So in my search for a new daily driver I've been all across the board in terms of cars I've been looking at. Recently found a 2000 Acura Integra LS thats rust free and right in my price range. Only thing, having owned BMW's and Saab's I dont know a darn thing about them. Can anyone share me some knowledge about them?
The LS has the non-VTEC B18. Basically it is base model.
^What he said.
Good daily driver, B18B motor that makes 140hp i think. Long transmission (relatively), good gas mileage, handles acceptably.
You could do far worse. 
^What he said (too)
They have the longest transmissions of all the integras (ls - gsr - typer from tallest to shortest). This obviously helps mileage, but I swapped a type-r geared tranny onto our old LS and it really woke the car up (like I couldn't believe they didn't sell them from the factory like this). Also, if it matters to you, they're still in the double-wishbone era of Hondas.
Also, don't expect the stock suspension to feel firm enough. While the foundation for great handling is there, from the factory it has more roll than many modern cars. Luckily, there's a bajillion of options in suspension hardware. Being double-wishbone all around you can stay pretty mild on the spring rates as long as you have good dampers and a thicker rear swaybar.
Speaking of rust free, check underneath the trunk lining (spare tire well) for water or rust. The taillight gaskets like to leak on these cars every 80K or so.
Matt B wrote: ^What he said (too) They have the longest transmissions of all the integras (ls - gsr - typer from tallest to shortest). This obviously helps mileage, but I swapped a type-r geared tranny onto our old LS and it really woke the car up (like I couldn't believe they didn't sell them from the factory like this). Also, if it matters to you, they're still in the double-wishbone era of Hondas. Also, don't expect the stock suspension to feel firm enough. While the foundation for great handling is there, from the factory it has more roll than many modern cars. Luckily, there's a bajillion of options in suspension hardware. Being double-wishbone all around you can stay pretty mild on the spring rates as long as you have good dampers and a thicker rear swaybar. Speaking of rust free, check underneath the trunk lining (spare tire well) for water or rust. The taillight gaskets like to leak on these cars every 80K or so.
Any thoughts on "prone to leak areas" from the previous generation? My 91 gets water on the back seat and in the hatch area, and I'll be damned if I can figure out where the hell it's coming from! Sorry for the threadjack btw.
+1 on the handling. They are way heavier than you'd imagine, and very softly sprung. They are also dead-nuts reliable. Just keep changing that oil and stay on top of the timing belt/water pump.
IIRC - Poopshovel, I've never owned the gen2, but the gen3 drainage channels around the hatch glass would get clogged and cause stuff like that. I'm probably preaching to the choir, but I'd clean out any debris around the top of the hatch (hinges) and inspect the rubber seals around there very carefully. That area needs to be cleaned on the gen3's about every year imho.
When in doubt, check www.team-integra.net - it's been forever since I was active over there, but it's easier than dealing with honda-tech.com
To go back to the "original" question, there were, over it's course 5 different trim levels of Integra...tho not all were in existence every year of production.
Example? In 1996 you could pick from RS, LS, Special Edition, and GS-R.
Some of these trim levels were manual transmissioned only (the GS-R) and ONLY the GS-R has the higher-output, V-TEC engine. In some years, the GS-R was a 4 door sedan (not sure about all years).
LS in the later years were the "entry point" for ABS....RS and LS up to about "93 or '94(?) were also NON-ABS, so if you look at other cars besides the 2000 you are looking at, watch for ABS. '93/'94 is also about the time a sunroof became standard on the LS.
As a former owner of a 2nd gen. Integra, these are decent cars. I second the idea that they are built like tanks and will EASILY do 200K + miles if you keep on top of the oli and the timing belt. For actual driving? Sort of like a Honda Civic (the 2000 Integra was "BASED" on the platform used for the 1992-1995 Civic), but a bit heavier and better built. In the way a Cadillac is heavier than a comparable Chevy.
what they all have said... I've a '01 LS that has never let me down... used to autocross it (STS then DSP ) did a couple of track days with it ... instructors were somewhat impressed with what you can get out of an Integra... went back to a softer spring setup and it's now my "good" car .. mostly used for trips and such
as has been said ... change the oil and keep on top of the milage for the t-belt etc
integraguy wrote: Some of these trim levels were manual transmissioned only (the GS-R) and ONLY the GS-R has the higher-output, V-TEC engine. In some years, the GS-R was a 4 door sedan (not sure about all years).
forgot the type R 
Another spot to check for corrosion is the rear wheelwell at the point closest to the door--that's a notorious spot on many Hondas, actually. They put a plastic sheath over the spot-welded fender element that bends inward towards the center of the car (the part you'd roll to gain clearance), and they can trap moisture over time.
Even a base Integra is a fun car to drive. A good rear anti-roll bar (preferably one with a bracket reinforcement), some fresh dampers and maybe stiffer springs will wake up the handling completely. I had a Neuspeed bar on my GS-R sedan, that and some Koni dampers with the 5-way adjustable perch, lowered the car just a tad and made the balance just about neutral.
They're easy to work on, super reliable, easy to modify and surpassingly stuff-friendly with a great big hatch and fold-down rear seats.
Scott Lear wrote: They're easy to work on, super reliable, easy to modify and surpassingly stuff-friendly with a great big hatch and fold-down rear seats.
QFT - ours serves as our german shepherd mobile and road trip car. He's 100lbs and fits back there great with room to spare (seats folded down of course).
You can also fit a whole set of wheels-n-tires 
We once stuffed a mid-sized recliner and a small bookshelf into my friend's Gen 3 LS hatch. Hatch closed no less. Comfortable car, sprightly, and practical.
I almost bought a 1998 GS-R over my old Impreza, but there were three problems with it, none of them mechanical:
1) I couldn't talk down the dealer. GS-Rs command a premium thanks to the engine.
2) DC2 (3rd-gen) Integras are a HUGE theft target where I live. The Honduh boiz like to yank the GS-R (and worse, the Type-R!) engines out and stuff them into their rusty EG and EK Civics. Sadly, this also makes the EK Civics (1996-2001?) a theft magnet, esp. authentic Si models.
3) Insurance was asinine, thanks to part 2 and my young age.
If you live in an area where a sizable amount of drivers think the F&F movies are still relevant, I would skip Integras unless you have a secure place to park them.
Yup, definitely one of the most stolen cars evar. I have heard of friends of friends who gave up on owning them over getting tired of them getting stolen.
I helped my mom buy an 01 GS/5spd w/60k in 09. Loaded, near-perfect condition..
Right off the bat i would say that i thought it was floppy and slow compared to my near stock SOHC Neon i had at the time (not to mention other things i owned), so dont expect it to have a dynamic personality out of the box (my 01Insight has more). And, it got fairly crappy mpg for what it was (around 30 avg), but i LOVED the size of it, the versatility, the dash, the front end styling, and on and on. I think it's one of the best car designs of the 90s. The things i didnt like about it could be fixed.
Id like to have one myself, but it is hard to find a nice one, and nice ones dont go cheap.. Case in point, i helped my mom SELL that 01 GS w/80k on it for $6200 in '10..and then helped her buy an 03 Volvo S80 w/95k for $5k. So yeah... 
at one time they were THE most stolen car in the US ( as a % of total sales ) the B 18 made it a theft magnet .... not quite as bad now... the K engines are starting to take over as THE engine of choice.... still don't leave it at the curb with keys in it 
Actually the RS is the base trim, roll up windows and no ABS.
The LS being the step up, came with pw and pdl. Sometimes they had a cd player as a option with tweeters.
GSR came with the vtec motor, shorter geared transmission, leather interior. front and rear sway bars, 4 door had a bigger rear sway then the 3 door.
Type-r was around that year as well, 200hp vtec motor, LSD, even shorter close ratio transmission. Added body rigidity, much bigger sway bars in the front and back. Limited paint color choice, 5 lug wheels, 2 piston front calipers.
The LS transmission is more sought after for when you start making good power, the longer gears are just about perfect when your cruising or add a turbo. Most of the hardcore all motor people swap transmission gears around, using 1-4 of the civic type r or integra type r and the LS's 5th gear for top speed.
1998-2001 also got different front and rear bumpers then the 1994-1997 cars.
digdug18 wrote: Actually the RS is the base trim, roll up windows and no ABS. The LS being the step up, came with pw and pdl. Sometimes they had a cd player as a option with tweeters. GSR came with the vtec motor, shorter geared transmission, leather interior. front and rear sway bars, 4 door had a bigger rear sway then the 3 door. Type-r was around that year as well, 200hp vtec motor, LSD, even shorter close ratio transmission. Added body rigidity, much bigger sway bars in the front and back. Limited paint color choice, 5 lug wheels, 2 piston front calipers. The LS transmission is more sought after for when you start making good power, the longer gears are just about perfect when your cruising or add a turbo. Most of the hardcore all motor people swap transmission gears around, using 1-4 of the civic type r or integra type r and the LS's 5th gear for top speed. 1998-2001 also got different front and rear bumpers then the 1994-1997 cars.
only thing I can add / change from your list is that the 01 LS came with a rear sway bar ( small diameter but still it had one )
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