All,
I have a 2010 ZDX Advance which i just took in for minor service. The dealer gave me a 2011 TL base to drive for the day. I believe these two cars have the same powerplant and the ZDX is actually spec'd with more HPs than the base TL, can someone explain to me why the TL seems to be much quicker and more responsive when stepping on it?

I know there is about a 500lb difference between the two cars, but the difference seemed to be too much for just weight.

The ZDX actually accelerates more like my old MDX than my previous 04 or newer TLs.

Any thoughts here?

 

Just took a quick peek at the specs, it appears a base TL is listed as 3726 lbs, the top ZDX is listed 4452. That's a lot of weight differential.

 

Yeah, that makes sense. But is also almost feels like a gearing or AWD thing. The power curve on the ZDX feels a lot different than the TL. It's weird, i can't fully explain it. Would love to get a more detailed explanation, than my anecdotal observations if available.

Thanks

 

Do the TL and ZDX have the same transmissions? I thought the ZDX was based on the MDX.

 

I agree with you frankiefaun! I felt the same way when I went to take my ZDX in for the clear bra and received just a base lower HP TL and it actually felt quicker than my ZDX. I feel the ZDX just feels weird when in low rpms, kind of like a slug. I feel this car likes to shift to 5th or 6th gear fast if you go easy on the throttle, that bugs me too!

 

I agree. I had a tl tech fwd and it felt a lot more peppy and faster off the line than my ZDX.

I have two reasons why I think this is.

#1 AWD and RWD require more torque than FWD. It looses some as it goes thru the drive shafts and it further reduces torque when splits it to four wheels.

#2 The zdx is heavier than the tl therefore requires more torque to start it moving.

FWD will always feel more peppy and have a faster response. I had a tl sh awd loaner when my tl fwd was in for an oil change and it too felt more sluggish than my FWD. Considering the sh awd has more power and torque than the fwd and still feels more sluggish speaks a lot about the loss of torque in the system. There is no way a front engine AWD or RWD can get as much torque to the wheels as efficiently or quickly as FWD.

 

Your observations are mine exactly as well. I understand there is probably not much we can do about it, I just found it weird considering the HP differences.

 

hi
i just wondering about minoe service
how much do you pay for it at how many mile on your ZDX?
thank you

 

9,000 miles, oil change $69 for synthetic.

 

I thought the ZDseX didn't require synthetic oil...?

 

what kind of gas do you guys put in your ZDX? 87, 91, 93?

 

Always 93, premium for me. It knocks on anything less it seems.

 

Costco premium which is 91 octane. Runs fine on it.

 

The transmission may be the same. BUT. the shift points, and ratios are set up just for your car. The gearing all had to be set up differently because the ZDX weighs more.

It makes a lot of sense that you say it drives like your old MDX since it is based on an MDX platform.

BTW I have to say that my MDX feels just about as fast as as my AWD TL. Of course the TL is flatter and more tossable in the corners.

 

I didn't expect this kind of discussion on the ZDX board. The added cost of premium over regular for the average driver is only $120 or so a year. Not much to pay for guaranteed performance and no engine damage.

 

compare a fwd tl to your shawd and you will feel a difference. I had a fwd 2010 tl and got a shawd tl as a loaner and my fwd felt quicker off the line and more nimble.

 

just had a tsx v6 loaner. Talk about quick. Much better than the zdx or tl fwd.

 

Interesting observations. I have quite a few performance upgrades on my TL (AWD) and although I've never stop light raced a FWD 4G, my experience sitting in one as a passanger is that my AWD accelerated quicker.


I'll have to start racing other acuras!

 

Spot on. Even my wife assumed it took premium.

 

You know why FWD felt quicker? Torque steer.