THSCC Forums

Back in the day (I'm 26 and I sound like an old fart, oh jeez) when I was a honda fanboy, the DC2 integra type R's didn't have a stereo and AC because of weight savings, no way that cut anywhere NEAR 59 lbs off of the car.

And it would seem that they could easily add 59 lbs of chassis bracing (probably less) and make the coupe stiffer than the sedan if their intent was to deliver a car that were good for road racing, although then it depends on the racing series rules, so I suppose thats a unique situation. That is interesting that the sedan is stiffer though, and a plausible explanation I guess.

I suppose I shouldn't blame Honda though, I should blame those responsible for the market demand and the obsession with having one car that can do it all, instead of my theory, which is to have a car for each need (4 door for daily driver/people hauler, the beater truck for practicality, and the mini for fun).

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2012 MX-5 Sport SUV

Would have been better if Eddie G. had been the test driver.

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Not spectacular just decent.
I'm not sure what I'm driving.
Maybe an ITR in DS.
Or half-assed STX prepped 330.

Unfortunatly, who isn't these days. Only very small volume companies have some soul left and even those have to serve the master of whatever niche they fill otherwise they will sink below the surface and go out of business.


Exactly. I am a big Honda and Porsche fan. In general, Porsche went this way many years ago and (at least as far as the US market) Honda has always been all about just selling cars.

I have been reading my newer/updated copy of "Excellence was Expected" (which is a very good book if you are into Porsches) and it is interesting to read about the design goals of the water cooled engines that are used today in the 911/Boxster/Cayman line. Reduced part count, significantly reduced assembly time, etc. The down side of those design goals is that the newer engines are not quite built for motorsports like the old split case engines were/are (some of the higher performance models use engines that use the split case). They could have built the new engine around the design strengths of the older case (such as keeping the dry sump), but it would have just added extra cost.

Honda (which I believe is viewed as more of a motorsport based manufacture in Japan) has always focused on selling cars that the market demands. I view the S2000 and NSX (and somewhat the US Integra Type R) as mass production oddities in that the NSX was the "halo" car of it's day (look what we can do if we want) and to a degree that S2000 is just a more recent halo car. What I do find confusing about Honda is their willingness to produce the occasional niche car for JDM (i.e. hard core Type Rs), but don't act that way in the US. They are all business when it comes to the US market.

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Richard Casto
1972 Porsche 914
2013 Honda Fit Sport
2015 Honda Fit EX
http://motorsport.zyyz.com
Money can't buy happiness, but somehow it's more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than a Kia.

well, look at the forms of motorsport that are popular in the US as opposed to other areas of the world. Heck, formula one doesn't even gets its own homepage on ESPN.com, interest in it here is so poor that speedvision only actually flies one crew member to the races, then do their "mystery science theater 3000" impressions for the rest of the commentary (although they are quite knowledgeable commentators). Motorsports doesn't really sell cars here like in the rest of the world, you're right. In Japan, JGTC is popular, and helps sell cars because its a lot closer to actual "stock car" racing than what we have here (they are far from stock, but a LITTLE bit closer than NASCAR)

I suppose I'm veering this thread a bit off topic now though. Is there any official word as to whether the US will see the type R (sedan or otherwise)?

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2012 MX-5 Sport SUV

BTW,

In some areas of the world, they judge the brake size by the size of the wheel it can fit behind, not the size of the rotors..

That's why is has the 17" brake size on it.

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Marty Howard
2011 NASA SE Factory Five Challenge Champion
Track Events Logistics Coordinator - TZC/THSCC
2007 Factory Five Challenge Car.
http://www.mh-motorsports.com