Tony Pac

Interesting video: Acura's Game-Changing TLX - Autoline After Hours 262

CheeseyPoofs McNut

I love his response to the question about comparing the TLX to the Taurus and Maxima

Tony Pac

ya me too!

I wanted someone to ask about the exhaust tips but no one did

Rocketsfan

If you guys are going to watch the entire show, don't stop watching after Matt Hargett leaves the set. When they come back from the break after he leaves, they continue talking about the TLX, Acura, etc. and are a bit more candid about their feelings about the Acura design language. I pretty much agree with everything they said during that portion.


And, yay, the BWP looked great ...

Tony Pac

True...keep watching! once Matt leaves they discuss also about Acura's future design and planning.

Overall, good show!

jammerz-TL

One of the questions asked why TLX doesn't offer heated steering wheel and rear seats like some of their competitors. However here in Canada we do get heated steering wheel and heated rear seats. Was scratching my head why Matt didnt mention that and replied that its options they will look into going forward.

JustinZ

Too bad no questions about a type S

weather

At least he laid to rest the question about PREMIUM fuel!! I was like YES....finally, an official answer!! Recommended but NOT REQUIRED.

Quandry

I wonder how many people will use a lower octane fuel to save a little money, and if any of them where the one complaining about 0-60 times or that the 3.7 engine should have been used.

There is a debate about the actual savings as the lower octane gas will result in somewhat lower mpg. It would be interesting for someone to do a test with the TLX and then do the math.

BEAR-AvHistory

If you can afford to put in the recommended fuel why buy the car?

tlxsteve

I think you meant "can't". If so, some equate common sense in saving money to common cents in their finances, especially if the mileage is the same.

Also $40K is relatively cheap for a car nowadays.

Quandry

My sales rep mentioned more than once that I could use "regular" (89 octane) gas, but for now I am going with the Acura recommend rating. I will also follow the recommended maintenance schedule from the Maintenance Minder, as I have done with my previous cars, and will not be using synthetic oil as the Maintenance Minder does not factor this into the schedule. I likely pay a bit more for service every 5-6,000 miles than a car using synthetic oil that gets serviced every 9,500 miles, but there is peace of mind knowing that everything is fine.

weather

Don't get me wrong guys...I will ALWAYS put premium fuel in my Acura....ALWAYS!! For me, saving 3-4$ per tank (here at Costco), therefore, 12-16$ a month makes it a no brainer for me.

I was making the statement because there is always a thread that will go back and forth about whether or not a person could put non premium in their Acura. I agree 150%, you shouldn't be buying a premium sedan if you are that worried about putting premium fuel....that is me, but for all of the people wishing Acura would tell if premium is recommended or required, now we know.

ggesq

iTrader: (1)

Cliffs on the video?

Also, the manual says premium fuel is recommended. Why is that unclear?

weather

^^ I haven't read the manual as I don't own a TLX but you know that it is just a matter of time before someone brings up the topic.

Quandry

If you have the time/interest the manuals are available for download.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

you wont be saving money at the pump using regular fuel

CheeseyPoofs McNut

I think I read somewhere that the engine can detect if a lower octane is being used and it does run differently. I suspect that would mean a loss of HP - not sure about the MPG's.

BEAR-AvHistory

Its not common sense its, false economy. ECU retards the ignition with lower rated fuel reducing both economy & performance.

Agree $45/50K is not a bucks up car but maybe someone buying a $45K car then running it on low octane gas in an attempt to save $2.50/3.00 a tank full should have purchased a $32K car, national average price, that will run on regular.

One of the major differences between the Accord V6 & the Acura V6 is the 10.5 vs 11.5 static compression ratio. The higher the compression ratio the higher the octane requirement.

CheeseyPoofs McNut

Haha - I missed that. With all due respect my friend I don't think 40k and "relatively cheap" belong in the same sentence.

For most (most means < 50%) people a $25k new car is expensive. That's why we have 5 and 6 year loans for cars now. You may be living in a bit of a bubble if you think 40k is relatively cheap for the masses.

tlxsteve

I guess it is all relative. No I did not inherit money from my relatives.

For this car type compared to others in its class, it's cheaper.

Now NSX or Porche, those are not cheap or in this class.

tlxsteve

I guess it is in how you drive the car. I was sold on the idea to always use premium in my Acuras and did so since 2004, religiously. When I knew I would be selling my 2011 TSX, I decided to use unleaded regular for 1 year. The mileage per gallon was the same on regular or premium. I don't drive my car like a sports car, but found it was responsive when I needed it.

I do drive highway traffic 75% of the time at 10 feet above sea level with no mountains or snow. Maybe that plays a factor.

To each his own. Myth or not, I believe this debate will not die anytime soon.

I lease my 2015 TLX, but I will probably use premium for a while and then venture back to regular to see if I notice a difference.

BEAR-AvHistory

^^^^^^
Actually if you lived in the mountains you could use lower octane. Some mountain states 89 is as high as they sell & 87 is the most commonly used gas..

tlxsteve

Cool. I learned something new today. That's always a good thing.

I guess it shows I never lived in the mountains.

CoquiTSX

I have been using regular on my 05 TSX for the last 9 yrs. I tried all the grades when I bought it with no difference in MPG. Since the theme/debate came up again I have been putting premium for the last three months with no change in the MPG.

rockyfeller

iTrader: (6)

The premium fuel thing has been a back and forth thing and question for awhile. There was an old thread on the 3G forum that considered a lot of factors as mentioned and laid it to rest. Regular will work, because the car adjusts for it, but it is saving you less than you realize and not worth it.

But tlxsteve had a good point, why pay more for the perception of "premium" if you don't have to and there is no difference besides price? The answer is not "because it is not a big price difference". You may have the money but why pay for what you don't need? The answer is because there IS a difference with the octane and that is why it is recommended for the car. It is worth the slight extra cost.

jjsC5

I don't understand the comments that you won't save as much as you think. Regular fuel should get at least as good mileage. Premium actually burns slower and in theory could get worse mileage. In reality, it would depend more on how you drive and in same type of driving any differences would likely be negligible. But not worse. So you would save what you save at the pump. And performance would be negligible as well. It's almost impossible to feel five or even ten horsepower, but you may feel a slight difference in throttle response from timing being pulled.

ScottLong

Ya there we go. Compared to the overall population it's still a expensive car.
Any car over 30k is edging into the 'expensive' segment. There is a reason that luxury cars are still only around 15% of the overall market. Most of us posting on car forums live in areas where there's lots of expensive cars so we are used to this. But when I was visiting certain parts of the Mid West and States like Utah,the Dakotas etc etc.you see like 1 BMW/LEXUS/MERCEDES out of every 20 cars or something.

The TLX is a expensive buy to the average person, it's just less expensive compared to it's competitors.

BEAR-AvHistory

$31K is the average price in the US. Don't know what the median price is but median would be the break point.

Nedmundo

Yes, but we all need to remember that's for new cars, and most are bought used, so the average price paid for a car is much lower.

nhester

Have owned TL-Tech (2005; 2010) and now 2015 TLX-Tech. Have always used premium fuel --- and ethanol-free when available (~99% of time)! Not really sure whether ethanol-free provides any advantage... but feel "why not?"

ScottLong

It's not 31k MSRP though. That's 31k out the door. Sales price is after everything's included. Which is an all time high but the luxury cars are also getting more expensive.(Outside of CLA/A3)

A car around mid 20k's to high 20k's MSRP is a good car but it's not a expensive car.

ScottLong

The United States is still not buying luxury cars the way the luxury industry thought they would.

Luxury Share of U.S. Auto Market Remains in 10-11% Range | The IHS Automotive Blog

Despite great cars coming from the luxury Brands, the shares have remained the same. 10% of the overall Auto Market.


Because most Americans still feel like it's too much money, especially when you can get a top level Hyundai or a Buick now for cheaper but also have very good amenities.

CheeseyPoofs McNut

Is that the average price of a new car or the average price paid for a new car. I can't seem to find any definitive numbers for average price paid across the board.

And in other news - A recent study shows that the majority of US households can't afford that average car price.

click -> Who Can Afford The Average Car Price? Only Folks In Washington, D.C.

I'll bet the average price paid for new cars is closer to 25k and that's a stretch (6 year loan for many) for the majority of average schmoes who work for a living and have families to take care of.

a77

You have to use synthetic. The engine is designed for 0-20 and I believe 0-20 is only available as synthetic. There is no dinosaur 0-20. So using another oil viscosity in theory (though unlikely) could lead to warranty disputes if you have problems. Just why do it at all?

Not sure down south but at my delaership synthetic changes are $5 more than dino-oil (used in older Hondas). Easily worth the extra. What's $55 bucks every 5-10,000 miles whenever Maintenance minder says? Maybe Acura charges more for oil changes - in which case get it done at a Honda store. It all goes into the same service database.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

actually, most oils are blends.
that Honda dino oil is a blend.
that Honda synthetic oil is a blend.

blends are classified as grp III oils and cover your most brands out there; pennzoil, mobil1, castrol, etc.


Grp IV oils are true synthetics.
this is the 0w-40 M1, the Redline 5w-30, castrol ow-40Euro spec

Quandry

I will use what service recommends, e.g., dino, and plan to put in 150-200K of regular driving with regular and timely servicing. In my experience it will make do difference to the engine over that time, so why spend more. If the Maintenance Minder calculated less frequent service intervals then it would make sense. So:
- Use synthetic as recommended for long service intervals of ~9,500 miles . The quality of dino for that interval would be in bad condition, likely damage the engine, and void your warranty.
- Use dino as recommended for shorter service intervals of ~6,000 miles. Life of the oil at the end for dino would just about gone. Synthetic would still have about 40% of life left and you are throwing it away.

The engine when stripped at 200K after using synthetic may look perfect but who cares, I am done with it.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

^that's because MOST oils are blends.

this is why today's modern Dino oil can last 6000 miles or more.