Author Topic: My 2002 RSX Type-S [2 Year Update] (Read 6096 times)

sentra_dude · « **on:** 10-Jun-2008, 22:12:06 »

Here's my brand-new purchase, a 2002 Acura RSX Type-S!

I just bought it a few hours ago! I first looked at the car about a week and a half ago. I test drove it twice, took it to an Acura dealer for an inspection, and looked it over very thoroughly myself before deciding to buy. It had a few things wrong (torn driver's seat, bad catalytic converter, worn floor mat), which is why I had to wait about a week while they fixed that stuff to buy the car. It's also a pretty high miles car, with 120,840 miles, but it is an Acura so I'm not too worried about that aspect of it.

It's in excellent condition, and looks much better than many cars I looked at with half the miles. I also got what I think is a very good deal on the car, so I could justify the higher insurance premiums this car requires.

First impressions: I love the steering wheel and the gearbox is very good indeed. Driving position and seats are both sporty and the engine likes to rev. The suspension is on the stiff side and it doesn't enjoy speed bumps or broken up road but rides well over most bumps for the level of stiffness. The car is light (2767lb / 1258kg) and changes direction easily. Power is not overwhelming and is on the peaky side, but it's certainly not lacking in power.

Stat snapshot:
2002 Acura RSX Type-S
I4 2.0L
200hp @ 7400 RPM
142lb-ft @ 6000 RPM
2767lb /1258kg
0-60mph 7.3 sec

More pics and a bigger review will come when I have some time to take some proper pics.

Custom shot:

It was sad to say bye to the Celica

and I hope it finds a nice owner. Time to move on to 200hp and a car built this decade.

zot09 · « **Reply #1 on:** 10-Jun-2008, 22:33:20 »

VERY nice choice Sentra_dude! A lot of my friends have RSX's, and they're definitely sweet cars. I love the bucket seats they come with, along with the driver-oriented instruments

Welcome to the Acura family dude haha I hope you have many fun and safe miles in her

TT · « **Reply #2 on:** 10-Jun-2008, 22:33:49 »

I bet it must have been sad to let the Celica go, but this is one fine and tidy looking car!

goodduck · « **Reply #3 on:** 10-Jun-2008, 22:37:40 »

congratulations on the new ride. I am a big fan of these and Im sure you will enjoy it.

gucom · « **Reply #4 on:** 10-Jun-2008, 22:46:28 »

I don't really know those cars as Acura doesn't really exist in Europe, but it definitely looks nice! Congratulations

curious to see it from other angles & in other settings

danidmas · « **Reply #5 on:** 10-Jun-2008, 22:49:46 »

120K miles for a 2002 car are quite a lot!

but that means nothing if the owner has taken care of the car, as it seems it's the case!

I guess it's not easy to say bye to a car like the Celica... but as you say, it's time to move on, and that 200hp cars seems to be the right choice!

*cough* definitely better than the Vette C4 you testdrove *cough*

regele · « **Reply #6 on:** 10-Jun-2008, 22:54:18 »

Nice buy! I had no idea this car was so light, that's definitely a plus imo.
Hope you have many fun and safe miles with her!

ARMAN · « **Reply #7 on:** 10-Jun-2008, 22:57:59 »

Congrats SD.

We dont have them here, it looks much younger that Celica

200ps should move with that car pretty good

drive safe

sentra_dude · « **Reply #8 on:** 11-Jun-2008, 16:40:36 »

Thanks guys!

Yep, it was sad to see the Celica go, but I'm glad to have a newer car and it's nice to have a change every so often. Plus, now I'm only one letter (N) from my dream car.

I guess the RSX is still called Integra in Europe, although I don't know if they sold this one in Europe? Seems a bit odd if they didn't, I would think it would have done well there.

@zot09: Yep, those seats are great for cornering, they really hold you in place.

@Dani: Hahaha, definitely much better than the C4. It's amazing how much better the interior and fit and finish is on the RSX.

@ARMAN: Yep, a 6 year-old vs. a 16 year-old.

danidmas · « **Reply #9 on:** 11-Jun-2008, 17:10:04 »

Quote from: sentra_dude on 11-Jun-2008, 16:40:36

I guess the RSX is still called Integra in Europe, although I don't know if they sold this one in Europe? Seems a bit odd if they didn't, I would think it would have done well there.

The Integra is not avaiable in Spain... and I think that goes also for the rest of continental Europe. UK is a different story since they can import them directly from Japan.

vincentdci · « **Reply #10 on:** 11-Jun-2008, 19:04:00 »

Mmmmmmmm Vtec

I love these cars, infact i've allways loved any Honda coupé thingy, from the civic and integra to the accord and the prelude, they're all realy nice and sleak

Quote from: danidmas on 11-Jun-2008, 17:10:04

The Integra is not avaiable in Spain... and I think that goes also for the rest of continental Europe. UK is a different story since they can import them directly from Japan.

There are some here in Belgium, i've seen a white one with white/red wheels, it looked lush, and there are 2 for sale, all honda's though, not acura.

DMF · « **Reply #11 on:** 11-Jun-2008, 19:26:22 »

Smart choice Sentra!

200hp in that car is a lot of fun.. only took a quick spin in some kid's type-s down the street and floored it from 1st to 3rd.. (the kid said I drove it better than he did

) and was surprised by how quick it really was.

Even with those miles on the car, you won't have to worry about any problems.. even maintenance should be a breeze.

sentra_dude · « **Reply #12 on:** 14-Jun-2008, 00:15:38 »

I finally got a chance to take a few pics!

yeckmohr · « **Reply #13 on:** 14-Jun-2008, 00:52:06 »

congrats, nice car, is not sell in Europe, i didn't see one here.

goodduck · « **Reply #14 on:** 14-Jun-2008, 02:30:53 »

i guess in europe it would baffle the hatch market for honda? i think its a great car i would love to have one. is there acura in europe or just honda?

EDIT

i guess not

sentra_dude · « **Reply #15 on:** 14-Jun-2008, 06:02:20 »

First update: I've covered about 150 miles so far, mostly driving back and forth to work, but I did have a chance to go out for a spin yesterday morning before rushing off to work and it was great fun!

I haven't really had a chance to probe the handling limits yet, but even just going into some interstate on-ramps at a nice clip is lots of fun in this car! It's also a very nimble car, which makes driving around amongst all the trucks and SUVs a little bit more enjoyable. I love the gearbox and the clutch is a nice one (hopefully it has many miles left on it).

The steering wheel is just fantastic! I really have to give it to the Honda engineers, the interior design on this car is excellent; from the seats, to the climate controls, to the gauges, everything is so well laid out. On top of that the quality of the interior is simply amazing, and especially for a car that originally sold for only $23,100! It's really a shame that Acura stopped selling this car, in their quest to move upscale they lost a great little car IMO.

MartinR · « **Reply #16 on:** 14-Jun-2008, 14:23:55 »

Great choice. One of the best handling FWD cars around is what I've heard about it.

Looks pretty tidy as well.

I like the look too, though, I think it need slightly larger wheels to really bring out the best of this car.

sameerrao · « **Reply #17 on:** 14-Jun-2008, 20:56:08 »

Nice purchase. Seems like a fun and frugal (important when gas prices are hitting the roof) car to me.

Is your timing belt service done? I think it should be done around the 110-120K mark.

gangajas · « **Reply #18 on:** 14-Jun-2008, 22:32:05 »

Nice car, I hope you enjoy it for a lot of miles!

zot09 · « **Reply #19 on:** 14-Jun-2008, 23:59:40 »

Do you plan on adding any mods? *cough*coilovers and Volk rims*cough*