2002 Acura RSX Type S: No Automatic Transmission Here

Bob M
Mar 1, 2021

Purple 2001 Acura RSX Type S From Front-Driver Side

It may have quite a few years to go before it’s considered a classic automobile, but the 2002 Acura RSX Type S has some fairly unique features within the Acura/Honda lineup. If you’re shopping for a sporty two-door car that still has a lot of pep in its step, the Type S is worth a second look.

What’s so special about the 2002 Acura RSX Type S trim?

The main thing is that the Type S was a completely new design from Acura, replacing an older Integra model. Almost everything about the car was new. In addition, the Type S was sold exclusively with a six-speed manual (stick shift) transmission.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at this little vehicle that was really the dawn of a new era for Acura vehicles.

The 2002 Acura RSX

In 2002, Acura phased out its Integra LS, GS and GS-R vehicles and replaced them with the RSX. The Type S trim was a direct replacement of the Integra GS-R.

The lines of the RSX vehicles were totally redesigned and streamlined when compared to their ancestors. When coupled with redesigned front and rear suspensions, the result was an Acura vehicle that was even nimbler than its predecessors.

It’s always risky when an automaker does a complete top-to-bottom redesign of a trusted vehicle. But in the case of Acura upgrading the Integra to the RSX, it definitely paid off. While some other more timid car companies were tiptoeing into the 21st century, Acura came charging in with 200 new horses under the hood.

2002 Acura RSX Type-S Trim

Drivers who like to stick to an automatic transmission probably won’t enjoy the 2002 Acura RSX Type S. That’s because the vehicle is only available as a six-speed manual.

The major thing that drivers are likely to enjoy about the car is the engine redesign that happened in the Type S. Although a 2002 vehicle is starting to seem a little long in the tooth, keep in mind that Acura and Honda engines are known for their deep longevity.

Both of the RSX trims featured a 2.0L four-cylinder engine. However, the version in the Type S was tuned to achieve quite a bit more horsepower than the base RSX.

The RSX was capable of 160 horsepower, while the Type S gets all the way up to 200 horsepower with the engine revving at 6,000 rpm. That’s extremely peppy for such a small car, although similar model year rivals do feature a bit more torque than the Type S is capable of.

The 2002 Acura RSX Type S achieved very high safety ratings. It’s only been subject to four safety recalls by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration during the vehicle’s entire history. Each of those recalls was related to lighting and only happened after regulatory changes were required in 2006. In other words, the car was designed extremely well from the very beginning.

As for the interior of the vehicle, you won’t find quite as much to excite you after all these years. Car buyers have come to expect a lot more interior amenities than most automakers were providing back in 2002.

Run a Vehicle History Check Before You Buy

The 2002 Acura RSX Type S was built so well that it may run for another decade before encountering any problems. However, you never really know what a used car has been through without doing a thorough check. Always run a full Vehicle History check here before purchasing a new vehicle!

avatar Bob M
Bob M. is an author and award-winning speaker whose TV commercials have appeared on every news network. Whenever he’s cruising in the minivan with his large family, he’s actually daydreaming about a two-seater sports car.
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