Anyone tweeking their civic, umm I mean 5th Gen Integras yet?

I have picked up a 2023 Acura Integra Aspec manual (as it should be!) in white.

​I am happy with the car and have essentially come to terms that I am not going to up grade to the Type S, as the price difference will be just too much (Estimating it to be at least around $15,000 after taxes PDI etc), I have however changed a couple things:

1) K-Tuner - Flash mod (Starter 21 Dual Tune). Great cheap mod that keeps the car performance essentially stock in Normal, and comfort modes, but in sport mode it Boosts the turbo to 21 PSI (stock is around 16 - 16.5PSI). This way I can keep the wear and tear down on the engine, and gas mileage low for everyday driving.
2) PRL High Volume Intake.Sound is only a little more throaty, and you can now faintly hear the turbo blow off sound.
3) PRL Intercooler, Charge Pipes, Large Inlet Pipe. Provides a bit of performance boost and no heat soak.

Future mods will be changing the rims to 19" rims with Michelin Pilot 4S tires, and a Helical Oil separator. But that is all I intend to do to the car. I find that the Teg handles really well, it just needs better summer tires - Perhaps Type R front and rear swaybars?🤔

Thoughts?

What has anyone else done?

​​​​​​​

 

I have a Ktuner as well and noticed that even on the 19psi map, I'm getting a little bit of clutch slip. On 21psi there's even more, and on the 23psi map there's a ton. Notice that the wheels are spinning at a slower rate than they should be at a given RPM compared to the factory tune (I'm using the A/F axis to represent MPH).




It's been well documented that the stock clutch can't hold much more torque beyond stock. If you're doing power mods, you'll probably want to consider installing the RV6 FK8 retrofit flywheel that will allow you to use the CTR clutch.

 

Fortunately I have not experienced any clutch slip @ 21 PSI. However that could be for 2 reasons:

1) I am not lunching the car off the line and slamming shifts - My previous car was a manual 2015 Audi S4 tuned stage 2 with about 380-390 ft/lbs of torque. The clutch would slip if I launched the Car, and/or slammed 1st to 2nd shifts. Hence I don't do that anymore.

2) I am currently running running on Michelin XIII Winter tires on stock rims with only 225 tread width, so they will spin a little, and would offset clutch slippage. I very well will notice it when I put my Michelin Sport 4S tires on.

I also forgot to add some pics....

 

@fiatlux Do not have an Integra (RDX and TLX) but that was a very truthful and useful post, since Honda products leave so much HP available for a proper tune. And you provided good info on how much may be too much without additional mods. I watch this forum as the Type S may persuade me to trade in my slightly modified NC Miata for a new, more comfy, fun times vehicle. Thanks again.

 

Finally put the snows in storage and found some rims that would work with my tires from my previous car (Michelin Pilot 4S - 255 30 R19 with 85‰ tread wear left). Almost the size on the Type R/Type S.

Bremmer Kraft BR18 wheels (Black Machined with Dark Tint)
- Flush fitting with +45 Offset 19" x 8.5
- Rotary Flow Forged, light weight @23.7 lbs each
- DOT Approved.

 

Brakes/Rotors look tiny behind those wheels. I like the car tho! They are growing on me.

 

Yup... I don't like the look of the calipers. However I would still suspect the Civic Type R calipers and rotors would still look a little small. Lol

No big brake kit in the future for me. I did that with my previous car. The Teg just needs better fluid and better pads - which I will change out much later

 

Finally weighed the stock rims compared to the new aftermarket ones, I am actually quite impressed by the difference:

Sock rim (18" x 8") on winter Michelin Pilot XIII 225/45 R 18
51.8 Lbs

Aftermarket (19" x 8.5) on Michelin Pilot 4S summer tires 255/35R 19

47.4 lbs


4.4 lbs per wheel is is a decent difference considering the rim and tires sizes!

 

One more thing I did to the car. A friend of mine had some extra Urathane which I used to fill in rear motor mount gaps. It was free so I figured what the heck, why not try it.

The car seems to have less wheel hop than before the change. Also a fairly noticeable less engine movement when looking into





engine bay and revving the engine.

Of course the biggest plus no NVH or even movement in the shift nob when the car is idling in or out of gear!

 

Ok I know this is going to cause some to question me but I have to say I have not discovered any clutch slippage!

Believe me I know when my clutch slips, I have felt it so many times in previous vehicles especially my previous Audi S4 to a point I never slam my shifts especially 1st to 2nd. Reading what others have reported on their Tegs, I totally expected to feel the clutch slip as soon as I put the summer tires on planting the power to the pavement, however I noticed nothing. To confirm my findings, I had a friend that is much more involved with vehicles and works on them personally, he drove the car - We both have not noticed any slipping.

Now to be clear, I generally do not launch the car by revving the engine to 3000 - 5000 RPM and drop the clutch ( I have nothing to prove to anyone and do not race ). But I have tried a couple 3000 dumps and did not notice slippage, and very little wheel hop either.

I am running K-Tuner Dual Stage tune at 22 PSI on sport mode. There is no noticeable difference between stock launch and 22 PSI. The way the tune works with my setup is that in Comfort/Normal/Individual (with sport selected in each independent area in the individual mode - However no extra power from the tune is noticed in this mode) hence at stock PSI. In Sport mode is when the 22 PSI kicks in and I definitely can feel the extra surge of power in Sport mode especially in torque from sport mode with tune compared with the other modes.

Am I that oblivious... I think not! But again I don't drive like I stole my car or like I am at the track on daily driving. Is it possible I am one of the lucky ones that fluked out? - Maybe. But I thought I would post my findings and see if I am the only one?

 

Ok-ok, I caved.

I uninstalled the above modifications, returning the Aspec to stock and brought it back to Acura after 27,800 kms.

Sorry to all you Aspec fanboys (or fangals).












Yup this stupid guy bucked up and paid up for the Type S last month.

I will say that I got what I believe was a fair price, paying MSRP with a couple of add-ons the dealership had already installed - Inclusive of the carbon fiber mirror caps (I don't care for these), carbon fiber spoiler, and mud guards. They did install the copper colored rims which I refused to pay for and they swapped back the grey ones. Why anyone would pay over $2000 for the copper color is absolutely ridiculous! It is the same rim with no style or weight savings, again why - People don't be dumb.

So here is the answer to all of you that may be curious... Was it worth it? I have watched many reviews, and read many articles about the Type S before making this decision - I have not watched or read a single review of anyone (at least with any credibility) with any real complaints but only praise for this car. So I will concur, and answer this with a confident YES!

However this all depends on you? If you are a driver that wants:
- A raw driving feel and engagement.
- Someone who wants to drive the car because you enjoy the act of driving and rowing your own gears - I honestly can't wait to start it up and drive it.
- Acknowledges manuals are a dying breed and Acura will not make this vehicle for another model year as they are moving to electric vehicles. This manual is bar-none the best stock shifter you can buy today. This includes the Miata, and Porsche GT3/GT4 - Yes I have tried these. The only one that I have tried that I would say is better is the S2000 (felt like a lever action rifle, so nice), or possibly the Ford Mustang GT350 with the Tremec shifter.
- Speed is not everything to you, and yes a Audi S3, Mercedes AMG CLA 35, BMW 235i, Golf R, Toyota GR Corolla, Subaru WRX, or Elantra N - Can all possibly be faster. But can't do it with the same fit and finish and/or quality, or with a manual, or just straight out as fun.
- Has the nostalgia of Hondas of old.
- And just loves the look. IMO, this is one of the best looking manual driving vehicles you can buy new under $100,000 (CDN) period!

Then yes an outstanding YES DO IT!


Some have said the Integra Aspec is 75% of a Type S, I will say this is not at all true, l except for just sitting in the vehicle and looking around, as interior wise they look very similar. The Type S does have better seats that are more bolstered than the Aspec (I did not really notice this when I had sat in a Type S a couple times before, until I actually drove it). Driving the Type S is much more of a sports car with luxury extras - I have previously owned a 2010 Porsche Carrera and 2015 Audi S4 and this car drives more like a sports euro car than a typical JDM, but has the Honda reliability and fun. I have also driven the Integra Type R, 2000 Civic SiR, all Honda Preludes, 2013 ILX Dynamic, and a S2000 - So, I think I would know a little. Does it drive like a Porsche, not exactly but is much-much closer in driving dynamics and feel than what you actually think. This vehicle is what people are saying, it is a daily driving sports car.

What I miss from the Integra Aspec:
- Better fuel economy - I average approximately 270 kms of City only driving per tank. For reference I obtained approximately 330-350 kms per tank on the Aspec driving it for over 2 years.
- 5th seat in the rear. Now this might not bother most others, but this is my one and done vehicle. I regularly would have 5 ppl in my vehicle at least once or twice a month.
- Heated seats for the kids in the rear - This is for them and I live in Canada.
- Memory seat for the driver.
- Passenger side tilting side mirror when reversing. I know this is petty and small, but I am used to this from the S4 and Aspec - I don't want to curb my rims.

Taking out the 5th rear seat and heating element would save weight and I understand this, but to be honest it baffles my mind on how Acura/Honda thinks removing the switches for memory seats (and the little bit of wires) can really save any significant weight. Not to mention alleviating the side mirror tilt when reversing (the mechanism is there as it is still motorized, this is just programing).

The sunroof delete does not bother me at all. It is a nice to have but, not needed. I do wish they would add the Civic Type R track information on the main display, although I have no intentions of tracking this vehicle, it would be nice to have.

Is this worth it over the Civic Type R? For me it is. I am not a young kid, and am more of what I would say is the target buyer for this vehicle. I want the extra comforts, I actually like these seats, and absolutely love the look of this car. Also I don't want a stiffer suspension which is what is on the Type R (yes I know u can switch the modules, but here I don't have to).

I am sorry for writing so much here, but I know I would have really appreciated someone's input to help me make my decision. I hope this helps at least some of you. Please don't get me wrong the Teg Aspec is a great vehicle and should be still considered for many people. But for me the upgrade (as expensive as it was) was well worth the investment. This Type S will likely hold its value much longer and better over my Aspec, should I decide to sell it in the future, and until that happens I will thoroughly enjoy the drive!!!

 

Congrats! Beautiful car.

 

I suppose this post refers to aftermarket mods. Now that I have upgraded to the DE5/ITS I feel less of the need to modify the car as it does have more than enough power for me, coming from a fwd vehicle. However, that being said... I still am debating on what I will end up doing - I can't help the feeling of just having a least a little more than stock (I suppose call it the modifying itch?).

So far my mods have been very minor...




Gaining 5 hp with red magnetic drain plug - LOL. Doubt I will catch much with this seeing it is an aluminum block, but there will be a little debris on the plug.




I thought I would go for a proper replacement for the rear motor mount from PRL opposed to what I tried last time. I will say I have not noticed much of a difference in NVH or even improvement of less wheel hop - But at least this was not an expensive mod, and easy to install. I noticed quite a bit more wheel hop with the Teg Aspec over the Type S, and I purchased this for the Aspec, but ended up trading my car so hey guess what... The part fits both vehicles. I changed the oil on the vehicle and did these two minor mods together.


Finally I did one more mod:






Billetworkz - The Fusion Weighted shift knob. I choose the polished with the shift pattern on top (please forgive the images, especially with the shift pattern on top - It gives the look of a scratched up piece but looks much better in person). I wanted a close to stock look with a better handle/grip and more weight in the throws, while maintaining a leather wrap to take the edge off the cold and heat in the extreme weather.

The stock shift knob is good, but in my opinion the weight and feel is significantly better. I know it is all subjective and this is not a cheap investment at $325 USD. But this truly does make a difference. What is not listed online or easily found is the difference in weight from stock to this aftermarket one. Good thing for you peeps I weighed them:




About 200 grams, very noticeable. For me a better feel in the hand, and more of a thud/solid feel as it goes into gear. The shifter in this vehicle is amazing!

 

Any other modifications will have to wait until the spring or summer. I did source out some rubber and rims to help me take this thing out in the winter, stock summers ain't gonna cut it where I live.





I kept my old 225 45 R 18 Michelin X-ICE Winter tread from my Aspec - They had about 80-90% of tread left on them. Ideally I will change to a 245 for width when I need to replace the tires. This is why I choose these rims. I wanted a little more cushion on the winter ride hence the 18's, and with a rim that was 8" wide, I could size up to a 245 width tire in the future. Also these fast rims are Flow formed, light weight (under 18 pounds each), and not too expensive for a winter rim.

How did they fit over the Type S front calipers, and how flush are the rims you say???




With the + 40mm offset they easily clear the calipers and are pretty flush - Personally I like winter rims a little recessed, so they kick up less dirt/mud on the side of the vehicle anyway - Hence this fits well for me.

Finally the look




Not as nice as the stock rims, but much better over black steel rims.

 

Spring is here and I decided to do a couple changes...




Honestly, save your money on this one. I thought these mats were going to be much better quality as the original ones that come with the car seem to be a bit cheap, but in reality they are the same except the Type S badge and red stitching.

 

Although I am getting hit by poor exchange rates, I wanted to make some changes before any Tariff changes would hike up prices.


Stock...



PRL High Volume Intake





PRL Titanium Turbo Inlet Pipe


I did not want the carbon fibre one, the Titanium looks good - Much better than the stock fake carbon flat looking one!


PRL Throwback Sturt Tower bar


I know there are other strut tower bars, but this one totally looks like the original Teg Type R one = Much better nostalgia and bonus points!


PRL Engine Bay - Shifter Bushings



I will actually say these do make a slight difference, but it is not significant. It only cost me $50 USD = You be the judge to say if it is worth it to you.


What I will say regarding the actual performance gains from these recent mods are nominal, but there is a BIG change in the induction noise from the High Flow intake which you can easily hear a winding up/whizzing sound with the windows down or up. Also, you definitely can hear a blow-off sound from the turbo which was NOT there before! So if you like to hear these sounds, or want to pretend you have a vehicle from the Fast and the Furious, then go for it!

Will I do more, who knows? I think the Teg Type S has a decent amount of power coming out of a fwd vehicle, and doesn't really need more for regular daily driving. But sometimes you just want to add more, because YOU CAN! So who knows if I tune the ECU or add a larger intercooler???

 

Did some minor cosmetic changes to the inside, can you spot the difference?

I am not a fan of piano black on the inside. Don't get me wrong, it looks great but shows scratches way too easily. I opted for good old Ali-Express carbon fiber gloss (yes I like the gloss over the dry stuff).

 

Included 3M double sided tape did the trick.

 

Did some more cosmetic changes to the badges

Both front and rear blacked out "A" and the Type S badges

If you look closely on the bottom of this picture you will notice I blacked out another item...???

 

PRL intercooler - Compared to the stock one.

Unfortunately the stock intercooler is lighter, hence gained a little weight. But well worth it.


Looking badass black in front now!

 

This guy is next... Two Step Performance (TSP purchased the specs from PRL who is no longer making these - Until they redesign one?) downpipe. This one is cerakoted/ceramic coated.

I may hold off on installing this guy until the spring, along with the other purchases = PRL Front Pipe, and PRL Coolant Expansion tank?

 

I am not in a rush and the weather is getting colder. I have already switched to winter tread.... So I can wait on the above install items. This will likely be it for me for mods, as I have no intension on tracking the car. I also have no intension of tuning the car. I don't want to void any warranties, take out the computer to ship it out, worry about extra torque steer, and the possibility of extra wear on the engine. Honestly the car pulls pretty hard as is, and I am happy with the way it handles and drives.

But then again.... Who knows, I did not think I was going to mod the car this much - LOL!

 

love this thread. Keep the updates coming, Chrifff!