I don't consider an Integra Type R a "performance" car, since they are rare (here in the US), and my car will take a stock one any day of the week, without ever getting out of 3rd gear. I have a 90 Plymouth Laser RS-T, a DSM. It's a turbo I4 with stock HP of 195. Right now, with just 2 simple bolt-on's I have 235hp, and 0-60mph of 5.4 seconds. An Integra Type R, Civic Type R, FTO, anything in that price range won't touch my car. By the way, I have only spent $2,800 total including the price of the car ($1900).

Just wondering what happens to the guy with the Plymouth when a corner arrives?

LOL, I guess he'll come to that problem when it arrives. Far too many people believe a "performance car" is just the 0-60 or 1/4 mile times in a straight line. For the pulling from the lights 'drag races', I suppose that's all that matters, but if you like to do your racing on the track, that's when a true performance car comes into its element IMHO. An Integra Type R is evidence of this. A production car that is race spec... very impressive. Very few cars come close to this one for the price. The FTO version R is also an excellent race spec car with fantastic handling... Depends what you want in a car really :)

I don't agree that the old Celicas are better than FTO's and know that the new ones aren't. The GT 4WS Turbo is a better car, but in the UK these are still £12,000+ for a nice example whereas FTO's are much, much cheaper (£6k-£7k for a mint condition GPX model) and their performance is very good.

Don't forget that maintaining a turbo car is also costly.

New Type-R's are lovely, but then they are the post 2000 ones. Older ones are certainly not as good. The reign of the FTO was mid-90's and to be fair their spec (and looks) for a car of that age is pretty awesome.

Yes, the last review sums it up the best I think. Perhaps the steering has more feel in an Integra or Celica, but come on, real men wouldn't waste their time with a buzzy old four-pot. Six is closer to twelve isn't it...