Hey all!

I had a 3G TL until last November when I made a questionable decision to give into my urge for a fast car. Alas, I traded it in and got an '06 GTO.

However, 14-15 mpg has brought me to tears these last 6 months

Now that I've gotten the "I'm young, have sports car handy" phase (for now), I wanted to see what I should be on the lookout with a 2G TSX.

I found what seems to be a clean CPO here in town, with the technology package in white (my beloved TL's color), but wanted to see what I should pay attention to during the test drive today!

Most consumer reviews i've read seem to praise it.

Thanks, and hope to be back to AZine!

 

If you're looking for a "sportier" TSX, and are coming from a GTO, I HIGHLY recommend that you set your sights on a manual. My 2 cents...

 

listen for engine pinging and brake squeal. both can be fixed but just keep your nose open

 

you should look out for: lack of power.

LOl

well, its good enough for a DD, and i came from a civic, so upgrade for me. but downgrade in power for you since you had a TL and a GTO.

 

test drive the stick first, then youll be disappointed with the auto

 

2nd, this car is slow as balls so be prepared for that, otherwise it's a nice car to cruise in and get decent mpg.

 

question; why are you looking for a second gen? all of them are used and who knows how the previous owner took care of the car.
on second note. if ur coming froma gto, which halls balls and you want something stylish, good gas mileage, and refined, why not go for the 2010 or 2011 tsx v6? thats what i have. ive had 4 banger acuras befor and the torque, well..there really isnt much unless u know how to launch, have good tires and some engine mounts. i think you would like a tsx v6, they go off like a rocket without much attention to the throttle so u/i have to be careful. befor i know it im going 65mph and im like "oh shit!' the car is so quiet yet has the power to impress a v8'er.
just my

 

i agree with most of the suggestions here if ur lookin for sporty dont make the mistake of getting an auto ... def go manual

 

The TSX is not a slow car. It depends on what you are comparing it to. Compared to a GTO V8 then yes it is slow. You have to know how to maximize the I4. I have the auto and it is fast enough. The car seems to learn your habits with the gas peddle. It is very responsive and you have to know when it responds best. Also, the sport shift mode is a blast. Am I driving on a track? no! It all depends on what you want. You can only go so fast anyways if you live in a major metro area beause of more cars on the road.
You already know what it is like with a guzzling V8. Getting any Acura os better in that department. You have to compromise something. The TSX is a great car. The only complaint is the cheap paint that chips easily. I would say take the I4 and V6 for a drive and make the call.

 

Thanks guys! You can always count on azine! Will keep all of that in mind. Like a few have mentioned, I know the car will be "slower," but I'm ok with that as long as the amount I spend on gas decreases!

 

I did it the other way around, because I was going to get a auto so my fiancee could drive it too. Even without the point of reference of a prior 6 speed test drive I was disappointed. I started the test drive on a hill, and I was like "no way am I buying this". Then the salesman gave me the keys to a manual, and that's what I ended up driving off with. If the little lady wants to drive, she's gonna need to learn stick. I just picked up my second consecutive 6 speed - a 2011 with tech.

It is a slow car. What do you think it should be compared to, a Smart FourTwo? No, it should be compared to its direct competitors in the compact entry luxury class. The auto TSX does the 0-60 sprint in about 8.5 seconds. That's Ford Focus/Honda Civic subompact economy car territory and is abysmal performance for a $30k car. The manual knocks 1-1.5 seconds off that, which makes it respectable, but still trailing the competition a bit.

Other cars in its class, do 0-60 in around 6.5 seconds or better, and thus are notably quicker. The Lexus IS250, Infiniti G25, and the M-B C300 are putting out numbers similar to the manual TSX, but there are no 8 second cars in this class other than the auto TSX. That being said, at $10k less than the competition when comparably equipped, most can live with the relative shortfall in power.

If you're coming out of a performance car like a GTO and want a TSX with any semblance of speedy performance, you're looking at a 6speed I4 or a V6 as the sole options.

 

i came up from a 99 corolla, so it was fast as fuck for me.

 

Some people have mentioned not being able to get the seat adjustments perfect..so they experiences aches after long drives. So I guess, make sure the seats are comfortable for you? Ive had no problem with mine.

 

Definitely. Can't see how you could be satisfied going with the 4. Before I bought the V6 I brought my 02 S-Type in for service and had a 4 cyl as a loaner. I like the car but it felt downright anemic.

 

I agree with brake squeal can be fixed, but enging pinging. Honda has no solution to completely get rid of enging pinging. I have slight enging pinging issue since owning the car. I have 09-041 TSB and PCM software update done, but no help at all. I use Exxon 93. No help. It happen at 2000RPM, most when you are accelerating. sometimes you can hear hint of pining when you cruise at 2000RPM.
The only way not to hear it is revs to pass 2K rpm.
The tade off will be droping MPG.

 

Again, it is all relative to what you may have driven before. As someone posted, they drove a 99 Corolla before and the 4 cyl TSX is much faster.
The car is quick on its feet and maneuvers very well. Is it fast? To some it is. Are you looking for a 400hp + car? If so, keep looking. For the everyday driver this car is great. It is comfortable and feels solid. Also, you can only go so fast on the roads. Also adequate power when getting on the highway. Still love the car!

 

A '99 Corolla comparison? Um, ok. The auto TSX is also much faster than my bicycle - but that doesn't make it fast in the grand scheme of things. The OP is coming out of an '06 GTO. So relative to that, what do you think his conclusion about an i4 auto TSX is going to be - that it's fast or slow? If someone wants a TSX and wants it to be as fast as possible, get the V6. If they want a combination of decent speed and the best driving dynamics available in this model, most reviews state the 6 speed i4 is the way to go.

 

Wow! Relax dude! I just commented on an earlier post about the 99 Corolla. That person said it is fast as fuck compared, to put it in their terms. I did not in any way state that I was comparing it. If you come from any other 4 cyl non turbo motor the TSX is faster than those cars to those people. Personally, the car is fast enough for what I need. If you feel that it is not that is fine. It is not a fucking race car by any means. Not even close and don't think I am saying the car is fast. It is "relative" (word you may not be understanding.
To a GTO it is a turtle (that better)? The TSX inline 4 is one or actually the fastest naturally aspirated engines. (Non turbo). I will do a test soon with sport shift mode. I am sure it will beat 8.5 sec 0-60 mph. I bet I pull low to mid 7's at worst. Is that fast, well for a non turbo 4cyl it is amazing, especially given the weight of this car. I was debating a Hyundai Genesis Coupe before this car. I thought about 300hp and rwd power. I did not do it because it was still only a Hyundai and the dealer responses I received. They were morons!
I went back to Acura because of their solid build and great value for what you get.
Will I get another one after this lease? Maybe so, or maybe a Camaro. Bottom line TSX is a great mix of luxury, performance, and economy. Isn't that what brought all others to the car?

 

Yeah, you go ahead and do that. Throw it in sports shift mode and let her rip. I want to hear all about how you ran 0-60 in the low to mid 7s in an auto TSX.

 

Yes. Absolutely. Its a great mix of luxury, performance, and economy, at a great price. I came up from a 99 corolla like i said. The car is more than adequate for me, and in fact, like i mentioned earlier, quite fast for my purposes. If my last car was a 911 turbo, perhaps id be bummed out, but im more than happy with the power the car offers.

Honestly, for the people bothered by the speed of this car, this car is probably not for you then. Its not a performance car, nor is it a sports car. I could happily point you towards some used mustangs on autotrader...

 

KillerG, now that is a realistic/logical reply to what I mentioned. At least you are not ripping the car to pieces and thinking that it is much comparing it to a Porshe 911 or a Dodge Challenger Hemi..lol
I'm not sure what the average age is on the board. I don't know if anyone remembers the 4 cyls of the 70' and 80's. I was just a kid in the 70's but I remember the Toyotas and Datsuns of the early to mid 80's You may also remember the Chevy Chevette. Those cars could get stuck on a piece of gum as they were so weak. If you compare todays 4 cyls to those cars, that is what is amazing with the power advances. The 4cyls now are more powerful than some 6 cyls back then. I think you really have to appreciate the power being put out by the I4. For now this car is fine. If I want raw power which one day I may, then I will look at a true spors car.

 

+1 killer...i came from an 02 civic so this car was a huge upgrade for me as well.

and i have an auto and i did a 0-60 run and got below 8 sec lol, a lot of magazines stated they got some mid 7's too so

 

I moved from a 2001 Saab 9-5 Aero to a 2010 TSX with 6MT, and of course the Acura isn't nearly as quick as the torque-heavy Saab. And yet I don't mind, because it's powerful and quick enough for my daily slogs through the Philly metro area. The short gearing gives it plenty of punch in the city. As someone else said, it's darned good for a normally aspirated four.

Plus, a satisfying engine isn't all about power. It's also about throttle response, sound, and feel. The TSX's motor sounds and feels much better than my Saab's, so in some ways it's more satisfying. It might be the smoothest four I've ever driven, and the VTEC gives it some real character at high rpm. It reminds me of the early 1990's BMW 318i (138 hp), which was slow, but still a satisfying drive because the engine sounded and felt so good.

All I4 TSX drivers should remember the old adage: "It's more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow."

 

FWIW, I came from an '06 330i auto, previously had a 350Z, and two Maximas to a base '09 6MT TSX and I'm not complaining...

 

FWIW, I came from a '07 M35x auto, and I'm not complaining either.

I think it's all based on expectations. I have an '11 Sports Wagon Auto. Is it fast? Not even close. Did I expect it to be fast? Nope. I was looking for a little luxury, sporty handling, the practicality of a wagon, quiet ride, low maintenance costs, and good fuel economy. After 4 months, I'm convinced I made the right choice!

 

The last few posts were logical and realistic as you were coming from decent cars.
When you have a car that you enjoy getting into everytime you have to go someplace that is when you have a great car. It is also fun to see what it can do. I had a newer Porsche behind me at a light. I took off in S mode and surprisingly took off fast. Of course he saw me take off and quickly caught up effortlessly. It was fun for a bit to have in even think that a TSX was worth messing with. Probably was laughing his ass off but who cares. BTW Porsche are sexy.

 

^ do you have a i4 or v6?

 

Slow is a relative term. I'm old enough to remember when 200hp in a car this size was in the high-performance category, as in BMW M cars etc. So to say this car is "slow" is short sighted.

If you define speed as the time it takes to get from point A to point B, you will find this car to be more than adequate in every situation with the possible exception of a straight-line drag race. If there are any curves from A to B then this car will glide through them effortlessly.

As for the auto transmission, if you use the shift paddles and control the engine speed, then the torque is quite powerful and the engine very fun to drive. I'm sure the manual would be even better, but not everyone is in a situation where they can own one (translation: some of us are married to a woman).

 

a gently used Pontiac G8 GT is sexy if you like GM. . Otherwise, I feel comfortable with my mpg to power ratio in my 2010 V6 tech.

 

I'd say biggest thing is seat comfort (like someone else mentioned).

My parents have an 05 TSX AT, and though I love the car, I get back aches after a while. Take it for a long drive and also test out the engine's capabilities. The biggest surprise for me is the power it throws out on the highway as long as it finds the right gear. I've found the AT sometimes won't downshift unless you floor it.

 

I have I4 Auto. I had the first generation 2007 TSX before this. I do notice the increase in torque in certain situations, particually when slowing down at a light and not coming to a full stop and starting up again. The throttle response is faster and there is a bit more power. I know this as I used to try all different things to see how the car responded. We know the car is not a powerhouse, (how can it be for a 4cyl) and you do see cars ahead of you going faster and you don't knock their doors off when passing in certain situations. What makes this car fun is because it is unpredictable (in good power way) in certain situations. On the highway the car rides really nice especially on slight curves.

 

Actually i got around 7.3sec. 0-60 is pretty easy to measure. just use cell phone stop watch. but i have lighter wheels and summer performance tires.
It is not far off from TSX sport wagan 8.1sec time by C&D on all season tires.

Key difference between Civic/Focus and TSX is that mid range power from 30 to 120mph. there is no way Civic can keep up with it. TSX is pretty heavy car so slow but once it reaches it optimal speeds its pretty good for freeway merging and passing. and it is not much expensive consider as down graded Civic and Focus cost $25K and they dont even have HID and quality of leather or interior. or ELS stereo.

 

7.3 seconds is impressive for the auto TSX, but isn't it true the Civic SI can hit 0-60 in the 6's? (assuming the driver is competent)

 

CiviC Si is faster than V6 Accord Sedan. simply Civic Si is ligher, 6MT, lower to the ground. TSX is acceptable compromis between performance, fuel economy.