Honda Integra Type R 1997 - 2001

There is no pretence with the Integra Type-R. With one look at that spoiler you can see that the Integra means business. In the right circumstances (the open road), the Integra Type-R is a fantastic car to drive. It offers race-bred performance from one of Honda's advanced twin-cam VTEC engines and the sort of road holding that you'd expect from a car costing twice as much. This great performance comes with the added benefit of Honda's much heralded reliability. No compromise has been made.

As you sit in the Integra you're immediately struck by the lack of room for rear passengers. The legroom is likely to be too small for anyone over the age of 10 and while the Integra is a fantastic car to drive it is impractical. The Recaro seats are supportive and extremely comfortable, and offer good protection from the firm ride. The ride is extremely noisy, owing to the lack of soundproofing in the interior, removed to reduce the overall vehicle weight. It's engine noise that makes the constant intrusion, and a great sound it is too but it can be somewhat wearing if you're not in the mood.

The Integra is at home on the open road. Motorway, country lanes, anywhere that it can rev freely and it's a delight when it can cut loose. The hand-built V-TEC engine has no turbo but the advance twin-cam powerhouse loses nothing for it. It does suffer a lack of torque and low end grunt, which makes in town driving a trial. The engine wants to rev and is constantly enticing you to bury the accelerator so when you can't to behaves like a sulking child, reluctantly doing what you ask and not really very well. On the open road it's a different beast entirely, and what a beast it is. It holds the road and corners brilliantly and accelerates from corner to corner like something possessed. The 0-60 time is 6.5 seconds and top speed 145 mph so wherever you are you're never found wanting.

The Integra Type-R does exactly what it says on the tin. It's lean, so don't expect any amount of padding. The seats are comfortable and built for the job. The extras list includes a radio, which illustrates quite how bare the car is. The emissions are not great either so it's going to get clobbered with the new car tax rules, which may mean there are a few bargains out there to be had. If the prices come down it may be an affordable luxury even just for 6 months…

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