GusterDMB

So I'm really close to getting a new TSX. Theres a lot I love about it. The value, the interior, all the standard features, etc.

I've been cross shopping between a BMW 325i and Audi A4. Niether come close to matching the tsx in value. And the TSX is right there as far as performance goes.

The only thing holding me back is the exterior styling. Honestly It just doesnt do anything for me, not nearly as nice as the smooth curves of the BMW or Audi. I dunno, I wish it wasnt such a big issue but it is.

It just looks too generic, could be confused with a civic or something from a far. Did anyone else have this dilemma? Someone convince me otherwise cause I really love the car except for this.

Dan Martin

With the money you save by going to the TSX you can get any body kit and wheel combo you like if you think stock is too bland.

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

Think of it this way. The BMW and Audi will look dated in a decade, but the TSX will still look as good as ever.

darth62

So, you're about to plunk $30,000 grand on a car but you don't like the way it looks and want others to talk you into it?

Do yourself a favor. Go buy the A4 or the Beemer. IF you don't like the way it looks, and exterior styling is a major concern for you, than the TSX is probably not the vehicle for you. I personally love the styling, and it was a great purchase for me. 20,000 miles later, and I'd definitely do it again. But, what is right for one driver is not necessarily right for another.

Get what you want and don't ask other drivers to talk you into buying a car you don't like.

phirenze

I agree with you that the 3 series and A4 are better looking cars (only on the outside though).

I did consider both of those cars before getting the TSX and what really turned me off was their image. I didn't want to be that 21 year old douchebag driving a BMW. Since you're 19 I'd say defanitely consider that. However, if you want to turn the heads of jappy girls or otherwise like the image of having a lux german car I'd say go for the 3 series.

The TSX exterior is not really an attention grabber, but once you get people inside they tend to melt- esp if you have the navi.

phirenze

Dude, I totally missed your handle. GusterDMB you need an A4 STAT!!!

::TSX::mochi

Different strokes for different folks, as the saying goes. I, on the other hand, think that TSX is one of the nicest looking sedans out there. I admit that the A4 and BMW3 series looks nice too but I still think the TSX looks better. Interior wise, its a toss up between the Audi and the TSX, but the layout of the gauges is nicer with the TSX - clean and simple.

iamhomin

I don't think so.

The BMW never looks dated, althogh the Audi's do. If anything, the BMWs look even more classy or stylish as they age.

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

The current 3-series, at least to me, is already starting to look dated. The last gen 5-series is one that will likely be timeless though.

Jim Holloman

It is apparent that you would never get the same sense of satisfaction out of owning a TSX as a 325i or an A4.

You need to buy a car that has a body style that you find attractive -- as long as the extra thousands of dollars, including insurance and maintenance, are no problem. Otherwise, you would be accepting a compromise that you surely regret. You certainly would not want anyone thinking that you were driving a civic.

stuckthrotle

if you get a bimmer or audi you better have deep pockets.parts ahnd service are $$$$$$

Whiskers

The TSX will look dated compared to all the flying cars.

ric

Well, the aesthetics of the exterior are incredibly personal. I find the TSX to have cleaner and more simple lines that the BMW, frankly. The latter has some crease/speed lines on the side that are not cleaning resolved. The A4 is certainly a clean essay in exterior styling, and one could make a case that it is somewhat slicker. I find the TSX to be crisp, understated and thoughtfully shaped. It is not particularly ostentatious, which is an asset in the city, where expensive cars are a target.

nanda68

To each his own. tsx is a well finished car, styling wise and to be confused with the civic, i would say is silly. audi a4 is another sharp looking car that is all. bmw well u might as well wait for the completely redesigned 06 model arriving in 05. Its design is beginning to look so stale with all the bmw's out there.

darth62

I'm with you. Even the wagons age well. The only issue with Beemers (at least with the three series) is that there are so many on the road that they stop looking interesting.

keg1997

I agree with everybody else...don't try to talk yourself into the TSX. Although I'll say that I was not initially a big fan of the TSX styling, it grew on me tremendously and I love it. I also feel that it'll look good in 5-6 years b/c it is very simple and clean...not like a RX-8 for example.

One other thing about the BMW-they're going to have a brand new body style in a year...so your car will looked "dated" very soon. Something to chew on...

Good luck on your deliberations....

crisco

we can't convince you to like something which is based upon subjective taste...

crisco

from afar, I've sometimes confused the rear of the 3-series with a civic

Acura604

ok.. (pics courtesy of TSX r US (www..com)


1. i would rather hump the TSX ass:



2. the tsx front end looks sleeker.. however, the BMW front end looks a bit more aggressive perhaps?



3.


the next gen of the 3series will be cool but this one seems boring compared
to the TSX... that's MY opinion.

mg7726

get the A4 or the BMW

Fibonacci

Styling taste is subjective of course, but I love driving my $27,000 'Civic'

LB-TSX

Go look at consumer reports on BMW and Audi. Great cars, but riddled with electrical problems. I too was looking at the 3 series and A4 before deciding on the TSX.

sipark

How is tsx 27K civic?

Benz_05_TSX

iTrader: (1)

Civic and TSX is totally different... TSX looks way better!! HAHAH

I've been in the same delimma dude, I was cross between C230, A4, 325i and TSX. But I chose the TSX, because it's new. The other cars look like as they were before. And soon, They are going to change how they look, but I think TSX still has a few years to go, I know the A4 and BMW is changing in 07, and TSX is not, that's why I chose it. TSX has more mods than them, and is cheaper to afford. That's why I think TSX is better man!!

samir786

You are going to spend much more time inside the car rather than looking at your car from the outside. Don't worry about if it looks good on the outside as much, do u like the inside? and i test drove the A4, and if you are comparing apples to apples, u probably considering the 1.8T. The 1.8T is a SLUG and in the BMW 325, everything is an option. I felt like even the seat belts would be an option.

That's my

ianS

You not including my BMW vs TSX pic? here is the thread https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18252
I spent 6g to make my bmw looks good but I only spent $1.5g to make my tsx looks better than my bmw. Unless you going to get a M3 or 330i ZHP or 330Ci M-package, you will need to spend huge to dress up your 3-series to make it look better than a Civic.

Powered by Honda

Yeah man...my stupid baka female friend thought it was like her civic....when she stated that everyone looked at me to see my reaction...cause they know I love the TSX...it was funny...

But I dont care what people think I think it looks beautiful and timeless.

mg7726

no way the bmw front looks better then the TSX! our blinking side mirrors are better then the bmw's in those pics.

imo

edit: TSX in those pics needs a drop. thanks acura for not including the bigger rear sway and suspension mod as default, cheapskates.

iamhomin

Put the current 3-series next to any competitors and it will not look dated. But obviously, opinions are opinions.

majin ssj eric

I love the exterior styling of my TSX but have to admit that I find the E46 BMW 3-series styling to be better (though not in that comparison above). Park a TSX next to a 330i with the sport package or an M3 (yeah I know its not fair to compare them) and the TSX quickly looks a little bland, though still good. I think what I like about the E46 (and IS300) is the extremely short front overhand that puts the wheels as far forward as possible. If you look at a TSX from the side the front overhand is way too long and makes the car look front heavy rather than athletic. Anyway, this is all just my opinion and my tastes, but you should definitely get whatever you are going to be happy with in the long run!

jcg878

All 3 are very good looking cars. I've always thought the TSX looked good, but it I have grown to appreciate the subtlety of its lines more since I've bought it. The A4 is one of the best looking cars on the road IMO.

Buy yourself one of the Germans - don't force yourself into a TSX. I think this probably isn't the advice you came here looking for

sipark

Forget about your cars! Dang nice house you live in there..
:wtf: do you do for living, anyway?
Unless you're living your parents, those pics make me think I chose the wrong career path..

GusterDMB

Thanks for everyones advice, I really appreciate it. I expected to get bashed on a TSX board for saying the exterior styling is a little bland, but I'm glad to see some ppl agreed.

As far as long term quailty goes, its not that important to me as I will be leasing the car. And the leases Ive been comparing are all relativlely the same for all 3 cars.

I do agree the Audi 1.8T is too sluggish and pretty much eliminated it from consideration. So its between the TSX and 325i. I can get both cars, equipped basically the same for the same money.

Although I like the exterior on the BMW alot more, I think the interior on the TSX is much nicer. And the Acura Navi system is 100x better than the BMW system. I find each car has its own pros/cons.

Is there anyone that has had experience with both cars that would comment? Again, thanks to everyone for thier imput. This msgboard is extremely helpful.

sauceman

With equivalent equipment? Well that's a first!

virtualbong

In the end, its what YOU like and dislike, but you get much more BANG for the money with the TSX and I do agree that the stock TSX is somewhat plain, but that's why I'll be picking up the OEM kit, getting aftermarket rims and changing the catback. Plus, you want a 325??? F that, if you go BMW, get the 330 or higher. Don't waste your money on the low end just to get a BMW. I always wonder why people will purchase a car like that just for the name.

ianS

I own both the 328i and TSX and both of them are MT. I have sport package on my bimmer and a-spec on my tsx. And I drive both car everyday... I drive my bimmer to work and drive tsx at night for fun... my bimmer is my daily beater
haha, actually, my wife drive the tsx to work and I need to find me some excuse to drive the tsx out at the night time to enjoy it. So, you can see how I love my TSX more than my bimmer. If you going to get MT then go for TSX otherwise you will regard and try to upgrade the suspension to a-spec than you can have 95% of handling and ride comfort of a sport package equipped bimmer and with a lot less body roll as bonus. Well, I still miss some feature that my tsx didn't provide but I am spoiled by the bimmer: 1 touch up/down all windows & sunroof, pull the inner door handle twice to unlock and open the front doors, memory seat and x'mas tree lighting in the dash

ianS

Because I live in Canada, we have nice living enivornment and we won't scare to use our passport to travel.

I am only a programmer but I cash out before the .com bubble brust and bought my house when the real estate market doom. What a smart decision but I still consider my smartest decision is choosing the TSX!!!!

RMATIC09

IF you dont like the way the car looks, dont get it.

GIBSON6594

For me, this issue came down to 2 things: 1- reliabilty 2- rear wheel drive in the snow. Everyone thinks that the German car they get won't break down, I did. My Audi was in the shop 5 times the first month I had it. Those reliability reports aren't just made up from nowhere. In NY, we get snow, and I have no other car to drive, so I didn't want to take chances with a RWD car. Those are the two reasons I picked the TSX. I was also able to get a 2004 MY car (with warranty) instead of a 2002 BMW for the money I wanted to spend.

DJDZ

Guster,

From all of these posts, it is obvious that which car you buy will be a highly personal decison that only you can make because everyone has their own and unique opinion about which is the best car for them (TSX, beemer, or A4 etc.) and why they chose them.

Your main concern seems to be about about the blandness of the TSX exterior style, but others look at it as simple, classic and timeless (like I do) that will look as good 10 years from now as it does today. Bottom line, if you want pure performance and the cost of the car (both the purchase price and total cost of ownership) is not a factor, go with the 3 or A4. However, if you like to have a balance between performance, luxury, dependability and a lower cost of ownership in your car, them I say go with the TSX. Just my thoughts to help you out.
p.s. a TSX is no civic!!!!!!! Good Luck!!