Aspec vs A4
 

Aspec vs A4

Obviously this is very subjective.

Got dammnit, business insider sucks as a car review source.
half the time, they dont know what they are talking about....

^ This

Exhibit 1:

In what way is the A-Spec "performance-oriented"?

I lost it when the journalist was taking home high powered cars and the only thing he could write about was how everyone stared at his bright orange "loaner"...
for christ's sake, no one wants to read about your low-key humble brag piece of writing.

Driving, like most things is subjective; I'm biased because I love my A-SPEC
That being said, I don't think the difference in quality, & performance, is worth $9-10,000
Plus the A-SPEC has electric thigh support;(driver), cooled, & heated seats, wireless IPhone 8, or 10 charging, & RED leather seats!
If money is a concern, go Acura; if not, the choice is your's; I made mine, & have zero regrets!

Even though the TLX A-Spec is more fun and engaging to drive than the A4, the Audi is just a bit better all around.

While we admit the Audi is less powerful and a lot more expensive than the Acura, the A4 is actually quicker to 60 mph and, in our opinion, handled a little better than the TLX.

How in the name of common sense does this make sense? They should stop giving out awards, based on comments like this they look like fools.

I read this article on Tuesday...no comments!
At the end of the day, cars like any other object is subjective. I personally believe Mazda 6 is a much better looking car than Camry and Accord. Yet they aren't selling well...We all can give our opinion but at the end of the day one should choose the car that suits his needs, budget and brand preference.

This review shows TLX is a big winner: 2018 Lexus IS vs Acura TLX Comparison - AutoGuide.com News

The IS is so uninspiring

You should read the comments. So much hate for Acura. It's too bad Acura didn't launch the 2018 A-Spec back in 2015. Things might be different today if they had.

I love the color of that A4. And though the review matches my own personal preference, it is really poorly written. When the reviewer can't tell an LED headlamp from xenon, he needs to get a different job.

A lot of hate for Acura but I bet you any money these Haters did not even test drive the Aspec. However, I have to point out that I hated my 15 TLX fwd V6 and traded for Aspec SH-AWD. There's a huge difference between these two. Aspec is just so much better. Patiently waiting for the Type S though.....

.....but for $9000 more is the A4 really the better choice. Not in my 'man-gazine'.

It's fully loaded, that's why so much. It costs more, but for the shoppers that got one was well worth it.

The same people complaining about a premium priced car over a TLX have no issues justifying a full boat TLX, $45,950, against a full boat Accord $35,800, which is the same basic size but has more features then the TLX. Interesting, must have something to do with disposable income effecting their world view.

At the end of the day, some of us have no choice but to pay more to get something different from what we've been been driving for the last X years. Being a brand loyalist is one thing, but when platform/powertrain development starts stagnating, each model change (generation after generation) effectively feels like the same meal on a new platter :ugh:

Worth posting again..

My A4 makes me want to GO for a short drive for grocery shopping..... because I want to drive the car. My earlier NON Aspec Acura TLX never gave me that feeling.

In short driving is a pleasure+ fun again for me with an A4.

Having said that I'm sure the gap between Aspec version and an A4 Quattro is smaller than the non Aspec TLX.

The A-SPEC SH-AWD is a JOY to drive; city, hwy., whatever
It's a GREAT vehicle for the money; enough said!

Yeah its V6 makes it feel alive, unlike the extremely dull 2.0Toys.

That's what people say about the Accord Touring

and nobody is going to notice that the A4 had the check engine light on on the MID? I told y'all that comes standard on German cars!

Leave it to Acura to neuter a perfectly good V6

dull 2.0T?
I don't think anyone that's driven it could possibly say that...
although I think pairing it to a 6MT plays a vital role in not being dull...
and then stage 1...
and then DP and stage 2...

:) :) :)

Change oil every 5000 miles/6months??

C'mon Bear; The Accord is nice, but doesn't feel like an A-SPEC!
Suspension, & overall quietness of the A-SPEC is quite better
SH-AWD is light years better
Cooled seats, thigh extenders, & Red Leather; c'mon, no comparison

*A LOT* of them. All lifeless and boring, except a few with some exhaust. There is a big reason why BMW, Audi and Mercedes stick to 6-cyl. in their higher offerings; they just feel zillion times better. Key word is feel. I don't want my 40K vehicle to sound like a fr*king Civic or Jetta.

Acura has done a good job, with the revised TLX. I would take it over the Accord. These days, Accord sales are down and TLX's are up, not the contrary, bear.

Referring to the "is an A4 $9000 better then a TLX". Guy posting it should remember if a TLX is $10,000 better then a Accord. Same basic premise & it always come up here when comparing the TLX to the premium cars. But nobody wants to talk about the reverse when the TLX is the bucks up car.

Why is that?

$2500 for SHAWD & $3750 a piece for thigh extenders & red leather?

Then you can subtract what an Accord does have from the equation:

• Head-Up Display
• Ventilated Front Seats
• Wireless Phone Charger
• Body-Colored Parking Sensors (front/rear)
• Near Field Communication (NFC)*
• Mobile Hotspot Capability*
• LED Headlights with Auto-On/Off
• Interior Ambient Lighting
• Heated Rear Outboard Seats

+ all the other stuff the lower versions have.

BTW you don't IIRC have cooled seats, they are ventilated with cabin air. My Expedition has cooled seats with individual cold air generators, like the electric beer coolers. Not many cars have that.

First oil change is 10k, and the reminder doesn't light up the engine light.

The higher end offerings you are referring to are either (a) high output high performance versions or (b) their larger, heavier cars. Both of these applications need higher displacement engines to get the needed higher power. They all offer 2.0T in their standard offerings, and that's what they all sell in the largest numbers.

You may not want your car to have a 4-cyl exhaust note enough to rule a car out because of it, but a whole lot of people vote the other way with their wallets.

His argument is kind of flawed... Under most driving conditions, you barely here the engine in these highly muted cars. It's not until you start opening them up, do you hear them distinctly.

But... He's also a big supporter of fuel economy. If he's trying to get the best fuel economy, he likely is rarely opening the engine up to get that engine note, anyway.

My car has a thingy that measures torque & Horsepower on the fly. Its a very very small percentage of any DD drive the car is using more then 50BHP. Thats why relatively high horsepower cars can turn in 22 23MPG in city driving & 30+ over the road.

I stand by my original statement, I don't think you've driven one if you've been wowed by the Acura because it has 2 more cylinders. That's just my opinion, but it's also pretty dull and lifeless.

I was wondering if more frequent oil changes reduces the odds of a "check engine light" appearing at 80K.

It's like it's built for the autobahn. Texas roads are amazing for the A4.

And when it comes to arguing with Saintor, don't bother. Honda is going to offer the TLX with a 2.0T next go round. He has already lost the argument.