Some of you may remember me. I sold my R about 6 months ago. I am in the market for a sports sedan to complement my Boxster S, and I drove the TSX. It is the understeeriest car this side of a Buick! With all the hype, I expected it to be better. I know from the type R that Acura can make a front-wheel-drive car handle, but the engineers must have been asleep for this car. I am going to get another BMW 3 Series instead. For not much more money, the 3's handling is far more neutral and grippy (even if it does lean more), it is about as fast, AND it rides smoother, AND the interior is far nicer. The crazy thing is that the TSX's are flying off the shelves. Who is buying these things? I really miss the R. There may never again be anything like it, if this is the direction Honda is going in.

Mike D.

 

how much is the tsx, and which bmw are you referring to?

 

I don't understand it, myself.

Pound for pound I'd rather have a roomier, V6-powered Accord and save a couple grand (yes, weight is one of the first things I use to compare cars).

 

TSX is $27k or so with automatic, BMW 325i starts at $28k, but is more like $35k comparably equipped. However, it is actually CHEAPER to lease the BMW because Acura's finance rates are so jacked up. I've never made an easier decision in my life. Someday I'll have a Porsche, a BMW, AND an R again.

Mike D.

 

i understand it.
the TSX is a well built sport car used to fill a particular acura market.
people who want more than an RSX in terms of luxury and ride, but don't want to tank around in a TL or RL.

The build quality is much closer to the high end Acura's then the compact market. The price is a little high, but obviously enough of the public can see worthwhile investment in the TSX.
AND...you can change the sus parts. Understeer is pretty much built into most cars that class. So we don't have boneheads driving around with dented rear quarter panels when it rains.

 

I have to disagree with your appraisal of the TSX as a sports car.

I see it as an overpriced Accord with less interior space and no V6 option.

You're right about suspension being something you can change, however the same holds true for the Accord, no?

 

Chassis tuning is probably what focus groups told Acura their "target" customers wanted...ITR owners are not their target customers.

 

havent tested the tsx, but i no first hand that a 325ia will be a dog. nice interior i guess though.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MK Ultra &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have to disagree with your appraisal of the TSX as a sports car.

I see it as an overpriced Accord with less interior space and no V6 option.

You're right about suspension being something you can change, however the same holds true for the Accord, no? </TD></TR></TABLE>

I never appraise the TSX as a sports car.
It is built better than an accord, with a more reponsive engine and more hp.
(and a 6 speed transmission).

 

TSX 1/4 16.0
Type R 1/4 14.7

Forget a TSX for performance...
Stlye, wow, Acura sure did a nice job on the body interior.

 

I`ve been in a TSX for a month and love it. You can`t compare it to an R, not even the same planet. I didn`t expect to be anything like a "sports car". This is a great car for somebody like me. Very fun to drive, comfy, fairly sporty, and cheap enough to still have the b20 EG in the garage

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MikeD &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Some of you may remember me. I sold my R about 6 months ago. I am in the market for a sports sedan to complement my Boxster S, and I drove the TSX. It is the understeeriest car this side of a Buick! With all the hype, I expected it to be better. I know from the type R that Acura can make a front-wheel-drive car handle, but the engineers must have been asleep for this car. I am going to get another BMW 3 Series instead. For not much more money, the 3's handling is far more neutral and grippy (even if it does lean more), it is about as fast, AND it rides smoother, AND the interior is far nicer. The crazy thing is that the TSX's are flying off the shelves. Who is buying these things? I really miss the R. There may never again be anything like it, if this is the direction Honda is going in.

Mike D.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Now tell me again, please; why, pray tell, are you at all surprised? I personally feel you made a foolish decision to pass on a 3 Series sedan if you could comfortably afford it...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by n1ek &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">the TSX is a well built sport car used to fill a particular acura market.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

I must have misunderstood. I thought you were saying it was a sports car.

Anyway, I can't comment on the build quality, myself, as I've not compared the two side-by-side. I can say that everyone I personally know who's owned American-built Accords has nothing but good things to say about their build quality, so I don't think that's much of an issue in my estimation.

As for the engine, the Accord is available with a 240 hp V6. That trumps the TSX's 200 peak quite nicely, and I would be very surprised if the V6 didn't have a large advantage in midrange torque as well.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by vtecvoodoo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I`ve been in a TSX for a month and love it. You can`t compare it to an R, not even the same planet. I didn`t expect to be anything like a "sports car". This is a great car for somebody like me. Very fun to drive, comfy, fairly sporty, and cheap enough to still have the b20 EG in the garage </TD></TR></TABLE>

i agree with almost all of this.
for alot of people, it isn't cheap enough to still have another car in the garage.
but for the lucky few that don't have to pay for one...i guess it is!
And yes...i get to drive one too, they aren't anything compared to the dc2r, but still fun, quiet, roomy, and very nice.

 

MK Ultra,
by build quality i was referring to tighter specs on things such as body gap and the like. Also interior quality all the way down to the TSX having windage trays on the fron AND rear underside of the car...other things like a magnesium tranny case make me think Acura put some thought into certain quality aspects.

 

I`d also like to mention that lowering the car 1.6" really brought it too life. Can`t wait to get the i/e/h/wheels/tires on.

 

Those are some nice details, but IMO they still don't make the car worth $2,000~3000 more than an Accord.

Also, Acura will never be a true "luxury" brand to me. The idea of FWD luxury cars is still quite absurd to me. I look at all FWD cars as utilitarian devices, made for mass consumption at moderate prices. As such, the Acura nameplate carries no more weight with me than Honda's, and given the choice between the two cars I'll take the one that's less expensive and has more interior space and horsepower.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by n1ek &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">the TSX is a well built sport car </TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by n1ek &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I never appraise the TSX as a sports car.</TD></TR></TABLE>

scratches head.

 

good for you.
but why can't a FWD ever be a luxury car?
Inability to throttle oversteer?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by n1ek &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">good for you.
but why can't a FWD ever be a luxury car?
Inability to throttle oversteer?</TD></TR></TABLE>

dunno. But I also will never consider any FWD car to be a luxury car. Maybe it's because heavy FWD cars feel like *** in my experience.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by FizzleDaKlown &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">


scratches head.</TD></TR></TABLE>

yes...i already IM'd ultra to note my mistake.....instead of changing it i left it up there so i could look like a dumbass.
i guess i subconsciously called it a sport car....my bad.
it is more sporty than an accord though.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by n1ek &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">but why can't a FWD ever be a luxury car?
</TD></TR></TABLE>

FWD feels cheap to me.

And when you get down to it, it is a cost-cutting measure. It also is less ideal for transmitting large amounts of power to the pavement smoothly, and every luxury car should put down power effortlessly, without the drama of torque-steer.

 

if you want to get into it.
you should never feel torque steer in a real luxury car, that should all be handled by your driver

and how does it cut costs? other than saving on a driveline?
i think the rest of the parts are all still there.

 

Like the old saying: "Bentleys are for those who have a passion for driving, Rollers are for those who prefer to be driven."

I guess I'm more of a Bentley guy.

 

Bentley Guy w/ a Lennon avatar?