CD Article: 2006 Acura TSX

[a4_tom]

2.4 i-VTEC is definitely not torqueless. Its very daily drivable with enough low-end torque while high-end VTEC fun for track driving.

[Minou]

Too bad Acura doesn't have the guts to offer a decontented TSX without leather, sunroof and a few other gizmos for $29990. 

It would slot neatly just above the CSX Premium and below the TL and make the IS250, 320i and 323i and others look way overpriced.

[UmroAyyar]

Too bad Acura doesn't have the guts to offer a decontented TSX without leather, sunroof and a few other gizmos for $29990. 

It would slot neatly just above the CSX Premium and below the TL and make the IS250, 320i and 323i and others look way overpriced.

What would Honda do with the Accord then?

TSX to me is poised not as upscale Accord but entry-level luxury car loaded with goodies.

[a4_tom]

If Acura offers TSX "Touring", CSX would have no marketing purpose in the market. Its already hard for me to order my A4 CVT without any packages back in 2002. I have the only Denim Blue/Black cloth A4 1.8T CVT without sunroof in B.C. Imagine how hard is it to packaged out a TSX or IS250 without one?

[curls]

You mean $35,000 - $45,000 range.


Its alot of money for a re-badged Accord.

You realize it's not the north american Accord, right?  Did you read the article? Have you driven the car?

It's based on the Euro (or Japanese) Accord (JDM Euro-R), but has a more powerful engine, more goodies, and overall better specs.  The North American Accord is bloated and more Buick-like than the Euro Accord is.  There is NO comparing a Euro to NA Accord, aside from the name and the size of the vehicle relative to the market.

[G0dspd]

Howsweditis, I'm thinkin' you've never driven the TSX. Shnak, I know you haven't. It's certainly NOT gutless. The power is smooth and linear and as you rev it higher, becomes quite impressive. Certainly on par with the performance of the much heavier and thirstier V6 in the Mazda 6 and superior to the entry level I-6 that BMW had put in the snooze-machine 320i (and presumably similar-feeling 323i).

I've driven a BMW with the 2.5L I6 many times and I've been a passenger in a TSX a few times (I know it's not the same as driving).  I would take the BMW 323i Inline 6 (The 320 has a I4 and doesn't exist anymore) over the TSX I4.  The BMW as less power on paper and it as less "options"  (give me cup holders, a decent stereo, a few electric thingies, AC I guess  ... and I'm a happy camper).  I don't need a bunch of useless gizmos.  The TSX is quick on it's feet but it doesn't have the German ride and it's whiny ... a Honda thing I guess.

I would probably get a slightly used 325i but we're talking new cars here.    Also, I'd take a RWD over a FWD any day of the week.

[MKII]

You realize it's not the north american Accord, right?  Did you read the article? Have you driven the car?

It's based on the Euro (or Japanese) Accord (JDM Euro-R), but has a more powerful engine, more goodies, and overall better specs.  The North American Accord is bloated and more Buick-like than the Euro Accord is.  There is NO comparing a Euro to NA Accord, aside from the name and the size of the vehicle relative to the market.

Yes, Yes and Yes, and have had the pleasure of driving the Euro Accord, and all variants are nice,well thought out designed and marketed in said markets very well.
At $36,000 I want the choice to personalize my car, which Acura has chosen not to provide. As some of the other poster have pointed out, lower the MSRP by offering a base model and go from there.

[X10+]

my dream with navi 

[BJB]

When I was buying the Murano last summer it came down to the Murano v. the TSX.  I totally respect the TSX and it was loaded with tons of features and had decent power, my problem was that I just wasn't comfortable sitting in the TSX, something about it just didn't fit me, but it was a great car and I'd definetly recommend it to anyone.

[footlong58]

At $36,000 I want the choice to personalize my car, which Acura has chosen not to provide.

You won't be personalizing a base 3 series for 36 large, thats for sure...

[si]

You won't be personalizing a base 3 series for 36 large, thats for sure...

I choose to have hubcaps please, oh and a lesser reliability record


TSX vs. Murano eh? There's a choice you don't see too often. 

[Snowman]

If the TSX were to get SH-AWD and the appropriate HP to overcome drive train loss and the additional weight it would certainly be on my radar.

[MKII]

footlong and roba, both of you do not seem to understand the concept of choice and its merits. I see that both of you drive Honda, so I understand you do not have a priority of personalizing your vehicle or have specific equipment needs included or not, and thats suits the way Honda chooses to market their products.

I understand we live in an environment of all-inclusive,whether it be vacations, a hamburger, telephone and TV bundled services, etc.
But is having the option to spec your car purchase to your needs, a bad thing?

Choice is a good thing for people how know what they want, and have particular preferences.eg:leather/cloth seats, moonroof, etc.

[Giant Dwarf]

I've driven a BMW with the 2.5L I6 many times and I've been a passenger in a TSX a few times (I know it's not the same as driving).  I would take the BMW 323i Inline 6 (The 320 has a I4 and doesn't exist anymore) over the TSX I4.  The BMW as less power on paper and it as less "options"  (give me cup holders, a decent stereo, a few electric thingies, AC I guess  ... and I'm a happy camper).  I don't need a bunch of useless gizmos.  The TSX is quick on it's feet but it doesn't have the German ride and it's whiny ... a Honda thing I guess.

Uhh... no.  The e46 320i had an I-6.  A 2.2L I believe (not available Stateside).  I had a few of them as loaner cars when my 328i was in the shop and without the sport suspension, a TSX will out perform it in every respect.  It's almost brainwashing that simply because a car is RWD it will handle better.  BS.  The aging Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser station wagon I drove growing up was RWD and let me tell you, my mom's FWD Accord out handled it completely.  The basic, non-sport-equipped BMW 3-series sedans are a snooze-fest.  The only time the softer-sprung RWD 3-series is going to benefit from it RWD over the TSX is if you're right at the handling limits of each (which, by the way would be lower for the 320i) and enable you a bit of oversteer.  Now I ask ya... how often do you really take a car to that level... and if regularly, why are you driving a base model 3 series without a sport suspension?

[a4_tom]

$36k can barely get you into a 323i with "body shell" only. All the features are more basic than a Corolla LE.

[curls]

And if non-understeer is what you're after (be it neutral or slight oversteer), just add a $120 22mm rear sway bar to the TSX.

[Mike]

The fundamental problem with this car is its bland styling.  The style falls just short of being a box.  The engine is another downfall, the lack of torque is unacceptable in this price range.  If it wasn't reliable, there would be no reason to buy this car.

[Giant Dwarf]

The fundamental problem with this car is its bland styling.  The style falls just short of being a box.  The engine is another downfall, the lack of torque is unacceptable in this price range.  If it wasn't reliable, there would be no reason to buy this car.

...except for a surprisingly comprehensive list of equipment included.     And of course, styling is always subjective.  One person's "too boxy" is another's "understated sophistication". 

In real world driving, there is no appreciable lack of torque when comparing it to the other entry-level cars it competes with.

[Shnak]

323i: 170 lb-ft @ 3500 rpm
TSX: 164 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm

In every day driving, the engin in the 323i is clearly better.

Unless you like to continually shift to be in the powerband, and hear an engine scream at 6000rpm every time you accelerate.

IMO, low-end torque >>> revving.

[Giant Dwarf]

What are the weights of the two cars?  How flat is the torque curve for each?  What's the gearing like?  5 spd versus 6 spd?  Without driving them both, we can't possibly make a statement like "In every day driving, the engin in the 323i is clearly better."