OK - let me get this off my chest, because I cannot live a lie.

Despite the glowing reviews in Car and Driver and elsewhere, the truth is that the TSX is ... umm... pssst!... slightly anemic.

The TSX looks like a boy racer car, but, to be perfectly honest, it performs like your uncle Olaf's Volvo. No thrills off the line, no real "pipe" anywhere in the rev band. Only the 6-speed can be hustled, and that takes revs that tell everybody you're really reaching.

When I switch over to my wife's 2002 RSX I get an instant dose of the flavour I've been missing. A Type S or Type R is desperately needed.

OK. I feel better now.

Errowen

 

Does this mean that an appreciative TSX owner will be getting a good deal on yours?

 

[Weeps silently in the corner]
I know, I know. I broke the oath of secrecy, and now I'm a pariah, destined to wander friendless in the wilderness...

 

"The TSX looks like a boy racer car"

hehe, I actually find it looks rather plain/clean, a design that will not look dated. Performance wise, I only want about 200 at the wheels and possibly get close to 240km/h.

 

I sensed a terrible disturbance in the TSX universe. I wonder where it come from?
::looking around::

 

So am I to understand you're comparing a TSX to an RSX....

 

Ive always felt the same way about the TSX. Comming from a 2003 saab 9-3 sport sedan with only 175hp, but 190 tourqe, i cant help but say i was let down when i drove the TSX. I stil lplan on owning one in the future, but after reading al lthe car magazines reports about it i was expecting it to blow my saab out of the water. I mean, common this is a acura, they do everything well. In the end i could not tell the difference between the 200hp vtec, and the regular 160hp accord motor. Like i said im not putting downthe TSX and will own one..but wheres the tourqe ?

Honda make great motors that last forever, but when are they finally goign to make a 4 banger(and other motors) that dont have to be driven like you hate it to get any emotion at all out of them.

 

At least you knew what you were getting into.

 

dun like the high rev 4 banger then go for the TL or V6 Accord and left the TSX and RSX-S to us who really like to rev it up. I dun think TSX is perform like a volvo. I have a 6yr old turbo volvo that sitting in my driveway for 6 mth without moving because no one in my family willing to even open its door. And my 6sp TSX is perform as good as if not better than my E46 328i 5spM with intake + software + ssk which come in with 190bhp. And I feel fun to rev the TSX engine and shift with its butter smooth gear box.

I dun mind more power from TSX but I am very happy with what it is. If your wife RSX is typeS then you comparing a car with 400lb less and with a stronger engine on the family.

 

I still don't understand people who want the TSX to be a Porshe

THIS IS NOT A HIGH PERFORMANCE CAR!

But! Have you sat in the inside of your car compared to your wife RSX? Notice anything different? That's what the TSX has. Luxury, combined with good handling = TSX (notice I didn't say great). If you wanted a better performing car you should have bought a difference car. That's why most of the posts around here arn't about how much hp or tourque we can produce, or our drag and autox times. Ever notice the racing thread is the least used? The same wouldn't be true in an M3 forum...

Most of us bought this car for things other then performance, we bought it for luxary, or practicality, or a combination or reasons. But the TSX's 0-60 time was NO ONE's reason (at least I hope not) However, if you are going to try to say... "why do some people try to make it fast". They arn't. People that are dedicated to the "power" of the TSX, are just trying to get the most out of their car. Why does a Kia owner wash their car? because they are trying to make the best of what they have. Same goes with the power of the TSX. (or maybe some people just like a challenge )

OK. I feel better now.

TSX.fury

 

My next car will have a V6 and no less than 250HP. Than again with gas prices where they are I'm really enjoying my 25MPG and mediocre acceleration.

 

I think when you choose a car, you really need to know what exactly you want; whether if it is high power or fuel economy. With both attributes on the opposite end of the spectrum, it is not a surprise that the driver will have to sacrifice one thing for another. For me, I had my fun with the high horse power cars, and am looking for a fairly luxurious, practical and yet moderately exciting car to drive around, and in my opinion, there are no better contender to fill this frame than the TSX. Just my

 

omg, I can't stop laughing. But yeah, I bought the TSX, not for luxury, not for performance, but strictly b/c of best-priced-for-features... and b/c it's an undercover Accord, I will always own one.

 

The TSX is not slow from the line - merely "average", and I personally think it's more than fast enough stock. It does, however, handle almost as well as a BMW 325 (E46 is it?) once you put some decent tires on it - this is much more important than being a speed racer for me since I want to know that it will be much safer if I need to perform emergency maneuvers, such as dodging stupid pedestrians downtown that step out when they shouldn't.

The TSX is not a boy racer - and, wow, that's the first I've even heard someone describe it that way. By that "measure", the TL is more of a boy racer than the TSX, being more aggressively styled and with a more powerful engine. Silly.

I think perhaps you've missed the entire reason why the TSX is such a great car. Or, put another way, the TSX is the best car for the money that is not the best at anything except being good at everything.

Advice: drive a different car that has the qualities YOU will appreciate

 

hmmm... one thing I totally missed the first time around..... If the TSX is not to your expectations, give it to the wife and take the RSX. Typically, isn't it usually the wife with the 4-door and the husband the 2-door ?

 

Would make a good sticky thread for the Performance and Parts section: "Average performance for your TSX: How to get it"

 

Next time I come up behind you in the RSX on the 401 (Sahara Sand, 6'5" of guy sardined into the front seat), I'll pass on the left and wave.

 

heh, I actually would honestly look forward to it. I drive a CG/GP, license plate A--- 360. I hope you're not the type to slow down after passing because I only stop racing when my car hits top speed.

 

OK! I'll be sure to check my mirrors.

 

While we're on the topic, what parts of the 401 do you travel? I'm on it between Yonge St. then Eastward to Brock Rd. and sometimes 404 North up to 16th. Ave.

 

I was going to get a 9-3 before I looked into the TSX. That turbo is waaaaay laggy off the line. Its torque curve is very peaky from the get go. I personally prefer the flat torque curve and not having to feel off boost at anytime.

I do agree that the difference between 160hp and 200hp cannot be immediately felt, only because that extra 40 comes at the top end of the rev range. So you should probably keep revving.

 

You should do like me... Buy an NSX and supercharge it then even an S4 will feel slow. That should deal with your speed cravings. The TSX has plenty of punch to pass on the highway but it's not a sports car.

One thing though, I never had someone pass me on the highway yet while I was driving my TSX. The car does 232KM/h which is plenty to get yourself in trouble.

 

at least these are subjective hp complaints and not real world rattle/drivetrain/whatever complaints.

 

It's my observation that women drive coupes and men drive sedans most of the time. But what do I know...it's not like I poll people.

 

I thnk the TSX is the perfect balance of Luxury, performance, and efficiency.

...put on some mods, and you'll see that it's not that slow. The K24 engine has a lot of potential and will only get better as more parts come out for it.

 

I came from a 280lb ft torque with 276 hp Car. (1997 C36). I knew perfectly well what I was getting into when i bought the TSX and I can't be happier. Yes it is slow but my driving style has changed. 4 months owning the car with about 7000km, I have hit VTEC maybe 3 times. I don't drive too fast anymore and the gas milage more then makes up for the heavy foot I use to have.

 

I guess everything is relative and my TSX experience comes from 6 test drives, but I thought that the TSX performance was really good. I thought that it handled exceptionally well and certainly when you were on the highway had lots of pep. My days of racing off from a stop at an intersection are well gone. I just want good on ramp and passing speed and the TSX seemed to do very well in these tests.

Excited

 

Oh where to start on this one...

Wha chu talkin' bout Willis? Boy racer as in Mitsu Eclipse or Toyota Celica?

Psssst .... Errowen! Its not a Corvette. I bet you need to rev your wife's RSX a lil wee bit for it to move out too. And since when does Uncle Olaf's Volvo handle like a TSX?

 

Thanks for the clarification. Any other straw men you need to knock down, you go right ahead.

 

Out of curiosity is it a base rsx or an rsx-s?

 

Ya Errowen, I know what you mean when I get out of my TSX and hop into my "gets me around town" car (an Aston Martin V12 Vanquish) I definitely feel like I've got a little more power to play with. Maybe it's the additional gallon of additional gasoline that fits into my cylinders at one time. Has anyone else experienced this?

 

It really does depend what you come from. I just bought the TSX about 1 month ago.

The TSX handling sucks compared to my previous car. A Mini Cooper.....see it's all what you drove before.

But speed, the TSX kicks the sh*t out of it.

Quality the TSX kicks the sh*t out of it.

Features...this one is interesting. I had a fully loaded Mini Cooper (25,000). Had a lot of stuff.

I traded in for the TSX. Why, becuase I was going to kill myself in the Mini (way to much fun on corners). But for a different type of driving experience. Mellow, but fun. I feel it's a home away from home.

I also know 0 to 60 in 7 seconds is pretty quick.

 

hmmm??? TL is more of a boy racing car??? I don't think so. I strongly believe that RSX's are more like boy racing car. Anyways, I love my TSX!!~ I have no single problem with my car. Enough power, smooth ride, lots of features and nice looking car.

 

I terminated my in-too-deep relationship with a modded BMW for the same reason. (Hate to admit it, but that was in 1976).

 

I come from a pretty wide variety of cars -- '86 Accord, '91 Eclipse turbo, '94 ES300, '98 Ram pickup, '00 Grand Cherokee, '93 Camry V6, '98 Volvo XC -- between me and my wife, but there's one car I've always had. '69 Chevy Caprice 427. It's been fairly highly modified (cam, intake, carb, headers, high-comp pistons, larger valves, cross-drilled 4-bolt mains, etc.) and makes about 525 hp/550 lb-ft at the wheels through a 3.73 rear. It runs low-12's over a 1/4-mile on street tires and can easily out-accelerate 95% of the cars on the road today, all for about $7,000 worth of engine, tranny, and drivetrain parts (the car was free from my grandmother).

What's my point? If you want to go fast, I mean really, why would you spend $35,000 on a V6 whatever with 275hp and 250 lb-ft? The Chevy is good at one thing: out-accelerating the TL, G35 and M3 drivers who pull up next to it and snicker. (They seem to think that lopey idle means it's out of tune.) But that's pretty much all it's good at.

The TSX, on the other hand, is so wonderfully balanced and thoroughly thought-out as to be good, even great, at everything but not the best at anything. There are no packages to buy, it comes with practically everything right out of the box, and there are enough aftermarket parts to make personalizing its performance fun. All for $26k-odd. That, to me, is perfect. So, that's why I bought it without hesitation and love it today.

 

Well said, Peter. Well said.

 

Thanks, jlukja. I was over at my brother's today working on the Chevy (re-jetting for colder weather) and we took it out for a spin with my kids (my daughter still doesn't like the sound of that motor). I drove home in my TSX and was reminded just how wonderful it is to wind it out while it keeps its composure through twisty backroads. I read this thread and it just got me to thinking . . .

Plus, Penn State just beat Ohio State -- that's a big win for us (class of '89).

 

Sounds like a VERY nice car Peter. There is something so addictive about driving a car where the world gets yanked backwards everytime you mash the throttle. I have a Grand National that run's high tens on C16 and slicks. Its always a joy to pull up to someone who snickers at the black beast, only to leave them in a haze of tire smoke.

 

you just have a regular RSX not type S right? i got one as a loaner and its also slow and doesn't give me any type of adreneline rush at all. if you want one fast rushes drive a G35 sedan or coupe or a TL.

 

These are thrills from another planet, or at least another level. I'm not asking the 2.4 to do anything like this, obviously. My wish list is pretty modest:

1. If the light changes when I'm checking the map, I like to be able to catch up to the traffic.

2. I like to be able to change lanes without losing speed -- you know, a little throttle pressure increases speed, so that when I arrive in the next lane I haven't lost a car length and some guy behind has to brake. I don't want it mailed in.

3. I need some acceleration at speeds above 120 kph -- for safer passing.

4. I like to feel it makes a difference when I shift down.

Errowen