1987 Acura Integra LS 1.6 from North America

Summary:

A great car

Faults:

The right side wheels are bent.

Most of the exhaust system needed to be replaced.

The struts on the hatch need to be replaced.

General Comments:

I am super pleased with this car - even though I've only had it for about 7 months. Almost everybody can't believe it's an '87.

I took it on a few 9 hour drives to Wisconsin this summer - it was great. Very comfortable for all 9 hours and great mileage - 33mpg or so.

It handles well - but I wish they didn't do the solid axle in the back - the back end likes to hop in hard cornering.

This car was taken care of very well by the previous owners - all the fluids were great when I got it, it was garaged during winters by the person who sold it to me, it has almost no rust (it's totally Ziebarted), and the interior is immaculate.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 21st November, 2000

1987 Acura Integra LS 4 cylinder from North America

Summary:

Fun to drive, reliable piece of crap

Faults:

Well, I bought the thing for $600 with 247,000 miles on it. What do you expect.

I had to replace the struts because it kept bottoming out. It still bottoms out but I think I'm going to fix it by having new blocks put in tuesday.

Had to buy new compressor and blower to get the A/C and heat to work.

Replaced all belts including timing belt.

New driver side seat belt and new seats (old one's where ripped really bad).

Every time I fix something in the car something else goes wrong, but it's old so I expect it.

One time the brake lights wouldn't turn off. The battery went dead because I didn't know it, it turns out this little cap that pushed the button to turn off brake lights broke. That only cost $2 though.

General Comments:

Well this is my first car... I like it. It drives great but you can tell it's 13 years old. It just keeps on pluggin. I'm going to upgrade it and make it a high performance car and add a cool audio system.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 19th August, 2000

1987 Acura Integra RS 1.6 from North America

Summary:

Very reliable but flimsy transportation

Faults:

The usual Integra stuff:

A/C went out.

Normal service items such as CVs, muffler, rear wheel bearings and struts.

Original clutch, getting worn but still functional.

Never failed to take me where I needed to go.

General Comments:

Well-designed and reliable electrical system and very solid drivetrain. Typical small Honda engine, smooth and powerful when revved frenziedly but grossly lacking in bottom-end torque.

The worst problem was the structural corrosion, which developed rapidly from tiny arch spots into a serious underbody problem. Wheelarches, sills and sections over the exhaust system rotted through completely. Soon the road was visible to rear seat passengers through sections of the floor... Even on the intact panels the paint was thin and insubstantial. I wouldn't have wanted to be involved in an accident with this vehicle by the end of my tenure with it.

You'll notice my previous (and subsequent) car was a VW. This manufacturer's products offer diametrically opposed characteristics - super-solid non-rusting bodyshells, strong suspensions and great paintwork but unreliable electrics, transmissions and cooling systems.

If only there was a hybrid Acura-VW with VW shell and engine and Acura electrics and transmission...

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 10th August, 2000

1987 Acura Integra RS from North America

Summary:

Good dependable car when repaired

Faults:

I had to replace the struts, brakes, and the front axle. The cost was over $700 to fix all these things. There is rust in the rear wheel well.

General Comments:

I like the car. When all the above problems were fixed, it was a joy to ride. It's a high revving car that is unusually fast.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 1st August, 2000

1987 Acura Integra LS 1.6L from North America

Summary:

Outstanding reliability that's moderately fun

Faults:

Clutch, starter, alternator, rotors, calipers, shocks, pads, oil pan, control arm, another clutch, another alternator, tires, tires, failing AC, rusted exhaust, rusted body, etc...

General Comments:

I've driven the car for what seems an inconceivable number of miles. At a quarter of a million, I punch the old maid to 6000 rpm and 95 mph every day. Though some systems have failed, I will never again own a car with such amazing stamina. Though I really want a newer car, it's still just enough fun to keep my interest for a few more months. I'll probably get teary-eyed when they tow it away!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 30th June, 2000

3rd Jan 2006, 02:42

All the reviews about these cars will mirror the comments reflected here. Here is a little known fact about the 1986-1989 Acura Integras. They had the most horsepower per cubic inch of any car in mass production at that time. Let's examine that in liters though for ease of understanding. These Integras have about 112 horsepower from a 1.6 liter engine. That's 70 horsepower per liter. If a Stock 5.0 put out 70 horsepower per liter it would be a 350 horsepower car. The 1994-2004 Mustang 5.0's put out about 215 horsepower in stock form (kind of a downer, huh?). Just a little food for thought. Integras kick butt, what's more they just keep running and running!

15th Jan 2006, 23:19

I have driven my integra for quite a while as well and it has never let me down. I drive it to its limits and it never quits. It must the most well made car I can think of my 87' has never had major peplacment on it either, well as of yet for I plan to fix a/c compressor soon it hasn't worked in while, but other than that it's a great car.

28th Aug 2023, 10:09

This engine was the peak of Honda engineering. Yes, there have been other more powerful engines later on - but this was the original Vtec engine where Honda put all their knowledge and skills. Driving this engine was driving the most authentic Honda.

28th Aug 2023, 10:13

Correction: the 1.6 in the first gen Acura was non Vtec. It was a real engine, without the Vtec gimmick. Yes, Vtec was fun in the following engines, but originally the 1.6 was designed without these cams. That's why the original non Vtec 1.6 was a true to the core Honda engineering result.

1987 Acura Integra RS from North America

Faults:

Rust on rear wheel wells, fuel pump, fuel filter, right from axle, alternator, battery.

I'm not impressed with the people that sold me this car. When it runs, it runs well, but it has already broke down twice.

General Comments:

Like the handling, like the features, don't like the condition it was sold to me in.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 13th October, 1999

1987 Acura Integra LS 4 cyl. from North America

Faults:

Tranny gone at 120,000 miles. That's it.

General Comments:

Body seems like it will rust and fall apart before the engine on this thing goes bad! 189,000 miles and only one transmission. I think it really was my fault on the 1st one though as it was low on trans. oil for about a year.. Ouch.

This car really is awesome.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 3rd October, 1999

1987 Acura Integra LS 1.6 from North America

Faults:

Rear washer pump is kaput. At 100,000 miles I had to have the engine thermostat replaced. The sunroof drains get clogged often, mostly because of the wet environment here (Northwest US).

General Comments:

I'm the original owner, this car has been nearly bulletproof.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 14th August, 1999

1987 Acura Integra RS 1.6 DOHC 16v 4 cyl from North America

Faults:

Major body rust, including undercarriage, air conditioning.

General Comments:

The car is getting close to unsafe because of major structural rust.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 4th March, 1998