MMsTSX

Most of us 1st gen. TSX owners will be test driving the new 2nd gen. TSX soon.
I figure to keep it neat, we'll all put our test drive opinions in one thread.

I test drove two of them today, one manual, one auto.
The manual didn't have the tech, the auto did.

So...


Well, I'm in no way impressed.
Everyone says, "wait until you drive it."
or, "it looks different in person."

Well, it doesn't look any different in person at all.
About 5% of the time I was looking at it my eyes were pleased.
About 95% of the time, I just didn't like what I was seeing.

I think the grille actually looks worse in person.
They didn't even bother to fake chrome the whole thing, just that blade part.

My opinions are not too technical, but here it goes:

Pros:
it's newer.
it's bigger.
I can see a bit better on the corners when driving (A-pillars).
1st to 2nd gear is much nicer, you can keep gears longer all the way through.
new gadgetry. (however I'm not a gadet-y person, so this is of no matter to me).
more inner room it seems. elbow and knee wise.

Cons:
it's bigger.
it's heavier.
it's slower (in my opinion).
it's clunkier, doesn't steer as well, not in touch with the road well.
the interior is less comfortable to me.
its looks.
all those buttons!
body roll.
feels big and kind of sloppy to me, kind of unresponsive too.
I took it on some nasty hairpins, it didn't do so well at all.

it feels more like driving the TL. I test drove a TL today too, my wife is going
to buy one. She was originally going for the '09 TSX, but she doesn't like it either.
So this or next week she'll buy a TL.
Overall it was harder to see, the back seems higher to me with less visibility.
it's like a TL with a much smaller engine if you can picture that.
The interior design, doors and such, remind of me of a TL, a cheapened version of one.

I went into it not liking it really. And as soon as I saw it, I just picked up where
my skepticism left off. I watched two of them get sold though while I was there.
One old man, probably about 60, and one middle aged woman, probably about 45.
The woman was with her husband, but the car was for her.
Both took autos, both techs, one glacier blue like in color, the other silver.
There's 8 left at the local dealer now. 4 of which are manuals. Only one tech left.

All in all it's just not for me.
I hear most people saying the first drive sucks when comparing it to the first gen.
TSX, and I totally agree. But if I were to judge it on it's own, or vs. say an A4 or
something, I'd say it's okay.

Maybe I'm spoiled with my Tein CST and Progress RSB, but I haven't had them
too long, and I remember how my TSX handled before modding it.

As I see it, the TSX offers great handling, luxury appointments, and a very classic
and timeless look. The new TSX drops the ball on the handling part, and for me
on the look part as well. I could care less about whatever luxury it may offer now...
luxury plastic.

Just not for me, nor for my family.

I'm interested to hear others' reports though, so please chime in.

Mokos23

I'd wait until the new 09 TL comes out and then I would buy the 08 TL cause of incentives and what if the 09 TL looks nicer, well maybe not if the 09 TL has the same grill as the 09 RL and 09 TSX.

wackura

I wonder if the stock '09 TL will be a weaker or otherwise less attractive vehicle than the current TL-S. That could put a buyer in a tough spot.

MMsTSX

I didn't have time to mess with the navigation and such.
the button seemed confusing to me, and having to reach up to the dash
to get to it was simply too distracting while trying to drive.
The graphics looked just the same to me, no improvement at all.

They say they did that to improve safety and ease of operation, but I guess
you need to be used to it for that to be true.
BMW and Mercedes put their button on the center console for a reason.
I believe this would be it.

All I really got a feel for was the driving.
I couldn't stand the paddle shifters on the AT.
Turning and operating those things doesn't work for me.
The steering wheel is a touch fatter it seems, and it didn't feel right
to take my fingers off of the wheel to shift.
and having to use two hands to shift was also a bit strange for me.
don't care for the AT shift console layout/look either. I really like the
staggerded look that it has in the 1st gen. Always liked cars with that
staggered shift console. Or whatever you call it.

all in all it just felt akward to me.
I bet if I was real used to it, and knew where the 34 buttons were, and knew
how to operate the knob in my sleep, and knew how to properly handle the
paddle shifters, etc, it would have been better. But for me it was a disaster.

I did enjoy the gearbox on the MT though... smooth.
My TSX is an AT, so I'm not too used to an MT, just a bit from test driving and
what I remember from that. I enjoyed shifting in the MT, that was my favorite
part of the whole experience.

dlee74

Did you mention about power? acceleration wise?

MMsTSX

I just said it was slower.

I thought acceleration wise is was actually a bit sluggish.

They're touting in increase in torque, but honestly, from a stop, I don't see
any increase at all, I felt the opposite if anything.

I don't know the 0-60 times or whatever, I just drove it in the city and on some
back roads, but it felt slower to me than my car.

It kind of felt, with the AT, that off the line it has two speeds:
1. way too slow for me to even consider.
2. have to floor it to get it to move well.

The dbw or whatever it is that causes that pause was more annoying in the AT
as well. In between 1st and 2nd gear in the AT the engine kind of died almost
for a half sec then really kicked in hard, jolting the car uncomfortably. This was
not by flooring it at all. I had to actually go very slow to avoid it, very slow.
Thus it having two starting speeds.

On the way back though it seemed better. Like maybe at first it was just getting
warmed up or whatever and it was figuring itself out. The car seemed confused
with itself at first, but got slowly more controllable as I went.

Oh, and the tires suck really bad. not very sticky, noisy.

The MT wasn't so bad. The AT was worse for sure in my opinion. I actually found
it pretty smooth in acceleration and the 1 to 2 was nice. Going through the turns
in 3rd gear worked out pretty well. It wasn't dead and sluggish coming out in 3rd,
I could get some reasonable power without having to downshift.

Oh, the V-TEC kicks in at 5k, I was/am jealous about that. Kind of.
My gas mileage isn't, but my foot is. Didn't like the guages as much either.

Oh, there was a killer NSX there... but I couldn't drive it. It wasn't for sale.
It belongs to one of the Service guys. Black, nice. It looked small to me.
But it looked really hot.

jwaters943

Sorry you didn't like it, but given your prior comments I'm guessing you kind of expected to dislike it.

Your TSX is still new. Maybe you'll like the Type-S which should be out in 2011 (along with a refresh).

LuvMyTSX

I'm curious to test drive it, but I'm afraid if I go I'll end up coming home with a new car (new TSX or an 08 TL). I don't want to be tempted right now.

dom

I don't plan to waste a salesman's or my own time since there's no way I'm buying it so I will not be test driving one.

Surprisingly I did see an 09 on the way to work this morning. It was the Blue, can't remember the name.

2 things that stuck out IMO. The car looked huge. Very wide especially. The other, and I really hate to harp on this was how tiny the wheels looked. They are too small for the car. I think the wheel arches play a big role in that as well.

Other than that its a decent looking car. I didn't even notice the grille which IMO means it integrates well. I really think the grille will grow on most people. The car's looks are not IMO a reason to bypass this car.

ReWritable

Exactly, people who recently bought their TSX (2007-2008) tend to write negative things about the new TSX -wonder why?? eventhough the new one is an updated version of the same car and engine with many more gadgets.. It's funny to read, though.

cg2006TSX

...when you begin to digest what this dog represents for the Acura brand. Take the RL fiasco and factor the number of units TSX sold since its intro along with past Integra and RSX sales, and perhaps you'll realize that the 09 TSX debacle represents a major blow to the continued viability of the Acura brand. Without compelling entry-level players (TSX & RDX), the clock is ticking until the intro of the 09 TL.

dom

^ You don't think the 09 will sell at least 3k units a months or ~40k annually?

You can take those numbers to the bank. The first gen had a winning formula which the second gen hasn't strayed far from.

TSXinTN

Agreed. There will be even more "1st time entry-lux buyers" purchasing this car than when it came out for MY '04. The problem is, two-thirds of current TSX owners want no part of this car. And a majority of them don't want the TL either.

jwaters943

If gas prices continue their upward trend (which I believe they will), I can actually see sales of the TSX increasing significantly over the 1st-gen. The TSX is the most fuel-efficient car in it's class.....at least until Audi's new 2.0T A4 comes along, which will have MUCH more torque and even better fuel economy than the current 2.0T.

MMsTSX

Wonder why?

Well, you seem to forget I went there to buy an '09 TSX.
I didn't go there to hate on it, I went there for my wife, so she could buy one.
I was the only person from the general public allowed to drive them at first.
The first one I drove still had the plastic stuff on the outside. The dealer knew
full well I was there to drop $35,000 on the spot for one, and I was.

I tried to keep quiet the whole time, I didn't open my mouth much at all while
I was there.

It's no where near an updated version of the same car.
What are you smoking?

The 06 TSX was an updated version of the same car.
The 09 TSX is a completely different car, inside and out.

You're probably just bitter because in the end of it all, the 09 is nothing to be proud of.
Acura dropped the ball, and you know it. You're just trying to convince yourself
otherwise.

Colin

I sure hope they let the air out of the tires before they let you drive it.

wackura

I see what you're trying to get at, but this new TSX will still be here two years from now when our new 1G TSXs are as old as the 04's and 05's are now and we're ready to trade them out, and when that time comes, sooner or later, the 2G TSX won't look any prettier or be any smaller, and the chances for there being a new choice of engine are very small.

I'd hate to be in an '04 right now itching for something else given the current options. The TL-S seems to be the go-to car and that's a sad reality considering most of those people would have preferred a smaller car with a newer body style and instead settled for an aging model that's larger than desirable.

MMsTSX

To Colin:

Yeah, they probably did.
The sales manager took me out back, into the detailing garage where the guys
were working on the cars.
I drove them only 2 hours after they arrived, I drove them before most mechanics
and employess had a chance.
The manager asked the guy, "Is this one ready to drive yet?"
The detailer guy said, "Yeah, it's ready to go, minus the outside, test drive already?"

So yeah. Tires felt completely normal, looked normal too. Small looking for the car
though, due to those fender flares.

To wakura:

That's the boat I'm in.
Well, my wife.
She doesn't own an '04 TSX, but she's 100% dead set on buying a new Acura.
Or maybe a slightly used or used one if it's Certified, she's not sure now.
She wants a TSX. She wants a newer, smaller, sportier car. The TL-S is just
not an option for her, she doesn't need or like the extra power. She actually
wants a 4 banger. But she can't get one from Acura unless she buys one just like
mine. She doesn't want two identical cars.
She was going to buy Gerado's TSX he's selling, but he doesn't want to deal with
us because we're a few thousand miles away. So basically she's lost.
She'll probably end up compromising, buying a used TL, and getting rid of it in
a year or two when something comes her way.

Chances are it won't be an Acura, Acura is going in the direction away from our family.

wackura

How about a Honda s2000?

CGTSX07

because it's ugly?? the primary factor that drew me to the 1st gen TSX was its looks. I can't say the 2nd gen TSX looks have grown on me at all.

Colin

But you;re not sure ?I don't know then, the cars are shipped with 50 lbs of air in the tires and you can't tell by looking at them if they're 32 or 50. Obviously it will make a big difference in they way it feels. Try 50 lbs in your front tires and see how 'squirly' it feels.

MMsTSX

She's a real estate agent.
She has to have four doors and a backseat you can sit in.
She has to drive people around all the time.

To Colin:

I'm sure my local Acura Dealership knows what they are doing.
I doubt they would let a car on the road with 50 psi in the tires.
I'm going to call them to be sure though.

*virtually on hold while I call...*

Service guys says oil, tire pressure, all the basics are checked before any
car leaves the bay. "Absolutely" he says.

So personally I'm about 90% sure they were adjusted if they have to be.

He didn't mention letting any air out, he said the detailer guys do that stuff.
He said they don't go buy any MID readings, they adjust air pressure by hand
with gauges.

wackura

If I were a real estate agent I would definately get a TL in order to give everybody leg room.

MMsTSX

looks like that is what's going to happen.

I'm currently trying to convince her that Lexus is not a bad brand.
That Toyota's reliability has not gone into the toilet recently.

For her needs, Acura has no car now.
So it's off to Lexus or maybe BMW, but BMW's are trash for reliability, so probably Lexus.

I see it as pointless to buy an old TL just to get rid of it soon.
Why not buy a car that acually suits your desires and needs right?

It seems like Acura resdesigned the TSX with people like my wife in mind, but
I think they underestimated the need for a smaller, sportier car. That's what
the TSX really has going for it, or at least it did.

Not all Americans want big ol' cars you know?

dom

The IS is TINY in the back which isn't good if she has to put people back there. That leaves you with the ES. Is she 65?

I'd give her your TSX and get yourself a TL-S. Problem solved.

What about a G35? Seems to meet all your needs.

jwaters943

In case you didn't know, cars are shipped with the tires overinflated. I can't tell you the number of people who have purchased a new car (doesn't matter if it's BMW, MB, Lexus, etc.) to find the tires overinflated when they get home. I'm not sure why some dealerships don't adjust the PSI, but it happens quite a bit. When I got my Pilot the tires were nearly 20 PSI above the recommended amount. It drove like a tank until I let some air out. I'm not saying this is the case with you, but it certainly seems like something was wrong with the TSX you drove. Your review has been the least favorable out of all the reviews I've read (expert and amateur).

vonbuey

Why not just pick up an '08 TSX? I'll bet you'd get a good deal.

MMsTSX

good call.

I'll head to infinity tomorrow. It's right next to Acura, lol.

Maybe she can have the TSX and I'll get a new G35...

Colin

Exactly. Our cars are driven from the pier to us and because of this, we cannot adjust the tire pressures because they're hot. Often times, we won't drop the air pressure at PDI because the cars are headed for storage and we don't want flat spots.

Jim Holloman

I went to the Acura dealer on Sat., 04-26-08, with my '04 TSX to give them some "customer feedback" on grease marks on the A-Pillar (from an oil change) -- and drove off the lot with an '08 model. My '04 had 44,000 miles.

AFTER I purchased the '08, I test drove an '09 model. I did not regret my decision. My views are nearly identical to those of MMsTSX

I foresee a healthy market for pre-owned, 1st gen, TSX's.

MMsTSX,

For whatever-its-worth and IMO, any real estate agent needs something larger than a TSX; perhaps an MDX, TL, or 2nd gen TSX with a V-6.

VorteC

Alot of good info in this thread.

MMsTSX

I agree. So does my wife.
We'll probably leave Acura for our next car.


Infiniti here we come.
Now do I keep the TSX, or take the G35 over?...
As of now I say I'm keeping the TSX.

jwaters943

I really don't think it's fair to compare the TSX to the G. That's the TL's job IMO.

Mokos23

Maybe you can trade in the TSX for a 07/08 TL-S and buy a G35s, then you'll get 2 speed demons then.

elgage44

I got my '04 TSX the first month it came out. Loved it all along. Nearing 100,000 miles and decided to go check out the '09 even though my initial reaction to it has been lukewarm at best.

Probably the worst experience I've ever had a car dealership was yesterday when I went to go look at the color schemes and probably to test drive. The second question out of the sales guy's mouth was "are you going to buy one today?" I said no being upfront. We looked at two colors but I wanted to see white/parchment which required we drive to the overflow lot. He offered to take it on a test drive, I said yes, he went to copy my license, came back and asked again if I intend to "make a deal today." I said no again. Then he handed me my license back and told me to come back another day when "I'm ready."

If I get another Acura it will not be from Acura of Pleasanton!
I will go to another dealer today and get my test drive and form my opinion.

MMsTSX

nope.
I had a chance to buy a TL when I bought my TSX.
If she wanted a TL, we'd be buying one. But the G35 trumps the TL honestly.
The G35 is more expensive, I'll give it that, and not as good on gas...
But everything else has us choosing the G35 over the TL.

I don't want a speed demon really.
I bought a TSX, so that tells you right there I don't want a speed demon.
I want my TSX to handle as well or better than a BMW and be fun to drive.
After the full body bracing, I'll achieve that I believe.

I like the TSX too much now to trade it away.
I'll keep the TSX until I buy a pure electric car I can power off of my house.
Solar engergy FTMFW.

LuvMyTSX

That's pretty crappy. Perfect way to scare away a potential customer.

MMsTSX

no kidding.
when you work for sales, and on a commission, I don't see how you can treat
people like that.

my local Acura dealer is super, super nice. It's such an easy and positive experience there.
they're very laid back, they listen well, they're very helpful.

they let you take out cars on your own, they don't ride with you.
they give you free drinks and snacks and are more concerned it seems with
how the customer is and exactly what will make them happy.

they will openly and continually state they won't sell you the car if you're not
completely happy with it.

strange how different some dealerships are.
I too would never go back to that place if I was treated without proper respect.

123456SPEED

The 09 TSX should be a big seller for Acura. Most buyers will not have owned a previous TSX or Acura probably, not enthusiast like are here.
Due to the new TL going further upscale to near $40k+, the TSX will get both previous TL and TSX buyers. and now with gas prices, 4cyl looks more desirable than 6 to many.
IMO.

davidspalding

You're not the fellow I talked with at a Brier Creek Laserwash, are ya? (Hehe, he was in a 2005, I think, and vowed never to buy an Acura again.)