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I was briefly fairly active around here and excited for the Type S but all the reviews and general attitude around here about the car soured my excitement and I walked away telling myself I wanted an Audi S4.
Fast forward a year and a half, I never managed to convince myself to pull the trigger. Something about it just didn't feel right, sure it was quicker but I didn't feel any emotional attachment with it beyond that. The RS3 came out and admittedly is a bad ass little compact but it made me, the driver, feel cramped (tested the A3) and while worth every penny on paper if I'm not super comfortable in it I'm going to regret it as soon as I get over the beautiful sounds the I5 makes. The G70 is nice but ugly (IMO), the Stinger seemed nice but ... Kia... and I'm not a huge BMW fan to begin with so as nice as they are none of them really call to me, everything I looked at in this price point and I kept coming back to the TLX-S over and over again.
Well now that my initial disappointment has been replaced with a more realistic view. The TLX-S is quite a decent car for the money and even though it's not the fastest thing in a straight line it's still faster than almost everything on the road that isn't a high end german car or more true sports car (The Type S has NEVER been a true sports car, just a more fun version of their existing products) but beyond that straight line performance isn't why I buy a car and isn't why anyone SHOULD buy a car unless all they care about is bringing it to the strip and putting up numbers.
I'm picking up my Apex Blue TLX-S in a couple weeks, couldn't get them to budge on MSRP but got a number of accessories thrown in at least. I couldn't be more excited and my plan is for it to be the last ICE car I ever buy, at least as a daily, and if anyone looks at it and says you could've bought more performance for the money or whatever... well.. they can pound sand because it's not, on paper, the best car out there it is a beautiful BEAUTIFUL car with more than enough power to put a huge smile on my face when I punch it down an on ramp with a good amount of comfort when I'm traveling and every time I've test drove it I loved pretty much everything about it.
So I was wrong, the TLX-S is a great car and enthusiasts are never completely happy so nobody should let them deter you from picking up something if it calls to you. Cars are very subjective, personal choices.
That's my story. I'm really just procrastinating from cleaning up the disgusting yard.. guess its not going to clean itself.
Great write up and congrats on your purchase - please do share your thoughts once you’ve had your TLX-S for a few months. I’m sure there have been many like you who looked at other options but ended back looking at the TLX-S.
I nearly almost purchased a S5 until I drove the type s. It’s an amazing deal for the price. I am waiting for the MMC now since I don’t need a car at the moment.
Congeats! Yeah don't read Azine too hard, especially the TLX section. BMW, Genesis, and now Mazda, Acura products have been crushed over and again here. Few cars are perfect. As long as the balance Acura mixed is right for you, it is the best car. The J30AC has enough mid/top-range pull to make many enthusiastics smile.
The Apex Blue Pearl really pops in the sunlight and twilight.
Thanks for the congrats guys and I couldn't agree more, the Apex Blue after seeing it in person has to be the best blue on any car I've ever seen and with the gray performance rims and some tint on the windows it's going to be an absolute stunner. Audi's Turbo Blue is a close second though.
DubPK, thanks for sharing your journey to select your upcoming car. Your experience is particularly valuable because when $55K is on the line, your selecting process experience is more true to the heart than others who simply clicking away at the keyboard with zero intention of buying a car.
I don't know if it is the same in other auto forums. But in here, it is deemed more helpful to read the comments from actual TLX Type-S owners rather than to read the negative and misleading ones from those who own different cars.
It was particularly bad a couple years ago. But now almost all Acura haters and TLX haters have moved on. This TLX sub-forum has become more constructive and positive now.
Excellent write up. I’ll just add that I pretty much like every car in this class, with each having something to offer us enthusiasts. From the performance value proposition of the G70 3.3T to the over the top M340i with its straight line performance to the CT4V which Cadillac did a great job of chassis tuning, they’re all great. That said, the TLX is very well integrated into the mix and though I have a lowly A-Spec (granted tuned with a couple of bolt ons) Acura did a great job with the model IMO.
TLX TYPE S is one of the most beautiful car out there and with that price point, it's the best in the segment. Yes, G70 has very competitive pricing but it's Genesis, if you don't mind. Definitely it's not a bad car.
Appreciate the words regardless if you were buying the Type-S or not. Like others have said, the TLX thread in 2020-2021 is a lot different now, for the better. I stayed away just because it was pointless to post anything positive because of the trollers.
Enjoy the Type-S! Happy posting and in a year or so the section will become more robust. Many have moved to simpler platforms to talk like FB and Instagram.
So I was wrong, the TLX-S is a great car and enthusiasts are never completely happy so nobody should let them deter you from picking up something if it calls to you. Cars are very subjective, personal choices.
You are going to love it. The dynamics are amazing. It's really a pleasure to drive. You can buy a faster car but if it doesn't give you that feeling its pointless.
You are going to love it. The dynamics are amazing. It's really a pleasure to drive. You can buy a faster car but if it doesn't give you that feeling its pointless.
It truly is but I’m terrified to go through any drive thrus and parking garages with the double sided curbs that are very thin. I scraped my rim/splitter once doing so and won’t risk that again!
It was my fault but I’ll be damned if I risk it, lol. The low profile wheels don’t help matters nor does the long front end that at times is tough to see.
It truly is but I’m terrified to go through any drive thrus and parking garages with the double sided curbs that are very thin. I scraped my rim/splitter once doing so and won’t risk that again!
It was my fault but I’ll be damned if I risk it, lol. The low profile wheels don’t help matters nor does the long front end that at times is tough to see.
I'm concerned about the same thing! But I'm a bit overweight already so this is just more incentive to skip the drive thru lol. I've never in my life owned a brand new car and I can already tell without even having it yet that I'm going to have a little bit of anxiety about damaging it. Think I'm going to get PPF on the front portions just to protect it from road rash. Lots of snow / grime in my area during winter months and big ole pickups and suv's that love to throw that shit at you on the highway. Dealer moved up my pickup date to Sunday, it's been a long few days of anticipation lol.
I'm concerned about the same thing! But I'm a bit overweight already so this is just more incentive to skip the drive thru lol. I've never in my life owned a brand new car and I can already tell without even having it yet that I'm going to have a little bit of anxiety about damaging it. Think I'm going to get PPF on the front portions just to protect it from road rash. Lots of snow / grime in my area during winter months and big ole pickups and suv's that love to throw that shit at you on the highway. Dealer moved up my pickup date to Sunday, it's been a long few days of anticipation lol.
I have had several brand new cars.
-2008 Honda Civic EX Coupe
-2012 Acura RDX
-2012 Acura TSX
-2019 Acura TLX ASPEC
-2021 Acura TLX Type S
The Type S terrifies me due to its low profile wheels and overall profile. But skipping fast food isn’t such a bad thing, lol.
I would definitely recommend PPF and if possible ceramic coating. Worth every penny.
-2008 Honda Civic EX Coupe
-2012 Acura RDX
-2012 Acura TSX
-2019 Acura TLX ASPEC
-2021 Acura TLX Type S
The Type S terrifies me due to its low profile wheels and overall profile. But skipping fast food isn’t such a bad thing, lol.
I would definitely recommend PPF and if possible ceramic coating. Worth every penny.
Yep within the first days of ownership I'm bringing it to the shop I've done all my car stuff with to go over options. Tint for sure, probably some paint protection, maaaaaybe a tiny bit of extra bass if the ELS 3D bass doesn't satisfy me. How is the thump of the ELS 3D? I like some good bass (not the car shaking immature thump but well defined deep and loud-ish when it should be bass) but I regrettably focused entirely on driving in my tests and didn't do super thorough audio testing knowing if anything stock disappoints me I'll just fix it in the after market, I was way to busy listening to the sweet sweet tunes of the V6.
Yep within the first days of ownership I'm bringing it to the shop I've done all my car stuff with to go over options. Tint for sure, probably some paint protection, maaaaaybe a tiny bit of extra bass if the ELS 3D bass doesn't satisfy me. How is the thump of the ELS 3D? I like some good bass (not the car shaking immature thump but well defined deep and loud-ish when it should be bass) but I regrettably focused entirely on driving in my tests and didn't do super thorough audio testing knowing if anything stock disappoints me I'll just fix it in the after market.
I believe the bass is turned up about half way from the factory and it sounds great. Plenty of shaking depending on the song. Then that up and it should hopefully be enough for you if half way isn’t. The ELS Sound System is great and I’ve yet to hear a better factory system.
I believe the bass is turned up about half way from the factory and it sounds great. Plenty of shaking depending on the song. Then that up and it should hopefully be enough for you if half way isn’t. The ELS Sound System is great and I’ve yet to hear a better factory system.
But it’s not as sweet as that exhaust 🤤
Good to hear, I'm not a bass head but absolutely hate when a song that should have some decent thump just.. doesn't. If I'm listening to rap or something you'd hear on BPM I need the bass to be there! But it doesn't need to shake my mirrors off, just sound good.I think I'll be happy with it, just regret not testing it more thoroughly. Like you're saying I was way to busy listening to that engine/exhaust lol.
Good to hear, I'm not a bass head but absolutely hate when a song that should have some decent thump just.. doesn't. If I'm listening to rap or something you'd hear on BPM I need the bass to be there! But it doesn't need to shake my mirrors off, just sound good.I think I'll be happy with it, just regret not testing it more thoroughly. Like you're saying I was way to busy listening to that engine/exhaust lol.
No doubt. I use Apple Music as my source which will be much more in depth than satellite radio.
As for tints, I spent a lot on mine. $650 for everything but the windshield but I had 3M Crystaline installed which blocks something like 97% of the heat coming in.
No doubt. I use Apple Music as my source which will be much more in depth than satellite radio.
As for tints, I spent a lot on mine. $650 for everything but the windshield but I had 3M Crystaline installed which blocks something like 97% of the heat coming in.
Yeah that stuff isn't cheap, that's the tint my shop recommended but they want $1000 for everything (front brow, all four, back window). Super expensive but they've done extremely high quality work for me in the past. Went to a cheaper tint shop for my last car just because I thought their tint prices were a bit high and it was pretty bad. Car came back dirty with foot prints on the seats, tint was awful looking over the bumps on the back window and I had to have my typical shop replace it as the cheaper place said it just has to look this way but no having it redone at my usual place it was pristine and no foot prints on my leather lol. Might still shop around but it gave me the impression that they are more expensive because they put more time and effort into it.
No doubt. I use Apple Music as my source which will be much more in depth than satellite radio.
As for tints, I spent a lot on mine. $650 for everything but the windshield but I had 3M Crystaline installed which blocks something like 97% of the heat coming in.
Gosh that’s pricey lol but I get it, it’s a very good quality of tint. I’m getting my tints done this weekend thinking of doing 20% on the sides and 50% on the windshield, we’ll see. My tint guy offers ceramic tint but the price is similar to yours where it is around $600-$700 depending on if you do the front windshield or not.
I told him I’ll just do the premium tint for now that will usually run me $300 with him. But he told me this time he’ll do it for me for the easy price of $150ish
My tint guy has been tinting my cars for years now. He tinted my last 2 Acuras so he knows I only trust him to tint my windows and my birthday is tomorrow as well so those are probably the two main reasons he’s doing the discount for me.
Gosh that’s pricey lol but I get it, it’s a very good quality of tint. I’m getting my tints done this weekend thinking of doing 20% on the sides and 50% on the windshield, we’ll see. My tint guy offers ceramic tint but the price is similar to yours where it is around $600-$700 depending on if you do the front windshield or not.
I told him I’ll just do the premium tint for now that will usually run me $300 with him. But he told me this time he’ll do it for me for the easy price of $150ish
My tint guy has been tinting my cars for years now. He tinted my last 2 Acuras so he knows I only trust him to tint my windows and my birthday is tomorrow as well so those are probably the two main reasons he’s doing the discount for me.
Canadians already get unlimited maple syrup, can't give them our color options too!
Very nice thread...definitely nice to see open minds and not jalopnik and common opinions regurgitated by people with no experience of their own.
I have a B8.5 S4 and that car is a hoot to drive, but if I had to pick I would still keep my old TL-S over it. Acura/Honda products are the bottom bitch, for sure.
Are they cutting the superior Apex Blue to try and promote their PMC edition more? I just don’t get it… but I’m so glad I have Apex Blue as it’s my favorite color.
I haven’t really even driven it as my girlfriend took me out and she doesn’t drive my car. Thank you for the wishes!
As for Canada not offering Apex Blue, what?! Hell no!
Apex Blue w/ red interior = best combo.
There were only about 50 Apex Blue Type S's allotted to Canada for the 2021 to 2022 model years. Now that they no longer offer that color, it's Canada's quasi-PMC edition.
There were only about 50 Apex Blue Type S's allotted to Canada for the 2021 to 2022 model years. Now that they no longer offer that color, it's Canada's quasi-PMC edition.
Correct. I believe we got 200 TYPE S for 2021-2022.
2023 has limited Colors. I am staying positive for 2024 and MMC. May be the TYPE S gets HUD (which we don’t have in Canada as well). That would be full Advance/Elite model 🙏
I am very upset tbh. I was thinking to get blue color but in Canada as of 2023 model, Acura discontinued blue.
I think blue TYPE S is my favourite color! But as you said, every color is outstanding!
I wanted a blue one as well when I ordered mine July 2022. Dealer only had the black available. Picked up the car in December 2022. Black was my second choice. When I was waiting for the car to arrive there was a 2021 used Blue Type S with 6000 km on it. Used car dealer wanted the same price as a new one. Car had some minor paint chips on it already. Almost pulled the trigger but decided to wait for my brand new one. I am very happy with the Black color. The PMC blue is awesome.
I wanted a blue one as well when I ordered mine July 2022. Dealer only had the black available. Picked up the car in December 2022. Black was my second choice. When I was waiting for the car to arrive there was a 2021 used Blue Type S with 6000 km on it. Used car dealer wanted the same price as a new one. Car had some minor paint chips on it already. Almost pulled the trigger but decided to wait for my brand new one. I am very happy with the Black color. The PMC blue is awesome.
Congrats! Your car looks awesome. Honestly, if no blue color available, I will go with black.
02-12-2023, 02:44 PM
