The 2002 Acura RSX has left many people wondering how come the word ‘Integra’ was not there. Why not Acura Integra RSX right? More than we all would ever know, it is just another of Honda Motor Corporation of Japan marketing department’s new selling tactics. The highest breed of the Acura, which is the NSX have been sold successfully in the American region than elsewhere. The Japanese carmakers like the rest, are well aware of the current world economic development and Honda Motor Corp. have in their heads that the U.S. region shall be their selling ground than anywhere else since the Asian region which used to be Honda’s selling ground till late 90’s was hit by an economic crisis and most of which; the countries have their currency depreciated badly compare to the U.S. dollar and hence reduce their buying power for upper end cars from the Asian region itself.

With the debut of the Acura’s new 2002 NSX, it has clearly shown in their sales forecast that the United States shall be fetching most of its sales volume than the rest of the world. Acura have done well in its sales for the upper end NSX model in the United States previously and have created an upscale breed family of cars and SUVs in-hope to follow the success of the NSX (even as an upper market range). From the ‘X’ models of the NSX to the MDX and now comes the RSX. It was believed to be able to lift the Acura Integras class higher by giving it an upscale name without the ‘Integra’ name and hence no longer it will be an alternative to its Honda brother of cars like the Civic Coupes. Now, born the Acura’s new ‘X’, the 2002 Acura RSX.

The Acura RSX will promise to offer complete satisfaction to all the previous owners of the Acura Integras. Honda’s newest and finest engine the i-VTEC is the heart of the Acura RSX and it has brought the Acura RSX to greater performance limits right when it left the showroom to your own garage. The 2.0 liter DOHC i-VTEC 16 valve engine has given the Acura RSX the most efficient 4-cylinder engine in the market by a Japanese carmaker. Right from the first time when I opened the hood of my 91’ Acura Integra, many things have changed since then and I noticed it too when I opened the next 98’ Acura Integra. When you open the hood of the Acura RSX you will be surprised to see how things have changed in there. You won’t see anymore a word on the cylinder head written ‘Honda Motor Corp.’, but what you will see is a shiny piece of cylinder head cover with the Acura logo on it. It is a neat and tidy engine at first sight just like opening the back of a Lamborghini Diablo. But an Acura just like Hondas are still an Acura, the room for you hands to work around on the engine in the hood, are still as limited as before and this is a common thing in every Honda vehicle, still the Toyotas would give you more room for you hands to work with. It would be easier to check the gear oil level (auto trans.) of any Toyotas then the Hondas and like wise with the tightening of a belting or a replacement for a faulty alternator or an air-con compressor. Another thing that you will notice about the Acura RSX engine is that you won’t see the big sentence saying “PGM-FI Programmed Fuel Injection” like what you would be able to see in the 91’ Acura Integra. Right now all the newer Acuras have adopt the so called PGM-FI technology which was a big “tech hooha” before. The cramp engine set-up so far are always able to run away from the rest of the critics as the efficient wise of it always counts. With a 200hp at 6000rpm it generates a clean 50hp per cylinder. With a 0-60 of 6 seconds, what more would you ask for from a 4-cylinder Japanese car.

What is the RSX if you cannot enjoy all the power when the fun counts by the money that you spend on its fuel. Well, The RSX is also able to run away from these critics as it let you get 27 mpg on city driving and 31 mpg on highway driving. Not much of a difference on miles-per-gallon from the 98’ Acura Integra but more mpg and more horses in the RSX is what we will be able to settle for….right? The fuel tank capacity of 13.2 U.S.Gal. will give you enough distance to roam around in any state with your date!! If you enjoy the spinning around with cars, I would recommend you to take a spin on the Acura RSX on an icy empty parking lot. It’s easy to slide around with the Acuras and get back in control than most of the Hondas. An Acura Integra is still an Acura Integra and the RSX will give you the exact feeling of the previous 2 Integras when you try and slide it around and get back in control. Handling is getting better and better in the newer model but the feeling of being in a very light weight car is still there, but like always the getting back-in-control of the these Integras make them the awesome road handling cars. The RSX compare to the previous Integras have a shaky back fell when you skid and slide it around. For extreme dry road performance a 17” to 18” wheels should do the job well done and most of the upgrades for the RSX are now available.

The interior has new looks with lots more pockets and cup holders. Now, that’s new, an Integra is turning into a family enjoyable kind of sporty car. In the RSX you get an extra door side pocket for the front seat and cup holders for rear seat passengers. The back seat belt clips on the side is kind of ‘out of place’ but it does a good job for not getting the seat belts stuck in between the side of the rear seat. Let’s look at the instrumentations of the RSX. The metallic sport gauges gives a new look and as you can see the redline starts at 7900RPM. The 98’ Acura Integra ones look like the style of a 95’ Mitsubishi Eclipse but the RSX has changed all the looks totally with new features on the switches as well. With the new look gear knob, lighted power window switches and the titanium look interior trim…..wow !! this car has a really good ‘Young man’s’ taste……so dad and grandpa please stay away from the car. The only bad look I could think of inside the RSX, only comes from the cheap air-con vents style……it looks like the air vents of an ‘old Russian Helicopter’. That’s the bad part on the dashboard, but the good part is the stereo sound is terrific, what’s a good a car without a good sound……the Acura has all to offer for the sound. The Acura/Bose car stereo is enough to fill all the driving with the fun you need and check out that rear printed on glass radio antenna, that one really looks hi-tech and ‘cool’. It gives a clean look to the Acura RSX from the outside with this new concept antenna. With all these fun packed into the Acura RSX, there is not a better brand new car in any showroom for this year for the same amount of money you can spend on the 2002 Acura RSX. With a 4 year / 50,000 miles warranty what more can you ask for. The 2002 Acura RSX Rules !!!

Comparison

Prior to the test driving of the 2002 Acura, I have done testing on a few of the RSX competitor of the same budget range. Overall, the RSX is still the best in the lot and in comparison to these cars, you will definitely settle for the RSX.

Celica GTS : The Celica had always come-up with fun colors and more sophisticated
looks, but performance and driving wise forget about it. For a 1.8 L that
only gives you 180 horses, it is just not enough to have a ‘traffic light kill’
on the Acura RSX. The Celica also have many blind spots when you’re
driving it and you feel it’s dragging a big backside along with you. Celica
always have been a ‘silly-car’ even with all the good looks and good
publicity..

Subaru Impreza: If you need a rocket packed car that would match the Acura RSX this
Is it. But the only thing that is left out from the Subaru is the look and
the ‘comfy’ ride. This car really puts you into the feel of a rally car and
you won’t feel the relaxation of driving it. The interior designing of the
car needs to be add-up with new stuff. The look of the Subaru is totally
out !! The rounded headlights is taking the Subaru Impreza to look like
the cars in the 80’s. Unless you live on an off road stretch or a place
that snows all year round, don’t buy the Impreza. It only got the horses
and nothing else.

Mitsubishi Eclipse: This is the sad case for Mitsubishi when comparing with the Acura
RSX. The Mitsubishi Eclipse is a 3.0L V6 engine car but it only
has the power of the Acura RSX, where are all those extra gas burn
goes to?? The exterior look of the Eclipse does not have the smooth
aerodynamic touch like the RSX and Mitsubishi, please get rid
of the ugly tank cap !!!


Recommendations for owning the 2002 Acura RSX, the color tells your personality:

Every individuals have a different taste in cars and the car sometimes do depict the personality in someway. The RSX has limited colors range to offer and I would really like to have this car in a Ferrari Red if there is one out there !!.

2 colors that really suits this car:

Satin Silver Metallic: For those gentlemen out there with the touch of class and for those
who are less aggressive. This color is perfect.

Firepepper Red Pearl: For those men out there who have “the need for speed” and have
a real outgoing personality and for the gals, this color is all that it
takes to make all of us the man out there, to go crazy. Flashy red
looks sexy baby !!!


The Ratings:

5 stars for Reliability

The reason I’m giving the Acura RSX a 5-star rating for reliability is because I’m very happy with the previous Acura Integras . Owned and drive the 91’ Acura Integra GS (150,000 miles now, automatic) and the 98’ Acura Integra GSR (48,000 miles, manual), but unfortunately both are white in color. The Acura Integra was also voted the Top 5 most reliable car after 10 years. Also owned and drove other cars like the Hondas and still love the Acuras.

5 stars for Seat Comfort

The Hondas and Acuras have always come-up with very comfortable seats. The bucket kind of seat in the Acura RSX is something that compliments the good interior set-up. To those new owners of the Acura RSX you’ll be very surprise that when you seat on the 2002 Acura NSX it feels exactly as seating in your 2002 Acura RSX, do try and discover it for yourselves. The Detroit Motor Show shall be open to public on Jan 12th 2002 and the 2002 Acura NSX is making its debut there.

4 and a half stars for Quality and Craftsmanship

I’m keeping the half because the Acura RSX needs a good spoiler at the back otherwise it looks like a Chevy Cavalier Coupe. It looks awful without the spoiler. But, the rest is fine and above expectations, even the undercarriage of the car is flat and smooth (you will discover it on your first oil change, take a look around under the car). It is a very neat and tidy concept.

5 stars for Roominess

As long as a 6ft person like me can be seated comfortable at the back seat, I won’t ask for more from a hatchback car.

5 stars for Handling

No other Japanese cars in its class handles better than the Acura RSX, good car and it can even be perfected with a little more upgrades by those “race-craze” owner.



There is no better buy out there in the market than the Acura RSX within the price range. If you have slightly more money to spend, just settle for the 3-series BMWs. Forget about the rest. I am certainly a happy Acura Integra owner and Acura still comes up with more and more to impress me. The 2002 Acura RSX is a very impressive car.

On my next business pay check, I'm going to the nearest Acura showroom to get one (with a good spoiler of course), and what are guys waiting for ??

Amount Paid (US$): 24,000 ++
Condition: New
Model Year: 2002
Model and Options: Type S