1990 Honda Integra XSi 1.6 B16A1 DOHC VTEC from Australia and New Zealand
Summary:
An underrated JDM Honda
Faults:
HT leads.
Fuse panel under dash needed re-soldering.
Exhaust wore out.
Oil leak from gasket seal.
Gearbox would be a bit sticky, especially when shifting into third. It would be a real nuisance and could cost serious money to fix so I sold it. Even second hand gearboxes for these cars are getting rare.
General Comments:
The car was really reliable.
I spent very little on keeping it running, but it was nearing some bigger bills because of age.
The 4 door body is less common, but is very similar in weight and size to the hatchback. You'll probably find them in better condition too.
The steering ratio is abysmal which makes tight cornering annoying.
The standard suspension wasn't badly worn, but it was definitely too soft. Lowered springs and new dampers would transform the handling.
With a good engine and decent performance I'd say it was a good car for daily driving and was comfortable enough on long journeys.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 27th September, 2004
19th Mar 2007, 17:00
The Honda Integra XSI for me was an introduction to the VTEC power and Economy. The B16A1 Engine handled modifications well, and produced some pleasing results.
The modifications to the Engine consisted of 4-1 Heat wrapped headers-2.25inch exhaust-higher compression (head shaved) Intake pipe filter and ignition/fuel upgrade. This combination along with a set of D2-Coil-overs/Sway bars and Bushes, ultimately turned this car into a real road weapon.
The troubles I had were once lowered to a height that the rear suspension arms were inverted upwards (cambered) the bushes (1-each side of vehicle) would wear very quickly.
The Transmission is inherently weak especially in the Differential, being non LSD the metal locking pins holding the diffrential gears in place have a tendency to fail. Honda Ignition coils also have a tendency to give up, due to there location inside the distributor cap they can and DO act as a heat sink. NOT GOOD! A simple external coil upgrade and igniter will fix the problem. Oil feed to the distributor mechanisim is only a small hole, oil changes on a regular basis can prevent bearing seizure in the distributor.
All and all the Integra XSI is a great car to modify, with some weight removed from the interior and a simple half cage the car has great track potential.