Acura RSX Type S, or Dodge "Neon" SRT-4?

Okay, so first let me say I'm not here to listen to your rant on about your biased opinions. I'm not here to debate about how much you hate Neons and that a SRT-4 is a Neon, or how you hate Acura RSXs and think they are just another crap Honduh remake.

I want to know, from those without ego issues, which you would choose if you had the choice between an Acura RSX Type S, or Dodge "Neon" SRT-4.

Now, I have wanted a RSX for a long time, however it will be for everyday driving and some fun now and then. I was turned off by the lack of 4 doors. I am a female and I do have kids. I'm tiny, so me busting my arse trying to get sqirming kids in carseats of a 2-door does not sound too great to me. In my personal opinion I think they are fast, if upgraded properly, and speed is a must for me.

Then, my brother had the SRT-4. It was fast and upgraded. Though I won't bother going into details. Point is, he raced and he won. However as someone who has hated on Neons for a very long time I am unsure of it. It has 4 doors, again considering my reality of kids. Trunk seems small. I have a double stroller. So you guys know nothing about that, the thing is huge.

Anywho, if you were in my situation and wanted a car with speed, which would you pick? Which is faster? I know there are better cars but considering my price range these 2 are what I have narrowed it down too. Help a girl out? Oh and please be easy on me guys  

I would go with the RSX, but since you need a 4 door get the Neon. or maybe trying the TSX which is 4 door.  
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In all honesty i also have wanted a RSX for the longest time but with the reality of your situation i would suggest going for the neon. I also have a younger brother(cousin) and a little sister and it is a complete pain in the behind trying to get little kids into the back seats of a coupe. In my opinion you should go for the SRT. I agree that the teggy would be more fun to drive and, once again in my opinion, better looking but you have to think in the long stretch. Plus the SRT is also pretty BadA**.  

honestly i would look in the direction of a subaru wrx or a lancer evo. the srt-4s dont run long they have alot of problems and the rsx is to small for kids  

I think maybe we are going to take the carseats and see if they will let us put them in an RSX and see how difficult it will be. From the pictures online the back seats don't look like they are far back so maybe I could reach them easily from the front? Does anyone actually have an RSX? and which do you think it faster? I agree I like the looks of an RSX better. but if I got the STR-4 I would be making some mods and it wouldn't matter. I'm talkin euros, a body kit, and a wing on the back. Place some nicer caps and tires. That goes for either car. I'll probably keep the guts stock at first but I'm anxious because we are going to be paying cash for the amount it cost up front to carmax most likely. SO... no car payment or rules means I can dress it up how I'd like  

Hey, it's Frank. Riven, you hit the nail on its head and answered your own question there. I have two kids my self and found it difficult to decide on a mid-sized import like the rsx or the smaller, yet some what cool, srt-4. Not that I had these two cars in mind when I was looking... it was a similar situation.
With kids comes responsibility and you may want to think about what's safer for your kids if you should ever have an accident. I know you may have your heart set on these two models but once the babies are involved there shouldn't be any question to their safety.
I like sporty fast cars and all but my kids come first. You know? I know you love your kids too and will decide what's in their best interest. Good luck.  

the rsx-s is powered by the k20z2, aluminum oil pan, forged steel crank, aluminuzed ocal sleeves, sqaure bore and stroke engine, very good motor, with a mild retune an rbc intake mani you will make power past 9k rpm easy.

the srt-4 engine has it's problems: starting with:

-cast steel crank yes CAST steel, the huge balencer shaft assembly robbing power, the iron block , the mitsubishi yes dodge neon srt-4's and chrystelr pt turbo's (yes a dodge neon srt-4 is the exact same engine as a chrsyler pt crusier FYI) uses a cast iron, high nickel unilateral unit with the turbo chargers exhuast housing, what? meaning the exhuast manifold and mistusbishi turbo is cast into one, on top of things the srt-4 utilizing forged slope like weiseco pistons, robs power and loses maximum combustion efficency.

the water pump has plastic fins rather than aluminum (prone to oxidation and breakage within 30k miles)

the rods are frozen and cracked like any other cheap forged powedered rod assembly, but with a cast crank (what bears the most weight) yu only have a forged rod and piston (forged cranks go for 1500+ a piece they went stock crank to keep costs down), as well as an OEM
neon utilizing the stock neone NA plugs (they do have a part # for the colder plugs which i higly recommend) making a completly stock srt-4 prone to detoantion.

copled with the fact that only the newer neon's came with the limted slip and it uses a stock neon crappy interior. id say the obvious choice is the leather clad, high revving hondamotor, removing the cast steel connecting rods and cast aluminum alloy pistons for forged s2000 units (maybe, works on a k24) you're set for forced induction. make sure you stay 04-06 the k20z1 that comes in the face lifted newer gens is not that great of a motor.

engineering student with a hobby :P  

typo** the k20a2** rsx 04-06 is the one to get!  

Hey blackmonkey! I have read a lot of your post. I have liked a lot of what you have said so I respect your opinion! I was wondering exactly what you meant by my children's safety? Do you mean the car is unsafe? Or going fast is unsafe? I of course would NEVER ever pull any stunts with my boys in the car. No worries on that front. BUT, have some hot shot guy rev his engine at me at a stop light? It is always fun to roll down the window and see the face of some surprised kid when a pretty girl is in the driver's seat lol  

Oh and thanks for all of that information civic.slow! I talked to my dad (he is a super mechanic, the reason I'm into cars in the first place) and he pretty much said the SRT-4's were *** but he said the RSX has a good strong Honda engine. I asked about the backseat and he said what I already knew. It is small, put in just for looks in the showroom. Made as an easy delete option for racers. >_<  

I have an rsx-s and a 3 year old, she fits fine in the back seat but i only have one child so with two it may be a little cramped, and i can fit alot in my hatch. at least before i put my stereo in.. As for whats faster, im pretty sure the srt-4 is, it already has a turbo on it and i raced my friends stock neon and his was a little quicker.. If you like them both the same then i would take the car seats and put them both in the cars and see which is easier for you, each person is differnt, i dont mind bustin my back to get her in and out but then again my daughter is 3 so she can pretty much get in and out on her own. Someone else mentioned a subaru wrx, i also have one of those and it is alot easier to get her in and out and alot faster than the type-s and also is turboed, it makes alot of power, downside is once u hit a certain amount of power the wrx trannys are *** unless u get the sti. I love my type-s they sound good and drive good and have great potential but an srt-4 or wrx already has 4 doors and a turbo! good luck with your decision!! hope this helped..  

Car and Driver did a comparison of a bunch of 4 cylinder cars. The SRT-4 had a faster 0-60 time but the RSX handled better, had a smoother ride, and was more reliable.  

i would go for the RSX.  

I have and SRT-4, i can measure my trunk if u want, it seems like it should hold a Double Stroller (I have had a large single in it with room to spare) As far as which I would get, what I own should answer that and I prefer Coupes to Sedans under most conditions.

My 2cents on your options based on what I know of the cars.  
An RSX is a smaller car (shorter wheel base) which should equal quicker steering response and better handeling.  
My SRT-4 handels like a track Car, I believe it hits higher numbers than the lighter RSX ( I have an ACR edition), but has the turning radius of a bus (41+ feet) I need 3.5 lanes for a U-turn  = occational 3 pointers from a light (not cool).  I have a 98 2 door Neon that make a u-turn with the flip of the wrist in almost 2 lanes.  (Sorry if im off topic you did ask about speed not cornering forces)

I cant speak for the RSX on speed, I do know that my 100% stock SRT-4 with me behind the wheel on street surfaces can get from 13.9 to 14.4 in 1/4 mile.  56 MPH comes at end of 2nd and it will spin tires mid way through 2nd on most surfaces (when floored)with little loss in momentum. i have had it to 140 MPH with RPM left and still pulling through the wind.

I have had it dynoed at a speed shop 240HP/258FTLBS a bit more than factory rates.  The 240HP is rarely used its the Torque that has the best effect, under normal driving conditions the car seems to move very easily, very little pedal is required to move the car and as a result very little (no) boost and lower fuel consumption. Also very little shifting required, I can used 3rd gear the majority of the time i can turn corners in 3rd (not with kids in the car , less shifting means a free hand to do whatever, talk on cell, put on makup, point your finger at the noise from the rear seat (JK) Anyway, the torque and shifting makes a big enough difference to mention.  

Other things worth mentioning, something with the Torque and FWD and Quaiffe Diff.  Although i dont get Torque Steer (pulling) when i throttle down in 2nd (with the exception of lane changes across painted lines), but  anything past light accelleration in a corner will cause the steering to get extremely heavy  and very noticable (very close to the losing of power steering)this will go away instantly when throttle is let off (gassing in corners requires both hands with firm grip and a driver that knows the car) the wheel will jerk your hands.

More stuff i know about my SRT-4.  Its not the kinda car you can give the keys to your friend to take for a drive, it has enough power to "get away" from most average drivers, mashing the gas in 1st or in a corner in 2nd results in instant loss of vehicle control for most drivers.  More importantly its not the car i would want to carry my children in, can't remember where but at one time i recall reading that it is one of the Most Wrecked, Totaled and Fatalities of New cars in its class, not sure if it is a safety (construction) or the typical Demographic of the owners (younger drivers). I know i gave up the badarse Viper Seats to get side airbags. A painfull but responsible decision. :|

Above that, children are fragile and a SRT-4 is a brute force car.. please drive safely with your babies in whatever car you get.

Summing it up with a quote I like, came from a Coblat vs. SRT-4 comparison originally, i robbed from a Google Search and was the review that influenced my decision to get an SRT-4.
"The Cobalt firmly grabs you and whisks you along your way instantly. It does so with authority and poise, but while slipping relatively unnoticed through traffic, never being violent, or dare I say it, frightening. When you ask the SRT-4 to take you somewhere fast, it punches you in the face, throws you over its shoulder, and runs, screaming, so quickly that its tires can barely keep up."
In my 2 years 2 months and 40,000 Miles I have found no other statement that conveys the Brutality of this car.  

I'll prefer RSX of all the cars, the car parts are not that hard to find...