acceleration (5-speed models), Steering/handling, Road holding, Antilock brakes (LS, GS-R)
Cons: Acceleration (w/automatic transmission), Rear-seat room, No antilock brakes (RS), Tire noise.
Edmunds also completed a long-term test of a certified used 1996 Acura Integra here:
http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/longterm/articles/44028/page024.html
Of course with a car this old, there was little doubt that it may have been difficult to find a car with reasonable mileage little wear and tear and with a warranty other than what we could get through a dealership.
However…
The owners seemed to love it (average rating 9.3 out of 10.0 - 67 reviews). All the car mags seemed to love it. All that was left was to look for it.
‘The Acura Integra is more than a sports car. It is a comprehensive display demonstrating how the old adage: " win on Sunday, sell on Monday" can still be applied to todays' production cars. It is the engineering, suspension, combustion and safety technology learned from winning professional racing experiences which can practically be applied to production showroom cars that makes this car much more than just a styling experience.’ - theautochannel.com
According to the Consumer Guide, any Integra should be reliable, but high resale value means they're not cheap secondhand. A Honda Civic actually offers many of the Integra's appealing features, at a considerably lower price.
Pros: Fuel economy, Acceleration (5-speed models), Steering/handling, Road holding, Antilock brakes (LS, GS-R)
Cons: Acceleration (w/automatic transmission), Rear-seat room, No antilock brakes (RS), Tire noise.
Edmunds also completed a long-term test of a certified used 1996 Acura Integra here:
http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/longterm/articles/44028/page024.html
Of course with a car this old, there was little doubt that it may have been difficult to find a car with reasonable mileage little wear and tear and with a warranty other than what we could get through a dealership.
However…
The owners seemed to love it (average rating 9.3 out of 10.0 - 67 reviews). All the car mags seemed to love it. All that was left was to look for it.
Woooow. Lucky guy.
(dream, dream, dream)
I was envious. I was thinkin' that this kid was gonna be chillin' like a villian in a Fast 'n Furious film. I thought on what it would have been like if I had a cool car like that as my first. Hot girls fawning over me just because I had a nice car!!! Just like in MUSIC VIDEOS!! (Yea right @@) Super speeds with all kinds of 'Turbo Boost'.. JUST LIKE ON TV!!! And I'd have a cool black leather jacket and the car would TALK!!!! Oh wait. No. It wouldn't.
Oh yea. One more question.
Me: ‘How much do you want to spend?’
Him: ‘$500.
Him: ‘$500.
(my dream... rear ended)
(my brain froze.)
Me: …
Him: ‘Hello?’
Me: ‘Um. Okay, I’ll give it a look although it may be hard. I expect resale value on the ’94 and up to be high.’
Me: …
Him: ‘Hello?’
Me: ‘Um. Okay, I’ll give it a look although it may be hard. I expect resale value on the ’94 and up to be high.’
Him: 'Well uh yea. See if you can keep it under $1000.'
Me: ' under.. a thousan... Okay. I'll let you know what I find.'
And I was right, dealer retail for a base model ’94 Integra’s averaged $2,697. Well over 200% above the maximum he was willing to spend. Oh, boy this was gonna be a toughy.
So I spent the rest of the week mining, all the car buyer sites. Cars.com, autotrader.com, carmax.com, carsdirect.com.. even cragislist!
You shoulda seen some of the stuff I found.. I mean. A dude wanted $3000 for this!
And I was right, dealer retail for a base model ’94 Integra’s averaged $2,697. Well over 200% above the maximum he was willing to spend. Oh, boy this was gonna be a toughy.
So I spent the rest of the week mining, all the car buyer sites. Cars.com, autotrader.com, carmax.com, carsdirect.com.. even cragislist!
You shoulda seen some of the stuff I found.. I mean. A dude wanted $3000 for this!
I found.. no joke.. a 1994 Acura Integra motor..
A MOTOR..
for $700...
for $700...
Seven
Hundred
Dollars
I actually came close to calling him with this offer. Figuring.. if he bought a part here and there he could build a car by 2012.. But then I re-thought it as the world would probably end before he finished buying all the parts.. (just joking).
After looking for a few days. I gave up. I accepted defeat. This couldn’t be done.. While I could find him the car he specified for under $1000.. THEY ALL CAME IN PIECES.
So I made the phone call.
He understood.
I told him that his best bet would be the Honda Civic coupe that it’s based on, an older Honda Accord or even a Toyota Corolla (probably plummeting my cool points to zero). I thought that even an older Integra would be a good idea. But even older the Integra’s don’t seem to get to far below $1000.
He’s said that he would hit up the auctions on Friday. I’ll let you know.
I told him that his best bet would be the Honda Civic coupe that it’s based on, an older Honda Accord or even a Toyota Corolla (probably plummeting my cool points to zero). I thought that even an older Integra would be a good idea. But even older the Integra’s don’t seem to get to far below $1000.
He’s said that he would hit up the auctions on Friday. I’ll let you know.
Sorry dude.. I couldn't find it. :’(
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