Just wondering if the tsx is too young for middle aged persons? I looked at and drove the new accord but I hate it seems like an old person's car. Besides it seems a little large. I am middle aged but I don't haul around a lot of kids. I like the acura styling better. The tl is out of my price range, so I was thinking about the tsx.

 

There are lots of us in 30-40 range kicking around here. There's a certain slant of the general demographic toward the mid 20's from what you can see here but that may more indicative of the fact this is an internet site than of the car's general appeal. At any rate, I would answer your question with a big fat no. It's a super nice car for the money and I think the appeal of that is universal.

For what it's worth, when I see other TSXs on the road, 4 times of 5 they're being driven by someone I would guestimate to be north of 40 years old. That's a totally subjective observation of course.

 

I'm 32 and my wife is soon to be 31, so not sure of your age group, but it suits us. We have two young kids and our Toyota Highlander family mobile was traded for a PWP Base TSX with parchment interior. I too drove the Accord and could not get over the back end design. Trust me get the TSX. If properly evaluated against the Accord it is cheaper car to buy.

Heres why:
the cars are about $2900 apart on invoice price (EX-L 4cyl versus a Base TSX) the ALG puts the Base TSX at a 40% residual after 5 years, the Accord only gets 35%. The Honda rate for the EX-L is 3.9% the TSX is 2.9%. Also figure that there are allot of creature comforts not on the EX-L. (HID lights, bluetooth, power passenger seat, Homelink, Chrome door handles, and many more little items). We really wanted white and on the EX-L that meant refrigerator white, the pearl white on the TSX is very nice and my wife loves the car which is what matters most..The TSX is only smaller in rear leg room by a few inches and was the only negative we found in our evaluation..jh

 

I'm north of 40 and the TSX fits my needs perfectly. Besides, I don't feel middle aged.

 

I'm with jlukja, I'm 41 and the TSX feels well appointed, sporty, yet I'm not embarrassed to take it to a wedding, funeral or job interview.

(Oh, and I have three drunk midgets under the age of 11)

 

Thanks, I do like the tsx better than the accord. Yes I am north of 40. I am not inlove with the new accord and can't see paying for something I don't really like. The tsx just looks better to me.

 

i agree too I can't get over the rear of the new accord. I have a 2001 accord now. I love the brand but the new accord just isn't me.

 

They probably want 30 year olds to buy the TSX but the new TL looks like a big fat Lincoln and I can't imagine anyone under 55 finding much apeal in it, so the new TSX scales by default. Note that the twitchy steering makes it a little tough to relax at times. It's one thing to have a large spacious family car like the USDM Accord, it's another to have a large spacious luxury car. If you're going to spend that kind of money it should be fun first, comfortable second, and I suspect the new TL is the opposite of that. The outgoing TL seemed a little more youthful but not by much.

If you ignore the steering though the new TSX is a friendlier car for all ages. It's quiter, more comfortable and clearly more of a luxury car than the previous TSX, some of that comes at the expense of sportiness but in some ways it more fun to drive than the 1G with added torque and video-game like handling.

 

Please someone explain to me what is it about the steering on the new tsx. I haven't test driven it. I am used to the steering on the accord.

 

Couple of ticks north of 40 here and on Friday will be picking up my 2d TSX . . .Getting out of an '05 AT and getting into an '09 6spd . . .I really missed "driving" a car these last few years . . .

 

Test drive one and demand to take it on the highway. It will feel like you have to correct a lot to keep the car moving in the straight line but I've had the car for about a month and I'm getting the hang of it. There's a trick to it.

 

You won't sorry. The direct interaction with the improved torque is amazing and the shifter position on the slight incline seems more ergonomic but I might be imagining things . I miss the 6,000 RPM lurch of the 1G but it was a shortlived lurch to 7,000 RPM, so no real loss.

 

Wanna know what age group Acura is targeting for the 2nd Gen TSX? Just watch their commercials on youtube. It's pretty apparent...

YouTube - acura's Channel

 

I am 24 and believe Acura is trying to attract tech savvy men in their early to mid 30's. This vehicle boast loads of features that most tech savvy men would love to have. Items such as Bluetooth, voice commands, 5.1 ELS surround sound, I-pod connect, Acura weather and traffic... Even though the demographic for this vehicle is men in their mid 30's, that did not stop me from purchasing a 2009 Acura TSX Tech w/6MT.

 

34/31 here.

 

You are really are taking a chance. If you are caught driving a car out of your demographic, a 500lb cop wearing a monkey suite will sit on you while Judge Judy steps on you fingers with spiked heels on and makes fun of your IQ!

Be Careful.

 

I'm 31 and this car fits my professional lifestyle just fine...my previous ride was an OJ Simpson Bronco, which didn't go well with a business suit. On another note, I just drove a G1 TSX as a loner yesterday while I got my oil changed and that one did feel like a kid's car. No offense to the fans of the G1, but IMO there is no comparison between the two...i felt like i was driving a toy.

 

I'm 39 and this is the first point in life I've been able to afford a car like this with all the other expenses I have, i.e huge student loans, cost of iving in metro NYC, etc. Frankly, I'm curious how many single people who aren't at least middle-aged can afford a $30k-plus car. My guess is not many. The short of it is that image-wise, no one is too old to drive any car from any luxury brand.

 

You may want to have the balancing of your tires checked out because I don't think your experience happens across the line and is just specific to your car. My car does not do what you describe. It tracks beautifully on the highway and stays in a straight line with no effort.

 

A USA Today auto reviewer noticed the same thing : "Acura has fussed with the steering until it's a bit too boosted at lower speed and has little on-center feel at highway speed, forcing you to make little steering motions constantly to keep the car in its lane. " Steering leads Acura TSX astray, could be deal-breaker - USATODAY.com

To the TSX's credit I think there is an on-center, it's just takes some practice finding it.

 

I wondered if showing a thirty something in the commercials wasn't suppoosed to appeal to fourty year olds who might see the car as a fountain of youth. Afterall, the car is young but not as much so as a Scion.

 

USA today's description is spot on with my TSX. Early reviews said the steering was numb. Mine was fresh off the boat three weeks ago and still in the clear protection at the dealer when we looked at it. I'm thinking they tweaked the boost, because mine is just like described above. Also I never had any of the issues with the windshield mouldings. I know Toyota makes changes to any Quality issues during any production cycle, I think Honda would do the same. jh

 

I have no issues with the steering on my TSX...it requires no minor adjustments (more than any other car that is) to keep it tracking straight. If anyone thinks their steering is bad, take a Smart ForTwo on the highway. Yikes! Anything above 65 and mine requires two hands and constant attention...

 

I don't mean to hate on the 2G TSX, I have one and went for a pleasure drive just last night. But lets not kid ourselves, Edmunds says "Worse, the new setup has an unsettling lack of predictability. It doesn't deliver a sense of secure stability when the TSX is pointed straight ahead on the freeway and it also takes too long for the power assist to drop away as your speed increases." 2009 Acura TSX Full Test on Inside Line disclaimer: I don't generally trust Edmunds but in this case they echo a common complaint.

 

On the plus side, it should be possible to stiffen up the steering via software if any one can figure out how to do it.

 

Another north of 40 TSX owner. Of course, my wife owns a new Accord and loves it - she'd be horrified to hear it thought of as an old person's car!

 

Lol, this thread went from from TSX target age group to "twitchy steering"...

 

Maybe I'm off base but I figure older folks don't want a car that fights back.

 

Staring at the big six oh (60) next year....still play kick-ass Volleyball at the Y
and feeling Frisky

Enjoying the hell out of my 06 bought new, Hondata and better speakers only upgrades...great for passing old farts and women on country roads....

Been a long time since my days of 70 Hemi-Cudas,Super Bees, LS 6 Chevelles, Road Runners......

The TSX is not a screamer, but rides like it is on rails and fun to drive...not to mention 26 mpg average....sure miss the days of gas at 17.9 per gallon.

Not quite sold on the second gen "Snout-mobile" slap the RDX turbo or a small V-6 under the hood I could learn to like it, REAL QUICK


You are only as old as you feel, youngsters...

 

'09 TSX magazine and TV ads are clearly aimed at young professionals.

Fits me perfectly: I'm 54 and I bought the car for my 45 year old wife.

 

God bless you and H.S.T., lived like a man and went out the same way.

Oh, and for relevant content, um, yeah, as your attorney, you're never too old for what feels right.

 

The TSX is just right for you if you like it and it fits your need. I don't like to think that models or colors "should" be more for this or that type of person. I'm driving it for me.

 

Thanks, that how I feel too. I think a car should fit your needs ,personality and of course your budget. I can't afford the TL, but the new accord is not for me.

 

Age has to be taken into consideration. Older people act and dress different than younger people. Most fifty year olds don't wear their hats backwords, nor do most drive Scions. Those who do come off as if they are trying to make a statement. If you're not trying to make any statement you might feel uncomfortable in a car that's designed for someone twice or half your age.

 

I don't think the TSX is designed for any particular demographic. It's a pretty balanced car in terms of design decisions. There's nothing so radical about it as to diminish the appeal to any particular group of people. If you're looking for smaller sedan, it fits the bill perfectly. It's a pretty safe car in that sense.

Marketing is a whole different ballgame.

 

I think classy and sporty are almost mutualy exclusive. You can have a mix of the two on one car but more of one is less of the other. When I look at the interior of the new TSX I see more of minimaly styled jet fighter cockpit that's agressive and to the point. When I look at the new TL interior I see lots of garnish, lots of geometry and hard stylized divisions, things that make the car more about style and less about simplicity. I think the former is appealing to younger people and the latter at older people.

It might seem like I'm nitpicking but I'm actualy intrigued by the whole subject.

 

I don't think there's anything inherent that requires those two design influences to be mutually exclusive but it really comes down to how you define the terms. For instance if you define sporty to mean simplified design and classy to mean complicated design, you've put the two terms on opposite ends of a continuum.

Personally I think the most classy designs are the simplest. I guess when I think of the term "classy" I'm thinking about elegance. When I think about elegance in design I think about something that accomplishes its purpose in a very functional manner while still being aesthetically pleasing. To that end I see the TSX as very elegant. All of the buttons and switches (with a few exceptions, I'm not a fan of the wiper stalk layout at all) are exactly where I just expect them to be. At the same time, I think the dash of the TSX is gorgeous, simple and clean. And it's certainly sporty at the same time.

I have to disagree with the categorization of old people preferring more buttons and what not. I know plenty of people older than me hate all that clutter.

One thing is for sure though, just about every one who gets in my car makes some comment about how nice it is. I have the parchment interior with the wood trim though and I think that carries with it a bit of a sense of refinement. I don't think it's what people expect to find inside.

 

I didn't use the term elegant because simple is associated elegant and I'm not talking about simple. Also I wouldn't say the classy TL has more buttons but more to look such as more complicated trim with wider variation in color in the trim. I think the TL is only supposed to be about 10 years older than the TSX in age appeal so the differences are smaller than they could be but the TL is comparitively closer to the big old Cadillac ideal. I think in ten years I'll psychologically be there but right now I feel out of place in those vehicles.

 

Actually, I just don't care for larger sedans. I am a single middle aged woman and I only have 2 children so I don't need a lot of room. My kids aren't young so no car seats needed. I don't think of it as an image or status thing. I just want a smaller and sportier car than the new honda accord. I see a lot of silver haired gentleman in sportiers cars than the tsx and I think they look sexy.

 

I think the TSX looks great on women of almost any age. It says nothing but good things about the driver's personality. The TL on the otherhand looks oversized as if it's meant to cart around a beer gut and a set of golf clubs. The TSX is a do'ers car.