I just got selected to participate in a TSX focus group next week in Long Beach, CA, and possibly invited to a driving event a few days later (supposed to include test driving some 2005 Acuras and competitor models). Anyone else get recruited?

 

No but you're one lucky SOB. I have a lot of good ideas for Acura, I've driven many cars and I think i could contribute

Again, you're lucky, enjoy it! And tell us the details!

 

Cool!

When they ask for your opinion on the TSX be sure to say it needs AWD, IMA, and a paddle shift option.

 

nice!

tell them the tsx needs a mp3 player/changer

tell them to install a hard drive based mp3 player, so we can load songs via usb2.

ask them where the hell is their a-spec lip spoiler we been promised

 

AWD!

 

how the heck you get recruited ?

 

Oh ya siliobear, if you see a guy wearing a "Hello my name is Crazytree" name tag be sure to kick him in the balls for us.

 

tell em to use the ECU better! its got the power, let it be able to change the car from sport to daily driving!

 

no but where can i sign up plz?

 

I also got selected. Is your focus group on the 23rd? I can't wait for the driving event the following weekend.

 

Tell them that they're idiots for making the '04 US car the ONLY ONE EVER without heated mirrors.

 

my wish list:
flashlight in glove
move door opener from ledge to within
s-type
bi-xenon

 

Bring a helmet to the test drive and say that you're ready to put the car through it's paces.
Maybe you could rearange the cones into an autocross layout.

 

I've never autocrossed but I was seriously thinking of buying some driving gloves and bringing them with me.

 

How do you get selected?

 

I have no idea. They must have a list of owners because they verified that I owned an 04 TSX and my address. Since the focus group is in Long Beach they probably started their search based on geographic proximity to Long Beach and whittled down the participants from there. Before being scheduled I had to answer several questions on the phone. Don't remember the specific questions but the interviewer told me they wanted "enthusiasts" not just "owners".

 

 

Oh, and tell them to use different tires. Or at least make an option for diff. tires.

 

Ahh...so they called you first? Damn...I should've picked up all those "Out of Area" phone calls.

 

I got recruited to attend on the 23rd as well.

 

Tell them we want it to come standard with Rebecca Romijn instead of cup holders!!

 

 

damn i wish i was recruited. i ain't got no job, i ain't got shit to do!

anyway, some recommendations:
awd
glove compartment light
better stock tires or choice of rims/wheels
s-type
less or no rattles
and for the love of god get rid of that damn "ding dong" sound when you open your car

my address is in cerritos which is one exit away (on the 605)! i live in la county but bought my car in orange. man i got hosed....

 

damn i wanna go too, never really pushed the TSX to the limits, been babying my car and will always be

 

Don't know if it depeds on where you bought. I picked mine up in Cathedral City (out by Palm Springs). I just got lucky I guess.

 

how come you went all the way out to get ur TSX? was it a good deal? I went to Pasadena for my, but ended up with an avg deal =\

 

Yep, they were the only ones in SoCal to meet my price. In a mass e-mailing to all the local dealers I offered to buy a TSX (PWP/Parch./5AT/no-nav) for $25,000. I got several counter offers (best of the rest was $25,850) but Cathedral City e-mailed back that they had one due to arrive in 1 day and they would sell it to me for my price. The drive was only 120 miles each way and it was worth the $850.

 

It would be nice to have an iPod connection like in the new BMWs, or some kind of universal port for most any portable mp3 player. Putting that very useful trunk handle in a place where people would actually notice it would also be smart.

 

Looking forward to finally meeting another fellow Acura-tsx.com'er. You can't miss me...I'm the Chinese girl with the long hair.

 

that's a great deal, i'd guess it's around 27,000 out the lot? still 1 grand less than what i paid for

 

So I attended the research focus group yesterday. I was scheduled for the 6:00pm group and almost didn't make it because the 110 and 405 traffic really sucked. It was an interesting group, about 16 of us. We sat in a conference room with one wall being a two way mirror from where we were being watched and filmed. The moderator was very personable and we spent a good 1.5 hrs. talking about the TSX (what you like, dislike, what would you change etc.)

If one statement could sum up the evening it would be "fun to drive". That statement kept getting mentioned all evening. "Is your TSX fun to drive, why, why not?" "What would make it more fun to drive, why?" "Where do you go to have fun while driving?" "Does this or that feature make the car more fun to drive?" etc.

The commentary was pretty much divided by gender. The guys in the group wanted more power, more torque, a more masculine (macho?) sounding engine/exhaust. The women liked the looks of the car, how quiet it was etc. My group included LB-TSX (and maybe more members from this forum, I don't know) and other driving enthusiasts. (BTW, I'm Jan and I sat facing the mirrored wall).

In the end two of the people were asked to stay (one lady and the guy to my left) while everyone else was excused. I think the two were asked to participate in the driving session this weekend(lucky bastards). I didn't get invited to the weekend event but the $125 I got for 2.0 hrs. of my time was definitely worth it.

I'd like to hear from someone who actually got to go to the driving event. Anyone?

 

So did you mention anything about IMA, AWD etc? Did they tell you anything about future possibilities for the TSX.

 

They didn't say anything about what future TSXs might have. AWD, better tires, tilt down mirrors, better exhaust ... all these were mentioned. We thought the TSX should come in two trim levels. The current one and then another one that has all the performance options (maybe a Type S?) Something like the A Spec but with more HP, more torque, better breathing etc. The moderator took it all in stride. I get the impression that Acura want's the TSX to be "fun to drive" but not necessarily to be a top of the line race/performance car.

 

They should have surveyed everyone who bought a TSX. Get an e-mail address at the time of purchase and send an electronic survey. We survey almost all of our registered cutomers.

 

The screener on the phone made it seem like Acura was looking for driving enthusiasts to participate in the focus group. But, of the people who were in my group, I would say only half were enthusiasts. I suspect Acura was more after TSX targeted domographics. We were 50/50 male/female ranging in age from (I'm guessing here) 25 to 45, mostly professional, various ethnicities.

 

I was the lady recruited for the test ride. Nothing spectacular, though. It was the TSX against TL and BMW 330i. Questions mirrored the Th research session...lots of questions about the engine sound (or lack of), comfort/support of seats, road noise/vibrations on rough roads and bumps, etc. Three Honda engineers rode along with me...one from Torrance and two from Japan.

Perhaps the highlight for me was the new RL in the parking lot. I snuck a peek thru the windows, but found the interior very metallic (like the G35, I think).

 

Well it looks like they reached the East Coast. I got the call tonight to participate as well. Thanks for the heads up on what we are going to be discussing.