It was so inspiring it took me 3 weeks to post about it. True, I did drive a 2.0L model, because apparently even though there is a 6MT model it is near impossible to find one.


Negatives. The car costs too much. The steering is way too light and twitchy. The power is, pathetic. The interior, while well made, feels a bit crowded. The dash is too upright IMO. The exterior door handles are too low.

Positives. It looks pretty nice overall.

A loaded 2.0 is less than $3000 savings versus a loaded TSX, which I drove immediately after the ILX. The TSX handles better, is faster, has a better transmission, is more comfortable, more roomy.

Congrats Acura. You just made the 2G TSX a desirable car for me.

 

Just on looks alone, if they make a supercharger for the 2.4 I may have to sell the 08 335i before she hits 100k miles. But yea with the 2013 mustang GT pushing 460+ bhp, its hard to say comfort/styling can overcome the massive HP of muscle cars @ 35k if your not going to keep them 4+ years

 

my dealer has 12 ILX MT in stock.

so did it feel/perform like a civic?

 

RE: an ILX like Civic.

It is quieter and much more refined. Unfortunately it is no more powerful or spacious. If does drive kinda like a cheaper car. Not because it is low quality...it just doesn't feel very "serious."

It would be hard not to want an Evo or something with more performance instead for a few grand more. I have to think once you option an ILX up the automatic model has got to look downright pathetic next to a G25.

For $30,000 there seem to be a lot more options out there that seem better. This car needs to be at least $2000-3000 cheaper to make any sense at all.

 

ok...so it looks nice and the interior is posh and refined like an acura should be BUT it lacks in any excitement whatsoever in terms of driving fun. i sat in one at my dealer in the showroom. it is small (b/c it is). it's as i suspected, underpowered and lackluster in the performance dept.

perhaps if acura dropped a 2.4L AT under the hood, it might be worth it's weight. i would imagine the MT is peppy, but slow. having gotten used to V6 power, it's hard to go back. maybe if i was a old grandma driving around it might be fine, BUT i need to enjoy my life right NOW! lol.

 

I agree, while I enjoyed my I4 in my 2009 TSX, it would be hard to lose my V6 for another 4 cylinder. Its fine in my Accent because that is my little daily commuter and I know I still have my V6 in the TL and my RDX. BTW...I was driving home after going to town earlier and I just could not get over how well this RDX rides!

I got ask..you said, if I was an OLD grandma.....so are you a YOUNG grandma? Just kidding....I agree, life is too short and enjoy the growl of the V6 while they are still available

MrHeeltoe...you pretty much confirmed my worst fear. A well designed and executed car but poorly powered. Hopefully this wil be the thing that will be rectified with the MMC. I suspect that this will almost coincide with the release of the TLX and the dropping of the TSX and at that point, it would make sense to then drop the TSX engine in the ILX and have the tech package available with that engine too. Time will tell....

 

weather- ummm....NO. nowhere near it! and no plans to be a granny either!!! lol. oh if you only knew.

 

The car will find some buyers. Most likely those who should be buying Civics, but can afford and Accord, but don't want a bigger car.

I need to drive a 6MT. I imagine that car is pretty quick. But certainly not as fast as it should be.

 

Did you also get to test drive one with MT? Previously owned V6 and turbo vehicles. Very pleased with my tsx during our cross-country roadtrips.

 

This car needs the ED powertrains!

 

No, this car needs to offer navi with the 2.4 MT.

 

i have not test driven the ILX...but i suspected what heel toe concluded. i would think the MT would be a zippy and much more engaging to drive (or it'll remind me of the civic HB i used to own eons ago which was MT).

 

Now you can't leave a poor guy like me hanging like this?! I am just now itching to know.....know what?!?

 

I previously owned a 05 Civic ex-se 5 MT. It had a 1.7L 170 HP Engine. That car should have been slow.

 

170hp in a 05 Civic????? typo??

 

yes it was- 127hp- Thanks for pointing it out.

 

 

This is one of my biggest disappointments with modern hondas. Electronic power steering is fail.

 

I saw the ILX on the dealer lot but was not inspired to ask for a test drive. I've had a few 4 cylinder TSXs as loaners and thought they felt cheap. Unless Acura does something with the next generation TL, I may have to look at a different brand. My last loaner was a new MDX Tech. That MDX was a pretty nice ride.

 

The engine transmission in the ILX is a complete joke. The TSX for a 4 banger drives decently and has enough pep. Most premium cars have 6 speed transmission and at least 200hp. This is a car I'd get for my daughter in high school or college but I don't think it would be a better value than a Mini Cooper, a Passat, or a Subaru.

Honda just knows how to eff things up.

 

Ever drive an RX-8?

 

Have you tried an '11/'12 TSX?

I find the steering on those to be tremendously better.

We have three cars in the family now with EPS, I like it

TSX, S2000 and CR-Z.

 

Yeah, EPS works nicely in the S2000 and in the 2G TSX. I thought it would feel artificial but it really doesn't. It most definitely is not fail.

 

The EPS isn't the issue, it is their whack strut front end.

RE Honda getting their act together....fingers crossed:
http://wot.motortrend.com/mt-poll-ho...ck-219801.html

 

Wow, an AMERICAN in charge of American Honda R&D.

Of course, it was Americans who gave us the godawful design language of the last few years. *4G TL flashbacks * So I reserve judgement on this change for now....

 

As far as we know, the same guys also gave us 2+3G TL, 1+2G MDX so their track record 'technically' has more hits than misses (2 generations of CLs are among the misses IMO).

 

i finally drove the ilx. the power as the op said is pathetic, you push down on the throttle and the drive by wire system gives you a sense of lots of available reserved power. but when you floor it nothing happens but lots of engine noise and tremendously slow acceleration. there is no way in which i can describe my disappointment in the dynamics. the handling is also disappointing the car feels much heavier than it is and it leans too much in cornering. The R20 engine is no where near as torquey as the 155hp k20 engine found in the canadian csx. this is despite the fact that the csx was rated at 139ftlb @4500 vs ilx 140ftlb @4300. but the csx was rated at 155 @6000rpm vs ilx' 150 @6500. the csx felt faster than it was, even though it was very noisy. the ilx is still a bit noisy at high rpm but its an improvement. i can say i like is the interior with beige colour. i would not recommend this car to anyone. either save up a few and get the tsx or a vw cc.

 

^^ Everything in your car resume would suggest that this isn't the car for you so your thoughts shouldn't be surprising. Did you try the 6MT?

 

Fair point. My 4G TL flashback is over now and I feel lots better. And you mean 2 generations of not having CLs as the miss, eh? But that's for another thread.

 

LOL!

 

6mt has the same suspension setup, much rather the Si if i'm going manual 2.4

 

Instead of suggesting "this isn't the car for you", a knowledgeable, experienced car salesman might instead ask why pickler decided to test drive the vehicle. Perhaps there would be a valid answer (downsizing; wants better fuel economy; time for a change; second car for around town; etc.).

 

Yea, it's a dynamic model, but exactly a sport model. They are for different targets.

That's right but I don't think Colin is trying to be a salesman on this forum.....

 

The ads are cracking me up. Move up without settling down?

 

+10

 

not sporty at all. the Si has limited-slip dif, this one doesnt.

 

sorry...typo...i meant to say it's a dynamic model, but NOT exactly a sporty model. It's for people who want a bit more power than a regular ILX....there's no LSD, no suspension changes, no summer tires...etc...

 

The car is incredibly over priced, plain and simple. If you can't swing the TSX new a slightly used TSX is a much better value proposition.

 

Oh my! I wish I had read your insightful opinion before I bought one. Surely I would have then bought a TSX instead.

 

our first ILX owner!! long time AZ member.^^^

please enlighten us on your experiences so far.