Acura RSX Type S Review

Many thought Honda took a wrong turn when it scrapped the DC2 and EK chassis, and bounced the B series. With a technologically degraded front suspension (McPherson strut rather than double-wishbone), and lack of the Type R moniker, we, too, remember being hesitant about the DC5 chassis. Then we drove it.

Turns out we had nothing to worry about. This car is so good, it returns as an Eight Great Ride for the second year in a row, thanks to silky refinement, great driveability and unarguable value.

Who would've thought a sublimely snickety six-speed gearbox would so enhance the driving experience? Two hundred cc's of extra displacement in the K20 and i-VTEC combine to produce a solid 173 hp at the wheels-13 more than the beloved Type R. This is enough oomph to hit 60 mph in 7.2 seconds and run the quarter mile in 15.3 seconds at 93.1 mph. This is achieved, of course, with the grand Honda tradition of stratospheric rpm and wonderful VTEC surge.

Saddled with poor all-season tires and a readily apparent open diff, the Type-S whips through the slalom at 68.9 mph, and pulls 0.86g on the skidpad, numbers that don't necessarily reflect the car's real-world driving prowess. Your left foot finds a happy home on the brake pedal, where gentle pressure will yield neutrality; a poke, fun oversteer. Wheel/tire and simple suspension upgrades on this car yield big handling numbers, as seen in our RSX Supertest (June 2002).

Although missing in our market, the fact that the DC5 Type R exists, that its factory hot-rod parts have part numbers, and that these part numbers are available through many local dealers, means the good stuff is close at hand. The Japanese aftermarket was also quick to embrace the DC5 chassis and K20 engine, meaning plenty of well-developed chassis mods, engine parts, and titanium and carbon doodads bolt on if you've gotthe Yenjamins.

Inside, standard leather, a standard six-disc changer, and excellent fit, finish and interior materials make this a genuinely nice car, a quality to which few cars in the segment can lay claim. Acura also took care of the hardcore drivers out there with aggressive seating, clear gauges and a very small, leather-wrapped three-spoke steering wheel.

So the RSX Type-S continues to be worthy, but a Type R continues to be on our wish list. Just don't be surprised to find that label slapped onto a Civic hatch, and not the RSX.