neuronbob

So I'm on the cusp of ordering a TSX wagon. The only deal breaker at this point is the lack of a spare tire. I find this unacceptable from any automaker (not just Acura). While I'm sure I can source a TSX spare tire from eBay or a junkyard, another concern is the way the extra storage area is configured--it's done in such a way that you can't get a spare in even if you wanted to. Was just at the dealer, again, test driving and also poking around in the rear of the TSX wagon.

Has anyone taken out the lining of that rear compartment? If so, is it easy to remove? Is there still a metal depression in the floor allowing a spare tire? Pix of same? I didn't want to take apart the rear of a car I don't own, so I didn't do it myself. In any case, if there is space and the lining is easily removed, then my concerns are allayed. My plan if this is the case would be to leave the lining in other than when I'm traveling out of town....in which case, I'd use the space to carry the spare.

Thanks!

mrstak

iTrader: (1)

Is this the same the 2012 TSX sedan? I'm in the market for one...

neuronbob

I believe this applies only to the wagon. In my searches on Acuranews, the news seems only to apply to the wagon.

Cajun

According to Acura, all dealers can provide a spare as a dealer option.

Another option is a spare out of an Accord. Due to the amount of accords on the road there is a good chance you can find a 2008 or newer one wrecked in a local junk yard.

mrstak

iTrader: (1)

So the 2012 sedan should have a spare tire? Ugh I hope it does...

spdandpwr

The sedan does, I just checked!

neuronbob

USDM Accord spares should be a dime a dozen and easy to find, there are hundreds of thousands of them.

Now all I need to know is how easy it is to pull off the covers in the rear compartment so I can use said spare.

As a last resort, I counted 58 brand-new 2011 TSX wagons nationwide on Acura dealer lots (via Autotrader), three in my favored color combination and five in my second choice color combo. Given that I plan to keep the car for some time, I don't mind buying an "older" model. Hopefully my dealer would be willing to do a dealer trade for one, should it come to that. The 2011 has a spare as part of the purchase price, so something to consider.

And before you ask, YES, I am THAT serious about a spare. I'm not waiting hours for a tow truck when I do one of my regular trips to Colorado....middle of nowhere, Kansas, on I-70, is not appealing with a flat tire.

ceb

Aside from the spare (and a color change due to the tsunami) I know of no difference between the 2011 and the 2012.

I know what you mean about middle of nowhere. I drove from DC to Colorado Springs last summer and those 20,000 miles through Kansas on I-70 were the longest ever.

neuronbob

^^^^
That is my understanding as well.

I forgot to mention the five-year-old and the wife who loves ice-cold AC at all times. No, an hours-long wait for a tow truck in warm weather in Kansas, is like being stuck in Hell.

I hope the beancounters who make these decisions have a flat tire (preferably a sidewall rupture) in flyover country, preferably 300 miles west of Kansas City on the High Plains. That will change their tune fast! *note* This has actually happened to me. With a spare, it's a 15-minute inconvenience.

PyroDave

kansas? i live across the bridge from NYC. literally, google George Washington Bridge, you may see me driving it... lmfao. i got a flat tire at 2am coming off the Major Deegan. hit a pothole hard. watched my TPMS show me the pressure going 33-25-20-15-14-12-11-10. AS IM ON A BRIDGE(between state lines too). i make it off to where the busstop is, where there is an entrance from my town, call roadside. "sorry sir, we can't drive onto the NJ Turnpike to get you" i was like "im not on the turnpike!!" they were of no help. i changed the tire myself. had i not, i mean i likely woulda waited 2 hours for Turnpike towing... and even then, i wouldn't have had a car. if it blows out, i couldn't drive until i go to the acura dealership. i will never drive a car without a spare

1supafly

I dont know man, my dads '11 tsx wagon has a spare...why wouldnt it have one? are you sure it doesnt have one?

mcteague

The 2012 wagon does not have a spare. That is one thing that really ticked me off about mine. Nice to have the extra storage room though and I have not had a flat in decades. So, guess I'll live with the compressor and "Slime" they give you instead.

Getting a spare and jack from a junked Accord seems like a good idea.

Tim

neuronbob

^^^^
Lucky. I pop one tire a year, on average. Cleveland's potholes outdo everybody else's potholes.

No one's taken their 2012 wagon storage area apart yet? ATM, I'm leaning toward finding a leftover 2011, but if I can get a 12 easier, I'll have to be the index case, I guess. I am a born modder, after all, thanks to Acurazine, and (as usual) I will post pics.

**shakes fist, yells "Damn you, Acurazine, for making me mod my car and showing me how to mod a car in the first place!" for the millionth time in ten years on the site.**

1supafly

so the '11 has one and the '12 doesnt??? that's ridiculous... why would they do that?

ceb

yep - weight and cost savings.

Robert4

At least Acura doesn't use those heavy, hard riding, short lived and expensive run-flat tires!

ceb

While the older generation rft rode harder, the tire life was identical to the equivalent non-rft. A Continental Pro Contact SSR had the identical tire life to the non rft continental pro contact.

Cajun

We bought our 2011 in November, they had 2012s on the lot but I wanted the factory spare. The dealer said they had complaints about this. I'd venture to say the majority of americans would prefer the piece of mind of having a real spare.

busyb02

Wha? Color change due to the tsunami? Just curious... whats that about? Not to derail your thread OP, sorry!

ceb

The tsunami destroyed a handful of factories that supplied parts for the automotive industry.

One of those companies produced the pigment for metallic paints. Affected companies (that I know of) were BMW, Audi [white and/or gray] Renault [white] and most whites from Japanese manufacturers.

Other products in short supply were the non-nav chips for BMW 5 series and the xenon headlamps for the Mercedes C series - one reason why BMW was running a "free nav" last year on their 5 series - because they couldn't build non-nav cars.

For the most part, other suppliers have been found or (in the case of colors) new colors identified.

HeavyDuty

WHAT?!??! That's impossible!!! Manufacturers ALWAYS build vehicles the best the can possibly be with no expense spared!!

adam prat

I went to the dealer this weekend and did peel up the rear cargo cover enough to see that there is still a metal depression for the spare tire. It looked like there is basically carpet held in place by clips/buttons and that under this is the good ole spare wheel well. I saw some dense styrofoam in there, and also didn't want to rip anything out of a car that wasnt mine but think a spare will fit.
I emailed 5 local dealers asking if they had any mods/nyc area and nobody responded.
I am going to try farther afield and will let you know if there are any factory recommended mods for this.

robpp

iTrader: (2)

we need a 11 parts diagram and a 12 and see whats different back there.

the funniest thing is the compressor WTF/

WheelMcCoy

Great idea! The spare plus jack plus mounting equipment from the dealer would cost about $800.

But would a 2008 Accord spare be the correct specs for the wagon? I'm concerned about safety.

WheelMcCoy

The 2012 Wagon has a 12 Volt outlet in cargo area. If you need to inflate the rear tires, the compressor power cord won't reach if it's plugged into the outlet in the dash.

At least the designers were thinking. Still, I would have preferred a spare.

adam prat

the dealer has quoted me 800 for the spare tire 'kit' but was unable to tell me the dimensions of the spare tire rim. FYI the 800 kit did not include the tire itself which will run over $100, not installation which actually is surprisingly extensive. They said they basically have to remove the entire under storage carpeting/molded area and re install the new pre molded cover which can accept the spare. Why none of the dealers have specs on the rim size is beyond me. I just included this as my # 1 complaint when I answered the new care owner survey w Acura. As for the accord/tsx spare being interchangeable. Well, they do use the same size wheel 17 inch x 7.5 with a 5-114 bolt pattern and take 225/50/17 tires, the spare is a 16'x4 and I am told would have to actually put it on and see if it physically fits by the gents at 'tire rack'....