RSX Type S:
Don't Forget
the Fun This is our second experience with Acura's small three-door coupe, and it's about the same as we remember from last year: lots of understated fun, especially for the money. Its exterior styling and appearance are completely modern, which is to say almost anonymous, but we consider stealthy styling a plus in a car this capable.
We got used to the cockpit right away. The seating position is almost perfect for spirited driving as well as long-haul cruising, though it needs more thigh support. The thick-gripped height adjustable steering wheel has three simple cruise control buttons. No training is required to operate the simple three-dial HVAC controls, and the large widely spaced radio dials and buttons are easy to use even with gloves. Below this angled center stack are two holders with plenty of space for
grande coffee cups.
The red instrument lighting can be dimmed all the way down, exactly what's needed for driving on dark country roads. With the windows and sunroof closed, the cabin has that hushed and refined atmosphere of more expensive cars. With everything open, there is very little wind noise in the cabin, even at highway speeds. Probably the worst shortcoming about the cabin is the rear section. Due to the sport coupe roofline, the otherwise roomy back seat is not for adults, and even with the seats down, the cargo bay won't hold anything bulky.
Still, this car seems perfectly suited to its mission, and a large part of that mission is driving entertainment. Steering is quick and precise, the pedal placement allows heal-and-toe shifting and the chassis is a more than capable partner in the back-road rumba. On the highway, the car feels like a laser-guided dart up to about 90 mph. At faster speeds the steering feels too quick and handling gets a bit twitchy, but we don't doubt the chassis is controllable right up to the car's top speed. The brakes are well matched to the rest of the car's capabilities, and at any speed they can simply erase speed quickly without any drama.
Another major part of the car's mission is serviceability. By that we mean, it impressed us as being reliable as all other Honda products. For all its high-tech engineering, this is still a relatively simple car with not much to go wrong. Regular service items seem straightforward too, and while things are a little tight under the hood, everything looks accessible.
As small three-door coupes go, the car's only real down sides are the lack of rear seat head room and constant high engine speeds. Its gas mileage is listed at 23/31 (city/highway), and with a list price of $24,140, as well as what we expect will be typical Honda durability, this is a lot of car for the money. And don't forget the fun.
