Robin Hood 2b Or Honda Integra Dc5?

[Guest Edge]

Hi all,

 

Currently i'm looking into purchasing 1 of 2 cars

 

Either a Honda Integra DC5 0-60 in 6.7secs with a top speed of around 150mph.

OR

I've always fancied a RH and was wondering what the performance of one is actually like. I'm not mega flush so was not looking too spend too much. I had seen the following RH for sale

 

Robin Hood Wide Body,

new RS2000 wheels,

2.0 Pinto with fast road cam, high compression head

300lb AVO coil over shocker on rear, uprated suspension on front to give a very positive feel to the handling.

Lowered Sump and pickup

Excellent runner

 

I thought one of the current owners out there may have something similar and would be able to shed a bit of light on how it compares performance wise?

 

Many thx

John

Edited February 10, 2009 by Edge

[philshelton]

it depends what you want from a car 0 to 60 in a hood is good and sitting so feels great top speed is no where near 150 but its got to be the most fun thing to drive

[Guest mtechautomotive]

it depends what you want from a car 0 to 60 in a hood is good and sitting so feels great top speed is no where near 150 but its got to be the most fun thing to drive

 

I had a DC5 for a while and the problem is becuase the car is ;comfy' it really doesent fell that quick. Plus, Honda LIE about their specs, we have had so many Hondas on the dyno with unhappy owners with the low power they produce.

 

After road testing several of our customer cars (RHs, westfields etc) I can safely say if you are after a fun weekend track car then go for the RH. If you want a quick road car, get an evo or scooby (600HP scooby is what I'm currently finishing off) but if you want to go from A-B, astra diesel van lol

 

The Honda is a family mans fastish car, not really extreme in any one sense.

 

If its the look, then thats up to you

 

FWD=not much fun lol

 

Matt

[Guest Edge]

Thanks for that you two.

 

Yeh I wanted something that was fun, I've had a DC2 before and really liked it but I have a family now and just wanted something fun. I can also see the benefits that a RH would bring as would prolly be cheaper to run as it would only be insured and taxed for 6 months compared to the DC5 which would have to be a replacement for our main car. Insurance and tax would sting me.

 

The only reserve I have is that need for speed, i'd like to do track days etc.

 

Just one question which maybe silly but please note I'm a full on novice. I've seen the locust fireblade obviously running on the honda fireblade engine. Now I'm assuming this is faster than the 2.0l Pinto? If it is faster could this not be popped into an RH?

[Guest Jomeo69]

As with all Seven Shape cars they are about as aerodynamic as a brick and due to this the top speed will be lower i think the max you could safely go is about 130 but that would be really hairy and you would need a very well tuned V8 with plenty of torque or a highly tuned 4cyl engine.

I think the thing here is perceived speed. dont forget with nothing to totally surround the driver like doors and a solid roof, being open to the elements and sat about 4 or 5 inches from the floor the perceived speed is much higher.

As a driving experience the RH would win out over most cars and would also be fast enough to 60 for most to thoroughly enjoy and use on a track with the potential to upgrade later when your more confident in the car and more experienced.

 

yes a fireblade engine would fit into a RH with some substantial modds to the engine bay and electrics and would be considerably quicker to 60 than a 2ltr pinto but this would be a expensive option especially considering under the new SVA/IVA regs you would need a reverse gearbox built into the transmission.

Id say check out some of the other threads on here about upgrading the standard engine bt stick with the RH idea for sure.

Hope this helps

Joe

[Guest timswait]

In pure performance terms I reckon the two cars would be fairly closely matched, but the Honda would probably have an edge. The RH would be about the same to 60, but much slower top end (top speed probably around 100-110). Around a track the Hood would probably win on a very tight twisty circuit, the Honda would win on a more open faster circuit.

But for which one you'd have more fun in on the roads at legal speeds and I don't think there'd be any contest. Driving a seven is very different to anything else. No doors, you can literally reach down and touch the road (but don't ), the noise, the handling is good if it's well set up (RWD is just more fun than FWD!), and the sensation of speed are all things that make it special. Also if you're getting it as an extra car and keeping your main car then the RH can be reserved for more special use and can be tuned beyond what would be practical for an everyday car. As regards running costs, the RH would probably be cheaper, but ONLY if you can work on it yourself. If you think you'll need to be paying a garage to do work on it then you'll need a specialist and that'll cost.

If you want to boast specs in the pub then go for the Honda, if you want fun to drive go for the Hood. Come to think of it Hoods are quite good for boasting about in the pub since the Caterham R500 blitzed the Top Gear track, and most people seem to think that any seven type car must go as quick .

Re the Fireblade. A fireblade will probably give similar (or slightly lower) power output to the Pinto in the car in the ad and you'll will have to rev it much harder to reach it. The reason the Fireblade can make a car so quick is that the engine itself is very light. To make advantage of it you need a light car. To get the advantage of a bike engine you'd need to drastically lighten the car, and even then the chassis is still heavier than a Locost. Personally I wouldn't even consider a Fireblade. A larger bike engine like a Blackbird can work (there's a Blackbird engined 2B that's reportedly very quick), but even then I'd personally go for a Zetec or Duratec over it. Similar power but delivers it over a wider range. Yes a bit heavier, but as an overall percentage of the car's weight not too significant.

[Guest outtolunch]

but if you want to go from A-B, astra diesel van lol

 

I had a rental one when my postman pat lookalike connect was being repaired but it was this one the 1.9 spotive se and it went like the proverbial off the shovel.

 

 

only had it a few days because the rental company were withdrawing them, to many speeding tickets being collected I suspect.

[Guest shaggy]

Hi all,

 

Currently i'm looking into purchasing 1 of 2 cars

 

Either a Honda Integra DC5 0-60 in 6.7secs with a top speed of around 150mph.

OR

I've always fancied a RH and was wondering what the performance of one is actually like. I'm not mega flush so was not looking too spend too much. I had seen the following RH for sale

 

Robin Hood Wide Body,

new RS2000 wheels,

2.0 Pinto with fast road cam, high compression head

300lb AVO coil over shocker on rear, uprated suspension on front to give a very positive feel to the handling.

Lowered Sump and pickup

Excellent runner

 

I thought one of the current owners out there may have something similar and would be able to shed a bit of light on how it compares performance wise?

 

Many thx

John

 

John,

 

As others have said, a bike engine is possible, but you would probably be better off with a red top. The chairman (Steve in stockport) did a conversion last year and completed it on a budget of less than a grand. I doubt though that its any quicker than mine, although we have not yet gone head to head at the lights (Mine's the yellow one wth a black checker finish to the bonnet).

 

I'm glad to see you are doing a bit of research though before you come to have a look at mine.

 

Si (AKA Tarmac Terrorist)

[Guest diyer]

Have a look in the for sale section - Robin Hood Lightweight with zetec engine fitted?????

 

Simon

[Guest Edge]

John,

 

As others have said, a bike engine is possible, but you would probably be better off with a red top. The chairman (Steve in stockport) did a conversion last year and completed it on a budget of less than a grand. I doubt though that its any quicker than mine, although we have not yet gone head to head at the lights (Mine's the yellow one wth a black checker finish to the bonnet).

 

I'm glad to see you are doing a bit of research though before you come to have a look at mine.

 

Si (AKA Tarmac Terrorist)

 

 

Have a look in the for sale section - Robin Hood Lightweight with zetec engine fitted?????

 

Simon

 

Gotta do some research you know.......i'd only get bored otherwise and my wife would rip my arms and legs off if I purchased something I didnt really want. She wanted me to go for the DC2 or DC5 as then the whole family (babies) could go in it.......myself......i'd rather the RH cos then it would be my toy and I wouldn't have to share it (or let her drive it) plus they look fun.

 

As for the lightweight, for a fun summer car its a little outta the price range I was looking at.......credit crunch an all I was hoping to get started a lot cheaper. Plus then I won't have to suck up to the wife as much

[speedtripledan]

Hi,

My 2b had a 2.0L pinto efi with worn cam and that was as quick as my mates elise. He then got an exige after i put a recon 2.1 pinto we are about the same 0 to 60 check out you tube

to see terminal speed was more than 60 when he went past.

Dan

[Guest Paul Morgan]

If you have already have a family car and enough space to keep another then go for the hood, it will never be as fast on top end or have as many creature comforts as the Dc5, but will always be more fun. And will not depriciate in the same way (if at all).

 

If you have some mechanical skills then the upgrades and engine choices are only limited by your imagination, plus your wallet would not need to be as big as tunning/upgrading a Dc5. If you don't have mechanical skills their are always members of this excellent club to help you, as long as the tea and biscuits keep flowing.

 

If you only have the Dc5 as your 'daily driver', how often on a Sunday morning would you think 'today I'll take the Honda for a drive' without actually needing to go anywhere.

 

I also have a Honda (not the Dc5 granted) as my normal car and it just doesn't compare for the fun factor.

 

Have you asked the same question on the Integra owners website ???

 

Paul

[Guest Jabberwocky]

I have had a few cars of this ilk as I would imagine a lot of people on here have had, however in the past I have owned a Honda Integra Type R, Honda Civic SI-VTEC, Honda Civic 1.5LS (current daily runner)

 

I love all Japanese cars and Honda's however I feel that to drive them properly you have to rev the *bleep*s off them. I also currently run an Evo V (which is for sale if anyone wants one) and that is a very quick car as you can imagine.

 

However the Hood makes me smile, it is not the fastest car on the road, however you get in it and press the loud pedal the rawness of it all makes it something different. something special, that is not for the faint hearted. However if you are into Jap cars that you can just get into turn the key and press the loud pedal then maybe a kit car is not for you. If you like fettling, fine tuning, and a very raw special smile then get the hood

[Guest salty_monk]

If you like track days then this is a very valid point:

 

Do you need your car for work?

 

If the answer is yes, buy the hood for definite. The chance of breaking something on track or being involved in a ding are too high to risk a car that you need for earning your living if you don't have something else to fall back on.

 

Dan

[Guest timswait]

If you like track days then this is a very valid point:

 

Do you need your car for work?

 

If the answer is yes, buy the hood for definite. The chance of breaking something on track or being involved in a ding are too high to risk a car that you need for earning your living if you don't have something else to fall back on.

 

Dan

That's a good point.