If it's the tC versus RSX, then tC. If it's RSX-S versus S/C tC, I'd go with the RSX-S. It's already tuned by Honda so you don't have to fiddle with suspension, tires, and/or engine. The stock suspension on the tC is not the most confidence inspiring so it has to be replaced. Despite all the talk of lack of torque, I'd go with the RSX-S if you can afford it. the supercharger is still vaporware at the moment.

 

I think you meant to say that if it was tc vs rsx you would take rsx and if it was tc s/c vs rsx you would take the tc s/c. Right?

 

My firend has an RSX-S.... I/H/E cams, hondata kpro ecu. It's got about 235-240whp untuned. That thing is a beast and it pulls all the way to 8500rpm. but I still like my tC better.

Oh...and there is no rev limiter at 127mph on the type-s. I've seen those things go 140 stock.... with potential to hit 160 with FI.

bt who's ever gonna have a 140mph trap speed??? I think 127 would be fast enough, that would put the tC in the high 11's low 12's

 

i have a friend wit a type-s that went all NA..toda everything too..his rev limiter is like 9500 or something.

 

yeah... rsx's are a little slow..
http://forums.clubrsx.com/showthread.php?t=302793

 

The supercharger, despite its low boost and power output will undoubtedly require premium fuel. It’s pretty much a given for safe operation with F/I. There are exceptions, of course, but I doubt the tC will be one of them.

That wasn’t a redesign, it was a mid model life cycle update. A full redesign isn’t due for several more model years. And they were saying 05 would be the last year when it came out. And 04 the year before that.

The stock Michellin MXM tires on the RSX, including the Type S suck as much our RE92s do. Not a knock against the car or anything, just a little FYI.

I seriously doubt that. I’ve seen a dozen or so different dynos from RSXs with similar setups and they are not pushing 235WHP. They are, however, pushing 190 – 215WHP, all motor with bolt-ons and various Hondata re-flashes. Unless he has a complete TODA setup (minus ECU), including cams, pistons, rods, valve springs, cam gears, race header, and race exhaust along with a tuned K-pro I don’t think he’s pushing 235whp. Modded K20s (Type R) are barely pushing that.

If he went TODA everything, including the ECU, then his redline was at 9k, unmodified.



As for the original posters question, I would personally go with the Type-S over the tC, especially the 05+. Its suits may taste more than the tC. But, if I were you, I would test drive them both first, whenever they're both available and go from there. Performance wise, you could bring an 06 Type S to the 200whp, all motor no internal mods, for the same or less then you would spend on the S/C brining the tC to 200BHP. I love my tC, don’t get me wrong, and it has it’s advantages, but performance wise, short of a t/c, the Type S is the better car, IMO.

 

No, I'd take tC over the regular RSX and a RSX-S over the tC. The tC is a better value buy than the RSX. When you go up a level to the performance trims/setups, the RSX-S is better in that regard. Since I'm cheap, I'd always pick the best value/bargain and the tC was the best I could find for my price range. I also factored in the maintenance cost, insurance, and styling. The tC made the most sense.

Just because a car has added power doesn't mean it drives better. You have to make sure the rest of the car can catch-up with the power. I have TRD springs, but I wonder how the tC would perform overall with stock suspension, stock roll bar, and a S/C. Say I got the S/C, then I'd want a better roll bar, TRD struts, and maybe a strut bar too. I want a car that drive well, not just fast. That's why BMW can be successful without having the most horsepower, they set their cars up as a complete package.

Also, thanks Thrawn for the point about stock tires on the RSX's.

 

You don't have to replace the rods and pistons to reach 235WHP on a RSX-S. TODA has been surpased (as far as cams are concerned) by Crower & IPS. Other than that your right on everything else.
I agree with this statement 100%. If your going turbo the tC is the way to go.

 

This is news to me, I'll be sure to look into Crower's and IPS' parts. You know of any website in particular with good info on them?

 

If your interested in learning more head over to www.clubrsx.com Here's a dyno of each cam with bolt-ons & K-Pro.
The yellow line is stock.

 

the toda guy i was speaking of had k-pro

 

Amazing site !! I didn’t think I would get this many responses on a topic like this one being a all Scion site……I love the TC but I think that the Acura would be the better choice between the two….201Hp N/A! Thanks everyone for your opinions!

 

Does anyone know when they are releasing the TRD S/C for the TC?? i head in about a month...but that was probably wrong. thanks-

 

i personally know the Toda RSX in Houston. he's a full toda setup. from cams, springs, to race header, exhaust (only 5 in the US have this exhaust, makes 8whp on a STOCK RSX). its not the cams that make the power, its more of tuning. we have a great tuner here in htown and he fine tuned my buddy's toda cams and made more power over a lot of IPS k2 owners. mainly due to tuning. he ran on the dyno for 68+ times. it takes a very good tuner to make IPS useful. if not tuned right, the IPS cams make the engine sound like a diesal engine. i've heard them in person and the owner took them out and is s/c'ing now. Toda sounds stock at idle and makes for a great daily driver.

i'm 03dsm-rsx on clubrsx

 

i heard rsx-s has a lot of major problems..

 

like what? its a honda; it should last untill the end of time.

 

you're damn right

type S

 

you're the very first person i've heard say that.

 

The worse problem I've heard is the second gear grind thing. But that's about it and some tCs have the same problem.

 

To answer the original question, post 1, I think it's a matter of what you want to go for. Do you want a smaller high-revving sport car on the luxury end of the insurance spectrum? or a roomier touring car with a lot of power available all the time?

a s/c tc could be around 20k off the lot. an rsx-s is almost 24k. if you put that 4k into some suspension and some bolt-ons and wheels/tires, you could achieve a very nice effect. however, the rsx-s is indeed lighter, but tC does have a torque advantage to make up for it.

you pay premium fuel either way. as for mileage, if you're sport-driving, your mileage will suck with either car, end of story. your insurance costs will be similar, because a S/C probably doesnt sit well with a policy.

In the end, personally I'd take the tC with a SC. The interior, to me, looks much much nicer, has better features, way roomier, and more useful in every way.