I finally found the Acura that I wanted. I got a 2005 TSX black on black yesterday. Its in great shape with one owner.

It has some scratches and I am looking to fix them and give the car a nice wash & wax.

The main "scratch" i want to fix is this horizontal white line from a curb (at the bottom, underneath the door"

 

Congrats! Repost this question in the Wash and Wax section to get better advice here:

https://acurazine.com/forums/wash-wax-23/

 

Short of doing some bodywork and paint, I'd say prettying this up will be tough. If I were you, I'd just buy the A-Spec sideskirts. They should cover that up nicely.

 

post some pictures after it has been done and washed.

 

Here are some pics of ma new ride!




this is where the mark is:

 

You can try a little scratch X and see if that helps but it seems too deep even for that. Without getting it professionally repaired it's not going to look any better with touch-up paint (although that's an option).

Wow you drove far to get your car. I was going to get from from around there and ended up finding mine at Davis Acura about 30 miles away from where I live.

 

I wouldn't buy anything that nice if i lived in an area of the country that makes my car look anything close to this at least once a year...lol.

 

Congrats on your new TSX. Shopping around for a 04-05 TSX myself! What did you think on your first test drive? I haven't driven one yet but I'm sold on the overall looks and style!

 

The 07-08 has very nice upgrades including 10hp more. The hp rating system changed so it looks like 5hp on paper but had the way of rating had not honda states it would show the 07-08 k24 actually made 2hp more than 04-06 model. The added fog lights/classier wheels go a long way. I can submit a vtec.net review of the 07-08 model where they even dyno the hondas/acuras they review if you like. Its the only place that i read on honda products.

 

I have had mine for about a week now and its great! The gas pedal is alittle firm not as soft as other cars. So that depends on what you think. I like that its more stiff than others.

The seat itself is very comfortable, I can go miles and miles in the car with no trouble.
The sound system is great and the fact that the CD changer is in the front is a great hassel free option.

The SportsShift is a quarter of a second slow to respond but you wont feel it too much.

I really think its a great car with all the options anyone can need and the xenon lights are freakign amazing!!

 

Just wanted to make a correction to this...

ParaSurfer is right about most everything said above, except for the model years. The increase in horsepower, (as well as the foglights, memory seats, bluetooth, Ipod hook-up, new gauge cluster with MID, etc.), came 2006, not 2007. (The 2007 & 08 models added tire pressure sensors -- that's it.)

Also, I'm guessing you meant to say the increase in hp was more than 5 hp, rather than "2hp". (From what I read it was closer to a 15 hp bump, but the ratings system changed, bringing all hp ratings for that year down.)

 

Yes I did mean 5hp. Thank you bro for looking out for me. My Ma had 04 TSX per my request and its a great car. You can always tell when a Honda is built in Japan vs. USA.

btw My name is Desmond (notice sig.)...lol.

 

cd changers have BEEN in the dash of cars forever bro....lol. What was you last car owned because you speak of hids as if it was a current invention... I'm joshing with you a tad. Entertaining post.

 

This car needs some serious TLC inside and out. It's not a lost cause by far but i'd start with clay, rubbing compound, polish, wax, and sealant. You may need to buy new tips if sanding/polish won't bring back the shine. Where the Hell was this car btw...lol? This is why if you want a nice ride and live where winter weather is severe, either have a garage or be up the task of detailing your car or have the $.$$ to have it done. It pains me to see a nice car like this being neglected.. lol. Show pix after restore. You should add M3 lip spoiler. Looks good on 1st gen tsx/2nd gen TL.

 

You're a jackass. The guy is 17 years old, cut him some slack. When I was 17, I wish I could have had a nice of car as a TSX, regardless of it's condition.

 

easy there buddy. It looks shiny in the pictures and in real life its even more shiny. No need for your smart talk

thank you, I am actually 21.

 

awesome btw i wasn't being rude to you was i. these people just don't know how to read in full. I was giving you pointers in restoring it then i was asking where you bought the car as i was ranting about the PREVIOUS owner not him if you adults will read in FULL. If you need any pointers on modding this car or other things , PM me. Btw to the other members who commented, i was helping him restore the cars exterior. Soap and water wont remove rest and salt grime will it? lol.

Des,

 

How do you like all that snow that appeared on the coast of NC. Luckily my hubby was able to avoid it for his drive north Monday morning. He is now here with me at my mom's in NJ. He gets to enjoy the snow here (but that is to be expected)
My tsx looked like his car after driving it from NC to NJ a few weeks ago-Lots of road salt which made my car look white. Took it to a car wash and it now in my mom's garage. Actually with the pictures the OP posted I thought it looked nice.

 

I have an 05 and an 07, and anyone that thinks there's much difference in output is, well......., let's just say there isn't. Driven back to back, they pretty much feel the same. So...... newer is always better, but don't pass on an 05 just because you might think the 06 to 08 models (or even newer for that matter) are noticeably more powerful (they're not). And my advice is don't touch an 04. Many are fine, but too many have been troublesome. (sorry to all you 04 guys out there, but better safe than sorry).

 

What seems to be lost on everyone here is the dent above the tire/wheel. I think I'd be way more bummed about that than the scrapes.

 

Sorry about that- my eyes were moving too quickly on the screen. You had a "17" below your name on the left, and it was actually your post count, not your age.

Yeah, when I was 21 I was tooling around in a Dodge Neon, trying to pay for college. Congrats on the ride, and don't sweat the exterior too much. I know some people here spend their lives detailing their cars (I know, to each their own), but it's a pretty futile routine here in the NE in the winter. For the winter, with all the snow we get, I'd just recommend hitting up the local touch-less car wash every month and take care of. Once April rolls around, I'd then spend 3-4 hours on a solid job, and then a few touch ups during the summer, which should be a lot quicker.

 

I hate snow. we arent used to it. Kids are going to make up school on Sat's because we have no snow days and it's NC law that kids go to school 180 days so they must be made up. I will be moving back to the state I went to college (FL). My blood got too thin for this foolishness. I don't know how you all manage this stuff. No wonder you guys are mean/mad all the time...lol. Give me 90 degrees as many days as i can have...lol.

 

He just got this car. The rust didn't just happen on his watch. To have rust that heavy on exhaust tips was the fact that the previous owner never did anything to protect the car from the elements. My point was though is that if people don't want to take care of a car, don't buy a luxury car. Buy a Ford Taurus (im talking a 90's model)... lol.

 

It is cold in Fl also. My brother and his wife have a winter home in Venice. It was cold there last year when we visited. Saw lots of dead fish when we walked on the Gulf. My neighbor in Hampstead told me there was about 8-10 inches of snow. It is NJ law that the kids go to school 180 days and they use up their snow days rapidly. They have to makeup for it. (less spring break, extended days so school ends later, etc.

 

Yes 8in there. here in Wilmington saw 2in. Leland none..lol. I fl it hasnt been in the 30's for high over 40 days either...lol. It's 39 today with low of 21. Thank God I'm still on bed rest but I wouldn't be out there if i wasn't...lol.

 

Since we're talking about the weather...

About 5 inches down here in North Georgia.

 

I'm not suggesting that he shouldn't take care of it, but there's a big difference (in cost, and in personal time) of just keeping it clean (Standard washes at the carwash) and spending your Saturdays with a q-tip doing the interior. I guess I feel I have better things to do with my time, but as I said, to each their own.

Just trying to point out that he really doesn't have to clay bar, etc etc to get the car looking decent.

 

Yea because I guess a 20yo can afford a paint job after the paint was exposed to heavy salt/mud/oil vs. the 30 bux and 4hrs once every 4 months huh...lol. I'm sure this kid will care for this car than you or the previous owner of his tsx ever would...lol. The reason this car looks this way is because the previous owner did things just like you, That says a lot. At this point I'll stop there as I'll utilize restraint...ha ha.

 

That's fine, it really doesn't offend me at all. My car looks very good, and I don't do anything really special with it outside of the normal hand wash, wax, and interior care (including leather cleaner/conditioner). I'd say it's about a 2 hour job from start to finish. I've never clay bar'd it once, but I guess some minor swirls really don't bother me either. I don't have any dings or dents either.

But then again, as long as I don't have any rust, as as mentioned, my car is clean to the normal person just passing by, that works for me. I really don't feel the need to tint my car (trust me, if you worked in a Corporate environment, you'd get laughed at - assuming that's your car in the photo).

 

Where do you reside? You don't say under you handle. I don't think I'm communicating good enough. For this car to look like a new car again, Hell have to do what I suggested do you not agree? He needs something to lift the impurities out of the paint as it sits before polish/wax or it'll just cause more swirls rubbing in the grit/grime that's in the paint. A regularly detailed (wash/wax/interior) car would never ever look like this. If cleaned regularly you only need to clay once/yr as sans and other things still should be removed from paint that wax doesn't do.

 

nice pick up! i got my 05 PWP TSX back in October 2010

 

Nice. What features do you get with TSX Navi hack?

 

looks good . now a drop and a lip kit !!!

 

I'm in the NE, in PA, actually not too far from the poster. I've never clay bar'd (but I do wash regularly, and wax about 2x a year), and my 2004 TSX looks good. Is it pristine? Probably not, but I'd say it looks better than 90% of the 2004's out there. That's good enough for me.

You might be right though, if the car is in REALLY bad shape, it might need a professional detail. I guess my point was, if you keep up with regular washes/waxes, I don't think you need to go overboard.

 

I'm in total agreement with you. If you clayed you car btw, it may surprise you what you find on the bar .

 

agreed, I am looking to make my car look nice for people walking by but not for a person examining with a magnifier. Actually being a college student, and running a business, I dont have time to do all the stuff ParaSurfer1979 mentioned. But thanks for the advice.

I think it looks really good right now, except for the barely seen rust on the exhaust tip and the white mark at the bottom of the door. I am still trying to figure out how to fix that.

 

You run a business? pay for full detail at detail shop. Only needs to be done once if you can keep it washed. Put some love into that car or else...lol. BTW i sent you back a pm infact 2. Waiting for a reply please.