Faults:

So far so good.

I had to replace the actuator on the driver's door for the power locks, and was able to do that myself with the help of an excellent post on an Acura owner's website.

SRS light is on.

General Comments:

This car is solid, good handling, comfortable, and fun to drive.

I consistently get 10+ km/litre, which is better than 30 MPG, on regular gas.

The Tiptronic function is a fun alternative, although the transmission is programmed to shift right at the redline if you do "boot it", so I usually let the computer do the shifting.

I don't know why more manufacturers don't offer hatchbacks. This is the most convenient configuration a car can have. I recently renovated a bathroom and was able to transport a toilet in its box home from the building store.

The only issue I had was on hot starts, sometimes the car doesn't start up right away. The service manager at the dealership explained to me that the vehicle has an electronic fuel pump that needs to pressure up, so when you go to start the car, turn on the ignition and let all the dash lights turn on. Then put on your seat belt, and when all the lights have turned off, start the car. If I follow this procedure, the car fires up cleanly every time.

Oh yeah... The SRS light is on, and the cause is a faulty seat belt switch in the driver's seat belt latch. I have had this problem on every Honda product I have owned, and it costs $450 for the part, which is not always available, because every Honda in the world has this problem. This is the only beef I have ever had with Honda!!

Faults:

My car has problems shifting into 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gear. It's worse than just popping out.

Example: I'm sitting with the car on and in neutral. I push the clutch in ALL the way and shift into first. My clutch starts to grab and push the car forward, even with the clutch pushed in all the way. This happens for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.

I've replaced the clutch and nothing changed. The problem is actually fairly random. Sometimes the when it's cold out the problem is worse. Other times it shifts like butter.

I've noticed also that when I down shift to slow down, it can make the problem occur.

General Comments:

Everything is good about this car except for its shifting issues.

Faults:

- Hatch supports stopped working by 26,000 km.

- lost use of both turn signals at 33,000 - fixed a sensor.

General Comments:

A great performer given the size of the engine and it's great fuel economy.

Great handling although the ride can be a little rough with performance tires (no fault of Acura).

A surprisingly huge cargo area when the seats are folded down. A full size dresser can easily fit in the back with the hatch closed.

Heated leather seats are great, but multiple settings would be nice.

Shifts smooth and effortlessly.

There is a bizarre cult following among younger RSX drivers.