RSX type S or WRX

i know this has been asked again and again, but i just dont think i can get insight the way i wanted unless i asked myself. Right now i have a 96 honda accord Ex but i'll be giving it to my bro pretty soon, im torn between the Acura RSX and the Subaru Impreza WRX. There are a few good/bad things i've heard about both.

for the Acura RSX, reliability is taken forgranted because its a honda, but other than that.. i dont see it any better/faster than the wrx, being that its fwd, it has 200hp.. and it has i-vtec (i think) the WRX on the other hand, is faster/turbo/awd which are ALL aspects of it that i like, but reliability is an issue here.. i see integras left and right where i live, but seldomly see old wrx/imprezas, so im guessin subaru cars dont last long?

as for looks i love both, if i get the RSX (since its going to be usdm) im going to throw in a lil cash to make it look just like the TYPE R in japan, and as for performance, im not sure there is anything that you can do to the RSX that can make a HUGE leap of power

for the WRX i like the way i looks, i would probably just put the rally spoiler, and the STI hood scoop, there seems to be much more you can do to it, being that its a turbo car, and with any turbo car there is.. BOOST... i could throw almost any turbocharger with around the same level of boost and it would be stronger, the price, is about the same so i dont really care about that.. anyways enough of my talkin.. plz give me your thoughts about this

By getting the Subaru, you greatly reduce your probability of getting your car broken into/vandalized by the Honda kiddies. As for reliability, check with the Consumer Reports magazine for statistical info.
Also, the WRX engine produces much more torque at low R.P.M.'s. This is where most of your driving will take place. The Honda cult followers will start yapping about the high specific output of Honda engines. But if you think about it with a mature mind, you start to question how often you will actually be driving with your engine revving at 9000 R.P.M.

WRX on the other hand, is faster/turbo/awd which are ALL aspects of it that i like, but reliability is an issue here.. i see integras left and right where i live, but seldomly see old wrx/imprezas, so im guessin subaru cars dont last long?



I've been driving a Subaru Impreza Wagon for several years now - thought I'd be moving to a rainier climate and got it for safety and practicality. I bought it used and the clutch needed to be replaced, outside of that it's been rock solid. No problems except for a touchy engine warning light, which comes on if I don't put the fuel cap on exactly right. No big deal.

I researched into upgrading to a more powerful WRX and it seems that the clutch can be an issue, but it's the only one. The WRX is a great car. Forresters had a rotten ball bearing problem for several years, otherwise Subaru's repair/reliability history is darn good. I say if you like the looks go for the WRX. And if you get a wagon instead of a sedan, no one will look at you twice even if you're cruising around at 80 mph. ;)

I test drove the RSX type S and knew I'd have to tinker with it to be really happy with it. The stock tires were chirpy, ride was a tad uncomfortable, and while it's very fast compared to other cars in its class, it doesn't *feel* fast. Love that gearbox tho! And the hatchback space is so convenient to have. A really great car, just not one that would be great for long distance road trips.

Hope that helps!

how much are for each vehicle? my inference would 30g's for the wrx and 24g's for the rsx. its cool that the wrx has 300 hp right from the factory, but what i don't like about it is the looks. to me its just plain butt ugly, but hey it does a lo 13 sec 1/4 mile so i can't complain, but i think thats only in the sti. the rsx has more appeal and if u want speed check this out, http://www.revhard.com/turbo_kits.html u'll be able to easlily hang with them and u also get the look for under 30g's.

but what i don't like about it is the looks. to me its just plain butt ugly, but hey it does a lo 13 sec 1/4 mile so i can't complain, but i think thats only in the sti. the rsx has more appeal and if u want speed check this out, http://www.revhard.com/turbo_kits.html u'll be able to easlily hang with them and u also get the look for under 30g's.
Personaly i think the wrx looks bad ass! it would be pretty tight if they made a black one though. but think of it this way,the rsx-type s is already really close in 1/4 mile comparison, ad a turbo to the rsx and you'll be smoking the wrx not to mention s2ooo, z3, 350z, rx-8 ect...

how much are for each vehicle? my inference would 30g's for the wrx and 24g's for the rsx. its cool that the wrx has 300 hp right from the factory, but what i don't like about it is the looks. to me its just plain butt ugly, but hey it does a lo 13 sec 1/4 mile so i can't complain, but i think thats only in the sti. the rsx has more appeal and if u want speed check this out, http://www.revhard.com/turbo_kits.html u'll be able to easlily hang with them and u also get the look for under 30g's.

well the WRX is about 25gz and the STI is about 30, but the RSX type-S is 23gz but the rsx is an integra so.. its jus like buying an integra.. and the wrx.. is.. AWD TURBO RALLY INSPIRED

well the WRX is about 25gz and the STI is about 30, but the RSX type-S is 23gz but the rsx is an integra so.. its jus like buying an integra.. and the wrx.. is.. AWD TURBO RALLY INSPIRED

the regular wrx to me isn't worth it. yes it's turbo and yes it's all wheel drive but have u compare the power each one makes? the wrx has a 2.0 l engine with turbo and it's only making 227? the type-s with no turbo makes 200. now throw in a turbo and it would definately kick a$$. oh with the awd rally inspired goes, come on are u really going to buy the car and take it to an autocross or rally everyweekend? if u are then hey bye all mean get the wrx, but if u want a car for everyday driving, i would stick with the rsx and turbo that. hell i had a disscussion with one of the guys and u can easily gain 220whp with the rsx with simple bolt ons i/h/e/cs (i,h,e,=25, toda camshafts=25), thats about 250hp at the crank. but something tells me you got your eyes on the wrx already, either way as long as your happy thats all that matters.

i have a rsx type s w/ turbo and my friend has a wrx. our cars are now pretty much the same but mine is faster but he can take some corners quicker. when deciding on the wrx or rsx it just depends on what you like more awd help but it can be bad the same just like fwd it all comes down to what the perpose of the car is and which one is best for you

ps my rsx will beet wrx by 2 cars and wrx have bad trannys ive had frineds replace theres at least twice

my personnal opinion would be the subaru. each car has its own pros and cons and its up to you what pros and cons you wanna go with. with regards to reliability...i think that all cars (domestic/imports) are reliable as long as you take care of the car...take care of the car and it will take care of you.

Another site to consider is www.cybernationmotorsports.com REad and then think. Also,to add to what was said, yes a turbo RSX will kill the suburu...and yes they do have weak tranny's it was mentioned in the Turbo magazine i think.
I have a stage I turbo in my RSx and have beaten the suburu, but it was really really close, not 2 cars length. Just so i don't sound byass, the STI is a killer if you add an apexi S-AFC and a boost controller and optimize the stock dynamics. \you really gain some whp, i've seen it at a dyno meet.

dude i dun really know what to tell you ... :disappoin

[QUOTE=tran_nsx]the regular wrx to me isn't worth it. yes it's turbo and yes it's all wheel drive but have u compare the power each one makes? the wrx has a 2.0 l engine with turbo and it's only making 227? the type-s with no turbo makes 200. now throw in a turbo and it would definately kick a$$.QUOTE]

the only reason that the rsx makes that much power is because of its vtech which the wrx doesnt have, but because of this the wrx can get a bigger turbo and be put under more psi... the vtech as well as vvti make engines harder to turbo... did you kno that race teams remove the vvti & vtech off of cars that come with it before puting out high numbers??? i dont think you would be "kicking a$$"... the wrx's capabilites are higher and it will launch faster... even if ur rsx had 700hp it would be a hell of a job just trying to get that power to the ground... well theres something to think about

[QUOTE=tran_nsx]
the only reason that the rsx makes that much power is because of its vtech which the wrx doesnt have, but because of this the wrx can get a bigger turbo and be put under more psi... the vtech as well as vvti make engines harder to turbo... did you kno that race teams remove the vvti & vtech off of cars that come with it before puting out high numbers??? i dont think you would be "kicking a$$"... the wrx's capabilites are higher and it will launch faster... even if ur rsx had 700hp it would be a hell of a job just trying to get that power to the ground... well theres something to think about

oh come on, that excuse is really lame, that's like saying the only reason why the wrx is fast is because it has a turbo. all i was pointing out is that if the rsx had a turbo to equal the wrx, then rsx would still win. even if it was the regular rsx with no vtec, not vtech , then it can be able to add more boost unlike it's vtec brother.

ok id like to see u put a honda s2000 under 25 psi without removing the vtech... lol yeah right... the fact is that cars with stock turbos are built with stronger engines and can most likely and in this case can withstand more psi than an n/a car... :screwy:

oh yeah and its really stupid when u correct spelling.. everyone knows what i was talking about and people usually use it when they get pissed of and they cant find anything else to say negatively about the person... so basically what im trying to say is... i think ur sad lol

one more thing... when u said "even if it was a regular rsx with no v-tec" ummmm... the base model does have v-tec which leads me to believe that you dont know what the hell ur talking about... :lol2:

ok id like to see u put a honda s2000 under 25 psi without removing the vtech... lol yeah right... the fact is that cars with stock turbos are built with stronger engines and can most likely and in this case can withstand more psi than an n/a car... :screwy:

oh yeah and its really stupid when u correct spelling.. everyone knows what i was talking about and people usually use it when they get pissed of and they cant find anything else to say negatively about the person... so basically what im trying to say is... i think ur sad lol

one more thing... when u said "even if it was a regular rsx with no v-tec" ummmm... the base model does have v-tec which leads me to believe that you dont know what the hell ur talking about... :lol2:

first off, i'll admit it, i was wrong about the base rsx not having vtec, im not the kind of guy who is going to get all defensive about it. so now that is clear, vtec isn't really helping much since it's only making 160 hp and 141 lbs/tq on the base version, so that is no excuse.

with your first paragraph, i have no idea what your trying to prove. now lets focus on the rsx type-s and the wrx. ok the wrx is a 2.0, same as the type-s correct? my point, now im going to compare two vehicles with the same displacement, so the sti isn't included. now the wrx if im not mistaken makes 227hp at the crank. at the wheels would be around 195hp. the advantage of the wrx is main because if the turbo, so lets say we added a turbo to the rsx.
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/500/80346RSX6PSI1a.jpg
now do u see a difference in power? at 6 psi, its is now making 254 whp.
yes the rsx gots vtec but hey the wrx gots awd.

lastly how about learn how to spell vtec, its not very hard u see? chances are, but i really hope not, guys like u is what give asian guys a bad rep about their imports.

ps my rsx will beet wrx by 2 cars and wrx have bad trannys ive had frineds replace theres at least twice
I've also had a friend that has had trouble's with his tranny..

well wut i was trying to prove is that well u stick a turbo on the rsx and yeah it will beat the wrx... well you make it sound imposible to just upgrade the turbo on the wrx.. and ur still not gettin the point... i dont care if an rsx can have 250whp... i already knew that, but it can only be put under low psi like i said before and im gettin annoyed repeating myself... so heres wut i think

msrp on wrx $24,000
msrp on base model rsx $22,000

ok so they are comprable in price.. i guess but i havent yet seen a 700hp street legal rsx with vtec... actually without vtec either... for some reason u want to disagree with the fact that engines that come out of the factory w/ turbos are built stronger be put under more preasure... just accept it... dont get me wrong the rsx is a good car and i respect it and the people who own them, but the question was what would u rather have, a wrx or an rsx so i gave my opinion and then gave reasons behind my opinion unlike u... with ur "guys like u is what gives asian guys a bad rep about their imports."

wtf are u talking about lol... guys like me give asian guys a bad reputation about there imports?? please i would love to have u explain because

1) i am asian
2) i own an import
3) i think that ricers give asian guys a bad reputation about their cars and i am no where near a ricer
4) not all ricers are even asian

so please tell me why and i will be sure to fix it IF it makes any sense at all which i doubt it will

u still don't get my point, all i was doing was making them both equal and if they were, the rsx will prevail. theres proof here in this thread as u can see about guys beating wrxs'. as far as replacing your turbo for something bigger, the same amount of money can be put into the rsx motor to withstand higher boost, but this is going towards the serious tuner side and that isn't what im trying to touch.

as far as power is concern, u would rather have a 227 hp vehicle over a 290 hp? :screwy: if im not mistaken, isn't this the reason why people choose the wrx because of the power?

another thing, just look at the reliability stand point, again proof is in this thread.

what it boils down to in the end is preference. so if you like the wrx, get it, although hondas make one of the best motors in the world, to put a turbo on their vehicle will only make them more superior. the only thing that is missing in hondas that i can think of is the awd, beside the nonfactory turbo.


wtf are u talking about lol... guys like me give asian guys a bad reputation about there imports?? please i would love to have u explain because

1) i am asian
2) i own an import
3) i think that ricers give asian guys a bad reputation about their cars and i am no where near a ricer
4) not all ricers are even asian

so please tell me why and i will be sure to fix it IF it makes any sense at all which i doubt it will


on number 3 u got it the other way around, asians started the import racing trend, so to a majority of people when they see a lowered and loud annoying import they think of an asian person. with number 4, yes not all ricers are asian, but what kind of person comes to people's mind?

the same reason why people stereotype asian guys as ricer is the same reason why im stereotyping u as a ricer, although i am hoping it wouldn't be true. my example is the fact that u didn't even know how to spell vtec correctly and by looking at your name. now just because asians live in the ghetto doesn't always make them a ricer, but i do know some guys that do live in the projects and yes they are ricers. from their stickers to there irritating exhaust to the home made intakes, all this categorizes them as a ricer. if they can only save up their money wisely for quality products instead of useless junk then i would change my way of thinking.

enough, this should be my last response, so again like i said ealier, i really hope u don't give asian guys a bad rep since i am also asian.

well first of all i have used this name since the 6th grade and people just know me as it so i just kept it... second i dont live in the projects and no where near the projects actually in one of the better sides of town.. third i have absolutely NO stickers on my car... and if u want to talk about names then wuts with "tran nsx" when u have a fkn teg? lol that makes a lot of sense.. :screwy:

also u just said what people think of when they see a loud car car that is lowered.. u never yet told me why u think i am a ricer just by what i wrote ... u have never seen my car, and u have never met me... and this is just an estimate but i would have to say about 80% of the ricers i see are white...

yes u were trying to get them equal but like i said its an OPINION i would rather have a wrx because it has the capabuility if i chose to max the car out... also it has better handling and can get the power to the ground faster than an rsx... even if u did have a 290hp rsx u would have to rev lower just to catch the ground or stick huge slicks in the front and tiny wheels in the back which i think looks rediculous... plus if u are racing another car, they arent gonna say... "well i only lost because u spent more money on your car than i spent on my car so the cars werent equal" because really it doesnt matter

and yes i do agree that honda has better reliabuility than subaru.. like i said acura makes good cars.. my sister has an rsx but my opinion stands

oh yeah when i see a lowered car that sounds like a go cart i think young kid who thinks hes fast... not asian... im not saying that im not a young kid and i wont become one of those people.. but thats just wut pops into my mind

ok i have driven both these cars, my dad has a brand new 04 type s, and my freind has an 02 wrx with factory upgrade exhaust, making 235 we think, and IMO the rsx looks better, and its much smoother and more fun to drive, where as the wrx is very touchy, and accelerating in first gear from about a 1500-2k roll, the wrx spools up at about 3500 and you can feel it, it feels about the same as hitting vtec in the rsx. if it were up to me, i would get the STi, but pricewise, imo, get rsx

well i think i know why the wrs has tranny problems.. they said the first 2 gears were weak.. and one more thing.. if u mess up while driving with a fwd or a rwd car.. the wheels will just screech.. but if u mess up on a awd car... the transmission feels ur pain.. i think moslty the clutchso maybe thats why alot of people have problems on their subarus.. n thx for ur thoughts guys.. i still haven't decided what to get.. but the subaru is startin to get out of my price range.. i seemed.. to have started to aim lower

I would take a wrx anyday, if i had the money for it

the prelude can nevar lose!!!!!!!!1

[QUOTE=tran_nsx] did you kno that race teams remove the vvti & vtech off of cars that come with it before puting out high numbers???

I DID,

DO you know WHY???

ok, when does VTEC usually kick in, lets say 4500-6k cuz it is a bit different on all the cars with vtec. but those race teams you are talking about launch even hgiher than that, so the small lobes are just extra rotational mass sitting there never being used, and the VTEC killer cams dont kill vtec, well in a sense they do cuz you have no vtec activation, but you are running on the big vtec lobes, so having vtec doesnt make your car slower, or any less capable. it makes it easier to drive when you have shitloads of power, cuz you arent trying to idle on giant lobes, but later on in the high rpm's you get the benefits of them.


go to hondata.com and look for the video of the 10 second all motor civic,

http://www.hondata.com/dynoericksracingrc.html
the video is at the bottom of the page.

u gotta learn how to read, what i wrote is i would take an wrx anyday if i had the cash, meaning i would buy a subura wrx anyday if i had enough money for it,
did u even graduate from elementary school??

who rattled your cage???

read my post, it specifically says I was referring to ghetto7o2azn

he was referring to my obvious joke

well he had no clue it was a joke if you read his post.

well he had no clue it was a joke if you read his post.


yeah, not much of a sense of humor on that guy i think

no i didnt know it was a joke, but its all good

stock wrx vs stock rsx type - s ----------> wrx beats the rsx-s

the wrx runs 0-60 in 5.5 sec and 1/4 mile in 14.7 sec

the rsx-s runs 0-60 in 6.7 sec and 1/4 mile in 15.2 sec


oh and btw does any one know performance for the 2002 rsx (not type s)...such as 0-60 and 1/4 mile times? thanks

looking at those specs I bet if you raced a half mile, the RSX would catch up if not win. that AWD really shoots it out of the hole, the advantage it has to 60 is over 2x the advantage it has when they hit the quarter mark. I know 1/4 is hwere it counts but I bet on a freeway race from a 60-70mph roll, that RSX is gonna win. on average how muhc drivetrainn loss is there on AWD, FWD is like 15% ive heard alot, is AWD around 30 then, or even more? cuz FWD you are just turning the tranny gears and axles, AWD< you got the tranny, the axles, the driveline and rear axles and rear diff all taking power, so it seems like AWD would take more than double to get everythign moving. for that fact Id go RSX, cuz it is nicer for one IMO and how often do you end up lined up at a light wiht noone in front of you, and when you are its a bad idea to race cuz of cops in the city, but on the freeway you always see potential races.

you're right in every aspect, but the potential on the wrx is far greater

well, a 15.5 second 2nd gen beat a WRX on the freeway and although he didnt SMOKE it, it wasnt a "close" race.

I cant wait til I either got credit or the cash all at onc3e to buy a new car. I really like the WRX also, but I know a few people with them and would rather have something different, and I know noone with a RSX, let alone the type S, so it works out great seeing as I like that car anyways, gauranteed in less than a year Im gonna have me a black on black type S

since it seems u know alot about integras and rsx's, what do you think of the whole rsx-s vs the integra type r?

well, I wouldnt say I know alot, I guess I know enough, alot more than most people I talk to.. in real life at least, on here alot of people know more than me. and sadly ive never gotten to drive a ITR. drove a type S but just once on a test drive and didnt drive it real hard, but it does pull real nice. I would definately choose the RSX over the ITR, even though the ITR is nice, the interior doesnt even touch the style of the type S interior. and as far as exterior styling its a matter of oppinion, I like them both, I actually like the ITR style a bit more (even though its not much different than the other 3rd gens). as far as performance, I think the ITR is faster stock, but just by a bit. but I think the RSX responds alot better to mods than the ITR. plus its got more displacement, and it has the regular vtec crossover point along with variable intake cam timing(pretty sure its only intake cam that has this).

-larger displacement
-more modern technology
-ill take one :evillol: