10000 miles of ITS experience

[neuronbob]

TL DR : I really love the driving experience in this car.



It’s been a long while since I posted here as I’m mostly in the Faceplant group nowadays.

I finally hit 10k miles last week. It took me 17 months because I cycle through my other cars in the warm season, and my office is only 3 miles from home.



No mechanical issues



No leaky coolant tank

I had the steering recall done two weeks ago at 9900 miles. Motorcars Acura had me in and out within an hour, on my way to work. I was having none of the binding others have mentioned, and there was no change in the steering with the new part.

One pesky dash rattle since about 5k miles, I’ve elected not to have it touched since I don’t want worse noises later. It’s obviously some screw that dropped out.



Cosmetic issues with driver’s side front illuminated sill plate and accessory carbon fiber rear spoiler, both in process of replacement under warranty.



Things I love:

The steering is just how I like it—sharp and responsive.



Shifter is magical. Is it my NSX or S2000? No. But it’s really close.



Car is tossable. I’m gobstopped that it doesn’t weigh that much more than my NSX. I can drive it harder than my NSX. That reflects relative lack of talent on my part with the NSX , which I’m still mastering nine years after purchase.



In short: I LOVE DRIVING THIS CAR.



The physical volume button on the touchscreen. THANK YOU



The touchscreen. THANK YOU! The True Touch on other Acuras sucks. Touchscreen on this car is awesome, responsive, predictable.



The hatch area: I haven’t met anything reasonable that I can’t carry yet.



THANK YOU for making rev match optional. I tried it on and off. Having it on, which I did for the first few months, made me a lazier driver . I’m old, so I prefer without. I might use it now for a road trip or something.



Things I tolerate:

I don’t have a particular issue with the seats. I know people complain about them, but for normal driving they are fine, and I am comfortable in them.



The piano black console has held up well, even to my wife’s purse zipper and bangles on the passenger side. I meant to PPF it but never got to it.



Road noise. I mean…I’m used to it since I’ve driven Honda products for 35 years and they ALL have tire noise, but man…with snow tires on, it can get pretty loud. I’m not complaining too hard, this is meant to be a light, sporty car and this goes with the territory.

I’m always at the gas station. Man, does this thing have a tiny fuel tank. As always, whatever the Ohio/Midwest winter blend is absolutely kills fuel economy. Again, I’m not complaining, if I’d wanted fuel economy, I’d have purchased a Tesla instead so I would have to worry about fuel.

Things I don’t like:

I STILL dislike the “Chiclet” volume and cruise control buttons on the steering wheel. (Young ones and non-Americans: go Google Chiclet Gum. These buttons look and sound like Chiclet Gum pieces) Would have preferred a slick scroll wheel like on other Acuras. Please change this. Eww.



I really wish we had a button inside the car to pop the hatch. In the year of our Lord 2024, I should not have to get out of the car and walk to the back to pop the hatch. Please fix. It’s so 1982.



Imma say it again. MEMORY SEATS dammit. When I take my car in for service and they move the seat…ugh. Please fix and make retroactive, the longer I have the car, the more annoying that gets.


Things IDGAF about:

I have never once looked at the roofliner of my ITS and said, “wow, I sure miss a sunroof”.



Also, since I have snow tires, I have never once said “wow, this car sure could use AWD”. I mean, it could, but I prefer this car be super-light in an age where even non-EVs are 5-6k pounds, and regular sedans have gone back to well over 4k pounds. A car like this is a breath of fresh air in a world of heavy cars.

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[optronix]

I remember you got your car about a week before I got mine. I'm right at the 10k mark myself too. Great to hear it has staying power for you, especially considering the other gems in your garage. I pretty much feel the same way about the car, still love driving it and looking at it. Personally I don't really have many gripes, all of its idiosyncrasies barely register with me. I don't disagree it should have memory seats, or better seat design in general as they are far too aesthetically bland for a sports car but the microsuede keeps me from sliding around on backroads and autocross, and I don't have any complaints in the comfort department. If I do end up tracking the car more frequently it is almost a necessary upgrade though.

Road noise is loud but acceptable for me, and I've been semi-fortunate with the interior buzzes and rattles; I know some folks have complained about this. For me though the "wastegate" noise is almost intolerable (tons of threads about it already, just a very annoying engine noise. If you don't hear it, don't go looking for it! Trust me...). Definitely the biggest complaint I have about the car, and it hasn't gotten better and I've resigned myself to the fact it's here for good. Could be worse; I don't believe it's harmful in any way. Could definitely be better though.

The only other true "complaint" I'd have with the car though is just the front-wheel drive platform. All wheel drive would be no better- in fact, as you point out, the added weight surely would make it worse. FWD is fun in its own way, and this particular car is executed better than any other FWDer out there- but it's wearing thin on me personally. A lot of that has to do with the modifications I've done to the car. MINIMAL mods make a significant impact- all I've done are +45 offset wheels and mild lowering springs (Eibach Pro-kit). The torque steer is worse with that setup, and I still have yet to do more necessary modifications to get it back to a point where the understeer doesn't piss me off- namely, adjustable lower ball joints to compensate for the added camber in the rear (or possibly coilovers with adjustable front camber plates; I may end up going that route).

But even when I get it dialed in better than it sits right now, it's still front-wheel drive. The only thing truly keeping it from being a "best of all time" type of driver's car for me. I really, truly miss rear wheel drive... it's good enough to have lasted this long before I started pining for my old P cars or BMWs, but that's hitting me pretty hard right now. To be clear, I don't want to get rid of this car- I still think it's actually a forever car for me (barring significant life cycle refresh or a PMC edition) due to its practicality as a daily driver... but for me personally, it can't quite hit every checkbox on my list of what I need out of a sports car and I will very likely add to the garage in due time.

But it comes closer than anything else out there, especially at the price. Still a great car a year and a half in.

 

[whtciv2k]

I agree with you with everything but the awd part. That would make this a completely different car, add weight, amongst other things. They already have awd cars. This one was designed to be fwd only and it does a splendid job of it. Don’t get me wrong I hear you, but again, would no longer be an “Integra” it would be a completely new model.

 

[PizzaGuy]

I’m also around the 10k mark, and I still love the car. It continues to be everything I wanted out of the car when I first bought it, which is a fun car with an awesome driving experience and enough practicality to fit my dad life. I don’t think any of my feelings about the car have changed much after all this time.

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