2005 Acura RSX Review Oklahoma

provided by:

(Continue to more photos from MyRide.com)

 

Introduction

Acura RSX -- 2005 Review: Individuality is commonly expressed through automotive purchases. Take the typical mid-life crisis, for example. After years of commuting to work and taking the family on vacation in a common sedan or boring minivan, some people feel the need to proclaim a newfound sense of self with the latest sports car or convertible. Or maybe you know the owner of the "misunderstood" Pontiac Aztek. The Aztek's beauty is definitely in the eye of its beholder, one who likely chooses the path less traveled more often than not, unflinching at the judgments passed by the masses.

For those of you interested in expressing your inner self through a tool more exciting than a Ford Taurus and less flashy than a Hummer H2, may we suggest the Acura RSX Type-S. With a conservative design hiding a high-revving powerplant, the RSX promises to attract attention when you want it, or to play the perfect wallflower when you don't.

Model mix

Acura sells two versions of the RSX: standard and higher-performance Type-S. The standard RSX includes a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine generating a respectable 160 horsepower, a four-wheel-independent suspension with MacPherson struts in front and double wishbones in back, front and rear stabilizer bars, 16-inch alloy wheels, and either a five-speed manual transmission or a five-speed SportShift manually interactive automatic transmission. Of course, this being an Acura, power mirrors, locks, and windows; a power moonroof; a tilt steering wheel; cruise control; and a six-speaker sound system with a CD player are included in a base price just north of $20,000. For safety's sake, dual-stage front airbags, front side-impact airbags, and four-wheel-disc antilock brakes help to protect occupants. Leather interior trim and an automatic transmission are optional on the base RSX.

Performance junkies will want the Acura RSX Type-S, and it's what we used to cover hundreds of miles of highway, mountain passes and rain-soaked city streets during our road test. Priced at just over $24,000, the Type-S adds 17-inch alloy wheels, a sport suspension, larger front brakes, a low profile rear spoiler and ground effects, a Bose sound system with a six-disc in-dash CD changer and subwoofer, a six-speed manual transmission, and 50 extra horsepower.

What's new for 2005?

It might take more than a glance to notice what's different about the 2005 Acura RSX. Upon close inspection, you'll see that the front and rear fascias have been massaged a bit and the headlight and taillight housings have lost their round cutouts for a cleaner appearance. Inside, changes are nearly non-existent with the exception of a new accent color and more seat padding.

More significant are the updates to the stuff you can't see. Our Type-S featured an upgraded strut tower brace to stiffen the front end for sharper steering response and a stronger engine. To extract 10 additional horsepower for 2005, Acura tweaked the Type-S version's camshafts and bolted on a freer-flowing exhaust system. These modifications bump horsepower up to 210 at 7,800 rpm (it was 200 at 7,400 rpm in 2004) and the torque rating squeaks up one lb.-ft. to 143, but the peak is now reached among the clouds at 7,000 rpm (compared to 6,000 rpm in 2004). Not only is power peaking higher than before, which requires harder driving to extract maximum performance, but also a lower final drive ratio that helps to preserve the RSX's fuel economy rating (24 city and 31 highway) makes it harder to take advantage of the extra power.

If the power upgrade seems to be a wash, rest assured that all Acura RSX models feature improved brakes, more responsive steering, beefier stabilizer bars and firmer suspension settings for an overall boost to performance. Additionally, a reinforced body structure and more sound deadening material reduce noise, vibration, and harshness. Considering that maximum power is reached at a redline so high that it almost makes your ears pop, more sound deadening material is always welcome.

Continue to 2005 Acura RSX Review Review from MyRide.com

Sävy Strategic Creative

The Finest in European Automotive in Bend.

1.541.359.3068
Service Rd
Bend, OK
http://www.getsavy.com/

The Finest in European Automotive in Bend.
The moment one walks through the doors at German Master Tech in Bend, Oregon, its meticulously kept, white floored shop currently home to an impressive lineup of detail and restoration in progress: the bright silver Porsche spec racer being built in the center of the room, the Porsche 911 S undergoing a full restoration and the variant of others, from BMWs to Ferraris, it is quickly understood why German Master Tech, with some of the finest European auto technicians and restoration specialists in the country, supports some of the finest European cars on the West Coast. This German-apprenticed, master-trained company, that refers to its work as “a craft”, is known to many by the unmatched service and support they provide their racing and restoration clients across the country, to others by the niche expedition preparation service they provide all-terrain vehicles, and still to their most dedicated customer, the fine European car enthusiast, German Master Tech is truly the one to many in this town.
German Master Tech’s President, a BMW Master Technician, Tim Morris, brings with him over 25 years experience in the industry and has been awarded several achievement and master technician status awards though BMW specialized factory schools. Tim has also achieved BMW’s Center of Excellence Award twice and is a seven-time BMW President’s Club Technician. German Master Tech’s co-founder and past partner, Jay Audia, won the 07 SCCA Regional Championships for GT2 in his German Master Tech-prepared Panoz. The company’s third founder is one of Bend’s most passionate Porsche enthusiasts, John Audette.

“Restorations have been a large part of our focus,” said Morris, describing some of his company’s award winning roots. “From our very first restoration, a 58’ BMW Isetta 300, which we took to the Forest Grove Concours d’ Elegance in 05 and won our class, in addition to taking home the President’s Award, which was judged by Pacific College’s President as “the car the college student would most want to drive,” said Morris. “I drew on my past car show and restoration experience to pull off a surprise win. It was a good deal of timing and the right car, with the right colors. We stole the show with a micro car, it was great!” Morris said standing next to his red Porsche hot rod parked inside his shop. “Car shows and racing are my passions,” he said with a smile.
“Our tuning business is the best around,” continued Morris of the company’s capabilities. “The application of our developed performance packages to already great cars really creates a ‘wow’.” German Master Tech provides full warranty BMW performance upgrades as a Dinan-authorized dealer, and Porsche performance programs that take the 911 to the next level. “Our tuning business has led us to organized racing, which has been a life-long dream of mine.” Included in German Master Tech’s list of champion racing cars are a 64’ BMW 1800 TISA owned by Steve Walker of Salem. The 1800 TISA is BMW’s first post-war racer based on a production car in regional vintage racing. A 911 Porsche racer owned by Bend’s Mark Powell will be racing in one of the West Coast’s fastest growing amateur racing classes, Spec 911. “Mark’s car is special as it ties together the whole business: a restoration with an extreme tuning package.”

“German Master Tech has worked on all my cars, including a Range Rover, BMW, three Ferraris and a Porsche,” said Ervin Richards, a long-time German Master Tech customer. “I bring my cars here because they consistently do it better and because they’ve always gone way beyond the call of duty in their service and support of my vehicles.” “If I can bring it to German Master Tech,” said Richards, “I will.”
To learn more about German Master Tech, contact them directly at 541.322.9647.