Thread: B13 SE-R versus ITR?

I personally owned a brand new ITR in 2001-2004 before it got stolen. i also owned my se-r at the same time. It is always been one of my favorite cars...and i have driven and owned many fast cars. i also owned a 2005 S2000. both of these cars were the best handling cars i have ever driven. i think that for what you are looking into... the ITR would be the better buy despite the higher cost. but then again look at what you are getting in stock form. a solid B18C5 vtec engine, Bigger ITR brakes. Lighter Chassis, Larger sway bars and strut bars, an aggressive geared transmission, and better suspension set-up to name a few. You can see where my vote is. but hey... you could wake up and it will be gone. so if you do decide to go with the ITR, also consider if you are going to be able to protect it.

Im my own personal order of best handling cars that i can personally vouch for...
#1 the best that i have owned in terms of handling and performance 2006 EVO MR

#2 the next best thing in handling and performance. this with some motor work and even better suspension would be un-stopable.

#3 perfectly balanced handles like on rails but needs like 100 more hp i think.

# good handling , but the NX2000 is way better for that type of thing.

Either Dave Coleman or Mike Kojima wrote about ITR vs SE-R in SCC back in the day. There may have been more than one article. The SE-R will be cheaper to build but be prepared to spend time setting it up. Things are a lot better since the SR20VE has become commonly available but the ITR is a sweet machine right out of the box.

Finding the ITR might be a problem too but its not like good SE-Rs grow on trees.

True they don't grow on trees, but you can find a nice on for 3k. An ITR is going to run you 10-15k for a nice one. you can make one hell of a fast se-r for the extra 7k. However when your done the sentra is only worth 3-4k still where as you could almost get your money back for the ITR lol. From that standpoint the ITR is a better investment.

7k into an se-r however would eat an ITR for breakfast. Drop 7K into the engine and suspension wheels and tires, and you have a very capable machine albeit a $4000 machine

At the limit of driving and suspension tuning though the ITR's setup would eventually make it the better choice.

Yeah I read it on se-r.net, it wasn't exactly a comparo but did liken the handling of the SE-R to an ITR when set up.

This is some good insight I'm getting from you guys. B13 VE has been something I've wanted to do for a long time now since I sold my B14 and this just makes it easier to want to go do it.

Get yourself a B13 VE. But make it an NX2000 B13. Not a Sentra.

A stock ve might match up with a stock itr. My stock itr laid 163whp to the wheels. most stock ve's will not. i speak from extensive expierence. i love nissan more than most, but i do know the truth.

Hands down the ITR is over all better car compared to a B13. You will have to put a lot into a B13 to make it run / perform like a stock Type R.

ITR, I've driven quite a few and even owned a modified GS Integra, the suspension and ride quality of a double wishbone setup are far superior to the nissan front suspension setup. For road course driving, ITR, for drag strip SE-R.

The suspension advantage matters if your going road racing. If this is a street car seriously your not going to be pushing it to 10/10ths. If you do it can be a very dangerous thing. Not only for you but worse yet for some unsuspecting driver on the road.

If I was going to get a FWD Honda I'd pick the 88-91 CRX. Yeah the R is the factory racer, but a CRX is probably like 400-500 pounds lighter. Maybe even more. The B motor will go into a CRX as will the trick transmisison. With the Honda lack of torque being lighter weight will be pretty important. I remember a friend of mine had an integra GSR with some mods. It was decently quick, but it felt so limp dick. It made a lot of noise but the ooomph factor wasn't there.

Hondas are in their element at the road course. On the street it is a much different story. I'd pick torque for the street.

I think there are still some decent CRX's to be found out there. Just gotta spend some cash for the clean examples. I tell you what I don't like about the Honda camp though. The ridiculous prices for motors. You could get yourself like 2-3 Tiger Japanese DEt's for one Integra R motor. What is dumb is that a B18C5 will never make the power a DET is capable of making unless it is also boosted.


With all things considered if I was in your shoes I'd probably not pick an R because of theft. I've had my car broken into on two occasions. Both times I wanted to take a bat to somebodys face. I hated being powerless to do something about it. If I was to get an R I'd debadge it, do a trunk lid swap, and store the legit R wheels for track days. I'd only get white or black, as those can blend in as regular Integras. I'd also watch my rear view for cars following me back home.