Tonyware

I recently had some warranty work done on my 2009 TL SH AWD (they changed the propeller shaft, hanging bearings were toasted). The service manager was nice enough to give me the keys of a base ILX for the day. Here are my impressions:

• This engine revs up so fast, almost needs a digital rev counter!!! Coming from a v6, even though the power isn't there, still, in the city it kicks ass.
  
• I love the mirrors, very nice design, gives a big view of whats left and right behind you.
  
• Rear window visibility sucks. Good thing the rear view camera comes standard. Wish my TL also had the wide angle view and the looking down view.
  
• Construction of the car seems to be of high quality but some of the plastics in the cabin are not of very high quality.
  
• It corners like a AWD! At relatively low speeds in the city it feels like it grabs the road and doesn't wanna let go. Tried to under-steer it, nothing. Maybe at higher speeds it will under steer.
  
• It looks to me that this is a sensible price-wise version of an Audi A3.
• Found it a bit noisy on the highway. My TL has much better sound insulation, perhaps because the TL carpets are more thick and the A pillars have insulation behind them, where as the ILX has thinner carpets and doubt there is any insulation in the A pillars.
  
• Nice styling. Its not a civic any more! Even though if you look at the rear of a new civic and the ILX (parked next to an office colleague who just got a civic) it looks the same. The rest is smartly designed.
  
• Lots of space in engine bay for modifications. I am sure you can fit a nice turbo in there some day!
  
• Space at the rear seats is for the borderline anorexic recent university graduate crowd generation
  
• No handle on the inside of the doors to hold on to it when you corner fast. A bit use to that from import cars in general, but none here. So it is designed to keep the hands on the wheel... but what about the passengers?
  
• The demo car I was given had approx 13,000 km on it. No rattles what so ever!
  
• I got a legitimate 9.8 l/100km in the city
  
• It could use an iPhone dock. Or any other popular dock for today's smart phones that are popular among the young people.
  
• One thing I noticed in the engine bay is that the coolant overflow is under battery? Perhaps it was too early in the morning and didn't have enough coffee in my system but... I can see where this may lead to!

So at the end of the day I gave back the ILX to the service manager and got back into my TL. Mixed feelings. Overall, I guess once you go V6 with a J engine, you never wanna go back to a 4-banger.

Trentimus

Good constructive review.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Seems like for the most part you thought it was a solid car. It's understandable that you would miss your more powerful, more luxurious car right? Well done.

spdandpwr

Yea, I think this is a fair review. Also note that you're comparing a awd tech tl to a premium ilx...that's at least a 10k differential so it's understandable that some quality, etc would be given up

00TL-P3.2

Nice review.
I didn't find the back seat to be too bad. I got myself comfortable in the driver's seat & climbed in the back & had enough room. It's no S-Class back seat, but sufficient for me to be comfortable (I'm 6'0").
I'm in a '00 TL right now & am looking forward to getting into an ILX. I love the J32 power, but the 2.4 6MT ILX didn't feel any slower (little less power than the TL, but also less weight).

spdandpwr

^if you're going to get a 2.4, looks like you can go with the 2013 as they're unchanged / you can get a great deal soon

00TL-P3.2

Definitely going to be the 2.4, one of my requirements on my new car is a maunal trans.
So, no changes for the '14? No ED for ILX

spdandpwr

yea, check the 2.0 go bye bye thread

4cruizn

Thanks for sharing the feedback, and I agree with many of your points! I too came from a V6 so the high-revving I4 has taken some getting used to. Love the handling on the ILX, as you mentioned. It's grippy.