Im gonna swing by Park Ave Acura tonight and test drive the TSX w/ Navi. I'm working right by the dealership so it's worth me stopping by.

Last weekend I went w/ my sister to find her a new car and I test drove a fully loaded Accord and while I thought the dynamics of the car were nice I did not like the outside look of the car (in 4 door) the coupe was OK but for some reason it did not feel very refined to me. The 240HP engine felt great though and definitely had the power when you wanted it. The Navi was kick ass w/ the voice recognition and all the CLS options were there minus memory seats and heated outside mirrors.

I'll post my thoughts later.

 

prepare to be disappointed

it's basically an RSX with four doors...plus a plusher interior.

 

Have you driven one yet? I saw it in person in detroit and I was not impressed, then I saw one yesterday on the road and it looked nice in carbon grey. I've heard reviewers diss it and members here praise it, time for me to judge.

 

Anyone who is saying this car is a 4 door RSX has not taken the time to even look at one let alone drive one.
Anyone even comparing this car to an RSX hasnt even taken the time to compare the two. Lets start of with platform, considering the TSX is the small double wishbone accord and the RSX is front mac strut Civic platform. Huge differnce right there.

Eclipse23, you'll fall in love with the car. It has the refinement the new accords are lacking. Even the 6spd coupe was still missing a certain something that the TSX more then made up for. Still both great cars. but i bet youll love the TSX.

 

about the only thing the TSX and RSX share is # of cylinders

 

huh...yeah...I drove the automatic TSX in Satin Silver last weekend for over 15minutes.

The auto transmission is nearly identical to the auto tranny in the RSX. You can hold first gear if you want to. I made a right hand turn from a stop light and punched it in SportShift mode....that thing DOES NOT MOVE! There is no torque...you can't even feel the VTEC engage, but the dealer dude says it does have VTEC.

I'm just saying...coming from a Type-S...you will be disappointed with the engine performance. I was so happy to get back in my CL-S.

 

one thing I will give credit to the TSX....the handling is much more refined than my stock CL-S setup....and Acura has finally learned how to close the tire/fender well gap.

 

horsepower is the same in both cars...the only difference is the torque curve...supposedly the TSX has a little higher torque in the lower end. That's what the saleman told me.

 

YOU did not like the outside look? Isn't your SISTER's opinion the important one?

 

Cool deal, looking forward to your review.

 

Wow, that's really putting the car down ALOT. I think you're main sticking point is the power and to base your evaluation on that is unfair to all of the other strong points the TSX has. Although the power isn't their, other attributes more than make up for it.

 

Ever thought why they put such a high powered sound system in the TSX ? TO TRY TO DROWN OUT THE LOUD HIGH REVING 4 BANGER ! NO thanks ! Long live the CLS !!!

 

LOL no, that's my opinion on the car, she was looking at a Pilot, I was looking at the Accord for fun.

 

You focker, if only I could make it up there before rush hour...
I hear your test drives are wicked.

 

Youre another person who hasnt even driven the damn car.

I had to thing up to 80 on the highway with no sound turned on. The only thing i could hear was a low purr. Hardly any engine noise at all. Its a 4cyl that acts like a 6.

IF YOU HAVENT DRIVEN THE CAR THEN QUICK MAKING STUPID PRESUMPTIONS!!! SHUT UP AND PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS AND GO FOR A TEST!


Chikai-ok you did drive and didnt like it. I took the car on a long test too, highway and local roads and I loved it, handles great, and it maybe not be rocket fast but it is very quick. Everytime i punched it it responded quite well cept for the stupid SS lag. I wanted to drive the 6spd but the only was was on the shoowroom floor. But it is still nothing to even be compared to the RSX two differnt cars completely.

 

Wow, I just flat out cannot believe some of the comments made on this car. I test drove one last friday, one day after delivery and it is a very impressive car for the money. You ARE getting 6 cyl power outta a little 4 banger, sure it is not type S power, but when mated to a 6-speed it is a very peppy car. Looks and handling are both very sharp. Interior is well laid out, gagues are tight, Navi is sweet, and I dig the dual zone AC. This car is VERY quiet and refined....not at all buzzy....in fact I barely ever heard the motor after it started.

The comment Chikai made about not feeling VTEC kick in is recockulous. This is a GOOD thing, the reason you feel VTEC kick in on the S is that the motor's output suddenly jumps. With i-VTEC the motor is better tuned to deliver great power through the whole powerband...that means you are actually putting down more total power (area under the curve). When the 3.2 finally gets i-VTEC this crossover will also become less pronounced.

 

I didn't drive the car. Only sat in it. I was just i awww of the beauty and damn does this car look good in real life. It was a dark blue one. I also saw the light blue (ice blue kinda) one. Very sweet cars. I want one. Maybe not a race car, but nice luxo commuter.

 

i checked out an a4 sedan last week (1.8t) and a tsx today.


I would go w/the TSX versus any fwd a4. The quattro is nice but not always necessary (i.e. it'll hurt when u have 2 pay xtra for the extra gas due to the awd system). Honestly, the layout in the a4 is as nice or maybe even better than that in the tsx. But the tsx has better quality materials IMO (from what i felt and touched today)

 

In a word: WHOAHHHHHHHH



Long Review:
TSX 6 Speed
TSX Auto

Engine / Tranny
I just want to make one thing clear off the bat: IF YOU HAVE NOT DRIVEN A TSX, DO NOT KNOCK THE ENGINE OR DRIVETRAIN YOU HAVE NO FUCKING CLUE. With that being said, this engine does NOT feel like a 4 cylinder engine. I spent approximately almost 45 minutes in the TSX alone driving it on everything from the Garden State Parkway to backroads and twisties. The TSX engine has more than enough get up and go. You will find that the torque curve of the TSX works in favor of the engine's smaller size. When you pop it down a gear there is always some 'oooomph' there to pull you along. I noticed in the auto they had it sticked in 1st it did not auto shift to 2nd. If I was buying this car I would only get the 6 speed to have complete control over the engine and MPG.


Interior
Hands down one of the best most inviting interiors in any car I have test driven lately (minus the E-500 let's not go nuts here lol). The leather is soooo nice and kushy identical to a BMW's. The navigation screen centrally mounted takes the cake w/ 7" viewable / voice recognition / AC / Radio / Calculator / Planner it's simply amazing. The fit and finish is 1st class. The backlit guages are soo damn sharp and at night they look sooo crisp.

Steering Wheel
More controls and the buttons don't look like an afterthought like they do on my CLS. The silver highlights and the integrated look including navi 'speak' buttons on the steering wheel are great. The wheel also telescopes which is new to me and it's smaller and you feel very close to the car's dynamics. It's more like an RSX-S feeling steering wheel, I prefer it.

Seats
Very nice, comfortable, supportive, high quality leather. Thigh room is definitely a touch shorter but since im 5' 7" and fat it was fine for me. After 45 mins of fun and playing with the heated seat button I thought I was in my CLS (good thing).

Road Test
I have absolutely no problem testing a car a little aggresively. I also have no problem treating it the way I will to see what it's made of. With that in mind:

Highway
Car felt great on the highway, as I merged onto the Garden State Parkway and dumped down to 2nd the car came alive and pulled fairly hard (not CLS OMFG POWER HARD) but confidently and w/ more than enough vibe. At 120 the car felt extremely solid and harsh lane changes (Jersey Style) the car felt stiff and very very controlled. The CLS does not give me the confidence this car does at this speed. I was doing 60mph or so southbound for 10 exits (traffic) and 90 or so northbound back up the Parkway (no traffic) with pops up to 100, 110, 120. Passing power is present but once again not like the CLS.

Around Town
Stops, Turns, Casual driving the car does very well. Low end torque makes you forget your in a 4 cylinder car. Even braking, not spongy.

Twisties
FUN FUN FUN. I had goosebumps from pulling the TSX around some sharp turns and keeping in the gas in 3rd gear. The suspension on this car is perfectly tuned. It absorbs most bumps but also is very responsive. YOU KNOW WHERE THIS CAR IS AT ALL TIMES. Felt very BMWish when you pushed it but it's FWD that's for sure.

Roid Noise / Engine
Not a problem. No louder than a stock CLS at WOT when your at WOT in the TSX. When not pushing it, the engine noise is barely noticable.

Overall
I like it alot. Another 20 or 30 horsies would not hurt it but it does not need it per say, if I had to I'd take it as is. For 28K it's a steal.

 

Amen, you said the same things most of us who have driven it have said. The TSX just fucking rocks. Glad you liked it.

 

GREAT REVIEW!!!!!



its nice 2 see u enjoyed it and i hope u will enjoy the new 04 Tl as well

 

I think he LIKES it.

Ernie, I hope you didn’t leave too much WHITE STUFF on the front seat. :wackit:
So what color did you order ???

Shawn S

 

Ahahhahahahahh I didn't order shit! But as a gadgets geek yourself you'd love the navi.

BTW, when you shut the door it's BMW sealed shut sound 'click'.

 

I JUST SAW A TSX COMMERICAL on Comedy Central

Damn, it was actually pretty good! I think Acura is gonna spark up sales on this. It may not be a TL, but still pretty damn good. The commerical really stands out more than usual spots, less bland, and more exciting, going around the twisties!

 

I was seriously considering bailing on my tsx deposit and getting a cl-s at a steal price...then i drove the thing and i loved it. I've been driving my tsx for a week now!

 

do they have a good website forum up for the TSX yet?

 

Been up for months. www.acura-tsx.com

 

hmmm...the tsx is a piece of shit....

sorry...my money would never go there

 

Nice review, eclipse23. I also went for a test drive yesterday in an automatic TSX. I had my girlfriend in the car as well as the salesman so I couldn't really drive it like I wanted, so I pretty much drove it around trying to get a feel for the creature comforts and quality of ride.

I was impressed. The car definately has a nicer interior than the TL and CL as far as gadgets and looks. I did like the CL's seats a bit better since they hugged me a bit more tightly than the TSX's, but that is a very minor nitpick.

Road noise was very quiet and in fact very good considering some of the pavement I drove over during the test drive. Very smooth. Engine noise was low as well, but I didn't rev it up past 4500rpm.

Dual climate control is very nice for those of us with woman who get cold in temperatures below 78 degrees. I get hot in anything above 75. What more can I say? Heated seats, or butt-warmers as the woman puts it -- I could care less but it makes her happy.

The car looks good without a spoiler. Personally, I think the CL looks a bit goofy without the spoiler. I give the TSX two thumbs up on external appearance. IMHO it is leaps and bounds better than the "catfish" looking USA Accord.

I didn't like the parchment interior mainly because it will show wear and tear too easily. The dealer only had the TSX for a few days and there were already black shoe streaks on the lower door trim from people getting in and out. I think blue exterior with black interior looks very nice.

Fit and finish quality was excellent. Not much more to say here. Props to the Japanese workers. You auto workers in Ohio (or wherever the Honda/Acura plant is) can kiss my butt.

My next car might come down to the TSX or a Saab 9-3 Sport-Sedan. Since I have lived without my CL-S since mid-January, I have slowly gotten away from the mindset that I need lot-o-hp and torque. Of course I'm also getting older (now 30) and I don't have the urge to try to blast every other car off the line at a red light. Those who say that the TSX doesn't have enough engine need to realize that not everyone cares about balls-to-the-wall performance/speed. It definately has enough power to please most of the folks out there.

 

www.acura-tsx.com

 

How was the gear box compared to other recent test drives???

 

Amen bro.

Next thing you'll know, Honda will put the ELEMENT design team on it to... "refine its' appearance".
:P

 

It's obvious you've never driven one..............

 

Heh heh...aren't magazine drivers fun? They look at stats on a car in a magazine or online and instantly they have the car's number. They can tell if the car is good or a POS. (funny, considering every review I've read has liked the car) So all I can say is drive the car before passing judgement if you still don't like it, then you can piss and moan all you want.

 

Word, until you pony up and drive you're "opinions" are based on nothing but the shit oozing from your mouths/fingers.

 

Some of you idiots are making Freud proud with your apparent Penis Envy comments coming out left and right.

The TSX is NOT A CLS or TLS.

The TSX is a 4 Cylinder car with basically everything you get in a CLS minus heated side mirrors and memory seats.

What you do get in a TSX is a Japanese built car that I bet will outlast any other domestic built Acura on fit and finish.

You get the 7" Navigation with voice recognition that is simply amazing. In fact, the MDX has the same navi.

You get a redesigned interior that is different than anything in the current lineup.

You get JDM support and, from what I believe, will be a signifigant after market if your into modding.


Honestly guys, as a CLS owners, diss it all you want but the bottom line is that the TSX is better than a CLS is many ways, vice versa. Don't knock it till you tried it.

 

Amen. A car like the TSX does A LOT to strengthen the Acura brand, any of you that are hating it are hating yourself. I am positive many of the same elements in the TSX will make their way into the new TL. Just like the President in the media, Acura just cannot win with some of you folks...

 

very nice review, eclipse23

 

AH.. the TL is made in the US and not imported... I bet the fit and finish is not on par with the TSX!

 

I'm glad that all of the reviews have been so positive. It sounds like a great addition to the Acura line-up and a good sized car for my wife to consider. I cannot wait to test it out.

(And I also must praise LegendC for being the sole other person on these forums that seems to know how to spell 'a lot' - I bet you also know that how to spell 'probably'. Very refreshing.)