cammy5

Long time, no see....

Disclaimer: I had a 2009 TSX 6MT that I traded-in on a new 2015 Camry XSE V6 last December. I won't go into my personal business in great detail but I was fortunate enough to unexpectedly pay for the trade-in mostly in cash. That being said, I KNOW that when you trade in a less than year old car you lose $$$$, I don't want to focus this thread on the financial ups/downs of this possible decision.

I always enjoyed driving my TSX 6MT but back then I was doing a ton of highway driving for my career (30k+ a year) and it was a little tiresome on the highway, plus nearing 100K miles it just felt a little 'old'. I found, about 2 hours from me, a 2013 SE 6MT in black/black with only 13K miles for a great price (once fully negotiated). Here are some possible concerns I have about making a trade...

1) I may be looking through rose colored glasses... My Camry has navigation, back up camera, a great JBL stereo, and blind zone monitoring system. The TSX SE has none of this. Have any of you made a 'step back' like this and how did you feel about it.

2) Have any of you went from a 6MT to an automatic (admittedly with a very powerful V6 and auto transmission) and wanted to go back to the 6MT?

Looking forward to hearing some feedback and getting back to the community here!

benjaminh

Hey Cammy,

I've had lots of Camrys as rental cars over the years and....yikes. They seem like rental cars. But yours sounds fully loaded.

How often do you use the navi? We have factory navi in our cars, and we really like it.

In terms of the manual, there's nothing quite like that experience, plus they are rapidly going out of existence. As you probably know, Acura doesn't have any manuals these days.

If I may ask, what's the likely price of that TSX? Honestly, if it checks out I might go for it. I think an Acura is going to seem more special every time you get in it and drive it than even the most tarted up Camry. Just my 2 cents.

But best wishes whatever you decide.

ssjoeboe9

Can't beat Honda 6MT. SE will hold value over time. And Honda is better than Toyota

I'd say take the leap and get back into the TSX!

rawger

I wonder how you would feel about going from a V6 to a 4. Unless you were fine with it when you had your old TSX.

I've been wishing I got a V6 recently.

tmux

Can you elaborate on tiresome and old?

And how would the '13 be less tiresome?

tmux

Might as well consider the TLX too?

JDMaccord3.5

2015 Camry XSE V6. If I'm not mistaken that is new body style and the highest trim level on a camry and has the V6... I'd keep it well that's just me... at least for another 6-12 moths

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

driving feel and the way the car moves is important.
if you're not having fun because of the boring ride, get out of it.

rawger

This guy knows what he's talking about. Just look at his avatar.

iCrap

well see the problem is you bought a camry...

kurtatx

cammy5

HAHA! True, I remember when I went to the bank to pick up the check for the Camry and the teller had the manager sign it, he asked me what kind of car I was buying I told him "a Toyota Camry" and he looked at me and said "wow, I didn't know Camrys cost that much!"

The Camry is an XSE V6 with all the option boxes checked. It was a great fit for my career at the sale which was marketing in an area that covered 5 states so I needed a very comfortable road car. Trust me, that V6 is incredibly strong and I still got 31-32mpg on the highway. Great car, I'm just having a moment of looking back and missing the fun that a TSX 6MT is/was.

The '13 SE 6MT I'm looking at is currently priced at $24,900 Acura Certified. I work in marketing/advertising for a large dealer group and that particular dealer is part of the 'family' so after that car has been on the lot for 30+ days I can buy it for around $22K and some change....hard to pass up for a rare car that represents the last of the 'fun to drive' Acuras.

cammy5

My '09 was very well kept but I bought it used in 2013 with 58K miles and it had some severe clear coat etching I could never quite get past, in it's last days some highway debris nicked the front air dam real good, the tires were starting to roar on the highway, etc. Nothing MAJOR, just stuff that normally happens to a car as it gets up there in miles. This '13 that I'm eyeing has minimal miles and I could enjoy it's early youthful days unlike the last one I had.

urbanstereo

are you an old asian lady?

xtcnrice

Are you allowed a test drive of the SE? Or is it one of those dealerships that force you to buy the thing if you get behind the wheel of it and it showed no discernible issues? If you're allowed a test drive I say take it for a spin first. This will help sway you more/less towards the SE, and will (hopefully) help make this decision easier on you.

cammy5

LOL.....nah, I'm a 36 year old white male.

cammy5

Yeah, I'll def head over there a weekend before I commit and drive it extensively. Hopefully it will be like seeing an old friend again.

evo9

That right there is spot on! Iota Camry drives like an old Buick. I can see why the OP wants to step back. That boat like feeling does not feel good especially coming up from the likes of a TSX.

Terdbath

Went from 05 RL Tech to a 10 TSX base which matches both questions in original post. I was worried about the loss in HP and winter and wet performance. I do miss the extra HP but I absolutely love the 10 TSX and have loads of fun shifting my own gears. While the RL was a couple steps above on interior and features it really isnt as fun to drive as the TSX. For instance acceleration in a slow speed corner was weak. 1st was too high and 2nd too low to get any good use of that 3.5 V6. In the TSX if feeling spirted then down shift to second and pull nicely through a corner. If feeling lazy 3rd will do. Dont miss the nav at all. Would like a back up camera though.

Good luck!
.

cammy5

I'm growing more and more certain that it's a deal I'm going to do! The hard part now is waiting about 3 more weeks till the car is available to sell to an employee!

I have gotten kinda spoiled by the side blind zone warning mirrors, but I know I'm DEFINITELY going to miss the back up camera!!! Other than that, and the very underrated power of that smooth V6, I think the TSX is a superior car, even if a generation older.

tmux

Despite the i4 on the TSX, I still have to tread lightly most of the time so I don't head-butt the car in front of me when starting from a red light. Also so I don't snap my neck

I can see where I could use more power if trying to pass someone on a 1-lane road at higher speeds in order to minimize time spent in the oncoming lane but just a little patience is needed for the right opportunity.

Blind spot assist stuff is nice but if you drive other cars even occasionally, it's good to stay used to not having them! There are some threads about adding a backup camera if the lack of it keeps bugging you after a while. I like the one that is integrated into the license plate frame but I'm currently in the 'burbs so it's not that necessary. 2-din head units work if you don't have the tech package, according to the threads.

VR1

I drove a Camry once as a rental...


...I've never found my soul again...

NBP04TL4ME

What happens when the family dealer sells "your" car?

briq456

I drove a friends Camry, she had the JBL stereo, but no navigation, I can't speak for the standard system in the TSX because I have the navi and the ELS system but the Camry stereo wasn't all that great, and to be honest driving her car was like driving a buick. It was quite wallowy over bumps and dead steering but insanely quite and the doors definitely close with a much more solid THUD than the TSX does. One thing though is the TSX in manual will be much louder than the v6 yoda on the highway, it spins pretty fast for 6th gear at highway speeds.

I would miss the navigation, but with having an iPhone and the apple watch, If I didn't have navigation, I would be fine, it's not that often I go somewhere I don't know where i'm going.

Personally, I would make the leap and I really REALLY Like the interior of the SE>

cammy5

Probably cry. Lol. If they do, then I guess it wasn't 'meant to be' but the car has peaked my interest (again) so if it sells I'll trying search for another mint condition example.

cammy5

I agree on pretty much every point you made, however, the '15s - while the same platform - had a lot of worthy changes including better handling (even if just a little) and the new JBL is really exceptional. The previous years JBL systems were not worth a dollar to upgrade to.

cammy5

You guys/gals jinxed me!! It sold! Well, I have my eye on a couple of others within a half days drive of here now.

tmux

What would've been the price for you?

tmux

With the phone, more about going where you don't have reception.

On Android, there are apps with full offline data so you could do without any reception ever, iPhone must have similar alternatives, albeit perhaps not free

NBP04TL4ME

Sooty to hear, but guessing waiting for 30 days on a desirable car is going to be tough to land. Although anything can happen -

2011 TSX

Mine might be for sale it's a 2011 6 speed with tech. White exterior black interior less than 8k miles, still has it's new car smell.

xtcnrice

Curious as to why you're selling it? RV6 combo + Hondata didn't pack enough of a punch for you?

2011 TSX

It did, it's actually fine for what it is.

I'm just getting excited about some of the cars coming out soon, such as the Focus RS and Civic Type-R (whenever that is).

I'm not actively trying to sell it, but if the right enthusiast comes along looking for a well taken care of low mileage car, then I'll let it go.

xtcnrice

Both great options!

tmux

8k miles in 4 years, such neglect

Or did you mean 80.

Flipster23

iTrader: (15)

ohhhh really???

2011 TSX

It has less than 8k or 8 thousand or eight thousand or 8,000 or 0x1F40 or 0b1111101000000

I drive it at least once a week on a fun back road and sometimes to work. It stays in a climate controlled garage.

But yea I would love to drive it more, but my drive to work is less than 4 miles and I'd just hate to have it sitting outside all day for no damn reason. I'd take the car to the track for SCCA or NASA events, but I have another car built just for that. The kids seat is in the MDX so another reason why I don't need to drive the TSX. So I basically drive my hatchback around and only pull out the TSX when I want to feel like I'm driving a new car every once in a while.

Having said all that I have started to realize I don't really need the car. Now, do I need a Focus RS or Civic Type-R. The answer is YES

So there ya have it

tmux

What about the Ford GT?

mmafighta

Lol to be honest...I wouldn't go back to the Acura...i mean really..? Its one of those cars been there done that type of deal.

if you're wanting to drive a TSX again...why not the 1st gen manual transmission? I've test drove both, and felt the 1st gen is way more fun to toss around in corners with.

threetwentyfizzle

Sorry to hear about the car slipping away from you OP, keep your eyes peeled for the right vehicle at this point. My .02, if your concerned with lack of power, personally your not going to miss much jumping from a fully loaded Camry to a SE TSX.. Sure, losing nav, and a few bells and whistles are novelties that wear off, quick. Losing the torque from the V6 is definately something to be missed, but the SE TSX is a HUGEEE step up from a Camry. Aside from Toyota's Truck lineup, their car game has been shit for well over the last decade. The Camry feels too soft, too much body roll, not to mention the terrible bland body design that they strategically design to market to older demographics that don't know any better.

The Manual Transmission is sadly dying a rather quick death and are becoming increasingly rare to find. I work for a car dealership, and from my experience, No other gearbox can rival how solid and fluid Honda's feel. If you can find a clean 6MT TL-S, that is the car to get.