I've probably made no secret of the mixed feelings I have about owning another automatic. In between my current TSX, and my last Accord, I spend two years living in Europe. Overt there, I got really good with a manual tranny and swore that I would have one on my next car. I was looking forward to selling my Accord and getting a car with a slick manual. But, then I wound up living in Los Angeles and decided to get another AT to cope with the traffic out here.

I have to say, however, that this is one of the nicest ATs I've ever experienced. It is incredibly smooth and responsive, especially when you consider it is paired with a four cyl. I think it is light years beyond the AT in my earlier Accords. Anyway, this is one area where I think Honda did a superb job.

 

I agree as my last five vehicles were all manuals, but still wish the auto had a firmer shift. Even in manual mode the shifts are a bit soft. Maybe the aftermarket can do something to help.

 

The internet mgr. at a dealership near me said that he has always driven MT, and when the TSX first came in, he drove the MT and AT several times each, and he couldn't detect a noticable difference in performance between the two. He said that maybe MAYBE a professional driver could wring out better performance from the MT, but not the typical MT driver, including himself.

As a result.. he bought his first AT car, the TSX, and still feels a little embarrassed about it, out of principle. (though, he has a second car and that one is a MT).

 

I think from a pure performance standpoint, there is very little difference between the AT and MT. I chose MT because I wanted an MT car (all my previous cars were AT) and I AM having a lot of fun with this MT car. I had it for a week so far and it's a blast...got over 500 miles on it so far

I totally agree with you driving in Los Angeles is a bitch with traffic But, at least my commute to Downtown isn't too long (15 miles). There are times that my commute will last about an hour with stop and go traffic...and that's the moment I wish I was driving an MT.

I think it really depends on you. Are you looking for an AT car to "relieve" yourself from congested stop and go traffic, or are you looking for a thrill of performance driving offered only by an MT? Either way, you'll still end up with a great car if you decide on the TSX, I have driven both and the handling characterics are the same...wish you luck with your decision

 

I don't know about you guys, but I use the sportshift mode of the AT more often when I'm in stop-and-go traffic. Leaving the AT in 1 or 2 helps when merging or passing in adjacent lanes. I'm sure that if I had a MT, then I would certainly not enjoy having to use my left foot constantly, though.

 

I had two manuals... but now I am back in downtown... and my first month with the manual was HELLLLLL.

 

I trawl though commuter traffic along highway 101 on the San Francisco Peninsula, and in dog-eat-dog traffic, manual shifting comes so natural and smooth that I don't even think about clutching and shifting.

Highway 101 isn't exactly a dream commute.

 

The TSX AT is a world of difference compared to my last AT in a Sentra. I would punch the gas to acclerate onto the highway and it would do almost nothing, it wouldn't downshift for me, that makes a world of difference. In the TSX I can use nearly the full range of RPM's, the Sentra was never really able to rev over 3000-4000 with the automatic. Going up and down hills are much easier too. Does it have the gyro sensor like some other Acuras have?

 

Yeah, that tranny is pretty responsive.

What is a "gyro sensor?"

 

I don't know anything about a gyro sensor, but the AT does have "grade logic" that prevents upshifts when ascending or descending hills of various grades (works only in "D".