After deciding on 06, then back on 05..which I was suppose to get the car this week, decided to going back to 06...again...

Only thing i don't like about the 06 is the changed exterior design, it looks too rigid now, compared to how the 04/05s look where it was seamless. Oh well, I hope the style grows on you in reality like how the new audi grill did...maybe i'll change the rims? perhaps the body kits will save it somewhat?

At least now I can get Bluetooth, Memory Seats, Aux Input and Ipod compatibility for sure =D.

Oh why oh why acura did you change the body for 06? Its like you gotta give up the exterior design for more interior functionality. I guess the new engine upgrades will be a plus?

 

So they can call it an "upgrade" and people will flock to it

 

06 wouldve been >>>>>>05 if they just kept the outside the same...but now its equal...

I'm not the type to do "mods" either...and I doubt i want to spend the cash to change the rims....

How much are OEM rim upgrades? Maybe I can get Aspec rims on them or something? Or since I live upstate for college, where it snows and rains alot, i should maybe consider a 2nd set of rims with winter tires? But then again, how do you guys swap your tires around? Just get a rotor drill and a jack? I always thought you needed to align your wheels and balance them afterwerds...?

 

You can get 04/05 rims on ebay or on the board (on occasion) for $400-500 maybe less. You can also get the 5 stars for around $650. Not sure what A-Spec wheels cost but I'm guessing at least 1K.

I believe tires only have to be balanced once the tire is out on the rim. Simply jack up the car and switch the rims. I do it every spring and fall.

 

how about alignment? I know mechanics and all, but somethings like a car I'm scared to mess around with, espeically since it controls my safety while im driving in it. You think dealers can get OEM 05 rims? I'd probably want them new....

However, I was thinking, that maybe it won't cost so much, if i get 05 rims and sell off the 06 rims...assuming someone wants them...

 

Definently don't need an alignmet after switching wheels.


Good idea.




Good point.

I'd obviously suggest waiting to see an 06 in person and then decide on the wheels.

 

oh haha ic ic...hrm...i hope they look better in person....and talk about that new rear bumper.....

 

Your best bet would be to hope they still have a new '05 on the lot, then (as part of the deal) ask them to swap the wheels (and tires) with the older model. They should be able to do that for free, but I'm sure they'll try to charge you something (that's why you want to negociate it into the deal). If you actually have to buy some new '05s rims from the dealer, be prepared to pay top dollar! Back when I was going to get an '05 TSX, I was going to try to negociate that they swap the TSX rims with ones from a TL. Personally, I think the old TSX rims are too plain vanilla -- heck they look about like my 2000 Civic Si OEM rims.

 

thats my iimpression too, the tsx rims do look like my sisters 05 civic rims...except 2 more spokes...The dealers will actually swap rims?! what will they do about my 06 rims if they do? put it on an 05?? lol that'll be funny...guy walks in only knowing 06 has new rims, sees the 05, thinks its an 06, tells the dealer, i'll pay no more than 26500 for this, dealer agrees, guy drives honme 05 thinking he has an 06...

 

Oh why oh why did Cindy Crawford have to have that mole?

 

I cannot imagine why they wouldn't swap rims between a new '05 and new '06 -- assuming they have both on their lot. Any person who would confuse an '05 with the new rims for an '06 TSX isn't too smart IMO. Honestly, I can see a dealer putting the new rims on an '05 then changing its window sticker to add the cost of the new rims (just like they charge if you want the optional rims)!

 

you can probably but the 05 bumper and grill on the 06 I would bet and then the hood too.

 

You expect people to be able to tell the difference between an 06 and an 04/05. Maybe car nuts and members of this board but I can guarantee you 80% of the population will not be able to tell the difference.

 

You are probably right about 80% of the population, but I still stand by my statement. Maybe "smart" isn't quite the right term to use, but anyone buying a car should educate him/her-self (at least a little) on the car they are about to buy. Anyone who thumbs through a 2006 brochure and would still make that mistake isn't very "sharp".

 

Hrm...I'll see if they can do anything about it...If not, its kinda growing on me, Its not that bad...

 

You made the right choice and I think when you see the 06's exterior face to face, you will really like it. I think that you will also say that the rims are okay too.

It's going to be a great car just like the 05's, just a little newer and fresher!

Excited

 

I'm with acn... I love the 05 exterior (and the gauges), but want all the other new interior upgrades...

i don't like the 06 front very much, but I wish we had other pix to look at besides silver and i don't like the 06 smoked tails, although again, they might look better with other (darker) paint colors... and IMO 06 rims suck

as far as getting an 06 and switching things out... i doubt we can change the front bumper, since the grille changed size (unless we can change the grille along with the bumper)... the tails and rear bumper can be changed, i'm sure.

oh well, i guess i can just get the 06 and tell myself there is no such thing as the perfect combo when it comes to cars that i can afford (kinda like i did when i bought my 05 in july sans bluetooth, memory seats)

 

the gauges didn't change much for 06 right? the gauges were to die for for the 05, love the just the right blue with the dials pointed down, and also hwo it still glows when the car was off...

 

reason why i went with 06 was because the earliest i can recieve it now, is 1 1/2 weeks to 2 weeks from now. And after that i have to drive it 180 miles up north, then shell out cash for insurance and parking, just to bring it down 3 weeks later cause of break, etc etc. Its just not worth, for me to buy a car now and have it sit there, when since i waited 3 months for this car already, another month I'll finnally get the Aux input that i wanted.

I had a chance to stalk an 05 in one of the parking lots today, good thing owner was gone haha, but the rear bumper didn't change that much, they made it look more sharp in the picture? Shrugs, I compared the new front bumper to some audis and such and I don't think the new bumpers are that bad. The fog lights now line up directly under the front lights instead of off the the sides, which gives it a nice look at night especially.

As for the tires, oh well, guess you can't have everything. I mean, assuming I drive alot in snow here, perhaps its a sound investment if I can get some cash to buy a spare set of rims or if I'm lucky, i'll switch them before taking off the dealer.

But then the last question remains...I wonder if I can convince my parents to put Navi in there also...haha i doubt it, oh wells!

 

yeah, they took the blue out... now they're all white. personally, was a fan of the white/blue. and they italicized the font... IMO: 04/05 gauges > 06 gauges

 

looks the same too me?

 

They'll swap it for you but it'll cost you an arm and a leg.
A friend of mine was quoted $180 for the labor to swap the silver rims on his blue 06 WRX to the gold one. Mind you that this price is quoted before he bought the car. I'd imagine Acura will charge somewhere close to that range.

PS: love the WRX's power but not a fan of the exterior
my

 

180's not bad i guess? considering i'm already spending 28k?

 

And also assuming that they have the 05 rims and they're not trying to be a dick and charge you for those rims.....

dealers always wants to get the most money out of ya....

 

yea definately true..but hopefully not..the guy thats putting this through knows my dad on a professional level...so i dunno how much that really means...

 

Any tech can swap those rims in less far less than 30 minutes -- so I wouldn't pay a dime more than the cost of 1/2-hour of labor based on their posted labor rate.