Should I Have Bought A Honda Civic Type R Instead Of My Acura Integra Type S? 

honestly im a hotboi at heart and I'd have got the FL5 Type R over the Type S. But I would never pay over MSRP for the car.

I drove both and bought the fl5. The seats are so much better in the fl5

You gave a nice review of my Cayman GTS 4.0 last year 👍🏼. I was searching for so long for a new daily and just couldn’t find a Type R for sticker. Toyota Modesto came through and got me a GR Corolla Circuit last month. Let me know if you’d like to do a review. I know you’ve done the GR Corolla already but. Nice review of the Type R!

Because of the price I would not have done it

Just bought a Boost Blue at sticker here in CT. Picking it up tomorrow.

Thanks for the video! At the end of the day it’s all in the name: Type Sport (or Street) vs Type Race. The Integra is the better daily driver, the Civic the better track car.

FL5 Civic Type R made in Japan, while DE5 Integra Type S is made in Ohio.

I have the Type S damping module also. The ride is so much better.

If you can get an FL5 at MSRP it is a bit difficult to justify the price increase to the DE5. That is basically going to be the difference between me getting one of the other in the coming months. I do live in an area where it would be really appreciated to have the heated seats and steering wheel of the DE5, but there are also things like the LogR/data screens on the FL5 that I would absolutely love to have.

Have you done an elantra N vs FL5 video already? Would love to hear your thoughts if not

Got the FK8 and seeing both ITS and FL5 in person, The FL5 has smoother finish on outside, but ITS does have a aggressive looking wide body like the FK8, both are nice cars but in end up to what you like the most

For me, I wanted to buy from a local dealer, where both the CTR and ITS are sold at MSRP. I was not aware of the possibility of a swap of the suspension module. it was a matter of which became available. The production numbers are so small. I prefer the look, heated seats, stereo, steering wheel, shift knob and suspension of the ITS, but the comfortable seats, gauges and instrument panel of the CTR. For seats, I would definitely trade power adjustment and heat for comfort and bolstering in the CTR.

Market on these are def getting better, got a dealership to haggle down to 1k markup but still decided to wait for one at msrp anyways. In SoCal btw.

The best mods for the FL5 that are cheap and make the car feel like it should have from the factory are....1) drop in filter..2) front resonator delete..3) rear motor mount. These three mods makre the car feel and sound perfect, imo.

I could’ve bought either, I chose the DE5. Nothing to knock on the FL5, I just like the more premium touches and aggressive styling of the Integra. Plus Integra has always been the more premium civic, that…does not change here.

I went from an FK8 to the DE5. I wanted a bit more of a “grown up” version of the type r - the DE5 is a great alternative. I do wish we had the FL5 seats (in black), and the digital dash though.

I appreciate your channel. FYI - It's not Alcantara. The material is a suede-effect fabric. The only Alcantara the FL5 has to offer is with the OEM steering wheel accessory.

Back when I got my integra type s I didn't even consider the type R because I've always wanted a type R but in a suit which is what the type s was. If ITS was never a thing an is500 would have been in my garage

My brother has a red integra type s and I just got my champ white fl5 and we both love the type r.

How’s the ac on the type r I hear it’s weak not sure if it’s the first or second version

You friend Chris must be Asian! That glove box tag is still there and its a 2023 model. lol😝

I bought the CTR FL5 bc I got it for msrp. I actually prefer that it’s more hard edged in its design vs the DE5. But I love how aggressive the DE5 is. For me it came down to a couple big things: 1. Price difference since I paid msrp for the fl5 2. Likely the resale value of the Fl5 but that remains to be seen 3. The seats!!!! 4. I actually prefer the harder looks of the FL5 over the DE5 5. The FL5 is about 6inches shorter which is better for my garage space.

Would the damping module change mess with the warranty in any way?

For someone like you who tracks their car so often, yes, I think the Type R fits your lifestyle more.

I love my fl5!!!

Has there yet been a way found to use the FL5 LogR software on the DE5?

To me both these cars could be great daily vehicles with back seats and a decent-sized trunk. With that 7k less MSRP I think CTR is a great value too.

Will the CTR seats fit easily in the Type S without mods? If so, thats my choice. Type S

Are FL5s available at MSRP now?

Trade it in tomorrow and then show us how enthusiastic you are with your choice. Acura is more on the luxury side trying hard to go backwards but Type R is really what it is. A genuine race car.

Solid choice 😊

I went FL5 to DE5 it's the move if you want the performance with the daily comfortability not tracking the vehicle

modding the damper module is a biggest difference of the cars in daily use.

I just noticed that the Type R has a manual rear view mirror, vs the auto dimming in the ITS. Granted, I've already swapped mine with an Accord mirror with Homelink... Also, my weird pet peeve: the CTR doesn't have a sunglasses holder in the center console.

I would get the type s over type r. More daily and looks better along with a few other options. Only thing the type r has is the gauge during type r mode, fender and seats. I’m pretty sure type s will have a mid year refresh with upgrades

I got the FL5 at MSRP last December, owned/drove it for 6 months, and did a straight-trade with an Acura dealer for a brand new Integra Type S last week. I obviously prefer the ITS (daily driver, minimal track time planned), but the FL5 is a phenomenal car as well. Had I kept the FL5, the ITS damper module would've been swapped in eventually. I do miss the +R gauge, and the seats made every drive feel special. Championship White (like mine was) is not the way to go unfortunately, as all CW FL5s I've seen have a horrible colour mismatch between how yellow the rear hatch panel is, compared to the rest of the adjacent rear panels. Thanks for the ongoing DE5 and FL5 content, cheers.

I want one. Waiting if they are going to do a refresh of the FL5 with some suspension improvements/cooling improvements

Type R feels more special than the Type S.

I think Honda's shifter is more aerodynamic than the Integra.

Yes. $7k savings, better color selection paired with styling and a more raw driving experience.

Yoy can switch out the sound module from the Type S into the Type R and it makes the engine rev sound more better

i wonder how different the suspension is from the civic hatchback and the type-r

Any noticeable difference on road noise between the two?

Someone please let me know where I can find a Championship White FL5 in SoCal. 🤔😞

How much is auto insurance between the two?

I think yes as well. More Classic Honda look

Type r good specially if you can only afford 1 car to use and considering for family and sport thing at the same time. Good space.

Acura talked about sound deadening versus the Civic when they launched the ILX and there wasn't a noticeable difference. They are saying the same thing now with the Type R vs the Type S and still nobody can tell the difference.

in my opinion yeah, the acura doesn't look as crisp as the type r, the interior styling maybe a lil better but the r is just overall so nice looking

"better material" for interior in a type s but yet there's no piano black in an fl5 xD

DE5 with FL5 seats and done

ITS owner here with 3k trouble free miles. There are several differences you didn’t mention, HUD, Auto wipers, better stock exhaust, full Led lights, heated seats, better warranty,auto dimming mirror,TPMS readings, bumper proximity sensors,power driver seat. I don’t think it justifies 7k price difference, but maybe half of it.

FL5 looks better. We wanted the new integra to be something similar to the DC9 if that I would got the type S. But I’m glad I got mine fl5 daily

Well of course. Type S is essentially a GSR. Or that was the case in the past with the DC5 Type S vs the DC5 Type R. The Type R more sporty track and Type S more luxury comfort.

In my opinion, both vehicles are solid , I own one and have drove both, get what makes sense for you.

I think specifically because you actualy track the car refularly, the Fl5 would have been a better choice for you.

The Type R is the better of the two imo. It's more focused, and looks much better - especially its flared body compared to the Type S's tacked on flare look.

Feel like the FL5 Type R car needs lowering springs to make it 10/10 vs 9/10 appearance wise.

I agree with the type s module the type r suspension is probably better than the old elantra N. The new elantra N (2024+) actually has a different suspension module too. Up until the 2023 model, the range of adjustability was limited to 60% of the full range. The new N apparently rides much softer in its softest setting. Looking forward to see you drive one and hear your thoughts

Something about the Integra’s looks are 10x better for me and it’s my dream car. It does make me sad that there’s no shift lights and fun things that the R got, but it also seems possible to retrofit the screens and whatnot from the R into the S. Idk. Maybe they’ll do a mid-gen update with more features?

i didnt even watch the video, just answering your video title but yes.... yes you should have

The Acura interior team really got it wrong those darn seats. They just don’t belong is a car like this.

You forgot to mention TPMS readings, wish i had that on my FL5

honestly i like the spoiler

My friend bought one and his girl bought a Supra . They tracked both last week and the Type R only did one lap before having issues. The Supra had no issues all day

You must have changed your microphone setup? You sound different 😊

I want both😀🚙🚙

I would rather have the leather wrapped knob so I don't burn my hand. I live in Texas.

ill prob get one used in 2-3 years.

As a current FK8 owner, either of which (FL5 and DE5) would be a nice upgrade and will likely replace my current CTR. I still need (used) prices to come down a bit. My ideal car is a ~50k mile CPO car which I have not seen for sale just yet given how new both cars are. What’s everyone’s predictions with regards to prices say in the next 18 months or so? At that point it will be 2026 and the CTR will be 3 model years old…any chance they will get into the $36-38k range? Also, here’s a question, which car FL5 or DE5 holds value better (and why) and which depreciates quicker? That, alone, could dictate my purchase. I really think the DE5’s look SUPER sharp, especially in white

I think if you Love typeR seats you should go for it 🤔 if it was up to me buy the type S add the typeR seats all bolts-Ons 😅😅😅

Hell yes

I bought my type 6 for msrp (boost blue). I had a black Type S at $49.9 brand new from Acura here in CT. The Type S is not selling here in the Northeast. The resale will not be as good as with the type R.

The ITS is the better car in almost every way stock for stock. You get all the type r performance but you also some more livability and luxury. If a dealer wants markup for the R, there’s no reason to just put that money towards the S

Your unusually high degree of candor is genuinely refreshing. Most reviewers who own either the Type R or Type S greatly exaggerate the perceived differences between the two, and always in their car's favor. You didn't do that. For example, you didn't automatically take the default position that the Integra has the "better" sound system, or that it has "much less NVH than the Type R." Instead, you pointed out that the ELS system in the Integra is very bassy, and not very clear, which was exactly what savagegeese discovered in their sound graphs when they tested the two systems. They ultimately concluded that the Bose in the Type R actually sounds clearer and better, without the overabundance of bass. Similarly, you may also be the first reviewer who really knows both cars to state that the Type S really isn't any quieter than the Type R, despite the supposed lack of sound-deadening materials in the Type R. Ditto, regarding the real-world power of each motor, where you again told it like you saw it. Then again, a Type S presumably running on California's 91 Premium (rather than the 93 octane for which it's tuned to make that extra power over the Type R) isn't going to make any more power than the FL5, which is tuned for 91 octane. No idea why Acura and Honda did this. Why tune one for 93 and the other for 91, especially when they're aware that many of their markets (such as California) don''t offer 93? I was also curious to see whether you would notice any difference between the two in either the steering or shifting, since those are two areas where many reviewers have claimed that the Type R feels slightly sharper/more direct. You didn't feel there was any noticeable difference. Fair enough. Just more honesty on your part. In the end, I chose the Type R over the Type S, for a number of reasons. First of all, it's $7K less expensive, and I was eventually able to get a Boost Blue '24 FL5 for msrp, with no dealer markup or B.S. dealer add-ons. Secondly, I feel the Type R is the more "special" car, with the greater lineage and focus of purpose. I like that it stays true to its racier heritage. Next, I absolutely think it looks better, inside and out. I don't dislike the exterior of the Type S, but I much prefer the Type R's exterior looks, which I also feel will age much better than the Type S's more generic Japanese Sporty Car design. In terms of the interior, my preference there is even stronger for the Type R, largely due to those fantastic red seats, which not only look a lot better, but are also simply superior seats. Other things I prefer with the Type R are the +R gauges and shift lights, and the LogR displays. All therse things definitely add to the Type R's cool factor. Another point in the Type R's favor is its larger, lower hatch opening. Much better design there. Lastly, I knew that for only $215 I would be able to duplicate the one thing that absolutely weighs in the Type S's favor, which is the suspension damping. Being able to pop in the ITS ADS module eliminated the Type S's only real advantage, and I''m still basically $7K ahead, while also still having the option of swapping back to the racier CTR module whenever I want. Time will tell, but dollar to dollar, I also suspect that the Type R will end up having the superior resale value.

I chose the Honda. Why? I’m still not sure. Perhaps I just like the Type R styling more, both inside and out. The suspension in comfort mode is great; perfectly tuned for the street - the other two modes are useless as delivered. I think I may swap out the module. Car bought in L.A. in Dec. ‘23. I paid the Integra MSRP for the privilege of walking straight in and taking the black FL5 right off the showroom floor. Yes, I know I’m an idiot, please don’t beat me up. The car is an absolute hoot and I have no regrets.

Keep my gr86 and get a s2k Or trade my 86 for a FL5?

Savagegeese measures a quieter cabin on the ITS 🤷🏻‍♂

FL5 for me.

Not if it’s marked up to $70k.

If I could have bought a FL5 for MSRP when I was looking I would have bought a CTR. I got my ITS in September and the cheapest FL5 I found was 5k over. Type S was about 7k more so it was a no brainer for me.

Uh, you know when to shift by listening the engine. If you need lights to tell you when to shift, stay off the track and get an automatic! Lol

The type S will cost closer to $10K more than the type R.... MSRP bottom line including tax. There isn't enough difference to justify that, plus the type R to me looks better and drives better overall. I agree, the sound deadening just isn't happening with just about any Honda product. You'd have to buy a German car to fix that.

What integra

They should of made an ITR instead of an ITS

I just don't get what makes the Acura that much more.. the biggest difference is the damping module, and that is $300. You get basic Acura seats, and the quality really isn't that big of a difference from the CTR. Nowhere near 8k more. The Acura still doesn't have rear vents or charging either..

ITS has some key features not in type-R: * Heads up display. * Built in /subtle wide body kit. * Tire pressure gauge. * Slightly lighter 19" wheels. * Made in Marysville, Ohio * No big rear wing. * Different, more premium color options If I was younger Type-R would be the right car. The blue ITS is the perfect blue in my opinion. With the heads up display it reminds me of my 2007 Si Sedan. The module swap is a game changer though, if you want the balance of a street car but also a track car, the type-R is the right car. Cost wise, I think these cars should only be 4-5k apart, 7k + the type-R is the better deal. But I still prefer my Type-S, it's more rare/special.

for the price Ill buy a used porche or AMG 2 years old out of lease and smoke this. Honda quality is not what it used to be anyways and for 60K this is NOT worth it lmao

Civic cause it just looks better

Both car not perfect cause old school was good one

And theType R has navigation.... No nav in the Type S

if the type s had the type r seats it would be a easy decision. Those seats in the type s are ugly.

There's also the collectability and ultimate resale value down the line to consider. The R is limited numbers, built in Japan and will retain a higher overall desirability and value. Let alone the JDM aftermarket support. The S is initially costlier, not limited, built in the US and will have a lower collection value and a lesser historic automotive significance. Make my choice the CTR.

Nah. The Acura looks better

Built in Japan > built in Ohio...

The ITS wasn’t meant to be a track car… If you want that buy a CTR..

I went looking for type R but found out for the cost could get a GT mustang with 480hp. Civic should have been a 40k max

If you don't need to carry passengers, you don't need a grandma looking econobox shape of the R. You could get a GR86, Z, or move up to a Supra and have a good looking car.

$7k saved could be Volks/Hondata/Springs for the CTR starter pack

I shopped both when trading in my FK8. Personally I found the Type S to be a pretty lackluster “luxury” car: Seats are worse than the Type R. They’re poorly bolstered and basic looking. The gauge cluster is pretty bland. No fun S200 option and it honestly felt more Civic like than the Civic. Its additional 6 inches of length were more noticeable than I thought. It’s a bit of a boat. It lacks basic luxury features like a heated steering (as standard), cooled / ventilated seats, a power passenger seat, rear HVAC, or memory settings for your seats. I love the ITS front fascia but the stuck on rear flares are noticeably tacked on. They look pretty bad up close and because they’re plastic they aren’t truly paint matched. And finally, the price. We pay a luxury tax on vehicles above 50k and a yearly property tax as well. Which not only made the ITS more expensive to purchase, but it also means paying more taxes for essentially a rebadged Honda Civic. The FL5 is more car for the money. And if luxury is reasoning behind buying the Acura, just know my 40k CX-30 turbo technically has MORE luxury features than the ITS. Certainly not apples to apples but come on, I get more creature comforts as standard in a plebeian grocery getter. And I won’t get into the Japanese vs American assembled debate… In the end I found an FL5 for MSRP and that sealed the deal.