Would You Buy This 32-Year-Old Acura Integra for Over $10,000?
The Acura Integra is a staple in the import sports car market. It’s been around since the late 80s and evolved well into the early 2000s, only to be discontinued. The Integra made a comeback for the 2023 model year, and we liked it when we reviewed it, but the older models have a special place in our hearts. That said, we were excited when we saw a pristine 1991 Acura Integra RS posted for sale at a local dealer. However, it’s priced well over $10,000.
The 1991 Acura Integra’s condition is what makes it rare
Let’s be clear, although finding a 1991 Acura Integra RS in excellent condition is a rarity, the car itself isn’t that rare. According to data from Car Sales Base, Acura sold 64,755 Integras in 1991 in the U.S., so there is plenty to go around. However, finding an Integra of this vintage that hasn’t been stolen, beaten up, or otherwise run to the ground is tough.
That being the case, this clean example that’s currently for sale at Shift Automotive in Denver, Colo., is a sight for sore eyes. According to the description in the ad, the car has a brand new paint job, a new radiator, reconditioned steel wheels, and wheel covers. No wonder it looks so clean. Despite the exterior and mechanical refresh, the CarFax only shows one recorded owner, but the previous maintenance is spotty at best.
It appears that this Integra was a garage queen for most of its life. The report shows that as of 2005, there were only 26,523 miles on the odometer. Around the same time, the owner had a lot of maintenance work done, including the timing belt, air filter, brakes, and fluids replaced. After that, the miles shot up to 112,469 by 2014, which increased to 152,304 at the time of the current ad posting.
With the car’s history in mind, is it worth the dealer’s asking price of $10,997? We don’t think so, but any die-hard Honda and Acura fans might deem it worth their top dollar.
What did the 1991 Acura Integra RS come with?
As you can imagine, the 1991 Acura Integra was spartan compared to today’s iteration. Instead of the turbocharged power that we’re all used to now, the Integra of the old days was powered by a 130-hp, naturally aspirated 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine. The model in question comes with the standard-issued five-speed manual transmission, but a four-speed automatic was available.
As for creature comforts, there were none on the RS model. Judging by the pictures in the Rio Red 1991 Integra ad, it doesn’t have air conditioning or power windows, but it does have power steering. It also has automatic seatbelts, which were phased out quickly in the early 90s. We hope they work well, though, as this model was not equipped with airbags or any other modern safety features we’re used to now.
How much should you pay for an early 90s Integra?
If you’re an Acura aficionado and need to get your hands on a clean second-generation Integra, we would recommend sticking to your local classified ads. Good-condition Integras like this one pop up from time to time and typically sell for far less than $10,000. We would suggest paying closer to $5,000 if possible. However, if you’re dying to get a clean one now, this Integra for sale in Denver could be exactly what you need.
