2000 Acura Integra Review
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By Mitch McCullough, Editor-in-Chief

Overview

Sport coupes don't come much better than the Acura Integra GS-R. This car makes any driver feel like a hero. It seems to sense what the driver wants and responds accordingly. It's fun to drive and it fills the senses. Open the throttle and the twin-cam growls with authority and revs like there's no tomorrow. The taut suspension helps it slice through corners with precision.

Topping $22,200, the GS-R isn't cheap. But it offers performance and refinement for that price. Arguably, no other coupe combines these two qualities so well. Cars that offer more performance for a similar price do not offer the refinement of the Acura.

Most people don't need the performance of the GS-R, however, and they can save $3,000 by buying the LS Coupe. Integra sedans offer more practicality than the coupes for a similar price and some drivers prefer the handling balance of the sedans.

Model Lineup

The lineup includes coupes and sedans in LS, GS and GS-R models.

Three-door coupes include the LS ($19,300), GS ($20,950) and the high-performance GS-R ($22,200). There's also a limited-production club racer coupe called the Type R ($24,350). The base RS model is no longer available.

Four-door sedans include the LS ($20,100), GS ($21,500), and GS-R ($22,500).

LS comes fully loaded. GS just adds leather trim. LS, and GS trim levels share a 1.8-liter dual overhead-cam 16-valve four-cylinder engine rated at 140 horsepower. It comes with a choice of five-speed manual or four-speed automatic ($800) transmission.

GS-R models get 170-horsepower VTEC versions of the same engine. The GS-R is available only with a special close-ratio five-speed manual gearbox that optimizes the narrower powerband.

Stripped down and near race ready, the Type R comes with a modified engine tuned to rev to 8,000 rpm for 195 horsepower, along with big brakes, a special close-ratio gearbox and a helical limited-slip differential.