The TSX handled great. Initial the low speed cornering felt very average, but as I push it harder and harder, the TSX continues to handle perfectly. Opinions from forum members are definitely correct. It's more luxurious than I imagined.
However, I was disappointed wit the power of the 5AT.
Perhaps I should have switched to manual shifting. The low-end torque is weak. (Currently driving an old BMW 325i)

Questions I have for the 5AT TSX owners, will the power come on after 5k RPM? Do you manual shift the AT to pass cars?
Anyone here regret not getting a 6MT after comparing MT vs. AT?
Wife insists that we get an AT. She can't drive a stick in case we need to switch cars.
I think I need to be a man and go with the MT.
Thank You

 

The power comes after 3k.
I manual shift a lot because I like it, but it is not necessary to pass other cars.

My left leg regrets not getting an MT because it's bored. Other than that, I don't regret it at all.

 

The AT does lack power in the low end , but you dont have to use the sport mode to pass cars, were not driving a scooter. The sport mode is nice, and lets you shift at higher rpms , and does prove to accelerate the car noticeably quicker.

The AT is more convienent, but id be happy with either . (I have 5AT)

The sport mode makes it more fun if you need

 

IMO, the TSX 's sweet spot is from 4000 to 5000 rpms.

 

Sport modes defenutly got quicker accel, and feels like it has more power then full AT mode, my left legs bored too, every once in a while i catch my foot looking for the clutch when giving it some it sport mode, its also very nice for taking corners... just pull it back fast to drop gears, really convient...

 

6mt!!

 

I definitely feel the power coming on at 4000rpm +.

 

That's funny, we're looking at the TSX for my wife and she wants a MT. When asked by the salesman, she actually called driving the sport-stick AT watered-down compared to driving a MT.

 

I don't own a tsx and in the market for a new car. Test drove a 6mt a couple months ago. Power was alrite but still lack the punch because it's a 4 cylinder. Had to crank it to probably at least 4,000+ to notice power. I can't imagine driving auto for this car. Even though its 200 horses but the 4 cylinder + auto must be really slow, considering that the stick is just adequate.

 

Depends on your driving style and what you're looking for. The car cruises just fine and I hardly ever have to wind it beyond 3000 rpms in daily driving. On the weekends when I'm looking for a little more fun, just put the foot to the floor and the car is more than willing.

 

There is only one situation that I really strugle with as far as acceleration is concerned: Every once in a while I'm in the right lane on the highway (maybe because my ramp is coming up) and their is some noodle in front of me going about 45 mph. I have to zoom around very quick, and go from 45 mph to 70 mph. For one reason or another, that seems to happen a lot when I am going up hill. The car is probably in 5th gear when this happens, and seems to take forever to wind up.

In nearly every other situation, the car feels pretty lively, even with the AT.

 

I like to sport-shift for passing, but it's because I can keep it at a higher RPM in anticipation of hitting the gas. If I didn't use the SS the auto only knows to kick down a gear when I press the gas hard. Otherwise it's very convenient to have the auto option in traffic, I actually don't miss having to shift all the time. The feel of the shift knob is first class, it feels like a short-throw shifter, and the gear changes come reasonably soon, like if I was shifting a manual without hurrying.

Sometimes I wonder if I would like a car with a bit more oomph, but about 20x more often I'm thankful my car doesn't use any more gas than it does. So I'm sure I made the right tradeoff.

 

That's when the SS mode comes in most handy. The more conservatitve D mode is probably keeping you in 3rd gear even when you floor it which probably leaves you at around 3500 rpm.(3rd is good to like 105mph.,..).. in SS you can drop it into second at that speed which really will improve the pickup!

 

Ask

IMO, you should definitely be a man!

 

is a mans man.

 

I have AT and it has plenty of power for me. I think the majority of people on this site, by the looks of the pics in the photo gallery, race theirs up with mods and all that. I drive mine straight stock and it has plenty of power for the average person.

 

The AT "hesitates" in the low RPMs put the power comes on when you get up in the rev range. I came from an MT and I can't say that I feel as "in tune" with the car with my AT as I did with my old MT but its not really a problem. You can still easily pass cars when you want to and I don't miss it one bit when the 405 or the 110 is crawling at 10 mph (stop n go). If not for the bumper to bumper traffic and the wife (who doesn't drive a stick) I would have chosen the MT but I don't regret the compormise. The SS is fun but its not MT.

 

The auto to me behaves well when i let it, but when I want that power it's there. It's not neck-snaping fast but quick enough to do what it want it to do.

 

I have driven manuals pretty much all my life, and apparently prefer them to an automatic. More control, typically better mileage, less weight, ostensibly less complexity, AFAIK easier to maintain/repair? But, things change, times change, technology advances. Anyone got any real live empirical data on the relative merits of MT vs AT in this day and age?

In the case of the TSX (at least the 2004 models), the automatic gets better mileage, and costs the same as the MT. Not the usual situation.
I got almost 175K miles out of my present car's clutch before having it "freshened" and that was not a repair driven by necessity, but simply more of a "while you're in there fixing that, might as well do the clutch, too, just in case ..." Anyhow, those of you with Acura AT experience, chime in on maintenance issues if you please.