RSX-S test drive impressions

[yakkosmurf]

I caught up with a friend of mine who's an Acura salesman this morning while I was at the dealer getting parts for my Integra. I asked for a test drive of the RSX-S. It was fun. Here's my impressions. I've owned a Type R for over a year now, and I get to drive a 2k Celica GTS quite a bit. That's the perspective I'm coming from.

First of all, I'm all about performance. That's all I was interested in. I don't like the interior or exterior styling of the RSX-S at all, and that's all I'll say about that.

The first thing I noticed was that I actually had enough headroom even with a sunroof. I don't fit in the GSR or GTS with a sunroof. The next thing I noticed was the steering. It's much nicer than the Type R. I thought the steering wheel was a tad thin, but I liked the stiffness of the steering response. I hate how overboosted the power steering on Integras are.

Once I got out on the road, the fun started. The 6-speed shifter had a very nice feel to it. It was a little better than the Type R and a good bit better than the GTS. The clutch felt fine, nothing special. I took a few minutes to get used to the clutch, then found a good turn to speed though. This is where the GSR flashbacks began. A little less body roll than the GSR (about the same as the GTS). But it just didn't stick like the R around the same corner 10 minutes before. The steering feedback was better, and I was easily able to control the sliding. I got a little more used to the handling after a few more turns at different speeds. Very fun car to drive.

Then I opened it up a little on the straights. Powering out of the turn, I got some pretty nasty torque steer when the inside tire started to spin. Just like the GTS. I ran it to the redline in second. The power delivery was very GSR-like with a bit of a surge about 6k. Shifting at the redline in second let me land easily above 6k in third. Third pulled pretty good to the redline. That's about as far as I went. The revs just didn't climb like they do on the R. A lighter flywheel would do the RSX-S some good.

Getting to drive the two back to back, I can say that the RSX-S doesn't handle nearly as well as the Type R. It also isn't as fast in a straightline as my R. RSX-S won't be running 14.3 in the quartermile. The power below 6k wasn't as good as I expected either. I was expecting it to be significantly more than my R and it wasn't. It even seemed less. The salesman agreed (since I took him for a spin in my R before our little RSX-S drive).

Now a few notes. My R does have a Comptech Icebox and a DC 4-1 header. The header gave me quite a boost above 6k rpm when I put it on. Likewise, the Icebox is very impressive below 6k rpm. I've seen dyno plots with the Icebox, and it bumps that low end power curve up quite a bit. Both cars had the same passengers and about the same amount of gas (3/4 tank). My R has 8k miles and the RSX-S had 1200 (broken in, sort of, but not all the way).

The RSX-S was fun to drive. I loved the feeling of the steering and the shifter. The steering feel is not as good as the Celica GTS, but the shifter is nicer. It beats the R in both categories. It's handing was better than the GSR, but not as good as the Celica GTS or Type R. Straightline speed follows the handling. Much better than the GSR, but not quite as quick as the GTS or Type R. The interior comfort was better than the GTS, but I like the Type R seats better.

These are just my impressions after a comparison. I have driven the GTS and Type R quite a bit. I had a fun 15 minutes with the RSX-S. If you've driven all three cars, I'd like to hear what your thoughts are too.

[EuGeNiLe GTS]

good review yakko .. i have yet to drive a RSX-S.. ive driven various GTSs and 1 Type R.. can't wait to drive a rsx-s and see wat all the hype was all about..

[X-EVIL-X]

when i went and i drove the rsx-s it didn't feel as good as i thought.
these two guys were waiting for them to get a chance the drive it.
when they were talking to me(the guys waiting) they said that they hear that this is the new best thing, and i told them they should really go out and drive the celica because for some reason it felt slower than my gts.
the salesman asked me how it was and i said eeee and he agreed with me with was funny.
the handing felt like it had a lot of body roll, but i dont really have any body roll with my ground controls so i kinda forgot what the car handled like stock.
the inside looked nice but i still give the celica a better interior.
i would rather have a type-R anyday but they wont let me ever test drive one:(
o-well

[QWKsilvr808]

aha, so you finally got your hands on one Yakko! :)

I posted up my review of that car way back in June or so when they first got off the docks here in Hawaii. I was pretty impressed with the car to say the least, loved the steering, shifter, and seats. Some ppl may think the car is a bit nervous because the rear doesn't stay as planted as in the Celica, but I like kicking it out a bit if I can, and the RSX-S was easy to control. It didn't take much thought to drive the car, my mind was just on having fun.

I thought the car was a good match for mine in the handling department, altho you could illicit tire squeal rather easily. Take into account tho that my suspension is still what I would call "half assed" being slammed on stock shocks with less than ideal NT450 tires. I still think the car handled better stock, but I sacrificed performance for looks. That'll change when I get some serious suspension pieces in one of these days.

Yep, not a hell of a lot of balls off the line as it was hyped or ppl expected, but still a little better than mine in the low and mid range. Pulls really hard and clean to redline too after mid 5k or so, but not with as much animal urgency as the GT-S. Not any less, but just different... "refined" shall we say. Overall, the car was mighty quiet, you could tell there was a lot of sound dampening.

The only thing that stuck out to me was the brakes. Not nearly as good at hauling the car down to a halt as my GT-S can. Funny, because the brakes on this car are pretty damned beefy.

I think I said it before, but I felt like the car was an attempt to compromise near R performance with the everyday needs of ppl who complain about comfort, headroom, and luxury. Personally, I don't give a rip about all that stuff and would have loved to be in an R, if the dealer here wasn't trying to rip me off selling the R's for 4k over MSRP. That's kinda why I'm sitting in the GT-S now, besides I just fell in love with the looks.

If I were to rank them purely on a performance level, as if you were to ask me which was the most focused car?

1) ITR
2) GT-S
3) RSX-S

It's a very close comparison tho, but the GT-S and RSX-S have closer ties than either do with the R.

Hey Yakko, remember to hit me up when you guys come down to Hawaii this winter. :)

[oldster]

Yakko, how many friends do you have with GTS's?

[ctkrider]

Now that sounds like a very good review, in terms of not being biased. I suppose it's because you own an acura and toyota. Anyhow, it was nice honest review.

[t2000gts]

great review. it's got most of what i thought from just sitting in one about the feel of it, haven't driven one, but i have ridden in one.

the GTS is just an RSX-S that tries to imitate the ITR :p what with that old school VTEC-style switchover at 6000rpm and more raw road feel and whatnot. but with the technology of the RSX.

also, the GTS in general seems to have been designed to be more sporty. the RSX is a bit more luxurious-minded. that doesn't make one better than the other cuz it's like apples to oranges, but if you're judging by performance, i agree with you. if you're judging by just a fun normal car that's got all the amneties, though the GTS hands the RSX it's ass in looks inside and out, the RSX has the clear advantage. that's just what i think though.

i just hope the RSX does steal away some GTS buyers. those old guys, or maybe those young girls (but i guess the young girls would go for the looks even if the RSX felt nicer)

[ceLL-ILL-cA]

ya i have driven a rsx' S, my friend owns a silver one, and the rsx, seems to be able to chirp better, in the 1st-2nd gear shift, than the gts, also wat suprised me was how the rsx type S, can chirp 2nd-3rd,can anyone with a gts chirp 2nd 3rd, cuz i cant? and i have an aem cai.....the rsx was stock, and it chirps 2nd to 3rd? maybe its the gear ratios? any info, i wana chirp 3rd

[t2000gts]

how about bad tires? i can chirp third on an '87 Corolla LE

[ArchangelX]

Hmm...I'm tempted to check one out for a drive..just to see the difference...I did get to sit in one and play with the shifter.....but that didn't do squat for me really.

The rear end seems really cheap looking to me..espescially those lights, but I love the front end of it...it grew on me.

The interior was nice...though not really designed all that well..and that console is just plain ugly..not to mention the radio.

Stock shifter peddles look like they're from my 87 Nissan Stanza too..heh.

I do like the overall shape of it...but it's still a bit behind the Celica in the looks category.


Oh..and outta curiosity...t2000gts...what's the deal with wanting the RSX to steal some of the Celica buyers?

I don't get it...do you like your GTS? Maybe I'm missing something...but that sounds really weird coming from a GTS owner.

The more owners we have..the better chance we have in the aftermarket(well..as long as they mod it).

What's the dealio?

[LaW]

How about chirping isn't a good thing :)

[EuGeNiLe GTS]

yup.. why u so obsessed bout chirping third? personally.. ive chirped the gts to 2nd.. and 3rd.. if u really wanna chirp it.. just powershift.. but i dont know ur obsession with why..

[yakkosmurf]

Originally posted by QWKsilvr808


Hey Yakko, remember to hit me up when you guys come down to Hawaii this winter. :)
Thanks sharing your thoughts. I haven't forgot to look you up. I'll email you for your phone number when the trip gets closer. Sorry, I won't be brining the R. :D

[yakkosmurf]

Originally posted by oldster
Yakko, how many friends do you have with GTS's?
My history with the GTS is as follows. My best friend bought a 6-speed in March of 2k. He had it for about a year before it caught fire. It had a AEM CAI, TRD exhaust, Eibach springs, and a Millen front strut tower brace (I installed all of that). I got to drive that car quite a bit and enjoyed it. Currently, my girlfriend's roommate drives a 6-speed as well. It's completely stock. That's where most of my current experience comes from with a GTS.

[t2000gts]

Oh..and outta curiosity...t2000gts...what's the deal with wanting the RSX to steal some of the Celica buyers?

I don't get it...do you like your GTS? Maybe I'm missing something...but that sounds really weird coming from a GTS owner.

The more owners we have..the better chance we have in the aftermarket(well..as long as they mod it).

What's the dealio?

well cuz it's aimed at a different demographic slightly than the GTS and i'm tired of having their demographic all up in our cars. and we've got enough sales already. and i did say 'some'. i just want it to pick up all the loser old guys who live in and around NY so i don't have to see them in celicas :D girls too, but pretty girls are ok ;)

yes. i'm greedy. :p

[yakkosmurf]

Originally posted by ctkrider
Now that sounds like a very good review, in terms of not being biased. I suppose it's because you own an acura and toyota. Anyhow, it was nice honest review.
Thanks. I really don't prefer any car company over another. I like learning about all cars. And like most people, I find I like some better than others.

[yakkosmurf]

Originally posted by EuGeNiLe GTS
yup.. why u so obsessed bout chirping third? personally.. ive chirped the gts to 2nd.. and 3rd.. if u really wanna chirp it.. just powershift.. but i dont know ur obsession with why..
I agree. I prefer my tires grip than chirp. Chirping usually means you have cheap tires. :D

[Luni420]

Never drven an R, would love to drive one. I have mad respect for the ITR but I have driven both the GTS and RSX and heres my take on the two:

The RSX has better build quality. The interior is nicer. The shifter is better and the seats are nice. The Celica in my opinion has better seats and steering wheel and gauges. The RSX has a nicer dash and better materials. The RSX looks real nice from the side, but strange from the front. I like the Celica from the front but its strange from the side. Rear on both cars look good (assuming they both have spoilers). So thats the looks. Overall I think the Celica looks better. Its shorter and dont feel or seem as big and bulky. Now onto speed. They both feel quick. The GTS is a bit more peaky, you feel the VVTL-i system kick in more profoundly than the RSX. The RSX does have a i-VTEC engagement point that you can feel, its just not as noticable. The RSX does have more torque and is easier to launch and feels more friendly in bumper to bumper traffic. The RSX delivers a real nice ride and it feels more refined than the Celica. The GTS just feels more raw and untamed. Id say its a drivers race, however the GTS feels quicker due to the nonlinearity of the engine. Handling. The GTS outhandles the RSX period. The RSX needs help in the rearend. It feels very sway happy during turns. Its like it needs a much meaner sway bar. The GTS feels very precise and sticks to the road. It felt like stuff I do in my spare time in my Celica was harder for the RSX to safely do and required more attention and skill to the maneuver. Sound. The GTS sounds meaner but only at the limit. The RSX has a nice growl to at all rpms that is just accentuated when you hit lift. They both have decent stereos but the RSX sounds muddy. The GTS has a real nice stock stereo in it. Most people dont even bother changing it because it suits them just fine. Now the RSX does have a better warranty on it. If it was me choosing all over again, Id probabally get the GTS but thats just on initial feel. Now that Ive driven a Celica for over a year, I can probabally say Id like to drive an RSX around for a year and then make a better judgement on both cars. Bottom line, its all about prefrence, and they are both nice cars with plenty of performance and looks.

[ceLL-ILL-cA]

im just saying, the rsx s, has more power torque or shorter gears the our gts, since it chirps easier...just show it has more power...not quicker, and plus you dont have to power shift in the rsx to chirp, i gess there power band is better or the gearin...but the car still suxs....

[Brett]

Cool reviews. Defiently enjoy the performance veiw points. Still looking out for an RSX-S to drag race :p

[QWKsilvr808]

Originally posted by yakkosmurf

Sorry, I won't be brining the R. :D

Aw, shucks. :D

[yakkosmurf]

Originally posted by ceLL-ILL-cA
im just saying, the rsx s, has more power torque or shorter gears the our gts, since it chirps easier...just show it has more power...not quicker, and plus you dont have to power shift in the rsx to chirp, i gess there power band is better or the gearin...but the car still suxs....
How do you come up with the fact that it sucks if it has more power and better gearing? I'm not saying the RSX-S is better than the GTS, but your facts don't support your conclusion.

[PhoenixFire]

Yakko, not to add fuel to the fire but...


Ya ever drive a new WRX 5spd? If so I'd be intrested to hear your thoughs. I have a WRX and have always wondered how it compairs to the R. Sense I can't go to a dealership and test the R perhaps you've been able to do the reverse?

Thanks,
Ed


P.S.
Guys, every car has it place. Don't take it personally if you spent 25 k +/- on another car. The rsx is a bit more luxo, but still fun. there is a place for that in the market. Just be happy we all drive such sweet cars.

P.P.S
I'm not trying to sound pompus from the above remark by implying the wrx is better either. I'd kill for another awd celica turbo with the new body style!

[yakkosmurf]

Originally posted by PhoenixFire



Ya ever drive a new WRX 5spd? If so I'd be intrested to hear your thoughs. I have a WRX and have always wondered how it compairs to the R. Sense I can't go to a dealership and test the R perhaps you've been able to do the reverse?


No, I haven't been able to test drive a WRX yet. I don't know anyone that works at a Subaru dealer. However, I have a feeling if I drove the R over there and said I was thinking of trading it in for a WRX, I could probably get a chance to drive it. I will probably do that at some point, but I haven't had time to. If I get the chance, I'll let you know.

[Luni420]

Ive driven a WRX. Those things are mean. I liked it. The overall interior was kinda cheap and the stock stereo sucked. I liked the seats and pedals. The shifter was nice. The first gear was kinda blah but second gear was all mean and nice. It pulled real hard and the turbo lag was not that noticable. Handling was kinda sticky but the body roll was more noticable than the Celica. It wasnt as nimble as the Celica on a dry road but it handled real well. It felt nice and the engine was very smooth. I liked that car. Ugly in my opinion but a street beast. Id drive on in an instant if I didnt have the MR2 Turbo.

[yakkosmurf]

I'd take a MR2 turbo over a WRX if the WRX was free and the turbo was going to cost me money.

[silverceli2k]

yakko, that was a great review, thanks.

[Brett]

Originally posted by yakkosmurf
I'd take a MR2 turbo over a WRX if the WRX was free and the turbo was going to cost me money.

Not a flame. Just curious, but why?

[Chaos007]

Originally posted by Brett


Not a flame. Just curious, but why?
That was want I was thinking??

Free is free man! But if the both were free or if you have to pay something for either, then that's a different story.

But everyone is in title to there own opinion.
I personal would take the WRX over the MR2.

Not flames intened:D

[CelicaNamja79]

i drove R and GT-S... not RSX yet... but hopefully soon..

for looks

1. TYPE R
2.GT-S
3.RSX

i love the way any integras look.. after all it was my favorite car until i bought mah celica... and type R does have a grip of punch..much more than a GS-R... GT-S does have a punch too but IMO not as much as TYPE-R... dunno about RSX.. yakko good review man..

[Chui]

Originally posted by PhoenixFire
Yakko, not to add fuel to the fire but...


Ya ever drive a new WRX 5spd? If so I'd be intrested to hear your thoughs. I have a WRX and have always wondered how it compairs to the R. Sense I can't go to a dealership and test the R perhaps you've been able to do the reverse?

Thanks,
Ed


P.S.
Guys, every car has it place. Don't take it personally if you spent 25 k +/- on another car. The rsx is a bit more luxo, but still fun. there is a place for that in the market. Just be happy we all drive such sweet cars.

P.P.S
I'm not trying to sound pompus from the above remark by implying the wrx is better either. I'd kill for another awd celica turbo with the new body style!

I have a 2000 ITR and I've put about 25k miles on her. I've also driven the WRX on three occasions and raced them on three occasions.

The WRX is the quicker car from a standstill. Once moving the cars are similar. The higher the speed of the roll the better the ITR will fare. Or the worse the WRX will fare.

Brakes. The ITR has the best brakes of the threesome or foursome [GT-S/GT, WRX, RS-X, ITR comparo]. Both the Celica's brakes tend to fade a bit on track, but I don't see this as an issue as 99% of the cars will not spend 0.5% of it's life on a road course. The ITR has the greater initial bite. The GT-S comes second. I think the tires of the WRX limits it's ultimate braking ability, but if one were to install high performance summer tires, what's the reason for the AWD? You'd still slip and slide in the wet and snow... So I believe there is more in the WRX than you've got with the OEM rubber, but you lose versatility with the sticky summer hi-perf tires.

Steering. ITR hands down over the WRX.

Handling. ITR in the shades here. However,... the WRX demands a different style of driving. It's a different type of car and it's just as fun as the ITR. Just different. The ITR is more raw. It kinda struts it's stuff and makes no bones - nor offers any quarter - about it's intentions. You either you like it or not. On the boil it's a much better driver's car than any here. And - if you can believe this - if you really know what you're doing in an ITR you're every bit as quick, if not quicker, in a WRX... in the rain. That Limited-Slip Differential helps here as does the superb chassis balance and superior brake performance, not to mention the very direct and precise steering.

Now, if I were a millionaire I'd have a WRX, a BMW M3 and an ITR. Each have their strengths and I believe they all compliment each other. For the money I don't think that the WRX can be beaten for the average enthusiast driver. For the hardened road course monkey, however, the ITR is still the car to beat.

[Luni420]

Id take the WRX over the MR2 if both were free cause you can sell that WRX and make that MR2 a beast with the money. If you spend 20 grand on an MR2 (including initial purchase) you would be one of the fastest, if not the fastest car around. And a properly setup MR2 suspension wise will wape the walls with just about anything out there. Id much rather have the 2. But once again Im biased cause I already got one and I love it.

[Luni420]

Oh and a question Chui. Not a "this car is better than that car" but if you had an ITR and a 1995 MR2 Turbo with LSD which car do you think would win on a road course with equal drivers and both bone stock?

[yakkosmurf]

Originally posted by Brett


Not a flame. Just curious, but why?

[yakkosmurf]

Originally posted by Luni420
Oh and a question Chui. Not a "this car is better than that car" but if you had an ITR and a 1995 MR2 Turbo with LSD which car do you think would win on a road course with equal drivers and both bone stock?
I don't know about Chui, but I know I could get the MR2 much quicker around the road course. I wouldn't need anything, but the stock MR2 (91 or 92 that is).