St3ve
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Hello members of TOV,
I’m about to get a new “used” car by the end of the month, and I don’t know which car is better overall. I’m trying to financially budget my expenses. The cars that I am currently interested in are:
-2008 Honda Accord Coupe EX/EXL 4cyl 5MT
-2005-06 Acura RSX base 5MT
-Wouldn’t mind an 8th gen Honda Civic Coupe LX/EX, but prefer the two above.
I like how they both run on regular gas (fuel ratings are similar), and the insurance is not too bad. I also like the reliability of Honda/Acura as well as Toyota/Lexus. I’m going to be 25 years old in about a week or so.
Some questions that I have are:
Do they both use timing chains? I think I read somewhere that the K-series engines use chains, while the J-series use belts?
Is one car noticeably more fun than the other? (RSX is lighter, but Accord has more power).
Would one car have more problems than the other?
By the way, I plan to keep this car for about 5 years. I would like to enjoy a coupe while I still can. This will be my first car with a manual transmission. The only time(s) that I’ve ever driven manual was in my friends Nissan 240sx (S14), and in GT5 haha.
Anyways, I would like to hear your thoughts/opinions. Thanks!
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WongKN
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If you want to enjoy a coupe and more importantly you want to -really- enjoy a -Honda- coupe, the best there is, I personally think the RSX is the best choice of the three. The Accord and Civic are extremely good choices as well, but the you really need to enjoy an Integra (sorry, RSX to you guys) coupe, to understand what a Honda coupe driving DNA is all about. The DC5 still have this DNA, I think stronger than the 2008 Accord or 8G Civic. Only cavert is it is 2 years or more older than the Accord or Civic and at 6 coming up to 7 years old, you probably need to do some work soon to the car - things like clutch, suspensions, etc.
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trexdoc
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I'll give my 2 cents...
I see that you're interested in coupes/hatchbacks. My strong recommendation is to look for a 2007 2-door (7th generation) Accord. It's has essentially the same engine as the RSX but with improved safety features (the Accord has side curtain airbags and the RSX never did). Additionally, this Accord generation has fantastic factory LED tail lights. I'd stay away from the 8th generation Accords due to cost-cutting of interior materials and lackluster overall design.
As an aside, the 7th generation Accords have significant resale value (especially after the MMC - 2006+) and it may be difficult to find a "gently used" 2007.
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JeffX
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WongKN wrote:
If you want to enjoy a coupe and more importantly you want to -really- enjoy a -Honda- coupe, the best there is, I personally think the RSX is the best choice of the three. The Accord and Civic are extremely good choices as well, but the you really need to enjoy an Integra (sorry, RSX to you guys) coupe, to understand what a Honda coupe driving DNA is all about. The DC5 still have this DNA, I think stronger than the 2008 Accord or 8G Civic. Only cavert is it is 2 years or more older than the Accord or Civic and at 6 coming up to 7 years old, you probably need to do some work soon to the car - things like clutch, suspensions, etc.
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I would second what WongKN is saying. The 8th gen Accord coupe is a nice car but it's BIG, and while it may be more powerful than the RSX, the Accord's weight and gearing conspire to make it feel a little flat. The RSX, on the other hand, is actually pretty zesty feeling. I was surprised and impressed the first time I drove a base RSX. Hell, even the automatic version was quite peppy.
The Accord has the more sophisticated chassis design with double wishbones up front, but IMHO that's offset by the spunkier nature of the RSX. If you value refinement and comfort more than sport, then the Accord would be a good choice, but if you're looking for the most fun to drive option, the RSX is clearly it.
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typer_801
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I'll third the RSX nod. Not only the more sporting nature, but the practicality of a hatch, can't be beat. Try putting a bicycle in the trunk of an Accord!
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Powered by Honda
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Accord best suspension setup and ride from the 3.
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A.W.E.S.O.M. - O
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Anyone else struck by how expensive RSXs still are? Really strong resale on those. I was thinking of picking one up six months ago, and they were still $16-19k for a nice MMC one.
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DCR
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A.W.E.S.O.M. - O wrote:
Anyone else struck by how expensive RSXs still are? Really strong resale on those. I was thinking of picking one up six months ago, and they were still $16-19k for a nice MMC one.
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On top of that, good luck finding an unmolested example. I would go for the RSX first, but better luck will be on the Accord. Watch out for the shit brakes/rotors on that one though.
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St3ve
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Thanks for all of the input! There appears to be a LOT more Accord Coupes available than RSX's. I think it might be more difficult to find a good RSX near my location, but I'll be looking around Monday morning.
I'm seeing 06 Lexus IS250's for almost the same price as the 08 Accord Coupes... what do you guys think? Is this car too soft? Is it worth more gas money (premium vs regular)? The RWD fuel economy figures seem to be about the same (at least in Canada). Again, I like the reliability of both brands.
What to look for? What to get? Decisions decisions...
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WongKN
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The IS250 is the Lexus version of what was the Toyota Altezza which was available only in Japan. This FR car was supposedly designed by Toyota to take on the DC5 when sports coupe was still popular in Japan. Where it counts, on the track and twisty roads, it failed miserably. But it has an advantage in that it is a 4 door. I am not sure if the IS250 you are looking at is 4door or not. Actually the idea of Toyota/Lexus versus Honda/Acura are almost like they are mutually exclusive of each other. People who likes Honda/Acura for what they are (or what they used to be) will almost always don't like the driving feel of a Toyota/Lexus. For the 'vintage' (circa 2005/2006) Integra/RSX you are looking at, this will hold very true. Of course the more current a car you go, especially if you look at the newest models, in many enthusiasts' eyes, Hondas are starting to drive like Toyotas, because reportedly Honda still wants to emulate the commercial success of Toyota. So you probably want to test drive the IS250 first to see if you like its driving feel. I assume you have already driven an Integra/RSX, and the Accord & Civic Coupe's and you like their driving feel.
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AcrA6spdMT
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if i were in your position i'd just get a 07-08 TSX 6MT and call it a day... i'd take it over a is250 any day
the 6MT TSX is faster than is250, has good driving dynamics (better than accord, civic) and has the same taut feel the rsx has
It's also a really safe used buy esp the late models sub 70k kms (i do not know ur budget :/)
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DrWhiner
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A.W.E.S.O.M. - O wrote:
Anyone else struck by how expensive RSXs still are? Really strong resale on those. I was thinking of picking one up six months ago, and they were still $16-19k for a nice MMC one.
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TLinTX
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I looked at IS250s. They are styled nicely and have cool options (heated and cooled seats) but there were two deal killers for me: It's cramped inside (my left arm had no room against the door) and slow as shit. A MT might have helped but after the test drive I could hardly believe the 250 is a V6.
For your age a 1st Gen TSX is probably your best bet. Fun but with an upscale badge.
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