mapleloaf

SO Friday I pick up my 2016 Tech and give back my 2015 SH-AWD Tech. No money down, and I get a lower lease payment that includes giving me a credit for a good chunk of my downpayment on the initial lease (18 months in). I enjoyed the car, but the 2.4 will work fine for my primarily city driving and I love the 8DCT, having test driven a number of vehicles extensively.

I will miss:

- Smooth power of the 3.5 engine;
- SH-AWD in winter, although with Micheline X Ice tires and my driving needs, the rear wheel steer will be fine.

I won't miss:
- first two shifts, smooth at some rpms, notched at others, but always held a little longer than ideal;
- the need for VCM and Idle Stop to achieve better fuel economy, although I didn't have a big problem in how they functioned;

I look forward to:
- quick smooth shifts with the 8 DCT
- better fuel economy without need for VCM and IS
- a non-push button transmission which functions like our other vehicle and allows my spouse to more easily drive my car when necessary. (I may miss the look of the electronic tranny shifter).
- a new colour scheme to change it up - white with expresso leather;
- did I mention less shifting anxiety
- saving a few bucks on gas and payment with 4 more years of warranty and Acura Link free again for a year;
- still having all the other features - technology, look, driving dynamics, quietness, fit and finish, etc that I enjoy about the car for a good price.

weather

Congrats!! I agree that if you do mostly city or small commute, the I4 is plenty powerful and the 8 DCT is superior (imo) than the 2015 ZF unit....

I think you have selected an amazing color combo.....

ggesq

iTrader: (1)

post up some pics when you get it.

youngTL

SH-AWD was one of the only things that stopped me from getting the I4 (also I wanted the Elite package).

The 2016 version of the 9AT is reasonable, and even good in many cases. But the 8DCT is something else. I'd say it's one of the best DCTs on the market right now in a car under $100k, maybe even THE best. And the DI version of the K24 is a very peppy engine.


You'll enjoy improved handling while you're OFF the throttle coasting in corners though, due to the lighter front end.

mapleloaf

I agree with you on the 2016 9AT. Much improved, and I did consider going in that direction.

mapleloaf

Pics to follow, once I tint.

youngTL

If you don't need SH-AWD, I don't see a reason to go with the V6 (especially since it's mandatory now with all Canadian V6 models).

I am getting OUTSTANDING fuel economy in my SH-AWD V6. I can only imagine how much better even it is with the I4. I think if, like you, I did mostly city driving, I'd have gone for the I4.

pnoi521

BWP/ espresso is one of the best color combos I might be biased though.

mapleloaf

I think clean it looks amazing. I do love my SSM on Grey,, which looks good clean or otherwise. However, the BWP with Expresso is going to be sharp for the spring/summer. One other thing I will miss is the 18" tires and rims on the 3.5. I'm good with the 2.4 rims, in fact I also have a set as my winter rims for my Michelins, so now will have 2 sets. Just a little less attractive, but not uber important in my world.

Rocket_man

Remarkable how the 8DCT started with very troublesome performance but now seems to be completely fixed.

CoquiTSX

Congrats

CheeseyPoofs McNut

Glad it worked out for you! Looking forward to pics as well.

Stew4HD

Congrats on the change. I completely understand too. I was given a 8DCT as a loaner when I had my TLX and was blown away by the difference in how the 2 cars reacted. The 8DCT was very quick to respond to the gas pedal, no hesitation. The ZF was always sluggish from a dead stop and when needing to downshift to pass/merge, etc.

I look forward to your review and comparisons.

mrgold35

Congrats on the new ride!! I'm considering the same thing. I might have to wait until 2017 for Acura to put AcuraWatch Plus on the 2.4L TLX on all levels. Not sure why they left it off the +16 at all trim levels other than saving it as a "bonus" for the MMC? If Acura wanted to get fancy with the MMC, they could put the RDX/CR-V awd system on the 2.4L TLX for our frozen brothers/sisters up north.

bsprinker

youngTL's comments about the 8dct in the TLX are spot on! I absolutely love the way the 8dct performs in my TLX. The engine/transmission combo really IS the best feature of the car. It is truly an awesome combination with the 4 cyl. The smoothness and peppiness are a great achievement for Acura. Now if only they could improve their infotainment and navi systems...

Mapleloaf...other than losing AWD, you will be fine with the 4cyl TLX. That is the only feature that you will truly miss, IMO.

CanTex

I love to hear that 2.4 wind out, and the handling is superb even on factory tires. I had a V6 as a service car, and though the engine did remind me of my old '01 TL and '93 Legend, it just felt heavy. I wanted to get one with the espresso interior but got vetoed. Black Copper Pearl over Parchment was a decent alternative, though.

I will be sad to see it go when the lease is up but I really need easier entry/exit for these aging hips. (If-ever compact Acura crossover, X-1 or X-3, A3, or even Mazda CX-5.)

joshuco

I'm quite envious of you having the new DCT. Mine was acting up today when I was driving this morning.

spoiler900

I knew I wanted an advance with shawd so didnt even test drive any other trim let alone a 4cyl

I got a 4cyl as a loaner for a few days and WOAH it was awesome. So much more peppy and almost a bit more fun to drive. Those quick shifts were ammmaazing I felt like I was on a motorcycle. I did miss my sh-awd at lights when I would accelerate hard the front wheels would peel out a bit and that obviously would never happen in the sh-awd.

mrgold35

I wish Acura would make a 2.4L TLX Advance for 2017.

EricInMaryland

I find the DCT transmission to be confused at points. Not perfect.


I think this is largely due to the fast shifts that must occur to move through the 8 speeds a slow speeds.

Stew4HD

They should have offered one all along, it'd sell

CoquiTSX

+10.

bsprinker

Put a heated steering wheel in the advance package and I agree too.

youngTL

gets the heated steering wheel with the TECH package!

Curious3GTL

On the MDX it's sold as an accessory (2017 added it with advanced package), I wonder why you can't even get it as an accessory with the TLX?

bsprinker

....Lucky Canadiens!!

It should be available to USA buyers as an add-on option; similarly to the MDX.

mapleloaf

So Day 1 in the rain was….fabulous!! I realize how trained I was to try and avoid the notched shifts on my 9 speed. THis is a freaking treat to drive, including a short highway stint last night. More time needed but I would compare the two this way - the SH-AWD is like a wide receiver with size, speed, and power, who takes a little while to get up to full speed. The 2.4 is more like the little receiver who is quick but not as fast straight out but darts into the open field and does the job. Both have their place. Or, to put it another way, it's slower, but feels quicker

Agree with the 2.4 Advance/Elite points. It also would have been nice if the passenger seat was 8 way like the SH-AWD Tech, instead of 4 way….but i get why manufacturers package this way.

Given that I have driven the 2016 TLX SH_AWD as well, I think Acura now has two pretty impressive versions of the TLX to market. There are always potential improvements to packages and things like infotainment, but getting the basic platforms right was mission critical.

Redsand353

just curious....how were you able to get out of the original lease so early without getting bent over? Was it due to the lower cost of the '16 model?

aIRpeACE

iTrader: (2)

it'd sell. but it would've also jeopardized the sales of the V6.

aIRpeACE

iTrader: (2)

from the v6 to I4.

Saintor

Well I am not that pleased with my V6.

First it hardly feels like a 280-290HP car, maybe unless you mash it... but in low-mid RPM, unconvincing.

My 9AT is fine, but the throttle response is terrible, unless I put it in Sport+ and then it becomes too aggressive.

Fuel economy is still under observation but winter & low temperature take a serious toll, more than my other 4-cyl. car, and combined with doing city it sucks. My first month was like 17-18mpg overall. It improved when the temperatures rose. If I don't push, I can get 25-26. But if start to play with it... bam! back to sub-20.

It does great on open road,even at 70-80mph though (34-36). And it has a sound that no 4cyl. can match.

If I was to do it again, I would revisit the 2.4L. To start, I hated
those 17" wheels.

neil0311

According to the EPA numbers, the I4 and V6 (FWD) get almost the same highway mpg and the FWD V6 gets just a couple of mpg less on average use. The 9 speed tranny keeps RPMs at or below 1,500 in Econ IDS mode.

My V6 SH-AWD seems to get around 21 mpg city and in a recent drive from Atlanta to Charlotte (about 275 miles), the trip computer showed that I was getting almost 34 mpg in Econ.

youngTL

I run in Sport mode 90% of the time (the other 10% is Sport+). I've used Econ and Normal for a total of about 5 minutes combined since I got the car.

Highway fuel economy for me is around 35-40 MPG (yes, 40), depending how I drive and at what speed. Around town we're at about 21-25, again depending on my driving style. I never average a tank lower than 21. I wonder why some people get so much worse? BTW I'm running full synthetic oil, and live on flat prairies.

weather

Lucky Canadian?!?!? I would rather live in the southern US states and have it heated naturally.....The only thing we have going for us in Canada is maple syrup, Tim Horton's timbits and Ketchup flavored potato chips!

Stew4HD

My RLX has a heated steering wheel. I have never used it and doubt I ever will.

How in the hell did we ever make it through the 60's - '10's? without heater steering wheels? I used gloves!

Vented seats? Now that's something I can't do without!

mapleloaf

Essentially my lease is about $140 less per month less than if I was building the 2.4 from scratch with no existing lease, including the incentives that are available for all customers, my loyalty consideration, and extras like mats, tire and theft protection. That would not include the negative equity you would normally pay coming out of a 4 year lease after 18 months.

This is our 7th Acura, not counting the half dozen referrals I have sent their way. I have an excellent relationship with sales, service, and parts folks, all good people, and drop by there for coffee from time to time. I would service any car I owned there, regardless of brand. My point being, although I was fortunate to get this deal, over the past 8 years, they have earned my loyalty and I have earned theirs.

mapleloaf

Stew, move north and you would appreciate that heated steering wheel

youngTL

Wow that BWP looks really good!

weather

...I vent them naturally

Macau Park

Happy with the DCT so far, it is a little slow to downshift during a turn in Normal but not real bad. In Sport it downshifts very quick with gusto and gets up to speed nicely for such a relatively weak engine, shifts very fast. No jerkiness, I did hear it faintly a couple times at low speed stop/go.