Advice: MSP or RSX Type-S

[tiger8191]

Hey all. Been lurking for a while now and finally decided to get an account and...talk. =)

Been interested in the MSP for a few months now in my search for a new car to replace my 99 Corolla. I looked at the MSP first around August. Test drove it and really enjoyed it. First time I ever drove turbo. Sadly the dealer only let me go a couple miles and had to come with. I hate that. We sat down and he quoted me $373 a month, with the S plan and $1500 Rebate. Yikes...!

Test drove some other rides. Then went to another Mazda Dealer and test drove it again. I just couldn't get my mind off this car. The dealer knew nothing about the car at all. She was dense. She came out with me on the test drive and talked my ear off for the whole 10 minutes. She was making it hard to try and enjoy/get a feel for it. She then quoted me $398 for the Splan and a $2000 rebate. W...T...F?

So I gave up on the MSP as it was way out of my range since the wife was getting a new Accord and we are saving for a house in Feb.

Test drove the RSX one day and enjoyed the ride. Again, dealer didn't give me a good opportunity to drive it but it was nice. They quoted me a nice sounding $250/month. Oddly $4000 more than a MSP. So that is where I was headed.

Monday the wife and I went past another Mazda Dealer and they had 3 Blue one's out front. So I felt like driving it again for fun. The dude handed me the keys, set the stereo up for what he felt was the optimum setting andtold me I had a half hour, and to have fun. Hell yeah we had fun and FINALLY I got to really experience this car. I envy you all right now.

Came back and he quoted me $273/month with SPlan and $2000 rebate.

So am I getting a raw deal or should I not pass up the RSX for such a low payment? I know asking on MSP board will garner some bias, but I searched other similar topics and you all seem to be rather honest.

Thanks!

 

[mp5jeff]

this was a 5 year lease yes?

 

[jersey_emt]

$250 a month sounds like a lease..$250 * 60 months = only $15,000. There isn't ANYBODY getting an RSX Type-S for $15,000.

I pay $375 a month to finance my MSP.

 

[tiger8191]

Both 48 month lease

Dude said he could do a buy for about $298 on the MSP

Though I still have to double check if the RSX quote had tax added. If not then it would be...*does math*...$265?

 

[jersey_emt]

Both 48 month lease

Dude said he could do a buy for about $298 on the MSP

Though I still have to double check if the RSX quote had tax added. If not then it would be...*does math*...$265?

That clears things up a lot.

Acura subsidizes their leases quite a bit. Which means low monthly payment, but you get hosed if you want to purchase the car at the end of the lease.

Mazda has bad leases. That's what's causing the big difference in price.

I would definitely stay away from a lease on ANY car that's fun to drive. You'll end up paying a LOT of mileage fees. Trust me, you'll want to drive either car much more than 12,000-15,000 miles a year.

 

[vodapas77]

For my 2 cents, remembering that I am biased, but only slightly so. The RSX is a solid car that I definitely wouldn't sneeze at. I still have my 93 Del Sol Si back on the main land and I love it. Honda makes reliable cars that are fun to drive. That being said, I absolutely love my Speed. Due to my credit flaws as a young lad, I pay a healthy share a month to be part of this club. But that brings me to my point. Performance and mod-wise the RSX Type S and the Speed are in a similar arena. (That's gonna get me flamed, lol.) But seriously how many RSXs do you see everyday? A whole friggin lot. Even Type S's are a common site. But not the Speed. I live on an Island that has way more than it's fair share of Speeds, but I don't think I see even one a week other than mine and that's on an Island. In fact I see more Evos and Sti's around than Speeds. The point of all this rambling is that if you get the Speed you not only get the fun and performance, but you get exclusivity. I can't drive my car into Honolulu without someone pulling up beside me and asking me a string of questions about. Talk about a nice little ego boost. Ok, enough out of me.

 

[acidbug]

Get the RSX Type S..You will be faster than most speeds..Not to mention..You can gain some major hp..by Chipping the ECU..I/H/E..Super street..dyno'd it w/ all the above..at close to 250!!

Chas

 

[mp5jeff]

wont that break a lease if you mod it like that?

 

[acidbug]

If you blow up the car...But other wise..you can go completely back to stock..when you are returning it!

Chas

 

[mp5jeff]

yes, i guess you could do that, stock for stock i would probably takes the type s if you dont plan on any mods..

 

[tritonheat1]

Get the RSX Type S..You will be faster than most speeds..Not to mention..You can gain some major hp..by Chipping the ECU..I/H/E..Super street..dyno'd it w/ all the above..at close to 250!!

Chas

(Stock for Stock) this has been Brought up so many times, It's all a Driver's race. Simular performance time's. I'd take a MSP over a RSX-S anyday for Modding. Let's see, all the Type-S owner's i see around here, are I/H/E and total for these mod's are about $1000-1300. All you need to Destroy a Type-S even with the Mod's listed above is $40buck's for Joe P's MBC. set to about 9-10PSI and you'll walk all over RSX's.

 

[SoniCraze]

dude this is so frekin crazy, my msp has been in the shop all day and all day 2morrow to get my engine valves fixed...or somethin. (there not saying much). But at lunch i sat down with a guy who sales acuras at a dealership i work with....anyway he had me goin. I could trade my msp in for 500$ less than i paid for it as long as i dont put more than 10000 miles on it, then get a invoice deal on a type s....

I was gonna post askin if anyone had any experence, but ya, guess i dont have to anymore..

 

[mp5jeff]

trade it in for 500 less then you paid? damn, thats awesome...

 

[2K3 MSP]

Okay, time for my reply
I've got the MSP, my dad has the Type-S...I can SMOKE him. My mods are in my sig. He has I/H/E, lowered, strut bars all around. His handles slightly better, but I have such a better feel for the MSP, I can corner faster in mine. All out speed, he's toast. If you are planning on keeping the car bone stock, get the Type-S. Remember a $45 boost controller will put the MSP in the same category as the Type-S.
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[vodapas77]

Why can't my Dad be like that? He drives a friggin mini-van. It's all about the family values. lol.

 

[2K3 MSP]

He's actually the one that got me into the import scene back in '95-96...

 

[vodapas77]

For my old man the import scene was tuning VW Beetles back in the 70's. Too bad I wasn't even a fetus at that point. Anyhow, my compliments to both of your cars. Very tight.

 

[daperspeed]

This was the big choice I made. I had a deposit on a white 04 RSX-S which just had been shipped over(beautiful car) when I just happened to stop by a Mazda dealer. I decided to test drive the MSP because it such good handling statistics and wanted to see how it felt. Needless to say handling wise it put the RSX to shame and felt really comfy/airy with better visibility. Power wise it felt the same as the RSX with the exception that you have to rev the RSX higher to get power. Also I saved quite a few thousands less getting a MSP. Better bang for your buck most definately.



IMHO, the MSP is more of a true enthusiasts car along the lines of a "baby"EVO/STi..you could say The RSX is more of a quasi-status car as opposed to say a 4 door econobox.

In sum:

RSX-S:
+'s
1. Higher status. Its an Acura. To the non-enthusiast this is probably better than a MSP, or heck even a EVO/STi/WRX/Spec V etc. More bling bling factor IMHO.
2. Good resale(Honda). High quality.
3. Good aftermarket..low 14's easy with HONDATA etc.

-'s
1. Its not an enthusiast car. The tire are crap and the suspension is too soft. Bring the Type R over Honda!!!!!!!
2. its not turbo so big gains are gonna be expensive and Im still not sold on the K20 (RSX engine) being any FI friendler than the
2.0 in the MSP.
3. Its 2 doors which IMHO limits practicality if you like to drive around with friends.
4. Bland looking although still beautiful and better than its 2 door competition..Eclipse(butt ugly pig) and the Celica (looks like a angry rat).

MSP:

+'s
1. The suspension, rims, tires etc..all speak to the enthusiast purpose of this car. Im an enthusiast so I prefer these items to things like a climate control system which Honda decided to spend money on instead of decent tires for example.
2. Modability. $45 boost controller. Enough said. Yes I know about the questionability of upping the boost on the engine..BUT with small increases in boost and bolt ons you should be safe and have a car that is considerably faster than a RSX and still much cheaper than the MSRP on a RSX
3. Looks.
4. Practicality..4 doors another reason i drool over cars like the EVO
5. Limited edition. Will this help resale..I sure as heck hope so!!!

-'s
1. Like the EVO etc..when all is said is done in the eyes of many it is still a just a Japanese 4 door econobox. IMHO the RSX is more bling for the ladies etc.
2. Questionable modability. If the engine proves reliable with increased boost like some other Mazda engines(old Miata 1.8) than this car will be a classic..if not then it will just be a good value.
3. Wil this car hold its value like an Integra Type R or like a base Protege? Thats the thousand(s) dollar question..literally.
4. Overall less refined than an RSX(altho miles ahead of say..an SRT-4). But then again an RSX is much more refined than say a EVO. Now would you rather have a RSX or a EVO??

Overall, I would say MSP>RSX. More bang for your buck definately. The only way I can see anyone going with an RSX is if they want more of an "status" car. But then again if thats what you want..there are much better cars for that..i.e. G35 etc.

 

[chrisjw85]

Hm I've raced 2 rsx's type s and beat them both. One was bone stock and the other had atleast a catback. The one with the catback got right up to where my back door starts and the other a little before. Even high end they didn't beat me (High end meaning up to a little over 100)

 

[Flat Black]

Honda makes a great Lawn Mower.