Sign In Join 



Acura RSX vs. Scion tC

102 messages,  Last post on Oct 06, 2007 at 5:20 PM

You are in the Acura RSX Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer

What is this discussion about? Acura RSX, Scion tC


Messages Page 6 of 11
1
...
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
...
11
Prev
Next
Last
Go To Msg #
Search This Discussion

#45 of 102
tony by nippononly
Apr 11, 2005 (11:27 am)
Reply
*chuckle*
 
Liked the "$2K per knob" thing!
 
The way I figure it, the better handling and 200+ pounds less weight of the RSX are worth (speaking only for myself of course) $2000, the radio knobs are worth a couple hundred bucks (totally irrational, I know), the nicer interior plastics with the rubber dash surround in the RSX is worth $1000 easy, and the lack of plastic aluminum is worth a good $500 or so. Since I paid $19K flat for the Acura, I figure I saved about $1200 by my own estimation.
 
Add to that a week-to-week average of 31 mpg, where I know it would be hard to get near 30 in the tC, and I don't regret it. Indeed, my doubts if any tend the other way: for the same price (or a little less) as my car I could have had the Matrix XRS or the Mazda3s five-door, and gotten myself two extra doors to properly carry three passengers. With similar straight-line performance to our cars. It has proven to be the case that I don't carry passengers that often, and my old 4Runner will do the duty sometimes anyway, so I am pretty satisfied overall. Not to mention I am not a huge fan of those cars' interiors either.
#46 of 102
tonylexus... by iluvmysephia1
Apr 11, 2005 (9:12 pm)
Reply
well, we can get a nice, long drive from the only Scion dealer in South Dakota, Billion Automotive, in Sioux Falls, SD, back out west to Pierre! I'll give us a few days(or weeks)to get settled in and then make the sojourn of 225 miles to the east to Billion. I just read a good report on the tC's air conditioning working very well. That should score good points with her. I'm actually hoping nobody else buys the 5-speed silver one over there so we can test drive that one. Whoo-hoo!
#47 of 102
roof by stickguy
Apr 12, 2005 (11:05 am)
Reply
it's tinted pretty well. Doesn;'t seem to cause a heating problem, and you do have shades. I tend to have mine open whenever possible, so that does let in the sun.
#48 of 102
stickguy... by iluvmysephia1
Apr 12, 2005 (8:50 pm)
Reply
exactly! That's the reason to have a sunroof-to let the sun shine in! I've never had a man-made hole in any of my car's roofs before-kinda lookin' forward to it.
#49 of 102
Re: tony [nippononly] by tonylexus
Apr 13, 2005 (5:01 am)
Reply

Replying to: nippononly (Apr 11, 2005 11:27 am)

Glad you like the RSX, I'm sure I too would have been thrilled with one. I, however, could not touch one here (w/AT) for under 20k and that was an '04 vs an '05 tC (which would mean up to $1,500 come resale time). I paid 17,265 w/AT & auto-dim mirror. Add 6% tax to price difference and it was too much of a difference given (my opinion) that there wasn't anything of significance to justify it. If I was going to spend over 20k, I would have bought a used Lexus IS. That's what it came down to for me.
 
If you're getting 31MPG, bless you. You're right, I am not doing that well (28.5 average) and there are others complaining of getting less than me. I was shopping for a daily commuter that I could have some fun in and not give up the 'luxury' features I've come accustomed to. The tC fit the bill in every respect and at a price over $2k less than anything comparable in the class.
 
I'm not afraid to pay extra for something worthwhile. While I liked a lot of things about the RSX and other competitors, I just couldn't see what I was getting for the extra bucks. Call me cheap, but I have no regrets and I do understand why you made the choice you made.
#50 of 102
tony by nippononly
Apr 13, 2005 (7:17 am)
Reply
I would NEVER call you cheap!
 
My hope would be that everyone buy the car they like best.
 
#51 of 102
RSX - tC - Si comparison by natenj1971
Apr 13, 2005 (11:41 am)
Reply
Have had no luck finding a tc so I need to ask all of you - I fit ok in an RSX - I'm tall(6'4) and my leg does not get stuck between the steering wheel and the center console. I drove an Si and my knee would bump into the dash/console when I would shift (really like the placement of the shifter in this car by the way). I'm wondering how the tall drivers are doing in the tC. From all the pics it looks like it might be tight for me between the steering wheel and center console.
 
Thanks
#52 of 102
COMPARISION by goose
May 08, 2005 (11:45 am)
Reply
Its time to replace my vehicle (truck, none Honda) with a nice, energy efficient vehicle. I have a bias towards Honda since buying a Acura in the eighties. I test drove the regular RSX and the tC. Heres my opinion.
 
  The regular RSX ride is bouncy and road noise is tiring. Its stereo has knobs but is not MP3 capable. The back seat is good for very short trips. It has auto climate control and the dash as a whole is very nice. The Acura name comes with bragging rights.
 
  The tC seems a little quieter and its torque happens sooner than the RSX so it feels funner. The tC's extra 5" of wheelbase eliminates the bouncy feeling noticed on the RSX. The longer wheelbase also means more leg room for the back seat. Also, when the back seats are folded down longer items will fit. The stereo is MP3 capable and you can add a sub. The tC dash surface is coarse, but the instrument gauges are as good as the RSX. The dash is functional and none tiring. Trust me, I've owned tiring dash boards. The Scion is a new/hip brand.
 
  Which vehicle to choose. In 1987 I owned a new/hip brand, a Acura Integra. What a difference 18 years make. The RSX is made in Japan just like the tC. The RSX comes with 16" wheels, the tC with 17". The Acura raises my insurance by $180.00 every six months, the tC will lower it by $35.00 every six months. The Acura cannot be personalized like the tC, at least not at the dealer. The tC comes with zero price haggling. The tC configured with $3,400.00 in added options is less than the RSX. Side air bags are a wanted option not found on the RSX. The new/hip wins again. I'm for the tC.
#53 of 102
just so you know by nippononly
May 08, 2005 (2:55 pm)
Reply
side airbags are standard on the RSX.
 
The RSX does five points better on average in fuel economy, which will save you about $250 a year ($2.50/gallon, 15K miles per year), not quite offsetting the insurance increase you mentioned above. Those low profile 17" tires are going to cost you a good $100 more per set to replace every three years, maybe $150 (RSX's 205/55/16 is a VERY conventional size and has been for four or five years, so tire prices in that size are coming way down), There goes another $40 or $50 per year, and you can see we are almost offsetting those insurance costs.
 
Obviously, YMMV, and I am just making the point that when you start to analyze numbers that small in a new car purchase, "behind the scenes" factors begin to play a bigger role too.
 
To my mind, what one cannot overlook between these two cars is the $3500 price gulf. As I said in my post a few pages back, that additional $3500 is easily worth it for me in terms of better performance (handling specifically), better interior, and one or two more amenities like the ACC. But those things are going to hold a different value for everyone. And one of the criticisms above is all too true - the RSX has a lot of intruding road noise at highway speeds.
#54 of 102
Re: just so you know [nippononly] by goose
May 08, 2005 (7:43 pm)
Reply

Replying to: nippononly (May 08, 2005 2:55 pm)

I stand corrected on the side air bags. Its side current bags that aren't available. I'm not beating up on the Acura, I've owned four Honda's and two Acura's. For the longest time I thought Acura was perfect. That was until I heard about the transmission problems on the CL. The TSX has gotten numerous complaints and the MDX had drive train issues. What does this have to do with the RSX? Well, now am willing to consider other brands since my beloved Acura isn't perfect. It will be interesting to see what Acura does with the next model/replacement RSX. Unfortunately, the Acura name will mean premium insurance quotes no matter what happens. Maybe Honda will spin off a new division.
 
  Anyway, your points are noteworthy. Unless you're at a race track the performance difference you claim is not a issue in stop and go traffic. Its nice to see a vehicle division that causes others to change. Don't you?

Messages Page 6 of 11
1
...
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
...
11
Prev
Next
Last
Go To Msg #
Search This Discussion
To POST a message, please Sign In.

New? Join Now!

Forum Tools

Please sign in.
Email Address:

Password:

Forgot Password?

Search Forums

Enter Keyword(s)

Advanced Search

Browse by Vehicle



View All Vehicles
Advertisement
Ask the Community
See What People Are Asking

Browse by Board

Browse by Topic


View All Topics

Today's Chats

Advertisement