I'm looking at getting a new car because my fiancee doesn't like the idea of me driving around a newborn inside my 98 Eclipse GST... mainly becuz she says the baby seat needs to be in the center of the back seats, but there is a hump in the middle that makes it tough to fit a baby seat in correctly. Also, the car is extremely noisy...3" Thermal, no cat, no resonator.

Here are my questions:
Does the RSX have a hump in the middle of the back seats?
I know Hondas are very reliable. I've had a Civic EX for years in high school and had a Civic HB (B16a swapped...now powered by B18b) and have always loved Honda's reliability. How reliable is the 2002 WRX?

I'm looking at getting the Type-S. All dads that own an RSX out there, please give me some feedback.

 

If you want refinement, classy style yet agressive with mods, good power, great suspension and brakes, etc.. get the RSX (the only option in my book is the Type S...getting the base model is like buying a Ferrari with auto tranny....what's the point?!).

If you want all out power, an UGLY as hell car, bad brakes/abs, cheap *** interior, cheap paint, and all wheel drive, get the WRX.

 

UGLY?!...c'mon it's not that bad looking. It's definately not an RSX, but the bottom line is that I need something that will be suitable for driving a baby to and from the babysitters'. And maybe to the grocery store?

The reason why I chose the WRX was because, well, it's almost a 4 door family type car. The power and the unique look is what kinda attracted me to it. The 4 doors and 4 wheel drive is more suited for my fiancee...I'd have to teach her to drive stick tho.

I'm a Honda lover at heart ...but the power curve of a turbo is so sweet!

 

Why dont you ask your friend brad for a test drive? I hear his car is pretty fast.

 

get a wrx only becuz its a 4 door.........but other than that i would say get rsx

 

the WRX looks good with its underbody spoiler kit. Frankly if I could choose again Id go WRX. "Whats more fun than Turbo? A turbo with all wheel drive"

 

Yea, dude, seriously, that's the ugliest car in existence, disregarding the Pinto, Pacer, and M coupe. Those oval dorky looking headlights and 80's looking perfectly round fog lights down low, the cheap feeling interior, and 4-doors. Oy vey. Everything about that car is what I hate in domestics....it looks and feels cheap!!...like the thing is gonna fall apart any second. I realize this my opinion only (opinions are like buttholes - everyone has one and they all stink), but I just can't figure out where those Subaru engineers smoked crack while designing that car. Yea, it's quicker stock than my RSX, but the RSX comes with much much more!

Also, I'll let you in on a little hint....you can get a turbo kit for your Honda/Acura if you really want. Oh and you can easily mount TWO baby seats in the RSX, like Doug from Hondata did while he had the car for testing. Your kid's gonna cry all the way home if you make him ride in a WRX man. You'll regret it later. I'll even say, "I told ya so." haha

Well, you gotta do what you gotta do, but you did ask for people's opinions. Either way you go, I hope you are happy behind the wheel.

 

You really cant not expect biased opinions when you post something like this in a certain forum, the WRX owners would say go for the WRX if you put it in a WRX forum. As an RSX owner, looking at both standpoints, it will take less to get more power out of the WRX than the RSX...you say you can get a turbo kit for the RSX..why pay $5000 or however much it costs for one of the kits when you can get the WRX for around the same price as a Type S and get it chipped? Performance wise its not being beat...

 

WRX would out perform the RSX in almost every catagory... as for reliability and comfort, the RSX... in my opinion, get the WRX

 

Points well taken, however, thank god it still comes down to driver when we're talking about what could take what. I've taken several WRXs in the past year that I've had my Type S. Probably not the best drivers out there, but that's what makes up part of the puzzle.

Yes, the WRX comes with a turbo, but it only puts out 27 more hp at the crank stock than the S. With engine building and a turbo, if I wanted to go that route (which I aint cuz I'm an all motor kind a guy), the RSX can easily hang with the WRX, even modified.

You can have great style and tons of power by modding an S. I'm not trying to beat the WRX into the ground, but I just have my preferences and I cannot find a reason good enough to buy a WRX. If I lived in Colorado, you betcha. But, here in CA, uh uh. I want my RSX. The WRX is inspired by dirt-road, off-pavement competition, which I LOVE watching, but the RSX is track-inspired (NOT the nascar kind). I guess all that money Honda throws into F1 and CART really pays off. I'm hooked. I'm loyal.

The two cars are based on different ideas. That's what's funny about the friction between WRX and RSX drivers out on the road. There's no other car for the WRX to compete against. It's not like Peugot or Citroen make cars here. It'll be good to see those WRXs pick on someone their own size when the EVO comes to America. I'll have a great time watching those two duel it out.

I love my RSX and I'm sticking with it!

Like I said before, most importantly, we all drive what we like. Nothing wrong with that.


[Modified by F1HONDA, 11:44 PM 10/25/2002]

 

No hump in the middle of the back seats, but there isn't a middle back seat there either. There's a plastic piece there which I still haven't figured out the functionality of yet.

It should be very reliable stock. Once you mod it, all bets are off.

I'm not a dad yet, but I imagine if I were, I'd want a WRX simply because it has 4 doors (can't imagine living with a coupe and everyday pulling the chairs forward to put a kid in the back). Besides, AWD means great handling even in wet weather. Very safe. It may look like crap, but you're buying a family car now. Who cares, right? I think you need practicality at this point, which the WRX has in spades.

 

my son figures it for whaterver he dosnt feel like holding.. candy, gum, toys, u know

 

wrx.

rsx =

 

if i had to choose, WRX.

 

RSX doesn't have a hump in the middle... do you mean like an armrest on the seat or a transmission hump in the floor? Either way, RSX doesn't have one, but you can't sit a baby seat in the middle because of the damn useless cupholder or whatever back there (I ONLY drive my RSX, hardly look back there).

It does have a hook in the hatch where you can actually tether the baby seat to for added protection along with a seatbelt.

Yes hondas will last 200k miles and beyond if you don't redline it every day.

As for WRX, I don't know much about it, I've just heard they have horrible transmissions from everyone. As for styling... I say if you're gonna make it look like a rally car, you better make it as tough as a rally car. As for street racing, it will kick a Type-S's *** unless the driver really sucks.

 

The WRX
with mods


[Modified by Jsracingintegra, 9:52 PM 10/25/2002]

 

I'll tell ya this right now, if I end up havin a kid, the RSX is gone. No way id get rid of the hatch for a damn family car

 

I agree 100%

 

WOW, I am blown away by the Integ crowd that is so anti-rsx. I think it's funny actually. The RSX must be some sort of threat to the Integ or else they wouldn't be so blatantly anti-rsx. I guess that's what happens when you buy a car thinking it's the best and the next year they outdo themselves with a newer model. As much as I love my RSX I still like Integs.

Curious as I am, I wonder what all of you would think had the RSX been released here in the U.S. as a Honda Integra (or even still Acura in the States) like it is in the rest of the world. Maybe it's just the mind manipulation marketing that makes people see things in certain ways.

cheers.

 

Well having owned both a Type S and now a WRX, let me give you a first hand unbiased account that few can say they have had. The RSX is by no means a family car. Its not even a 5 seater cause i don't think there is a seat belt for the middle rear seat. The seats are so high and bolstered that turning around to look at or play with the kid at a stoplight is out of the question. When it comes to the WRX, its designed with family in mind and is the safest car in its class according to the National Insurance Safety Board. It has special anchors for child seats and is far more accesible then a RSX. We're not talking performance here people, we're talking about the safety of his little kid. Trust me, the WRX makes much more sense. And when the kid is not in the car, you'll appreciate the extra 27hp and 80ft/lbs alot more.

 

Wow...didn't realize that there was so much competition between the RSX and WRX. I really like both cars, and they are both excellent in their own way. The RSX a solid, reliable, sporty Honda...the WRX a 4 wheel drive, turbocharged, 4 door family car. The decision I make will definately be a tough one.

I've been told from an RSX owner that the middle plastic section in the back seats are actually made so you can put a baby seat there. Can someone confirm this for me? The big thing is, that I am having a newborn and my fiancee insists that the baby will need to be seated in the middle.

Right now, the WRX seems to be what I'm leaning towards, mainly because of the 4 door and 4 wheel drive. My fiancee really doesn't like to drive, so we'd take the WRX pretty much everywhere...which would be a whole lot more fun than driving around in her Pontiac Sunfire . Yes, I heard that the transmission may be weak, but I think that's true of a lot of 4 wheel drive cars. Is there any other problems that anyone knows of about the WRX's reliability?

If I pick the RSX, I probably won't be able to drive it around as much. I'd use it mainly for transporting the baby to and from the babysitters and when I go on solo runs to the grocery store...or wherever. The RSX is definately a badass car, that I think is the top car in it's class. Also, it will make me feel less like the "family guy" when I'm out and about. Although, a kitted WRX lowered on some hot wheels will have the same effect.

I really do love the RSX, but I don't want to invest in something like that to realize it wasn't really a good choice. WRX would be something different from what my friends have...I hang with mostly Honda guys. And there aren't too many WRX's that look real nice around here. Most of the locals are driving Honda, VW or Mitsubishi Eclipse.

Man...what a tough choice. I need more input. Please post more opinions and info!


[Modified by nexusmotorsports, 8:27 PM 10/26/2002]

 

1st of all, Congradulations on your baby and your marriage. Cheers!
And 2nd, why the hell are you all so confused!!!!???? The man wants a car that will be good for his wife, and good for his infant child. This isn't a question on performance or streetracing. It's about what car would be best for an import fan/father of a baby/fiancee blah. He needs a car that will be almost like a "family" car with a lil dash of performance (cuz he likes to mod).
I'm going to say my opinion on which car would be best for you (NOT which car is better). The RSX (integra) is a small 2dr coupe that has 4 seats.. not even 5. There is no middle seat in the back for your baby... and it's not such a good idea to put him/her on the side. It's very small and cramped up in the back as well. And to the guy that said that a WRX will be loud as hell. WHAT THE HELL. an RSX is waaay louder than a WRX stock (c'mon it's a honda, honda=loud), especially with an exhaust on it. with a wrx, it's more of a deep monotone sound that isn't soo loud (even with exhaust, it won't become as loud as an RSX). Anyways, the RSX isn't as safe as a WRX either. So, basically, it's small, loud, not so good for babies as WRX, and it shouldn't be in ur choice of cars.
The WRX, however, has 4DR's. it's bigger inside. You have more room. 5 seats, including plenty of space for your baby in the back. It's a sedan (a subcompact). It has recieved very high safety ratings. As for reliability, it has rock-solid reliability. It has good assed drivetrain.. it's not something that would break down, IT'S RALLY PROVEN. Many car reviews have mentioned that it has good reliability and it will by all means, last you a long time. It would be the best for your family, in my opinion. Forget about looks, forget about speed (i'll talk more on this later), forget about that all. This is about what's good for your family (more importantly, you're baby, you gotta be careful). It has skid control (stock), and an available LSD. it is a pretty good car for your situation, and I suggest that you get it for your family.
Done.
Oh, and I'm not saying that the RSX is a bad car, it's a tight car, i love it.. i want one (it's on my list of cars that i want, but not on the top...) But, the best choice for you would be the WRX.
-Mansoor

 

why not a evolution?
4dr, good hp, fun to drive

 

Owned an Integra, test-drove an RSX and ended up getting a WRX. I liked the WRX's personality much more. I would get the Subaru with the kid in mind, 4 doors making life MUCH easier to put the kid in the carseat. I've bussed my nephews around a few times in my car, getting them into the backseat of the Acura would be more difficult. Being able to cruise on the highway at 3000rpm, step on the gas and charge past whatever car you need to pass makes the turbo seem like a safety item too

 

It has nothing to do with feeling threatened my friend. The RSX is a great car but I, myself, would prefer a WRX. That's all there is to it. I would also take a Modena over an NSX, but that doesnt mean I dont like the NSX. just preference.