How do you like it? This may sound wierd, but im helping my mom shop for a new car and the RSX will probably be on the list (in 5-speed form). There are also other cars being considered, however. I know this board will be somewhat biased , but tell me what think about the non-S RSX and the other cars listed below. Thanks in advance

 

I'm helping my girlfiend car shop also and we've basically looked at the cars you've listed, the exception being the Sentra SE-R which isn't at dealers yet. We instead drove the Altima SL.

My pick thus far is the Acura and hers too. She liked the Altima but it was *big* and we both noticed odd noises from the transmission and hard shifts under part throttle normal accleration....not very encouraging. I suspect she won't like the SE-R anymore because it's much cheaper looking inside and has the same slushbox The controls especially aren't as easy to use and look considerably cheaper than the RSX. Plus it's a Sentra!!!

The Jetta...oh brother, don't get me started. Nice car, well executed, excellent powerplant, 5-speed auto this year, but plain awful dealer service and mechanic knowledge of the car. Suspect build quality on some and *zero* support on warranty claims from VWoA. It's a great car to drive, but an awful one to own. It'll drive you nuts, trust me. Read reviews off the web too for confirmation. It's completely hit or miss on if it will be trouble free and whether or not dealer support is even adequate. Buying a Jetta is a big gamble IMO.

Protege5 - nice car to look at, fun, sporty, handles very well, much better steering than my ITR, but very underpowered and lots of windnoise. Again much cheaper looking inside than the RSX, but it has the practicality of 5 doors and a roof rack.

Also keep in mind, you won't get service anywhere near as good as Acura with any of the other marques, which is a big selling feature IMO.

Those are my impressions after having driven the above cars and owning 5 VW's previous to my ITR. Good luck in your decision


[Modified by typer_801, 6:31 PM 10/1/2001]

 

UPDATE:

Went today to drive an RSX Type S and a VW GTI 1.8T.

The RSX was just for fun as the one she's looking for probably wont be an S. Nice feel on the road...very refined, quiet, nice handling, comfortable--like the interior as well. The first Type S i drove a while back felt very slow to me, and i suspect it was dealer-abused, because this one felt much stronger. I was still unimpressed with the VTEC pull though. The switchover is very quiet and i didnt notice any leap in power, but i also shifted well before the redline. Overall, nice car, comfy, quiet, but not the high-energy, "max-power" feeling i get from driving my Si or my friends type-r, or our VR6 for that matter. Felt almost too grown-up. In other words, perfect for my mom.

The 1.8T was in GTI form because,well, it looks great on the optional 17's. The 180-hp, 5-spd. configuration i drove would be the same in the Jetta however. I was blown away to say the least! It feels as if VW greatly under-rated the power at 180, which the salesman noted. There is considerable boost lag until about 3k, but once it arrives there go the front tires!!!!In 1st gear at about one-third throttle, 3k rpm's will simply light up the front tires. Something i've never experienced in a Honda, thats for sure. I also continue to like the interior quality feeling and various amenitites.

I also had reservations about the VW's warranty, but a look on their website revealed that the have upped their complete warranty to 4yr/50,000 up from 2/24,000...a definite plus in my book. Also we havent experienced any major mechanical trouble from the 98 VR6, either.

I think the SE-R will feel a little basic in the interior department too. Some of the finishing looks a little low-rent, and after all, it is still a Sentra.

I went to look at an Altima yesterday and they are HUGE in person. They drarf even a Maxima.

Right now i think the 1.8T will take first over the RSX.... I think the RSX non-S also deserves a drive, too.


Any more input on this subject would be greatly appreciated.

 

i test drove both and ended up getting the base rsx. i liked the 150hp 1.8t simply because it has less lag and even though considerable wheelspin, it was less than the 180hp version. also for the price of the gti, by the time you add leather seats, sunroof, and a cd player it ends up being more expensive than an rsx.

 

My best friend's wife has had some real horror stories in her 1999 (or is it 2000) VR6, stuff always breaking...

Go ACURA

 

everyone has a horror story.. but anyway..
i would take the wrx.. it's a phat car to get (even though it's not an sti).
dammit, why does it have to be for your mom?@#$