I have owned 2 Acuras


Currently have MDX Tech 2010


For those that have driven the TLX:


Has the cross traffic alert system been helpful?


What grade of fuel is used?


How effective is the blind spot monitoring?

 

I can answer 2 of the questions even though I don't have a TLX...

Premium Fuel

BSI system is very handy and effective.

 

The cross traffic alert system has been VERY helpful. The BSI system is also quite helpful as well.

 

1) Too soon to tell. I think it is more useful for possibly families that have kids playing in the driveway or have toys in the driveway, or frequent visitors of shopping malls. For my lifestyle, it hasn't come in handy yet.
2) 91-93 recommended.
3) It works very well. The light is located on the A-pillar so your eyes don't move as far to the periphery as other BSM which has lights on the side view mirror.

 

How sensitive is the cross traffic alert? Is it for cars only, can it do motorcycles? I have bike riders, skate boarders, moms jogging with huge strollers on the side walks; can it pick up smaller objects?

 

Took one for a test drive and was about to backup and someone started to walk behind us and you could see them and the audible alarm went off, sweet. Also the guidelines turn and you can change the camera view angles as well.

 

The cross traffic alert was helpful on one occasion so far. I can see it being useful in the future when backing out of spaces and you're sandwiched between 4-wheel freighter tankers and tanks to where you can't see squat around you (I live in Texas).

The blind spot info is helpful, but I still turn my head and look, as well. If it's on, I don't bother moving over, and if it's off, I turn my head as well as check my mirror because I'm not sure I believe it anyway. lol.

As for the fuel and has already been stated, from the manual :

Unleaded premium gasoline, pump octane number 91 or higher

 

From the manual :
When a vehicle is detected approaching from a rear corner, Cross Traffic Monitor alerts you with a buzzer and a displayed warning.

The system will not detect a vehicle that approaches from directly behind your vehicle, nor will it provide alerts about a detected vehicle when it moves directly behind your vehicle.
The system does not detect or provide alerts for a vehicle that is moving away from your vehicle, and it may not detect or alert for pedestrians, bicycles, or stationary objects.

Also :

Cross Traffic Monitor may not detect an approaching
vehicle, or may delay alerting you under the following
conditions:
• A vehicle, which is parked adjacent to your vehicle,
is blocking the radar sensor’s scope.
• Your vehicle is moving at the speed of about 3 mph
(5 km/h) or higher.
• A vehicle is approaching at the speed other than
between about 6 and 16 mph (10 and 25 km/h).
• The system picks up external interference such as
other radar sensors from another vehicle or strong
radio wave transmitted from a facility nearby.
• Either corner of the rear bumper is covered with
snow, ice, mud or dirt.
• When there is bad weather.
• Your vehicle is on an incline.
• Your vehicle is tilted due to a heavy load in the rear.
• The rear bumper or the sensors have been
improperly repaired or the rear bumper has been
deformed. Have a vehicle checked by a dealer.

 

Just got my TLX and the cross traffic alert is very helpful. An automotive writer recently said "forget cross traffic alert people, just back into the parking spot". I do try to back into most spots but go nose in when there are things to be loaded from a shopping car.

The salesman at the dealer said twice, one on test drive and the other at delivery, that I should use regular gas. It is always safer to use the manufacturers recommendation.

 

My quote from the manual above should've noted that premium (91 octane and above) was the recommended fuel. The rest of the text is as follows :

Use of lower octane gasoline can cause occasional metallic knocking noise in the
engine and will result in decreased engine performance.
Use of gasoline with a pump octane less than 87 can lead to engine damage.

 

Road & Track mentions that the cross traffic alert was too sensitive...

"A rear cross-traffic alert system was similarly acting like Chicken Little as we pulled out of parking spots, warning of cars that were a hundred feet away and not heading anywhere near us."

http://www.roadandtrack.com/go/first...t-drive-review

 

I completely disagree with those people who think backing into a parking stall is safer. I think they do it so they can get out quicker. My opinion is that if I back in to a stall and then drive forward to exit I cannot see any better than if I am backing up. Additionally, my rear view camera gives me a really good view in my current TL. But my biggest concern is around the safety aspect of being another driver or person walking in the parking lot. I get frustrated when a vehicle starts pulling out of a parking stall front first - I have no clue they are doing that until they start moving. If a person backs out of a parking stall, at least I know they are backing up because their backup lights are on and I can also see when they break. Definitely safer in my opinion

 

This doesn't seem to be the experience of at least a couple of new TLX owners on this forum. Hmmmm...

 

See TSB 14-054 in the TSB thread.

https://acurazine.com/forums/fifth-g...letins-914607/