Originally Posted by 96tegse
Saying that Honda has "given up" on the enthusiast market is too strong -
However, in the past few years, they dropped several offerings with the coveted DOHC VTEC engines - Prelude, Civic SI, and the Type-R. All that's left are the RSX-S and S2K. (I'm considering the RSX-S as a GSR replacement)
The 2001 model year had 5 - SI, Prelude, GSR, Type-R, S2K
Although the 6 gen Accord Coupe is sort of a replacement for the Prelude (or is it the CL replacement?), it's not a tuner car.
Whether it is a tuner car or not has no meaning. The Toyota Supra and the HOnda Prelude were niether meant to be "tuner" cars. They were luxury TOURING cars. The RSX and Type-S were released to be a luxury entry into the tuner world and to replace the GSR. However the engine is the same everywere with minor tuning and top-end differences. The Honda of Japan engineers knew that we would grasp the RSX as a new "tuner" car and they gave us something that is absolutley amazing!
BTW, there is not even a question between the Mazda3 and the RSX. Honestly, i think you should be shot for even having to waste your time as well as ours for asking that question. 'BTW, i need help deciding which object to trade my RSX-S in for. I can only think of two, a Beluga Whale or a new lamp post for my living room?' See what i mean?