PMD TSX

I have to agree with you, both of those cars a freakin sweet. And if I had to choose between the SHO and the TL SH-AWD, I would take the SHO hands down.

Fusion


SHO

09TSXMN

The Taurus SHO does not look $38K good, which is what Ford is saying MSRP will be! To much other serious metal that will retain it's residual better than the bull. Like it or not, the TL stands out, and is growing more and more on me every day in my opinion.

Regarding the 2010 Mazda3, first of all, Colin has too much time on his hands, go out and sell more cars (although very creative and funny on the representation)! The Mazda3 looks better in person, and it is jammed packed with features that the TSX should have had (LED rear lights, Push button start, active HID headlights) to begin with.

kristy7911

not digging the taurus, and not just because its a ford.

Lumryan

You know its funny because, all these cars that you listed, are all the cars that I have checked on.. Every single one.. Not More or less...lol

- Lexus Is- Too small of a Backseat.
- MB C-Class- Too Pricey for little luxury
- BMW 3-Series- Not really a pretty car Period..Too many on the road.
-Pontiac G8- Well I wasnt too serious either. Although 360 Horses sounds fun!

I was getting a 2009, but Now I definitely want a 2010.

TeKNiC3

Didn't like the painted grills on the TL but I think it looks great on the TSX.

ill45

to each his own... i still like the BIG FAT CHROME GRILL! painted grill looks nice for those who wanna tone it down.

Lumryan

Painted grille on the 09 TL makes the front fascia look extremely Similar to a Toyota Camry, IMO.

wackura

Good observation. I think that's true of the TSX as well, although I don't mind the look of the current Camry. It's very sleak. The TSX still looks more bold with its wrap around healights and carved angles. Toyota has a lot of good designs but too often they're middle of the road where Hondas look fun and futuristic by comparison. Especially true when comparing Corolas and Camrys to Civics and Accords.

Mwing

Saw a TL with a painted grille by the dealer in a dealership today. It seems many dealerships are doing this.

kristy7911

I was at my local dealer today, service guy said they had been thinking about doing it too.

wackura

I saw a TL with a painted grill at an Acura dealer in Fife, WA on the showroom floor. Is this the dealer's way of saying "it doesn't have to look that bad" ?

kristy7911

It's pretty much what it sounds like huh? It's like they are admitting that they know it is ugly...

kristy7911

BF said everytime he looks at a new TL, he feels like he needs a really big beer bottle, since the grill looks like a really big bottle opener.

LukeaTron

It's funny 'cause it's true.

ttk5

you could look at it like that...but I walked into a hyundai dealership once and it had a tiburon with new rims and paint job and bunch of other mods. But that isn't to say the stock rims and paint job on the tiburon were ugly in the first place.

I like the new TL by the way like alot

MMsTSX

you are a very small minority I believe.

LukeaTron

The Ford dealership up the street from my office has about 20 Mustangs with different body kits, wheels, custom paint, superchargers... They've all been there since last spring and a new one gets added about once every other week.

wackura

I haven't found a single auto review that gave the styling a thumbs up.

I didn't see them painting the grills on any TSXs in stock. In fact before the power plenum grill hit the streets I'd never heard of anyone painting any grill.

(Cj)

darmok

This whole discussion will seem funny in a couple of years once everyone has gotten used to it (I already have, fwiw). Besides, Mercedes is doing their best to make the power plenum look good.

LukeaTron

That Mercedes isn't my cup of tea but I don't think it looks bad.

wackura

I agree, the Mercedes grill looks reminiscent of the new euro Accord grill. It looks like a biplane coming at you head on. If anything I fault them for not advancing the craft much. I give the power plenum credit for being bold. It's the middle finger of grills.

kristy7911

I got the grill painted today, and the spoiler installed, it turned out even better than i hoped!

MMsTSX

pictures please!!

kristy7911

I will try to get pics up by sat at the latest, after chatting with the body shop guy and our other buddy with a car audio shop right next door, it was totally dark by the time I got home.

SPQRSPQR

wackura

That body style looks dated, like a cross between a last gen 3 series and a 1G TSX.

cmasterchoe

Haha, read a hilarious entry from Jalopnik, which actually quoted another blog called stickshift (from Vanity Fair). It was the "auto review line of the week"

Quote: "I hate to break it to you, TSX: It [front fascia] doesn't really make you look adult. More like a smiling Twink who's nose-deep in Anderson Cooper's bush."

I had to look up what a Twink was on urbandictionary.com ....

http://jalopnik.com/tag/acura-tsx/?id=5157516

wackura

Comments like that say so much more about the person who thought such a thing up than it does about the subject at hand.

ElkGroveJeffy

Can't wait to see your pics! Nice to see fellow NorCal peeps. I pass by Vacaville a bunch when visiting family in Vallejo. I'm on the fence about getting mine painted or not.

wackura

I think it will take me a while to decide wether to paint it. One a nice clear day when the car is freshly clean the chrome looks pretty satisfying. It's only on the dark cloudy days, which most are around here, that it looks rather loud and out of place.

If the MMC ever brings a type-s though I definately want to deck it out with the kit and the painted grill and fancy wheels.

MrOtocinclus

Fellow NorCal peep here. I, too, am on the fence about getting mine painted. When I first got the car I would cringe whenever I saw the chrome in the morning.

My TSX is also Grigio Metallic, and I'm waiting to see some more pics before deciding. Now that I'm used to the chrome, I'm a bit more hesitant to get it done.

Edit: I forgot to mention that I was also thinking of painting the grill black. How do you guys think that would look, a black grill on a Grigio Metallic?

kristy7911

If you decide to do it, Exotic Auto Body in Vacaville does great work! I really like it painted, hopefully the BF will wash my car in the AM, then I will take some pics and post. Getting the sport bumper (front only) on monday, will take more pics after the BF installs it.

wackura

no no no

SPQRSPQR

True. However, I was trying to show the similarities in the design of the front-end of the Fusion, Taurus and the Australian Falcon. Ignoring the chrome/bling bits, the shape of the painted parts look a lot like the front of the the European Ford Mondeo and Focus.

Ford America appears to have settled on using their European design aesthetic world-wide instead of the US option but retaining the chunky/brash/prominent grilles for the Americas.

People outside the Americas find chunky/brash/prominent grilles unappealing and it is probably one of the reasons why American cars don't sell well in Europe.

For the USA market, Acura had to use a chunky/brash/prominent grille design to appeal the American aesthetic; but it's interesting reading here that most of you (and many motoring magazines) did not think much of the Gen 2 TSX grille when the car was released but now it is growing on some of you.

Personally, I like the idea of painting the chrome out of the TSX grille to match body colour but this would probably only work on the darker colours and possibly white: Wasted on silver.

I apologise for using the British spelling of words should it offend anyone.

09TSXMN

^^^ I agree, keep it the same body color. My concern is rock chips, In MN, you are driving on sanded roads for 5 months, I am concerned that the painted grill will look like a speckled egg for me. I am holding out to see how the folks that have had it painted to advise on the durability.

ElkGroveJeffy

I agree with everyone else to keep it the same body color as well if you decide to paint it. Another reason I'm still on the fence is also that I have the venture shield clear bra on the front already to prevent those rock chips you're talking about, plus IMO, now that I'm seeing it everyday, the white and the chrome are not looking that bad to me. I really want to get the front sport bumper kit that Kristy's getting though since I really dig the look. Agh too many things to think about lol

kristy7911

09TSXMN, have you thought about painting it and then clear bra-ing it? thats what I want to do.

09TSXMN

Not a bad idea, if it is just the grill. I would wait 30 days to let the paint cure completely so it can breathe. I don't like the clear bra on the hood because of the "line", but just doing the grill may be the trick.

Where are your pics? I can't wait to see the Grigio version painted.

kristy7911

ok, i posted a couple in the photo gallery. let me know what you think.