denim

Year: 2004
Make: Acura
Model (and trim line): RSX w/ Leather
Engine type: 4 cylinder, 2.0L, 160HP, 141FP torque
Transmission type: manual
Drivetrain configuration (FWD, RWD, 4WD, AWD): FWD
Number of doors, options, etc.: coupe w/ hatchback
Any modifications that you have made to the car: none

I'm in the process of buying one of these, and I'd like to hear from anyone else who already has an Acura RSX of any year. I'm trading in my 1993 Acura Integra RS, for which they've offered me $1000.

What really gives me cold feet is that I've never borrowed this kind of money before, over US$14K. I'm putting up a major downpayment, yes. I've been out of debt since February, and I've been really happy with that situation. Now I've got to give it up or put Yet Another US$1K into the Integra. Ow. Either way.

My hope is that the RSX will be more fun, making a lesser "ow". What I really wanted was a TSX, but that'd cost another US$5K, which made the "ow" too severe.

Tiser

I have the base model RSX, manual, with cloth. Nighhawk black pearl.

I honestly love it. I wanted a car that got 30MPG average, used 87 octane, and was an LEV. I think it's one of the fastest cars that maeks that goal, and Acura has a reputation of quality amongst the best.

Not a very luxury filled car though. The leather and climate control is nice, but thats really it. I like it this way.. I like the curb weight of under 2900lbs that comes with that. Its pretty small of course.. but for a 2+2 my rear seat passengers always come out saying how its not that bad at all for a sports coupe.

Did you test drive? The base model isn't what I would consider a "fast" car, but I would certainly call it "quick". Theres *never* been a time when I needed it to be faster for driving.. it always pulled. But its still a high 15s car for the 1/4 mile, 0-60 in the low 7s. Thats nice but nothing to brag about. Handling is absolutely excellent for a FWD car, probably one of the best FWD platforms. The aftermarket for the car is wonderful too. Just don't rice it out.

I've had it for two years + now, I got it around a week after the first cars rolled off the trucks. Never had a problem with it, and I maintain it well. Soon I think I may want to trade up to the Type-S model, which is what I wanted originally but couldnt afford. Take a look into www.clubrsx.com, some good people and lots of information.

denim

Mine is blue.

It's changed a bit for the 2004. They added heated side-mirrors, which I really wanted.


That's good to know. I tried out the rear seat yesterday, and found it usable IIF the front seat was pulled forward. I don't know if someone my size could sit behind me while I drove, but I kinda doubt it.


Yep.

What does that mean?


So not only did you get the first model year, you got one of the first ones available! You're a brave 'un!

Quote:

Soon I think I may want to trade up to the Type-S model, which is what I wanted originally but couldnt afford. Take a look into http://www.clubrsx.com, some good people and lots of information.

Thanks!!

I didn't want the Type-S 'cause of the lower MPG and the higher compression. Seems to me that's got to put more stress on the engine, no?

(edit: fixed URL)

numist

If youd have come in here before trading it in I would have given you $1000 cash for a good Integra, I'm looking for one of those.
and if you havent traded it in yet....

By the way, ricing it out means adding all sorts of body modifications and large engine modifications (an exhaust pipe the size of your head, quad turbos, etc [yes, Im exaggerating, but you get the idea])

yes, but the higher compression bit isnt really a worry, the engines should last a comparable time. The lower MPG is the only real deciding factor. Compression wear is usually only a worry when you have turbos, modified fuel, or significant compression increases.

shileno

i have a base and i love it..its quick, great daily driver, and the best interior you can get for that price range.
all i have to say is that you wont regret it.

for more visit www.clubrsx.com. A lot of helpful info

Halx

My suggestion:
I woulda gotten a Honda Accord EX V6 Coupe ... same damn company, more room, more power, more luxury. Liiiiittle bit more expensive. When you buy Acura, you're paying for a Honda with an altered logo. That difference in the logo will cost ya a couple G's.

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denim

I'd be "for" that, but I'm in Massachusetts, which has some weird laws regarding ANY auto sale. When I sell this car, I never want to see it again in case of trouble. In this state, I could be sued in case of trouble. I don't know what it's like in California regarding this.

If I were to sell it privately, I'd get at least $300 more for it. What I'm "paying" for is the convienience and the ability to know I won't have the buyer complaining to me later. It does have some chronic issues, which have either been continuous in the 5 years I've had it, or which reoccur fairly regularly. I'm not recommending this particular vehicle to anyone I know. That includes TFP residents.

OTOH, it looks pretty good, considering its age. It's red, and there's no rust I've been able to detect. It spent its entire "life" until 2000 in Texas.

But your passengers may not like the water it pisses into the front passenger's foot well after a rain on start-up, and you might not like the way it often threatens to overheat. Also, it's an RS: base model.

Yup, thanks.

If I were going to do anything serious, I'd probably just have gone with the TSX, shy of Hal's suggestion.

The main issue I had with Accord was that when I showed up to ask questions at the local dealership, they didn't have anything and didn't seem interested in helping, honestly. Sure, I could have gone to a different dealership...

Actually, there were a few other things, Hal. The Accord, as far as I could tell, doesn't have heated side mirrors, which was the only thing I was specifically looking for. It may have them in a higher price range than I'm looking for, but that doesn't help me much. If you read it that way, the Acura is actually cheaper than the Honda. OTOH, it's smaller, and gets better MPG IIRC. It's all about what's important to you, no?

shileno: thanks!

manaz12

d00d, go w/ the rsx, they are sweet

slacker00

Sold my base 2002 Base RSX (Desert Silver) about 3 months ago and moved on to a 2004 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon.

Sometimes I miss the RSX, was great for decent pickup but the Type S is a bunch more peppy. Although if I were to have kept the RSX throwing a turbo in the Base would be a better bet due to the lower compression ratio of the engine.

I do not regret buying or owning the RSX, I just got sick of sticking to the pavement. So now I own a new Rubicon with has a lift and big tires

Also... I still have an Injen Short Ram Intake (SRI) for the RSX sitting in my garage if anyone is interested it is anodized dark blue and red. It was fun, give you a big more high rpm HP but you lose a tad of torque down low, sounds neat under hard acceleration also.

Also... I have a Blaupunkt CD70 San Fransisco head unit sitting next to the intake that is wired up for an RSX and ready for a new home if anyone is interested.

Drop me a PM if you have questions or comments!

slacker00

BTW I went by the handle of Saryon on www.clubrsx.com, great site and typically there some very friendly and helpful people. Club meetins can be a blast also!

denim

BTW, for those recommending http://www.clubrsx.com, there is no "," in the URL. If you let the vB software parse the URL for you, it includes the comma, which doesn't work real well. :9

KeyserSoze

They're RIPPING your trade IMO...and thats what I do for a living so I would know.

How many miles on it and what condition is it in??

Book on the car is:


Wholesale is 3300.00

Retail is 5325.00


They should give and you should ask for no less then 1600.00, you should be able to sell it to a private party fo at least 2k.......It's an ACURA(Honda product) these cars run for ever.

What are they charging you for the new one??

Need help drop me a pm and I will drop a call into the dealer and help you out.

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denim

Looks like I left a few things out. Whoops.

I t-boned a car last January. Low velocity, but it was enough to knock things out of kilter a little. Also, the car was broken into, again, last May. That was all fixed.

denim

Well, the RSX is purchased and they've done the bit with the Registry, but I'm driving my Integra until tomorrow 'cause the RSX isn't cleaned up yet.

This led to a bit of a twist. Since I've signed over the Integra's title, handed over the registration, signed and paid for everything, I no longer own the Integra. If I'm going to drive it, it must have some kind of registration. Since my registration has been moved over to the RSX, the Integra gets dealer plates. So it's wearing dealer plates for now, and I've got a "loaner" registration to show any police who stop me. Strangeness.

Now I've got to find out how long I've got to get an inspection sticker. Okay, 7 days. Joy. That means I've got to get it tomorrow, since I'm planning to leave the area for Turkey day ASAP.

Halx

Heated side mirrors? Sorry, but what the hell is that? Seriously. I've heard of heated seats and tinted side mirrors... but never HEATED side mirrors... nor have I ever had a use for them. Explain this to me.. and why this feature would be too expensive to be added aftermarket.

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World's King

When you live somewhere with lots of snow and ice you need these to see behind you.


Make sense now.

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Halx

Ok this was just explained to me... heh. Sorry, I live in SoCal.. what the hell is snow?

Anyways.. I stand by my other question.. are they too expensive to get aftermarket?

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Cynthetiq

In NYC when your mirrors have ice on them... it's like a defroster for the side mirrors... so long as I live in the Northeast.. I will never own a car that doesn't have them.... unless it's something that is so sporty it lives in a garage.

i've never seen them as an aftermarket option...

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denim

Yeah, I was only going to point that out to you. No biggie.

When my brother lived in Burlington VT, he bought a car. NONE of the cars on that lot had A/C. When I lived in Dallas, they all did. (shrug)

As far as I know, they require a bit of work, so yeah, I'd be very leary of getting them as aftermarket.

Lestat

LOL!

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denim

I finally got to use them after the recent storm. Turned them on and a minute or so later, it all turned to drops on my mirrors. Nice.

I've now had the car for a bit over two weeks, and I've done over 2000 miles in it. It's good.

Elitegibson

The RSX has always been highly recommended by the auto magazines. A very worthy sucessor to the Integra (they still call it that everywhere else but America, I guess they know we like random letters).

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