Car Talk - Non S2000 General Motoring and Non S2000 Car Talk

DC2 beats DC5

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Old Jan 23, 2011 | 01:27 AM
  #1  
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Default DC2 beats DC5

I was driving home form work and past a well known local Jap performance specialist to find that they had a nice 54 plate DC5 Integra on the forecourt at £8990.

As my teg is getting leggy (130k) and needs a bit spent on it, I thought it was definitely worth a look. I had a scoot round it, it seemed in good condition, unmodified (very rare with DC5s) apart from a set of CTR 18s which made the car look like a 4x4 and some track biased RE070 Potenzas.

Took it for a drive, and was reasonably impressed - much more solid and nicer to be in than the DC2, no rattles or noises. Very nice. Suspension was on a par with the harshness of the DC2 (on the 18s, not sure if it would be better on the OEM wheels) - very bumpy and firm.

So, I started talking numbers with the guy selling and said I'd think about it over the weekend. Then got back in the DC2 and drove that over the same route. The difference was night and day - and highlighted everything that modern cars are missing IMO. Suddenly I felt connected to the road, and I was having FUN!

So I think I'll get the clutch and cambelt done on my Teg this year and keep on going with it. Yes it's seem the wrong side of hedge at least once in it's life (small welded spot on floor pan discovered earlier this year, different colour on the left to the right side) and not 100% mint, and it has a few different shades of red on it . However you look at it, it's a lot cheaper than spending another 5.5k on a newer model. And with the breakers offering around £2-3k to take the cars off owners hands, it's never going to cost me much in depreication.

The guy at the garage said it before I drove the DC5 - you won't have as much fun in this car as you will in yours. And he was right
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Old Jan 23, 2011 | 04:21 AM
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Great review!

Filed in the Suspicions Confirmed dept.

Actually, for £5,5K you could end up with a very tidy DC2 indeed.
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Old Jan 23, 2011 | 05:09 AM
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I had a drive in one again today (DC2) ..... it feels so right! Might have to get rid of my daily diesel driver and get one of these again.

(saves me changing my username!!)
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Old Jan 23, 2011 | 05:25 AM
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id have to completely agree with the first statement,
i drove my brov's dc2 a few years ago when i had a JDM prelude to compare them,
prelude was faster in a straight line and dc2 handled better,
then when i went looking at s2k's i also test drove another dc2, a dc5 and em EP3 type r

the dc2 had great handling, not the fastest thing in a straight line and was lacking in torque as most 4 pop honda's are, £4.5k so a nice tidy example with low mileage and great condition.

the dc5 was a much nicer cabin to be in and i much prefere the new styling but handling wise it felt loose, heavy and a fair bit of body roll. power wise felt better then the dc2 but the weight was killing it. for £8k it is way overpriced for the performance and handling you get.

was hoping the EP3 would be on a par with the dc2 handling put the performance of the dc5, i was extremely dissapointed with it but it was only £4k so not bad performance for the money

then bought my s2k caus it had the handling qualities of the dc2 if not sharper and the performance of the dc5 & ep3. love the S interior, exterior styling,

has to be one of the best honda's ever made.
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Old Jan 23, 2011 | 06:46 AM
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DC2s actually make great beaters...

Hatchback with loads of room, 30-40mpg, get a mint one for £5k, it'll pretty much never depreciate below £3k if you keep the engine and gearbox in good condition.

There's a few rustproofing measures to get on top of, but they are fairly easy to DIY.

Mine takes my bass stack and guitarist's amp and guitars to gigs no problem, and has done the tip run many times.
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Old Jan 23, 2011 | 07:23 AM
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We've got an EK4 like that. Not quite so full-on, but a great car to drive like you stole it when NOT going to the dump/FocItAll.

The rumours of crappy high-riding McP strutted stuff was what made us rush out & but it in preference to the very ordinary EP3/DC5 twins.

The problem is, Honda's mojo is very much still in the last century.
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Old Jan 23, 2011 | 07:37 AM
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Too right Nick.

I only have one car not on 6 figures now, and that's on 98600

Such a shame Honda isn't buildng anything I want to buy any more. I don't think any other car company gives the combination of build quality, fun, running costs and fuel economy that Honda did in the late 90s
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Old Jan 23, 2011 | 07:44 AM
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My buddy has a supercharged DC2 and it is the best handling FWD car I have ever been in.
Love it.
I seriously considered it before I bought the S.
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Old Jan 23, 2011 | 10:02 AM
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Originally Posted by Bassoctopus,Jan 23 2011, 04:37 PM
Too right Nick.

I only have one car not on 6 figures now, and that's on 98600

Such a shame Honda isn't buildng anything I want to buy any more. I don't think any other car company gives the combination of build quality, fun, running costs and fuel economy that Honda did in the late 90s
...much as LJKS predicted would happen.

I'm hoping the Toyobaru FT86 gives us somewhere to go, but we shall have to wait & see.

It seems odd to have to carry on using the same pile of old Hondas forever.

Still, a classic car's always cooler than a new one!
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Old Jan 23, 2011 | 01:42 PM
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I've owned both of these, and both are good.

A quick sum up from me...

DC5 is better than the DC2 in every respect, apart from the important one.... the handling.

If you put that magical K20A in the DC2, it would be near perfect.

I didn't get on too well with the DC2, as it really is gutless for road driving, but get it on an open road and it's great.

I took the DC5 to the Ring and it really disappointed me, as it really felt FWD, where the DC2 doesn't somehow.
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