Post Your Firsthand Thoughts on Dealer Demo Integra Type-S

[optronix]

That has to be a joke the integra seats are trash compared to the tlx seats.

cheap vinyl and uncomfortable so flat the bottoms. Tlx is nice real leather comfortable and supportive. I was thinking about buying an integra and the seats turned me off big time.

Cool.

Maybe the seats aren't great, I sat in them for probably less than a minute. My point was to gauge the bolstering, which I thought was about equal to the TLX.

I think it's clear now the only reason I cared is so I wasn't disappointed in the seats in the ITS, and I think I got what I need from people weighing in with a lot more credibility than someone with 7 posts on an Integra forum.

Sponsored

 

[f87M2 to Integra Type S]

Crossposting from my post on Bimmerpost

I just test drove the Integra Type S. Some initial impressions after testing driving the G87 and owning my F87 OG. I'm not a pro so don't roast me and this was a relatively brief test drive.

This is taken from the perspective of a year round DD.

Steering feel: Best in the Integra. Weight definitely does a make big difference. There was less on center play vs my M2 which is already fairly taught. Steering weights up really well and the steering rack has a good steering speed.

Shifter/Trans feel: Definitely better than both M2s. That said, I don't think it's as much of a difference as outlets play on. I'd say it's roughly 20% better if I had to assign a number to it. Was very easy to get into and drive. Auto Rev match did not feel as "exciting" and quick as either M2 though. Clutch feel was good but not infinitely better than either M2 either IMO. Definitely much shorter travel. I will say there was more rev hang than I expected.

Power: I didn't redline this or push it very hard, but has tons of torque in the mid-range. This is more than enough for public roads. I didn't experience any torque steer but was also not punching this off the line.

General driving: Integra feels extremely planted. The M2's definitely float a bit, this feels like it stuck to the ground better. I didn't take any extremely quick corners but the quicker corners I did take I did not notice any understeer, it was very neutral. I think you would really need to hamfist the car to induce significant understeer on public roads. Turn in actually feels sharper than my M2. Not as good as the new M2 but in general it's very good. Suspension is good, not on par with new M2 with the adaptive dampers but better than F87 I would say. I would need more time with the car to really get into specifics though.

Sound: This is where the f87 really shines. The Integra sounds decent, some pops/bangs when you warm it up, but it has absolutely nothing on the N55. S58 sounds significantly better than the Type S but the N55 is far better than both IMO. I expected this coming into a 4cyl platform but it was a bigger difference than expected when I got back in my car.

Interior: Very useable but a massive step down from the G87. You really feel a large difference here and the tech is on a different level on the new M2. It's generally on the same level as the F87 I would say. No gimics though and the sound system is far better than both of the Harmon Kardon units. The hatch is extremely usable and it has usable back seats. This isn't a huge concern for me but it's a big plus for most vs the M2s. Seats are pretty good and the alcantara add on felt great.

Looks: I'm a huge fan of the styling. Looks far, far better than the new M2 (don't kill me) and I would say it's on par with my F87. Looks aggressive enough but isn't boy racer like the Fk8.

In general I think this car is a lot of fun as a DD and I don't think I would miss my F87 and it certainly has more "feel" than the G87. I get why Mark from SG would comment that the new M2 is too isolated/dull after driving the Type S. That said, the G87 is far better as a luxury car. Many will dismiss this for being a 4cyl fwd car but I implore you to take a spin.

I'm likely pivoting from the new M2 and going to pick one of these if I can find for for MSRP (probably need to wait/shop around) and spend the savings on an E46 or E36. I will definitely miss the sound of the F87 so I am also considering just sticking with my F87 for the time being as well. I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't miss my M badge.

Apologies for the ramblings.

 

[twitchy15]

Have you sat in a ITS? I drove the car and absolutely loved them. I am a medium sized guy and they fit great around me. I felt very secure and comfortable.

Trash is not how I would describe the seats. Makes me wonder if you've even been inside 1.

Ive sat in the regular integra and as other ppl have mentioned the seats look the same with slightly more bolstering.

I went to test drive one few months back and seriously the seats were extremely cheap for a car going for almost 48k where I live. I wasn’t thinking of buying a tlx but after sitting in the seats world of difference. When I sat down my ass bottomed out on the bottom of the seat and I’m a normal 185 pounds.
The fact these cars don’t have leather and it’s just a cheap vinyl is sad.

 

[twitchy15]

Cool.

Maybe the seats aren't great, I sat in them for probably less than a minute. My point was to gauge the bolstering, which I thought was about equal to the TLX.

I think it's clear now the only reason I cared is so I wasn't disappointed in the seats in the ITS, and I think I got what I need from people weighing in with a lot more credibility than someone with 7 posts on an Integra forum.

ouch sorry I only have 7 posts.

well you didn’t really get to assess the comfort of you were barely in them. I didn’t even notice at first but my wife mentioned and the more I thought about it they were not comfortable. Especially after trying a tlx.. better then my older Honda fit which isn’t saying much but way worse compared to my 10 year old rdx.

 

[lz23]

ouch sorry I only have 7 posts.

well you didn’t really get to assess the comfort of you were barely in them. I didn’t even notice at first but my wife mentioned and the more I thought about it they were not comfortable. Especially after trying a tlx.. better then my older Honda fit which isn’t saying much but way worse compared to my 10 year old rdx.

all reviews done today said the seats are very comfortable

 

[optronix]

ouch sorry I only have 7 posts.

well you didn’t really get to assess the comfort of you were barely in them. I didn’t even notice at first but my wife mentioned and the more I thought about it they were not comfortable. Especially after trying a tlx.. better then my older Honda fit which isn’t saying much but way worse compared to my 10 year old rdx.

It's just self-awareness and reading the room. Review embargos lifted today and there are literally a dozen or more articles and videos out there from people who review cars for a living and none of them had anything but positive assessments on the seats. People with low post counts can't be taken seriously in any context, that's just the way it is.

And maybe it's a generational thing, maybe influenced by social media- but I've learned to dismiss pretty much any take (or anyone) who uses unsolicited hyperbole like "trash", "non-existent", etc. Why you people continuously feel the need to make sure as many people as possible know you don't like something is beyond me.

Crossposting from my post on Bimmerpost

I just test drove the Integra Type S. Some initial impressions after testing driving the G87 and owning my F87 OG. I'm not a pro so don't roast me and this was a relatively brief test drive.

This is taken from the perspective of a year round DD.

Steering feel: Best in the Integra. Weight definitely does a make big difference. There was less on center play vs my M2 which is already fairly taught. Steering weights up really well and the steering rack has a good steering speed.

Shifter/Trans feel: Definitely better than both M2s. That said, I don't think it's as much of a difference as outlets play on. I'd say it's roughly 20% better if I had to assign a number to it. Was very easy to get into and drive. Auto Rev match did not feel as "exciting" and quick as either M2 though. Clutch feel was good but not infinitely better than either M2 either IMO. Definitely much shorter travel. I will say there was more rev hang than I expected.

Power: I didn't redline this or push it very hard, but has tons of torque in the mid-range. This is more than enough for public roads. I didn't experience any torque steer but was also not punching this off the line.

General driving: Integra feels extremely planted. The M2's definitely float a bit, this feels like it stuck to the ground better. I didn't take any extremely quick corners but the quicker corners I did take I did not notice any understeer, it was very neutral. I think you would really need to hamfist the car to induce significant understeer on public roads. Turn in actually feels sharper than my M2. Not as good as the new M2 but in general it's very good. Suspension is good, not on par with new M2 with the adaptive dampers but better than F87 I would say. I would need more time with the car to really get into specifics though.

Sound: This is where the f87 really shines. The Integra sounds decent, some pops/bangs when you warm it up, but it has absolutely nothing on the N55. S58 sounds significantly better than the Type S but the N55 is far better than both IMO. I expected this coming into a 4cyl platform but it was a bigger difference than expected when I got back in my car.

Interior: Very useable but a massive step down from the G87. You really feel a large difference here and the tech is on a different level on the new M2. It's generally on the same level as the F87 I would say. No gimics though and the sound system is far better than both of the Harmon Kardon units. The hatch is extremely usable and it has usable back seats. This isn't a huge concern for me but it's a big plus for most vs the M2s. Seats are pretty good and the alcantara add on felt great.

Looks: I'm a huge fan of the styling. Looks far, far better than the new M2 (don't kill me) and I would say it's on par with my F87. Looks aggressive enough but isn't boy racer like the Fk8.

In general I think this car is a lot of fun as a DD and I don't think I would miss my F87 and it certainly has more "feel" than the G87. I get why Mark from SG would comment that the new M2 is too isolated/dull after driving the Type S. That said, the G87 is far better as a luxury car. Many will dismiss this for being a 4cyl fwd car but I implore you to take a spin.

I'm likely pivoting from the new M2 and going to pick one of these if I can find for for MSRP (probably need to wait/shop around) and spend the savings on an E46 or E36. I will definitely miss the sound of the F87 so I am also considering just sticking with my F87 for the time being as well. I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't miss my M badge.

Apologies for the ramblings.

I don't think it's a fair assessment to include the G87, but I'm sure some people are cross-shopping them. As spec'd the G87 I would buy would carry a $75k MSRP. And I still couldn't fit my dog in it. I was deeply saddened to hear about the half-assed effort with the sloppy manual; Toyota figured out how to improve the shifter feel with their own parts, how hard could it actually be?? I've ruled out the G87 completely, not even on my radar anymore. So I no longer have to defend the head-scratching styling.

F87 is a pretty fair comparison though as they're very similar in price, especially the M2 Competition. Personally, I think the M2 is a great car, and honestly maybe you should consider that. I know some people insist the N55 sounds better, but the S58 is better in every conceivable way, plus the other enhancements made to the chassis would actually put that car ahead of the ITS for me personally if I didn't need 4 doors.

 

[Billy2KFRC]

I had the opportunity to drive the demo Type S at Acura of Milford, CT yesterday. 15 minutes doing laps of the industrial park behind the dealer in 5pm traffic while also not beating on a 25 mile car is far from the ideal scenario to assess the dynamics of a car... but I'll give whatever impressions I can.

Steering, ride, and handling are the highlight here. You can tell it's a fairly light car and the way it turns in with these 265 Pilot Sport 4S tires is shocking for a car like this. My previous daily was a Focus RS and the way that car handled was the main reason I kept it for 5 years, this car is better. One area where the Focus struggled was ride quality and this car felt excellent, even in sport shocks on pretty broken pavement. Comfort was exceptional but lost a bit of sharpness. I have a feeling I'll settle on individual setting with sport+ everything except shocks in comfort or sport. But who knows, I didn't spend much time in sport+ shocks, could end up they are actually usable on smooth roads.

Brakes felt great. Not much to really elaborate on, but excellent feel. You can tell they are effective without being overly touchy, no complaints.

Interior was perfect to me for this type of car. Happy with the seats after sitting in them. I LOVE the CTR buckets, so that was a concern, but after driving the car I'm content with the seats. The alcantara material is very grippy and feels good to the touch. The padding has a similar softness to the CTR seats that I really like. It's firm enough and holds you in place, but it's not super hard like BMW padding. I did not care for my Focus RS Recaros which are maybe the worst Recaro seat I've ever used. You get used to them, but they are not kind to your body if you spend 2+ hours in them, looking forward to having a comfortable daily again! UI and tech is just right... mostly physical buttons, etc. Wireless CarPlay worked instantly, everything was easy to figure out, switches felt nice enough, and the stereo sounded quite good in the 60 seconds I played with it.

Power I can't fully judge since I didn't beat on it, but rolling into the boost it's not a slow car. Probably not far off my Focus when it was stock. Short gearing is fun, makes you want to rev the car even with the mid range kick. Sound was pretty good, seemed fairly quiet/livable even in sport+, but I was taking it mostly easy, got a few pops here and there (I had driven my 900rwhp ZR1 to the dealer however, so my hearing was probably impaired, lol). No torque steer at all which is magic; my Focus RS, even though it was AWD, torque steered a LOT! Shifter was as great as everyone said, nothing else to say on that. The one thing I wish I did however was to try it with rev match shut off. The system worked great and I'd probably use it when I was just cruising to work, but I'm wondering if some of the "rev hang" comments are actually a result of the rev match system. Most of these systems assist with rev matching both on downshifts AND upshifts, so I'd like to see how the car behaves on medium-full throttle accel with it off.

Overall, I'm very happy with my decision to order this car. As has been the consensus, it checks a lot of boxes while also having the subjective stuff nailed at the same time.

 

[twitchy15]

It's just self-awareness and reading the room. Review embargos lifted today and there are literally a dozen or more articles and videos out there from people who review cars for a living and none of them had anything but positive assessments on the seats. People with low post counts can't be taken seriously in any context, that's just the way it is.

And maybe it's a generational thing, maybe influenced by social media- but I've learned to dismiss pretty much any take (or anyone) who uses unsolicited hyperbole like "trash", "non-existent", etc. Why you people continuously feel the need to make sure as many people as possible know you don't like something is beyond me.



I don't think it's a fair assessment to include the G87, but I'm sure some people are cross-shopping them. As spec'd the G87 I would buy would carry a $75k MSRP. And I still couldn't fit my dog in it. I was deeply saddened to hear about the half-assed effort with the sloppy manual; Toyota figured out how to improve the shifter feel with their own parts, how hard could it actually be?? I've ruled out the G87 completely, not even on my radar anymore. So I no longer have to defend the head-scratching styling.

F87 is a pretty fair comparison though as they're very similar in price, especially the M2 Competition. Personally, I think the M2 is a great car, and honestly maybe you should consider that. I know some people insist the N55 sounds better, but the S58 is better in every conceivable way, plus the other enhancements made to the chassis would actually put that car ahead of the ITS for me personally if I didn't need 4 doors.

when the integra came out nobody mentioned the seats being uncomfortable. Then one less popular reviewer video I watched did and said they were poor for long drives. I dismissed it as no one else mentioned it.
The problem is for the cheapest Acura most ppl will say yeah they are fine but when the it’s is gunna be 60k where I am gunna need a long term car to have decent seats

 

[twitchy15]

all reviews done today said the seats are very comfortable

Okay just think about it when you test drive

 

[RUNN1N]

Cool.

Maybe the seats aren't great, I sat in them for probably less than a minute. My point was to gauge the bolstering, which I thought was about equal to the TLX.

Ive sat in the regular integra and as other ppl have mentioned the seats look the same with slightly more bolstering.

I went to test drive one few months back and seriously the seats were extremely cheap for a car going for almost 48k where I live. I wasn’t thinking of buying a tlx but after sitting in the seats world of difference. When I sat down my ass bottomed out on the bottom of the seat and I’m a normal 185 pounds.

The fact these cars don’t have leather and it’s just a cheap vinyl is sad.

For what it's worth, I owned the A-Spec + Tech for a little over 1 year and 2,500 miles, just finished purchasing my Type-S, and it sounds like I'm a similar size to @twitchy15--the seats in the A-Spec + Tech and Type-S are VERY similar to one another. The perforated ultrasuede insert in the middle of the Type-S does seem to make a more functional (grippy) seat for spirited driving along with the slightly larger bolsters. I've never found either to be uncomfortable once you get all the settings correct, but "comfortable" is subjective. There's a ton of adjustability in these seats, and it takes time to get it right. Adjustability is where these seats shine over the Type-R seats--not saying one is better than the other, I love the Type-R seats, personally, but they serve a different purpose.

That said, the Integra seats are NOT the TLX seats--those feel big, cushy, and luxurious... much like the TLX. Plush. That thing seems to feel giant from every angle aside from the back seat. I'd say the Integra Type-S and TLX Type-S are similar in their bolstering, as neither car was developed to be track-focused.

I think the TLX Type-S, Integra Type-S, and CTR were each made for a unique purpose/customer--there's some overlap between each, sure, but you miss the point if you get hung up on wishing Acura would Frankenstein together one car with the best features of them all. Of course, if perfection is what you're going for, set your priorities and determine if/what upgrades/swaps can get you there .

 

[meki22]

all reviews done today said the seats are very comfortable

i can confirm this. I’m a medium sized person, around 165lbs. Seats are excellent for daily. I don’t swim around in them. Bolsters are present but not intrusive feeling. This doesn’t make them feel any less sporty.

 

[grahm]

Longtime lurker but just made an account as I just test drove the ITS. A few thoughts — mostly compared to my 2023 Elantra N from the perspective of someone who would use this car as a daily.

Sound: The car sounds great. My EN is louder and more aggressive, while the ITS is more mature. I prefer how the ITS sounds.

Power: Feels like it has more power than my EN at the speeds/type of driving a test drive allows.

Looks: I think it looks OK. It looks like an Integra with a body kit. Some people like that, I honestly don't — I think it looks a little cheap. I think the CTR looks better and more purposeful. The Elantra N is a notoriously terrible-looking car, but if nothing else it looks more cohesive than the ITS.

Inputs: Clutch and shifter feel great and better than the Elantra N. EN is not bad though.

Driving dynamics: Impossible to get a real sense on a test drive, but feels great — similar to the Elantra N.

Suspension: I really like the suspension tuning for daily driving. Even Sport+ is not brutal, whereas full stiff on the EN is a little too much for the street. The Elantra N is honestly great as a sporty daily, but I think the suspension here might be a notch more comfy.

Seats: I don't love the seats. They don't feel special to me. The caveat here is I'm a thinner guy — about 6' and 165 lbs. The Elantra N seats are awesome. Before the EN I had a Fiesta ST with Recaros — those are awesome. I love the CTR seats. The ITS seats are uninspiring and feel cheap.

Infotainment/dashboard screens: Worse and cheaper feeling than the EN. There's pretty much nothing on the screens to make the car feel special. Between the seats and the screens, you might as well be in a base Integra (obviously this changes once you start driving). But a huge missed opportunity, especially for the price. Also: no easy way to turn on and off rev matching. We literally couldn't figure it out on my 15-minute test drive. My EN has a rev match button on the steering wheel. I definitely prefer the Elantra N in this area.

Build quality: The car already has two rattles with 65 miles — not good, hah. My EN is rattle free with 5,000. Even though the EN uses cheaper plastics, the Integra doesn't really feel a step above — mostly because of the dash/infotainment screens and uninspiring seats. It definitely does not feel like a $52K car inside.

Conclusion: I really enjoyed the car on the test drive. There's no way I'd pay over MSRP for one. The Elantra N is a better value, no question asked — and if Hyundai made a hatch version I wouldn't even be looking at the ITS. But if you want a high-powered, manual hatch as a daily, this is a good option; it beats the Elantra N in inputs and speed — two important areas. Two big misses for me: I wish the interior felt more special, and I'm skeptical about the build quality (especially since people have had so many problems with their normal-specced Integras).

If things were actually at MSRP, I'd take a CTR over the ITS, just because I have more confidence in the build quality, prefer the look, and the inside feels more special. But I'd take an ITS at MSRP over a marked up CTR. In reality, I'm just about to take delivery of a new RS3 — which is not much more than what people are marking both cars up to in the PNW. But if reliability ends up being OK, I could see myself picking up an ITS for MSRP (or less used) down the line.

 

[optronix]

Finally got an opportunity to drive the car.

As most people are doing on here, I'll provide some context. I've had a lot of cars, most of these for at least a year. Let me just start from the beginning:

68 Chevelle, 400 sb TH350
90 240SX
95 Talon Tsi/AWD
92 Mustang GT
03 Mazda 5, 6 speed
92 240SX with SR20DET swap
97 E36 M3 coupe, 5 speed
07 335i coupe, 6 speed
15 STI
15 M4 DCT
15 Boxster GTS, 6 speed
18 S3
17 911 Carrera S, 7 speed
18 S4
21 RS5 Sportback
19 718 Boxster GTS 2.5T
23 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 (current)
23 Macan GTS (current)

I'll try not to revisit everything already said and stick to high notes on things that are important to me personally.

The exterior. First off, I was already sold on the design of the car since Raitti's first video at Long Beach. That said, the car still impressed me in person. It looks fantastic. The only possible gripe I could have is I somewhat agree with folks on Facebook complaining about the wheels not being flush with the fenders. They are just a bit sunk in, but only relative to some of the higher end cars I've had, like the RS5 and Porsches. About on par with the S3/S4. Not a legit complaint at this price point, and very easily remedied via the aftermarket. And to be clear, it still looks great and nothing to obsess over unless you're just one of those "stance guys". I may even just leave it completely alone because of the driving dynamics which I'll get into in a bit.

The seats. This has been a big deal for me, and actually gave me a bit of anxiety with all the complaints raised since the car was announced. I was one who would have been thrilled if they at least made the CTR seats an option. I'm here to tell you there's nothing to be concerned about. I was just hoping for them being tolerable, they're actually pretty great. Comfortable, grippy, and plenty of bolstering. For reference, I am 5'11", 185 lbs, pretty proudly lean at ~11% body fat and semi-broad shoulders. If the 18-way adaptive sports seats in my 718 GTS are a 10, the seats in the ITS are an 8.5. Absolutely no worries there.

The drive. I'll give a disclaimer that I did not push this car hard at all. I barely got it up to speed in the ~20 minutes or so I was driving, it was very nearly rush hour in a well-populated area in central Maryland.

But as Matt Farah put it in his review, with some cars you can kind of get a sense of the driving dynamics in the first couple hundred feet. I'll echo his sentiment.

I don't really know how else to put this. After driving almost exclusively Porsches, S or RS Audis, and M cars for the past 8 years I feel comfortable saying this and assuring you it's not hyperbole. If someone told me Porsche designed a hot hatch, I'd believe it based on the driving dynamics of this car.

Steering, shifter feel, suspension tuning, and even power delivery are all S tier. I really can't see how it could be done any better. As a driver's car that has 4 doors, especially at this price point- this thing really is unmatched. The only thing I feel like could come close as a sedan would be an F80 M3, but the ITS has it beat soundly on shifter feel, suspension tuning, and steering. (disclaimer- I haven't driven an M340i). The S55 power delivery is arguably better because it's just MORE, but I would definitely argue that on the street, the K20 in the ITS is freaking goldilocks. The S55 is a great example and possibly the line in the sand for me where cars just got too damn fast. Unless you're really into stoplight racing or buying this exclusively to take to the drag strip, you really just don't need more power, and you'll never use it (legally) on the street. For me, I've outgrown being obnoxious and driving like a maniac on the street so I appreciate this car even more. If you're obsessed with 0-60 and 1/4 mile times, let me just tell you this car isn't for you.

And the beauty of the K20 is in the midrange... it sort of reminded me of the S3 in that sense. I always loved the S3 and considered it one of my absolute favorite cars to drive around town in because the 2.0T in that car just had the perfect amount of punch without requiring you to rev the shit out of it. This K20 is like that... but it also reminded me of all the things I loved about my SR20-powered 240. JUST enough turbo lag to know you're driving a turbo car, in the best way possible. I don't even think it's fair to call it lag- it just reminds you of all the fun turbo cars provide. That part of the power delivery I sort of wasn't quite expecting. It just took me back to that sense of nostalgia of knowing that as soon as I go near the throttle, that push from the turbo is going to be right behind it. It was EXACTLY what I was hoping for from this car... and admittedly I never quite got that sense from Porsche's turbo flat 4 that tried its hardest to feel like a naturally aspirated engine.

So that's a key takeaway I don't see other reviewers really mentioning. Savagegeese touches on it a bit by saying the car is focused towards Honda/Acura fanboys... but he also says the car doesn't intend to call back to nostalgia. I kind of disagree. For me, this car definitely tugs on the nostalgia threads in so many awesome ways. It's kind of a culmination of everything I wanted from Honda in the 90s/00s, when everybody was falling over themselves to boost their B16s/B18s. This car takes that concept and runs with it in the best way possible.

 

[meki22]

Finally got an opportunity to drive the car.

As most people are doing on here, I'll provide some context. I've had a lot of cars, most of these for at least a year. Let me just start from the beginning:

68 Chevelle, 400 sb TH350
90 240SX
95 Talon Tsi/AWD
92 Mustang GT
03 Mazda 5, 6 speed
92 240SX with SR20DET swap
97 E36 M3 coupe, 5 speed
07 335i coupe, 6 speed
15 STI
15 M4 DCT
15 Boxster GTS, 6 speed
18 S3
17 911 Carrera S, 7 speed
18 S4
21 RS5 Sportback
19 718 Boxster GTS 2.5T
23 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 (current)
23 Macan GTS (current)

I'll try not to revisit everything already said and stick to high notes on things that are important to me personally.

The exterior. First off, I was already sold on the design of the car since Raitti's first video at Long Beach. That said, the car still impressed me in person. It looks fantastic. The only possible gripe I could have is I somewhat agree with folks on Facebook complaining about the wheels not being flush with the fenders. They are just a bit sunk in, but only relative to some of the higher end cars I've had, like the RS5 and Porsches. About on par with the S3/S4. Not a legit complaint at this price point, and very easily remedied via the aftermarket. And to be clear, it still looks great and nothing to obsess over unless you're just one of those "stance guys". I may even just leave it completely alone because of the driving dynamics which I'll get into in a bit.

The seats. This has been a big deal for me, and actually gave me a bit of anxiety with all the complaints raised since the car was announced. I was one who would have been thrilled if they at least made the CTR seats an option. I'm here to tell you there's nothing to be concerned about. I was just hoping for them being tolerable, they're actually pretty great. Comfortable, grippy, and plenty of bolstering. For reference, I am 5'11", 185 lbs, pretty proudly lean at ~11% body fat and semi-broad shoulders. If the 18-way adaptive sports seats in my 718 GTS are a 10, the seats in the ITS are an 8.5. Absolutely no worries there.

The drive. I'll give a disclaimer that I did not push this car hard at all. I barely got it up to speed in the ~20 minutes or so I was driving, it was very nearly rush hour in a well-populated area in central Maryland.

But as Matt Farah put it in his review, with some cars you can kind of get a sense of the driving dynamics in the first couple hundred feet. I'll echo his sentiment.

I don't really know how else to put this. After driving almost exclusively Porsches, S or RS Audis, and M cars for the past 8 years I feel comfortable saying this and assuring you it's not hyperbole. If someone told me Porsche designed a hot hatch, I'd believe it based on the driving dynamics of this car.

Steering, shifter feel, suspension tuning, and even power delivery are all S tier. I really can't see how it could be done any better. As a driver's car that has 4 doors, especially at this price point- this thing really is unmatched. The only thing I feel like could come close as a sedan would be an F80 M3, but the ITS has it beat soundly on shifter feel, suspension tuning, and steering. (disclaimer- I haven't driven an M340i). The S55 power delivery is arguably better because it's just MORE, but I would definitely argue that on the street, the K20 in the ITS is freaking goldilocks. The S55 is a great example and possibly the line in the sand for me where cars just got too damn fast. Unless you're really into stoplight racing or buying this exclusively to take to the drag strip, you really just don't need more power, and you'll never use it (legally) on the street. For me, I've outgrown being obnoxious and driving like a maniac on the street so I appreciate this car even more. If you're obsessed with 0-60 and 1/4 mile times, let me just tell you this car isn't for you.

And the beauty of the K20 is in the midrange... it sort of reminded me of the S3 in that sense. I always loved the S3 and considered it one of my absolute favorite cars to drive around town in because the 2.0T in that car just had the perfect amount of punch without requiring you to rev the shit out of it. This K20 is like that... but it also reminded me of all the things I loved about my SR20-powered 240. JUST enough turbo lag to know you're driving a turbo car, in the best way possible. I don't even think it's fair to call it lag- it just reminds you of all the fun turbo cars provide. That part of the power delivery I sort of wasn't quite expecting. It just took me back to that sense of nostalgia of knowing that as soon as I go near the throttle, that push from the turbo is going to be right behind it. It was EXACTLY what I was hoping for from this car... and admittedly I never quite got that sense from Porsche's turbo flat 4 that tried its hardest to feel like a naturally aspirated engine.

So that's a key takeaway I don't see other reviewers really mentioning. Savagegeese touches on it a bit by saying the car is focused towards Honda/Acura fanboys... but he also says the car doesn't intend to call back to nostalgia. I kind of disagree. For me, this car definitely tugs on the nostalgia threads in so many awesome ways. It's kind of a culmination of everything I wanted from Honda in the 90s/00s, when everybody was falling over themselves to boost their B16s/B18s. This car takes that concept and runs with it in the best way possible.

I was waiting for your input and appreciate the context. Very well said and echoes my feelings about the "turbo lag" that I couldn't seem to put into words. I'm excited even more for the car.

 

[lz23]

Longtime lurker but just made an account as I just test drove the ITS. A few thoughts — mostly compared to my 2023 Elantra N from the perspective of someone who would use this car as a daily.

Sound: The car sounds great. My EN is louder and more aggressive, while the ITS is more mature. I prefer how the ITS sounds.

Power: Feels like it has more power than my EN at the speeds/type of driving a test drive allows.

Looks: I think it looks OK. It looks like an Integra with a body kit. Some people like that, I honestly don't — I think it looks a little cheap. I think the CTR looks better and more purposeful. The Elantra N is a notoriously terrible-looking car, but if nothing else it looks more cohesive than the ITS.

Inputs: Clutch and shifter feel great and better than the Elantra N. EN is not bad though.

Driving dynamics: Impossible to get a real sense on a test drive, but feels great — similar to the Elantra N.

Suspension: I really like the suspension tuning for daily driving. Even Sport+ is not brutal, whereas full stiff on the EN is a little too much for the street. The Elantra N is honestly great as a sporty daily, but I think the suspension here might be a notch more comfy.

Seats: I don't love the seats. They don't feel special to me. The caveat here is I'm a thinner guy — about 6' and 165 lbs. The Elantra N seats are awesome. Before the EN I had a Fiesta ST with Recaros — those are awesome. I love the CTR seats. The ITS seats are uninspiring and feel cheap.

Infotainment/dashboard screens: Worse and cheaper feeling than the EN. There's pretty much nothing on the screens to make the car feel special. Between the seats and the screens, you might as well be in a base Integra (obviously this changes once you start driving). But a huge missed opportunity, especially for the price. Also: no easy way to turn on and off rev matching. We literally couldn't figure it out on my 15-minute test drive. My EN has a rev match button on the steering wheel. I definitely prefer the Elantra N in this area.

Build quality: The car already has two rattles with 65 miles — not good, hah. My EN is rattle free with 5,000. Even though the EN uses cheaper plastics, the Integra doesn't really feel a step above — mostly because of the dash/infotainment screens and uninspiring seats. It definitely does not feel like a $52K car inside.

Conclusion: I really enjoyed the car on the test drive. There's no way I'd pay over MSRP for one. The Elantra N is a better value, no question asked — and if Hyundai made a hatch version I wouldn't even be looking at the ITS. But if you want a high-powered, manual hatch as a daily, this is a good option; it beats the Elantra N in inputs and speed — two important areas. Two big misses for me: I wish the interior felt more special, and I'm skeptical about the build quality (especially since people have had so many problems with their normal-specced Integras).

If things were actually at MSRP, I'd take a CTR over the ITS, just because I have more confidence in the build quality, prefer the look, and the inside feels more special. But I'd take an ITS at MSRP over a marked up CTR. In reality, I'm just about to take delivery of a new RS3 — which is not much more than what people are marking both cars up to in the PNW. But if reliability ends up being OK, I could see myself picking up an ITS for MSRP (or less used) down the line.

In Canada the RS3 would be over 20k more than the ITS

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