2013 Scion FR-S vs. 2002 Acura RSX Type-S

Considering the age of the RSX, both performance and styling held up well against the newcomer. Here is how the cars scored with our drivers:

SCORE CARDS

Driver #1 Score Card
	MAX POINTS	FR-S	RSX Type-S	COMMENTS
POWERTRAIN
Engine	10	7	6
Transmission	10	7	7
CHASSIS
Performance	20	18	16	The FR-S feels like a athlete, eager to have fun on the track as well as off
Handling	20	18	16	FR-S has excellent handling characteristics allowing the driver to have fun without getting into too much trouble
Steering Feel	10	9	7	The steering feel with the FR-S was sharp and had lots of great feedback on what car was going to do
Brake Feel	10	7	7
Ride Quality	10	8	7	RSX has an overly-stiff suspension setup which happily transmitted every bump and road irregularity into the cockpit
EXPERIENCE
Fun to Drive	25	22	19	FR-S: I would personally enjoy a little more throaty exhaust note to go along with the aggressive handling, along with a few more ponies under the hood to really complete the driving experience
VEHICLE
Driver Comfort	10	8	7
Ergonomics	10	8	7
Trunk/Cargo Space	10	8	7
Features/Amenities	10	8	7
Interior Styling	10	9	7
Exterior Styling	10	9	7
As-Tested Price	10	9	9
TOTAL	185	137	136
FR-S	For the money, the FR-S has all the razor sharp handling characteristics of my tuned MX-5 for about the same money, with extra room and a hardtop. I would personally enjoy a little more throaty exhaust note to go along with the aggressive handling, along with a few more ponies under the hood to really complete the driving experience. I really liked this car, and highly recommend it to anyone considering a sport coupe in the $25K range.
RSX Type-S	While the front-wheel drive RSX was upgraded with a tighter suspension and a ECU upgrade, it performed well for a car with 92k miles on it. My expectations for this car were adjusted for the FWD arrangement, but I was surprised at how sporty the car felt after driving the FR-S. I dialed back on my driving style on public roads, but it still allowed me to get a little sideways around the corners. The gearing on this car was better suited for Auto-X, but the handling was not quite as crisp as the FR-S. Still fun to drive, the RSX just didn’t deliver the same sporty feel as the FR-S.

Driver #2 Score Card
	MAX POINTS	FR-S	RSX Type-S	COMMENTS
POWERTRAIN
Engine	10	8	7
Transmission	10	8	9	Acura manual transmission had better clutch engagement and had the right amount of heft, shifting was smooth and precise; Scion tranny is good, but not as good as Acura’s
CHASSIS
Performance	20	16	16	Acura had better low-end torque due to the Hondata ECU reprogramming; power sweet spot is in the upper-revs. Scion had quicker acceleration overall compared to the RSX
Handling	20	18	15	RSX had a much stiffer suspension and can get unsettled on bumpy pavement, but can rail the turns on smooth pavement. Scion breaks traction sooner than the RSX, but is very predictable.
Steering Feel	10	9	9	Both cars deliver great steering feel and feedback to the driver, but feel different due to the RWD vs. FWD drive setup
Brake Feel	10	9	8
Ride Quality	10	8	7	Acura’s stiff suspension amounts to a rough ride on bumpy surfaces
EXPERIENCE
Fun to Drive	25	23	20	Dynamics of RWD will always trump FWD; the Scion’s on-demand, predictable tail-waggin’ handling is a hoot and guaranteed to induce a smile whenever called upon.
VEHICLE
Driver Comfort	10	7	7	Acura’s leather seats provided good support and comfort. Scion seats have good side bolster support and do a good job of holding the driver in place when pulling lateral Gs
Ergonomics	10	9	8
Trunk/Cargo Space	10	6	9	Hatchbacks are more flexible. FR-S seats can fold, but fitting large objects into a small trunk opening (and even smaller pass-thru) is challenging.
Features/Amenities	10	8	8	Mainly due to modern touches, extra USB charging plugs, Fat wheel w/ adjustments(and volume? ), traction control etc.
Interior Styling	10	7	8	10 year old design still looks good, lots of soft touch surfaces inside, good quality/build; Scion interior styling is pretty basic with above average fit and finish
Exterior Styling	10	10	8	FR-S exterior design is more aggressive and has a long, sleek shape. The front-end has a wide-mouth front grille while the lines from the headlamps follow the lines of the front fender nicely
As-Tested Price	10	9	9	Scion is priced to be an affordable sports coupe and is a great value at $25k. Used RSX Type S can be found below $10K leaving lots leftover for mods and refreshing of worn parts
TOTAL	185	155	148

Driver #3 Score Card
	MAX POINTS	FR-S	RSX Type-S	COMMENTS
POWERTRAIN
Engine	10	9	7	FR-S has a more linear power curve compared with the RSX which was more peaky but really fun when in the power zone
Transmission	10	10	8
CHASSIS
Performance	20	18	15
Handling	20	18	12
Steering Feel	10	10	8
Brake Feel	10	9	8
Ride Quality	10	8	7	RSX occasionally bottomed out at the limit over bumpy corners
EXPERIENCE
Fun to Drive	25	23	18	RWD is more fun to drive
VEHICLE
Driver Comfort	10	6	8
Ergonomics	10	9	8	FR-S had the edge with better seats and tilt/telescopic steering wheel adjustments
Trunk/Cargo Space	10	6	9	Hatchbacks are more flexible for loading and fitting cargo
Features/Amenities	10	10	7	Advantage FR-S mainly due to modern touches, extra USB charging plugs, fat steering wheel with controls at your fingertips, etc.
Interior Styling	10	7	9
Exterior Styling	10	10	9	FR-S is more boy racer-ish, Acura is more understated
As-Tested Price	10	N/A	N/A
TOTAL	185	162	142
FR-S	The key word for the FR-S is balance. The powertrain is well matched to the chassis. The car transitions well thru turns. Controllable oversteer at the limit. Exterior/drivetrain/suspension over delivered for a car in this price range, however the interior materials was “low rent”. The seats and the tilt/telescoping steering wheel are accommodating. The driver centric analog/digital gauges are well designed. The FR-S is equally suited for track days as well as your daily commute. A solid buy.
RSX	DOHC powerplant pulls hard when driven in the powerband. Points where you aim it. The aftermarket sport suspension was bliss during fast driving on smooth roads, but the car was unsettled when cornering on uneven pavement. Suspension travel was limited. The inherent FWD torque steer was felt at the limit. Considering the age of the RSX, both performance and styling held up well against the newcomer. Interior was more luxurious than the FR-S. There was more attention to details: sound system, control knobs, fit and finish of the materials utilized.