Business Insider Article: I drove a $50,000 Acura TLX A-Spec PMC Edition to see...
 

New article from Business Insider: I drove a $50,000 Acura TLX A-Spec PMC Edition to see if the limited-run luxury sedan is worth the price — here's the verdict
https://www.insider.com/acura-tlx-a-...ictures-2019-5

Geeze how much did Acura pay Business Insider to write that?

I don't know about how much but it is a fair review...

there are more than several that would question any review that wasn't negative about this car.

I call fake news! The grass is actually green in his rear view camera. Something is amiss. . . :tomato:

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...f5764b17b1.jpg

had a 19 tlx loaner the other day and the grass is actually green :/ the camera quality pic is not as good as the 18.

It looks to be a nice car and "limited". But I am having a hard time spending 50K for it. Maybe $3K over the comparable A-Spec model's street price is more reasonable.

No car is perfect. But I do agree if you can buy a BMW with over 300HP in the USA with $50K. Then the TLX isn't a good purchase. If you get a BMW with the same features for $60K or plus, then I will get the TLX.

But the article says that the car is a "genuine bargain"!

I'll wait until a member here drives one!

There are so many excellent reviews of the 18 and 19 TLXs, particularly the ASpecs, and given that every day I get into my 18 2.4 Elite ASpec I smile and enjoy the drive, I admit to getting a little fatigued by the shrill negative voices here. But each to his own.

Business Insider is just *barely* a legitimate news website. Most of their articles read like click-bait.

that's my only issue with business insider, they shouldnt be reviewing cars because most of it reads like a boy on christmas day!

"oh, boy! look what *insert automotive company here* dropped off for us this weekend! it's so shiny! you can tell *insert automotive company here* spent a lot of time and money on the paint, well I did anyway as the townspeople broke their necks while admiring the car!"

it's like, c'mon...stop stroking your own ego, author of the article.

50k for a TLX is a lot of money. I feel like I qualify for senior citizen discount saying this but back in my days (when I bought my current TL-S) I could get a very, very well equipped bmw 335 for just under 50k...
i think MSRP on mine was 36k, I know inflation and all that but in my eyes this thing isn’t worth nearly 40% more.

I would pay the money for the car if the ZF were not there.

because you want manual, or just any other automatic transmission?

The TLX is two different cars. I agree that the I4 Aspec is well regarded. No one disputes that consensus or your personal experience. I've driven one myself. It's a great package that drives/handles almost optimally and has an outstanding appearance to boot. "Excellent" and "completely satisfied" are proper ways to describe it, if an I4/DCT8 meets your needs (only available in FWD). I wish I had bought one of those in hindsight, but if FWD had been okay with me, I would have chosen something else (Accord Touring or ES).

Those who wanted more power pretty much got shafted. The V6 was a mess basically because its ZF9. Can you find a single magazine or consumer review that doesn't at least mention the quirks or questionable performance of the ZF9? Many of the 2015 tranny commentary is still reflected in the current 2020 models. Chrysler and Odyssey owners are having issues with it too. Its behavior totally impacts the driving experience. If you haven't driven one, you should try it for a week and see what you think. If it weren't as bad as everyone says they are, I doubt Acura would have replaced hundreds if not thousands by now. Then there are those who opted for SH-AWD: the ostensibly "premier" model with superior performance, handling and winter/snow traction. On top of the lackadaisical transmission, they also get the rear differential vibration, still occurring in 2019 models. Since Acura won't fix it and taking them to court won't work, you basically have two options: live with it or trade it in for a huge loss.

They are not hand building an I4 Aspec. They are hand building a V6 SH-AWD Aspec Advance. My question for these PMC versions is this: whether you assemble with a robot or assemble by hand, the same ZF9 and the same rear differential will yield the same lazy, shaky sports sedan, right? Like others said, this article reads like a fanboy on Christmas morning who has no idea how a car should drive, no idea how to write a tangible, constructive review/critique, or how much $50,000 should buy you.

To be fair the 2015 ZF9 had more significant issues. The current ZF9 while having retaining some lag in it is by all accounts from people who have driven both much improved and is not generally be replaced outside of the first production versions of the TLX (I also think the ZF9 is better behaved more so in the 2018 over the 2017 where there was some surge in addition to the lag). As for the vibration most people don't have the issue but if I had that I would probably trade it in and be done with it. I don't recall reading any reviews that even mentioned the vibration but granted I have only read/watched a half dozen or so. I never felt it in mine either so a test drive is generally all it would take to determine if vibration is an issue as its not something that develops over time. I don't particularly like the ZF9 (downshift lag) but from a stop and most of the time it is functional but a weak link for sure. All that aside $50k is way too much for a TLX with standard model performance even if put together by hand with elves at the North Pole. There are still plenty of 2019's on the lots and I would guess some nice discounts from the sticker available.

I want a better auto, either the RLX DCT or the new 10 speed.

Let's see if my opinion changes in 10 days. I have been unable to drive the last 5 weeks with 1 to go due to some surgery so I may find the tree my not so bad when I get back into the car and it feels brand new again for a while. It will be 7 weeks total without driving my TLX. Then again as soon as the shift lags I may say I was not missing anything.

It's too bad Honda didn't swallow its pride and use an Aisin 8-speed back in 2014. Would have spared them the grief and bad publicity.

They can't because Aisin is part of Toyota Group. Aisin would charge them an arm and a leg for the transmissions, if they would even sell it to them at all since it means they must be desperate. If you knew your competitor was having a rough go at something, it's only logical to kick them while they're down.

Or use the ZF 8 speed - widely regarded as an excellent transmission.

I wish. Unfortunately, the ZF8 is for longitudinal engines.

wishing you a swift recovery.


on the car topic, I'm glad I looked at this thread, and others on the forum. With my 2011 odyssey and 2008 TL-S getting old I like to try and keep up to date if I need to get a replacement...

Ah - thanks - I wasn't aware!

No actual performance modifications. Normal V6. You just get special paint, wheels and badging. It's the Mugen Civic all over again.

Looks great....silver is a classy color too!