I've left the dark side ...
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,607
Likes: 536
I drove the car back from the dealership earlier today and got some apparently crazy-good mileage (40.5 mpg on a 58 mile trip at an average of 58 mph with IDS on Normal... see the mpg thread in this forum). I may stay away from putting the splashguards on the car for now ... I'm still deciding.
Some early and quick observations :
1) The reflection of the vent in the mirror/window is real and even on tinted windows can be annoying at first. It remains to be seen whether or not I'll get used to it. I probably will.
2) The driver-side mirror is akin to looking at a deformed mirror or something in a funhouse. It's far more annoying for me than the reflection is. Again, maybe I'll get used to it.
3) My 58 mile trip was probably 98% freeway. Some of the freeways traveled weren't perfect while others were fairly new. The "quietness" everyone speaks of is there, but I may be a bit oversensitive to quiet after driving my '04 TL for so long. I also have had all season Pilot Sport A/S Plus tires on the '04. But like I said... it was fairly quiet, but not unbelievably so.
4) Again, coming from a 3G, the steering felt a bit loose, but not annoyingly so. I was ok with it.
5) Since I bought an Advance model, I don't have the shifter. I kept reaching for it to rest my arm, but... hey, it wasn't there. lol. It's annoying, but I'll get over it.
6) While, like has been stated, we don't get the manuals in paper form, but rather online and on a CD, I did find a "Owner's Guide" in the glovebox that gives useful info. Wish I had seen that while sitting in a parking lot trying to figure out how to display, modify, do stuff using the controls. Some stuff just isn't very intuitive. However, as with everything, I'm sure reading about it on the CD and doing it a few times will help.
7) The map lady's (the navi voice) voice seemed a bit muffled. I don't know if she is having throat issues or if there's a way to modify that. Maybe that's just the way it is. I'll eventually fiddle around with it to see, but it's not a big issue.
8) I did not test flooring it or anything to see if there was a hesitation... I plan on babying it for a while. lol.
9) I watched the instantaneous MPG graphic on the dash and could tell when VCM was kicking on and off, but in all but possibly 1 instance, I never really noticed anything other than the graphic to indicate it was doing so.
10) I don't know what it read on the 4G windows, but the 3G's always showed "Honda" on the glass and it kind of rubbed some people the wrong way. I really couldn't care less if it said "Fisher Price" or "McDonald's" on it as long as it works, but for those who care, the glass seems to be made by Pilkington and shows the Acura emblem.
11) I noticed a small knick or scratch in the dash on the right side of the center stack. It's pretty small and doesn't seem serious, but it's there. I'm not sure what can be done for this, but that's probably annoyed me more than anything so far.
12) I also noticed a yellow card in my car detailing how to put the car into "car wash" mode. I suggest you read this if you use the one of those conveyor belt car washes. If the attendants take the car through the car wash, hopefully they know what they're doing or can follow the card's directions. I get the feeling pushbutton gear selector may cause some issues in the carwash for some. lol.
13) I showed pics of my new car to a "non-car-nut" female friend ... her immediate response was that it looked good and then later "It's nice that the acuras don't look like they're going the wrong way now". I guess that was a thumbs-up of sorts. I'll take it. lol.
I did catch a guy in a brand new Lexus ES with paper plates pointing my car out to the lady in his passenger seat. I really am loving the Bellanova White ... it's a huge change from my past 2 cars that have been black.
I took some hurried pics. I should've taken some of the interior, but like a moron, forgot to. Check this thread in the Photograph Gallery forum for some pics. I'll update it with some interior shots later :
https://acurazine.com/forums/5g-tlx-photograph-gallery-419/2015-tlx-advance-bellanova-white-pearl-ebony-interior-917057/
More updates to this thread the more I drive and the more I find them ...
Some early and quick observations :
1) The reflection of the vent in the mirror/window is real and even on tinted windows can be annoying at first. It remains to be seen whether or not I'll get used to it. I probably will.
2) The driver-side mirror is akin to looking at a deformed mirror or something in a funhouse. It's far more annoying for me than the reflection is. Again, maybe I'll get used to it.
3) My 58 mile trip was probably 98% freeway. Some of the freeways traveled weren't perfect while others were fairly new. The "quietness" everyone speaks of is there, but I may be a bit oversensitive to quiet after driving my '04 TL for so long. I also have had all season Pilot Sport A/S Plus tires on the '04. But like I said... it was fairly quiet, but not unbelievably so.
4) Again, coming from a 3G, the steering felt a bit loose, but not annoyingly so. I was ok with it.
5) Since I bought an Advance model, I don't have the shifter. I kept reaching for it to rest my arm, but... hey, it wasn't there. lol. It's annoying, but I'll get over it.
6) While, like has been stated, we don't get the manuals in paper form, but rather online and on a CD, I did find a "Owner's Guide" in the glovebox that gives useful info. Wish I had seen that while sitting in a parking lot trying to figure out how to display, modify, do stuff using the controls. Some stuff just isn't very intuitive. However, as with everything, I'm sure reading about it on the CD and doing it a few times will help.
7) The map lady's (the navi voice) voice seemed a bit muffled. I don't know if she is having throat issues or if there's a way to modify that. Maybe that's just the way it is. I'll eventually fiddle around with it to see, but it's not a big issue.
8) I did not test flooring it or anything to see if there was a hesitation... I plan on babying it for a while. lol.
9) I watched the instantaneous MPG graphic on the dash and could tell when VCM was kicking on and off, but in all but possibly 1 instance, I never really noticed anything other than the graphic to indicate it was doing so.
10) I don't know what it read on the 4G windows, but the 3G's always showed "Honda" on the glass and it kind of rubbed some people the wrong way. I really couldn't care less if it said "Fisher Price" or "McDonald's" on it as long as it works, but for those who care, the glass seems to be made by Pilkington and shows the Acura emblem.
11) I noticed a small knick or scratch in the dash on the right side of the center stack. It's pretty small and doesn't seem serious, but it's there. I'm not sure what can be done for this, but that's probably annoyed me more than anything so far.
12) I also noticed a yellow card in my car detailing how to put the car into "car wash" mode. I suggest you read this if you use the one of those conveyor belt car washes. If the attendants take the car through the car wash, hopefully they know what they're doing or can follow the card's directions. I get the feeling pushbutton gear selector may cause some issues in the carwash for some. lol.
13) I showed pics of my new car to a "non-car-nut" female friend ... her immediate response was that it looked good and then later "It's nice that the acuras don't look like they're going the wrong way now". I guess that was a thumbs-up of sorts. I'll take it. lol.
I did catch a guy in a brand new Lexus ES with paper plates pointing my car out to the lady in his passenger seat. I really am loving the Bellanova White ... it's a huge change from my past 2 cars that have been black.
I took some hurried pics. I should've taken some of the interior, but like a moron, forgot to. Check this thread in the Photograph Gallery forum for some pics. I'll update it with some interior shots later :
https://acurazine.com/forums/5g-tlx-photograph-gallery-419/2015-tlx-advance-bellanova-white-pearl-ebony-interior-917057/
More updates to this thread the more I drive and the more I find them ...
Last edited by Rocketsfan; Aug 30, 2014 at 10:22 PM.
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,503
Likes: 319
From: Bay Area, CA
Congrats on the car, I really like the look of the TLX, though the rear is something I need to get used to or see in person to really judge. Last year we got a 2013 GS350 in the family and I can't help but think that the rear of the TLX looks similar.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,607
Likes: 536
Kind of hard to say since the TL was so old and the TLX is so new that I'm still going to go through the break-in period before I try flooring it or anything.
also if you feel like sharing, how much did you TL go for to carmax? and the price on the new TLX?
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 43
Likes: 22
Hope you folks don't mind yet another one of these "I got one" threads :
The TL;DR version : I GOT A NEW Bellanova White/Ebony V6 Advance TLX to replace my black/black 3G TL (hence the "left the dark side" title)!!! Well, I bought her today, but will pick her up tomorrow!
A moment of silence as one of the oldest, if not the oldest, 3G's on these forums is about to be retired. It just hit 246,000 miles on the trip home from the dealership.
My original goal was to get the car to 250,000 miles (actually get it to December/January when I thought deals may be better), but alas, all good things must come to an end. I come here not to just celebrate the new, but to thank the old. Seriously, I feel like a damn dork, but it's going to hurt tomorrow when CarMax gets my 3G. The car had been so reliable until recently that I have no complaints about having owned an Acura... with an AUTO transmission ... that never really gave me many problems. I never babied the car, but I always adhered to the maintenance schedule without fail. I still remember the date I purchased her. I still remember the first time I said "whoa... that's the car I'm going to buy" when I saw a spyshot after I had been looking at buying a G35 for months.
Last week, her alternator and battery died, so I replaced them. This morning, after pumping gas, the "check engine" light came on. When I got the codes read, it apparently came up as being a catalytic converter. I also needed new tires, the oil pump was leaking, needed a new engine mount, new struts, and possibly needed new rotors/brakes as well as renewal of registration and . Amazingly, in the 246,000 miles I've driven the car, I could've sworn I only changed the rear brake pads once and the front ones maybe twice (insane!). I think the rotors are still original or I changed them once under warranty when they warped after I got the car originally (insaner!). The transmission was still original, the starter was still original, etc. By the way, clear bras aren't/weren't made to last 11 years... lolol.
Anyway, when I considered vehicles, here's what I considered and my thoughts on them. Keep in mind I drive somewhat aggressively at times, but I generally don't drive like a maniac, I don't race my car, and my belief is that there are no great cars in the $30-$50k segment - just "great for me cars". And the biggest variable in that statement is "me". Each of us has something we're looking for - we aggregate information and arrive at a conclusion as to which car is the right side of the equation which sums the variables on the left of said equation :
Cadillac ATS 2.0/3.6 : I followed the Caddy ever since it was first released. I've been on Caddy forums reading intently since then. The ATS was always my favorite in terms of design and looks. There's something classically beautiful about this car... it's a bit of a black-tie affair. I think it's a better looking car than the TLX. No matter the 2.0t or the 3.6, it had more than enough punch for me and handled incredibly well when I drove it. The CUE system wasn't the greatest and they got rid of too many buttons IMHO, but I still loved the interior. So futuristic. Well, except for the dash where they should've probably added the configurable display. I really disliked the trunk space as well. I'm a single guy, but I'd like to have a bit more space than what it offered, although this alone wouldn't have stopped me from buying the car. What scared me away from this car was all the nagging issues here and there people were having in the forums as well as the large number of people claiming they weren't getting anywhere near the mileage that Cadillac claimed. Then, of course, all the recalls scared the hell out of me and I lost any faith I had in what was going on at GM. This is the car I wanted to buy so badly when Acura kept delaying the TL(X) release, but oh well ...
Infiniti Q50 : I actually like the sea monster looks of the Q50. I always thought the rear of the car looked like a Hyundai Sonata, but I forgave them for that. The interior to me was a step up from the TLX. I like the center stack with the big screen. That hybrid setup with around 360hp (?) and acceleration from hell... pure awesomeness. Sadly, I never got to experience any of that. The Q50 release was an utter disaster with all the DAS scares, electronics snafus/glitches, etc. I'm sorry, but if I have to reboot my InTouch system because it keeps locking up or even worse, have to pull over to the side of the road and repeatedly restart my car to get the electronics working again, I'd go flipping nuts. I also didn't like the way their upgrade paths worked out where just to get something like blind spot monitoring, you'd have to pay thousands more in multiple packages (from what I recall). But in all honesty, what scared me away the most was the blasted electronics and lousy launch. They've apparently fixed a lot of their issues, but there are still people reporting issues with electronics, smelly cabins, unsupported apps that were promised at launch, etc. I'd wait for the next model year to see if they've improved. I wish this company well, but they're about as helter-skelter and confused as Acura sometimes. Their collaboration with Mercedes and sharing of engine tech may lead to interesting configurations in the future.
Lexus IS 350 : this car was always my enigma. I never got to the point of driving it simply because I could never get past what I saw. At first I thought the predator grille was hideous and Lexus had lost its mind. It looked like they wanted nobody above 35 to buy this thing. lol. The tail lights looked like something Salvador Dali would come up with. The grille looked like they couldn't get enough grille to be happy... WE NEED MORE GRILLE! But as the days grew one, I started appreciating the design. It was a bit oddball and "out there", but I started liking it. I never got used to the interior, though. I loved the seats. Loved the way they supported me. Loved the interior color options. What I never got used to was the one thing I'd be staring at all day long while driving. The interior. It just seemed to be a mishmash of 70's and 80's parts with a touch of 2014 thrown in. I never was a fan of the mouse. And now they're switching to a touchpad, I believe? It's almost like they were trying to out-German, German design, but with a touch of Japan thrown in. The AC controls seemed out of place with the rest of the interior. The superhard plastic door pull area bothered me, as well. Another thing I disliked was that, by the time I put any of the usual major luxury options onto my build, the price shot through the roof. The "value conscience" in me began to object. Along the same lines, I didn't care for the relatively "poor" mileage in the car, especially with the amount of driving I do (anywhere from 20,000-30,000 miles a year).
Acura TLX : When I first saw the Prototype, I absolutely fell in love and nearly freaked out. That thing was awesome. So flippin' awesome. But then the spyshots started coming out, and I was less impressed. Actually I was starting to get worried. It seemed way to tame, but I figured I'd wait until the camo was removed to judge. Then the Acura TLX was released. I seriously thought about puking my guts out when I first saw this car, but I tried to hold back my opinion until I could see more pics and see it in person because I knew pics sometimes lied. When I finally saw the car in person, I liked what I saw. Was it perfect? No. It sat too high. The rear was a bit "blah". It needed more aggression. Maybe 15% more 3-series or IS 350 in terms of design. I really think Acura will bring out a Type-S or something that will up the aggressiveness of this car. I don't think the aero kit is it - it seems like a bit of an afterthought, although I think even that looks better in person - especially on a black car. This had all the tech I needed/wanted within the price range I wanted. At no point did I say "ugh... what should I not buy so I can get this to some reasonable price?" Well, ok, I briefly contemplated getting the SH-AWD, but decided I don't need it where I live and in 99% of my driving, I doubt I'd even exercise it to its potential, so I was happy I didn't have to squeeze that in. The only thing I think I splurged on was the Advance package. I really didn't need it, but thought the ACC could be useful on long trips, the CMBS could be useful whenever I wasn't looking (literally), and the remote start would be nice when in the summer to cool the interior down in the Texas heat, and of course, I think it was Rocket_man talked me into the glory of ventilated seats. lol. So I said, what the hell.
The TLX had enough performance, more than enough tech, at a great price, with a decent probability of good reliability due to heritage that I thought it was the best car for me. I would have liked to have waited for another few months to buy, but decided not to with the issues that were starting to occur with my current car. So I pulled the trigger Thursday. She's Bellanova White Pearl with Ebony interior (hi, weather!
) and is a V6 Advance model. She's getting stuff installed on her, but I go pick her up later tomorrow. Sadly, she already had tint installed on her, but oh well. My sig will be reset tomorrow, and the odometer will start at "7". Here's hoping for another decade or so of fun, reliable driving just like my 3G gave me.
Thanks to everyone who helped me form opinions and who debated intelligently on the forum. Acura, I won't forgive you for making me wait this long for the car, but I'll forgive you if I'm still loving the car in another 5-7 years.
Sorry for the long post and pardon any typos, I'm tired - I think I'll go to bed now.
The TL;DR version : I GOT A NEW Bellanova White/Ebony V6 Advance TLX to replace my black/black 3G TL (hence the "left the dark side" title)!!! Well, I bought her today, but will pick her up tomorrow!
A moment of silence as one of the oldest, if not the oldest, 3G's on these forums is about to be retired. It just hit 246,000 miles on the trip home from the dealership.
My original goal was to get the car to 250,000 miles (actually get it to December/January when I thought deals may be better), but alas, all good things must come to an end. I come here not to just celebrate the new, but to thank the old. Seriously, I feel like a damn dork, but it's going to hurt tomorrow when CarMax gets my 3G. The car had been so reliable until recently that I have no complaints about having owned an Acura... with an AUTO transmission ... that never really gave me many problems. I never babied the car, but I always adhered to the maintenance schedule without fail. I still remember the date I purchased her. I still remember the first time I said "whoa... that's the car I'm going to buy" when I saw a spyshot after I had been looking at buying a G35 for months.
Last week, her alternator and battery died, so I replaced them. This morning, after pumping gas, the "check engine" light came on. When I got the codes read, it apparently came up as being a catalytic converter. I also needed new tires, the oil pump was leaking, needed a new engine mount, new struts, and possibly needed new rotors/brakes as well as renewal of registration and . Amazingly, in the 246,000 miles I've driven the car, I could've sworn I only changed the rear brake pads once and the front ones maybe twice (insane!). I think the rotors are still original or I changed them once under warranty when they warped after I got the car originally (insaner!). The transmission was still original, the starter was still original, etc. By the way, clear bras aren't/weren't made to last 11 years... lolol.
Anyway, when I considered vehicles, here's what I considered and my thoughts on them. Keep in mind I drive somewhat aggressively at times, but I generally don't drive like a maniac, I don't race my car, and my belief is that there are no great cars in the $30-$50k segment - just "great for me cars". And the biggest variable in that statement is "me". Each of us has something we're looking for - we aggregate information and arrive at a conclusion as to which car is the right side of the equation which sums the variables on the left of said equation :
Cadillac ATS 2.0/3.6 : I followed the Caddy ever since it was first released. I've been on Caddy forums reading intently since then. The ATS was always my favorite in terms of design and looks. There's something classically beautiful about this car... it's a bit of a black-tie affair. I think it's a better looking car than the TLX. No matter the 2.0t or the 3.6, it had more than enough punch for me and handled incredibly well when I drove it. The CUE system wasn't the greatest and they got rid of too many buttons IMHO, but I still loved the interior. So futuristic. Well, except for the dash where they should've probably added the configurable display. I really disliked the trunk space as well. I'm a single guy, but I'd like to have a bit more space than what it offered, although this alone wouldn't have stopped me from buying the car. What scared me away from this car was all the nagging issues here and there people were having in the forums as well as the large number of people claiming they weren't getting anywhere near the mileage that Cadillac claimed. Then, of course, all the recalls scared the hell out of me and I lost any faith I had in what was going on at GM. This is the car I wanted to buy so badly when Acura kept delaying the TL(X) release, but oh well ...
Infiniti Q50 : I actually like the sea monster looks of the Q50. I always thought the rear of the car looked like a Hyundai Sonata, but I forgave them for that. The interior to me was a step up from the TLX. I like the center stack with the big screen. That hybrid setup with around 360hp (?) and acceleration from hell... pure awesomeness. Sadly, I never got to experience any of that. The Q50 release was an utter disaster with all the DAS scares, electronics snafus/glitches, etc. I'm sorry, but if I have to reboot my InTouch system because it keeps locking up or even worse, have to pull over to the side of the road and repeatedly restart my car to get the electronics working again, I'd go flipping nuts. I also didn't like the way their upgrade paths worked out where just to get something like blind spot monitoring, you'd have to pay thousands more in multiple packages (from what I recall). But in all honesty, what scared me away the most was the blasted electronics and lousy launch. They've apparently fixed a lot of their issues, but there are still people reporting issues with electronics, smelly cabins, unsupported apps that were promised at launch, etc. I'd wait for the next model year to see if they've improved. I wish this company well, but they're about as helter-skelter and confused as Acura sometimes. Their collaboration with Mercedes and sharing of engine tech may lead to interesting configurations in the future.
Lexus IS 350 : this car was always my enigma. I never got to the point of driving it simply because I could never get past what I saw. At first I thought the predator grille was hideous and Lexus had lost its mind. It looked like they wanted nobody above 35 to buy this thing. lol. The tail lights looked like something Salvador Dali would come up with. The grille looked like they couldn't get enough grille to be happy... WE NEED MORE GRILLE! But as the days grew one, I started appreciating the design. It was a bit oddball and "out there", but I started liking it. I never got used to the interior, though. I loved the seats. Loved the way they supported me. Loved the interior color options. What I never got used to was the one thing I'd be staring at all day long while driving. The interior. It just seemed to be a mishmash of 70's and 80's parts with a touch of 2014 thrown in. I never was a fan of the mouse. And now they're switching to a touchpad, I believe? It's almost like they were trying to out-German, German design, but with a touch of Japan thrown in. The AC controls seemed out of place with the rest of the interior. The superhard plastic door pull area bothered me, as well. Another thing I disliked was that, by the time I put any of the usual major luxury options onto my build, the price shot through the roof. The "value conscience" in me began to object. Along the same lines, I didn't care for the relatively "poor" mileage in the car, especially with the amount of driving I do (anywhere from 20,000-30,000 miles a year).
Acura TLX : When I first saw the Prototype, I absolutely fell in love and nearly freaked out. That thing was awesome. So flippin' awesome. But then the spyshots started coming out, and I was less impressed. Actually I was starting to get worried. It seemed way to tame, but I figured I'd wait until the camo was removed to judge. Then the Acura TLX was released. I seriously thought about puking my guts out when I first saw this car, but I tried to hold back my opinion until I could see more pics and see it in person because I knew pics sometimes lied. When I finally saw the car in person, I liked what I saw. Was it perfect? No. It sat too high. The rear was a bit "blah". It needed more aggression. Maybe 15% more 3-series or IS 350 in terms of design. I really think Acura will bring out a Type-S or something that will up the aggressiveness of this car. I don't think the aero kit is it - it seems like a bit of an afterthought, although I think even that looks better in person - especially on a black car. This had all the tech I needed/wanted within the price range I wanted. At no point did I say "ugh... what should I not buy so I can get this to some reasonable price?" Well, ok, I briefly contemplated getting the SH-AWD, but decided I don't need it where I live and in 99% of my driving, I doubt I'd even exercise it to its potential, so I was happy I didn't have to squeeze that in. The only thing I think I splurged on was the Advance package. I really didn't need it, but thought the ACC could be useful on long trips, the CMBS could be useful whenever I wasn't looking (literally), and the remote start would be nice when in the summer to cool the interior down in the Texas heat, and of course, I think it was Rocket_man talked me into the glory of ventilated seats. lol. So I said, what the hell.
The TLX had enough performance, more than enough tech, at a great price, with a decent probability of good reliability due to heritage that I thought it was the best car for me. I would have liked to have waited for another few months to buy, but decided not to with the issues that were starting to occur with my current car. So I pulled the trigger Thursday. She's Bellanova White Pearl with Ebony interior (hi, weather!
) and is a V6 Advance model. She's getting stuff installed on her, but I go pick her up later tomorrow. Sadly, she already had tint installed on her, but oh well. My sig will be reset tomorrow, and the odometer will start at "7". Here's hoping for another decade or so of fun, reliable driving just like my 3G gave me.Thanks to everyone who helped me form opinions and who debated intelligently on the forum. Acura, I won't forgive you for making me wait this long for the car, but I'll forgive you if I'm still loving the car in another 5-7 years.
Sorry for the long post and pardon any typos, I'm tired - I think I'll go to bed now.
8th Gear
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 8
Likes: 5
Excellent post with useful information. I went through the same thought process recently (and ordered the TLX). The only thing I might add for those interested, we were close to pulling the trigger on the Q 50 as well but after 2 long spells with the TLX, the interior noise on the Q 50 became noticeable. It is funny how spoiled we became with the cabin ride of the TLX.
After 40+ years of buying automobiles, I sort of look at them as a necessary evil and I am far from fussy. This go around we started looking long before necessary, in anticipation of the need in stead of the desire. I judged the TLX to be a fine car and was shocked how much I liked it over the usual suspects.
Enjoy your car, BTW we also ordered it in white.
After 40+ years of buying automobiles, I sort of look at them as a necessary evil and I am far from fussy. This go around we started looking long before necessary, in anticipation of the need in stead of the desire. I judged the TLX to be a fine car and was shocked how much I liked it over the usual suspects.
Enjoy your car, BTW we also ordered it in white.
3G TL/2G MDX Owner
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 5,375
Likes: 979
From: The west side of the Potomac River
Congrats. Makes me wonder how many OG 3G owners are left...my 05 only has 58k miles. If i had the miles you did and the upcoming money pit she was going to become, I would probably make the leap to a TLX as well. I like the TLX in white. Looks good. the trunk spoiler is a good add on. Not completely sold on the wheels, they are better than the I4 wheels (which just look like honda accord wheels).
I enjoy the no car payment and lowering personal property taxes I have on the TL. I still love the car and the 6MT makes it even more of a keeper for me. It'll probably be a while before I get another "new" car. LIke you, it takes me a while to really "shop" for what I want. Look forward to reading about your experience with your TLX.
I enjoy the no car payment and lowering personal property taxes I have on the TL. I still love the car and the 6MT makes it even more of a keeper for me. It'll probably be a while before I get another "new" car. LIke you, it takes me a while to really "shop" for what I want. Look forward to reading about your experience with your TLX.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,334
Likes: 218
From: Indiana
Congratulations to you for "Leaving the dark side" and stepping into the "White". Very nice. I wasn't really a fan of the rear spoiler, but your TLX wears it well. That's great because now I know that mine will too 
Waiting you read your continued reviews and seeing pics of your Ebony interior.
Waiting you read your continued reviews and seeing pics of your Ebony interior.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 491
Likes: 85
From: Calgary, AB
very insightful and useful op. Thanks/congrats. These pretty much are the cars I have been considering though I have only driven the TLX. The ATS has the nicest styling inside and out, has an MT, and crazy lease deals, but is pitifully cramped in the back, which I could live with but has a tiny trunk too. Which is more of an issue. I also like the IS outside but I totally share your negativity about the interior - while the instrument arrangement is very cool, the center stack just shouts cheap plastic. Its trunk is OK and rear room just passable. The Q50 is too much sea monster, and it's electrics scarey. WHich leaves the Acura. The only one that has a standard 60/40. It'll have the lowest running costs. It has to me an awesome ride/handling compromise, great seats, the best trunk, the most rear room, the best auto. Its very quiet in the 4 except when pushed. The base modell is clearly great value and in no way feels basic. Esven the vinyl seats are nice. Cadillac want $1400 for a sunroof! As to which TSX to go for - the ELS, remote, and Navits on the Advance is certainly something I would like, just have to see how much extra the payment works out at. I haven't driven the V6 but probably should. But I did feel the 4 was good enough. Styling is a bit hohum and I prefer the Accord's to be honest. But the Accord has an irritating model layout. The Sport has no sunroof, no XM, but it looks great and is stunning value. The V6s have no MT or manual override on the auto which is totally unacceptable for me.. None have a 60/40 or pass through (though the pass through can be added for about $250 aftermarket). The stereos are crappy. The dash is low rent - even more fake metal. Just give it up. And it is weirdly laid out. The 7 gen was so much better. And it just feels less substantial than my TSX. My lease expires in Sept so I have to do something! My other alternatives are to buy used if something interesting pops up. I love the XF....or I could just get something really cheap and practical and buy a used XK as a toy...
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,607
Likes: 536
Azine Jabroni
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 9,245
Likes: 2,226
From: Austin, TX
Probably a sound decision in Texas, seeing as the weather doesn't destroy our roads every winter. I haven't had a lot of tire problems in Austin, but I blew a tire bad in Chicago (a Chevy Cobalt with a dented rim, yikes)
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,607
Likes: 536
UPDATE:
So I went to a birthday lunch with some friends (3 females and 2 other guys). None of them are really "car people". They started joking about how I had been searching for a new car for over 5 years. As we were leaving, they wanted to check it out. They all loved the looks/styling of the car. One of the guys was flipping out over the push-button gear selector and saying how cool it was. The other feature I showed them that seemed to wow them was the remote start. The heat index outside was about 103 at the time, so I started the car and told them how it turned the AC on at the same time. That definitely bumped up the cool points. Anywho ...
1) on the ride there, there's a curve on a tollway that, for kicks, I used to easily take at 60. The old TL on the Pilot Sport A/S Plus tires used to nail that curve. The TLX on the Bridgestone Potenza RE97AS'es started losing it and almost felt like they were rolling over. Of course, one is more of a performance tire while the other is a touring tire, but I've been warned. I just hope these things get decent wet traction before I put some Michelins or something on them when they wear out.
2) Someone mentioned this in another post about braking causing a rocking motion before coming to a stop. It definitely is there. I'm wondering if it's the dampening mechanism or something. I haven't isolated how, or when it happens because I just noticed it toward the end of my trip, but right when I wanted to test it out again, the final 2 lights on my trip were green, so I couldn't with cars behind me. I think it's when you apply the brakes even moderately hard and even from a low speed. For example, you're going 30 mph and start applying the brakes and start slowing down, but you want to stop even faster, so you mash down a bit harder. The car comes to a stop, but there's a rocking back and forth for 1 or 2 periodic cycles from what I recall. I'll try to duplicate it.
3) I'm sure this is because I'm driving a more powerful car than my 3G, but I have to get used to the speed I'm driving because the footometer isn't doing a good job. I look down and I'm going 10-15 mph over the speed limit in areas with police. lol. I honestly couldn't tell you if I was going 30 or 60 in this car at times. It's not as numb as an ES, though. I can still feel the pavement to a degree, which is a positive. I don't want a "dead" feel when I'm on the pedal. I'm wondering how much better this car would drive and how much of a hit on mileage it would be to switch to a "better" tire?
So I went to a birthday lunch with some friends (3 females and 2 other guys). None of them are really "car people". They started joking about how I had been searching for a new car for over 5 years. As we were leaving, they wanted to check it out. They all loved the looks/styling of the car. One of the guys was flipping out over the push-button gear selector and saying how cool it was. The other feature I showed them that seemed to wow them was the remote start. The heat index outside was about 103 at the time, so I started the car and told them how it turned the AC on at the same time. That definitely bumped up the cool points. Anywho ...
1) on the ride there, there's a curve on a tollway that, for kicks, I used to easily take at 60. The old TL on the Pilot Sport A/S Plus tires used to nail that curve. The TLX on the Bridgestone Potenza RE97AS'es started losing it and almost felt like they were rolling over. Of course, one is more of a performance tire while the other is a touring tire, but I've been warned.
I just hope these things get decent wet traction before I put some Michelins or something on them when they wear out.2) Someone mentioned this in another post about braking causing a rocking motion before coming to a stop. It definitely is there. I'm wondering if it's the dampening mechanism or something. I haven't isolated how, or when it happens because I just noticed it toward the end of my trip, but right when I wanted to test it out again, the final 2 lights on my trip were green, so I couldn't with cars behind me. I think it's when you apply the brakes even moderately hard and even from a low speed. For example, you're going 30 mph and start applying the brakes and start slowing down, but you want to stop even faster, so you mash down a bit harder. The car comes to a stop, but there's a rocking back and forth for 1 or 2 periodic cycles from what I recall. I'll try to duplicate it.
3) I'm sure this is because I'm driving a more powerful car than my 3G, but I have to get used to the speed I'm driving because the footometer isn't doing a good job. I look down and I'm going 10-15 mph over the speed limit in areas with police. lol. I honestly couldn't tell you if I was going 30 or 60 in this car at times. It's not as numb as an ES, though. I can still feel the pavement to a degree, which is a positive. I don't want a "dead" feel when I'm on the pedal. I'm wondering how much better this car would drive and how much of a hit on mileage it would be to switch to a "better" tire?
Last edited by Rocketsfan; Aug 31, 2014 at 06:23 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 203
Likes: 55
From: Wash DC metro
Shouldn't hit mpg much and loads better handling. The BS RE97AS is so-so, and the GY LS2 crap. Problem is the 225/50-18 is a new size and there are few choices right now. But there are two good Ultra High Perf options at the moment - Hankook Ventus S1 noble2 (huh?) and Conti Extreme Contact DWS (on my 3G).
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/survey...jsp?type=UHPAS
May beat the price of a Michelin upgrade.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/survey...jsp?type=UHPAS
May beat the price of a Michelin upgrade.
Last edited by 4WDrift; Aug 31, 2014 at 06:40 PM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,607
Likes: 536
Loads better. The BS RE97AS is so-so, and the GY LS2 crap. Problem is the 225/50-18 is a new size and there are few choices right now. But there are two good Ultra High Perf options at the moment - Hankook Ventus S1 noble2 (huh?) and Conti Extreme Contact DWS (on my 3G).
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/survey...jsp?type=UHPAS .
May beat the price of a Michelin upgrade.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/survey...jsp?type=UHPAS .
May beat the price of a Michelin upgrade.
Mademoiselle Chanel!!
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,129
Likes: 43
From: GA
Rocketsfan, nice pickup! Comfy seats, the ventilated seats are crazy. The quiet cabin coupled with a better suspension was sweet. It felt lighter and was responsive. I'm sure you'll be enjoying this vehicle for miles to come, again congrats!
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,537
Likes: 1
From: Fullerton CA
About the grip on your current tires. I would swap it out now for the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S while the Potenzas are still "new". You can call a few tire shops around and see which one will give you the better trade value. Better to enjoy your new cars ride and handling to the fullest extend than either at 30k-50k miles later when the tires need to be replaced.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,607
Likes: 536
I've lived in Houston and live in the DFW area now, so I'm used to some heat and humidity. It's never been that huge a deal to me simply because I used to drive around with my dad in an old Impala with no AC in Houston. lol. But... I got the Advance model and it does come with "butt ventilation", so I was intrigued. Today was a bit cloudy in the DFW - the temp was only 93-94 degrees when I left the building; heat index was "only" around 102. I left the car parked outside, so when I got to the car, both the front seats registered roughly 124 degrees as I planted my butt into Vesuvius. As a reminder, my car is white with an ebony interior. I turned the AC on (AUTO) and set it to 72 degrees. Vent Mode was set to blow just from the upper vents (as opposed to upper vents and floor vents). AC was set to Recirculation mode. The driver-side ventilation was turned on, but the passenger-side seat ventilation was left off. After approximately 5-7 minutes of driving, my driver seat was reading 83 degrees. The same area on the passenger seat (with no one sitting there) was reading 103 degrees. After that, I had to focus on driving in bumper-to-bumper traffic, so I didn't take anymore measurements for fear of looking like an idiot and more importantly, killing myself and/or someone else.
For a "seat of the pants" opinion (literally), I felt cooler faster than in my 3G, but I don't have anything to compare it to in terms of ventilated seats since my 3G didn't have that feature, and this is the first vehicle I've been in that I know of that had it. Also, something you may be interested in, the ventilation is turned on if you use the remote start, and the ventilation is supposed to cool both the seat bottom and the seatback. You can also adjust the level of ventilation (LO/MID/HI) from the AC controls. Since I set the AC to AUTO, it selected what it thought was necessary when it thought it was necessary. I know the AC in this car cools way faster than my 3G, but then that could just be because the AC is newer than my 11 year old 3G was.
My expectations are probably lower than yours for this feature, so
.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,607
Likes: 536
UPDATE :
Apart from my update above for Rocket_man and ventilation fans, a couple of more updates and stuff I thought about while driving the car. Some of you will read some of this stuff I type and say "this dude must've just been pulled from a pygmy village in the jungle and asked to drive", but give me a break... a lot of this stuff is a big step up from the 3G. lol.
1) Like I said above, the AC cools fast. At least to me it does, but then I've been in an 11 year old car prior to this, so there's that ...
2) As stated earlier, my mileage on my trip bringing the car home was over 40 mpg at an average speed of 58 mph after 58 miles of driving on that trip. Today was the first day I drove in stop and go/rush hour traffic. I haven't reset the trip computer. I currently have 194 miles on the odometer and am at 30 mpg with an average speed of 35 mph.
3) I don't like the AC controls being on touchscreen, but I think I'll get over it. It just takes some getting used to.
4) The CMBS fired falsely once today, I think. It was during an approach to a railroad track and there was no car in front of me. I'm curious to see if it'll happen tomorrow. Maybe there was a dip there or something and the radar in the grille pointed at the ground and thought it was an object ahead or too close. lol. The only other thing I can think of is that a car may have been coming in the opposite direction and there's a curve there that made it think I was going to hit it. No idea.
5) The puddle lights are pretty cool when I come into the garage and they're already on. I don't have to worry about bumping into anything. Yeah, I know - "turn the lights on, moron".
6) The rocking from sudden braking (or forceful/panic braking) as you come to a stop is still there and still a bit annoying. Anybody else feeling this or is it just me?
7) This car really absorbs bumps. I mean really well.
8) The vehicle is equipped with an "event data recorder" according to the manual. I had no idea. According to the manual :
This vehicle is equipped with an event data recorder (EDR).
The main purpose of an EDR is to record, in certain crash or near
crash-like situations, such as an air bag deployment or hitting a
road obstacle, data that will assist in understanding how a vehicle’s
systems performed. The EDR is designed to record data related
to vehicle dynamics and safety systems for a short period of
time, typically 30 seconds or less. The EDR in this vehicle is
designed to record such data as:
• How various systems in your vehicle were operating;
• Whether or not the driver and passenger safety belts were
buckled/fastened;
• How far (if at all) the driver was depressing the accelerator
and/or brake pedal; and,
• How fast the vehicle was traveling.
These data can help provide a better understanding of the
circumstances in which crashes and injuries occur. NOTE: EDR data
are recorded by your vehicle only if a non-trivial crash situation
occurs; no data are recorded by the EDR under normal driving
conditions and no personal data (e.g., name, gender, age, and
crash location) are recorded. However, other parties, such as law
enforcement, could combine the EDR data with the type of
personally identifying data routinely acquired during a crash
investigation.
To read data recorded by an EDR, special equipment is required,
and access to the vehicle or the EDR is needed. In addition to the
vehicle manufacturer, other parties, such as law enforcement, that
have the special equipment, can read the information if they have
access to the vehicle or the EDR.
Apart from my update above for Rocket_man and ventilation fans, a couple of more updates and stuff I thought about while driving the car. Some of you will read some of this stuff I type and say "this dude must've just been pulled from a pygmy village in the jungle and asked to drive", but give me a break... a lot of this stuff is a big step up from the 3G. lol.
1) Like I said above, the AC cools fast. At least to me it does, but then I've been in an 11 year old car prior to this, so there's that ...
2) As stated earlier, my mileage on my trip bringing the car home was over 40 mpg at an average speed of 58 mph after 58 miles of driving on that trip. Today was the first day I drove in stop and go/rush hour traffic. I haven't reset the trip computer. I currently have 194 miles on the odometer and am at 30 mpg with an average speed of 35 mph.
3) I don't like the AC controls being on touchscreen, but I think I'll get over it. It just takes some getting used to.
4) The CMBS fired falsely once today, I think. It was during an approach to a railroad track and there was no car in front of me. I'm curious to see if it'll happen tomorrow. Maybe there was a dip there or something and the radar in the grille pointed at the ground and thought it was an object ahead or too close. lol. The only other thing I can think of is that a car may have been coming in the opposite direction and there's a curve there that made it think I was going to hit it. No idea.
5) The puddle lights are pretty cool when I come into the garage and they're already on. I don't have to worry about bumping into anything. Yeah, I know - "turn the lights on, moron".
6) The rocking from sudden braking (or forceful/panic braking) as you come to a stop is still there and still a bit annoying. Anybody else feeling this or is it just me?
7) This car really absorbs bumps. I mean really well.
8) The vehicle is equipped with an "event data recorder" according to the manual. I had no idea. According to the manual :
This vehicle is equipped with an event data recorder (EDR).
The main purpose of an EDR is to record, in certain crash or near
crash-like situations, such as an air bag deployment or hitting a
road obstacle, data that will assist in understanding how a vehicle’s
systems performed. The EDR is designed to record data related
to vehicle dynamics and safety systems for a short period of
time, typically 30 seconds or less. The EDR in this vehicle is
designed to record such data as:
• How various systems in your vehicle were operating;
• Whether or not the driver and passenger safety belts were
buckled/fastened;
• How far (if at all) the driver was depressing the accelerator
and/or brake pedal; and,
• How fast the vehicle was traveling.
These data can help provide a better understanding of the
circumstances in which crashes and injuries occur. NOTE: EDR data
are recorded by your vehicle only if a non-trivial crash situation
occurs; no data are recorded by the EDR under normal driving
conditions and no personal data (e.g., name, gender, age, and
crash location) are recorded. However, other parties, such as law
enforcement, could combine the EDR data with the type of
personally identifying data routinely acquired during a crash
investigation.
To read data recorded by an EDR, special equipment is required,
and access to the vehicle or the EDR is needed. In addition to the
vehicle manufacturer, other parties, such as law enforcement, that
have the special equipment, can read the information if they have
access to the vehicle or the EDR.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 223
Likes: 74
From: Boca Raton, FL
Sure. Just for you, this is the best I could do :
I've lived in Houston and live in the DFW area now, so I'm used to some heat and humidity. It's never been that huge a deal to me simply because I used to drive around with my dad in an old Impala with no AC in Houston. lol. But... I got the Advance model and it does come with "butt ventilation", so I was intrigued. Today was a bit cloudy in the DFW - the temp was only 93-94 degrees when I left the building; heat index was "only" around 102. I left the car parked outside, so when I got to the car, both the front seats registered roughly 124 degrees as I planted my butt into Vesuvius. As a reminder, my car is white with an ebony interior. I turned the AC on (AUTO) and set it to 72 degrees. Vent Mode was set to blow just from the upper vents (as opposed to upper vents and floor vents). AC was set to Recirculation mode. The driver-side ventilation was turned on, but the passenger-side seat ventilation was left off. After approximately 5-7 minutes of driving, my driver seat was reading 83 degrees. The same area on the passenger seat (with no one sitting there) was reading 103 degrees. After that, I had to focus on driving in bumper-to-bumper traffic, so I didn't take anymore measurements for fear of looking like an idiot and more importantly, killing myself and/or someone else.
For a "seat of the pants" opinion (literally), I felt cooler faster than in my 3G, but I don't have anything to compare it to in terms of ventilated seats since my 3G didn't have that feature, and this is the first vehicle I've been in that I know of that had it. Also, something you may be interested in, the ventilation is turned on if you use the remote start, and the ventilation is supposed to cool both the seat bottom and the seatback. You can also adjust the level of ventilation (LO/MID/HI) from the AC controls. Since I set the AC to AUTO, it selected what it thought was necessary when it thought it was necessary. I know the AC in this car cools way faster than my 3G, but then that could just be because the AC is newer than my 11 year old 3G was.
My expectations are probably lower than yours for this feature, so.
I've lived in Houston and live in the DFW area now, so I'm used to some heat and humidity. It's never been that huge a deal to me simply because I used to drive around with my dad in an old Impala with no AC in Houston. lol. But... I got the Advance model and it does come with "butt ventilation", so I was intrigued. Today was a bit cloudy in the DFW - the temp was only 93-94 degrees when I left the building; heat index was "only" around 102. I left the car parked outside, so when I got to the car, both the front seats registered roughly 124 degrees as I planted my butt into Vesuvius. As a reminder, my car is white with an ebony interior. I turned the AC on (AUTO) and set it to 72 degrees. Vent Mode was set to blow just from the upper vents (as opposed to upper vents and floor vents). AC was set to Recirculation mode. The driver-side ventilation was turned on, but the passenger-side seat ventilation was left off. After approximately 5-7 minutes of driving, my driver seat was reading 83 degrees. The same area on the passenger seat (with no one sitting there) was reading 103 degrees. After that, I had to focus on driving in bumper-to-bumper traffic, so I didn't take anymore measurements for fear of looking like an idiot and more importantly, killing myself and/or someone else.
For a "seat of the pants" opinion (literally), I felt cooler faster than in my 3G, but I don't have anything to compare it to in terms of ventilated seats since my 3G didn't have that feature, and this is the first vehicle I've been in that I know of that had it. Also, something you may be interested in, the ventilation is turned on if you use the remote start, and the ventilation is supposed to cool both the seat bottom and the seatback. You can also adjust the level of ventilation (LO/MID/HI) from the AC controls. Since I set the AC to AUTO, it selected what it thought was necessary when it thought it was necessary. I know the AC in this car cools way faster than my 3G, but then that could just be because the AC is newer than my 11 year old 3G was.
My expectations are probably lower than yours for this feature, so
.Ride looks sweet. I'm getting my white with espresso next week.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,607
Likes: 536
I honestly don't know. I didn't feel air blowing through the seat (unless it was faint), but then I was sitting on the only seat where ventilation was turned on. I don't know if there's an easy way to test this other than "I feel air coming through the perforation".
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,101
Likes: 386
From: North Carolina
Thanks (and to others who have thanked me, as well).
I honestly don't know. I didn't feel air blowing through the seat (unless it was faint), but then I was sitting on the only seat where ventilation was turned on. I don't know if there's an easy way to test this other than "I feel air coming through the perforation".
I honestly don't know. I didn't feel air blowing through the seat (unless it was faint), but then I was sitting on the only seat where ventilation was turned on. I don't know if there's an easy way to test this other than "I feel air coming through the perforation".
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,607
Likes: 536
I don't know if you've noticed or were here when it stumped us for a while, but the seatbacks on the Advance models are different from the non-Advance. They have a ridge/hump across the back. Back then it was speculated this could be for the ventilation "duct".
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,607
Likes: 536
I took a quick look by and under the seat and didn't see anything obvious that looked like a duct leading to the seat. My search didn't last long as I had to stop when my back started reminding me I had back surgery. lol. Perhaps someone else can give it a try.
Summer is Coming
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,857
Likes: 647
From: Houston
Thanks RocketsFan. I'm not sure I'm a fan of this EDR. Sounds a little too Big Brother for me. But for those interested I looked up some info...
There is a CFR on EDRs ... 49 CFR Part 563 ....
Here is a page (scroll down) where you can read up on the NHTSA rules.
http://www.nhtsa.gov/Laws+&+Regulati...&ruleOrder=asc
References to State laws on EDRs...
http://www.harristechnical.com/cdr7.htm
For Texas, the law states....
"....(c) Information recorded or transmitted by a recording device may not be
retrieved by a person other than the owner of the motor vehicle in which the recording
device is installed except:
(1) on court order;
(2) with the consent of the owner for any purpose, including for the purpose of diagnosing, servicing, or repairing the motor vehicle;
(3) for the purpose of improving motor vehicle safety, including for medical research on the human body's reaction to motor vehicle accidents, if the identity of the owner or driver of the vehicle is not disclosed in connection with the retrieved information; or
(4) for the purpose of determining the need for or facilitating emergency medical response in the event of a motor vehicle accident.
(d) For information recorded or transmitted by a recording device described by Subsection (a)(2)(B), a court order may be obtained only after a showing that:
(1) retrieval of the information is necessary to protect the public safety; or
(2) the information is evidence of an offense or constitutes evidence that a particular person committed an offense. ..."
So there does seem to be some control by the owner, until someone changes the law that is.
There is a CFR on EDRs ... 49 CFR Part 563 ....
Here is a page (scroll down) where you can read up on the NHTSA rules.
http://www.nhtsa.gov/Laws+&+Regulati...&ruleOrder=asc
References to State laws on EDRs...
http://www.harristechnical.com/cdr7.htm
For Texas, the law states....
"....(c) Information recorded or transmitted by a recording device may not be
retrieved by a person other than the owner of the motor vehicle in which the recording
device is installed except:
(1) on court order;
(2) with the consent of the owner for any purpose, including for the purpose of diagnosing, servicing, or repairing the motor vehicle;
(3) for the purpose of improving motor vehicle safety, including for medical research on the human body's reaction to motor vehicle accidents, if the identity of the owner or driver of the vehicle is not disclosed in connection with the retrieved information; or
(4) for the purpose of determining the need for or facilitating emergency medical response in the event of a motor vehicle accident.
(d) For information recorded or transmitted by a recording device described by Subsection (a)(2)(B), a court order may be obtained only after a showing that:
(1) retrieval of the information is necessary to protect the public safety; or
(2) the information is evidence of an offense or constitutes evidence that a particular person committed an offense. ..."
So there does seem to be some control by the owner, until someone changes the law that is.
Last edited by Rocket_man; Sep 3, 2014 at 01:18 AM.
Summer is Coming
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,857
Likes: 647
From: Houston
Thanks (and to others who have thanked me, as well).
I honestly don't know. I didn't feel air blowing through the seat (unless it was faint), but then I was sitting on the only seat where ventilation was turned on. I don't know if there's an easy way to test this other than "I feel air coming through the perforation".
I honestly don't know. I didn't feel air blowing through the seat (unless it was faint), but then I was sitting on the only seat where ventilation was turned on. I don't know if there's an easy way to test this other than "I feel air coming through the perforation".
I've driven cars with passive and active seat cooling. In both cases there was a definite breeze blowing up through the seats. The passive variety blew air as soon as they were turned on. They seemed to be more effective if the A/C was set to blow air along the floor so it could be picked up by the circulation fan. On the active seat it didn't blow until the air was cool which I felt was annoying. Even ambient moving air is better than nothing in a hot car.
The down side is that one of these cars I drove was a co-workers car and the air coming up from the seat.... well let's jsut say it wasn't very reFRESHing
I can't wait to test them myself, but my local dealer doesn't have any Advance cars on the lot.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 146
Likes: 91
From: Tennessee
Rocketsfan:
Thanks for your comments!
You too are feeling the "Jell-O" body effect when stopping that I posted in my 2,300 mile review on another thread. It's NOT our imagination but a very real and strange sensation. I'm now feeling it almost every time I stop. My dealer service department, which I have totally trusted for 15 years, has a copy of my review and are investigating this issue.
I'm also having an issue with the phonebook not displaying names with numbers the same as displayed on phone handset. Instead of names, it displays "OTHER" when multiple numbers are under one default heading. I sent them photos yesterday and they are investigating.
I too hated to retire my last 3G TL a year and half ago to be replaced with a TSX which was a total documented lemon from the first week.
I greatly miss having the same Michelin Pilots on my TLX that were on the old 3G's. Go back and read my review to see why I don't have them now instead of the Bridgestone's. I'm taking the TLX to a Discount Tire store later this week where I know the manager to have the Bridgestone's checked for out of roundness and/or rebalanced as best as possible. You are correct in your statement they do not have the same grip as the Michelins, but you also have to remember the TLX is a larger platform than the old 3G and it does not corner as flat even in Sport Mode. You are correct that the Bridgestone's roll in curves but so does the car body. I will probably get blasted for this comment, but I personally think P-AWS is nothing more than a pricey gimmick.
During the course of my trip I did interstate drive through several hundred miles of rain storms and I feel the Bridgestone's tend to lose grip faster than the Michelins. Just my two cents worth of info.
Happy driving.
Thanks for your comments!
You too are feeling the "Jell-O" body effect when stopping that I posted in my 2,300 mile review on another thread. It's NOT our imagination but a very real and strange sensation. I'm now feeling it almost every time I stop. My dealer service department, which I have totally trusted for 15 years, has a copy of my review and are investigating this issue.
I'm also having an issue with the phonebook not displaying names with numbers the same as displayed on phone handset. Instead of names, it displays "OTHER" when multiple numbers are under one default heading. I sent them photos yesterday and they are investigating.
I too hated to retire my last 3G TL a year and half ago to be replaced with a TSX which was a total documented lemon from the first week.
I greatly miss having the same Michelin Pilots on my TLX that were on the old 3G's. Go back and read my review to see why I don't have them now instead of the Bridgestone's. I'm taking the TLX to a Discount Tire store later this week where I know the manager to have the Bridgestone's checked for out of roundness and/or rebalanced as best as possible. You are correct in your statement they do not have the same grip as the Michelins, but you also have to remember the TLX is a larger platform than the old 3G and it does not corner as flat even in Sport Mode. You are correct that the Bridgestone's roll in curves but so does the car body. I will probably get blasted for this comment, but I personally think P-AWS is nothing more than a pricey gimmick.
During the course of my trip I did interstate drive through several hundred miles of rain storms and I feel the Bridgestone's tend to lose grip faster than the Michelins. Just my two cents worth of info.
Happy driving.
Last edited by Davinci547Acura; Sep 3, 2014 at 02:30 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 203
Likes: 55
From: Wash DC metro
These EDRs are what the insurance companies are using along with driving inputs data to evaluate your driving style to adjust rates, by asking you to voluntarily put their data interface in the OBD connector under the steering wheel with the premise of possibly lowering your premiums.
Watch those commercials about them trying something new to save you more money. They don't say what happens if you don't drive as slowly and carefully as they think you should and did for your license test. I'll skip big brother.
Watch those commercials about them trying something new to save you more money. They don't say what happens if you don't drive as slowly and carefully as they think you should and did for your license test. I'll skip big brother.
3rd Gear
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Change the tires...
UPDATE:
So I went to a birthday lunch with some friends (3 females and 2 other guys). None of them are really "car people". They started joking about how I had been searching for a new car for over 5 years. As we were leaving, they wanted to check it out. They all loved the looks/styling of the car. One of the guys was flipping out over the push-button gear selector and saying how cool it was. The other feature I showed them that seemed to wow them was the remote start. The heat index outside was about 103 at the time, so I started the car and told them how it turned the AC on at the same time. That definitely bumped up the cool points. Anywho ...
1) on the ride there, there's a curve on a tollway that, for kicks, I used to easily take at 60. The old TL on the Pilot Sport A/S Plus tires used to nail that curve. The TLX on the Bridgestone Potenza RE97AS'es started losing it and almost felt like they were rolling over. Of course, one is more of a performance tire while the other is a touring tire, but I've been warned. I just hope these things get decent wet traction before I put some Michelins or something on them when they wear out.
2) Someone mentioned this in another post about braking causing a rocking motion before coming to a stop. It definitely is there. I'm wondering if it's the dampening mechanism or something. I haven't isolated how, or when it happens because I just noticed it toward the end of my trip, but right when I wanted to test it out again, the final 2 lights on my trip were green, so I couldn't with cars behind me. I think it's when you apply the brakes even moderately hard and even from a low speed. For example, you're going 30 mph and start applying the brakes and start slowing down, but you want to stop even faster, so you mash down a bit harder. The car comes to a stop, but there's a rocking back and forth for 1 or 2 periodic cycles from what I recall. I'll try to duplicate it.
3) I'm sure this is because I'm driving a more powerful car than my 3G, but I have to get used to the speed I'm driving because the footometer isn't doing a good job. I look down and I'm going 10-15 mph over the speed limit in areas with police. lol. I honestly couldn't tell you if I was going 30 or 60 in this car at times. It's not as numb as an ES, though. I can still feel the pavement to a degree, which is a positive. I don't want a "dead" feel when I'm on the pedal. I'm wondering how much better this car would drive and how much of a hit on mileage it would be to switch to a "better" tire?
So I went to a birthday lunch with some friends (3 females and 2 other guys). None of them are really "car people". They started joking about how I had been searching for a new car for over 5 years. As we were leaving, they wanted to check it out. They all loved the looks/styling of the car. One of the guys was flipping out over the push-button gear selector and saying how cool it was. The other feature I showed them that seemed to wow them was the remote start. The heat index outside was about 103 at the time, so I started the car and told them how it turned the AC on at the same time. That definitely bumped up the cool points. Anywho ...
1) on the ride there, there's a curve on a tollway that, for kicks, I used to easily take at 60. The old TL on the Pilot Sport A/S Plus tires used to nail that curve. The TLX on the Bridgestone Potenza RE97AS'es started losing it and almost felt like they were rolling over. Of course, one is more of a performance tire while the other is a touring tire, but I've been warned.
I just hope these things get decent wet traction before I put some Michelins or something on them when they wear out.2) Someone mentioned this in another post about braking causing a rocking motion before coming to a stop. It definitely is there. I'm wondering if it's the dampening mechanism or something. I haven't isolated how, or when it happens because I just noticed it toward the end of my trip, but right when I wanted to test it out again, the final 2 lights on my trip were green, so I couldn't with cars behind me. I think it's when you apply the brakes even moderately hard and even from a low speed. For example, you're going 30 mph and start applying the brakes and start slowing down, but you want to stop even faster, so you mash down a bit harder. The car comes to a stop, but there's a rocking back and forth for 1 or 2 periodic cycles from what I recall. I'll try to duplicate it.
3) I'm sure this is because I'm driving a more powerful car than my 3G, but I have to get used to the speed I'm driving because the footometer isn't doing a good job. I look down and I'm going 10-15 mph over the speed limit in areas with police. lol. I honestly couldn't tell you if I was going 30 or 60 in this car at times. It's not as numb as an ES, though. I can still feel the pavement to a degree, which is a positive. I don't want a "dead" feel when I'm on the pedal. I'm wondering how much better this car would drive and how much of a hit on mileage it would be to switch to a "better" tire?
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,321
Likes: 400
From: Thornhill, Ontario
If it were not for these posting I would not have noticed it. Experienced it for about a quarter of a second with moderate braking to a stop, but not a problem for me as I anticipate my braking and usually come to a smooth stop. No shaking with this approach.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 146
Likes: 91
From: Tennessee
Rocketsfan:
I ordered printed manuals from myacura.com today, (free to first registered owner). Trying to learn some details and warnings from approximately 900 pages of PDF's on a CD were a little too much for me. Plus while on the road, if you need information, you have it in your hand.
Also I now have information on the "Jell-O" effect while braking to a complete stop, regardless of stopping speed. It is coming from a characteristic of the P-AWS on this platform. Happy boating.
I ordered printed manuals from myacura.com today, (free to first registered owner). Trying to learn some details and warnings from approximately 900 pages of PDF's on a CD were a little too much for me. Plus while on the road, if you need information, you have it in your hand.
Also I now have information on the "Jell-O" effect while braking to a complete stop, regardless of stopping speed. It is coming from a characteristic of the P-AWS on this platform. Happy boating.
Suzuka Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,172
Likes: 740
From: Atlanta, GA
I am putting the 19" wheels and Michelin Pilot Sport AS3's on for precisely that reason when my SH-AWD makes it in from OH. Same thing happened with my 2007 TL Type S (that I will be trading in), it came with touring tires, and I was like WTF? Got those off almost right away.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,540
Likes: 364
From: Calgary, AB
Rocketsfan:
I ordered printed manuals from myacura.com today, (free to first registered owner). Trying to learn some details and warnings from approximately 900 pages of PDF's on a CD were a little too much for me. Plus while on the road, if you need information, you have it in your hand.
Also I now have information on the "Jell-O" effect while braking to a complete stop, regardless of stopping speed. It is coming from a characteristic of the P-AWS on this platform. Happy boating.
I ordered printed manuals from myacura.com today, (free to first registered owner). Trying to learn some details and warnings from approximately 900 pages of PDF's on a CD were a little too much for me. Plus while on the road, if you need information, you have it in your hand.
Also I now have information on the "Jell-O" effect while braking to a complete stop, regardless of stopping speed. It is coming from a characteristic of the P-AWS on this platform. Happy boating.
I wonder if the current RLX owners notice this "Jell-O" effect too!?
BTW, love your nomenclature of this effect LOL
9th Gear
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 9
Likes: 3
Great write up
Rocketsfan great write up! I too had the feeling that I didn't want to give up my 04 TL. I'm lucky enough to be able to keep it! I just picked up my black/ebony v6 tech, TLX tonight. Not many miles yet, but can't wait to get it out on the open road. Funny thing is my dealer said the buyers so far are 3G TL owners who have waited a long time to get into another Acura!
Not many miles yet, but can't wait to get it out on the open road. Funny thing is my dealer said the buyers so far are 3G TL owners who have waited a long time to get into another Acura!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,607
Likes: 536
Rocketsfan:
I ordered printed manuals from myacura.com today, (free to first registered owner). Trying to learn some details and warnings from approximately 900 pages of PDF's on a CD were a little too much for me. Plus while on the road, if you need information, you have it in your hand.
I ordered printed manuals from myacura.com today, (free to first registered owner). Trying to learn some details and warnings from approximately 900 pages of PDF's on a CD were a little too much for me. Plus while on the road, if you need information, you have it in your hand.
I really would've rather had the printed version, but I just copied the PDF's onto my phone and tablet so I can reference them as needed (or read them when I get bored!).
Also I now have information on the "Jell-O" effect while braking to a complete stop, regardless of stopping speed. It is coming from a characteristic of the P-AWS on this platform. Happy boating.
Yeah, I talked with a service guy today about it and he wasn't sure, but he said not many people who have bought the car have said anything about the car in general (as in report anything bad), but who knows. If it's "functioning as designed", then ... ugh. This is about the only real "bad" thing I've noticed about the vehicle, but I think I can deal with it. I'm still waiting to drive a bit more aggressively to experience the acceleration lag.