Hey guys. I am wondering for a long road trip (let's say New York to Vancouver (Canada). -- it's a 44 hour drive

Has anybody ever done this trip?
Can the TSX last?
How do you prep your car to put up with the elements (meaning bug splatter)?

do you guys use painters tape? Dupli color shield paint?

 

in may we went on a 6,177 mile road trip starting in NC and driving thru 20 states. we drove in all kinds of weather-sunny to snow-windy and calm. winding mountain road, flat roads, when we arrived home our car was 1,962 miles past due on it's oil life and covered with dead bugs. we planned to get the oil changed in Omaha, Nebraska but forgot about the time change so would have arrived when the service dept was almost closed so we waited. we used our power washer to clean our car-did a excellant job-no more bugs. the car was a comfortable riding car and we averaged 32-41.6 mpg on the trip.happy traveling-go for it.

 

Give it a good layer of wax for paint protection and the bugs will wash off that much easier. Check out our Wash & Wax section for product suggestions.

 

A good wash and wax prior to the trip will definitely help. Additionally, the use of the painter's tape or even some of the spray-on protectors might be helpful to prevent excessive bug splatter from building up on the wax itself.

 

Can the TSX last? Yeah, it can last. I've found the TSX to be a great road trip car.

 

currently in the middle of a 2000+ mile road trip to Maine... Just had the 60k service performed prior to me leaving. So far the car has been great! Very comfy, and i've been getting about 31mpg with a fully packed car and 1 passenger.

 

This is good to know! Next week I'll be driving from Dallas to NYC for college. My dad recommended doing an oil change before and after the road trip. Even though it costs some money, it's better spending a few dollars rather than sacrificing engine life.

 

I went on a 1,200+ mile road trip just this las week in the following order:

Oakland, CA ---> Eureka, CA ---> Crater Lake, OR ---> Lake Shasta, CA ---> Lake Almanor, CA ---> Susanville, CA ---> Reno, NV ---> Back to Oakland, CA

The car handled the elevation changes very well (was at 7,000+ feet at Crater Lake) and I averaged 28 MPG with a packed trunk, packed back seat, and two passengers. The trip was very comfortable and the car is a road warrior. But unfortunately, my 80k service will be due any day now.

 

I'm about to go from Richmond, VA to Los Angeles...so...we'll see how she does! By myself, nonetheless...good thing there's XM and my iPod in there, otherwise I might go a little crazy...

 

I'm also about to travel cross country for the first time in my TSX also. The comedy channel on XM justifies the subscription cost all by itself, and should carry me most of the way. Car reviews gave the TSX high marks for road trip worthiness.

I'm mostly concerned about the seats becoming flat. There seems to be a hint of memory on short drives with the leather seats while my old Integra with cloth interior is as springy now as the day I got it.

 

I’ve taken several road trips in my TSX in the southwest and it very much at home on the open highway. Cold A/C, XM radio, comfortable seats and a smooth ride makes it a very enjoyable ride. I usually keep a bottle of Windex and paper towels in the trunk to clean off the bug guts on windshield and wipers. I’ve also use RainX to help with bug guts and rain on the windshield.

I purchased a 3M clear bra because of the bugs and sandy conditions in the southwest. It might be a good idea just to purchase a leather bra just for road trips. Make sure and wax the front end and/or use tape where the bra might rub.

The only problem I’m starting to have is the lower radiator is getting beat up and dented from bugs and rocks. I need to put some wire mesh or something to catch it. A small rock at 80-85 mph can bend up the radiator vanes pretty good on the TSX.

 

Hmmm thanks for the input guys! did you guys stop every so often so the car doesn't overheat or you just went from tank to tank? What was the best and safest method for the car?

 

It's a newer car. Unless you're not maintaining it, you shouldn't even have to think about the coolant temperature or the care overheating. You'll be fine.

Just drive.

 

can it last? - - ; maybe rephrase the question, can YOU last 44 hours of driving? lol

just have fun man, take good rests in between, and personally don't worry about the car
as other members said, this car is a very good cruizer.

no duplicolor shield paint, NO.

What i would suggest is put thick layer of wax over the car, that way when you come back you can wash it off real nice.

above 75mph, car cruising noise is really minimum.

and if you have the navi, your tsx will be the best car to be in a trip.

about the overheating, seriously that's old news. we have new techs in our car.
don't worry about it.

to sum it up, here's a recommanded list

1. thick/good layer of wax
2. check window wipers, window wash fluid (dealer can fill it up free with warranty)
3. check tire pressure before leaving
4. good amount of CD/music with you ^^
5. throw couple microfiber towels in the trunk (cleaning headlights, taillights, etc)
6. nice visa card you can use to fill up the 93 octane premium gas

 

We just finished a 2000 mile plus road trip from MD to IA in the TSX about a week ago and let me tell you it was great. 17 hours on the way out and 20 on the way back, plenty of room for 3 adults, luggage for 2 weeks and 25 lbs of frozen pork in the trunk on the way back

We made 33-34.5 mpg at an average speed of 72 mph (per the trip computer). The car handled great and felt wonderful on the highway.

The bugs looked like a carpet on the front end when we returned though. Cleaning them off was a bit of a pain, but not really that bad.

 

This is all awesome. I realized this car was a "cruiser" on my 330 mile trip to Albany, NY from here in Maryland. Never even stopped. I'm actually planning a roadtrip to Myrtle Beach, SC. I hear once you get past DC it's a breeze...

 

I did a 600 miles trip from Boston up just past Rochester, NY. The car was EXCELLENT, though I got a little bored doing it all alone but the car averaged about 34 MPG.

 

While not technically a road trip. I've put 20,000+ miles on my car in 9 months by driving from Pasadena, CA to San Diego, CA and back every weekend. I've had no problems. The TSX goes the distance.

 

i travel from Nc (wilmington area) to the Jersey shore (toms river) and back every few weeks. I either try to travel on Sunday or try to make it to DC after the morning commute. other traffic areas richmond va, baltimore md but if time right pretty easy traveling. do you have e-z pass. If not the tolls on 95 are about $12.00 (approx.) that is from exit 7a on the jersey turnpike so it will be more 4 U.Happy traveling. we go to mrytle beach alot (70 miles)

 

Better plan on getting past at least Fredricksburg, perhaps as far as Richmond before it opens up on I-95 south. 95 south of DC in the summer is a real pain. 2 weeks ago it took me about an hour and a half to go from Woodbridge to Fredricksburg on a saturday morning no accidents, just traffic.

 

Just finished a 3800 mile road trip that lasted two weeks. The car ran perfectly the whole time and got home just in time for an oil change. The key to the bug problem is wax...and the clearbra helps too

 

I just got back from a WV from DE trip 400 miles out and 400 miles back, avg 33mpg out and 34mpg back and that was with a passagner and full trunk, not to mention the mountains. she drove like a dream and she loved the twisties in the mountains. you will be fine. and don't change your oil every 3k miles unless you like wasting money.

 

the tsx is great on road trips, I managed one from Houston to Austin and only used up half a tank.

 

i do a road trip everyday! 103 miles roundtrip from home to work.

 

I have 2 Vegas trips and 1 trip to NorCal the TSX drove great.

 

You bet I have E-ZPass. I make the 200 mile trip back to my home town in NY (Farmingdale) every so often. It's crazy all the tolls. So i'm very fimilar with time of travel and traffic, lol. I know exactly where Toms River is, used to vacation right near there. My coworker has the done the trip to Myrtle Beach many times...says the same thing as you: Richmond and Fredericksburg are potential problem sports. South of that and it's no problem, so I hear. 3:30am leave time so I'm out of DC around 5am Prob gonna do it next year when I can get time off and some $. He says to take I-40 to Wilmington and that it's a super highway Maybe you can confirm this lol, thanks I'm really hoping I can make this trip

 

40 is a great highway-speed limit is 70mph with not much traffic (unless there is an accident or something else-very good highway. I get off at exit 408

 

Highway miles are the best kind of miles you can put on a car. Nice and easy and you get awesome gas mileage.

 

I've taken a few roadtrips in my TSX and, except for the noisy tires, I gotta say it was a very positive experience. The mileage doesn't hurt either. One day we filled up in Santa Rosa and took US101 all the way down to San Gabriel without refueling.

 

Awesome input guys!!! I really appreciate it. I think I might just take the car instead of the plane lol

 

took it twice this summmer from sf to la..got 34mpg going ~80 the entire time. the first time i did not use wax and it was a pain to remove bugs, second time i waxed it and it was a breeze, sprayed it down with water and it pretty much slid off.

tsx was #1 most reliable car in europe i believe, you have nothing to worry about