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Acura RSX (All years/types)
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Comments
I almost bought a GTS, but it was more expensive, there weren't a lot of dealers willing to negotiate, and I ultimately preferred the Type S package.
You'll get a great car either way tho...
I had the celica and the RSX side by side, and the celica will hold longer items than the RSX. It is also deeper in the cargo area, but this has the disadvantage of making it harder to reach down to get things out.
In cockpit space, the RSX wins hands down.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
So what should i be looking at as far as price. the TMV on Edmunds says about 21,570, and thats without those dealer options. Pricing I'm getting from dealers at present with those options is about 22,3 - 22,9. Would love to get it to 22 even, but is that even a good price??
Thanks.
welst10, since you're in north NJ, check out Montclair Acura (973-239-3700). I heard they got some good prices up there since they sell by volume. Talk to the Indian salesman there. A friend bought a 2003 TL this past March for ~$27.5k, which at the time (and even now) was a very good price. As far as Toyota goes, I don't know which one is good. But I can suggest to you to not even waste your time w/ Toyota of Morristown. What a poorly operated dealership.
Good luck!
Park Avenue was a great dealership to work with when my parents were shopping for a TL-S last spring (ended up with an A6 3.0Q). Very knowledgeable.
I've never dealt with Bloomfield Acura, but I think they are the #2 volume Acura dealer in the country. I was at a BBQ in Freehold, NJ and the owner of the house has an RL, MDX, 3.0 CL, & Integra which he bought from Bloomfield.
I'd stay away from Ramsey Acura (On Rte 17S) because they always seem unwilling to negotiate.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
The 2002 RSX automatic was a nice car. The design is contemporary enough but was more conservative that I had hoped for. I think they held back.
I hated the way you need to shift the automatic transmission from park to drive in maze pattern because of the "sportshift" feature. Makes quick "K" turns take longer. Maybe this is something I could get used to but it seems if you want a stick get a stick or design a better way to integrate this feature.
Despite the fact that the RSX has the larger engine... the Celica is much quicker from a stop. It is very easy to get going quickly and if you do a lot of city driving and need to get around slow buses... the Celica does noticably better. I wish the RSX auto wasn't such a dog.
I priced the RSX as well. This is a hot car and not as much opportunity to wheel and deal. Not a lot of inventory either it seems. Have seen plenty of Type S though.
My fave color was also eternal blue... which many dealers didn't order enough of so they are rare. I saw the locate sheet for the PA NJ NY area... only about 12 of them.
Anyway, i definitely agree on the styling...it has a much more refined contemporary look than say the celica or eclipse (the other cars i was initially considering). It didn't take me long to decide that the looks of the celica and eclipse were too tacky and flashy overall. (that aggressive styling package on the Celica is completely absurd-looking) They were sorta-cool, but not something that would age gracefully. This is my first car, and I plan on having it a while, and definitely don't want to get sick of its looks.
As for the maze trans pattern, I agree its strange at first...but I think its definitely something that wont take long to get used to. From what I've seen (in multiple Lexus'), all cars with sportshift-type transmission have that kind of maze pattern. I played around with the sportshift today, and it will definitely satisfy any cravings i have for occassionaly shifting control (I briefly considered getting a type s until i saw the additional insurance costs...damn being under 25), but it is primarily a show-off feature. ("see, my car can do this...")
Anyway, it's late, so I'm going to go dream about the car...won't get it until probably Tuesday, as they have to install those options.
FWIW, you can get good gains (~12hp) on even the auto RSX by simply installing a CAI.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Don't just offer $100 or $200 over invoice... The Dealer (for the RSX) gets a 3% discount off of the BASE MSRP... (i.e., they paid LESS than the Invoice price). Keep this in mind when negotiating. Of course anyone with little to put down or bad credit won't have much negotiation leverage, but with car sales down these days (i.e., bad economy) ya just might score!!!
Good Luck!!!
I know don't want to get raped by the dealer.
Car was too uncomfortabble and hard riding.I bought Bmw 5 and love it. I lost 3k on TypeS .That doesn,t in clude $1200 in sales tax.
You'll like the Beamer better alot smoother and better torque and visibility not to mention the sound system,that Rich bass woofer in my S, I never knew it was there. Acura nice car but ,they should of kept the Integra.Nothin' like a Type R .
Driving the 5 car makes you an extension of the road.
They're at totally different ends of the spectrums in price, too.
There is what, about a $15K difference between these two vehicles (RSX and 5-series)? Or is it more?
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Imagine that!
However, a thinking individual carefully evaluates everything he hears or reads and doesn't take things at face value or on faith, particularly in a public forum. And someone who seems to be looking for a 'pure driving experience', who praises the ITR and then puts down the RSX-S and all he can say was it was "too uncomfortable and hard riding"... well lets just say I won't be putting much stock in that opinion.
But you make up your own mind.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
But, yeah -- going from a RSX-S to a M5 isn't exactly a move most people would make!
For example, a friend just bought a new BMW 540, pretty well loaded, but paid over $60k!! For that price, one can get three (3!!!) RSXs! Or at least 2 RSX-S that are fully loaded, including the "2003 Factory Performance Package"!!
Maybe joe249 bought a used 5-series w/ the smaller engine (528) and got a great deal on it. Then the price difference might be $15k.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
BTW, an M5 retails for $69k, but you will have a hard time getting one for that price. Expect to pay a premium.
Base price of a 530i is $42K, per Edmunds TMV.
About an M5 I have to say nice choice. "If you have the means, I highly recommend it." However someone buying an M5 had *better* like it better than an RSX-S, as it costs 3x as much, or more.
But again, it comes down to each person having their own opinions, wants and needs.
But, yeah -- going from a RSX-S to a M5 isn't exactly a move most people would make! "
I have a great deal of respect for Himiler's knowledge from his previous posts, so I trust him on this.
But an M5 is little more than a pipe dream for me and thousands of other hardworking people who feel pretty happy to be able to afford sub-$25,000 sport coupes.
Among two-door, FWD sporty coupes in the >$25,000 price range, I think you'd be hard pressed to find one much better than the RSX-S, beyond that, comparisons are kinda pointless.
I think joe249 was ultimately looking for something that neither his GS-R or RSX-S could reasonably be expected to deliver, hence his happy (and envy-inducing) decision to buy the M5.
But, he did make the point that he preferred the driving experience of the GS-R over that of the RSX-S, despte the acute lack of noise supression.
As for others making this same comparison, opinions will undoubtedly vary.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
- The Track version (top of the line for $34K) is 0.88gs on the skid pad, the RSX Type-S is 0.83gs (C&D)
- 350Z is faster with 285HP vs. 200 HP. 0-60 - (6.3 to 6.7) for the RSX Type-S vs. 5.4 for the 350Z
- Much more torque in the 350Z
- For $26.5K, you get a stripped 350Z (not even cruise control!) vs. $22K-$23K for a loaded Type-S (comprable to the touring package that goes for +$30K in the 350Z)
- You also get rear seats in the Type-S that can be used, even if it is just for short trips.
- Trunk, no comparison - 17 cubic feet for the Type-S vs. 8 for the 350Z (and it is shallow!)
- Gas mileage - 19 vs. 27.
You get the idea. For all out performance, the 350Z is better, though less nimble. For value, the 350Z can not touch the RSX Type-S.
Does that answer your question?
And kevin111: first of all, if Z is 500 lbs heavier, I would expect the RSX to handle a lot better, not the other way around as you stated. And I could go and compile all the numbers for myself - I was kind of hoping to hear from someone who has done a "seat of the pants" comparison between the two. I would do it myself, if it were not so darn hard to get near a Z right now .
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
BTW, in terms of weight. Excess weight can be a detriment to performance, but is not an absolute indicator to handling. Just compare the RSX Type-S to the M5. There you have over 1000 lbs. differential. I do not think there are many people that will say the Type-S is a better handler than the M5.
1.) MSRP is different (e.g. 2003 RSX-S is $100 more than 2002 model).
2.) Firepepper Red has been replaced by Redondo Red Pearl.
3.) The 2003 RSX can purchased w/ the "Factory Performance" package [rip off!].
Check Edmunds' 2003 Acura RSX review for confirmation.
There is no official word for when the RSX Type-R will be introduced to North America, if ever.