ASPEC I4 vs V6? Which one to get?
 

Now that Acura has announced the I4 ASPEC is coming for US customers (I hear folks in Canada already have it), I am trying to weigh which one would be better to buy. I hear many of you still complaining about the ZF9. Reliability/long term ownership wise it might be better to have the DCT and the lightness of the I4 vs the buggy ZF9. Should I get the V6 ASPEC now or wait for the I4 to come out? Does anyone know what the feature list is between the I4 and V6 ASPEC? What do you guys think? Thanks in advance!

Hard to tell anyone which one to get. Really comes down to how you like each one in a test drive. I like the get up and go feeling on the V6. Ironically though if the I4 Aspec came with a manual transmission I'd be all over that. You'll probably get a better deal on a current V6 Aspec instead of a brand new released I4 Aspec. I don't think there are any differences besides engine and transmission between either ASpec, I'll let the guys up north chime in there.

As far as long term ownership I think you'll be fine with either. I don't get the impression that the ZF9 is buggy as much as that's how it performs based on it's design. "Supposedly" the 2018+ have worked out the issues that warranted replacement transmissions, only time will tell. My '18 ASpec has been great, not perfect, but overall I would have still bought again given the choice.

Given the small delta of price, go with the V6. It transforms the car.

If they replace the anemic 2.4 NA engine with 2.0t from Accord I will vote for the 4 cyl ASpec.

^ Pretty much zero possibility of anymore engine changes for the 1G, esp with only one model year left.

Having just had the 4-cyl as a loaner for the past week, and thinking it'd be acceptable with a DCT, I realized it is still too noisy, peaky, and slow, unbefitting of a luxury sports sedan (IMO).

I find the 4-cyl quiet, fairly linear in torque, and plenty fast for 99% of my needs. Perfectly befitting of an entry level sporty sedan (IMO:toocool:).

To call the 2.4 noisy is an exaggeration. I say that having owned both the 3.5 SH-AWD and now 2.4. The car is very quiet and the torque is just fine for city driving and is excellent for highway passing. It really comes down to what you want in a car, but the 2.4 mated with the excellent 8speed DCT is a tasty combo, IMHO.

As for differences between the Canadian I4 ASpec and V6 SH-AWD ASpec (only V6 SH-AWD in Canada), other than those related to the engine and transmission, the only difference is a 4 way power passenger seat on the I4 vs an 8 way power passenger seat on the V6.

You also don't get ventilated front seats when I was comparing the V6 ASPEC Tech package to the 2.4L Tech package in the US. Is that true with the Canadian models? Thanks guys! It seems it will come down to a test drive and price. I wonder if they are releasing the I4 ASPEC as a 2018 or 2019 model. There might be better deals out there to get 2018 V6 ASPEC vs a brand new 2019 I4 ASPEC like Speed_Racer mentioned.

To get ventilated seats, you would need to get the Elite (Advance U.S.) or the Elite ASpec - for either the 2.4 or the 3.5. To clarify, we have a total of 10 model packages - Base, Tech, Tech ASpec, Elite, and Elite ASpec - for each of the 2.4 and 3.5 cars. Wild and wacky Canucks who give equal love to 4 and 6 cylinder owners:) Enjoy the test drives and I look forward to hearing about your decision.

Not trying to offend 2.4 owners as we all have different budgets/needs, but having gotten used to 6/8-cyl cars, non-boosted 4's just feel like they need twice the amount of effort/noise to get up to speed. Turbo-4's solve that problem for the most part (at least in the german applications), but still have that light/spongy feeling characteristic of all 4 bangers. It really is sad that 6-cyl's are becoming less attainable, and replaced by turbo 4's that get similar or worse real-world MPG's.

Not true. If you haven't driven the 2.4 DCT combo, then go check one out. My TLX is the first 4-cyl car in my family and definitely does not feel anemic. About the same level of quickness when compared to my previous two TLs. The DCT really does transform the car in my opinion. Sadly, the rest of the car isn't built to the same level of refinement though.

I'm older and like linear power with low-end grunt, so.....V6.

If you are of the fuel-sipping variety and you want a lighter, livelier-handling FWD car...I4 is your choice.

That's the beauty of the TLX range....there is a range for many types of buyers.

Ultimately, OP, you have to test-drive both and decide for yourself. I did, and chose the V6 SH-AWD. Still enjoying it, though as I keep whining, I wish it had a man pedal.

I did drive one for a week expecting to be wowed, but came away feeling that it wasn't a huge improvement over the TSX's buzzy and "just adequate" 2.4 + 5AT combo.

Having also had TLX V6 loaners before, I'd much rather put up with its laggy 9ZF and still be able to accelerate like a bat out of hell when needed (I'm sure you recall that feeling from your TL's V6). Maybe I've just been spoiled from driving V6/V8 MT cars for too long :tomato:

Yeah, the TL V6 was definitely nice and would love to have that back. It's just for me, the 9ZF was too much of a deal breaker, granted I test drove earlier versions. I did not want to relive my 2G TL transmission issues lol. I guess I find the the 2.4 TLX adequate in terms of acceleration for my daily driver needs, but to each their own.

Also, I think some people are choosing between the 8DCT and the 9ZF, versus between the 2.4 and the V6. Kind of an unfortunate scenario for Acura.

Acura, do you hear us?
we want a FUCKING STICK SHIFT OPTION!

I can hardly imagine a more fun idea that having a 2.4 TLX, and a few (or more) years later, when it came time to get a new car, keeping it instead of trading it in, then since it was your "second" car, you could make it into a "project" car, install a Turbo, etc. etc.

I went with the V6, but the idea of adding a turbo later on, down the road, makes me wish I'd gone with the 2.4 instead, since it'll have more room to work in and be a little lighter. :D

No Chris, no sir...
by the time you do that your residual resale value will be lower than your cost to turbo it.
Unless you're balling like that but if you're gonna do something fun like that, start with a platform meant to be fun like an S2000 or something.
My opinion.

I'm glad I'm not the only one (see a few posts up).

Why is this such a difficult concept to understand? Yes, the take rate will be in the single digits. But we enthusiasts who would get a man pedal TLX A-Spec would have goofy grins on our faces. I know I would. TLX is a NICE car as is. Just needs *that much* more sport.

Well look, if some uncle or whoever says to me: "hey, you want this S2000? It's just collecting dust here in my barn, why don't you take it?", I wouldn't refuse - but, the TLX is quiet, comfortable, pleasant to drive every day, or 3 hours on the highway... I would just pop a grin so wide my head would come right off like a campaign cork, if I could flick a switch, and suddenly wake up an inner beast w/500 HP and stiffened active suspension (aftermarket).

Just imagine some guy pulls up next to me in his Stinger, chuckles, and thinks "aww, look at the poor little TLX.." then I give him the beep beep - oh, it's on? And I pull away and wave goodbye with a smile...

I think it depends on how you drive. If you like to use that extra low end torque with a heavier foot, some of that additional fuel efficiency will likely disappear. You don't need the extra power, but when you have it, it's tempting to use:)

^^^that's definitely true...I'm known to get 5mpg less than anyone else in any vehicle. :tomato:

Chris, yes, of course...just saying, who cares about embarrassing a guy in a stinger. he's in a kia no matter what.
every car is good at different things and i think spending that kind of money to make it something it's not supposed to be would be foolish.

I got the 2.4 and it seems like plenty, at least for my driving needs. 206 hp may not look good on paper next to it’s competitors, but it has enough pick up for an every day driving vehicle, great for city and highway, good gas mileage, plus it comes with 2 Sport modes if you want to occasionally get that quicker feeling

the tech, apple car play, LEDs, the look of the car is awesome, also I’m a fan of the 8-speed DCT

I think the 2.4 has a timing chain also as opposed to the V6 has a timing belt, for those keeping the car that’s always a pricey fix

and Bob...yes sir, I know you're a stick guy.
You know, a guy that likes stick. Like me. Call me sometime. Maybe?

Seriously, I did see that...like with a manual wagon with 6.2 and a SC that nobody will buy...make it, c'mon...because, you know, YOU CAN. It'll be worth more money to those that want that and to those that don't fuck em...let em take their autonomous bus ride with self adjusting cruise and lane assist and park assist and facebook linked nav...

I'm not saying spend a lot on it - makes no sense to me in the first place that it would cost thousands to add a basic, decent turbo to a fairly ordinary car - other than labor (if you do the install yourself) the parts shouldn't cost more than a few hundred bucks for decent quality.

Of course, yes, I've driven a variety of 4 cylinder cars for years - as far as NA 4 bangers, the 2.4 TLX has to be one of the best.

For most everyday use, I'd be more than happy with it - just sometimes I want to feel the thrill of more powerful acceleration. It's not something I need to be happy with a car as my daily driver, but I got the V6 because for years, I had had the 4 cylinder VW GTi and was always sad that I hadn't been able to get the VR6 version. I cried if I saw "soccer moms" driving the 6 around (I guess I am, or was a little sexist, yes, sorry...) I honestly thought WTF, they have the six, and I don't - that's so whack, so sad... Now I have the six (TLX) and I find I'm a little sad about it's lack of low rev grunt - I really want that slam me back in the seat 0 - 30 MPH torque, some day.

:rofl:

And God Bless Bob Lutz for making the call to do that rare wagon that sold only 514 copies, but that many car peeps lust over. I will mourn his passing when he is gone for this one crazy decision.

Will we remember Jon Ikeda the same way? (OK, he was the project leader for the 3G TL, so I already have the warm fuzzies for him and his leadership). So far, we've got baby steps ahead with the A-Spec.

:hijack: , sorry OP! Which one did you choose, by the way, OP? I4 or V6?

If I was putting a turbo on my TLX, it'd be to save money, because I can't afford a nice car that already comes with a Turbo (unless you consider the Honda Accord 2.0T to be a "nice car" - I think the Accord is OK, and great value - very good all around car, but not quiet like the Acura, not the same level of aesthetics either).

I want to put a turbo on my car for $1,000 or less - it really shouldn't cost more than that - it's not that complicated of a system, it simply makes no sense how much they cost for the more expensive ones, how much people seem to be paying, seems almost insane to me. Yeah, I know it has to be built precisely, very balanced, etc., but so do many other devices that cost a few hundred dollars or less.

With turbo engines becoming commonplace these days, the price for a typical turbo should drop by at least 90% compared to when they were rare and "exotic". It won't be long until some of these Honda turbo engine cars end up in junk yards, maybe then I'll finally get one?

put it back into his lawnmower!