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Legacy GT Limited vs. Acura TSX and TL
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Comments
;-)
What about skidpad, slalom, and braking? I do think you have to look at the whole package.
-juice
Ken
No surprise, different strokes for different folks...
-juice
Ken
The car and driver review seems to put alot of merit on gas mileage.I was thinking maybe acura customers would agree and prefer the civic motor as an option.
The GT won but by a very close margin. I believe it was 585 points to 580 points (but don't hold me to that).
The GT took top honors on HP and ride.
The Acura took top honors on handling and transmission.
The only thing I question is the Acura was equipped with a NAV (a $2,000 option). My guess is that with that removed from the pricing comparison, it would have been an absolute dead heat.
After reading C&D and R&T I am willing to concede to a draw.
Either way my Volvo S60 lease goes back tomorrow and my new TSX comes home on Saturday.
Go Red Sox!!
Price and cost of long-term ownership.
Although I like the Audi, BMW, Volvo, I personally would not buy one. Their track record for repairs beyond 4 years is no where near Subaru and Honda. I will soon be replacing my 99 GT LTD with 110k, and price alone planted the 05 GT LTD right between the TSX and TL.
The dimensions (wheelbase, etc.) are virtually identical. They're priced very close, and they're aimed at the same customer.
Bob
It seems the TSX has again shown that FWD cars can indeed handle, if properly engineered. You can debate all you want as to whether the TSX or the LGT is better in this area, but regardless of your conclusion, and whoever wins—it's not by much. So maybe at 8/10s driving and above, FWD may not be optimal, but most owners will rarely if ever experience those conditions.
Bob
Should be a fun weekend, allaboutme. Congrats.
(watch - he be missing from the boards for a week, driving his new wheels).
-juice
I looked also at the G35x 325xi S60R A4 Passat but I bought the GT as I felt it provided the best balance of comfort and power and safety.
Bob
There's nothing really wrong with any of these cars just different strengths and weaknesses.Most people are smarter nowadays to look past luxury badges and compare what they want in a car:
TL-good interior,loaded with features,power
G35-power and handling, but substandard interior
S40,S60-safety 1st,quirky interiors
TSX-good price,gas mileage,handling
GT-power,awd,handling
-juice
Bob
I have driven teh tsx several times but am really undecided...I like the four doors a lot...but there are several things about the RSX I like better too....its a shame bec i wasnt done driving the RSX but I went and drove one again and I felt a bit strange in it...sort of like this is not my car...
Have you driven either?
Bob
Rent a U-Haul when you need more room!
-juice
Any more HP and I would be a serious danger to myself.
Everyone so far that has seen it (friends, family, coworkers) have assumed it to be a $35K car.
I got to admit that knowing that I was able to get an extremely fun to drive, luxorius, and well built car and for only $25K!!! really jazzes me.
anyone on the fence, keep the extra cash in your pocket for gas money, go TSX and you'll have no regrets.
Go Redsox!
Now watch, he'll disappear for a week, going out for a drive whenever he gets spare time. ;-)
-juice
One item that they point out was that the price difference between the two vehicles was $35 but the big difference was that the GT doesn't have a NAV system.
Which got me thinking -- could $2000 in powertrain upgrades in a TSX get it reliably to the same power and drivetrain configuration as the GT? That's a 50HP/84ft-lb increase, LSD and VC center diffy.
Ken
Bob
A Quaiffe torsen limited-slip front diffy would run about $900 just for parts.
Forget getting power to the rear wheels, you'd need the whole driveshaft, two half shafts, the works. That would have to come from Acura, maybe VTM-4 or SH-AWD like the RL gets.
Any how, the "value" of an AWD system is roughly $2000 as determined by the market, so in my mind AWD is about the same value as NAV.
Really a front torsen by itself would work wonder for the TSX, and address the complaint about the inside front wheel spinning coming out of a turn.
I think the TL has one, right? The previous gen CL Type S had it, but the base model did not. Maybe we'll see it trickle down.
It surprised me how C&D didn't consider AWD a "feature", when it snows it's probably the only feature that counts. Your Nav will just keep reminding you of where you are stuck! Whoopee!
-juice
I don't doubt AWD will have an advantage there, but I would venture to say that 90% of drivers only need FWD in 90% of any winter condition. Slap on a set of snow tires, and the 90/90 rule probably becomes 95/95.
AWD (in a street car, not truck or SUV) would hold more appeal, to me at least, in dry condition handling advantage
The last real Blizzard we had in Washington happened in late March. They'd have been off by then.
It would be a pain to keep changing them back and forth. The change of seasons, here at least, is very unpredictable.
-juice
The Outback actually has wider tires, but it's also heavier.
Skinny tires are good in snow. That and the rear engine is why Beetles (old ones) get around so great.
-juice
I loved the WRX despite the lag. Not sure the GT will be quite as fun on windy country roads in that it didn't seem quite as "tossable" or responsive in cornering as the WRX. But, as one reviewer noted "the Legacy GT is the adult's WRX". I just hope that's true.
Anyway - sorry to go on and on. Bottom line - my experience in an hour drive was that the GT had little if any discernible turbo lag. Big selling point with me.
Off boost the WRX is a 2.0l with low compression.
The Legacy GT has 25% more displacement, higher compression, and AVCS (variable valve timing).
So yeah, big difference.
-juice
Craig
Craig
-juice
Wiat 'til you run out of formula/diapers at midnight. ;-)
Congrats, I'm sure you'll love the TSX.
Out of curiosity, last time around, did you compare the DSM to a Prelude? It's sort of a similar comparison, is why I ask.
-juice
I'm in the market for a 05 Legacy 2.5GT Wagon. You gave props to Renick Subaru in Fullerton so I plan to give them a visit. Could you give me the name of the salesman who sold you your Legacy? By the way, did you get the sedan or wagon?
Nami
It's less sporty than I imagined. The suspension felt a little loose, the steering a bit too light for my tastes. The event had a luxury category and a sport category, and the TL fell into the latter. I'd have to agree.
The engine does have a nice punch to it, though. the 3.2l does just fine in this car, and driving the GS300 and BMW 530i back-to-back left the impression that those two cars were underpowered and needed V8s, while the Acura did fine without one.
The interior is gorgeous. I'd seen it before, but a quick drive, a peek at the Nav system, the ergonomics, how everything is lit ... I could go on and on.
I'm the type that would probably prefer the TSX (or the Legacy), because I like smaller/sportier cars, but my guess is my wife would pick the TL for its most luxurious interior and that Nav system.
The FWD was only an issue when accelerating out of a tight turn, and it only gave gentle tugs on the wheel.
SH-AWD would be nice but it almost needs some starch in the suspension a bit more.
Nay, leave it like it is, I think the balance of luxury and sport is already impressive. Perhaps offer a more powerful TSX instead.
-juice
The TL did feel quicker than the 530i and GS300, and didn't feel one bit underpowered. It also revs up quickly and smoothly.
I drove a TL automatic, but I've also driven a couple of GT automatics and those too felt quicker.
The GTs we had were broken in, and on the Vegas Motor Speedway we didn't really test off the line acceleration much, since we had rolling starts merging on to the infield track.
So I didn't notice any lag, but YMMV.
FWIW, the TL's engine seemed much happier at high revs as well, it's not a torque pig at low rpms.
So the GT might have throttle lag (delay in turbo spool up from the moment you hit the throttle), but the Acura lags a bit at low rpm, too.
The character of these cars is quite different, though. The TL is a luxury car with a little sportiness sprinkled in. The Subaru is the opposite.
-juice
Sounds like you just need an extra car for 'fun'. If you really liked your STi, you might like the GT. It's much nicer and more refined inside, quieter, more comfortable ride, and still a blast to drive. (I thought about the STi, but couldn't get past the wing!)
The TL is nice, but not as performance oriented. The TSX is also nice, but will seem really slow compared to your STi. But still fun to throw around anyway (even though it's FWD)
How about an RX-8 or G35 coupe? Or 350Z if you only need 2 seats? Mazda miata? Lotus Elise?
All fun cars. Good luck!
tom
You may actually want to avoid the Acuras for that exact reason.
The Legacy GT has projector beam headlights but they are not HIDs and will not attract the attention of thieves.
Funny but in this instance an advantage turns out to be a disadvantage.
-juice