Nostalgia is one heck of a spice, hence why ‘90s and early-2000s imports are hot classic commodities right now. Prices are up across the board, from the E36 BMW M3 to the bugeye WRX STi. But the problem with heat, especially if it’s rose-tinted, is the eventual heatstroke. And a $112,112 2000 Acura Integra Type R might be a clear symptom.

Someone paid $112,112 for a 2000 Acura Integra Type R on Bring a Trailer

No, that’s not a typo. On January 29^th, a 2000 Acura Integra Type R crossed Bring a Trailer’s virtual block with a final price of $112,112. As indicated by the plaque on the center console, this car is #1439 in the production series. And it sold with less than 7000 original miles on the clock.

Admittedly, low-mileage cars tend to command higher prices than high-mileage ones, especially if they’re performance cars. This Integra Type R was also stock, minus some replacement parts and an anodized radiator cap. That’s rare for these hot hatches. So, no surprise that it sold at a premium.

Still, that makes this 2000 Acura Integra Type R over twice as expensive as the 1998 one that BaT also sold that later crashed. It’s also not far off the price of a modern Acura NSX. And keep in mind, the ITR started at $24,830 back in 2000, Hagerty notes. That’s still only $40,200 in today’s money.

So, what possessed someone to pay supercar money for what is essentially an old hot hatch? Well, the simple answer is, it’s an Acura Integra Type R.

The original Acura Integra Type R is a special driving experience

Technically, the Acura Integra—or Honda Integra, as it’s known overseas—wasn’t the first Type R product. But for a long time, it was the only Type R car to reach US shores. Yet that one taste was enough to get enthusiasts hooked. And it was enough to cement the hot hatch as a performance legend.

On paper, the DC2 Acura Integra Type R’s specs don’t seem that impressive, except for maybe the curb weight. But it has more numbers to share. For example, its 8400-RPM redline and 6000-RPM VTEC kick-in point. There’s also the B18’s 108 hp/liter specific output, a figure that’s only been beaten by one other road car: the Honda S2000. The ITR has some zeros to consider, too. As in, zero vanity mirrors, zero A/C, zero sound-deadening material, and even zero cruise control.

However, the Acura Integra Type R isn’t a number’s car: it’s a driver’s car. As in, not just one of the best-handling front-wheel-drive cars, but one of the best-handling cars, period. The five-speed manual is ridiculously smooth, the steering is sharp, and the seam-welded, stiffened, and lightened chassis is sublime. No wonder Road & Track put it on its shortlist of ‘greatest sports car of all time’ contenders.

Yes, the modern Civic Type R is more powerful, faster, and easier to live with. But few cars are as dedicated to driving fun as the DC2 Integra Type R, even today. And even fewer shrieks like it does at full speed.

But is it special enough to warrant a $112,112 price tag?

Still, as scintillating as the Acura Integra Type R is, does that justify spending six figures on one? Well, there’s always the ‘gotta have it’ mentality, which also explains why someone spent $245,000 on a 2005 NSX-T. And that car, like this 2000 Acura Integra, was arguably overpriced.

Although Integra Type R values have risen recently, they’re not typically $100K-plus classics. Even a pristine 2000 example usually tops out at $73K, Hagerty claims. And a well-worn one is still in the $40,000 range. The ITR might be a special beast, but a $112,112 price tag is more than a little excessive.

Admittedly, there are more expensive sports cars with a similar spirit, like the 911 GT3. But there are also cheaper ones that are easier to daily drive, like the Acura RSX Type S. And speaking of daily driving, therein lies the problem with a six-figure ITR. If you paid that much for such a pristine car, you’d likely be afraid to drive it. And that’s anathema to a car that’s laden with driving-focused nostalgic spice.

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