Greggogrecco 2021 Sonic Grey Type R #46059 Pic heavy

[Greggogrecco]

Hello!

I just wanted to formally introduce myself on the forum and start a tiny log for my Honda Journey. I doubt I will be updating this much. Due to life, budgets, etc. I plan to keep this Type R mechanically stock for majority of the first few years of ownership! This is my daily driver year round vehicle and has been a dream come true to finally get in the drivers seat of one of these. I had originally had a chance to own a 2017 CW R when they first came out however my girlfriend and I just signed on for a home loan and my finances no longer worked and I had to turn down the R right when they came out. I did however see the UK got a GT trim and I knew I wanted the Honda Sensing and technology included in the car and decided to wait it out knowing Honda would eventually put it on the USDM models.

No build journal is complete without going back, I first got into the Honda scene in college where in 2011 I purchased a 2003 Acura RSX Type S. This was my pride and joy and baby. I sunk quite a bit of money, made the mistakes going cheap, eventually finding sense and built it to be a fully OEM A-Spec (minus the A-Spec VIN) RSX or “Integra” Type S. Unfortunately it had inevitable engine issues and with my jobs I knew I had to get something more reliable and more affordable to feed.

I owned a 1999 Civic DX that was a California car that I drove back from San Francisco (bought off a friend) and travelled back to Missouri in. The car served me well for a year before I sold it to my little brother in Tulsa, OK and unfortunately was stolen 8-9 months later. The last sighting of it was a picture of a ticket I got for not paying through a toll bridge and I let them know it was stolen and they apologized and waived the citation obviously!

From there I purchased from my best friend a 2014 Cr-Z Base 6spd. I loved and hated the car. I knew it was temporary and I knew I needed 4 doors and something a bit bigger. Don’t get me wrong, the Cr-Z is slow but it has good torque and zips and takes corners like a boss! I will miss the mpg and 16 dollar fill ups!

Flash forward to 3 weeks ago, I walked into my Honda dealer to take a picture of the Type R and I planned to go home and figure out what kind of money I’d need to afford it.. they have a 5k markups on their Rs and for years my sales friend said they would never budge on it unfortunately.

I had my Cr-Z valued and they matched my ask. Going back though I explained how I could not afford the payment and my budget was “x”. Realizing that was not going to happen I went back to my friend there and sat down and showed him the math. I explained that my cushion/absolute not a dollar more budget was ”y” and said if you want to try and work it to get to “y” I will consider. 20 minutes later with a credit form, they found my interest rate and reverse math to meet me at “y”. The dealer was able to stack more money on top of my trade and shave and waive every fee and commission that was built into the cost and essentially negated the markup!

Low and behold, the picture of the window sticker turned into me driving it off the lot!

While Sonic Grey was my 3rd choice for color behind Boost Blue and Championship White, seeing the teal/blue in the grey pearl has definitely won my heart. As it is a daily driver and I do view this car more as an investment than a project, I am debating wrapping it vs clear bra to protect the front as I do take trips and the occasional gravel road in this car and do what I can to protect the paint as best as possible!

Adding some pictures for your enjoyment in chronological order! Thank you for reading!

My first build: 2003 Nighthawk Black Pearl RSX Type S A-Spec (with S2K cluster, Mugen Wing, other little Type R touches) I can do a full build list on it if people want!

My 1999 Civic Dx (lowered, custom retrofitted headlights, otherwise stock)

2014 CR-Z Hybrid Base

My ”first” Type R that I passed up on sadly (I still went to the dealer to see it and turn down in person)

2021 Sonic Grey Civic Type R

Sorry it’s sideways!

 

[bushido69]

Congrats. SGP was one of my 3 choices including BBP and PMM. Have no regrets whatsoever. Btw, love the plate on your RSX.

 

[Greggogrecco]

Congrats. SGP was one of my 3 choices including BBP and PMM. Have no regrets whatsoever. Btw, love the plate on your RSX.

Thank you! Same! Im debating running the same plate; I didn’t have the proper donation form when I renewed my plates and lost it.. it was definitely one of my favorites!

 

[Greggogrecco]

Being a huge fan of the Honda market in the UK (started with my love of the UKDM DC2 Integra), I did some research and realised that the UK market got a lot of Type R goodies that we don’t get here in the states. I was able to get an order in from Tegiwa and it arrived within a week!

Cost wise, all this shipped was about 100 dollars USD with discounted pricing that was inline with the same savings as one can get some accessories from the US market.

I will update pics when I get all this installed!

Type R rear cargo tray with dividers. It is not a FULL length tray (it does not cover that little incline section). The dividers however fit fairly flush in the tray itself so you can break it down! Pretty cool and very rigid so nothing will be flying around when I hit those corners hard in comfort mode!!

I got the OEM garnish for the engine bay, I know they sell them cheaper on amazon but from all my research it said they did not come with the clips needed and again, learning from past builds about using cheap eBay or amazon stuff... Ill end up paying for OEM later so just go OEM now.

Also pictured are the rear hatch metal protectors. I do use my hatch a lot and plan to do what I can to protect those areas. All my other cars suffered from scratches, gouges, etc. This will be a nice UK touch as well.

OEM Type R rear carpet. From my findings, the Type R only had the cargo tray or the Mugen carpet?
I love the tray and a carpet just on top for extra protection and cleanliness. I have huskies and the hair gets everywhere even if they never get in the car so this is easier to vacuum!

I have a couple other accessories coming too, I decided to just go all out with the imported Honda Access things.. I got a RHD brake hold button (to fill the blank plate on the console), the dog grate that goes in the hatch and the windshield and side mirror snow and ice covers.

As far as US accessories, red shift knob, back seat protectors and window visors are on the list.

I hate the blank plates so I have been thinking of trying to find the headlight washer button, parking sensor button, etc to fill those gaps as well.

 

[Greggogrecco]

Last UKDM bits arrived and my lighting goodies. Coming from a retrofitting background, the headlights needed an upgrade. I dont have the time or money to really build some headlights like I would’ve loved to do, so I went with the gold standard jewel eye Morimoto XB lights, working on LED bulbs for the rear and interior and got some new mirror markers from TRS as well. Luckily I have a friend who was able to get a big order in for some friends and I and I was able to get a really good discount on it all (paid roughly 900 dollars for all the lighting goodies!)

Not sure when I am going to install, I dont want to fudge up anything, so I might save it as a weekend trip to my buddy’s shop and we can use a lift and do it proper.

Onto the new goodies, I picked up the last of the EDM things, dog protector and the front windshield mirror cover for our cold snowy days at work and freezing rain we get!

Fits amazing, secures for RHD and LHD windshield and 3 soft tables secure behind the B pillar.

AND it folds into itself into its own bag!! Genius!! Hooks nicely and sits in the EDM tray, also the EDM metal protectors installed!

Dog Protector mocked up, not sure how to do this.. I don’t want to lose the privacy thing but it seems to be one or the other, so I might rig up a way to use both.. not planning to have dogs in the car, but I like to be prepared!

So far, LED turn signals, mirror sequential signals and I think a dome light? I forgot what I ordered.. Ill figure it out though!!

Headlights! Can’t wait To see a cutoff again… the biggest thing I miss about my RSX was the crisp cutoff from the HIDs.. sadly I know these wont be near to what I was able to tune and perfect but I know it’s better than anything else I have had since!

I think my wishlist is coming to a close..

Red Shift knob
Power folding mirror retrofit kit
Lower Door and front garnish
LED light finish
OEM Illumination kits

I am sure I will have more sooner than later..

 

[Greggogrecco]

Oem window visors on

morimoto xb headlights.

Red oem shift knob, gonna be used for winter and those hot summer months I think!

also I was gifted the Amazon 50 dollar wireless charger. Overall works great, but I recommend you use a more powerful plug for it to work consistently and see a good charge.

Lastly, to pair the wireless charging, I researched and got the wireless CarPlay bridge. It takes an extra 20 seconds to connect to the car and have yet to have any issues but it does accomplish the one thing I wish this car had which was wireless CarPlay.

 

[bushido69]

Oem window visors on

morimoto xb headlights.

Red oem shift knob, gonna be used for winter and those hot summer months I think!

also I was gifted the Amazon 50 dollar wireless charger. Overall works great, but I recommend you use a more powerful plug for it to work consistently and see a good charge.

Lastly, to pair the wireless charging, I researched and got the wireless CarPlay bridge. It takes an extra 20 seconds to connect to the car and have yet to have any issues but it does accomplish the one thing I wish this car had which was wireless CarPlay.

Currently looking into the wireless charging pad. Mixed reviews on Amazon website. Is the pad rubber or plastic? Currently running a pixel 6 with otterbox defender case and was wondering if you are having any connection issues with your phone if you have an outer case. How well does your phone stay in place and charging while u take hard turns and braking? Lastly, does the pad immediately turn on when u hit the ignition button or do u have to always press the power button? Btw, looks very oem. Thanks

 

[Greggogrecco]

Currently looking into the wireless charging pad. Mixed reviews on Amazon website. Is the pad rubber or plastic? Currently running a pixel 6 with otterbox defender case and was wondering if you are having any connection issues with your phone if you have an outer case. How well does your phone stay in place and charging while u take hard turns and braking? Lastly, does the pad immediately turn on when u hit the ignition button or do u have to always press the power button? Btw, looks very oem. Thanks

always stays on unless you power off. Not sure I run an oem apple case so it works. It is plastic so it does not stick if you drive hard but also I think too the camera bump plays a role in that.

I’d run a cig usb charger with a higher output than the one they supply you because the one supplied to me was a low amp one and it would charge the phone some and then stop like it couldn’t keep up. But switching it out it works amazing. Fits PERFECT. And you don’t really lose any room in there either!

 

[bushido69]

always stays on unless you power off. Not sure I run an oem apple case so it works. It is plastic so it does not stick if you drive hard but also I think too the camera bump plays a role in that.

I’d run a cig usb charger with a higher output than the one they supply you because the one supplied to me was a low amp one and it would charge the phone some and then stop like it couldn’t keep up. But switching it out it works amazing. Fits PERFECT. And you don’t really lose any room in there either!

Awesome. From the Amazon description, does it not come with a direct cig charger along with usb? If not, do u mind posting a link for which cig usb charger u are using. I have those same black and red little mats in the center console and cup holders. Mahalo

 

[Greggogrecco]

Awesome. From the Amazon description, does it not come with a direct cig charger along with usb? If not, do u mind posting a link for which cig usb charger u are using. I have those same black and red little mats in the center console and cup holders. Mahalo

It does come with one but I think it’s like a 1.4a or 1.8a one. i don’t have a link it was just one I always had laying around and it’s a 2.1a I’ll have to take a look tonight!

and yes! I kinda went on a little Amazon spree with the little touches, knob covers, the rubber inserts, the speaker covers etc. i find the little red accents nice and still keeps that OEM finish that you don’t really notice as an add on but looks as if the car came with it

 

[bushido69]

It does come with one but I think it’s like a 1.4a or 1.8a one. i don’t have a link it was just one I always had laying around and it’s a 2.1a I’ll have to take a look tonight!

and yes! I kinda went on a little Amazon spree with the little touches, knob covers, the rubber inserts, the speaker covers etc. i find the little red accents nice and still keeps that OEM finish that you don’t really notice as an add on but looks as if the car came with it

Exactly.

 

[Greggogrecco]

My girlfriend’s coworker is a professional photographer and grabbed a few shots of my car the other day for Christmas… least to say they turned out amazing! Enjoy!

 

[Greggogrecco]

Here with a bit of good and bad news. Two days after the last post, my girlfriend decided to end things after 7 years so I spent the next year piecing together a new life and journey.

i made the jump to Salt Lake City and got a job remotely and begin travelling the west. I decided to get back into my photography as well!

I camped in and out of the R and I realized I was going to need bigger. I will say for 1-2 people. The R is not a terrible place to sleep in!

Here are some shots from Moab and the Grand Tetons, but we made our way to Yellowstone, Utah’s

My time with the R was short lived, but I got my start of a new life and journey with her. 17k miles later and a sketchy dirt trail road I realized I needed ground clearance and a bigger vehicle to camp in, so I cashed in on the high demand market and I was able to almost straight swap into a 2022 4Runner.

already at 14k miles, it’s more appropriate for my life now. Has the big wheels, the lift, and other goodies. Fortunately the dealer linked me up with the new owner of my R and it’s being cared for and driven on streets only now like it deserves! The R is comfy off road for the most part which was very surprising but she didn’t deserve the off road life and I would’ve felt awful crashing it either off road or in the snow that we get out here!

I will add, against Toyotas wishes… (note the plate frame

and there really is no shift knob that can top the 20-21 R knob.

enjoy!

 

[bushido69]

Nice 4runr. I’d love to get a lunar rock one since my 12 trd sport tacoma was shipped to Jersey for my son in the service. Always been a Toyota fanboy.

 

[Greggogrecco]

Nice 4runr. I’d love to get a lunar rock one since my 12 trd sport tacoma was shipped to Jersey for my son in the service. Always been a Toyota fanboy.

I always thought if I got a Toyota it would be the Supra but I always loved the 4Runner. The Lunar Rock was an 8 month wait so I decided to go with red. It’s grown on me and I don’t find many built up red ones here in Utah despite it being like one of the most common vehicles here!

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