Once upon a time, you wouldn't necessarily have bet that a jazzed-up Honda would become such a revered and expensive collectible on the used market, but this is exactly the scenario that has played out in the last several years. The 1990s JDM market has started to go supersonic in recent times, with some of the most beloved Japanese performance vehicles from the era now beginning to become very pricey propositions.One such example is the Acura Integra Type-R DC2, which was produced until 2001. The car is still worth pretty much what it retailed for a quarter of a century ago, though there is a good chance it'll be worth a good chunk more in the near future. As a result, it could be one of the most tantalizing used JDM deals on the market right now, especially if you can find a good one that has been overlooked by the ever-more rabid collectors looking to snap one up. The Integra Type-R DC2 Is Becoming More Valuable AcuraIf you've woken up with a sudden craving for a DC2 Integra Type-R, then there's no easy way to say this. You'll have to empty out your bank account fairly comprehensively, as they've held their value pretty stoutly over the years. According to Hagerty's Valuation Tool, the cheapest of the lot are the later examples built between 1998 and 2001. A good condition machine should cost you around $38,000, though a concours example is currently valued at a cool $90k. The latter value has increased by a strong 10% over the past year, too, so securing a perfect one is getting ever more costly.Interestingly, good ones have reduced in value by around 5% over the same period, though it's likely they'll start seeing the same rise before too long. Mint examples of collectible cars are always the first to see considerable rises in value, before less perfect specimens start to follow as interest increases. The most valuable of the lot are currently the first-year 1997 specimens, which are currently valued by Hagerty at just over $43,000 in good condition. The reason for this is their rarity, as fewer than half the number were produced that year compared to the later versions. Honda's Hot Coupe Is Worth More Than Its Original Value Bring a TrailerAs a result of these pretty high values, the DC2 Integra Type-R is currently worth a similar amount of money to what it retailed for at the turn of the century. In 2001, you could lay down $24,450 to secure yourself the range-topping variant of Honda's compact coupe, which translates to just shy of $46,500 in today's money.This illustrates how valuable the Integra Type-R is getting in 2026, with a comparable-condition car now costing around double that. Plus, there is reason to believe that these values will only continue to head northwards over the coming months and years. JDM Cars Are Becoming Big Business Bring a TrailerOne of the primary reasons for the DC2 Integra Type-R becoming more valuable is that the 1990s JDM market is becoming prolific in the world of used cars. For one, their age means they are starting to be seen as classics, a title that tends to have a profound effect on the value of a given vehicle. In addition, sentimentality and nostalgia are also influential regarding this breed of car, as many gearheads who lusted after these cars when they were growing up in the 1990s are now becoming rich enough to actually buy them. Value knows no bounds when nostalgia gets involved, so huge increases in the value of cars that reach this threshold are common.Alongside this element, the DC2 Integra Type-R is also a rare commodity on the used market. After all, just 3,823 examples of the car were ever produced for the US market, making it one of the rarer JDM heroes out there. Just 320 of these were 1997 cars, illustrating why these are worth considerably more than their younger counterparts. Other JDM Collectibles Illustrate The Integra's Potential NissanTo exemplify the levels the DC2 could reach in the coming years, you can look at vehicles like the FD3S Mazda RX-7. Built between 1992 and 2002, tidy used examples have seen a considerable value increase of 111% in just five years, though this is nothing compared to the legendary Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R. This is worth a monstrous 128% more now than it was just half a decade ago, with mint examples selling for as much as $400,000.Given the rarity of the DC2 Integra Type-R, there is every chance it could follow in the footsteps of its fellow JDM models and breach the $100k mark in the coming years. The Integra Type-R Is Also An Awesome Drivers' Car Bring a TrailerBut wait, there's more to the Integra Type-R's story. Aside from being revered and rare, it's also valuable because it's one of the most engaging performance cars to originate in the 1990s. Built on the same underpinnings as the Civic Type-R of the same vintage, Honda's engineers worked wonders to tweak the chassis to provide excellent feedback to the driver, as well as offer balanced but agile handling that made it a bit of a weapon on a twisty road. The car was lowered by half an inch compared to a base Integra to help reduce its center of gravity, while the suspension and stabilizer bars were beefed up to eradicate any sloppiness.The high-revving 1.8-liter VTEC engine was also a honey, with its beefed-up internals ensuring it could produce 195 hp at an eardrum-bursting 8,500 rpm, but all the while remaining extremely dependable. While it wasn't the most powerful performance coupe in the world, its hot little powerplant was enough to push the car to 60 mph in under 6.5 seconds. The lightweight 2,639-pound frame helped make it even more commanding as a performance car, as did its helical limited-slip differential. Like its hatchback sibling, the Integra fired all its grunt the way of the front axle, so the LSD was critical to building a car that wouldn't exit stage left the moment you so much as glanced at the throttle with any steering lock engaged.If you intend to spend your money on a DC2 Integra Type-R to earn some money on it, refrain from visiting your favorite driving road when behind the wheel. Otherwise, don't be surprised when you find you've somehow added 10,000 miles to the odometer before too long. Its Modern Counterpart Likely Won't Reach The Same Heights AcuraWhile the Integra name disappeared following the conclusion of the DC5-generation model in 2006, Honda elected to bring it back for the 2023 model year. Integra enthusiasts were rather let down by Honda's decision to ditch the two-door coupe body style though, with the car now sporting a four-door sedan body based on that of the eleventh-gen Civic sedan. Like its predecessor, a high-performance version of the new model is available, though it instead uses the Type-S moniker.It has a lot more grunt under its sleek lines, with the awesome turbocharged K20C8 inline-four engine throwing 320 hp at the front wheels. You can even have the car with a six-speed manual transmission, while its modern suspension and steering setups make it a riot when you get it onto an open road. The thing is, buying one with a view to selling it on for a profit could be risky, especially in the short-term. Firstly, the Type-S name doesn't hold as much as that of the legendary Type-R badge, so it's likely the car won't be held in such high esteem over the long-term. The New Integra Type-S Is Much More Common Acura Secondly, the Integra Type-S won't be anywhere near as rare as the DC2. Given that the Type-S accounts for around 10% of the Integras sales, it's likely that around double the number of the newer models have already been sold versus the DC2, in just its first three years on sale. Acura has no plans to ditch the vehicle anytime soon either, so this total will only continue to accumulate over the coming years. Alongside the less special badge, its relative lack of exclusivity will likely limit its ultimate profit potential. That said, if you're after a daily driver rather than a museum piece, the modern-day Integra Type-S stands out as an excellent alternative. Should you fancy securing some tasty profit, then you'd better jump on the DC2 Type R train before it leaves the station.
