My wife and I have a 2002 S2000, and a 2002 WRX now. I am looking to give her my WRX as her winter car, and take her current winter car and get me something new, so I have decided on either the TSX or TL-S. My question about the TSX is about the A-spec package. Bascially, is this worth it?. I have not seen alot in the way of reviews about the package, or its relative value. I like good handling, and am used to it.

Also, any thoughts on the Type S verus the TSX with A-spec?

 

Coming from a WRX, a TSX will feel like a row boat compared to a speed boat. The TSX is based on luxury, comfort, amenities, economy, handling, value and safety (notice how I didn’t say power and speed). The TL Type-S has everything the TSX has with the addition of power, speed and a hefty $13,000-$15,000 premium over the TSX to get it. The TL and TSX have a lot to offer in numerous categories and many of us who own these cars had a large check list of items we wanted and the TSX/TL came out on top.

If you need a top performer in speed, power, acceleration, and handling; you might have to look at Infinity, BMW, and Audi. Even the V-6 Accord/Camry would outperform a TSX 85% of the time. You will be moving into another world of FWD which will be a step backwards from high output RWD/AWD your use to.

 

No, dont get me wrong. I want away as a steady driver from some of the downsides of my wrx. Basically, the WRX is too hard to drive over the commute, and its hard on my back.

what I dont wanto t lose is responce or feeling of attachment. I went to the WRX from an integra, and I loved my integra, until the unhappy day it was stolen. But I am now alot older, and if it comes to it I can always grab her S2000, if I wanna drive something seriously frisky.

Does anyone have a opinion on if the aspec mod is worth the cost? I will prob have to drive the type S to see if the added cost is worth the added power.

 

The TSX - esp with A-spec (and/or a new rear sway bar as I understand it) - is more "frisky" than the TL, as it was designed to be. You rev it high and, with some decent tires and the a-spec suspension, you have excellent handling as well. The TSX is a superbly balanced package deal for the money, and, over the years of reading this board, the people who "get it" almost immediately when driving it end up keeping and loving the car and those that do not, dump it a year or two later to get something more like what they should've purchased in the first place.

The TL does NOT have everything the TSX has, such as a folding rear seat or a narrower body that can more easily park in tiny city parking/garage spaces. However, the TL has a lot that the TSX doesn't have, such as low-end torque.

I went in to the dealership expecting to buy the TL and left with the TSX, but both are certainly great cars.

 

i have the a-spec and it's better then the oem suspension that comes with the car (without rattling all your teeth over a speed bump); but you will also need to upgrade the rear swaybar.

granted even that is not going to be better then your S2000 (given) but it's worth the $600 i paid to upgrade. my brother has a WRX with a Cobb2 and that thing is fast - wished it had the 6MT and interior of the TSX, love the awd, 4-cyl and turbo.

the TL-S looks like a great car with a nice bunch of upgrades, while i don't want to start a flame over it, you'll have to drive it and decide for yourself - i know i will test drive it when it hits the dealerships. personally, i won't spend the $$$ for a FWD with that much power - rather look at the G35/330 or wait until Acura comes out with their AWD.

 

I wouldnt pay the premium for the TL-S when you could have a 6mt/Navi TSX for $10,000 less. And acutally the WRX isnt that fast in stock trim. A TSX with a few choice power mods would hang even with a stock WRX, if not slowly walk away from it on the freeway.

I wouldnt bother spending the money for the A-spec either. First of all it's not factory intalled equipment, the dealership does it, which could mean crappy work quality. I'd pass.

WRX would only really be a winner if you lived in a bad winter climate and needed the extra footing.

 

the tl-s is ugly. looks a little too boy ricer/racer to me. plus i dont like the idea of getting 286 or w/e it is to the front wheels.

 

I do appreciate what you're getting at here, best advice I can give is: If you like body kits and all OEM parts, get the full aspec package (kit & lower/stiffer shocks)

If you like aftermarket and serious cornering, consider getting a stock TSX and replacing the suspension with a fully adjustable set like the Tein Flex or SS, which will offer you a great deal of variety in rideability and height adjustment, but costs a bit more.

Also, it was alluded to above, but replacing the stock TSX rear sway bar with a thicker aftermarket one like the Progress or Comptech makes a HUGE difference in the handling. It is recognized as probably the best bang-for-buck thing you can do for the car. For merely $100, you can tighten up the rear end and take corners harder with much less body roll, if you get a TSX plan on doing this no matter what suspension you go for.

 

coming from a lancer evolution, I have to praise the TSX's handling, especially after my suspension upgrade (tein coilovers, rear sway bar, camber kit, and some stickier tires)
the TSX is hands down one of the best handling FWD car around.. you'll be very happy with it

 

The A-spec suspension is a very good upgrade. It drops the TSX roughly 1/2"-3/4" and goes a great distance toward eliminating brake dive and body roll in turns. Its roughly 10% firmer than the stock suspension. The rest of the A-spec package is cosmetic (except for the wheels which I believe are 18" on the A-spec. From a handling perfomance standpoint I'd buy the A-spec suspension only, and if you want to go to a larger wheel buy something lighter with the rubber you like. There are no engine improvements in the A-spec package. You won't even approach the power of the WRX with the TSX. Intake/Hondata/Header will get you a good boost in power though.