is a Type-R too much for a noob?

[Leslie]

Hi everyone,

I am new here, please play nice :)

I currently own a 99 CRV, but the Integra has been my dream car since highschool, and I have finally decided to get one, my path of research has led me to you guys, I must say this site is a wealth of information!

now back on topic, by noob I mean a manual noob, I have 16 years of driving experience in auto, I did try to learn manual all those years ago, but had given up after a few lessons :(

I am currently looking for a replacement for my CRV, and now that I don't answer to parents or girlfriends anymore, I want to get an Integra! (also figured that I should squeeeze a Teg in before I am stuck with a wife and 2.5 kids :))

Now my dliemma is, should I stick to what I know and get an auto? or go all out and get myself a Type-R?

my plan of attack is to get a few lessons from an instructor, then practise my my brother's and friend's car, and hopefully after a month or two I will be confindent enough to drive a manual. My only worry is whether a Type-R would be too much to handle for someone who has no experience in driving manual.

any input would be much appericated :)

[jzdhgkd]

Go for it!
I went from 2 years driving experience in an auto (though nothing compared to you) and now i'm driving manual and lovin' every bit of it ;)

But just make sure you actually enjoy shifting the gears, otherwise there won't reeeallly be any point in getting the manual in the first place!

Also, I think the stock typeR is relatively easy to handle compared to higher power cars out there so i wouldn't say it's "too much for a noob" :P

[hugohung23]

Hey dude, you'll be fine. Youve been driving for 16 yr auto, so you have road awareness etc. All your doing now is learning the manual part.

I drove 2 years with auto, drove my brothers manual once, and then went out and got my type r. It's really not that difficult to learn, youll be fine mate.

[Euro08Jaz]

you may not have to answer to gf anf family but would a manual still be practical? for example do you have alot of start stop or city driving?
you can learn to drive manual and lessons are a great way to go about it.

on the up side your going enjoy driving a whole lot more especially if you get a type r :thumbsup:

[Leslie]

thx for the quick replies everyone :)

yeah I forgot to cover the part about the enjoyment (or lack of) of driving a manual, I guess I will find out when I start taking lessons again.

To be honest I kinda hated manuals back in the days, when you are on your L's you have 50 million things to worried about/remember, adding a clutch to the mix didn't help :)

But now all that is behind me, hopefully there will be less distraction for me.

Another thing is the usage of the car, I will mainly be commuting to and from work everyday (50km round trip, lots of traffic lights), maybe get on the freeway once every couple of months. I guess I can ask the instructor to take me for a drive on my usual going to work routes and see what it is like.

Finally, is the tiptronics/semi-auto gear shifts in the auto Integra just a gimmick? No one here or on clubrsx seems to mention it at all, so I guess all the auto owners just stick with "D"?

[fabezzz]

Yea the instructor will take you wherever you want but useually the lessons only go for a hour each so you will have to ask for longer lessons they aren't cheap ethier like 69$ a hour.

[jzdhgkd]

Finally, is the tiptronics/semi-auto gear shifts in the auto Integra just a gimmick? No one here or on clubrsx seems to mention it at all, so I guess all the auto owners just stick with "D"?

Haha in my experience tiptronics on the jazz and civic (ie. not the new "faster than f1" dual clutch ones) are fun for about 5 minutes, then either (a) you'll wish you had a proper manual or (b) you get tired of it and go back to auto :D

[b18c7dc2]

It really depends what you want out of ur car. Only you can answer that.

Type R's are quite harsh, in the way that you can hear a lot of road noise, and engine, and tyre noise. However, if you love the joy of driving "manual" and vtec, those things will seem like a good compromise. You also have to think about stop start traffic, because if ur stuck in traffic, in a manual, ur going to hate it.

Maybe a normal integra first? they are quite nice, and livable. But i dare say if you have never owned a manual before, and just get a type R, you will maybe not appreciate what it has to offer, which is race bread peformance engine, and a great chasis that handles like no other. you will also have nothing to compare it too.

You really need to SIT UR BUM into these cars, and acutaly take them out for test drives, and see what feelings come into you, when you drive them. Different cars will give you different feeling. You''ll know when its "the right car" when you've got the grin on ur face. or maybe at the start, get the owners to give the car a flogging as you as the passenger.

jumping from a CRV into any integra is a BIG leap. totaly different in the way they peform, and act, and feel. I'd say learn to drive confidently first, to be able to make a proper desision. All this infomation will be useless if you don't know how to drive manual.

[2002 TeGgY]

thx for the quick replies everyone :)

yeah I forgot to cover the part about the enjoyment (or lack of) of driving a manual, I guess I will find out when I start taking lessons again.

To be honest I kinda hated manuals back in the days, when you are on your L's you have 50 million things to worried about/remember, adding a clutch to the mix didn't help :)

But now all that is behind me, hopefully there will be less distraction for me.

Another thing is the usage of the car, I will mainly be commuting to and from work everyday (50km round trip, lots of traffic lights), maybe get on the freeway once every couple of months. I guess I can ask the instructor to take me for a drive on my usual going to work routes and see what it is like.

Finally, is the tiptronics/semi-auto gear shifts in the auto Integra just a gimmick? No one here or on clubrsx seems to mention it at all, so I guess all the auto owners just stick with "D"?

i use to own an auto dc5 base model, and it wasnt that bad actually for a daily driver. but u just cant compare it to the type r. my opinion is that you go for a dc5r as you will regret gettin an auto. they're so easy to drive, even compared to the likes of manual mazda3's and the like. hope that helps...

[migoreng]

if you take it easy you shouldn't have a problem...
you step on the gas pedal light the car will go easy. as you know your car more you can floor it here and there once in while...

i went from my dads van (hiace 2.7L manual which is pretty crazy) to a prelude vti-r :)

[iinjektd]

your going to be fine mate..
i had about 4 years of driving experience with auto..
then wen i had enough money.. i bought myself a type R dc5..
the day i bought it was like the 5th time i was driving manual..
had to hit the hume hwy to get home too...

i practically learnt how to drive manual in the car..
don't worry you will be fine..
ive had the car for about 1 year now.. and i can say im a confident manual driver now..
but im still learning and learning everyday.. you'll love it..

I say go for it mate.. you wont regret it.. great feel.. great drive..
*three thumbs up

[her0]

I was on my Reds on auto, got my greens, my car decided to blow its own motor, and got the DC5R i got now. On the day i got it, never knew how to drive manual, so my dad drove it home, on the same night, mate taught me in the type r and i knew how to drive it on the same night. (knew how to drive, as in good enough for sedate street driving, not vtec'ing and going windy roads shiz)

not hard to learn if you really want to learn it. :thumbsup:

[joey99]

just practice, practice and practice .. after a few weeks, it's just second nature.
I bought my first manual car after driving a auto for 5 years ... took a 2 hour lesson and bought my first manual and never looked back .. I will never get a auto ever again .. it's so much more controllable and so much more fun.

typeRs are not much different to any other car .. unless it has a lightened flywheel .. which are harder to drive.

[Bunna]

dude go manual, better power delivery, not in clumps, plus its so much more fun.

Its not too hard driving manual, just remember when you shift........put the clutch in....ive seen people who have gone from auto to manual who forget that key step and completely **** up their gearboxes, synchro's are shot to pieces

[Type R Positive]

Is a Type-R too much for a noob? Honda drivers would like to think so! LOLS!
They are just a normal car, when driven normally. How you drive 'normally' is another thing.

[SiReal]

when I went from the shift from auto to type R - this was the most powerful car i've ever driven. I had issues in controlling throttle and cornering (still learning).

I believe with a safe and sensible approach to learning the car, it won't be 'too much'.

[VTECMACHINE]

My DC2R was the first manual I had driven. I learnt on it myself, with out any instructors or lessons. It's a stock car after all... don't let the red badge, fancy seats and wing fool you.

If you want one... go get one, and go nuts!

[Q_ball]

Yeh get one if you really want one...
Theyre quite user friendly :)

[Limbo]

The good thing is the ITR is a well made car and can take a beating.
You just need to be carefule not to floor it all the way for a while until you get use to the power delivery.

So long as you service it properly it will be almost bullet proof.

[mattchuej8]

You just need to be carefule not to floor it all the way for a while until you get use to the power delivery.

indeed, torquey cars can tend to pull to a certain direction when u change gears at high rpms if you're flooring it
And since its an ITR it has good handling but dont push it, dont want to meet a pole/tree now do we ;)
lol.
go the itr though, i envy you :P

[Crapdaz]

DO IT!

Type R's won't have any problems, sportier feel, good handling, nice top end power
.
Power wise they won't hurt you since you are just beginning and FWD are easier to drive.
In comparison to like say a skyline where you can wheel spin and spin out from oversteer.

Just a question, 2.5 kids is that even possible?

[SHOGUNOVDDRK]

Just a question, 2.5 kids is that even possible?

2 kids 1 pet that is like a kid/part of the family

[VTECMACHINE]

DO IT!

Type R's won't have any problems, sportier feel, good handling, nice top end power
.
Power wise they won't hurt you since you are just beginning and FWD are easier to drive.
In comparison to like say a skyline where you can wheel spin and spin out from oversteer.

Just a question, 2.5 kids is that even possible?

DC2R's oversteer aswell. Be careful, they can be a handful to drive at the limits. But you shouldn't be testing them on the street anyways. They are a great car... and are actually a challenge to learn how to drive them as intended (Ie: tail hanging out, and sliding around corners).

[Crapdaz]

DC2R's oversteer aswell. Be careful, they can be a handful to drive at the limits. But you shouldn't be testing them on the street anyways. They are a great car... and are actually a challenge to learn how to drive them as intended (Ie: tail hanging out, and sliding around corners).
haven't gotten the chance to drive a DC2R myself cause mates are tightasses.

But sounds hectic to drive anyhow.

but in his case scenario his a noob @ stick so not like he'll drive the limits on the streets.

[Leslie]

thx for all the response, I will make a booking for a driving lesson this weekend.

next thing to do is to keep an eye out for an affordable Type-R (I can't really justify paying $30k+ for the DC5R's on the market at the moment, afterall, they are all 4-6 years old.......)



Just a question, 2.5 kids is that even possible?

lol I was just referring to the typical/average family where dad works, mums stays at home, lives in a McMansion, and on average they have 2.5 kids per household :)

and when I get to that point in my life, it would be nearly impossible to get an Integra :)

[mp-]

like mentioned b4. The Type R gettings REALLY bumpy compared to the crv.

30k+ have you considered a Type S (still manual)? i find it a lot more smoother, with lux and also still fun to drive

[Simmo2302]

now back on topic, by noob I mean a manual noob, I have 16 years of driving experience in auto, I did try to learn manual all those years ago, but had given up after a few lessons :(

my plan of attack is to get a few lessons from an instructor, then practise my my brother's and friend's car, and hopefully after a month or two I will be confindent enough to drive a manual. My only worry is whether a Type-R would be too much to handle for someone who has no experience in driving manual.

any input would be much appericated :)


i m unsure what the laws are now reguarding licences as much has changed since i got mine and i m in QLD. but back 6yrs ago when i got my licence, if you got an Auto licence and then later wanted to drive a manual you have to re-take the driving test again.

so you'd have to book an instructors car for 2 hours, take a lesson and then get the test officer to take you out to try 4 your licence.

manuals are worth the effort i got my manual licence but then went straight into an auto for 3 years, regretted it. got a manual now, took a bit to re-learn
but much more fun.

[Leslie]

30k+ have you considered a Type S (still manual)? i find it a lot more smoother, with lux and also still fun to drive

yeah I would say Type-S would probably be more suited to my needs (smoother ride as a daily commuter, will never go on track, and looks like I might have issues fitting into the Recaro seats anyway........), plus I like the post-facelift front and rear design too :)

while the 02-04 DC5 front/rear looks like a continuation of the DC4 "four-eyes" design (which are great too), the post-facelife kinda reminds me of the early 90's Teg I felt in love with all those years ago.


i m unsure what the laws are now reguarding licences as much has changed since i got mine and i m in QLD. but back 6yrs ago when i got my licence, if you got an Auto licence and then later wanted to drive a manual you have to re-take the driving test again.


I had a look on NSW's RTA website but can't seem to find anything like that, although I do vaguely remember hearing something like this years ago, I guess things must've changed since?

[SHOGUNOVDDRK]

Buy a Da3
Engine Swap
???
Profit

...what im trying to say is why not Buy a Da3 (2door teg or he'll try find a 4door rover) and do it up?

They're a nice car...*drools*

[CB7_OWNER]

In response to one of your earlier post OP..about the tiptronic....only thing worth mentioning is a car with DSG in it, if your goner buy a car just for the tiptronic/paddle shifts..=)

DC2R ftw =)...But DC5 Type R's are worth there every cent if they are in good condition,, even if that is paying 30k =)

[diffuzn]

get a dc2r and live the young life!!!!!

[hugohung23]

i m unsure what the laws are now reguarding licences as much has changed since i got mine and i m in QLD. but back 6yrs ago when i got my licence, if you got an Auto licence and then later wanted to drive a manual you have to re-take the driving test again.


If your on your P's then you will have to go for another test, because the license states what transmission you drive. If your on your fulls, you can drive any transmission. In Victoria btw

[rahul]

smiliar story here mate,

i was driving an old auto magna and got a manual cd5 and had to ask a mate to drive it back for me!

then i took a lesson and started to drive around the block for a couple of weeks. you wont regret it

[SHOGUNOVDDRK]

I thought all licenses had to state which transmission Hugohung

[danny_2132]

i got my lz last september... got my integra 3 weeks ago which is manual and dat was da first time i drove manual and i got my driving test in 2 weeks :) soo geeeed

ohh and i had 3 manual lessons b4 i bought the car and one after

[hugohung23]

I thought all licenses had to state which transmission Hugohung
2 of my bros also have full licenses that doesnt state the transmission type.

Read here: http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/Licensing/TypesOfLicences/LicenceConditions.htm#a-automatictransmission

on P's if you drive auto, you have to stick with auto until you complete the probationary period. After that, your license doesnt specify transmission type.

[Nax]

in sa its not like that, i got my l's and p's on an auto, soon as i passed the p's test i did one lesson on a manual and now i drive a manual everywhere (find them way m ore fun) i always reccomend my friends to do it this way cuz if u get ur p's on a manual there is alot more proceedures to worry about.

if ur after a manual type R go for the older model integras (pre 2000) u can get them for pretty cheap and if u give a couple drives u will find one with more then enough go and ride for wat your after:D hope that helps

[Zilli]

a "Type R" is a peice of piss do drive... theres nothing special about pottering around in it around town... a sotck car is not any harder to drive than a regular dc2 in terms of manual vs auto...

What you do want to watch out for is driving it on the limit... its a fairly stiffly sprung car that is very responsive to driver input, but the wrong input could cause you real problems. Like Ricki said above, it does have a tendency to oversteer if you get off the gas mid corner, and for someone who is not sued to this, and doesnt know what to do when it does happenned, suddenyl your pride and joy is in a gutter with bent suspension gear at best...

My advice, buy the car, dont worry about driving it on the street, it is very easy, and you'll get used to it after a lesson and a weeks practise... like i said, it aint an exotic ferrari or anything, its still a Honda, and very easy to drive as a commuter. Once you have mastered your manula driving, go and do an advance ddriving course or take your car to Wakefield for a speed off the streets day and learn what you car will do when you push it...

[Leslie]

just an little update, got my driving lesson booked for this weekend, fingers crossed :)

just another question if you guys/gals will hear me out :)

going through the old posts in the Integra forum, I have noticed quite a few people seems to be servicing their Type-R quite regularly (like every 5000km, lowest I have seen is every 3000km), is this standard requirement for a Type-R, or manuals in general? or are those owner simply wanted to take the very best care of their Teg and didn't want to leave anything to chance?

Coming from an auto background, I usually service my car every 10,000km, and it usually involves changing engine oils and filters, plus topping up of various fluids, some parts needs to be replaced every couple of services etc, so I just wanted to get an idea of the running/maintanece cost of a Type-R.

thanks in advance :)

and in regards to auto/manual while you are on your Ps, while I first got my Ps I remembered seeing an "A" somewhere on my license (I can only assume that is for automatic?), but that letter has disappeared since I moved to my full license, so I guess I am legally allowed to drive a manual and not have to go through Ls and Ps again? (hope not! :))

[her0]

going through the old posts in the Integra forum, I have noticed quite a few people seems to be servicing their Type-R quite regularly (like every 5000km, lowest I have seen is every 3000km), is this standard requirement for a Type-R, or manuals in general? or are those owner simply wanted to take the very best care of their Teg and didn't want to leave anything to chance?

Coming from an auto background, I usually service my car every 10,000km, and it usually involves changing engine oils and filters, plus topping up of various fluids, some parts needs to be replaced every couple of services etc, so I just wanted to get an idea of the running/maintanece cost of a Type-R.

thanks in advance :)

I tend to believe people service their car every 5000km for their piece of mind, unless they track their car or thrash it to the hell house all the time. It also depends on what engine oil you use i guess, i use full synthetic, and probably change closer to 10,000km than 5000km. Personally, I don't thrash my car too much, so i don't think its necessary to replace engine oil so often.

As for maintaining/running a Type R, it shouldn't be much different to any other car, besides maybe the price of petrol? I run my DC5R on 98RON BP Ulti, so it tends to cost a bit more than others. When it comes to Major service, its a bit cheaper for me because DC5Rs don't use timing belts, they use timing chain, so we don't have to replace them as often.

Thats all i can think of so far, i just purchased my DC5R maybe around a month ago, so others might have more experience and are able to answer your question a bit better.

[SHOGUNOVDDRK]

Leslie i think ITR owners are just meticulous/anal in taking care of there car AND in actual reality i believe the service manual will says for most (if not all cars) to replace oils etc every 5,000k's unless like gbox fluid which i believe would be 10,000k's and other things at 15,000k's (i know it does with my car)

and i doubt you will need to sit your p's again

You will just need to resit the test for full license and then they can give you a new license with printed on M (or nothing at all)

My father had a Manual license and noticed his M disappeared (he had nfi when though)

Might be safer to not assume and get the manual license anyway :p

[Leslie]

thanks for the reply guys, good to know a type-r won't cost me an arm and a leg in the long run :)

another thing, two days in a row now there was two different DC5 parked outside my work (one type-r and one lux), where as before I used to see one probably every 6 months, maybe god is telling me to hurry up and buy one? :)

[kelviN]

manual brings a new definition to driving.....when i first started driving manual...took me about 5 hours to be able to get from A to B. However it does take months or maybe even years to finally perfect it

[trism]

its a sign!!!!!!


i see youre from Newcastle,. where abouts?

im from the Hunter as well, but a bit further west

[Leslie]

its a sign!!!!!!


i see youre from Newcastle,. where abouts?

im from the Hunter as well, but a bit further west

I live in Maryland and works in the city.

not too many Integras around here :(