Well, let me just start by saying I've had all the motors listed below in my sig (all in various stages), so I am going to be impartial.

The interior is the best interior I've been in. The seats were VERY comfortable, and had side airbags in them, which I didn't know about. The seats weren't anymore supportive than my GSR in terms of lateral movement, but had much nicer leather and looked WAY better. They have these wierd supports for your shoulders (cool). The interior alone makes me want to buy this car. The back seat is a little roomier than the current teg (about 2-3 more inches head room), and those seats or an improvement as well. I'm not going to list all the nice diff's, like sliding cupholder cover, true climate controls, etc, etc. I will say that the stereo didn't sound any better than my stock GSR system, and I couldn't even hear the sub in the trunk. The spare tire seems bigger than the G3 teg though.

Now about the motor. Hmm. at first glance it looked cramped, but after looking closer, it isn't that bad at all. in fact, the header would be very easy to get to and change, once you removed the strut bar (if that's what it was, I can't remember). The header looked to be either a 4-1 or a 4-2-1, but I couldn't tell because they merged while underneath the heat shield. The B-pipe is HUGE though. No $hit. It looks much bigger than the B18c series ones (of course I was upside down looking, maybe it was the blood rushing to my head).

Back to the driving, the shifter is very precise. There isn't any play in there at all. First off, it's raised when compared to the G3 so your don't have to reach down for it. There is only about 2" of clutch play! The clutch engages almost instinctivly.
About the power though. Well, let's just say that is the only reason I didn't buy it today. Before I-Vtec, Hell let's call it VTEC, there is NO torque. I mean NONE. it felt like my wifes D16a, SERIOUSLY. once the Vtec hit, it picked up quite a bit, but still not in gobs. The power is very linear, so it kept pulling and pulling, but since it starts out with so little power, it wasn't too impressive. The dealer had the dyno graph (to the fly) on the handout, and the power is a straight line (no lie). This car definately needs to rev to 9K. When you shift gears, you fall out of the power band and Vtec. Damn, I'd say this car would run mid 15 in the 1/4 for sure with a tipical launch (2.30 60'). Damn, my GSR would ROMP on this car br many cars lengths. I know I've only got a 14.8 (tires not toooooo good), but if that can run a 14.9-15.0, then my car can run 14.5's all day.
The torque in the GSR seem MUCH, MUCH more than the TypeS and the ITR for that matter.
Hmm, so basically with an ECU upgrade (up revlimit, lower Vtec, change I-vtec map) this car would be smokin. I can't wait to see what mugen is going to cook up.
lastly, the car look MUCH better in person. It looks very nice. The G3 looks better, but in a different way. -C

 

and to add, if anyone find out how much the seats and shift **** cost, let me know. I'd get these before Recaro (not that my *** has ever sat in one ; )

I forgot, the salesman Took me to some deserted road where "There were a lot of good turns." he went on to say "I've already got it to 115mph!" ehh, I know for certain, I'd be buying on of the ones in the back! They are only letting everyone drive the 1 demo. I wonder why.




[Modified by TypeC, 7:21 PM 7/6/2001]

 

hey my boy just got some of those seats down from japan i have no idea what they look like but i think they would look tight as hell im gonna go look at them this week he said he got a great deal on them so he will sell them to me cheap.. i have a 2000 gs-r with black leather.. im sellin the leather now

 

post some pics when you get them! I seriously think I'm gonna buy them. The only thing is, the airbag is built into the seat. If you can't buy them separately, the cost will be like $6K or something a pair. -C

 

and here is my sketch of the RSX power band (This is only by butt dyno which isn't worth the $hit that comes out of it).
BTW, this is the GSR vs ITR vs Prelude vs GTS vs RSX-R.



[Modified by TypeC, 7:19 PM 7/6/2001]

 

C-
I was in San Antonio on Friday and I stoped in a Gunn. On my way there I saw two salesmen racing down the access road on I-10. I guess I wont be buying any of these anytime soon.heheh

art

 

i like this review! lots of comparisons , pretty good

Im gonna test drive one tomorrow perhasp.

My friends are already starting to ask me " why dont you trade in your car and get the RSX-S" bah i say, bah.

mmmm, cup holders.....

I didnt know the GS-R power band looked that nice compared to the ITR..interesting, but im sure the ITR gearing helps make up for the lack of low end torque.




[Modified by Ricehornet, 2:43 AM 7/7/2001]

 

TypeC - Good review...hit all the points I would've made.

There is one big complaint that you missed though. During my test drive of the Type-S, my friend was sitting in the back seat. She said that every turn that I made she was hitting her head on the C-Pillar. I looked back there and I noticed that the interior of the C-Pilliar did protrude out a lot more than it should. But I think height wise there is more room than the G3, just not laterally.

I saw it a second time yesterday. I don't know why but I'm getting more and more turned off by the hatch area. It reminds me of the Toyota Echo...yuk! Although i did get a chance to see an Adriatic Blue with a full body kit and spoiler. It looked mean, but the front lip sat low. If you were to give it a 1.5 inch drop the lip would be scrapping everything. Too bad...

 

I test drove it too a couple days ago and your review is good, except for a few things I'd like to add. I have to disagree with u about the engine being weak before VTEC. it seemed pretty strong to me, maybe its because the car was much more luxurious than the GSR and more quiet it didnt feel like it was going as fast but I just read Car & Driver and they were able to get 0-60 time of 6.1sec out of it. thats pretty damn fast to me. also their 1/4 mile was in the 14s...

 

Ok, I haven't seen any (good) interior shots, so if someone could enlighten me, what about the armrest? I've heard that they took it out completely. Yeah yeah, I know I might get chided for not having both hands on the steering wheel, but I like being able to rest my right arm on SOMEthing. Especially on that lovely, windy I-5.

Also, is the RSX a 5-seater now? Or is it still only 4? If it's 4, what did they do with the middle compartment (in the back seat) that's in the G3 Teg coupes?


[Modified by marmaladeboy, 6:08 AM 7/7/2001]

 

good questions!
I hate cramming people in the back and making them sit on the plastic thingy.....can we put anything back there? like an arm rest?

Hows the visibility in the RSX compared to an integra coupe.....esp the rear visability, for backing up purposes, when i back up in the teg i NEVER look back, it's useless, i use the mirrors much better at givin me info

 

yeah...the front armrest is gone. I noticed that right away when I started the test drive. My arms are long enough that I can rest my elbow on the armrest and still reach the steering wheel...the salesperson said that they were trying to make the Type-S as much a sports car as possible, and that is why it's no longer there.

As for the plastic thingy in the backseat. It's still there. It's got some sort of a compartment (or cupholder...can't recall) so it's going to be even worse to sit on if you have a fifth person. I think the most people I've backed in my car was six and that hurt. But my fraternity brothers and I packed seven in a two door tercel once. We had the pledge sit in the trunk....

 

ewwwwwwwww, can i get you some glasses?

 

I liked the car alot and then I got out and stood in front of it and saw how butt *** ugly the headlights are OMFG they are huge and so goofy.

 

yup i drove by the showroom and noticed the RSX and i was like "wtf" the front is pretty ugly IMO..
hehe i fit 8 people in my teg once, but it's not that bad when they are HS girls i cant imagine fitting full grown guys though ....ah, memories.

 

Cool, I found the interior to be good. The rear headroom was not wonderful, but niether was that of the G2 or G3 (I've had both). I don't even use my rear seats (I hate to ride more than one person), so I wasn't too critical on it. Yeah, I noticed that the armrest was gone, which is a step back IMO. I have to stick to what I said about the RSX being weak before Vtec. I don't have much respect for C&D (this is mentioned on a current thread in the ITR forum), they ran a 15.2 in the ITR.
If you look at the dyno graph above, you can see that the GSR has much more torque (which is the only thing you can feel) till about 6.3K than the ITR, and you can expect the RSX-S to be similar. Again, I'm used to my non-stock car.
I'd definately get it if I didn't love my car so much (I can't have two tegs at once). -C

 

What's all this complaining about lack of armrests? Why the heck do you need arm rests in a car anyways? Both hands should be on the wheel. Your arms would only really get tired when you are on looooong trips, not daily driving. Arm rests belong with cupholders - should only be in SUVs or minivans. No self respecting coupe or sportcar needs armrests or cupholders, thats what the passenger is for. If you want to complain about really bad things complain about not having cruise control on three seperate 1,200 mile road trips.... now that's tiring to say the least.

 

I use my arm rest everytime I drive me car. I hated not having one when I had my '93. I don't know anybody that drives with two hands when going straight. Not only that, but it's a nice little storage compartment for little things, like sunglasses, spare CD's, flashlight, etc. I've driven many miles without cruise and that doesn't bother me. -C

 

I have to totally agree with TypeC on this one. I use my armrest in my Integra almost all the time. Sunglasses, wallet (sometimes), business cards, cell charger, headset (hands-free-talking), etc. etc. My mom's Corolla has a storage bin, but it feels so weird not having an armrest.

How often does one actually drive with both hands/arms on the steering wheel? Honestly! I do it maybe 1/5th of the time. Doesn't mean I don't have both hands on the wheel. Just means that they aren't at the 10-2 position. (except when mr. occifer rolls by)

Lacking cruise control really isn't that bad. Just think of your car as more "interactive" than cars with cruise control.

 

I drive with two hands going stright (Not 10/2 more like 9/5 - makes going through the gears and turning easier)....It's just how I prefer to drive, everyone is different - I just like being prepared for the bozos that are ever present on the road (way to many insane drivers over here). Too me, an arm rest means storage compartment (aka trash collector..). I don't like anything loose in my car - the only things I have loose are my sunglasses and tire gauge in the drivers side door storage compartments. I get upset when people leave things in the car - candy wrappers, gum wrappers, reciepts, etc... (no respect for someone's property.)


[Modified by Vracer111, 10:08 AM 7/8/2001]

 

well for me i gotta have an armrest...... i keep one hand on the wheel and one arm resting on the armrest ready to shift gears......... and this is daily driving too..... but when i'm driving spirited then i that's the only time i'm not using my armrest

 

The visibility out the back sucks!! I'm sure I could get used to it, but it's a LARGE difference from the G2's. It reminds me of the G1 diamond star outward visibility. The hatch area is definitely more cramped then the G2's also. It's a fun car. Don't test drive it during rush hour if you want to feel ivtec. The shift throws are SHORT. The road feels numb to me in this car. That's luxury I suppose.

 

I really like the new RSX-S... its much more sophisticated from the G3 Integra. Well the Integra has to grow up sometimes and that is what happened... They up the look on the seats. They made the interior with a few more luxury options like the climate control the cup holders for the back seats.. Who noticed that.. They also kept the sport part of the integra with its new refined I-VTEC, Short shifter, "16 wheels, and the driving is so smooth I can't even tell how fast I'm going without checking the speedometer. Even the looks IMO is nice, its something that can grow on me.

 

Oh yeah, when I was driving I only got about 1 mile away before i had '99-00 SI's reving on me!! It was so funny. Everyone was breaking their necks and pointing. That was very amusing. -C

 

haha, yeah, i went down that backroad at gunn...that was pretty fun but at the same time:

the very reason i bought my GSR off the showroom floor with 6 miles on the odometer....