What cars did you consider before buying the TSX?

About two weeks ago I started looking for a new car. I began with a Mazda6, then almost signed on the dotted line for an RX8. That was a close one! The next day I drove the TSX and the other choices were immediately ruled out. The Acura dealer was able to get the exact car I wanted in less than 7 days.

 

I drove the TSX last...
My other choices were the base model BMW 325i, honda accord V6, Jetta GLI, and mercedes C230. But the TSX out performed, out styled and valued better then all those.

 

Accord V6 Coupe 6MT with Nav, RX8 with Nav, G35 with Nav, and Maxima with Nav. But I was only serious about the Accord and TSX.

 

Accord EX V6, Mazda 6 and Honda CR-V. Like Jason I was only serious about the Accord and TSX (and CR-V for a day or two)

 

Volvo S60 (the 40 is too small)
Mazda 6
Accord Coupe EX v6
MB C-class (until I walked into the dealer lot and saw the pricing scheme)
BMW 3-series (ditto)
Maxima (until I saw the interior)
Passat v6

 

Acura TSX
BMW 325i & xi
Honda Accord EX V-6 Coupe
Mazda 6s
Nissan Altima SE V-6

I liked the M6, 325, and TSX. Any one of them would be a good buy. Didn't like the other two so much. If I was doing it again, I'd look at the Saab 9-3 now that its reliability is up to par (according to CR).

You might also want to check out here

 

VW Passat V6
Accord V6
A4

TSX was a pretty easy choice for me. Now the color was not!

 

TSX & MDX

I was sick of driving a SUV everyday.

 

I was considering the is300 or rsx type s. Always liked the TSX but i fell in super love when i seen a kitted out artic blue one.
The rest is history.
AKay

 

The guy in the office next to mine is going through a lemon law buyback claim on his 9-3. I sometimes wonder about the sample size CR is using for the Saabs.

Seriously? My short list of small sporty sedans available with manual transmissions included the Saab 9-3 (I've had two before ... but see above), the Volvo S60 and V70 (I still have one, do I want to go through all THAT again?), the C-Class Merc (the rear seat is a joke, CR pans the reliability), the IS300 (too small and I don't like the dashboard), the A4 (potential maintenance nightmare), VW Passat (ditto), the BMW 325i/330i (I'd have bought the 330i with the Performance Package, HIDs and sunroof if it were "only" $15,000 cheaper) and, finally, the 4-door Accord EX V6 slushbox which I may yet buy in addition to the TSX. I didn't even look at the Nissan and Infiniti competitors because of the Renault-inspired styling. Also, as a hoot, the Forester XT turbo until I realized I'd probably kill myself with it. The new 5-series BMW was under some consideration until BMW dropped plans for a twin-turbo six version.

 

Volvo S60 2.5T AWD (or T5) (expensive but low interest rates !)
BMW 325xi (to much $$$)
Audi A4 (to much $$$)
Saab 9-3 (?)
Accord V6 (to ungly !)
Mazda6 (rice exterior, cheap interior)
and... TSX (only problem is it's engine. Need more torque !!!)

What do you guys think

 

that would freak me out a bit too, but I'll bet CR's sample size is bigger that your n=3

 

Mercedes E class
BMW 5 series (I was getting out of a 2000 323 at the time so no need to look at the 3's)
2003 Acura tls
2004 Nissan Maxima
Infinity G35
Volvo s60
Audi a4

 

These crossed my mind, but I knew I'd never actually buy:
Mazda 6 V6
Mazda RX8

Gave serious thought to these:
Camry SE (but no MT available with V6, and it's a big boat)
Camry Solara '04 (not impressed by the pre-release photos, and again no MT on V6)
Audi A4 (not willing to risk the maintenance headaches)
Accord EX 4-cyl sedan (no MT on V6, but the 4-cyl was my official backup choice)

Only test-drove the Camry SE 4-cyl and the Accord sedan 4-cyl MT

Once I learned a bit about the TSX and saw one in person, my decision was EASY

 

Accord V6 Sedan
Mazda 6
BMW 325i
Audi A4
VW Passat

I was getting out of a Jetta VR6 and needed a practical car for a family of three. Minivan and SUV were places I didn't want to go and I don't really like station wagons. If practicality weren't so important and, having had our first child, cost not so much a consideration, I'd likely have gone with a 325Ci.

TSX was a perfect balance (for me) of some of the things I wanted from a BMW/Audi (prestige, performance, looks, build quality) and some of what I needed from a Honda (reliability, reasonable size and good value for features). I still don't think there is another car out there that strikes that balance quite as well as the TSX.

 

I'd have to agree. Or Saab division employees are stuffing the ballot box.

My first Saab was pretty darn good and made it to nearly 300,000 miles (not all by me) before I lost sight of it. It was built on a Wednesday.

My second (almost) identical Saab was built on a Monday after a long weekend.

I considered that I might draw a good one again. Then I considered the odd that I also might not.

Do browse through the Saab board before you do anything rash. http://www.saabnet.com/tsn/bb/9-3/

The guy in the next office used to drive Acuras too, until he got adventurous.

 

Fast forward to 2005 (when I actually will buy something)

BMW 535 (by that time a new engine should be available)
Infiniti M35 (like the new Fuga)
Acura RL (only if it will be RWD or AWD w/ RWD bias)
Lexus GS (like the LFS concept)
TSX or TL if none of the above work out

 

My real decision came a year earlier, Feb. '02. It was tough, because there wasn't anything out there that I really wanted. If Volvo had a better recent reliability record, it probably would have been the S60. Likewise about Saab -- probably would have been the 9-5. If BMW and MB had better reliability records, I probably would have gotten one of their AWD's. So here's what I wound up trying:

Acura TL and TL-S (completely different cars)
Lexus ES300
Accord EX V6 (this was the "old" Accord)
Camry XLE V6

That's all -- since the cars that should have been at the top of the list got ruled out before I got started. Also some cars I might have considered, like Mazda's and Mitsubishi's, I didn't have to test-drive because I was already familiar with the recent models and knew I didn't want them.

The TL-S was an easy top choice, but in truth I didn't love any of those cars. If the TSX had been available at the time, it would have been no contest. When it did come out, it was an easy choice to trade in my TL-S for it, even though I took a huge $$ hit.

 

You just don't quit, do you Larch

 

lol

 

IS300
Mazda6
RX-8
WRX
Altima

But none had the combination of looks, performance, value, and sophistication of our beloved TSX.

 

I did bought and own a Mazda6 for 5 months. But it was totaled by my wife. I was looking at all the mid-size sedans like Accord, Camry, Altima.

 

Every vehicle in the class:

Saab 9-5
Passat V6
Audi A4
BMW 325i
Infiniti G35
Accord V6
Mazda6
Lexus IS300
Maxima SE

If I hadn't have gone with the TSX, I probably would have waited until the TL came out, or I would have gone with the Audi A4.

 

Mazda6s
Honda Accord EX V6
BMW 325i
Saab 9-3
Acura TL

I was so tempted to get the Mazda6s! I loved the handling, but the rust problem scared the heck out of me so I backed off...

The Honda Accord V6 has one smooth, powerful engine that I wished the TSX would have! However, the handling is just so soft that I just had to cross it off of my list right after my test drive on the highway... too "boat" like and cushy...

The 3 series was great! Wonderful look, fantastic handling. However, the car is just TOO SMALL! There is hardly any interior space and the trunk capacity is a joke.... sigh...

I really loved the Saab 9-3! I was really close to getting it, and then I read the reliability records of Saab... what a shame! It was a wonderful car to drive. I just love it to death! (but then I can't stand going back to the dealership too often! LOL)

I love the new Acura TL too - however, the handling is not as sharp as the TSX (though it is clearly more powerful) and the rear seat does not fold down! I hated that!!!

So I chose the TSX instead! I hope I am making the right choice...

 

Coming from an '89 Accord, the others I seriously considered were:

Mazda 6 (close second, probably could have been happy with it)
Accord EX-V6 (couldn't live with slushbox or rear styling)
BMW 3 series (too small, too $$)
03 TL (styling too dated, felt like an "old man's car")
Altima SE-V6 (nice exterior, horrid interior, didn't bother to drive)
Camry (too boring, didn't drive it)

Those are the cars I actually went to look at in person. I'd researched and ruled out Lexus, Saab, Volvo, MB, Audi and VW for either price or reliability reasons.

 

wait a sec... aren't you mr. CR reliability report???

it is a beautiful car though

 

Looked at the following:

Saab 9-3
Audi A4
BMW 3 series
Mazda 6 V6

 

Yeah, that was for you, just in case you didn't catch it the first 800 times.

 

I started at the Nissan Sentra SE-R and then found my way up the Mazda 6. But when I got to the Acura dealership to check out the TSX, it became love at first sight.

 

Remember, CR used full, half, and empty CIRCLES to give you the down low.......when they're not rating microwaves....

 

With mazda 6s and rx8s taking such huge depreciation hits(rust, low power output, buy backs etc) I bet you could get a one year hold car for a hell of a deal. But if you ever buy a m6 pull back all the door seals and make sure it isn't rusting out