Pre-purchase walkaround
1999 Honda Integra Type R / GS-R / RS (DC2)
129,000 miles · asking $21,000
Five-year cost to own, maintenance and fuel
~$6,900
A lightweight front-drive coupe built around a high-revving B-series engine, the DC2 (especially Type R) is one of the best-handling FWD cars ever made. Money goes into abused clutches, tired synchros, rust, and undoing decades of amateur modifications rather than into the fundamentally durable drivetrain.
The roadmap
129k → 189k mi · 12k a yearYear 1Tires and the ordinary rhythm.~$1,309
Year 2Brakes and consumables.~$891
Yrs 3-5The ordinary rhythm: scheduled work and fuel. · The quiet year.~$4,745
Five years, all in~$6,900
typical parts + government labor rates (national labor rates) · an estimate, not a quote
What to look for on this one
Every used example of this chassis has the same questions. The bands show when each tends to surface; the gold line is this car at 129,000 miles.
Timing belt service overdue$900-$2,660 if not done
0typical window 60k-105k · this car: 129k, past it150k mi
The B18C is an interference engine, so a snapped belt destroys valves, making service history critical. No history of belt/water pump change, squealing or ticking at cold start.
Clutch and transmission wear$1,100-$2,180 if not done
0typical window 80k-150k · this car: 129k, inside the window150k mi
These cars are driven hard and revved to 8k regularly, and the third gear synchro is a known weak point on high-mileage examples. Slipping under hard acceleration, notchy or grinding 3rd gear shift.
Non-original or swapped enginepriced only if found
Condition-driven, not mileage-driven, so it is not in the totals and inspection is the only answer. VIN plate tampering, mismatched engine code, missing Type R badging authenticity.
windows from 0 owner complaints on file with NHTSA and community service data · · profile researched with cited sources, review pending
0 recalls →
Hand this to your inspector
A $300 inspection against this list is the best money in the whole deal.
01Verify engine code stamped on block matches the car (B18C for Type R/GS-R) and check VIN plate for tampering
02Confirm timing belt and water pump service with receipts, not just verbal claims
03Shift through all gears cold and hot, feeling specifically for 3rd gear grind or synchro balk
04Inspect rear wheel arches, rockers, floor pans, and rear subframe mounting points for rust
Walking into a negotiation?
This roadmap as a PDF, priced for your zip code, with the inspection checklist, a fair price for this example, and the negotiation sheet. Saved to your garage the moment you pay.
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typical parts + government labor rates · an estimate, not a quotecheck another car →