Which new compact car would make the best pocket rocket?

Im getting a new car soon and planning on tuning it.

These are the cars i'm considering, please give me your opinions on which you prefer in terms of performance, looks, and tuning ability

2002 VW GTI VR6 (With 201 horsepower)
2002 Honda Civic SI
2002 Acura RSX Type S
2002 Subaru Impreza WRX
2002 Ford SVT Focus
2001 Toyota Celica GT-S

This is the order I had written in the previous one you deleted.

Acura RSX
VW GTI VR6
Toyota Celica GT-S
Subaru WRX
Honda Civic

I don't care too much for Fords, so I won't bother listing that one.

But if you get the GTI, that is a smart choice also. I'm looking into an RSX myself.:D

My preferences will go:

1.- WRX, well I own an Impreza so I'm biased.
2.- Acura RSX
3.- GTI
4.- Celica, Hey slow down!!!! :p nice ad!
5.- Nothing else, thanks.

In my opinion the ugliest car listed was the new honda civic Si, but the only reason I am considering it is because honda is the leader of the import scene and the new Si will probably end up with thousands of tuners making parts for it. On the other hand the focus looks okay but it is ford which sucks. The GTI felt like the best quality when I test drove it and it had good handling and acceleration plus the GTI i test drove was a VR6 with 170 Horsepower and a 5 speed manual, now that the 2002 model is coming with a 6 speed plus 204 horsepower that has my PICK! I also love the new RSX but it doesn't have the original soul of the integra, it seems like an improvement but nothing spectacular. While the Subaru has a zero to sixty time of 5.8! And the Celica is also a worthy competitor because it to like the civic Si has a lot of tuning parts plus it looks sweet. These are the reasons I am choosing between these cars, but as of now the two that im most likely to get are either the RSX or GTI.

2002 VW GTI VR6 - Not good loookin' enough ;)
2002 Honda Civic SI - Good reliability, but when it compared w/ the RSX, get the one w/ more bhp (RSX)
2002 Acura RSX Type S - my fav. car under $50k. great buy. great power. great interior. car mags praise handling and feel and response
2002 Subaru Impreza WRX - pretty good option, supposed to be fun to drive, but 4 doors make it not as sporty looking.
2002 Ford SVT Focus - it's a Ford. delete it. not good enough. kinda ugly in certain views.
2001 Toyota Celica GT-S - great reliability (as does Acura/Honda).

For me, it would come down to the Celica and the RSX. I would take the RSX simply because:

1. it's a honda ;)

2. it has a cleaner shape, fun to modify ;)

3. it's design is new, so it won't change for a little while. Celica is changing soon. but the new celica will (according to Car and Driver's artist renderings) look GREATTT!!! but the RSX is still a honda

4. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the RSX's interior. I like it better than ANY other interior -- in the world.

RSX interior:

http://www.supercarstats.com/acurarsx/wall.jpg



oh yeah, and, notice, that the RSX has the most reviews from car magazines. Kinda tells you that they like the RSX better. or i'm just blind to the other reviews :D

:flipa: I would just go with the rSx. it looks bootylicious and has the new i-vtech engine. It has a nice interior and you will be able to fix it up easily. Its also a honda, which has great reliabilty. Ford focus is a ford and is booty looking, so forget that. And forget the rest because i said so.

The gti is my second choice but it has 170 horse power and only 5 speed manual compared to the 6 speed on the rsX. :bloated: :bloated: :bloated: :bloated: :bloated: :bloated:

Actually mista man, the new 2002 GTI which I am reffering to, has 204 Horsepower which is four more then the RSX plus it is coming with a 6 speed manual.

Well, If it were to me, I would go with the VW. On any given day (speaking from this past week) i see maybe, 1 or 2 GTI's. I see plenty of civc Si's, so the new one will be just as popular. I have seen at least 4 RSX's, a good amount of celicas, and lots of focus'. Granted the Focus' were not SVT's.... But, you get the idea. I also see a few Subies, but not really any VW's.

U made a reely good point.

IMO, don't go by what's rare. then you could get a pinto. get the best. try the RSX. sure, it'll be just as common as the integra, but if you mod it, it will be as distinctive as you want.

to me, the VW is just too boxy. it's in need of a facelift. maybe one'll come soon because it's been a while.

4 horses doesn't make much of a difference, especially if you mod it.

if i were you, i would go by looks. you know that you could do a whole bunch of stuff with just about all (or maybe all) of those cars. then go by the best looking. (IMHO RSX)


IMO Adam:cool:

Out of all of those i would get the RSX...I'm kinda biased toward acura/honda, but i definitely think the RSX has potential, especially being up there with the type-r in time specs. But make sure its a Type-S, if not then get the GTI or GTS

go with the subura its all whell drive good power badass car i would have one but its not made for tall people sucks bad

Originally posted by Adam
to me, the VW is just too boxy. it's in need of a facelift.
4 horses doesn't make much of a difference, especially if you mod it.

if i were you, i would go by looks.

IMO Adam:cool:

While I'm all for the RSX. The GTI is a close second. I have to disagree with you about the boxy shape thing. It is definitely not boxy! I have a few friends that have the new models and have them modified etc. The looks are to die for. Again, I am not taking anything away from the RSX, since I will be probably purchasing one in the near future. But I would definitely want to be fast than look fast.

As for the horsepower difference. Yes the RSX is new in technology, but let's not forget that the GTI is a VR6 as opposed to a four banger. After all, stock the GTI has it beat and I'm sure that modded, the GTI would still have an edge.

With all that said, I still want an RSX.:D

What do you all think of the new honda, ford, and the celica?

Originally posted by MiSter MAn
What do you all think of the new honda, ford, and the celica?

The Celica is pretty cool, although it is starting to look outdated, I wish toyota would make bring back the Supra which still looks pretty cool. As for its performance, it is pretty fast and has pretty good handling but nothing exceptional, but the front seats are really comfortable and have a lot of room.

The SVT focus in my opinion doesn't look all that bad, although people feel the need to criticize it simply because it is ford. However I wish SVT would have injected a little more horsies in it.

The new Honda is a ugly copy of the focus which has an underpowered RSX engine and the only thing original about it is the dash mounted shifter.

Has anybody driven, owned or knows someone who owns one of any of the cars listed? If so please give me your opinions on them

I like every aspect of the GTI except the fact tha people consider it to be a girls car, what do you guy think

Originally posted by bassik277
I like every aspect of the GTI except the fact tha people consider it to be a girls car, what do you guy think I don't think so. The only VW "girl car" (IMHO) is the Cabrio. *cough*TunaBasket*cough* Even the Beetle can go both ways nowadays. :D

then get the GTI. I don't consider it a girl's car at all. whatever one you like best.


about the celica looking outdated? WHAT??? no way. ok.. kinda. only 1 thing though: the back lights. EVERYTHING else looks great.

the RSX i wish had a lower belt line. just lower the car and it could be better.

I think the WRX is the best car here if you actually drive, it's 0-60mph is already under 6 seconds... while all the others are around 7.
But it would be a tough choice for me, I'd have to pick either RSX or WRX....... all the other ones don't even compare

I'm normally a honda person just because here in the US they make the best cars as far as performance and platform for upgrades. It seems like other cars are catching up now...

the WRX, come on... get this Turbo and All wheel drive... you're set. You'll kill the RSX any time of the day. It has proven record on the track and on the dirt.

Of course if you drop several grand on the RSX, you can mod it out to be just as fast or faster... i still like the AWD idea though... that just evens the envelope more. Hopefully Mitsubishi brings over the EVO series, that would be so bad!... more challenge for Honda and Toyota.

RSX, yes... great power... great handling but i just don't quite like the look yet. Seems like a cross over of the new Civic and Celica... I might consider one if they bring in the R badge.

Also, has anyone seen the Mercedes Benze C Coupe? This is Mercedes answer to the RSX, Celica, WRX and all those compact vehicles. Its very luxurious and very fast too... only 5 hp shy of an RSX.

I think the nissan maxima is pretty nice.

Nissans are pretty nice... hope they bring their silvias over!! that would spice up the import scene more! heheheh....:devil:

ACTUALLY... the RSX Type-S goes from 0 - 60 mph in 6.1 seconds !!! so there :D

but the wrx DOES do 60 in 5.6 seconds....



bassik, why aren't you considering the Mitsubishi Eclipse?

yeah 95-99 eclipse GSXs are sweet

eclipses are pretty nice..but they kinda a girl car. SO yea.

Originally posted by MiSter MAn
eclipses are pretty nice..but they kinda a girl car. SO yea.

that's kinda dumb thing ta say.... I'd agree with you if you said the RS and GS are girl cars but the GSX is a real man's car, it runs with the integra Type-R... and if you said a type-r is a girls car, than :finger:
hehe :D

:flash:








I suppose. EH.

Originally posted by Adam


bassik, why aren't you considering the Mitsubishi Eclipse?

Ever since they redesigned the car for 2000 it got uglier (in my opinion) plus it lost everything it had going for it (4wd, turbo). I would consider a 95-99 but I want a new car.

Originally posted by MiSter MAn
eclipses are pretty nice..but they kinda a girl car. SO yea.
I dont think so, maybe in base form but the GSX kicks ass, I would say one of the only truly defined girls cars would be the new beetle ( because of the fact that it comes with a flower vase as standard eguipment) or the cabrio

YEA ! well your opinion is worth a bag of bull chips!

Originally posted by MiSter MAn
YEA ! well your opinion is worth a bag of bull chips!
bull chips?

yes, chips made of bull. DUHH.:alien:

Cant beat the WRX...

A) its turbo so a couple little mods and you can add some good HP
and
B)its AWD so you can get a hell of a holeshot..

It'd still be a pretty tough choice for me RSX vs. WRX
I know the WRX is way faster, but it looks like a clown car....
I'm startin to really like how the RSX looks plus it seems like a really good deal: standard leather seats, heated seats, 6 disc in dash CD player..... all that standard... that's pretty damn sweet for the price

dude if your gettin on go with the wrx 3 words for you all wheel drive

Originally posted by gang$tarr
It'd still be a pretty tough choice for me RSX vs. WRX
I know the WRX is way faster, but it looks like a clown car....
I'm startin to really like how the RSX looks plus it seems like a really good deal: standard leather seats, heated seats, 6 disc in dash CD player..... all that standard... that's pretty damn sweet for the price
LOL:jump:
THe wrx does look like a clown car which is the only reason I am hesitant to get the car

that's why it's a tough choice... it's either a worse lookin, but better performance car or a good lookin car that has a little worse performance

oh my, what a dillema i can't figure it out.... cause the RSX has nice luxury features too

I think the RSX is better. This is because it looks nicer, and although it doesnt perform as well as the WRX, it still performs quite well. You can always make it perform better after you buy it anyways. In my opinion, looks is a very important factor when buying a car.

mister man
I think the RSX is better. This is because it looks nicer, and although it doesnt perform as well as the WRX, it still performs quite well. You can always make it perform better after you buy it anyways. In my opinion, looks is a very important factor when buying a car.
while its true you can improve the performance of the rsx you can never make it perform better then a all wheel drive car it really also depends on what he is doing and what kind of racing

I'd take the WRX over the RSX. It outperforms the Rsx and reviews say the Rsx is pure muscles where the driving isn't as good as the r badger. If your going to mod the rsx then I'd take the wrx and mod it cause i've seen em and they are just as sweet as any mod rsx plus better performance.

-----------
ps. i voted for wrx

:D

IMHO i wouldn't say the wrx, rsx or gt-s are pocket rockets.
I wouldn't compare these cars with compact cars like the focus, golf or civic in the first place because these cars are sport coupes which don't meet the comfort or space offered in the compact cars.
But if these are the only cars you are considering take your decision thinking in whats most important to you. Performance, handling, looks, aftermarket parts, etc...

If you drive always alone or maybe with your girlfriend, wife, or one friend then a sport coupe will do. But forget using a rsx for the family weekend trip.

As for my personal opinion i would take the civic because of a good balance between all of the features i look in a car. Only thing i don't like is that where i live all japanese cars are terribly overpriced and you have to sell your soul to buy spare parts.

Originally posted by tuningmaniacs
IMHO i wouldn't say the wrx, rsx or gt-s are pocket rockets.
I wouldn't compare these cars with compact cars like the focus, golf or civic in the first place

I would definetely compare the GTI with the RSX, and GT-S, because they are all 6 cylinder front wheel drive compact hatchbacks and are all in the same horsepower range. As for the WRX, it might be in a different category because of the fact that it is 4 wheel drive. The SVT focus and civic SI are in their own horsepower range but that can be easily fixed with mods because you have to keep in mind that they are cheaped then the others. As you can tell, I like hatchbacks, because 5 out of the 6 cars I am considering are hatchbacks

Yesterday I went to a Volkswagen, Acura, and Suburu dealer to test drive the different cars, here are my opinions on each car.

Acura RSX Type S 6 spd mnl (in desert silver metallic):
Pros: Really nice interior, nice luxury features and a very short throw.
Cons: A little too refined & too quiet, you dont feel or hear the power much, you feel like you are in a whole different world from the engine.

Suburu WRX Sedan 5 sped mnl (in silver):
Pros: Powerfull, accelerates well, AWD
Cons:If you think the front is ugly then look at the back. interior is mediocre. The gearbox is crappy and has a relatively long throw

VW GTI VR6:
Pros: Luxury Features, You get the feeling of power, nice engine purr, good acceleration, excellent handling & brakes, good manueverability, extremely suportive seats with side bolsters, lots of trunk room, rear headrests, and the most attaching car out of all of them.
Cons: Only 174 HP and 5 speed mnl, but this will be fixed in January of 2002 because it is coming with 204 horsepower and a 6 spd.

THE GTI WINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If any of you guys have driven, test drove, or own any of the cars give me your opinions on them and thank you to all of you who replied!!

I test drove the RSX on the weekend.... that would be my choice

there is so much more luxury than all the other cars mentioned.... plus i think it's the fastest behind the WRX

Well, im not going to drive a car. Im going to buy a boat and drive around to peoples houses in the L.A. river. Lets face it, thats the future of transportation. I will be a pioneer. Ahhh yes..i can see it now.

future of transport my ass! cars were the future of transport... they used boats for like thousands of years

and what if you'd wanna go to somebodies that isn't close to the river? you're screwed

You guys are all dumbasses to even speak about these cars and even worse call them fast! or powerfull!!!!! Plus all these cars are gay 6 bangers that at the most produce 220 horspower and then all you gayasses shit in your pants about it. Face it all hondas are gay and rice (including acura and toyota) the suburu is a ugly piece of shit that is a wanna be sports car, the ford focus is gay and the VW is a girls car. IF YOU HAVE 25,000 TO SPEND AND WANT A FAST CAR GET A CAMARO OR MUSTANG (PREFERABLY A CAMARO) BUT DONT EVEN CONSIDER THESE SHITTY ASS UGLY WANNA BE SPORTS CARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I cant believe this thread got more then 1 post. DEATH TO THE RICERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Originally posted by Racing Rice
Cant beat the WRX...

A) its turbo so a couple little mods and you can add some good HP
and
B)its AWD so you can get a hell of a holeshot..

WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN "CAN"T BEAT THE WRX" I KILL IT WITH MY 98 CAMARO Z28, I KILL IT SO BAD IN A RACE, I DONT GIVE A SHIT IF ITS 4 WHEEL DRIVE YOUR A DUMBASS RICE RACER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

why would you spend time tuning one of these shits for like a total of 30 grand, when you could have power right out of the box with american muscle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! FOR CHEAPER TOO

Originally posted by DomEstyks
why would you spend time tuning one of these shits for like a total of 30 grand, when you could have power right out of the box with american muscle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! FOR CHEAPER TOO
:flipa: :flipa: :flipa: Becuase it is more fun to make something fast yourself rather then getting it fast out of the box, plus it is cheaper for gas+insurance on the long run to get 6 cylinders and it is also fun and getting more and more heated with all the new compact car being realeased while the "american muscle" scene has been dead for quite a while and I dont see anything new coming up to change that, in fact it is just going more & more downhill now with the death of the camaro and firebird.:flipa: :flipa: :flipa: :flipa: :flipa:

I think this thread belongs in the "Car Comparisons" section. Does anyone know how to move it???

Originally posted by DomEstyks
You guys are all dumbasses to even speak about these cars and even worse call them fast! or powerfull!!!!! Plus all these cars are gay 6 bangers that at the most produce 220 horspower and then all you gayasses shit in your pants about it. Face it all hondas are gay and rice (including acura and toyota) the suburu is a ugly piece of shit that is a wanna be sports car, the ford focus is gay and the VW is a girls car. IF YOU HAVE 25,000 TO SPEND AND WANT A FAST CAR GET A CAMARO OR MUSTANG (PREFERABLY A CAMARO) BUT DONT EVEN CONSIDER THESE SHITTY ASS UGLY WANNA BE SPORTS CARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I cant believe this thread got more then 1 post. DEATH TO THE RICERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

omg, i don't even wanna get started... this guy is obviously an idiot

where are all the people that give some good flames.. Guiddy where are you? :D

Originally posted by gang$tarr
I test drove the RSX on the weekend.... that would be my choice

there is so much more luxury than all the other cars mentioned.... plus i think it's the fastest behind the WRX
In my opinion the VW has more luxury.
By the way, does nyone have any specs on the new 02 GTI? Because I think with its power to weight ratio it might be up there with the RSX in terms of performance (especially with 30 more horses) I wish they would bring over the 4 motion GTI then it would be up there with the WRX

I have a message for DomEstyks:

Originally posted by Silver S2000
I have a message for DomEstyks:
that describes him perfectly

Who voted for the ford svt focus on the poll? Cuz it seems like everyone I talked to hates that car.
I dont think its that bad in fact in my opinion it looks better then the new SI

Originally posted by bassik277

In my opinion the VW has more luxury.
By the way, does nyone have any specs on the new 02 GTI? Because I think with its power to weight ratio it might be up there with the RSX in terms of performance (especially with 30 more horses) I wish they would bring over the 4 motion GTI then it would be up there with the WRX

The RSX type-s comes with standard Leather seats, heated seats, Bose Sound System with an in-dash 6 CD changer.... and plenty other goodies... i think it's got alot more luxury than the VW

plus it's 200hp and 0-60mph is in the mid 6second range and you just got love the 6-SPEED!!!

Originally posted by gang$tarr


The RSX type-s comes with standard Leather seats, heated seats, Bose Sound System with an in-dash 6 CD changer.... and plenty other goodies... i think it's got alot more luxury than the VW

plus it's 200hp and 0-60mph is in the mid 6second range and you just got love the 6-SPEED!!!
I guess it had more standard equipment. Im not sure what the new GTI does 0-60 in but Im sure its pretty close to teh Type S.
Which in youre opinion looks better gang$tarr? The type S or GTI