CD Article: Acura RSX, 2002-2006

[CD_Editor]

Used Vehicle Review:

Replacing the Integra in the middle of 2001, the RSX two-door hatchback was available in Base and Premium models with a 160-hp 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine and five-speed manual or four-speed automatic; or Type S models with a high revving 200-hp 2.0-litre four-cylinder powerplant and six-speed manual tranny.  There were no recalls and reliability history is generally solid, says Chris Chase. "Most problems that do crop up…have more to do with driver skill or hard driving than the robustness of the car," he says. "The RSX commands fairly high prices in the used car marketplace," he notes.
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[Bullet Blue]

A used Type S would be a lot of fun, holds it's value well and is pretty reliable. The only thing that would scare me off is high insurance rates for the RSX....

[Julie]

A used Type S would be a lot of fun, holds it's value well and is pretty reliable. The only thing that would scare me off is high insurance rates for the RSX....

Yes Bullet, better to get a TSX then..... (cheaper insurance) 

[Wolfe]

I really like the RSX. I shopped for one before I bought my RAV4 but came away frustrated by the high resale prices and sketchyness of the private sellers I dealt with. What convinced me look elsewhere, though, were the sky high insurance rates for the base RSX, let alone a Type S. Too many boy racers trashed their RSXs I guess.


It must have been very difficult to sell the RSX Type S after the new Civic Si came out with the same engine(plus a balance shaft), sporty suspension etc. and a limited slip diff while the older Type S soldiered on without the LSD and a much higher price tag.

[Allen]

I What convinced me look elsewhere, though, were the sky high insurance rates for the base RSX, let alone a Type S. Too many boy racers trashed their RSXs I guess.

Wasn't  just the boy racers .. my neighbours 24 year old daughter wrote off her RSX...

[sirAQUAMAN64]

The RSX is great and quite timeless. My fave of the sporty cars.

[Giant Dwarf]

Wow... near $20k for an '04 Premium model?  Geez... those things have held their value exceptionally well!  Dave's gonna have a wicked trade in value on that 335i with his! 

[Wolfe]

The RSX is great and quite timeless. My fave of the sporty cars.

I thought the GTI would be your fave.

[Arthur Dent]

I really like the RSX. I shopped for one before I bought my RAV4 but came away frustrated by the high resale prices and sketchyness of the private sellers I dealt with. What convinced me look elsewhere, though, were the sky high insurance rates for the base RSX, let alone a Type S. Too many boy racers trashed their RSXs I guess.

They are also very easy to steal and parts in demand for Civic folks looking to upgrade. Makes for a bad combo.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

The RSX is great and quite timeless. My fave of the sporty cars.

I thought the GTI would be your fave.

Okay, okay... got me there. Was sorta thinking of the ones available from '00-'06, also looking more swoopy. I had thought about the RSX for awhile, pleased with them inside and out tho I've never driven one to know what I'm missing out on.

[Giant Dwarf]

The RSX is great and quite timeless. My fave of the sporty cars.

I thought the GTI would be your fave.

Okay, okay... got me there. Was sorta thinking of the ones available from '00-'06, also looking more swoopy. I had thought about the RSX for awhile, pleased with them inside and out tho I've never driven one to know what I'm missing out on.

I've only driven the Type-S (and done so a few times)... and it really was a remarkably fun machine.  Through in the relative fuel efficiency and practicality of the big hatch-back format and it was a great machine all-round.  Revvin' the engine to the moon was not only a lot of fun, but rewarding with surprising power too.

[dave]

Wow... near $20k for an '04 Premium model?  Geez... those things have held their value exceptionally well!  Dave's gonna have a wicked trade in value on that 335i with his! 

335i?!  I wish.  Only my evil twin (and 2 other engin-sneer brothers) can afford one of those.  I'll be replacing my 2004 RSX Premium with something in the 45-50k range (i.e., BMW 328i coupe, Infiniti G35 (or G37?) coupe, or possibly the Mitsu Evo X depending on pricing and availability).

$20k?!  That is pretty sweet.  I plan on selling mine spring/summer 2008.  Do you think I could get $15k then?  Considering I have absolutely babied it (wax and leather conditioned religiously), have only got 43k km on it, probably 70+k by the time I sell, and have never abused it (besides 1 visit to the AutoX last year...but that was nothing )

It has been a great first car and I've had absolutely no problems besides a minor rattle in the glovebox that was fixed with some foam at the dealership.  The article mentioned some grinding between 1st and 2nd gear...I just thought that was me getting a little carried away some times and letting the clutch up too fast

Consumer Reports lists the RSX as a recommended used car buy, but advises staying away from 2005 and 2006 models, which seem prone to suspension problems, though they don't go into detail.

Sweeeeeeeeeeet!

EDIT: Regarding insurance, I agree, It's mighty steep.  When I bought the car when I was 22 (just before I turned 23) I paid $2,600 for the year.  My evil twin paid far less for his 300bhp Mustang GT monster!  It's just not fair. 

[citydude]

I have a 02 Premium model, I live in Ontario and the insurance is ~$1800 for a year, after everything factored in.  Not too bad. 

There was one recall that has something to do with the SRS warning light coming on back in 2006.  I don't remember the detail, but I may still have the letter somewhere.  There isn't a whole lot of features in this car, but then it has been trouble-free, so that makes me happy.  When I was moving house back in the summer, this was our go-to vehicle for moving stuff that we didn't want the movers to carry.  I have taken this car to the tracks once, and it handled quite nicely, considering, I was on all stock equipment.

One complain I have is the front leather seat becoming winkle easily.  (I say easily, because I have seen at least 3 other RSX with the same issue).  And the paint in the front is kind of thin, and chips easily.

Average gas mileage is about 8.5L/100KM.  Daily commute is about 40km round trip on 404 (8am/4pm).

Citydude

[sirAQUAMAN64]

I preferred the earlier RSX's before the mid-cycle refresh with simplier front end, wheels, and all red tails.

[dave]

I preferred the earlier RSX's before the mid-cycle refresh with simplier front end, wheels, and all red tails.

Yeah, it got the refresh in '05.  I like the '05/'06 better.  I like the all red lights and the lip spoiler on the Type S.  The base and premium also replaced the standard black plastic skirts with body colour in '05...but I got the Aero package to get rid of the plastic in '04.

Citydude, I hear you on the thin paint.  I drive mine north to the cottage often and the nose gets peppered.  A 3M strip would have been a good idea.  I've also read similar complaints about the leather seats.  I haven't had any problems with mine...taking your wallet out of your back-pocket helps big-time.

[citydude]

I've also read similar complaints about the leather seats.  I haven't had any problems with mine...taking your wallet out of your back-pocket helps big-time.

Too late now.

[cloud7]

I am paying $1100 for insurance premium on my rsx type S.... was $2000 when I first got it 5 years ago.  I really like the car... it will be sad to see it go when I do decide to get a replacement.  For a car with that type of performance, it is really easy on gas... I could get at least 550 km per tank in the City.  I have had no grinding issues after initial break-in... I think people just try to force it into 2nd gear too much when they should really take it easy in it when it 'grinds'.  In terms of the leather seats, I have had no problem with them since I've started using Lexol... a lot of people don't understand that leather requires conditioning from time to time. 

What I don't like about my car are:
-heated seats is either on or off... there are no hi/lo adjustments
-stock tires were really bad, they should have put high performance tires on the Type S model
-suspension has short travel