sinnjin79

I plan on purchasing or leasing a TSX towards the end of 2009 and I need some input or opinions on which transmission to get. I did drive an automatic TSX in 2006 and I thought that it performed very well. The automatic had a sporty nature and it always seemed to be in the correct gear for the twisty road that I was on. I also drove a Civic Si in 2008 and I thought that the 6 speed manual was awesome. I believe that the TSX and Civic Si manual transmissions are pretty much the same. Correct me if I'm wrong. The automatic now has paddle shifters but, I don't know if they are very functional. Are they? Is the automatic with the paddles decent enough to make it sporty? I know it's not a DSG, that would be nice though.
I'm an indecisive person and I see the pros and cons of both transmissions. Please tell me your experiences with both of them and maybe why you chose what you did. Thanks for the help in advance and I hope to join you all soon in the Acura community.

HeavyDuty

Personal opinion? After the clusterfvck with the CL-S and TL-S automatics *only* and after the same problems with my 91 Prelude Si 4WS back in the day, I am enjoying my Honda, but from now on out, *only* with a MT.

tisguy409

I think it really depends on what you want.

For me I chose stick, because it's what I enjoyed driving more. Sometimes I wish it were auto (traffic on the hills of San Francisco), but I'm not in that situation frequently enough. There's always pros and cons to each one, but the pros always outweigh differently for every person.

ressling

Everyone's comments are legit. I agree that it all comes down to personal preference. I've bought auto before when I really regretted it and should've gotten stick.

As for the TSX 2nd gen - It's my opinion that 6MT vs. 5AT is a night and day difference. I went w/ 6MT.

Paddle shifters cannot replicate a clutch no matter what car it is.

mucter

This car is 3400lbs, with a 4-banger, you need all the torque you can get!

The drive train losses on an Automatic transmission are huge (sometimes 40%), a 6-Speed is generally more like 15-20%. So you'll have a much quicker car with the 6-Speed.

6MT FTW

risc

It really depends on your daily commute. If you drive alot, auto is just more convenient. Otherwise, I'd get a 6MT. Better performance, more fun, clutch feel.

kristy7911

I love my 6mt, I personally would not have bought an automatic. But like everyone says, if you commute a lot, or live in San Francisco, I would go for the auto.

wackura

You have to go with the manual transmission. All this talk about there being pros and cons either way is utterly dishonest; the 6MT TSX is a dream car through and through. You won't find a more satisfying car up to 10G north of of the 6MT TSX.

This particular four banger is possibly the best Honda has ever produced. Producing 200+ HP is unusual for a 4 cylinder engine. It revs high and has a pleasing growl past 5000 rpm. You feel the torque without the torque steer, unlike the dated TL-s. You won't taste the sweet engine with anything other than a 6MT.

Farage

if you look at any of the reviews, they all agree that the 6mt is a perfect match for the engine. the 5at is prob a second slower to 60 and maybe half a second slower through the 1/4.

BB_inc

I'd get the automatic, since personally I find mt's to be more of a hassle than anything else, especially with traffic or hills. Besides this is an entry level luxury sedan, if you want an mt you should look at a sportier car, maybe a coupe. Otherwise a 4 banger mt sedan is almost stupid imo.

wackura

This is what happens when you make gross generalizations without taking a test drive. You overlook an incredible car that defies long standing assumptions.


Are you new to this whole Honda thing?

Farage

BB_inc

I've driven the mt, and had one before (mustang gt 06). Honestly the difference was like night and day. If I'm going to buy a 30k car with a stick I'm going to get something with serious power not a 4 banger 2.2L, besides who drives manual luxury sedans they're not sporty. : /

wackura

You have vastly overestimated yourself.

BB_inc

How? :/ I bought a luxury sedan for "luxury" not pseudo sportiness.

wackura

I see you live in Mutual Exclusivity Land. You'll never know the wonders of walking and chewing gum at the same time.

BB_inc

I see you find an underpowered sedan sporty because it has a stick : |

wackura

Yes, an MT contributes to the sportiness of a car.

Whether any given does or doesn't have enough power is subjective. The I4 TSX outpaces the IS 250 if I'm not mistaken. Many things determine whether a car is sporty aside from power. Many lux cars with V8's do 0-60 in under six seconds but nobody would call them sporty.

It's a well known fact that Honda is lacking in the power department across the spectrum, but most wouldn't say this invalidates the various sporty Honda models.

Farage

its a 2.4

Farage

whyd you come on this site if your gona bash the car? stick to the mustang forums.

BB_inc

I own a 2g tsx, I just find a manual on this car to be pointless 0-60 is around 7-8 seconds and my friends Toyota Highlander beat me in acceleration and top speed. So I just don't see a point in getting a slow 30k stick when you can get a much better car for the money like a 370z.

wackura

But to suggest that a Highlander is more fun to drive than a TSX goes to show your lack of depth on the entire matter.

Farage

the tsx def has a higher top speed. and a 370z nicely equipped is approaching 40k, plus the premium on those now. you dont really know what your talking about.. you have a tsx and you thought its a 2.2?

BB_inc

I didn't buy it for performance, forgot it's a 2.4 lol. The highlander just goes to show how weak the car is, didn't say anything about it being "fun." For 27k you can buy an 05 elise with 14k miles and it'll rip a Porsche apart. Fact of the matter is a mt on such a weak "sedan" is a joke, especially at 30k. If you want a sports car get an appropriate car, not a tsx. Also, why would you need premium equipment on a 370z, cloth and stick are perfectly ok. : |

Farage

i like leather.

wackura

The truth is you bought an auto in a moment of weakness and poor judgement and now you are trying to convince yourself vicariously through others that you made the right choice when deep down you know that even the most mundane, underpowered sedan can be a tad bit less boring when you row your own gears and freely wind the tac up to the red. Atleast with an MT you can pull out the stops when the oppurtunity presents itself between point A and point B. All that you accomplish by getting an AT in an underpowered car is the assurance that you will never have any fun, windy road or otherwise.

I'm sorry for your loss, but come back down to reality.

mucter

wow, this got a little out of hand... LOL

I'd say that the issue for me comes down to one thing:

I like high revving, small, light cars.

I'm 6'4" and I'm getting older. I can't drive a 92 Civic HB anymore w/ a GSR engine and a coffee can exhaust, I gotta grow up. Besides that 92 Civic isn't comfy at all.

So what do I do?

I find a car thats comfortable, still revs (albeit not as high), has a manual transmission (because its fun), and has more prestige than my old little Civic's had.

Just because I'm getting older, doesn't mean I have to give up EVERYTHING I like about cars. It's called compromise...

The TSX w/6MT is a great compromise, the car is beautiful, its roomy, it revs, its quick'ish , it has an excellent suspension setup, and a bunch of performance potential. Yes its large, and not FAST, but its still very fun to drive.

Oh and its a Honda. WORD.

Yes, I'm a fanboi.

mucter

LOL haha

BB_inc

Woe is me who wont experience the joy of hour long traffic shifting, woe is me who wont experience the thrill of a mt daewo-i mean tsx, woe is me who wont experience a comfortable hassle free ride, woe is me who prefers luxury over a sporty lawnmower. Oh well at least you get to enjoy all of the above

wackura

I work at home sucker. If I believed any of those things about the car I wouldn't have bought it. Comparing the TSX to a Daewoo is all the proof anyone needs that you are a troll.

mucter

I won't go so far as to say that you made a mistake in buying a slush-box. But i will say that you kinda brought all this harshness on yourself by coming into an enthusiast's forum and telling all of the enthusiasts that their cars are pointless and lame and un-sporty. Even if you do own one.

mucter

Yeah, I work 3 miles from my house. I need a 6MT to have some excitement on my short commute.

BB_inc

I'm a troll because I confused the tsx with another underpowered lawnmower? Sorry if I sound like a troll, but there's nothing to be "enthused" about with a tsx. It's an underpowered entry level luxury sedan, you don't see too many people buying manual minivans, or arguing about them for that manner. If you have 30k and want an mt get an appropriate car, or wait for the v6 model.

mucter

Dude, you are relentless. Maybe you should pay attention to the heritage of the TSX. Maybe checkout the fact that RTR has won several championships with the TSX... I mean, give me a break, its not a lawnmower...

Why on earth did you buy this car if you dislike it so much? Go get something else. Let us live in our world, you go live in your negativity.

BB_inc

You don't honestly believe you're driving a powerful sports sedan do you? Sure lawnmower is harsh, but that's also a part of Honda's/Acura's legacy/stigma. Fact of the matter is there's absolutely no point in owning a mt tsx unless it's the v6 or you add performance upgrades, in which case you should have bought another car. Again though, different strokes for different folks, if you guys were the enthusiasts you claim none of your mts would be stock (most are on this site).

wackura

Does anyone else here with a 6MT TSX find themselves saying, "damn, this car is awesome" at least once a day? This pretty much goes through my mind every other start from a green light.

mucter

Well dude, I took mine home, and immediately made it -not stock-

And I never said it was a "powerful sports sedan". But it is a sports sedan, it doesn't have to be FAST to be sporty. It's relatively light for its size, and its suspension design is second to none. Power can be added later, and is already being worked on. That doesn't mean you have to be debbie downer about it. Find a better value -feature wise- at 30k... I spent a whole month trying, and failed. And no, I don't want a stupid German car that costs thousands to maintain.

And I just find it hilarious that you -own- one of these cars, yet you insist on dissing it.

tisguy409

I know I do.. but that's cuz I still have a 91 Integra as a dd. Going between cable clutch and the tsx's hydro is heaven

mucter

haha, get that ish converted to hydro!

CarbonGray Earl

Wow, this is fun.