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2002 Acura RSX Type-S

Date: 04 January 2002	Miles: 5,345
The Acura's RSX, the long awaited replacement for the Integra, is the hot sport coupe of the moment. Our long term Type-S packs a full 200 horsepower. That's 40 more than in standard trim. We've rack up mileage quickly since our RSX arrived 2 months ago. The speedometer now stands at 5,345. Fuel mileage average 25 even so far. As you might expect most of the log book comments focus on the driving pleasure the RSX delivers. But they also praise the supportive seats, and plentiful power at higher rpms. The 6-speed manual is a delight, even if around town you barely ever get to use all of it. Our only concern now is if the fat 16-inch performance tires will have enough wet traction for winter commuting. We'll let you know.
Date: 08 March 2002	Miles: 8,000
After 3 months and 8,000 miles, our log book is getting full, and mostly with praise. Acura has done a great job of matching the high revving inline-4 in the Type-S with the slick throw 6-speed manual gearbox. On long trips the seat support is also first rate, and only the addition of an armrest could make comfort better. The radio and climate controls are easier to reach than they appear, and the suspension can twist and roll with the hottest tunes. All-in-all this is just one fun sports coupe. And, with economy of 26.3 miles per gallon, it's pretty thrifty, too.
Date: 21 August 2002	Miles: 14,458
In a world full of pickups and SUVs, it's a treat to drive a car that over-achieves like the 2002 Acura RSX Type-S sports coupe. With one of the most responsive and sophisticated powertrains available, and a suspension so finely balanced that you forget the chassis is front-wheel drive, here's a little coupe that delivers big driving performance for the dollar. After 8 months and 14,458 miles, we're also glad to report the RSX Type-S has been of little trouble. We have noticed the leather upholstery starting to show some wear at the bolsters and seams, and the finely tuned suspension lets you hear what it's doing more so than the day it arrived. But, otherwise it's even sweeter to drive than the day it was new. Plus, gas mileage is also better, rising to 27.7 miles per gallon, the test's best economy performance yet. And note the RSX Type-S truly is an all-around performer with its well integrated and nicely counterbalanced rear hatch, and folding rear seats providing 3-door utility without the styling stigma.
Date: 11 October 2002	Miles: 18,900
They say that time flies when you're having fun. No wonder it seems more like 11 weeks, not the actual 11 months, since our long term fleet added this 2002 Acura RSX Type-S. I suppose we shouldn't be surprise that time, and some 18,900 plus miles, have passed so quickly. Nor should we be surprised that this upscale Honda product has been totally trouble free Oh, there is some wear and tear on the fabrics, and noise intrusion is up a bit. But the high strung 200-horsepower 2.0-liter is still turbine smooth, the shifter and clutch both remain light and positive, and the chassis is as solid as the proverbial rock. Or that this modestly priced sport coupe, the base Type-S sticker is $23,670, is more fun to toss around a corner than Acura's vaunted NSX supercar. The NSX couldn't match our car's 27.5 miles per gallon economy either. No surprises on the Acura RSX Type-S, except that a small front-wheel drive coupe can please us in so many large ways.
Date: 28 December 2002	Miles: 22,000
You never forget a great relationship, and we think we will fondly remember our 13 months with this 2002 Acura RSX Type-S for many moons to come. What a completely enjoyable piece of automotive hardware. During that all too brief time, we managed nearly 22,000 miles of spirited, comfortable and in-command driving. We didn't really expect anything to break on this upscale Honda product, and it didn't. But we did wonder if some of the high- strung nature of the Type-S would lower an octave or two. The leather trim seats wore quite a bit, and the suspension did become noisier. Also the 6-speed gearbox showed notchy signs it didn't like being tossed around by a dozen different driving styles. But the quick-spinning 200 horsepower 2-liter engine is still turbine smooth, and the car is a total treat to drive from first turn of the wheel to last. Plus it's almost a sin to drive a car that's this much fun and still returns 27.8 miles per gallon. We know some poky commuter cars that won't even do that. But the RSX Type-S is anything but poky – 0 to 60 in only 6.9 seconds, and an engine that pulls all day long. Also the Type-S is loaded with standard comfort features, from power memory and leather seats to CD changer to automatic climate control to power sunroof, and it's all included for under 24 grand. It's just too bad that on this day we had to say goodbye to the finest front wheel drive sport coupe we've ever tried.