Hey everyone, I've JUST joined Acurazine in hopes to get any reccomendations you all might have.

I'm in the market for a new car however I'm not sure if I should be going V6 (2nd gen TL) or 2.4i(1st gen TSX)... I really like both cars and am willing to pay 12,000. I've got a of daily driving to do however much of it will not be done on the highway? Which car should I go with? Is it stupid to get a 3.2 litre if I'm not always on the highway? How are any of these cars on gas? I know the prices of gas are getting ridiculous, am I foolish to even consider these cars?

HELP!

Thanks!

 

The TL gets pretty bad city mileage. I get around 14-15 City/26 Hwy.
I don't think they're bad choices. I thought about getting a TSX but I felt like the TL was a better deal and I wanted the bigger car.

Edit: whoops, I thought you meant 3G TL. In that case, I'd choose the TSX.

 

1st gen TSX has better looking interior then then 2nd gen TL. I got a 3rd gen TL and love it! there both great cars and you cant go wrong except with the tranny issue on the 2nd gen TL.

 

I'd say the TSX is probably what you want. Very nice handling car, adequate power, easy to maintain, and within your price range.

 

nope, not foolish, 1st gen tsx is a great used car and can be had at a bargain if you look. I have seen some great 1st gens on acurazine, if you are willing to stretch your budget to like 14 you could walk away with a low mileage (relatively) navi toting 1G

 

I think that for $12k you should just completely avoid the 99-03 TLs.

Since you do a lot of non-highway driving you should look at what is the best combination of quality and city fuel economy in your price range ... But within reason. A 15mpg car vs. a 30mpg car is a big difference. 25mpg and 30mpg isn't really.

The TSX would be a good bet.

 

I would get the TSX

I had an '06 with navi and absolutely loved the car. The interior is great, the rear seats fold and it got good gas mileage. '06 has a slightly better interior then '05 and '04.

 

^ and I have a 2G TL

 

The 1st gen TSX with a 6-speed manual is a wonderful car; the automatic seems torque-challenged and much less responsive.

I'd also avoid the 2G TL and TL-S with automatics.

 

TSX please

 

+1 for TSX. More reliable too cause of the 2G's glass tranny.

 

Civic.

 

Welcome Stephen to Acurazine.

I've owned both the 2G TL and the 1G TSX. Because of the tranny issues, stear clear of the 2G TL.

I'm the car-guy of our family and friends and I've been involved in purchases ranging from a Ford Focus to a Maserati Granturismo. When people ask about used cars, I have a very short list. My V6 pick is the 3G TL, but resale is so high that $12K will buy a very-high mileage example. So...

In my opinion, the best 4-cyl used cars on the market are the 2004+ Acura TSX and the 2004+ Mazda 3 (2.3L).

Take your pick, you can't go wrong...

 

It depends where he lives. In Socal, you haven't heard of it, but Mazda3 2004-2005 have important rust issues in the north. Also, the Mazda 2.3L has problems with the oil filter housing and this was redesigned with the 2.5. There is even a retrofit...

 

go for the tsx the second gen tl has transmission issues, and you dont want to buy into that problem. although personally i think the 2g tl looks better than the 1g tsx ... the tsx will be more reliable and is decent looking

 

I definitely meant 3rd gen TL!

Thanks a lot for everyone's feedback!

Those who have TSX's, how do you find fuel economy? Gas is a HUGE deal for me as I am a student... With the price of gas on the rapid rise the last thing I want is to buy a car I won't be able to afford..!!

 

If gas is a huge issue, then steer clear of Acura completely --- no matter how good the gas mileage, they all take Premium gas.

 

like everyone else mentioned, stay way clear of the 2g TL. sooner or later, that transmission will crap out. get the TSX!

 

^ Post #16

How about some option loaded Civic?

Those are very fun to drive and extremely good on gas.

 

Do you have a car now? What is it?

Why don't you buy a beater car that's good on gas?

 

Unfortunately I do not have a car, yet. I was considering a civic, however I want the whole "nice feel" that comes with an Acura rather than a Civic. It's extremely hard to find a Civic with leather seats, or an SI that's 4 door, etc... I really want to a buy a car that I can be proud of, that when people enter they can honestly say that I have a nice car; a car that I too can take pleasure in driving anywhere.

Does anyone have anything about to say about the Audi A4? How does that match up to the TSX...? Or perhaps there is another car I've yet to consider..?

Also, I'm considering the MKV Jetta TDI, amazing on gas, however ugly outside...?

Thoughts!!!!

 

If you're talking about the last-gen A4, it's not a bad car at all, but the older 2.0T has some issues. Be prepared to maintain it, and do some research. The TSX probably gets better mileage since it's FWD vs. AWD.

If you're looking for a car that doesn't require much more than a simple oil change and tire rotation for the most part, go for the TSX. However, I would still go and test drive both cars to see what you like.

 

wtf

dude your budget is $12,000, correct?

TSX or Civic.

 

<-- How about one of these? You can get a great 03-04 example for less than $12,000, and I get complimented on my interior a fair bit. I think it's the leather.

As far as gas mileage, around town it's nothing to brag about. A tank lasts me about 400 km, costs ~ $55-$60 to fill up. It works out to around 19-20 MPG, but that's mainly because I do delivery once a week. Once I catch up with maintenance and drop this job, I could probably get 23-24 mpg in Toronto.

Highway's more impressive, I once got 1000 km on a tank going from D.C. to Va Beach with plenty of gas left. Best part is it takes regular.

Mine is a 4-cyl, but from what I hear V6s don't give away too much in fuel economy. Stay away from the V6 ATs, they're as problematic as the 2G TLs. 6MTs are a whole different animal.

I think a car like mine would suit you pretty well. Good luck!

 

I would spend more to buy the A4... But is it worth it is what I'm trying to figure out..?

 

You don't make any sense... You're willing to spend more money to buy a nicer car, will cost more to maintain, but are a "broke" student who can't afford much more than something "very good on gas" because you don't have too much to put into that on a regular basis....?!

Do you want suggestions that focus on cars that your friends will compliment you on and will generally cost you more in gas and maintenance, or cars that will suit the budget and maintenance costs you are describing? ....Those two different descriptions can yield you very different lists of possibilities....

 

No.

fking

 

Don't get a $13k Audi.

Link: 2004 6MT Accord Coupe w/75k miles for $11k in DC

It's a V6 too. That's what you should get. Something like that. Put some better wheels on it and spend $150 to get it tinted and drive it for 300k miles. It's not a bad looking car, it's a coupe and a manual V6 with a sunroof.

For a 21-year old that's as cool as you can get and still be responsible.

 

Honestly, if you are very concerned about gas money and gas mileage (those were your first two priorities in your OP), drop any and all luxury brands. Most take Premium fuel. You're worried about fuel costs here? Well, if Regular is already at $1.22/L --- can you afford the jump to ~$1.40/L every time you gas up? It makes a big difference in what will already be a pretty decent gas bill.

So instead of Acura, Audi, etc... Why not look at Honda, Toyota, Mazda, and Hyundai? All offer great cars that'll be pretty good on gas, keep you filling up with Regular gas, will be somewhat reasonable to maintain, and also be great looking, enjoyable vehicles?! Parts and maintenance might still cost a bit more than American brands, but if you're looking at used cars, the ones mentioned above should also be a little more reliable and long-lasting than the old GMs and Fords.

 

But all their used cars suck...hahaha

It's come down to an Accord or TSX.

Any thoughts though on the MKV Jetta TDI?

 

As the owner of a 2nd gen tl, DON'T BUY IT, lol.

So comparing between a 3rd gen tl or a 1st gen tsx, i'd get the tl. Its got more features and i like the smooth drive of a v6. Mileage is pretty good too for what it is. Honestly, its going to tough finding a low mileage 3rd gen tl for that price. You might get one around 15k if you look hard.

 

YOUR BUYER'S GUIDE

1. Gas mileage is important, but premium gas doesn't bother me.
A. True - go to #2
B. False - go to #5

2. I have _________ to spend.
A. $10-$14K - go to #3
B. $15-$19K - go to #4

3. My vehicle is a 2004+ Acura TSX

4. My vehicle is a 2004+ Acura TL

5. My vehicle is a 2004+ Honda Accord

 

New generation Accord came out model year 2003.

Go test drive examples and figure out which ones you like best.

 

You can be proud of and make sure to take care of any car. If you're worried about what your friends think, you probably need to adjust some concerns, expectations, or friends.

I have a fairly pedestrian car with just under 175K miles, take care of it and actually get a lot of admiration for it--probably because an 11-year old design, especially in good shape, tends to stand out. It's kind of a wedge shape in a sea of bubbles. But I've always taken care any car I've owned. At the same time, I know people who own high-end cars and don't care for them at all. I don't think anyone admires them for that.

That out of the way, things get simpler. If you have $12K to spend and concerns about the costs to keep it running properly, spending it on what was originally a $20K car will put you in a much better position than with what was originally a $40K car, especially one that requires careful maintenance and expensive parts.

So, Acuras are great, reliable luxury and entry-luxury cars and are probably your best choice with a budget if you need to shop in that segment, but you're likely to find a car in better shape for your money if it's wearing a Honda badge.

 

Any thoughts on the manual transimission in the 1st gen tsx vs auto?

 

My understanding is the manual in the TSX is wonderful. Pop over to the TSX forum and ask those guys.

 

If it's like the current gen Civic Si. I love it, Great transmission.

 

See post #9.

 

I have an 04 TSX automatic and it is definitely not a fast car at all. But it is very easy/cheap to maintain and is a pretty good looking car that would probably impress people. I would get manual if you can.

As for gas mileage, I drive mine hard and get 19-21mpg, but if I drive it normally, I can get 23-24mpg. And that's all city driving. Highway is probably mid 30s. I'm sure it's better MPG than the 3G TLs.

 

Get a 6 speed accord coupe. Goddamn those cars are sweeet