Acura TLX Type S Reviews/Discussion
#1201
Which segment again does the TLX play in? Exterior wise it's in the mid-size segment, so if we're talking about dimensions shouldn't we be comparing this against cars like the 5-series, A6, E-Class, G80, etc?
It's easier to forgive the A4, G70, etc. for having similar (or even slightly worse) rearseat room because those cars are squarely in the compact segment, and they give you the space efficiency you expect of a RWD compact car (or in the case of the A4, FWD compact car). The TLX is for all intents and purposes a FWD midsize car that happens to just have the interior space of a RWD compact car.
It's easier to forgive the A4, G70, etc. for having similar (or even slightly worse) rearseat room because those cars are squarely in the compact segment, and they give you the space efficiency you expect of a RWD compact car (or in the case of the A4, FWD compact car). The TLX is for all intents and purposes a FWD midsize car that happens to just have the interior space of a RWD compact car.
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#1203
Senior Moderator
Same reason why people tend to source out to buying a house rather than getting an apartment when raising kids: added utility.
#1204
Moderator
Thread Starter
Unfortunately Acura didn’t design this TLX for people in your situation. Just get a vehicle with the interior space to accommodate your needs and be done with it. I guess I’m kind of weird because if I needed to cart around kids in a car seat I’d simply bite the bullet and buy an SUV even though I’m not an SUV type of guy.
#1205
Unfortunately Acura didn’t design this TLX for people in your situation. Just get a vehicle with the interior space to accommodate your needs and be done with it. I guess I’m kind of weird because if I needed to cart around kids in a car seat I’d simply bite the bullet and buy an SUV even though I’m not an SUV type of guy.
#1206
Car Enthusiast
We broke down and bought a Honda Pilot to haul the gandkids around in - it has a metric buttload of space and makes things a zillion times easier when we need to haul more than 4 people. It's not a sports car but that's not the function we need when hauling kids to a high school football game. It rides surprisingly well too!
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#1207
So who exactly was it designed for? Do busyers actually find it aesthetically attractive to have midsize exterior porportions with compact interior space? Does it make it feel more "sporty" because it's less practical? Why not just turn this into a 2 door, if people who are buying it don't plan on really using the backseats all that much?
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#1208
Moderator
Thread Starter
So who exactly was it designed for? Do busyers actually find it aesthetically attractive to have midsize exterior porportions with compact interior space? Does it make it feel more "sporty" because it's less practical? Why not just turn this into a 2 door, if people who are buying it don't plan on really using the backseats all that much?
#1209
Moderator
Thread Starter
It depends on the sedan really. If I was 35 and had three kids I'd buy an Accord and be done with it. At this point in my life the TLX checks every box for me. Right tool for the job and all that.
#1210
Senior Moderator
I’m an empty nester so the car works perfectly for my needs absent the ability to carry the occasional over sized object. And yes the car is big, but it’s a big ole pretty car that can bring a smile to your face from almost every viewing angle. Also if you abhor cookie cutter designs there’s nothing on the road that looks like it.
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#1213
So who exactly was it designed for? Do busyers actually find it aesthetically attractive to have midsize exterior porportions with compact interior space? Does it make it feel more "sporty" because it's less practical? Why not just turn this into a 2 door, if people who are buying it don't plan on really using the backseats all that much?
#1214
This is exactly what i was talking about before your saying the back seat is useless when its just plainly not. The back seat does not work for someone with 2 rear facing car seats. For everyone else its perfectly functional. The back seat room should eliminate this car for almost no one. You just happen to be the 0.01% that cant make it work. Ive got 3 kids, if i could only have 1 vehicle it would be a van, because that is what you sign up for when you have multiple kids. You accomodate them. I dont have 1 vehicle i have 2. I have the type S and an Odyssey, clearly if i was going to do a 500mile road trip id take the van because it would be more comfortable for every one then having everyone in the type S. but this is true of any sedan, i wouldnt want to cram them in to a 340i or c43 or a s5 and especially not an is350 or G70 for 500mile trip because clearly that would not be optimal for anyone involved. But to drive 30miles to grandmas house of 4 miles to school it is a complete non factor. Again, sorry it doesnt accommodate your specific life at this specific moment but it doesnt mean the car is non functional.
Best,
Jeff
#1215
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Don't have any 4 door sedans so no struggles with interior size. My thought on this is why build a mid sized car with pretty much the smallest compact sized interior to either pretend its a RWD, or because RWD cars have better visual proportions, or both? Car still has that FWD overhang look because that engine is way out in front giving it that odd weight distribution.
Last edited by BEAR-AvHistory; 08-30-2021 at 01:35 PM.
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#1216
Don't have any 4 door sedans so no struggles with interior size. My thought on this is why build a mid sized car with pretty much the smallest compact sized interior to either pretend its a RWD, or because RWD cars have better visual proportions, or both? Car still has that FWD overhang look because that engine is way out in front giving it that odd weight distribution.
#1217
This is exactly what i was talking about before your saying the back seat is useless when its just plainly not. The back seat does not work for someone with 2 rear facing car seats. For everyone else its perfectly functional. The back seat room should eliminate this car for almost no one. You just happen to be the 0.01% that cant make it work. Ive got 3 kids, if i could only have 1 vehicle it would be a van, because that is what you sign up for when you have multiple kids. You accomodate them. I dont have 1 vehicle i have 2. I have the type S and an Odyssey, clearly if i was going to do a 500mile road trip id take the van because it would be more comfortable for every one then having everyone in the type S. but this is true of any sedan, i wouldnt want to cram them in to a 340i or c43 or a s5 and especially not an is350 or G70 for 500mile trip because clearly that would not be optimal for anyone involved. But to drive 30miles to grandmas house of 4 miles to school it is a complete non factor. Again, sorry it doesnt accommodate your specific life at this specific moment but it doesnt mean the car is non functional.
And as I've already discussed ad naesuem, even 1 kid is tough in the TLX because the center seat is nigh unusable given how high the seat cushion is and how low the roofline is. Lengthwise it's a great seat because of how wide the car is (car seat can fit in between the two front seats) but loading them in and taking them out is a major PITA each time.
#1218
Are you saying only 0.01% of adults have kids with rear facing car seats? That seems highly improbable given that kids 0-5 make up something like 7% of the total US popuation.
And as I've already discussed ad naesuem, even 1 kid is tough in the TLX because the center seat is nigh unusable given how high the seat cushion is and how low the roofline is. Lengthwise it's a great seat because of how wide the car is (car seat can fit in between the two front seats) but loading them in and taking them out is a major PITA each time.
And as I've already discussed ad naesuem, even 1 kid is tough in the TLX because the center seat is nigh unusable given how high the seat cushion is and how low the roofline is. Lengthwise it's a great seat because of how wide the car is (car seat can fit in between the two front seats) but loading them in and taking them out is a major PITA each time.
i understand the frustration of wanting something badly and it not working out for you, but you are in a very specific needs situation that wont be affecting the majority of buyers. Its plenty useable for what the masses would be using this type of vehicle for.
#1219
Senior Moderator
Don't have any 4 door sedans so no struggles with interior size. My thought on this is why build a mid sized car with pretty much the smallest compact sized interior to either pretend its a RWD, or because RWD cars have better visual proportions, or both? Car still has that FWD overhang look because that engine is way out in front giving it that odd weight distribution.
#1220
AZ Community Team
Ah, it sounds like you've never bother to actually try fitting a car seat into the back of the 1G or 2G TLX. Otherwise, you'd know that a one-dimensional measurement like rear legroom is not always representative. So let me share some of my information and facts to show that the 0.8" difference doesn't tell the whole story.
Equipment: Cybex Aton M infant car seat, Nuna Exec convertible cars seat in the rear facing 1 position.
Car seat setup: Behind the passenger seat, LATCH connectors
Front seat setup: 15-degree seat back incline, 5-degree bottom cushion incline.
Distance from rear seatback to top of the front seat required: 30" for the Cybex, 30.5" for the Nuna.
Distance from front seatback to dashboard (using the Cybex for consistency):
1G TLX: 27"
2G TLX: 27.25"
A5 SB: 28.75"
Model 3: 29.25"
V60: 29"
Also, the official measurements for headroom is bogus. On the 1G TLX, the longest measurement I got was 35.25" against a claimed 36.7". On the 2G TLX, I got 35" against a claimed 36.3". On the A5 I got 37.5" against a claimed 37.4". On the V60 I got a whopping 40" against a claimed 38.1".
But, go ahead and tell me how my real world measurements are all wrong or that I'm making things up. I gave you the setup information; go and measure these yourself if you doubt the veracity of these real numbers.
Hopefully the above fits in with the Type S discussion at hand, since I'm just presenting real world numbers that could be helpful for any other parents looking at these cars.
Equipment: Cybex Aton M infant car seat, Nuna Exec convertible cars seat in the rear facing 1 position.
Car seat setup: Behind the passenger seat, LATCH connectors
Front seat setup: 15-degree seat back incline, 5-degree bottom cushion incline.
Distance from rear seatback to top of the front seat required: 30" for the Cybex, 30.5" for the Nuna.
Distance from front seatback to dashboard (using the Cybex for consistency):
1G TLX: 27"
2G TLX: 27.25"
A5 SB: 28.75"
Model 3: 29.25"
V60: 29"
Also, the official measurements for headroom is bogus. On the 1G TLX, the longest measurement I got was 35.25" against a claimed 36.7". On the 2G TLX, I got 35" against a claimed 36.3". On the A5 I got 37.5" against a claimed 37.4". On the V60 I got a whopping 40" against a claimed 38.1".
But, go ahead and tell me how my real world measurements are all wrong or that I'm making things up. I gave you the setup information; go and measure these yourself if you doubt the veracity of these real numbers.
Hopefully the above fits in with the Type S discussion at hand, since I'm just presenting real world numbers that could be helpful for any other parents looking at these cars.
You've made exaggerated claims and numbers up in the past and proven wrong.
Most (vast majority) use SAE J1100 standards for interior measurements. Here's a slightly older revision of the document.
https://law.resource.org/pub/us/cfr/...1100.2001.html
As for the official measurements being bogus, we're suppose to believe you over Acura, Audi, Volvo, Tesla?
Here's some of their spec's and numbers which are probably web scraped for Edmunds where I got my numbers which match.
https://www.acura.com/tlx/pricing-and-specs
https://www.audiusa.com/us/web/en/mo..._techdata.html
https://www.volvocars.com/us/compare-specs/v60/
When someone claims their measurements are correct and the manufacturers are wrong
#1221
AZ Community Team
#1222
you're making it up and no I don't believe you
You've made exaggerated claims and numbers up in the past and proven wrong.
Most (vast majority) use SAE J1100 standards for interior measurements. Here's a slightly older revision of the document.
https://law.resource.org/pub/us/cfr/...1100.2001.html
As for the official measurements being bogus, we're suppose to believe you over Acura, Audi, Volvo, Tesla?
Here's some of their spec's and numbers which are probably web scraped for Edmunds where I got my numbers which match.
https://www.acura.com/tlx/pricing-and-specs
https://www.audiusa.com/us/web/en/mo..._techdata.html
https://www.volvocars.com/us/compare-specs/v60/
When someone claims their measurements are correct and the manufacturers are wrong
You've made exaggerated claims and numbers up in the past and proven wrong.
Most (vast majority) use SAE J1100 standards for interior measurements. Here's a slightly older revision of the document.
https://law.resource.org/pub/us/cfr/...1100.2001.html
As for the official measurements being bogus, we're suppose to believe you over Acura, Audi, Volvo, Tesla?
Here's some of their spec's and numbers which are probably web scraped for Edmunds where I got my numbers which match.
https://www.acura.com/tlx/pricing-and-specs
https://www.audiusa.com/us/web/en/mo..._techdata.html
https://www.volvocars.com/us/compare-specs/v60/
When someone claims their measurements are correct and the manufacturers are wrong
#1223
AZ Community Team
Yes I agree you are pathetic claiming your measurements are better than the vehicle manufacturers
Last edited by Legend2TL; 08-30-2021 at 04:24 PM.
#1224
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Nope, just the clearest picture I saw on a quick look. The 2G TLX looks the same just not much in the way of good pictures. The engines weight is still Infront of the axle center line. That why its so nose heavy & naturally into major understeer. The prime reason that they had to go to a complex rear end to try to compensate.
Last edited by BEAR-AvHistory; 08-30-2021 at 04:26 PM.
#1225
#1226
Senior Moderator
#1227
Burning Brakes
Hmmm, so what you're saying is Acura's 355hp must be better than Audi's 349hp because both are measured in the same exact way. Manufacturers never bend the truth right, especially not with non-linear hard to measure surfaces.
Last edited by pyrodan007; 08-30-2021 at 04:46 PM.
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#1228
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Nope, just the clearest picture I saw on a quick look. The 2G TLX looks the same just not much in the way of good pictures. The engines weight is still Infront of the axle center line. That why its so nose heavy & naturally into major understeer. The prime reason that they had to go to a complex rear end to try to compensate.
Part thats not Performance-Focused is hanging the power package way out front.
#1229
AZ Community Team
As for making false HP claims Mazda was DOJ/FTC investigated for low HP numbers on the RX-8 which resulted in Mazda offering to buy back for full price to avoid further action from the feds.
It's OK to be over but not under
#1230
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Not when you like their numbers because they agree with you. Numbers only count where there is an industry standard for the numbers. Back in my TL days mounted 255 Yokohama's ES100's? Another guy had 275 IIRC Goodyear F1's. Both tires had that same footprint over a ruler because where the manufactures measured the sidewall to tread transition was different. When guys say will these 275's whatever fit I tell the to go to the Tire Rack physical measurements section of the tire they want & comparer it to the physical measurements of the tire they have & then the current tires clearances to the car.
#1232
iWhine S/C 6MT TL
iTrader: (1)
Moderators say "No personal attacks"
Same people smashing the like button, same people breaking those rules.
Must be good living above the standards
Same people smashing the like button, same people breaking those rules.
Must be good living above the standards
#1233
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Just curious as to what kind of event it was. Maybe just a fun run? Did not see any class ID on the car. Be nice to know what's its supposed to be competing against.
I am XP Race Tires, 5.0L, over 2200lbs. car weighs 2250lbs
Last edited by BEAR-AvHistory; 08-31-2021 at 09:36 PM.
#1234
I wonder if these guys are going to get invited back to any Acura events...
#1235
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#1236
Senior Moderator
"There's a limo on this road?"
Eh! Their comments arent's huge departure from the general concensus. Not sure I agree with 'misrepresenting as a Type S'; the Type S was never a ton more performance than the pedestrian version. (Hence my early prediction that the finished product wouldnt be anywhere near 400hp.)
That said, I think their commentary is fair and honest but not brutally so that the Ikeda gang should be offended.
Eh! Their comments arent's huge departure from the general concensus. Not sure I agree with 'misrepresenting as a Type S'; the Type S was never a ton more performance than the pedestrian version. (Hence my early prediction that the finished product wouldnt be anywhere near 400hp.)
That said, I think their commentary is fair and honest but not brutally so that the Ikeda gang should be offended.
#1237
Moderator
Thread Starter
"There's a limo on this road?"
Eh! Their comments arent's huge departure from the general concensus. Not sure I agree with 'misrepresenting as a Type S'; the Type S was never a ton more performance than the pedestrian version. (Hence my early prediction that the finished product wouldnt be anywhere near 400hp.)
That said, I think their commentary is fair and honest but not brutally so that the Ikeda gang should be offended.
Eh! Their comments arent's huge departure from the general concensus. Not sure I agree with 'misrepresenting as a Type S'; the Type S was never a ton more performance than the pedestrian version. (Hence my early prediction that the finished product wouldnt be anywhere near 400hp.)
That said, I think their commentary is fair and honest but not brutally so that the Ikeda gang should be offended.
#1238
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"There's a limo on this road?"
Eh! Their comments arent's huge departure from the general concensus. Not sure I agree with 'misrepresenting as a Type S'; the Type S was never a ton more performance than the pedestrian version. (Hence my early prediction that the finished product wouldnt be anywhere near 400hp.)
That said, I think their commentary is fair and honest but not brutally so that the Ikeda gang should be offended.
Eh! Their comments arent's huge departure from the general concensus. Not sure I agree with 'misrepresenting as a Type S'; the Type S was never a ton more performance than the pedestrian version. (Hence my early prediction that the finished product wouldnt be anywhere near 400hp.)
That said, I think their commentary is fair and honest but not brutally so that the Ikeda gang should be offended.
By the time Jon's hype machine got done with it the car was a major powerhouse returning from the past to regain Acura's rightful place in the hierarchy of performance sedans. Problem was the 2007/8 Type-S were just fillers trying to stop the sales erosion at the end of the 3G product cycle.
Some other 6's in the group had already gone Turbo in 2007 & it was over for an N/A 6 to be at the top of the performance lists. Think the guy was pretty straight with his commentary. Its a very good car just not what many expected it to be.
Last edited by BEAR-AvHistory; 09-01-2021 at 01:25 PM.
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F23A4 (09-01-2021)
#1239
Air Vice Marshal
Think the Type-S legend has been built out of whole cloth by Acura's marketing for the current version. Those of us running TL 6MT's against the Type-S at the strip knew that it was not an automatic winner. Had more power but in full dress was heavier than a base TL 6MT. They were very, very close & within many drivers reaction times. The Type-S AT's were not competitive with the 6MT's of either base or S versions. IIRC. Can't remember they guys name but in the track section of the 3G forum he posted what I remember to be the quickest almost stock base 3G time. He had high traction tires in a base 6MT & after a summer of trying put the car into a 13.99 run. He knocked a bit off that but that was pretty much it.
By the time Jon's hype machine got done with it the car was a major powerhouse returning from the past to regain Acura's rightful place in the hierarchy of performance sedans. Problem was the 2007/8 Type-S were just fillers trying to stop the sales erosion at the end of the 3G product cycle.
Some other 6's in the group had already gone Turbo in 2007 & it was over for an N/A 6 to be at the top of the performance lists. Think the guy was pretty straight with his commentary. Its a very good car just not what many expected it to be.
By the time Jon's hype machine got done with it the car was a major powerhouse returning from the past to regain Acura's rightful place in the hierarchy of performance sedans. Problem was the 2007/8 Type-S were just fillers trying to stop the sales erosion at the end of the 3G product cycle.
Some other 6's in the group had already gone Turbo in 2007 & it was over for an N/A 6 to be at the top of the performance lists. Think the guy was pretty straight with his commentary. Its a very good car just not what many expected it to be.
The big different between 2007 and 2021 is expectation vs reality. When I bought my Type-S it was marketed as an improved,, higher performance TL offering more fun to drive. I don't recall any marketing positioning it as competition for BMWs, Jaguars or other European performance sedans. Most of the performance praise was coming from magazine road tests, one of which said the Type-S was actually 0.1 sec faster 0-60 than the original NSX, albeit noticeably slower in the 1/4 mile thanks to aerodynamics
.
Fast forward to two years ago when Acura started an avalanche of marketing positioning the new Type-S as a BMW/Audi etc. competitor. Culminating in a big launch at Laguna Seca touting its performance and including a race against an Audi. I was pumped and ready to buy. Until I saw and drove one for the first time.
Absent the over the top marketing I honestly think the new Type-S would have been reasonably well received by the Acura community and the general public of performance oriented drivers. Yeah, a few people like me would have been griping about lacking features found on lesser Honda/Acura products. But not so unhappy about performance. Acura set it up to fail by repeatedly and publicly comparing it to higher performing (yes, and more expensive) sports sedans. Then the dealers came along and poured gas on the fire by asking for high ADMs that moved it in the direction of the more expensive cars, many if not most of which can be had with discount below MSRP.
Last edited by mike03a3; 09-01-2021 at 04:20 PM.
#1240
Senior Moderator