I just got back from the Acura ILX ride and drive event in Philly. I drove both manual and automatic versions. As I was driving the manual, I noticed the rpm's in 6th gear doing about 80 was well above 3,000. To me that's awful high. My question is, do the 6mt TL's tach as high in 6th gear on the highway? My 07 auto TL is about 2,200 at 80. Thanks.

 

probably not. at 80 i think i'm around 2.5k in my 2004. It's the relatively weak 4 banger combined with a short ratio 6mt.

 

I'm 2500 @ 72 mph in 6th.

 

I'm looking to replace my 07 next year sometime. I'm on the fence about getting a manual or auto. I drive alot of highway and I like a nice low rpm while highway driving.

 

You need to immediately jump off that fence!! And enjoy rowing your own in a car that's made for 6MT.

 

Friday I drove a bit on a freeway and happened to remember when I was going 74-75 mph - my tach said 2500-2600 rpm's.

 

The TL engine revs pretty low by Honda standard... so naturally it will rev lower on the highway. The ILX engine is made to rev... 80 mph at over 3000 rpm sounds about right. It is butter smooth so I wouldn't worry about it.

 

I'd go out and test drive a 6mt if I could find one in my area. Around here they are all auto.