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Acura TSX

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  • aaykayaaykay Member Posts: 539
    the extra weight of the tsx over the larger but lighter accord is due to the increased body stiffness. this is what gives the tsx that german like solid ignot feel that the accord lacks.

    I believe the Euro-Accord (TSX version in Europe/JDM) is lighter than the US-Market Accord (and US-market TSX). I doubt any additional stiffness has been added to the US-market TSX (over the lighter Euro Accord), which has contributed to the additional weight for the US-TSX....maybe I am completely mistaken. Or maybe the mandatory Luxury touches that the US market demands, have added that additional weight, without any improvement in body rigidity or stiffness (over the Euro-Accord) ??

    But Honda engineers have spent a lot of time in improving the sound when closing the doors of the TSX (by re-engineering the rubber seals on the doors), to give that solid thunk sound....not that it has contributed to any additional stiffness or body rigidity.
  • aaykayaaykay Member Posts: 539
    A very good site about the design of the TSX etc., is as below:

    http://www.all-acura.com/contentid-62-pa4.html

    An excerpt from the above link is:

    Door Closing Sound

    Some of the most powerful luxury cues a car can give its owner are almost completely subconscious. One example is the sound of a door closing. Acura engineers methodically refined the design of the door sashes of the TSX (the surrounding door structure) to reduce high-frequency resonance excited when the doors are closed.

    The door latches themselves are carefully engineered to latch securely with a light closing pressure, and to emit a quality sound.

    Acura engineers also designed a special "bumping door seal" that purposefully transmits a certain low-frequency vibration to the door itself. This desirable vibration is heard as a substantial sound as the door closes, evoking the impression of substance and quality.
  • lmacmillmacmil Member Posts: 1,758
    "I did not know that the 5AT in the TSX and the 4-cylinder Accord had the same gearing."

    They don't. 3rd and 4th are slighly lower in the TSX. The TSX has a 1 mm larger rear sway bar. The TSX is 108# heavier than the 4 cyl EX. This is all according to the specs on the Hondanews.com site.
  • aaykayaaykay Member Posts: 539
    Specs from Edmunds:

    Accord 2.4L Automatic EX-L with Navigation: 3142Lbs
    TSX Automatic with Navigation (From Edmunds and 2005 TSX brochure in front of me): 3329 lbs

    Difference: 187 lbs

    PS: Accord EX V6 with Navigation : 3384 lbs
  • lmacmillmacmil Member Posts: 1,758
    On honda.com, the EX auto is listed at 3203. Through in 15# for leather and nav and you're back to just over 100# as indicated on the hondanews.com site. I think Honda's sites are likely to be more accurate than Edmund's.

    I've forgotten what the point was. Was it that the TSX's 200hp with auto but more weight doesn't give it that much of an acceleration advantage over the lighter Accord 4 cyl?
  • dudleyrdudleyr Member Posts: 3,469
    The TSX has no acceleration advantage over the Accord. The Accord is actually a hair faster when both have automatics (probably the reverse with the manuals - an extra gear and lower gearing help offset the weight).

    They are both plenty fast with an automatic and will not leave you out to dry. With a manual they are quite peppy. Its not like we are talking about a 52 hp VW bus with the aerodynamics of a brick. A friend had one of those and could only merge onto the beltway (DC) on downhill entry ramps.

    If you are looking for a drag racer this is not it, but it is certainly fast enought to be fun. Triumph spitfire is fairly slow by todays standards - still fun to drive though. Acceleration isn't all there is to a sports car. Can't remember who, but one of the top fuel drag racers once said that acceleration was the performance aspect of a vehicle that he most quickly got bored with.
  • fedlawmanfedlawman Member Posts: 3,118
    "the 4-cylinder Accord is around 200Lbs lighter than the TSX"

    No Way!

    Edmunds and Honda only list two weights for the Accord EX 4-cylinder (3142# for 5-speed, 3203# for Auto). There is no weight given for leather trim or Nav.

    Edmunds and Acura provide weights for the TSX w/o Nav (3230# for 6-speed, and 3318# for Auto) and w/Nav (3241# 6-speed, 3329# Auto).

    The TSX (Auto trans) weighs 115 lbs. more than the Accord (Auto trans w/cloth seats).

    The TSX (6-speed) weighs 88 lbs. more than the Accord (5-speed w/cloth seats).

    Your guess is as good as mine how much leather seats might add to the weight of the Accord...
  • venus537venus537 Member Posts: 1,443
    i was referring to the solidness of the tsx over the road when i stated the tsx has that german like solid ignot feel. what does door closing sounds have to do with that?

    according to Tsuto Sasaki, the chief engineer responsible for the Body and Chassis of the TSX, the TSX's body (or more accurately - the suspension) is stiffer than the european/japanese accord.
  • uncledaviduncledavid Member Posts: 548
    The gearing of the USDM Accord and JDM Accord (TSX) are nearly identical for the Automatic. 1, 4, and 5th are the same ratios, and there are negligable differences for 3rd and 4th. Gearing should not make either vehicle accelerate more aggressively with the automatic.


    3rd TSX 1.082 Accord 1.037
    4th TSX .773 Accord .738
  • aaykayaaykay Member Posts: 539
    Yeah, they probably added slightly stiffer springs to the TSX or something, over that employed within the Euro-Accord - if what Mr.Sasaki says is true. That in theory should stiffen up handling and degrade the ride a bit.

    Either way, that shouldn't add more than a couple of pounds at most, I would think ??

    Things like a solid sound while closing the doors etc., add a solid ingot "feel" without any true stiffening of the underlying structure.....which was what I led to.

    I think the crash tests conducted by the Govt and the offset-crashes by the IIHS should expose any differences in structural strength (specifically the offset crashes)...I think the Accord and the TSX were identical in that respect, exposing their common underlying structure.
  • uncledaviduncledavid Member Posts: 548
    The TSX is has a stiffer suspension than the BASE JDM Accord. There are actually more aggressive versions of the vehicle sold in Europe, some of which handle better than our TSX.
  • fredvhfredvh Member Posts: 857
    How does the mpg compare in the TSX auto and the Accord I4 auto? On paper the Accord is rated better in Hwy driving (34 vs. 32). Do the owners of these vehicles find that highway figure to be accurate in each vehicle?
    The TSX weighs more than the Accord but yet the TSX is approx. 6 inches shorter. What is the reason for this? What is heavier in the TSX than in the Accord?
  • kyfdxkyfdx Moderator Posts: 265,441
    The Accord and the TSX are not twins...

    Two different cars.. Similar drivetrains, but different bodies...

    There can be many reasons for performance differences.. they are not the same car.

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  • patpat Member Posts: 10,421
    Hey folks ...

    Let's take the rest of this Accord and TSX conversation over to the very appropriate Honda Accord vs Acura TSX discussion.

    There's a lot of great conversation over there about both vehicles, and now we have even more helpful posts in here. It would be a shame if someone looking to compare the two vehicles couldn't find the great thoughts you folks are posting because they aren't in the comparison discussion.

    Thanks!
  • venus537venus537 Member Posts: 1,443
    Yeah, they probably added slightly stiffer springs to the TSX or something, over that employed within the Euro-Accord - if what Mr. Sasaki says is true

    no sir. a more rigid suspension doesn't mean stiffer springs.

    Things like a solid sound while closing the doors etc., add a solid ingot "feel" without any true stiffening of the underlying structure.....which was what I led to.

    initially i was not clear what i meant by "ignot feel". my bad, but i do know door shutting sounds don't effect struture integrity.
  • carfreak189carfreak189 Member Posts: 31
    O-60 in 6.6 with auto. Also it uses regular fuel unlike the TSX. All i said with the horsepower torque was not to make it TL territory more like 215 Hp 200 Torque car would be great not steal from TL and get a lot more then 18,000 sold. It would sell so well that even if the TL lost a little Acura would still come out on top with selling more cars. Personally, I see no point in buying a TSX when the accord is there same price loaded and much faster.
  • indydriverindydriver Member Posts: 620
    You forgot to add that the Accord V-6 handles like a slug. TSX sold 33,000 in 2004. They can't handle any more orders.
  • celineceline Member Posts: 3
    The VIN # on my 2004 is 44,000 +. Haven't seen the official numbers on actual models sold--maybe does not correspond to VIN numbers.
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    Don't forget the 2004 was sold for almost 18 months. Also, I wonder if the TSX and Euro Accord would share VIN numbers?
  • johnny420johnny420 Member Posts: 473
    Faster through what? Stoplight to stoplight? The Accord sure ain't faster when you start throwing in a few turns.

    You know, real world driving.

    THAT'S the point of buying the TSX.
  • uncledaviduncledavid Member Posts: 548
    You buy a TSX because you want a car that is fun to drive, handles great, and looks good. You could opt for the V6 versions of the Altima, Camry, and Accord instead. With those vehicles, you'd get more power, more space, and a nicer ride. Those V6 sedans would probably cost less than a TSX, and they'd have nearly as many features. But, then you'd have a car with wonky looks and bland handling. For some of us, a vehicle like that would not be a good choice. But, YMMV.
  • laineylainey Member Posts: 62
    Does anyone have any idea when Acura will release the 2006 TSX?
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    Well the 2005 came out in December so expect late fall of this year for the 2006.
  • laineylainey Member Posts: 62
    Wow that's a really late release date! don't most come out in the fall for other manufacturers?
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    Yes, the fall is usually the into time.

    But the 04 TSX was introduced in the Spring of 03 and the 06 Honda Ridgeline came out yesterday so there's no real rhyme or reason anymore.
  • lmacmillmacmil Member Posts: 1,758
    The "normal" model year release is still Sept/Oct. The spring release is not unusual for brand new models but it would be very unusual for a carryover model.
  • carguy000carguy000 Member Posts: 55
    I'll be purchasing a new TSX in the next two months or so, and I'm glad to know that it has performed well in crash tests thus far.

    However, I'm curious to know what "design changes" are taking place that are keeping the Insurance Institute from conducting its more severe side crash.

    Check this link out:
    http://www.hwysafety.org/vehicle_ratings/
    ce/html/summaries/midmod_overall_c.htm

    Any ideas or comments?

    Thanks for your help.
  • prefissoprefisso Member Posts: 8
    I was behind two different TSX's in the last week on the hiway. Since I've been shopping cars lately I paid close attention and noticed something odd. On both cars the rear wheels seemed to be toed out at the bottom more than any newer car I've seen. I don't know the correct suspension term (camber maybe?), but from directly behind the vehicle the tops of the rear wheels are canted toward each other. On one car is was more pronounced. Has anyone noticed this?

    I realize that with modern suspensions wheels don't just move straight up and down. And the load being carried as well as acceleration and deceleration will have some effect. But both cars were just cruising at hiway speed.

    That said - I ordered a TSX last weekend. Suppose to be here around April 1. 6sp's are hard to find.
  • fedlawmanfedlawman Member Posts: 3,118
    What you saw was negative camber.

    The TSX is within spec up to -1.5 degrees, I believe.

    You're correct, there's no way to know if there was a heavy load in the car, or the owner lowered the suspension, or what.
  • indydriverindydriver Member Posts: 620
    You might be a little optimistic about that delivery date if you just ordered. I ordered mine from the factory in early January and got a March 7 build date. The dealer says "about 30" days to deliver after its built but most owners are seeing 35-40 days. I'm looking for mine around April 15.
  • gee35coupegee35coupe Member Posts: 3,387
    That's gonna be quite a ride. Especially if they can keep the price reasonable.
  • prefissoprefisso Member Posts: 8
    Supposedly they are re-routing an unsold car that was to be delivered in the next state. With so few options on this car I wonder why they couldn't find one like that for you?
  • gmtgmt Member Posts: 6
    I have a 2004 Acura TSX 6-speed with 21K on it. I've recently started hearing a strange squeltch coming from the clutch when pulling out in 1st gear. The problem is it is an intermittent sound and hard to reproduce on que. I've taken it in twice, but the dealer is reluctant to do anything unless they hear it as well. HAS ANYONE ELSE HEARD THIS NOISE OR HAD THIS PROBLEM?????

    "G"
  • gmtgmt Member Posts: 6
    I went to another Acura TSX forum and found others having the same issue with the TSX clutch , (Strange noise). Apparently it is a bad throw out bearing. Thanks to a simple search online, the dealer is now willing to take me seriously.
  • indydriverindydriver Member Posts: 620
    I didn't need the car until April so I just ordered it.
  • johnny420johnny420 Member Posts: 473
    It may be the throwout bearing on your clutch. Another member here (fedlawman) reported a similar problem.

    I believe he posted that it was repaired under warranty.

    Johnny
  • fedlawmanfedlawman Member Posts: 3,118
    Get on an uphill incline, then slowly release the clutch with some revs (slip the clutch). If you hear a moaning noise, it's the throw out bearing.
  • jbeckrjbeckr Member Posts: 21
    Hi.

    I am considering ordering a TSX. Some of the interior colors come with a fake wood trim. I really cannot stand fake wood. So my question is - if I order the option that I think is called metal-look interior trim, does this completely replace all of the fake wood? This would make many other color combinations available to me.
  • gmtgmt Member Posts: 6
    Yes, the wood is completely replaced with aluminum-like inserts. It goes very well with the ebony leather.
  • gmtgmt Member Posts: 6
    Thanks for the info on the throw-out bearing. Although I have never had a problem with Acura service, (4th Acura) this particular service manager needs to learn how to use the internet or go back to Ford...

    G
  • gordonwdgordonwd Member Posts: 337
    When will TSXs start showing up on the "previously owned" market? Do most people get their new TSX by lease vs. purchase?

    My wife has recently been "converted" to wanting to drive a nice, well-equipped sport sedan. When replacing my A4 last year, the TSX was 2nd on my list of cars that I looked at (I ended up with a 325i, but still like lots of things about the TSX). So naturally I suggested the TSX as a possibility and she did like the looks of one we saw on the road the other day.

    I know that Audi and BMW both have good "CPO" programs, mostly consisting of cars coming off leases. I assume that Acura has a similar program, but I expect we'll have to wait a while longer before many TSXs are available this way.
  • lmacmillmacmil Member Posts: 1,758
    At any given time, the Acura site has shown between 5 and 10 CPO TSXes within a 50 mile radius of Chicago so they are already out there.
  • rko2rko2 Member Posts: 40
    They are showing up on the market. I recently just bought a silver TSX 6-sp no navi with 17k miles. It was certified and still smelled knew. I believe it was from someone moving into the larger TL. It was on the lot for a month or so because the dealer had it listed for $26,990. Any wonder why it didn't sell right away? I got it for $23,700...after quite a bit of negotiation. Prices should be dropping with more 2005s on lots. I believe the Acura CPO program is one of the best from reading industry reviews.
  • lmacmillmacmil Member Posts: 1,758
    Good job to get it at $23.7K. I've watched a couple on Ebay and they never sell. I emailed one seller (a Honda dealer) and he had set the reserve at $25.5K. I told him no one was going to pay that when they could get a brand new one for only about $1000 more.

    OTOH, the CPO warranty is so good, it's worth at least $1000 over a non-CPO vehicle.
  • nowakj66nowakj66 Member Posts: 709
    Anyone have a car seat in a TSX? Does the leather hold up? I know there are some complaints about TL leather being easy to damage with a car seat. Is the same true of the TSX leather?
  • rko2rko2 Member Posts: 40
    Thanks, I was very happy to get the car for that price. I also haven't seen Ebay vehicles being sold, plus the manuals are just plain hard to find so when one shows up a few miles away it is hard to ignore. The only hurdle then is price.

    The certified warranty was a huge draw for me, as it takes the powertrain past the end of my loan. And, it is transferrable.

    I did see a black A-spec at my dealer this morning...and did that ever look pretty (except for the price tag).
  • gmtgmt Member Posts: 6
    Fedlawman,
    It seems the dealer is still having problems diagnosing the issue as being the throw-out bearing. Acura isn't posting a tech advisory. It's been two days now, and they still seem confused, despite the general manager hearing the noise when I took him for a ride. Fortunately, they gave me a new TL to drive around for now. If you're reading this, could you tell me name of the dealership where you got yours fixed? I may need to get them some additional tech support! The dealer I am stuck with is in Tallahassee, FL. There aren't too many dealers in this area...

    Your help would be greatly appreciated.

    G
  • lmacmillmacmil Member Posts: 1,758
    Finally drove one of these today. Yes the tranny is like buttah and yes the power seemed fine. The ride was noticeably firmer than the TL (as expected) and with the potholed streets in the snowy midwest, I think I would get jostled quite a bit. As slick as the manual is, it's not really suited to my stop & go intensive commute and I have enjoyed not having to shift for the last 4 years after about 15 years of manuals. I think I'm going to have to pass on this one, as attractive as it is.
  • fedlawmanfedlawman Member Posts: 3,118
    It sounds like a wise, and educated decision. I'm sorry to see an enthusiast forced to own a slushbox, but i suppose every decision we make has some compromise.

    If you're looking for a sporty sedan with a more compliant ride, a slushbox with some pep, and all-weather traction, it sounds like the TL or Legacy GT would be fine choices.

    Good luck and let us know what you end up with!

    Brian
  • fedlawmanfedlawman Member Posts: 3,118
    "could you tell me name of the dealership where you got yours fixed?"

    Acura of Seattle, locate in the City of Tukwila, Washington.

    Good luck!
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