So I'm selling my 2003 VW 20th AE GTI for an 2007 TSX w/ Nav. I'm getting white over black leather.

I've got a bunch of random questions for you guys first.

A) Any widely known problems with these cars?

B) Is there any way to get the Nav to play DVD's or anything like that?

C) Any prior-vw owners here?

This is my first honda/acura ever..well it's really just my second car, but whateva.

I'm going from a 200whp/215 wtq 1.8T to a 2.4L vtak machine. with like 23lb/ft of torque and i'm honestly worried i'll get really bored of it. but i'm excited for the automatic, leather, and hid's. I'll probably miss my Recaros though.

:/

A bit about me, I'm 18..just graduated HS, enlisting in the USAF, and I don't know ANYTHING about Hondas. I come from a family of Audis, VWs, and Porsches..and this is a new environment for me, haha.

I've got 9,000+ posts on vwvortex so i know how the forums work.

Anyways, yeah. I'm picking up the TSX this week, and I'll post pictures after I get my gold Sport Max 962's on the car.



oh yeah, here's my gti.

there has been tiny problems here and there for the previous models, but the 06 and definately the 07, all the problems have boon fixed. there are couple ways to get the navi to play dvd, check the audio & video section in this forum. the tsx wont be as quick as the gti, but still enjoyable to drive

I drove the AT version before i purchased my TSX and although i loved the way the car drove i didn't feel forced to buy it until i drove the manual. To really appreciate this car and its abilities, driving the manual really does it for you. I've had my car for a year now and i have to say, although it's not fast, it's one helluva car to drive and it makes me appreciate my car more and more as each day goes by driving it. I'd seriously look into getting the manual. But either way, auto or manual, it's still a great car.

white on black ftw!

Keep in mind, the TSX is not a race/sports car; but a sporty luxury 4 door car. A totally different level from the VW you’re coming from. You are going to see a lot of gray haired old ladies behind the wheel of this car around town compared to under 28 years old. The TSX will have everything your VW was missing except power. Many of us are ex-Honda owners and we expect low torque and high rpms from our cars. With regular Maint, your TSX will provide you with +120,000-150,000 miles of near trouble free driving pleasure. You might have to wait for the next Gen TSX or next Gen TSX Type-S in year 2009-2011 with a 2.3L Turbo (240-260hp/260-280 lbs of tq) and all wheel drive.

You will have to spend $5,000-$7,500 bucks to keep up with other cars within the TSX price range (Altima 3.5L, Camry 3.5L, Accord 3.0L, Audi 2.0T, BMW 328i). These cars sound good on paper with the performance numbers; but, they do not compare to the TSX in features, reliability, quality, handling, and overall value when you add everything up.

Another big plus, real women (not girls) love the looks of the TSX. Get use to them saying “I love the way your car looks”.

Great post. Thanks a lot..lots of good thoughts.

I've had two Sciroccos (an 8-valve and the 16-valve), my brother has had three Corrado VR6s and is currently in an Audi A4 1.8T, all manual cars.

Going from your torque rich car to the low torque, automatic equipped TSX may be frustrating. Although the car is reliable (buit in Japan), a manual equipped car allows you to take advantage of the car's engine, which, as of the redesign in 2006, was considered the most advanced engine in Honda's lineup.

The manual equipped car made it on the Car & Drivers 10-Best List for three years straight, not the automatic version. The manual tranny housing is made from magnesium, and the suspension spring rates are different because it's a lighter car.

Aside from the power differences of 2.4 liter, versus the easy to chip 1.8T, the manual tranny will be far superior to any VW/Audi. The precise short throws are amazing, this happened to me after renting a Volvo in Europe for three weeks then coming home to my car (no more hunting for third gear.)

Have you considered the GTI with the direct injection 2.0 Turbo equipped with the DSG? The DSG is probably quicker than the manual GTI. The last year for the current TSX will probably be 2008. The 2009 TSX is expected to jump in price with the added turbo engine and AWD, (take a look at the sticker on the RDX, yikes!)

I don't think he is too worried about the price of the next Gen TSX.

18 years old
E-1 in the air force = less than $1200 month or $15,000 per year.
E-4 in the air force = less than $1800 month or $21,000 per year.
Driving 2007 TSX w/ Navi @ $30,000 out the door.

I couldn't afford a car like this when I was a 2LT/1LT on active duty in the good old days, had to wait for CPT bars before my first new ride. Sounds like a grad present from mom and dad. When he trades in for the 2009 2.3L Turbo TSX, he will have +$22,000 in equity in the 2007 and he will only need to make payments on $12,000 to $15,000 bucks ($280-$350 per month).

FWIW, I didn't pay for the GTI, but I have a trust fund from my mother on top of what I'll be making in the USAF to pay for the difference between the current GTI and what I get next. My limit for the car is about $31k.


Ironically, I went back to the Acura dealer today, and was 100% on the TSX. Then I went to the VW dealer down the street, just for fun, and drove a DSG 2.0T GTI for the third time. Absolutely fell in love..GTI it is.

It won't be as classy, and I won't get great milage..but it's just a car that fits me better.


___

For the very short stay it looks like I'll be having on this forum..props to ya'll. Just my short thread had a bunch of nice, educated, unbiased responses. :beer:

Keep your eye out for the 2nd Gen TSX in a few years. Super Handling All Wheel Drive, High output turbocharged 2.3L, maybe an adjustable shock system (like the MDX) and luxuries up the yin-yang. When you are ready for the next level, look us up!

I was making the same decision as you this weekend.

I'm upgrading a 2000 Golf with 115,000 miles. For a VW, those were mostly trouble free until the end, but nothing compared to my wife's Accord.

I drove the 6sp four door GTI and was floored by the acceleration available throughout the power band and by the sweet sound of the exhaust, but I didn't feel that the car itself was much of an upgrade (besides chasis and engine) from my MKIV VW.

I drove the TSX to make my wife happy and the package as a whole spoke to me more than the GTI. Mind you, I'm 32 and married.

I don't think you can go wrong with either car, but I went from lusting over the VW to buying the Acura in about 45 minutes.

A) I had an 04 TSX and then it was flooded and I got an 06 GTI. Turned out to be a LEMON, so after I got my money back I got another 06 TSX.

I have never had any problems with either of my TSX's. Especially compared to a VW.

C) The GTI had a lot of torque, but I love my TSX even without all the torque. I also added a Hondata reflash so it pushes a little more.

Congrats

Yeah, you're too young to get into an automatic equipped car. The Acura auto-box is where VW was seven-years ago with "shift-tronic." From what I've read, the GTI interior is stellar, the direct injection engine sounds like a formula-one car, and the DSG is the way to go if you want the ability to go full auto. The current CEO has put a high priority on quality control after the world recall fiasco of ignition control modules a few years ago, so reliability should be fine.