When it comes to M5 Wagons, the choice is clear – 70% of you would rather have your own V-10. In either car, you’re going to get some attention. But what if you don’t want that? Perhaps I can interest you in a little Corolla, and a little Acura?
Just little commuter cars, right?
The 2025 Toyota GR Corolla vs the 1998 Acura Integra Type R Coupe
When going on a first date, it would be rare for me to bring my old E92 M3. Didn’t want to give the wrong impression. Like me for me, all that. So instead I’d bring my 328i. That was a nice car, but very basic as far as BMWs go aside from some fetching Estoril Blue Metallic paint.
As I did this, I noticed something strange – no one knew the difference. The M3 might be a festooned beast now, but 15 years ago it looked pretty much like a regular 3 Series to the uninitiated. I miss that – being able to pull a Han Solo moment at any time and say “watch this!” as my poor passenger suddenly realized they made a terrible mistake getting in.
Mrs. Machines loves riding shotgun.
I’m reminded of this because I just finished a turn in Toyota’s brilliant GR Corolla. Yea, it looks angry, like a ‘roided up Blowfish. But even with that, it would be easy to dismiss the car as a nice little commuter. Then you realize this thing can keep up with that old E92. It’s fast!
Problem is, it’s not that cheap – $50,144 for my fully-loaded example. That puts it in a sort of no-man’s land of performance and price. A WRX? Not nearly as visceral. An M235i Gran Coupe? No way – poseur by comparison. The Evos of the world are gone, but let’s keep it old school and bring an Acura Integra Type R to the party. They can cost about the same, and I’ve found a nice example.
The 2025 Toyota GR Corolla
This is a rare car that’s only been on sale for less than two years, so not many used examples are out there. The ones that are – expensive. So let’s build one.
The GR Corolla comes in three trims; Core, Premium, and Premium Plus, and it starts at $39,000. In a way, the Core model is all you need. Sure, it’s missing leather, heated seats, a JBL stereo, and some parking sensors, but everything fun remains.
Yet the draw of the Premium Plus is hard to resist. Its $10k price jump might be 20% of the car’s cost, but it adds a forged carbon roof, Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, an extra radiator, and hood vents, among other things. The tires alone can cost $1,500, and they make such a big difference – we gotta spend the money, right?
Options are light otherwise. Choose from four colors (this Supersonic Red is $475). I’d probably select the six-speed manual, so you save $2,000 there. All in: $49,485. Just don’t wrap it and store it in a garage forever.
The GR is good – really good. Maybe Hall of Fame good. But that name, Corolla – it’s always stood for automotive appliance. Don’t let it stop you, because in 30 years it’ll be in the same position this Integra is now.
The 1998 Acura Integra Type R Coupe
Clearly the Type R is nowhere near as fast as the ‘Yota. But it does have a redline of almost 8,500 RPMs.
- 92,900 miles
- Championship White over black cloth
- Five-speed manual
- CarFax has a gap from 2018 until 2021, but the mileage is consistent
- An Alpine head unit is the only mod
- 15-inch (!) wheels, front strut tower brace and AC – it’s a spartan car
- Some chips and marks – rust on the exhaust
- Bid to $26,250 so far
A quick trip to Classic.com shows an average sale price in the mid-$40s. These just don’t come up for bid very often, so even ones with higher mileage are selling for a lot. Nothing beats that “VTEC just kicked in, yo!” sound.
Well, maybe the sound of a really angry three cylinder does. Which would you have?
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