TSX882

Hello,(ive already searched)

i am interested in purchasing a TSX. I am currently debating between the TSX and a brand new civic EX-L Navi. I currently own a 5 series and the gas is not to great on it.

I would like to know a couple things, please list them in your post.

- Year of your car
- Cost of fill up + price of gasoline in your area
- miles to the tank
- MPG
- % of highway driving

Thanks so much.

Mowgli

2007 automatic, 28mpg average. DIC says 29mpg but it is too optomistic. 65% highway driving, usually pretty conservatively but there are times when I drive it hard.

2009TSX

- My 2009 TSX is currently getting 26.4mpg (DIC says 28.2mpg)
- I'm about 55% city 45% hwy

ck123

all highway way will net me close to 500 miles on the tank
coming back from vancouver to sf, i got 460 miles on 13.3 gallons. this is going 80mph average, 4 people in the car, full trunk, and plenty of mountain climbing.

combined, this car gets around 27-28, its not very good in the city.

this thread is probably going to get lock, there are lots of threads on gas mileage already

odannyboi

If you are concerned so much about MPG... get the civic already

Mokos23

better yet, get a civic hybrid

nickp85

- Year of your car - 2005
- Cost of fill up + price of gasoline in your area - about 50 bucks and 3.80 a gallon
- miles to the tank - usually 400 before the low fuel light
- MPG ~30 mpg
- % of highway driving 50%

Just a side note I am using a custom K&N air filter... before putting that in, I averaged 26-27 mpg. Now I top 29-30 on most fills and higher if I happen to drive a lot of the highway that week.

Also I do calculate mpg at every fill so the above info is correct.

nj2pa2nc

2006, bought new 11/17/06, almost 58,000 milesMostly highway drivingaverage price paid for gas $40-$50 but I do not let it go below 1/4 tank32-36 MPG (Driving conservatively)car is serviced by acura dealer

1Louder

I drove an 07 Civic and compared it to a gently used 06 TSX. The Civic is like bringing a knife to a gun fight. Coming from a 5-series, I think you'll find the Civic disappointing, even more so once you drive the TSX. I think the TSX is a much better transition car from a 5-series.

2006 TSX Auto. You're better off calculating gas costs for your area.
Lifetime MPG (16+ months of ownership): 29 (I've gotten as much as 32-33 on 100% highway)
Percent HWY/City: 70% / 30%

My car before the TSX was an 03 Civic Hybrid that got 45 MPG. A regular Civic is some where in the high 30's, but the TSX does so well on MPG, and has so much more to offer, that I decided that the 7-8 MPG difference was a decent trade off. My opinion is that if MPG is that important, go for the Civic Hybrid. If you want MPG and are willing to drive a Civic, go all the way with it. If not, I'd pick a TSX over a regular Civic (well, I guess I did.... ).

BTW, the reason I gave up 45 mpg for a 30 mpg car was because I spend 2 hrs a day in it. This Civic is excellent for what it is, and what it does, but if you spend any amount of time behind the wheel give this some careful thought.

TSX882

For all of you that chimed in, thanks very much, please keep the stats coming.

My 5 series is a great comfortable car, but ideally, its not the right car for my commutes. It gives 16-17 city and 20-21 highway. So after 2 years of ownership, i want to use it as my part time car.

The civic was an option because i can order it with 0 miles and it would be a brand new car. The TSX is a car i can buyt with about 10-20k miles on it. my max is 23k that i am willing to spend. Considering that il be in medical school and will hopefully bet getting into an out of state school. I will be keeping this car for the next 10 years!

I need a car that is reliable and maintenance free. 7-8mpgs diff is not a big deal, as long as im not getting like 19 mpg in the city. My commute is 70% city and 30% highway.

1louder- what was the biggest difference you noticed in the civic and TSX? road noise? comfort?

Has the TSX been reliable for you guys? im aiming for a 2007 TSX.

For those of you off the bat who said i should get the civic, you obviously missed the point of this thread.

nj2pa2nc

Before I bought my 06 tsx I owned a 05 civic ex-se. I sold it with almost 40,000 miles on it. I was very disappointed with the civic-alot of small annoying problems and very noisy on the roads. Very happy with my tsx.

davidspalding

2006 5AT. My stats are up at fueleconomy.gov, I suggest you go there, you can view the EPA estimates for TSX', as well as owner-posted mileage reports.[1]

I just filled up this morning $3.77 for Shell 92 v-power, 13.367 gallons, and I'd gone 391.9 miles on that. I'll let you do the math (I haven't entered it in my fueleconomy.gov spreadsheet yet). ... Though this is the 1st time in a while when actual mileage nearly matched what my MID computation said (within 0.1 mpg).

[1] 9 2006 TSX' with 5AT are getting on average 27.1 MPG.

TS_eXpeed

2006 Automatic
~$60 - ~$3.50-$3.90/gallon depending on where I fill up
-I've gotten anywhere as low as 290 when I really pushed it, to 590 miles when I did almost all highway. (I'm determined to be the second in the 600 miles club)
-Again, it varies. 22-25 when I'm not so nice on her....as high as 42mpg when I drove 60mph highway on the whole tank

davidspalding

I just uploaded my new spreadsheet. I seem to be beating the current EPA rating 95% of the time.

ATsxMan8305

2007 AT, $55-60 for fill up, 400-500 miles per tank, close to 50/50

tsxk|d

2005 TSX 6M/T $60 for fill up 94 octane if i shift under 4k RPM i get 430 miles before the light come on. if shift above 4k i get 410 miles before the light come on.
my car has 39,830 miles as the moment i'm typing this.

JimHolloman

If you only two options are a Civic and a TSX, forget the Civic. There is no way someone driving a BMW 5 Series would be satisfied with a Civic; especially someone with some arrogance. i.e., "For those of you off the bat who said i should get the civic, you obviously missed the point of this thread. ".

I would take a Prius over a Civic and a new one, I believe, can be purchased for around 23K. They also hold their value like crazy, so I would recommend buying only a new one.

TSX882

its not about arrogance, im on another forum, and theres always someone who gives a useless reply that just implies the OP is an idiot.

TSX882

Im curious how you guys are filling up for 60 bux. according to fuel economy.gov the tank is 17.1 gal at it comes out to 71.xx, but obviously the tank isnt empty. even if you fill up at 16 gallons its 67 bux at 4.18 for premium. For 14 gallons 400+ miles is GREAT.

Thank you much everyone.

I also have another question, i used to own an 01 CL-S and i remember trans problems on there. Does the TSX have trans problems? is it a reliable car?

davidspalding

WHO rolls into a gas station with just a few ounces of gas left? For one, you can hurt the fuel pump on some cars if you run it dry ... you can also put into the engine any sediment that is collecting down there in the sump.... bad idea. So thinking you're going to buy 17.1 gals at any time is a stretch of the imagination. All this is hypthesis on my part, IANAAOFE (I Am Not An Automotive or Fuel Engineer).

I generally fill up at the 1/2 way point ... or when I find a great price. Someone claimed (it could be a myth) that the more fuel is IN the tank when you fill up, the less fuel that you ADD turns to vapors which are then reclaimed by the nozzle, or escape into the outside air.

I haven't seen reports of tranny problems in the TSX. I have coworkers who've had, or still have, CLs and TLs, and they made sure to steer me clear of them.

1Louder

Actually, all Hondas are noisy, so that wasn't a big difference. The ride quality of the TSX is just way above the Civic. Leather heated seats, much better stereo, very smooth automatic, 200+hp engine, and it's just smooth on the highway. The TSX is just more solid on the road, much more stable at 70 mph.

However now that I see your profile (70% city), you might be disappointed in the TSX - in fact it may not be much of an improvement over the 5 series you have. The TSX sweet spot in terms of mileage is the highway. It's very aerodynamic, tall 5th gear, and is able to crank out low 30's easily. Posts I've read from those who do a lot of city driving have a very hard time getting low 20's, if they get that much.

So if you're really after mileage over comfort, Civic hybrid is a good call. But, the better hybrid for city driving is the Prius. You'll get 40+ in the city with a Prius. The Civic Hybrid is the better highway car - just because of the difference in the two designs.

JimHolloman

> "...even if you fill up at 16 gallons its 67 bux at 4.18 for premium"

The low fuel warning light comes on early, with a generous amount of fuel remaining in the tank. It is also rather bright, so one is compelled to stop soon -- to get rid of the distraction. Most of my fill-ups, after the light comes are around 13 gals. The most I have even needed was 15.22 gals. at $3.83 = $58.30 (14 Aug., 2008).

No pattern of xmissions problems with the TSX has developed.

stylin

haha finally someone says something about majority city driving x.X

I typically excelerate slow (my family and friends think I drive like an old guy -_-) butI think I drive like time wise... 80% city and 20% freeway... I'm lucky to have one stretch about 1 mile that has no lights... all of the others are pretty busy/ long wait.. but driving like that to work I get about 20-21.5 on avg...

I catch my mileage back up on the freeways though =p So I usually end up with 23-24 on my avg mpg (not based on MID, MID says about 1-2mpg higher)

Typically I get to 300-330 before I refill for about 14-15 gallons

TSX882

Ok guys, after calculating at 330 mile tank, i do 60% city driving and 40% highway driving.

About the fuel, everytime i fill up in my BMW, i fill up when it says i have 5 miles remaining to drive. I fill up about 19.282 gallons (the last time i filled up at 4.199) and it only lasts me 330 miles if i drive like an old guy. The tank is only 19.5 gallons. That is why i thought it would be 16 gallons to fill up.

I usually fill up for 85, but because gas has gone down to 4.19 it is like 81 bucks. I fill up 5 times a month.

405 dollas of gas a month.

Upon getting the TSX i am estimating my mileage will be at 25-26mpgs.

So calculating 5 tanks at $59. I am looking at 295 dollars VS 405 dollars a month.

One of the things i despise is that whenever my friends and i go out, we tend NEVER to take the BMW because of its gas mileage. Because if we go out, we usually drive about 150 miles or so.

What do you guys think i should do?

JimHolloman

$110 a month is not sufficient savings to justify a second car -- because of interest, taxes, insurance, maintenance, etc.

> Because if we go out, we usually drive about 150 miles or so...

And, you are not likely to take the TSX because of the size and the lack of power.

150 miles at 17 MPG at $4.00 = $35.30

150 miles at 25 MPG at $4.00 = $24.00

Net Savings = $11.30

Since you asked, I think you should either:

1) Continue to put gas in the BMW and enjoy it. The difference in operating cost is insignificant when everything is factored in -- like taxes, insurance, and maintenance. In fact, I believe a second car would increase your cost of car ownership while reducing the enjoyment.

2) Replace the BMW with a V-6 sedan like a TL, Audi A4, or an Avalon. If you have to consider $11.30 (or less) in making a decision on what vehicle to drive, then the BMW 5 Series is probably too much car for you to begin with (I tell it like I see it). I always see a Question Mark when I see someone under 25 years of age driving something like a 5 Series -- rich parents, big ego, drug dealer, pimp, or just foolish decision?

JimHolloman

Oops, forget the Audi A4. It is smaller than the TSX. And, it may not be available with a V-6 either.

The point is, I would suggest something with more torque, a little more HP, more interior space, and a softer ride than the TSX -- when you "friends" are taking into consideration. The TSX is at its best with no more than two adults on board -- and both of them are acclimated to a firm ride -- where every bump is felt.

TSX882

Couple things, I had borrowed about 3k from my dad when i bought this, but the rest i bought on my own. Its not brand new, its a 99.

There are a few things. I was going to sell the car but i was not getting nearly as much as i wanted for it. My father needs a sedan and he REALLY likes my BMW. So basically the BMW would become the family sedan, and id have my own car (TSX or the civic).

Essentially, i want to give it to him. I am in my 3rd year of schooling (undergrad) and have about 2 years before med school.

I am very car savvy and do all my maintenance myself. In the past year i have spent 5k on maintenance on my BMW. After almost 2 years, i have a suspension problem that i have to fix, and radiator maintenance. It is costing me about 1400 in parts and i dont really want to do it because of lack of time, i work full time and am an over full time student. Labor is 600 bux.

(Front thrust arms, lower control arms, stabilizer links, front bearings, tie rods, radiator, fan clutch, belts, etc.)

The BMW is great, however, it only pushes 193hp 208lbs of torque with an inline 6. 350 miles to the tank i have only gotten ONCE. normally i get 15 mpgs, because come around winter and im at 270-280 miles to the tank.

In winter i have to fill up 7 tanks. so it is an addition 160 dollars a month.

One thing i have learned, is NO EURO CARS UNTIL IM A DOCTOR. The maintenance at my age is not affordable, the better car you want to play with, the higher the price you pay.

It was not a foolish decision at the time, i also had a big ego. Now, i would just like to have a nice car, that is reliable, and i dont have to spend 5k a year on maintenance.

TSX882

Also, i have to finance a car in order to improve my credit to qualify for the Citi Student loans for Med School. So either way i have to finance a car.

zguy95135

Freeway only with no traffic: 500-560+
Street only: 300-350
Mixed with traffic: 400-450

The latter numbers are if I consciously try to get the best mileage. It costs me about $67 to fill up.


Lately I had been having trouble getting over 28mpg on the freeway doing 65 , but I had been getting super cheap gas from the offbrand station in Irvine. Once I put some Shell in the tank its brought my mpg back to where it should be.

n3ok318

iTrader: (1)

TSX gives u great mileage, unless you want an extremely economic car, you will be happy with MPG.

JimHolloman

> The BMW is great, however, it only pushes 193hp

Wow! I figured a 5 Series would have at least 230 HP.

Observations:

1) If you give the car to your father, then he ought to be responsible for all the maintenance.

2) Since your father likes the BMW, and that is a significant factor in your thinking, then offer to sell it to him at Fair Market Value.

3) Your question started out as a rather simple question. But, you keep adding new information that makes the question much more complex. You are now asking others to offer suggestions regarding a situation that deals with emotions, and maintenance costs, as much as it does MPG's.

4) Since you MUST finance a car (and that sounds strange to me), then sell the BMW to either your father, or someone else, at FMV (check Edmunds and KBB) and then finance a TSX. The TSX gets good mileage, is reliable, is low maintenance, and it will give you the opportunity to finance a car -- that sounds like everything you need.

5) The question is clearly no longer just about MPG's.

6) MD's ought to be good at making decisions. You training could begin at any moment.

7) I would not want to be a med. student, with a pile of student loans, driving a BMW 5 Series -- or a 3 Series -- or a 1 Series -- unless my parents were wealthy and footing the bills -- but then, I probably wouldn't have a pile of student loans, would I?

808havok_tsx

FWIW, i live in hawaii. the most highway miles i'll drive is 42 miles roundtrip when i go out to a client site. off the top of my head, last fill-up was about 13.5 gals at $4.47 for chevron premium. total mileage was about 275 miles driven. my mileage actually improved about 1.5 mpg after i got the icebox. and yes, i drive like a grandpa most of the time...

hawaii's stop and go traffic and lack of any long and flat stretches of highway makes for poor fuel economy...

TSX882

I kind of realize that now as well. and no, if my parents wore footing the bill i would have an M5. and wouldnt work.

Feel free to add more.

JimHolloman

> if my parents wore footing the bill i would have an M5. and wouldnt work.

In regard to perception, most people are unable to differentiate between a 528i, a 540i and a M5. To the average person, they are all BMW's and they are all expensive.

If I was a millionaire, and your age, I would either be working hard -- or I would be in school studying hard. Work is about a lot more than just money.

And, in regard to perception, I perceive that this thread has ran its course. I would suggest you kill the "paralysis by analysis" and make a decision. And, as always, that decision could be to "do nothing".

TSX882

After really thinking about it, and considering the fact that il be at 400-450 miles per tank and be at 24-26 mpgs. I am really happy with that. Highway is even better.

For everyone that contributed, Thanks so much, i really appreciate it.

I am going for the TSX. However, i will test drive both cars and make the absolute final decision. But i am 99% sure, i am getting the TSX. I really love the interior, it is so easy on the eyes, it looks good and doesnt feel out of date, and its more comfortable that the civic. Higher quality controls.

Crash test ratings are better on the TSX, its heavier which is something i like. One of the most important things that was said is that the TSX is alot more stable on the highway, which is very important. The closer the handling to the BMW the better it is.

Another thing i had mentioned is road noise. Consumerguideauto.org has mentioned both the civic and the TSX for road noise at 6 and the 5 series at 7. Therefore, i dont think it will be a big deal.

Here is the chart for the 5 series and then the TSX

1997-2003 BMW 5-Series
Expert Rating Summary
Category
BMW 530i sedan Rating
(See All Ratings)
Performance 7
Fuel Economy 5
Ride Quality 9
Steering/Handling/Braking 8
Quietness 7
Controls/Materials 5
Interior Room 8
Room/Comfort (rear) 6
Cargo Capacity 2
Value within Class 7
Total Score: 64
Ratings: Maximum 10 points per category
Chart: One rating chart provided for a representative model

and the TSX chart.

2004-2007 Acura TSX
Expert Rating Summary
Category
Acura TSX w/manual Rating
(See All Ratings)
Performance 6
Fuel Economy 6
Ride Quality 6
Steering/Handling/Braking 8
Quietness 6
Controls/Materials 8
Interior Room 7
Room/Comfort (rear) 4
Cargo Capacity 3
Value within Class 10
Total Score: 64

Both of them got a total score of 64. One major concern was ride quality. 9 vs 6. As long as its not like a civic where you feel every single nook and cranny in the road. (chime in please)

One thing is that fuel efficiency was rated from 5-6. However, i dont think that is the case. it should be like 4-7.

Fuel efficiency for the civic is at 7, tsx 6 and BMW 5. So i think im good there.

I used to have a CL and it used to break like crap HORRIBLE brakes. ARe the TSX brakes good, responsive and stop "on the dime"?

Anyhow, there fore i have made the decision to get the TSX.

ESHBG

- Year of your car - 2007

- Cost of fill up + price of gasoline in your area - Depends on how low we take the tank of course, but around $56.00+ is a safe bet (we use Premium only).

- MPG - This is where it gets very tricky, and we have experienced dismal city readings since day one unfortunately. Our worst tank was 16+mpg while the engine was still breaking in and we are lucky to get 20+ most of the time. I don't think anything is wrong with the car per se, just a combination of factors working against us (e.g. very short trips to the office, all stop and go, crappy gas in our area, etc.). On our all highway trips to go back home and see family, we can easily pull 33+, though.

- % of highway driving - regularly, 5% on an entire tank at best.

iansanderson

hi. i thought i would chime in on this because I was in the same position you were in

i'm 27 years old and trying to get a career started. I bought a 2001 BMW 740i with the 4.4 V8 282HP, 329 lb-ft torque 3 years ago. It was a beautiful car, with lots of features and a lot of power, but when gas climbed over $4.00, the 80 dollar fill-ups were absolutely killing me. I was spending about $400 a month in gas. i'm about 90% city driving and my CONS1 was reading 13-15 MPG every time I filled up, and it was dead on. Highway was oddly high at around 24-25 MPG. well, then the warranty ran out, so the $500-1000 repairs started. Same crap, radiators, water pumps, thrust arms, alternator.. I performed the labor about 90% of the time and that was getting old.

so ya, i made a mistake and got too much of a car but some nice lady bought it over the weekend so now i'm free from it though slightly scarred.

I am getting a TSX because i've owned 4 honda's before the BMW. i miss the rock solid reliability and the great gas mileage. I tried to get into the TL, but the TSX just appeals to me more in my opinion. It would have made no sense for me to have two cars since I am single with no kids. The TSX is sort of a "downgrade" on a few levels especially when it comes to torque and things that are heated (i had heated rear seats and a heated steering wheel) but i know i will love it and get my money's worth out of it. I plan on saving $100+ per month on gas and $100's per month on repairs and maintenance.

JimHolloman

Buy a new 740i today, sell it in 7 years, and the depreciation alone would have bought you two new TSX's. Add in taxes, gasoline, insurance, and maintenance, and you could probably could have a fleet of TSX's.

If the TSX satisfies your requirements for a vehicle (and it is a small vehicle with a firm ride), then the value is nearly impossible to beat; a perfect balance of power, efficiency, reliability, low maintenance, safety, handling, amenities, and residual value (if traded or sold). The American public now realize that they do not need a 300+ HP, 5,000 pound, V-8 powered, SUV to have self-worth. And, more and more of them are realizing that they do not need a $50,000+ luxury vehicle with a heated steering wheel to have self-worth. I call that "progress".

davidspalding

1. Well, for one. Stop guesstimating your gas mileage, and use explicit measurements. Based on your guesstimate, it looks like you're getting 17.1 MPG, while driving 60% city driving like grandpa. Time for a new car, and clearly a 4-banger that sips rather than guzzles is a good idea. Added value if the new car uses affordable gas (regular versus premium) -- and that points me to either an Accord 4-banger, or an Accord V6 if you still crave the horsepower and torque. I dunno, maybe the Civic will qualify there, too. But Acura strongly recommends premium fuel (91 octane or better) for the K24 engine in the TSX, and there's conjecture that the mileage as well as performance are improved using the recommended fuel. (You can run 87 or 89, some of us do, but the anti-knock sensor may retard performance so that you think all's well, but you get less oomph per RPM.)

2. Don't buy another car that is known for requiring lots of maintenance. As mentioned, MDs depend on good decision-making, start your education early. .... BMWs are popular/highly regarded for their looks, their driving experience, the social status ... but NOT for being low maintenance. Sell it to Dad for FMV and get something that will last you 10 years. If you put a lot down on a 2006, 2007 certified pre-owned, you could possibly finance for 3 years, and then have that out of the way in time for med school.

3. Still addressing your original inquiry ("how much will it cost me per month to fill-up").... My price lately for "top tier" premium (93 octane) is $3.77, less a 5% discount from the vendor (Shell), so a "fill-up" like I did this morning (9.875 gallons) was only $37.32, with discount about $35. Mileage from last fill-up, a mix of city and highway on the holiday weekend, about 26 MPG. So I guess the entire tank would've lasted me 444 miles. Unless my algebra is all abracadabroken, a "fill-up" with 5 miles range left in the tank would cost me $60.84.

alucardx

- Year of your car = 2006
- Cost of fill up + price of gasoline in your area = As of 09/03/08, ~$50 13.5gal fill-up with 93 octane. price of 93 octane, $3.90ish.
- miles to the tank = ~400mi
- MPG = 31-32mpg
- % of highway driving = 80%