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Acura RSX (All years/types)
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Comments
First, the tantalizing artist's rendition:
Now, the unexciting photo:
Maybe it's an optical illusion since the sketch has all that shiny glare. Regardless, I would have much preferred a production car looking like the drawing. Is anyone from Acura reading this board? Is it too late to change it for the 2003 model ;-)
But that's just my opinion.
Front hood and grille are indeed similar, except the sketch is a little more aggressive, like diploid noted. The windows and body have cuts (granted, more expensive, but looks sexier). On the other hand, the sketch type of vehicle might be less practical to drive since visibility would be more limited and it may not be able to accommodate the same safety standards and interior space.
Hondas already suffer with headroom problem, partly due to a more swooping roofline (than other cars). The adoption of the artistic sketch on a production car will make it terrible (unless the seats are 3" off the floor).
New Hondas (Civic, RSX, 2002 CR-V) have a 'cab forward' design, pretty much the concept used by Dodge for a while, hence similar profile. The idea is to maximize the interior volume without expanding the exterior dimensions. But this is also one area Dodge hasn't been successful, IMO.
What advantage do you think would a 17" rim have on a car? If a choice of larger rim is made (2002 Integra Type-R does have 17" rim), what other impact would the wheel have? Based on your reply, we will get further into this.
Let's probe his psyche.
Practicality, and value orientation has been Honda's greatest strengths in the past. Sure, larger wheel would look good, but then, why compromise on your strengths? Just something to think.
Anyways ... went out for a test drive today (my car is getting quite long in the tooth and it's leaking all over the place). So, my new potential cars were going to be the:
RSX-S
Jetta
GTI
Altima
Well, took the Altima out first, nothing special. Steering was really bland, and suspension was moderate. Dont' see what everybody's complaint about it is, but this is the wrong board.
Next up was the RSX. Wasn't too big on the exterior, didn't evoke anything out of me. Inside, once again, nothing special, things were kinda "cosy" I guess you could say. But on the road, that was where this thing really grew on me. The steering was perfect, not too soft, not too difficult to turn. On turns, the thing was amazing. The clutch, the stick ... all wonderful. This car went from getting a ho-hum response from yours truly to the top of the list after the drive.
Next up was VW. Well, just sat in it, and the clutch and stick didn't feel good to me at all. Just didn't want to drive the thing.
Methinks me shoulda saved the RSX for last.
Well, sorry to disturb the topic about DRL's/Importing and all that ... just wanted to add my 0.005 (CDN converted to USD)
Derek
Hi carguy62- To respond to your post. Aside from the vehicle type, insurance is going to vary drastically from owner to owner depending on a number of factors including: driving record, age, sex, state requirements, amount of coverages, and etc., etc.. I know it's tedious filling out forms, but that's really the only way to get an accurate quote. While you're waiting here for other responses, you should also check out Edmunds' Insurance Center. And while you're there, you may want to take the time to get a quick quote from some of their insurance sponsors. Good luck.
Revka
Host
Hatchbacks / Station Wagons / Women's Auto Center Boards
Revka
Host
Hatchbacks / Station Wagons / Women's Auto Center Boards
If you go to the Maxima form, you can get more info from lofquist regarding Canadian importation.
"Hi,
I've found your posts on Edmunds very useful. A while ago on the 2002
RSX board, you gave detailed instructions on putting the rear and
underbody spoilers on your new RSX-S. Did you get a chance to post the
pictures of it yet? Also a quick question I had for you on the RSX-S
... how does it drive on the highway at say, 75-80 MPH? Quiet or need
to blast the radio? And how's the power at the low RPMs, say between
2000 and 3000. Thanks!"
"beowulf7"
beowulf7,
No, I never got a chance to post any pictures, I might soon, though. I still need to get the roll of film developed, in fact. As for driving it at 75-80 MPH, I think it is really quiet, not lexus quiet, but quiet and no need to blast the radio. As for the power at low RPMs, there is plenty of power, I was really impressed with the amount of power it had down low. It was much better than the turbo mitsu gst (eclipse) I had before, although on the eclipse there was a rush of power after 3000 after the turbo kicked in. The RSX-S has no rush of power until it hits 6000 RPM, really smooth progressive power delivery until then and then there is a rush due to the second set of cam lobes (the vtec part). The RSX-S does feel like it has some sort of turbo lag though, I would expect a little more power down low, but it sure doesn't have the turbo lag like the eclipse had. Compared to a turbo, it starts off with more power giving a turbo a run for it's money, but when I use to expect more power to come in (at 3000) it just doesn't offer that much more, just a continuous smooth increase. If I raced my eclipse, I think that I'd get the best start, the eclipse would pass me after 3000 RPM (say 15mph), and then the RSX-S would once again pass the eclipse after 6000RPM (say 50 mph). Both the RSX-S and Eclipse go 0-60 in two gears (0-40 in first, 40-60 in second), the RSX-S tested 0-60 in 6.1sec best, while the Eclipse GST tested 0-60 in 6.4sec best.
why not make 17'' wheels optional?
dkneedsnwcr:
Hondas shifter is much better than VW. My Passat shifts smooth most of the time but that is not VW's strength. It's the engine, interior and comfort. I think it is better than most of its competitors cars in these aspects.
My only gripe is that I wanted blue, but I wouldn've had to wait over a month for it. So, settled for silver (win some, lose some).
I think that is the least Honda could have done. But then, most people who would care for 17" and z-rated rubber would like to have 'custom' preferences anyway. e.g., if Honda offered Michelins, some people would want Bridgestones or Dunlop or whatever. Very rarely would people not change stock wheels, like on an Integra (RSX) type-r (now comes with 17" wheels), since they would be among the lightest in the market (or atleast quite a bit more expensive to replace them), and the choice of tires, which almost all set to go.
Revka
Host
Hatchbacks / Station Wagons / Women's Auto Center Boards
That forum is dead.
Anyway, I 've been gone for a while and just read through 70 posts.. I had a lot to say but now I only have the last few posts fresh in my head..
All I gotta say about those WRXs is that they 're not that great in auto-x. They may be fast in a straight line, but my '99 GSR has those WRX's for breakfast on an auto-x track. I didn't see a WRX win the SCCA SoloII championship in G Stock, a Type-R did (as usual). And stock for stock, the ITR has superior handling to WRX's as I'm sure does the RSX-S as well.
Anyway, I hear SCC is coming out with an article on G forces in the December issue. That should be interesting.
Did I understand correctly that SCC compared a WRX wagon to an RSX-S? What kind of tests did they conduct? What was the outcome?
'06 Civic LX coupe
'11 BMW 335i coupe xDrive
'13 Honda Accord sedan (wife's car)
JDM already has the Type-R version available. With the Acura badge, Honda opted to call it RSX, otherwise it is still Integra elsewhere. The specs for Integra Type-R (2002):
220 HP/152 lb.-ft, 2596 lb. (w/AC), six speed manual transmission (different from that in the Type-S), LSD and the usual stuff. The redline has been upped from 8200 rpm of previous ITR to 8500 rpm.
Now, Civic Type-R also gets the same displacement as ITR in Japan (earlier it had smaller engine, the 1.6 liter I-4 pumping out 185 HP). Now it gets 215 HP/149 lb.-ft (slightly detuned compared to ITR).
rmtrader:
RSX-S performance to 60 mph is believable in low six second range, and QM in about 15 seconds. At mid 7 seconds, one would have to be sleeping between shifts to get those numbers. Base RSX would be a low 7 second car with the manual (5-speed) and 8.0-8.2 seconds with the five speed automatic.
MT got the quick end of performance from RSX-S (6.1s, 14.8 s), and R&T got the slow end of the spectrum (6.7s). Realistically, the gearing, the power curve and the curb weight make it a 6.4 s car. R&T couldn't got it slower because the driver short shifted (as is obvious from the speed in each gear that they also post with road tests).
I am considering a base RSX and wanted to know from those of you who have purchased recently. . still MSRP??. .any leeway at all?? (Please tell me yes)--
The car has been out for 4mo. now and I'm hoping somebody has had some luck w/ pricing below MSRP. I have a 00 GTI GLX VR6 and am looking to sell it and get a similar vehicle w/ better warranty, reliability, and lower repair costs. I can't hack the $45-50 oil changes any more and after 30k miles, I've had more accessories/plastics break on my Volks than my wife's 96 Honda w/97k miles on it.
I am also interested in any dealer experiences any of you Acura owners have had. Volks dealer experiences I've had are, to say the least, HORRIBLE!!
I want to stay w/ a hatchback if at all possible and believe that the RSX offers a good combination of reliable build quality--even on initial new models, hatchbach versatility, and decent warranty/dealer service. These things are important as you get older. . .trust me. If 30 is old. .
I sat in the car today and it is a bit snug compared to my GTI. . .but I'm willing to make sacrifices. Styling is decent and posts on acceleration lead me to believe that even the base 160hp iVTEC will allow the RSX to get out of its own way. I put a good chunk of change down on my GTI and will sell it outright to get the best $$.
Toyota Celica is not an option. . .Test drove that when I was comparo shopping against my GTI and wasn't impressed.
Thanks for any and all opinions/comments on this car/Acura in general from those of you who own current RSX/current integra. . .
nautiker:
Seeing that you have a GTI VR6, you're already accustomed to a certain level of performance. I think you'll be disappointed in passing power with a base RSX compared to what you currently drive. You might as well shell out a few grand more and get 40 extra ponies, unless you don't care about RSX-S' better acceleration.
RSX-S vs. ITR: Motortrend tested the RSX-S and got better 0-60 and 1/4 mile results than any of their previous tests of the ITR. Other publications have tested the ITR faster. In any case they are very close. What's important, though, is that the RSX-S is as fast as the ITR, and yet it is not the stripped down version that the ITR is.
It is interesting that people actually like to feel heaviness (like some other people who think that the heavier the car, the more stable it is). Solidity is all that should matter, right mdriver?
I was getting 11 mpg around town , 14 on the highway. My first car. The Sport Sedan of the day. Best selling car in America.
RSX owners/lessees in general, any gripes about this year's Integra replacement now that the car has been out for about 4 months? Is the lack of center console as big a glaring oversight as it seems? And are the Acura dealers still demanding MSRP for it?
BTW, last year's USDM Type-R redlined at 8500rpm, or I should say all of them '97-98 & '00-01. Were the older JDM ITRs redlining at 8200 or did you just make a mistake?
Looks like the redline hasn't gone up but stayed the same on the '02 ITRs. I wish they hurry up and bring them to the US. I want to trade-in my GSR in a year or two. I 'm really not crazy about the RSX styling and will probably never buy the current 200hp model but in the Type-R's case I 'll make an exception since I know it 'll be better than the older ITR and just thinking about that gives me goose bumps knowing how good the USDM ITR handles, and having driven it many times (my brother's) and having raced with it.
'06 Civic LX coupe
'11 BMW 335i coupe xDrive
'13 Honda Accord sedan (wife's car)
My GSR gained 12.4hp at the wheels with my AEM Cold Air Intake and 7.5ft-lbs of torque. Got the dyno printouts to prove it. Can't do much better than that for $180.
I guess many of the new cars have much improved intakes and filters that don't benefit much from the aftermarket ones. That's good & bad news. The bad news is knowing that you can't get extra power with aftermarket intakes and the good news is knowing you have a pretty good non restrictive factory intake that won't void your warranty.
'06 Civic LX coupe
'11 BMW 335i coupe xDrive
'13 Honda Accord sedan (wife's car)
"The company’s turbocharger kit — on sale soon — bestows supercar performance to the RSX with a mental 300 hp."
http://www.cars.com/carsapp/national/?szc=07060&srv=parser&act=display&tf=/news/archive/01sema5.tmpl
I may be wrong about 8200 rpm redline on previous ITR. But as far as styling goes, I like it. Much better in person. Compact, strong looking and purposeful.
diploid:
This forum doesn't like word processors. It inserts weird (web) characters for quotes. But you could always go back and edit it.