I have had the privilege of driving the Acura RSX Type S for the past year and have always had mixed feelings about it. Such a car that contains all kinds of traits that a passenger car can possess creates that feeling. This car markets itself to the younger crowd for sure with its high revving 200hp engine and extremely sporty looking exterior that will turn heads at any local movie theater, high school or mall. Dig deeper and you’ll discover an extremely well-rounded type of sports car that should be anything but close to extinction.

My initial feeling about this car is that it is the watered down version of the Japanese DC5 Integra Type R. After complaining that we Americans always get the middle models of older foreign cars, I took a look at the car’s stance and started to get used to it. So I started thinking about what I intend to do with the car; driving to school, driving to work, hitting some twisty roads, some solo autoxing, and I realized that the Type R would be too tough a vehicle for my liking because after all, I am an American living in the tri-state area which is not always the purest and most sports car friendly environment in which to live. As said, it has some traits of all different types of cars. A luxurious yet sporty interior, a high-revving engine that only unleashes aggressively, an achievable 32 mpg fuel economy rating, track-inspired chassis and suspension geometry, and a bold yet mature exterior tested by kids and Mom-approved.

Living in New Jersey, I feel like this really is the best proving ground for any type of car. We have every type of situation and weather you can imagine for a car. On a typical day of driving, you can wind through open mountain road, fast-paced 4-lane traffic, and total traffic jam that can leave you with a raised clutch foot. I feel like if I can have fun and feel safe in a car like this in the middle of the state with the most vehicles per square mile in the US, no one else in the world will feel the same way. If you don’t agree with that statement, just look at the NJ auto insurance ratings compared to the rest of the US and you’ll see what I mean.

With this type of car being the six-speed successor to the older DC2 Integra that was deeply appreciated by the young, it’s safe to say that it’s probably a father bought, son driven car. Looking at a picture of this machine, with its low stance, high wing, and bullet-shaped front end, a parent can only be skeptical and concerned about what his son intends to do with this car. The character of the car can be seen as somewhat bipolar, with a practical side that can go to school and work in most weather conditions with its FF design and slurp gas with its cute little ULEV 4-cylinder engine. The other side is the beast that comes out when the young man decides to let go of the revs and make new friends by scaring them on that winding road right next to the police station in the center of town. I would like to stress to parents viewing this machine as their child’s new vehicle to make sure they have the common sense and discipline to drive something like this. If you look at your child and don’t see the responsibility it takes to drive such a machine, just say “no” and save a life. Let’s be honest, speed is addictive, but if it really were a drug, these lightweight cars with Vtec powerplants could be considered the pushers that hook the young for life. In a car like this, there’s a fine line between harmless fun and blatant danger that needs to be recognized by anyone sitting in the cockpit.

Now, with the knowledge of what this car is intended to be and who will likely be driving it, it’s time to give my overall driving impression. Road driving isn’t the easiest due to the stiff chassis and daring suspension geometry with limited stroke. I found myself constantly making small adjustments to the steering just to stay straight on imperfect trails. The steering also detects a large amount of distraction on bumpy roads. On level ground the car feels planted and invincible at almost all speeds, but where there are bumps and gaps I would recommend putting the coffee back in the cup holder because the suspension jumps a bit and makes the driver feel a bit nervous and concentrated. . In hindsight, this is better than cars that make you sleep at the wheel and also cause problems. Sixth gear is great starting at about 60 mph, that way you can get that 32 mpg and be high enough in the RPM band to pass someone without having to drop a gear or two. The cars gear ratios of 1 to 4 are close enough to keep you in the Vtec top zone of about 6000rpm up to the 8000rpm rev limit during very spirited driving, while sixth gear (probably the overdrive gear) is really there for high mph. and cruising mpg.

The twisty roads are a treat and this is really where the beast comes out when you start attacking the turns. With strong, well-balanced brakes, a stiff chassis, wide, sticky tires, heavy, responsive steering, and firm but street-ready suspension, the RSX S has all the credentials of a pure sports car. The ABS can be a bit strong in bad conditions, but the well-tuned brake balance allows you to brake deep into a turn without lack of direction on dry roads. So with a bit of common sense, it’s an extremely controllable machine at speeds that most people would think are insane. The 8000rpm rev limit and high RPM powerband give you an exceptionally stronger 200hp feel because you get it at those high revs where throttle response is strongest. Let me tell you, hitting the gas in a corner with that kind of response makes this car feel like a NA 2-litre that can take on the world. This power plant makes you forget all about those “there is no replacement for displacement” thoughts because this responsive and lightweight engine gives you a harmonious driving experience and not to mention handling performance.

In conclusion, this machine is certainly an impressive rarity because it is a car that strives to be used by a wide audience, but is only recognized by a relatively small group. In America this is just about the rawest, toughest Honda/Acura you can buy due to its strong character that most vehicles under 30k seem to lack. It’s an admirable piece of engineering because the compromises that were made for us since the Type R in Japan were thought of in all the right places, which should make it desirable for just about anyone willing to drive a manual transmission. The fate of this type of car in the United States is definitely in the hands of the young. I feel that as long as models like this continue to excite the young crowd with their excitement, practicality, and affordability, American compact cars will have a fighting chance of survival.