cruise_RENAMED

I’m considering trading in my a4- the maintenance cost are starting to annoy me and am now looking for something more reliable and cheaper to maintain beyond the first 3 or 4 years. I know the car is relatively new but am wondering what the real maintenance issues and costs are. Some questions I have:

What is the frequency of scheduled maintenance and what is the cost?
Is the dealer a necessity for regular maintenance? Anybody service the car anywhere else or diy?
Can a Honda dealer service an Acura?
Are the service cost between Hondas and Acuras the same or similar?
Are there any major mechanical issues or concerns that other tsx owners have reported? I know audi owners complain of tire-rod and timing belt wear.

I know this seems like a minor issue when considering a new car, but this should speak to how annoyed I’ve become at my audi’s service costs.
Beyond these concerns, looking for something similar in class. What are your opinions on overall value? Obviously I know I’m in a tsx forum but wondering if anyone purchased their car from a similar perspective and can share opinions- really looking for a push as I already consider the tsx a great value.

jlukja

In general, here is the maintenance schedule.

Normal
The "normal" schedule is fine for most drivers, even if they occasionally drive in severe conditions.

10,000 mi/16,000 km
20,000 mi/32,000 km/1 yr
30,000 mi/48,000 km
40,000 mi/64,000 km/2 yrs
50,000 mi/80,000 km
3 years
60,000 mi/96,000 km/3 yrs
70,000 mi/112,000 km
80,000 mi/128,000 km/4 yrs
90,000 mi/144,000 km
100,000 mi/160,000 km/5 yrs
110,000 mi/176,000 km
6 years
120,000 mi/192,000 km/6 yrs
120,000 mi/192,000 km/10 yrs
130,000 mi/208,000 km
140,000 mi/224,000 km/7 yrs
150,000 mi/240,000 km
160,000 mi/256,000 km/8 yrs
170,000 mi/272,000 km
9 years
180,000 mi/288,000 km/15 yrs
180,000 mi/288,000 km/9 yrs
Severe
Follow the "severe" schedule only if you drive in one or more of these conditions most of the time:

Trips of less than 5 miles (less than 10 in freezing weather)Extremely hot weather (over 90 degrees F)Extensive idling or stop-and-go drivingTrailer towing, car-top carrier, or mountain drivingMuddy, dusty, or de-iced roads
5,000 mi/8,000 km
10,000 mi/16,000 km
15,000 mi/24,000 km
20,000 mi/32,000 km/1 yr
25,000 mi/40,000 km
30,000 mi/48,000 km
35,000 mi/56,000 km
40,000 mi/64,000 km/2 yrs
45,000 mi/72,000 km
50,000 mi/80,000 km
55,000 mi/88,000 km
3 years
60,000 mi/96,000 km/3 yrs
65,000 mi/104,000 km
70,000 mi/112,000 km
75,000 mi/120,000 km
80,000 mi/128,000 km/4 yrs
85,000 mi/136,000 km
90,000 mi/144,000 km
90,000 mi/144,000 km/5 yrs
95,000 mi/152,000 km
100,000 mi/160,000 km/5 yrs
105,000 mi/168,000 km
110,000 mi/176,000 km
115,000 mi/184,000 km
6 years
120,000 mi/192,000 km/6 yrs
120,000 mi/192,000 km/7 yrs
120,000 mi/192,000 km/10 yrs
125,000 mi/200,000 km
130,000 mi/208,000 km
135,000 mi/216,000 km
140,000 mi/224,000 km/7 yrs
145,000 mi/232,000 km
150,000 mi/240,000 km
150,000 mi/240,000 km/9 yrs
155,000 mi/248,000 km
160,000 mi/256,000 km/8 yrs
165,000 mi/264,000 km
170,000 mi/272,000 km
175,000 mi/280,000 km
9 years
180,000 mi/288,000 km/9 yrs
180,000 mi/288,000 km/11 yrs
180,000 mi/288,000 km/15 yrs

Dr. Evil

I think you will find the TSX to be a very reliable and low maintenance car. This is one of the reaons I bought it.

For maintenance it is just the normal stuff, oil changes, tire rotation, air filters....nothing special and you can do it yourself or take it anywhere. The TSX has a lot of nice features that make it low maintenance like iridium tip sprak plugs that go for 100k miles, long life anitfreeze coolant (debateable), coil on plug ignition system so there is no cap and rotor or spark plug wires. Front and rear tire camber is fairly neutral so you will get good tire life unlike BMW's or Audi's but still give very good handling. The TSX handling is very good and most of the time you don't even realize it is front drive car.

Other problems: well people on the forums tend to only say bad stuff and never good stuff. Reality is that this is a great and reliable car with no significant issues. it has great handling for a sedan, quiet ride, good power from a 4 banger NA engine, and looks great with an OEM bodykit. Some people will complain about rattle and squeeks -- big deal. I got rid of hunk of crap Nissan 350Z for real issues like severe tire feathering (wear), trannies grinding and getting destroyed, and a slew of glitches and problems that could not be fixed. The TSX build quality and design really impress me. I mean for a $26K + car, it is very nice.

Good luck in your car hunt. One thing I have noticed is that while European cars can be very nice they tend to be high maintenance and high cost of ownership. Most Japanese car are low maintenance and cost of ownership.

The Dr. has left the building.

hondaloyalist

Yes he pretty much summed it all up, the TSX with all the features it has is very solid car, a few people have some rattles but nothing bad, I dont have any myself and im 5643 , just luck of the draw.
the services are pretty cheap as well, for 15K mainteance service it will cost me only 200.00 for the whole service plan.

TJs TSX

Welcome to the club. Though, I can't help you much, Thease can answer a few of your questions.

- Regular oil change every 5,000 ml, oil filter every 10,000 ml., drive shaft, gear box, and breaks are at 10,000 ml., tune up is at 110,000 ml! Every Honda dealer can do all the simple outer check, lublicating, etc. As I've talked to my friend ,he's a sales manager at Honda, he and service manager told me to bring it in they can service the car with no ploblems since many parts are share with accord anyway. Any computer related check(engine, tranny, stability control, etc.) I have to go to Acura, though.

- I haven't hit the mark yet, so I don't know will the price be compareble with Honda or not. Pretty much just oil change and lube, break and fluid check. and Honda dealer never charge me for oil change, top off fluids, and lube either. Somebody that used to pay both might be able to help you on this.

- No serious bug has been reported yet, a little rattle here and there, Non-NAV dash board lights goe out in some, but had theirs totally replaced. There's curtain VIN range in auto that the dealler should inspact the tranny prior to the sale, and that's pretty much it.

The car is qualify as a Low Emmission Vehicle, and it's pretty much a maxed-out accord, maintain it would be a breezzzz and no fuzzzz.

"GO GET THE CAR!!!"

jlukja

Note that, per manufacturer recommendations, those numbers are for harsh/severe driving. For normal driving the mileages are just about double.

fast1

Honda can do all of the regular maintenance on it. Acura however has to do all of the warranty work.

ClutchPerformer

In order:

1. Maintenance interval is 10k miles (5k for "severe conditions")
2. Dealer is not necessary. Most DIY stuff (oil, tranny fluid, etc.) is in the owner's manual, even.
3. The competent ones can. Edit: Warranty work must be done at Acura. (good thinking, fast)
4. Acura will be a little more because the waiting room you sit in is nicer.
5. Nothing that I'd call major. You'll see some stuff as you hang around the board (tranny issue in a very limited VIN range, center radio/AC console breaking, etc.), but again nothing widespread except maybe rattles. I don't have rattles. The TSX has a timing chain, so you can laugh at people who complain of timing belt wear. I can't imagine why a tie rod would wear out on any car...

Basically, if reliability/servicability is what you're looking for, you'll be happy with a Honda car. Good luck.

bob shiftright

It's just a Honda Accord with nice seats, 17" wheels and a strut tower brace! ANY good ASE-Certified shop should be able to perform the routine maintenance. As I read the Helms service manual, everything up to the 110,000 mile service is a "piece of cake". At 110,000 miles you need to go look for the spark plugs. I bought the Helms Official service manual, a half dozen oil filters and pollen and engine air filters and I should be good to go for the next few years.

(Vs. my Volvo's computer that requires frequent conversations with it's mother back in Sweden to stay happy, this is a big change!)

euroStyle

haha yeah, join the club, i sold my A4 for a TSX. sure the audi gave 50k maintence service and warranty, but you'll have to go in like every couple months. im expecting none of that on the tsx.
there is a tsx and audi a4 comparing post floating around somewhere here, do a search on it, it should have some good info.

TJs TSX

Yeh, those are the number for "severe driving" which I think is more like a normal drving. In the manual said "If you driving your car MAINLY under ONE or more of the following conditions"

-Drive less than 2 miles or 10 miles in freezing temp.
-Drive in the temp over 90F.
-Drive in stop 'n go trafic for a long periods(which I think an hour+ should do).
-Use trailer towing, or use a roof rack
-Drive in mountainious conditions(High altitude)
-Driving on a muddy, dusty, or deiced roads.

Don't know, man, sound like everyday driving to me. ...

scottyboy

I thought the Tsx could go 10,000 miles for oil change?

ClutchPerformer

It can (any car can if you really want). But most people don't feel comfortable doing so. I use synthetic oil and still change at 5ks.

biker

bbbradley

I'm sure the big oil companies love people like you who change synthentic waaaayy too soon!

If you really want to know oil change frequency, have an analysis done after your oil change, and adjust mileage based on their findings. 5k synethic intervals is a waste of money.

/bill

ClutchPerformer

20 bucks every 5-6 months is not that big of a deal. I'm willing to pay that much for my peace of mind. Plus Wisconsin cold starts (in single digit weather) are hell on your engine/oil. I make a lot of short trips, too. The town I live in is not that big.

You're basically right, though. Changing the oil too often doesn't help, but I don't think I'm changing too often.