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Acura RSX vs. Scion tC

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

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What is this discussion about? Acura RSX, Scion tC

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#47 of 102 roof by stickguy Apr 12, 2005 (11:05 am)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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. Replies to this message: goose (May 08, 2005 7:43 pm)
#54 of 102 Re: just so you know [nippononly] by goose May 08, 2005 (7:43 pm)
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?
#55 of 102 goose by nippononly May 08, 2005 (10:00 pm)
actually, it is my understanding that the RSX gets such high insurance rates because the previous generation Integras had such an abysmal record of being stolen or vandalized all the time. And of course it doesn't help that it is a two-door sport coupe.   goose, it is my turn to agree with the points you make, except one:   "Unless you're at a race track the performance difference you claim is not a issue in stop and go traffic"   The thing is, I wasn't referring to timed runs, I was referring to handling that is so much better that it makes the car more fun to drive even in everyday trafficky situations. The one thing I do very little of, however, is stop and go on the highway, where the car's better handling would obviously make no difference at all. But it turns corners on the street more quickly and with less body roll, and is more responsive in quick lane changing, and 100 other little differences like that.   Now as for Acura causing other manufacturers to change, I am not sure they have, but if so I applaud it! Replies to this message: tonylexus (May 10, 2005 8:09 am)
#56 of 102 Re: goose [nippononly] by tonylexus May 10, 2005 (8:09 am)
Replying to: nippononly (May 08, 2005 10:00 pm) I agree with what's being said about handling characteristics and wish to emphasize that for "normal" driving conditions there has to be one heck of a difference in a cars make-up for it to be truly noticable and/or appreciated.   When comparing cars in the class of the tC, RSX, et al, I don't think you'll find that significant diffrence evident. (even considering the 'little' things) What diffrences you'll find when really pushing these cars is paid for by a less compliant ride the other 98% of the time your driving. I think you really have to go beyond this class of "sporty" cars to get into a real "sport" car tuned suspension that would impress a true enthusiast (and at a much higher cost).   I hear and read a lot about the great handling of the RSX, Mazda3 and MINI when compared to the tC but even if one is to concede an advantage, there certainly isn't enough difference to justify the thousands of dollars more in cost.   I appreciate the insight to analyze cost of insurance, replacement tires, etc., but much of that can be minimized by choice and one could go on forever comparing the cost of every component of these cars. I think it is rightly stated that even with all trhings considered, it is tough to overcome and justify a price difference of over 3 grand among this class of cars. If I were willing to pay 22k or more in this class of vehicle based on handling, I would rather move up in class to a used, real, sports car.

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