Used 2002 Acura RSX Consumer Reviews
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Great car, ruined by Honda bean counters.
I've owned this car since I was 16, and am now 26. Bulletproof reliability, only the A/C compressor has failed, twice. RATTLES/RATTLES....and more rattles. Maybe I never noticed or cared when I was younger, but this thing rattles like no other, the Tweeters, dash, trunk, doors, glove compartment I could go on, they all rattle. I feel like the car is going to fall apart when I hit a pothole. 2002 stock seats are terrible, NO support Hard seat bottoms. Replaced with seats from a 2005, much better! With all these issues, I cannot get myself to let it go, I don't think I'll ever sell this car.
Great Car!!!
To all those who had bad experiences, suck it up! Ive owned over 20 different vehicles in the last 10 years, all used from Lexus, Audi A4, BMW 325i, 528i, Infiniti Q45, two F-150s, Oldsmobile, Acura 2.5 TL, 2 preludes, a civic with motor swap, dodge ram, and the list goes on. All had varying degrees of reliability BASED on previous care. All had maintenance concerns arise some more costly than others but you must accept that when purchasing a car. It makes me sick to see someone bashing this Acura. I havent driven mercedes yet, so until then THIS IS THE BEST HANDLING, SOLID DRIVING CAR OF ALL IVE OWNED AND DRIVEN. Im eager to drive it everywhere and i bought it with 129k. Its getting a turbo
- Base 2dr HatchbackMSRP: $9,895976 mi away
- Base 2dr HatchbackMSRP: $9,9871,967 mi away
- Type-S 2dr HatchbackMSRP: $13,9951,974 mi away
Daily driver for 10 years
My RSX has gone through a lot over the past 10 years and put on over 145K miles but it's still running strong. It's been through quite a lot. Among the highlights were how many times, it flawlessly handled the California drive from LA to SF. At one point, it also became my utility vehicle and the fold-down seats spent many weekends lugging around DJ equipment. It now serves as my daily commuter with good gas mileage and still evokes a strong feeling of excitement when I get on the road each morning. Hopefully I can make it to 200K one day.
A well rounded sports coupe
A well rounded overall sports coupe with 200 HP w/o the use of turbos and still get's 30 MPG. The smoothest shifting 6-spd I've ever driven. Love the interior layout and instrumentation.
Awsome Vehicle
I've owned two '02 ACura RSX's Premium. Bottom line is that they are very reliable. They will last a long time before they break. But like any car once they break they will cost a small fortune. Most aftermarket retailers do not carry the parts that usually break on this car. This means you must go to the the dealer to get the part, which can be hole in your pocket. All in all, I love this car. It's very cheap on gas, it has a very attractive sporty look, it's got all the goodies like: leather heated seats, heated powered mirrors, power windows and doors. I would definitely recommend this car.
Love This Car!
I've owned my 2002 RSX Type-S since July 2001 and this car never quits! I have 255k on the car and I largely have to replace only maintenance parts (oil changes, brakes, tires). I did have to replace the alternator at 225k and had to weld a new flange for the muffler pipe at 200k (New England road salt addiction). I'm still on original clutch, and almost everything else (aside from listed items). This car moves!! Even after 19 years I'm still impressed by how fast this car is. Stock Type-S with a K&N filter replacement and the car runs nose to nose with with late 90s BMW M3, up to 70Mph. Flywheel is light and super responsive, redline is 7,900 rpm, handles beautifully for factory suspension. Gas mileage is great as well compared to all these AWD minivan type cars out today, even considering it requires 93 octane. Still have not found a replacement that is better. Small rust spot has developed on rear quarter panel above wheel well, in the standard Honda spot. Don't let the car sit for extended periods (over winter) or you'll have standard Honda idle stabilizer issues.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
It's staying in the family
Am selling this car to my son who is a college student and needs a car. Bought it used with 87k miles and it now has almost 125k. Needed a new clutch @ 115k and has brand new tires on it with a recent major service done @ 120k. This car seems like a new car and it's over 10 years old. Yes, it rides rough and has a noisy engine on trips but handles like a top line sports car and is a blast to drive with revs up. Around town gas mileage is 26, on some trips have gotten over 35, almost 36 mpg. I trade between 89 and 93 to average the 91 octane the manual suggests.
The Best and Affordable Sport Car
no comment
After 130,000 miles
I have more than 130,000 miles on this car. I lowered my car with aftermarket coilover. All the problems I got are associated with the suspension. Other than that I had zero problem. I'm getting 29-30 mpg on 80% hwy and 20%city. I love the fact that this car looks like a coupe but it's a hatchback. The hatchback provides so much utilities, you'll be surprised. One time I picked up a 52" LCD TV and the store employee said no way I can load it to my car but I did. There is no other car that provides so much fun, utilities and 30 mpg.
great car and inexpensive
t is a sports car, not a family car
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
A Blast to Drive!
What can I say? I love this car. Chicks love this car. Does anything else really matter? Granted, its not the fastest or most luxurious car on the street, but for $23,000 there's nothing out there that can beat it. I looked at Celicas, Eclipses, and every other car in its class and nothing even compares. Celicas are way too pricy for what you get and Eclipses are too junky. This is a $23,000 car that looks better than most $30-35,000 cars. If your looking to get the most out of your money you've got to go with the RSX.
Great car - In love with it
I bought this car in 2002. This car has been my first sports car right from the dealership. I loved it on the first day and still have admiration for it. Car has cute reddish dash board that's eye pleasing. Secondly car has been extremely reliable. The car currently has 93000k miles and only changes I have done is brake jobs, tires, emission issue. At 93000 car still feels like new with same amount of acceleration as it was new.
Great Engine
This is probably one of the best 2.0 liter engine in the world. Even with an automatic it has enough power to move the car, and its smooth until you get close to the redline. Unfortunately, I'm to big to fit under the standard sunroof. I spent about an hour in one, but finally decided it was a no go due to the lack of headroom.
In love with Honda products
I bought my wife a 2001 Accord a few months back and fell in love with Honda quality. The Acura RSX is no exception. I test drove everything, including the new Nissan Altima, and nothing came close. Fun to drive, quick, and great quality. Bypass the Type S, the base engine is quick! Unless you are going to the drag strip, it is more than enough engine.
Last Acura I will ever buy
I absolutely hate this car! It has been nothing but an expensive lemon. 1st the oil pump went bad ($800) then the vtec pressure switch $74, then the vtech actuator. Now the timing chain is stretched. 83,000 miles are you serious? Oh and forget about finding replacement parts at your local autoparts store. Almost every piece of this abomination is special order or my favorite "dealer only $$$$ part" I am done with Acura and there overpriced crap.$1366 to replace a timing chain!What!
It sucks.
It is pretty much the worse car I've ever driven or riden in.
2002 RSX
NICE AUTOMOBIL,FUN TO DRIVE, DON'T LIKE THE ODOMETER IN RED, SOMETIMES DISTRACTING TO SEE RED IN THE CORNER OF YOUR EYE OTHERWISE VERY NICE CAR TO OWN AND OPERATE AND IS A PEOPLE PLEASER
My First Acura(Honda)2
So far GREAT!!! Took it on my first trip, get this,.....Filled up, set the cruise at 70. At my destination(127 miles later) topped it off to get a fuel reading. Took 3.25 gallons to fill. 127/3.25= 39mpg!! WAY better than I ever imagined. I hope when it breaks in it is the same or better!
Acura RSX
The real fun of driving this car is definitely the sequential shift. Learn to drive this car in both automatic and shift mode and you will have fun. Shifting manually allows you to gain the full power of the engine and is great for overtaking. Overall a fun car to drive with a good solid build quality and with individual styling.
2002 Base 5 Speed Acura RSX
2002 base model 5 speed manual RSX. Impressed. Ride is nice, seats are firm & snug (but not tight) which is nice - they hold you quite well. Standard stereo is good (Alpine w/ 6 speakers) and sounds better than i thought with good bass response. Handles nicely, acceleration is good. Its the only one in my town so far and everybody looks! Totally red lights (except A/C - standard green) at night are different, but good. The headlights put out nice light. The sunroof is smaller but VERY quiet when its open, even when going down the highway. Compared RSX to Subaru Impreza (not WRX) & opted for this. No regrets, highly recommended!
80,000 miles never let me down
Overall a great car with Honda reliability; a lot of performance in the sub 25k category, Car and Drivers 10 Best list, and finished 1st place in a 5 car comparison beating wrx, neon srt etc. In a recent trip to Boston got 31mpg in mixed hwy driving. I shoved a 42 Plasma tv in the trunk while still in the box with rear seats folded down. My only gripe was had to replace oxygen sensor at 75000 miles and it was pricey.
Never owned an Acura? You're missing out
Two Words...THE BEST. This is now the third Acura in the family. Everyone talks about Acura not being a luxury car. They just have never owned one. The quality, the resale, and most importantly...The fun to drive nature of this car. One of the only guarantees in life!!!! Excellent all the way around!
Not without problems, definitely a treat
I've had my Tpre-S for two monthes now. It is a thrill to drive. I can't stay away from it. That's why it betting annoying that its going in the shop for the third time in two monthes. The Acura dealership service department is great. They always give me another RSX to drive, but the Type-S makes all the difference in the world.
LOVE MY RSX
I've had my RSX since January and it's been great. I love the precise handling and acceleration at higher rpms. Its great on long trips and gets good gas mileage. Plus, its a Honda, so I don't have to worry about it spending alot of time in the shop. I'll keep this one!
rsx-s
At exactly 1500 miles the syncros in 3rd gear totally went out. the dealership gave me (immediately) a rsx loaner, next day aired a replacement tranny, and installed it without a scratch. I enjoyed driving the non S-Type with automatic for comparison and was back in business within 24 hours. Very satisfied. No other problems (5590Miles now) Milage with very hard driving style-28-29mpg. LOVE THE INTERIOR . Worst value is the stereo. No "highs" No "Lows" it must be "BOSE". No Volume either.
See ya
WARNING!!! If you buy this car you will end up racing everyone. Once the RPM's hit 6500 the car lundges forward. The i-vtec engine is a fine piece of engineering.
RSX Type S - great all round car
This was my first car I bought on my own and it was great. Had everything you would want in a car including, performance, looks, utility, fuel economy, and reliability. If I had a need for a 2nd car I would have kept it however I'm sure it will be a blessing to the next owner.
Niggling problems spoil a great car
Fun car to drive, but have had a lot of little problems. Had to have power door lock motor replaced (very expensive - out of warranty) and now the hatch will not open - no way to manually override the lock, even from the inside. Side mirrors need to be heated on a car with such poor rear visibility. Ride is rough and noisy. On the other hand, driving is fun, with perky acceleration and good handling.
Need 4DR RSX
I don't own a RSX, but I test drove it. It is nice. I wish Acura would offer a 4dr model.
Combines performance with luxery
This car is flat out classy and fun to drive. It's got some pretty decent pick up, but when you hit i-vtec it feels like you're getting a boost of power. The sound just automatically puts a big grin on your face. And for under 25k, you can't go wrong. The best of both worlds.
Fun to Drive and Reliable
Not only is this vehicle a blast to drive, but I get to drive it (vs. in the shop for maintenance and repairs). The sound system is incredible as well. One downside: not great visibility for a shorter person.
Awesome!
I've been driving my new RSX for two weeks, and I love it! It drives like a dream and definitely turns heads, too! My previous car was a Ford Focus ZX3, and, by comparison, this is a higher- quality, better-handling, and more sophisticated vehicle.
Completely satisfied with RSX
I love this car. It's quick, it's stylish, the seats are really comfortable, there are just so many little details about the car that make it that much more awesome.
Fun Ride
Fun, fun, fun to drive. Great seating, and handling is razor sharp.
Super fast
This is a great car--sports car performance (especially acceleration) with luxury interior (leather, sunroof, auto climate control). It sure takes off in a hurry, but totally SMOOTH. It is REALLY fun to drive. And, with Acura/Honda reliability, how can you go wrong? Believe me, you will love this car. And, you won't look like an overgrown adolescent driving it either (ie, Toyota Celica).
Still a big WOW!
This car is so much fun to drive I keep catching my self smiling as I drive down the road (especially the twisty ones). I also love the fact all the tricked out kids look at me in awe.
Best in class!!
Before I purchased this car there was a lot of talk and rumours on the internet from which to gather information. This car more than lived up to all that. I have driven a lot of cars, even ones that were far more expensive and I feel that it is the best combination of looks, comfort, performance and even practicality with its roomy hatch configuration. With the history of Honda cars you can rest assured that personalization of this model will be very easy with all the aftermarket interest. You simply can't buy a better car for the money and in many cases for more money. Two thumbs up!!
Nice Ride
Great little car, run nice sounds great and for a decent price. The seats are very comfortable and the gages and really sharp looking. The proformance is like non-other. Bets car on the market for sport coups.
Best Car I've ever owned
All the performance of a sports car, with all the reliability of a top of the line Japanese car.
Best bang for your buck!
This car is so awesome~! This is my first car and I'm only 17 yrs old, but I have driven Celicas & Eclipses to compare it to. I feel like i got a great deal! If you get one, get it with the OEM Under Body Spoilers and the Wing Spoiler! Very nice and clean yet sporty at the same time. It adds so much more depth to the character of the RSX, something that is rich already. Got mine with leather, but had to post here cause I already posted all my wonderful thougts! Just wanted to tell you how GREAT of a car it is!---6200 miles up to date! and still going GREAT!
Excellent car for the money
I just bought my 5 speed Acura last week in desert silver metallic for $10,300 w/42,000 miles on it. For being six years old this car is very stylish. I am a 20 year old just out of college. I needed a car for under $11,000 that looked good and got good gas mileage. The moment I drove the Acura I knew it was it. I was previously looking at wrxs' and eclipses' but this beats them both as far as the money to quality ratio is concerned. One word EXCELLENT!
Enough to keep you happy
The standard RSX is not the fastest, best looking, or most nimble car out there, but it does all of the above pretty darn well. The acceleration, cornering and breaking are all above average. The ultimate reason for purchasing this car was reliability and performance. I know that the car will likely not have many problems and the car will likely perform similar to what it does now three years from now. The engine is pedestrian while at lower speeds, but the horses really kick in when the rpm's go above 5000.
Finely tuned machine
This car is sweet...with sporty design and a sleek interior this car rocks!!! With tight gears and short throws the 6 speed moves...200 hp is a ton for this little pocket rocket...what a great machine...
Type-S
A really great car as Integra replacement!
Great Car
This car is very dependable..
awesome car for awesome price
The rsx type-s is an awesome car! I just got one and it is just as good, if not better, than what everyone says. The car is an absolute thrill to drive, and everyone just looks at the car. It has a demanding presence, and you feel really confident driving it. It's comfortable and fast. It's also a lot roomier than the celica. It's a better car than the celica in every way.
Absolutely LOVE It!
I never knew I could love a car so much! I bought my RSX new in Aug. 2001 with 50 miles on it. I now have 112,000 miles on it and am nearly in tears of the thought that I have to give it up for a more 'family friendly' car (this car wasn't really made to haul car seats around in). I've had absolutely no problems with this car. I use regular octane in it and take it in for regular service to an Acura dealer. It handles like a sports car and hugs the curves. The hatchback provides so much room for hauling stuff in! Gas mileage is fantastic at 31/36 MPG. Even though my car is 7 years old, it does not feel old when I get into it. I will be SO sad when I have to eventually say goodbye to it.
Best Car I've Ever Had
I love this car. I had a Honda Civic before this car and there is a huge difference between the two. The engine is very smooth and powerful with no hesitation to get up and go. The 6 speed shifter is great and very easy to use. The suspension is very good and quiet over rough road. I test drove a new 2002 Civic Si & would choose the RSX in a heart beat over the Si.
Base is a good compromise
Base RSX is quick and nimble & has only options you need. A no-leather Type-S would be perfect. The sound of the stereo is OK, but... You can't switch display between a clock and CD track/radio program - so you never know what's playing. The CD compartment is to small and you can only put the CD sideways. Therefore you can't see CD names. Id not store CD in a door or glove department - they resonate. Space above cup holder could've been utilized for this. They could also develop an accessory CD holder for glove department and/or doors. Weird location of the sunroof switch.
My first Acura(Honda)
Just got my RSX and love it. Handles great, looks good, mileage is good also. I'm still on their FREE tank with 350 miles(26 mpg+/-) in town. Once it hits about 3000rpm you can feel wants to go! And with a red-line of 6800 this car is going to be fun!