Acura TSX

redkey1

Ask the dealer to throw in some sort of freebies...oil changes, floor mats etc. Many are more inclined to offer them up rather than cash.

Don't waste your time over $50. I'm sure a couple hours of your time is worth that much.

midnightcowboy

if you can. If you can show them some disinterest you canget an even better deal.

Good luck, sounds like two great choices.

varmint

Be careful about leading them on. The more time you waste, the more they'll want to make it worth their while.

cardiackid1924

My Dad is a real hardass about buying cars. He'll wait weeks or months for dealers to come down to his level. The man is patient as hell. He's doing it on an A8 right now.

The one thing we have going against us is that the 2.9% financing on RSX expires at the end of July. So we'd like to get it done before that.

xplorx4

I checked out the NAV system, and I decided it was more hassle than it was worth, since I won't be using the car in unfamilar regions very often. Also, I doubt there will be a significant resale advantage, since computer technology advances so quickly.

Based on the limited amount of time I played with the system, I could not find any way to manually adjust the fan speed without touching the LCD screen. Now, if you use auto mode, and play with the temperature setting you can get the fan speed to adjust, but that's not quite the same.

Also, I noticed that there's no way to define the radio presets without touching the LCD.

xplorx4

I got a southern cal dealer quote for the following:
blue TSX 5AT/no NAV
spoiler
trunk cargo protector

27,500 (includes dest.)

Is this a good deal?

Also, for you California owners, how much was the cost of registration? I definitely plan to buy before October, since the VLF will triple after that.

kyfdx

assuming the spoiler is $500, you are paying MSRP.

cardiackid1924

I believe it's $700 on the TSX.

blueguydotcom

Try ball acura in national city, ca. they quoted me a grand below msrp before we even got rolling. and buy the car at the end of july.

cardiackid1924

Anyone know if there are any disadvantages to buying out of town? It's looking increasingly like I'll be getting my TSX and the wife's RSX from a dealer 4 hours away. Would it effect the service I get from the local dealer? I wouldn't think so. Obviously, I couldn't ask for free oil changes or things like that. If anyone knows of anything I'm not thinking of, please let me know. Thanks.

xplorx4

When you negotiate on the sale price of the car, "plus fees" is always written next to the agreed-upon sale price.

What fees does this apply to in CA?

I know there are:
1) 8.25% sales tax
2) transfer of title fee (DMV) - how much is this in CA?
3) new vehicle registration fee - how much is this in CA?

Are there any other fees that I will be required to pay? I basically want to know if the dealer would try to add "advertising" or "dealer prep" fees and force me to pay them.

Thanks.

gburton

Cardiackid1924 how about posting a pic of your TSX with body kit. I was interested in doing this but was unsure how it would look.

cardiackid1924

I'd love to post a pic, but I don't have it yet. In fact, I'm really thinking about just getting the rear wing instead of the full body kit. Just seems a little too thick with the side and front skirts, and maybe a little too fast and furious for me. Of course, I change my mind almost hourly, so I'll let you know.

You can view a Silver one with full body kit here http://www.clubtsx.com/gallery/details.php?image_id=168

midnightcowboy

good price. Too bad.

automophile

Please contact Sierra Acura in Alhambra - the Internet department - for the best deal. We paid 500 under MSRP, with the wheel locks, splash guards and trunk tray ($100) thrown in. The experience was awsome. email me at jjs55@hotmail.com for the salesman's name, if you like.

Every day the new TSC gets better and better. Not only do we have one of the best looking and driving cars on the road, but they are still unique.

regfootball

I meant 500 bucks!!!!!

alpha01

A co-worker of mine is going to be purchasing a TSX soon. She is undecided as to the functionality/usefulness of the NAV, and as she wants a 6sp, it may be somewhat harder to find one at a fair-ish price with NAV in a specific color. I referred her to an article in USA Today which cited the NAV as being a hassle.

What do owners/users think?

Thanks!

robertsmx

I would let the buyer decide. Something that may be useless to you may be a nice option for another. Suggest her to look at it in person, evaluate its usefulness (or lack of), and then figure out whether it is worth spending the extra bucks. As far as I'm concerned, I will get the NAV in my next car.

xplorx4

I own a handheld/mobile GPS navigation device, which I use whenever I take roadtrips to unfamiliar destinations. Since this kind of driving normally occurs in my older SUV, which doesn't have NAV, I find the navigation utility of my handheld/mobile unit to be indispensable.

I demo'ed the NAV in the TSX to determine whether I felt it was necessary, but after using it for about 10 minutes, I decided it was more hassle than it was worth to me for $2000, especially since I already own a very functional GPS device (which not only cost me only $400, but can be used in any vehicle as well as hiking and mountain biking).

I believe a navigation system is only really worth paying for if you frequently use the car for taking roadtrips/vacations or if you drive to unfamiliar destinations (i.e. if you're a travelling salesperson or a realtor, I'd call it a must-have). The NAV isn't terribly useful otherwise. Sure, if you're in your hometown, you could use it to "find nearest ATM" but chances are, you already know where one is. You might like to use it to calculate miles and time remaining to get to your workplace. But do you need a $2000 device to tell you something you already know?

Anyway, like I said, if you will frequently use the TSX as a vehicle which travels to unfamiliar locations or if you often need to find a specific address, it could be worth it. Otherwise, save a couple grand, and wait until NAV systems become more sophisticated in a couple years, when they might be linked with digitized aerial photos or satellite imagery (instead of a graphical map) or have faster processors to redraw the map display faster, to decide whether it's worth it.

s852

Anyone who uses a paper map on a regular basis would find the nav useful and more convenient. If you rarely travel to new addresses, then you don't need the nav.

xplorx4

Anyone who uses a paper map on a regular basis would find the nav useful and more convenient. If you rarely travel to new addresses, then you don't need the nav.

That's the short way of saying exactly the same thing I did.

talon95

Can you point me towards something that describes how to use emoticons on Edmunds? I can't find anything...

pat

We don't have them. And technically we shouldn't be using them from other forums unless we are certain that the other forum doesn't mind.

There is an "Our Software" discussion on the News & Views board that is probably the best place to pursue this...

jcampod

Read earlier posts on this message board about the usefulness of the NAV. We debated it heavily a few days ago. Just look a few pages back on the board.

BLUF: I love mine. Its awesome. And I don't travel in unfamiliar areas alot, but I just think it is useful for other things as well. Read my previous posts.

wmquan

I think that if someone thinks they may want the Navi, they should go ahead and get it. I've seen too many posts from Acura owners who regret not getting the Navi initially, and asking if there's anyway to retrofit the factory system (not with Acura's system, at least not with any cost effectiveness). I don't see the same number of posts regretting buying it. In fact, I rarely see any regrets (granted some of that may be simple human behavior after spending $2k, but you'd think you'd see more if there were many regrets).

xplorx4

I saved a few emoticon gif files to my hard drive, then posted them on my own web site so I could access them easily, and not remote-link to another discussion forum. I just inserted the emoticon file using the < img src = "http...." > tag, with the referenced URL being my website.

cardiackid1924

....but heck, I'll give you my 2 cents on the Navi. I'm buying a TSX, most likely this weekend, and I've really never even considered the Navi, even after seeing how cool it was first hand. I don't drive in unfamiliar areas very often, but the real deciding factor for me was the simple fact that there's a big difference between 27k and 29k. 2 grand is just too much to spend on something I'll use to it's full potential 5 or 6 times a year. For me, that 2k is custom wheels down the road, or the body kit, or an upgrade to the sound system, or whatever. All of which are more valuable to me. But then, that's what it comes down to isn't it....what's valuable to you? And sure, I might regret not having it a few years from now, but I don't think so.

pat

Just be careful that you are not violating any copyright laws - you should check the appropriate links on the site from which you saved them.

Email me or go to "Our Software" for further conversation about this.

venus537

the car already comes with nice alloys and stereo. you can buy a lot of gas for $2k though.

damormino

The TSX stereo isn't nice. It is inaccurate. It's distortion is so bad, Acura doesn't even want to spec it.

fedlawman

I have never heard any distortion from my stereo...maybe you should have yours looked at.

geoinsdca

I just bought my Silver (Satin/Ebony) w/Nav & Auto for $2,500 below MSRP with Norm Reeves Acura (bought at very end of June). The DMV fees were $230, but be warned...all CA Lic fees will go back up to the '99 levels next year (thats TRIPLE or >$600 - what a ripoff!!

xplorx4

Does anyone know of a way to convert, replace, or otherwise modify the TSX sunvisors (or any other non-extendable visor, for that matter!) so that they have the pull-out extensions, like those on the '03 Accord (and a few other vehicles)?
 
 It's really annoying to drive North with the setting sun shining on the side of your face. For some reason, the setting sun always seems to shine through the driver's window just beyond the reach of the sunvisor.
 
 Any ideas?

varmint

Xplorx4 - I've seen extentions sold as aftermarket equipment. The set I saw attached a sliding panel to the existing visor using velcro or velcro straps.

damormino

Read the posts in "Acura TSX Owners: Problems & Solutions". You see that several owner are experiencing problems. There are many other forums on the Interet with threads regarding problems with the TSX sound system.

xplorx4

Where did you see this aftermarket equipment? None of my local auto parts stores seem to carry such a product, although I've seen quite a few visor extensions that fold down BELOW the visor.

A google search for "sliding sun visor extension" returned lots of hits for the Honda Odyssey.

Thanks.

automophile

One issue I don't like in cars with Navi is that often the audio and climate controls become more difficult to use, since they are usually integrated with the Navi screen that is now taking their space.

The best ergonomics for a car is a separate knob or button for each function, not on-screen menus to select from. You should be able to quickly adjust the stereo or raise the temperature without taking your eyes off the road.

For those of you with Navi - how do you feel about this?

jcampod

You can do those things in 3 ways on my TSX navi (listed from simplest to more complex)
1. Use the voice control button on the steering wheel. Easy and your eyes never leave the road.
2. Use the temperature up/down for AC or volume knob on radio.
3. Pull up the AC or audio screen on the navi and adjust from there.

With the ease of #1 or #2, there is really no need for #3.

damormino

As probably the most outspoken proponent of the Acura Navigation system in these discussions, I have to agree here. If there is one thing I don't like about both of my MDX's, it is having to use the navigation display to override the fan speed setting. The TSX is "worse" in that more function have been moved to the navigation display, but it makes up for some of this by allowing more voice commands such as setting the volume or temperature just by speaking.

I am willing to bet $$$ that Acura will go away from integrating functions into the Navigation system - meaning they will keep more buttons and not require navigation or voice commands. Hopefully we will see them move in this direction on the new TL due this fall.

Still, I would buy the navigation over again on my MDX's and will buy it on my next Acura - even with the minor nuisance that comes with it.

varmint

Xplorx4 - Sorry. I saw them on-line. Probably two years ago. I do know that they were sliders, but I couldn't tell you where I found them. :-(

fedlawman

I've read the complaints both here and elsewhere, and I take them with a grain of salt.

The door buzzing issue is real, but certainly a result of too loud volumes with too much deep bass.

As for distorted sound, I just don't hear it. Of course, on the freeway with the windows closed, you've probably got about 70dB of wind and road noise to contend with. If you want true hi-fi sound, you'll have to stay home.

cardiackid1924

Think I wrapped up the deals on the TSX and RSX. Got the TSX for $600 under MSRP, which is pretty close to the best deal I could've got up here. (Less than Nobody was really moving on that car at all (Just today, I got the edmunds newsletter saying that the TSX was the fifth fastest-selling car in June with an average of just 12 days on the lot - so there you go).

On the RSX, got it for $1300 under MSRP. Oh, and I got some free oil changes thrown in on both.

I could've probably done a little bit better on each car if we would've made the four and a half hour drive across the State, but it would've only been a $200 or $300 difference. Not really worth it, considering we get service loaners this way and pay a little less in tax.

Barring any funny business at the dealer, I'll be driving my new TSX tomorrow night.

geoinsdca

I can't believe the poor gas mileage I am now getting on my 4 week old TSX. The first tank (from the Dealer) lasted 402miles and I was really pleased. The second tank 92oct. lasted about 330mi, now the 3rd tank is a crappy 248mi.
I have the Auto/NAVI and have driven the same area with about the same AC use since day 1.
My experience is usually that gas mileage improves after the first few thousand miles, this is a real disappointment especially considering the TSX is a 4-cyl.

xplorx4

How are you calculating your fuel economy? Are you using the trip computer or the trip odometer? 248 miles "per tank" seems low. Even my SUV gets more than 248 miles per 21-gallon tank (although I usually fill up between 17-19 gallons before the pump clicks off), and it only gets 15mpg!

I assume you're using the procedure:
At gas station, zero trip meter.
Fill up tank
Drive until fuel light glows (or at least until 1/4 tank is left)
Record miles driven
Fill up tank and record gallons pumped (do not overfill).
Divide miles driven by gallons pumped.
The number you get is the previous tank's fuel economy (mpg).

stretchsje

Not that it's entirely relavent, but in my Mazda6 I got 32mpg on my first tank and a whopping 38mpg (540 miles) on my second tank. After that, I never duplicated those numbers again- I usually get 23-30mpg mixed driving, depending on the mix. I was driving easy on the car, but that's still mostly metro stop-and-go traffic.

I suspect since everything in the engine is electronically controlled that the computer prevents the engine from running it's hardest during the break-in period, which saves fuel. I don't know how else that could've happened.

xplorx4

I suspect since everything in the engine is electronically controlled that the computer prevents the engine from running it's hardest during the break-in period.

That's an interesting hypothesis, but it's not likely true, because I'm pretty sure I've pushed cars still in the "break-in period" to their limit during test drives, and I'm sure others have as well.

Calculating miles "per tank" is not a reliable method of determining fuel economy. This method depends on a couple of things:
1) how much gas is left in the tank when you fill up.
2) how much gas is in the tank when the pump clicks off automatically. This can vary greatly, depending on the pump used&#151; some reach their auto shutoff earlier than others.

Ambient temperature could affect fuel economy. Warmer gas expands, so less "energy per volume" will fit in your tank on a hot day than on a cooler day.

Also, it's worth noting that some fuel gauges read "Full" for as many as 100 miles before the needle starts its downward arc. My '93 Accord is like this.

robertsmx

Mileage can be affected drastically by driving style. I consistently get 24-25 mpg (100% city) driving in my 98 Accord. Couple of weeks ago, I got only 21 mpg (fractionally less). The reason: I was stuck in a traffic jam for three hours.

To calculate mileage, I always reset "Trip A" during fill-ups and divide by the number of gallons that goes in (usually 13.5 gallons or so between fillups, in a 17.1 gallon tank).

alpha01

I wanted to quickly thank everyone who posted opinions Re: Nav in the TSX. My co-worker negotiated a deal for a Carbon grey NON-Nav 6-sp TSX after weighing her personal pros and cons and the opinions of those here.

~alpha

robertsmx

That is a beautiful color on the car. I have seen one on the road in the color.

uncledavid

I'm getting about 27 MPG in my TSX, mixed driving. I'm not a very aggressive driver.

As for the NAV, the TSX is my first vehicle that has NAV. I absolutely love it. But, I live in Los Angeles, which is a large, complex city. I frequently needed to consult the map, and I find the NAV makes everything that much easier.

To give an example of the potential utility of the NAV, a few weeks ago I was on my way to Yosemite from Los Angeles. I had car trouble about 1 hour and half north of town (long story, but it was the dealer's fault). So, I just gave the verbal command "Find nearest Acura dealer" to the Nav unit. From the position I was at on the shoulder of the highway, the Nav unit took me directly to the door of the nearest Acura dealer. It even gave me the phone number, so I can call ahead and make sure the part I needed was ready.

Or, last week, I was down at the beach, and I got in the mood for a salad. So, I just entered "souplantation" (salad bar chain) into the Nav, and it took me to the nearest location.

Or, a few nights ago, I had to meet a friend for a drink. We were meeting in a place I'd never been, although I had a vague sense of where it was. I entered the address into the NAV, and it took me right to the door. The great thing was that I didn't have to look at the store fronts for addresses. the Nav kept giving me voice messages telling me how close I was, so I could keep my eyes on the road.

Anyway, those are all examples. The Nav does absorb some of the other controls, which can be slightly annoying. But, I just rely on the steering wheel controls for the audio and I find that the automatic climate control takes care of the HVAC.

So, for my situation (living in a big city, where I don't know all the roads) the Nav is great. If you lived in an area that is not in the Nav database, or you really knew the roads where you lived, it probably wouldn't be as handy.