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Acura RSX vs Honda Civic - Driving Impressions - READ ONLY

100 messages,  Last post on Jun 23, 2003 at 7:11 AM

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What is this discussion about? Honda Civic, Acura RSX, Coupe, Hatchback

Messages Page 9 of 10

#81 of 100 RSX test drive by jimc93si

Mar 09, 2003 (9:23 am)

I test drove the RSX base and I noticed it felt weird when I went to put my elbow on the opened window. The seat was too low, and I'm 6'3. The 2000 Integra I tested had adjustable seat height knob, but they wanted more for that than a new CivicSI. Why would they take away adjustable seats and save a few bucks and lose the sale altogether? Unbelievable.

#82 of 100 RSX seat height by nitromax

Mar 20, 2003 (8:16 am)

The RSX's seating height is actually an inch or so higher than the previous Integras.
 
I find that the view over the dash is actually too low for me. I don't need to see the road immediately in front of the car...although it's a nice feature that I've grown accustomed to.
 
The thing I had to get used to in the RSX was the height of the doors compared to my previous vehicle. I used to be able to rest my arm on the window sill while driving....I can't do that anymore without my shoulder getting dislocated or my arm falling asleep.

I could crank the seat height up more but then my view over the dash would be too exposed for my liking.
Either that or I would truly experience the rush of wind through my hair...granted that the sunroof was open.

#83 of 100 jimc93si by nitromax

Mar 20, 2003 (8:18 am)

Why would they take away adjustable seats and save a few bucks and lose the sale altogether? Unbelievable.
 
The RSX has adjustable seats.

#84 of 100 by himiler

May 16, 2003 (6:53 am)

The driver's seat is height-adjustable, but the cowl is still too high.

#85 of 100 seat/cowl by zenzikora

May 17, 2003 (4:56 am)

I am only 5'3", and I had no trouble seeing or driving the RSX. I suppose it's a matter of preference. I thought it had a great driving position

#86 of 100 power figures by zenzikora

May 18, 2003 (6:29 am)

Someone on a diff. board was asking about RSX being faster than civic according to salesman. The torque for the RSX is 141 ft-lbs and peaks at a fairly low 4000rpm, the Civic Si peak torque is only 132, and peaks at 5000. So that may be why the dealer was saying that. Unless you really meant the Ex, which has only 127 HP, since the Si doesn't come in AT.
Haven't driven the Si, but the RSX had plenty of torque for me, and the last 5spd I drove was a V6 with 180 torque.

#87 of 100 How good is an RSX? by redwolf813

May 24, 2003 (8:38 am)

I've been giving serious consideration to an RSX for my wife..this would replace her 97 Saturn which is a total dog. I have compared the RSX to a Civic coupe and the numbers, torque, horsepower and so on are far and away better for the Acura, tho it carries one less passenger which isn't really an issue. I received a quote of $19.100 for a 2003 5 speed with leather which I think is a great number. I was wondering if anyone has experienced any significant problems with the 2003 RSX. I'm talking about things that would have an effect on reliability or safety over a 5 year period. Any comments positive or negative would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Redwolf

#88 of 100 Good choice, but forget the leather by dnm120

May 24, 2003 (4:22 pm)

I've had a base 5-speed RSX (red) for over a year and a half (21K miles) now and have had no significant problems to speak of.
Some have complained about 2nd gear being notchy, which I noticed when I first got the car, though replacing the stock shifter with a short shifter seems to have solved the problem (and created a smaller one: a clinking noise shifting into even gears...presumably the angle of the cables on the shorter shifter, nothing you can do about it).
I had the (overhead) map light replaced because the driver's side light was sticking. Still does it, though only in cold weather.
The trunk cover creaks from time to time, again temperature related.
The paint job could be better: I've touched up a multitude of chips, and the poor windshield suffers from all the gravel, stones, etc. No cracks yet, but all the minor pitting looks horrible when the sun is in your face.
The standard Michelin tires are pretty awful, but I figure I should get 20-30K out of them before finding some quieter (loud over concrete) and with more grip.
The ride can be a bit harsh over railroad tracks and the like, esp. the back, with the mini-wishbones, but the ride is more than acceptable, esp. with the wonderful Recaro-type seats.
At first I thought rear visibility was poor, but then I test drove a Celica, which is far worse, esp. as you can't buy the thing sans spoiler.
I passed on the spoiler, since I don't think it adds much and, after all, you can buy and install it later if you change your mind.
I paid 19.5K in August 2001, which was a good price at the time.
19.1K with leather sounds good, though I really don't like the leather at all. I went with cloth, which I still think looks and feels top notch, while the leather strikes me as below par(I had a chance to drive an automatic with leather as a loaner: in my opinion the titanium leather looks and feels cheap. Maybe the black is better, though I doubt it.).
Oh, and the stock speakers are dreadful. I replaced them with Polks and the head unit (also not the best) sounds a lot cleaner, though it still has no power and bass (i.e. you have to crank it up to "5" or "6" to get anything...and I'm not a bass freak).
I've done a fair amount of highway driving with the RSX and it's certainly not the quietest at 80 mph, though I can live with that (you can always add sound insulation sheeting to the doors, etc.).
All in all, I still love the car, which I keep adding bits and pieces to (CAI coming soon, followed by an ECU reprogram, though the 160HP engine is certainly smooth and powerful enough for everyday driving.
As far as reliability and safety go, I doubt you can do better in its class for the price. The only time a "check engine" light came on it turned out to be a computer glitch (no small feat being on the road from Atlanta back to NJ; stopped at the Acura dealer in Greenville, SC, and was out of there in half an hour, problem solved.)
I've been pretty lucky so far, esp. considering I bought the car a little over a month after it came out.
Hope this helps.

#89 of 100 Considered the Civic Si? by rivertown

May 24, 2003 (7:35 pm)

I like mine. Supposed to be very similar to the RSX, but hatchback.

#90 of 100 Agreed by muffin_man

May 25, 2003 (6:09 pm)

You could probably get an Si for $16-17k if you look carefully (and less for a leftover 2002). And it shares the same engine as the RSX, has better seats and shifter (in my opinion), and the rear seating and cargo space is better.

Messages Page 9 of 10

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