Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/25 for details.
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/25 for details.
Options
Honda Accord vs Acura TSX
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
You must not drive in congested areas or have too many slick roads often... Where I live, people run red-lights and stop signs like crazy, so frequent emergency stops are normal - in wet weather, I've activated ABS probably 6 times in my 15,000 miles of driving in my new Accord. Hasn't been a life or death thing without it, but it certainly helped me control the car in evasive maneuvers.
These mandatory ESC systems better come with an "off" button.
ESC is a great boon to automotive safety, but it's not the panacea many people think it is. There MUST BE an off switch that gives throttle/brake authority to the driver in certain circumstances.
The accord cabin is more 'plasticky', the tsx more metal. I'd say that 99% of the time the tsx has all the power I need; only those times on the highway, especially on 6+ percent grade hills passing several semi's in a row, will I need the awesome thrust of the accord. The rest of the time I predict the tsx will respond with all I need. From stoplights, both cars have the wrong rubber!
More later, after the tsx is broken in, and I've used the top half of the rev range.
Also, I just drove in the worst snow storm of this year in Toronto. I passed some cars that could not make it up some very bad snow, ice covered hills. The VSA in the TSX is very cool. The tire spin is so minimal and the TSX is a great all year car - winter no exception.
wow! 3 hour drives in the snow make for one wandering post. Sorry!
I see so many posts for more power, more power...not sure how much of this is just male insecurity. God forbid that someone beats you off the line by .7 seconds! :confuse: Who cares. Some pick-up trucks will clean many "sport" sedans off the line.
I was in a cadilac CTS for a couple days and it has power. It's faster than my TSX no doubt. But, holy crap was I happy to get back in my car! Don't even get me started with the domestic car scene :lemon:
it seemed so slow. It even seems slower that when I remember driving the 02 accord. Am I crazy.
The real dilema is when the 08 accord comes out with the new v6 engine and I am sure many other improvements, also the possibility of a new TSX. Just might have to lease the GC for a few extra months into the fall to see what the new models have to offer. Old Mike
That engine sounds amazing running up to 8000 rpm. The only thing I miss in the Civic is the climate control.
They have that, it's called a TL!
The TSX may be balanced but it is no match for the RWD IS350/335i and will be left in the dust. Even the 328i packs more punch than the TSX. SH-AWD will shift the bias of weight, allowing a smaller V6 to go into the TSX. And the TL has the J32 already, its a bigger engine.
You just unknowingly expressed the raison d'etre of the TSX. It's got the comfort of the Accord and the driving thrill of the Civic.
I turned it back in yesterday though. I'm gonna drive a Benz E500 for a while. One thing the SI made me want was a turbo for our 04 EX-L. About a month ago, we had a 05 6MT TL. That car was a beast. I'd rather just have a Turbo EX-L Accord 4 cyl.
I don't think you can go wrong with either car. My car search was narrowed down to these two after several exhausting months and a bunch of test drives in both of these cars and some more (volvo S40 - too small, engine didn't feel as refined / VW jetta GLI - exterior looks hideous, nav system not impressive, overpriced after some basic options and reliability an issue / TL - very nice and more toys, but ultimately to choose that over the Accord would have mostly been a look-at-me in my Acura decision...performance no better than Accord. To me, not worth the extra $5-7K)
Anyway, back to the Accord & TSX...
The interiors of each are extremely similar in appearance and layout barring a few more luxury touches in the TSX, mainly the metallic trim pieces. It also has more electronic gadgets like the blue tooth and Aux input. Nav systems in both are the same. The front seats on the Accord are definitely roomier and felt better over time, but the TSX seats have a sportier feel and keep you in your place a bit better. The Accord wins the backseat space battle hands down.
The TSX edges the Accord on exterior styling with a sportier look and sharper edges. The refreshed exterior on the Accord from '05 to '06 helped diminish this a bit.
What I definitely do like about the Accord are the subtle differences they added for the 6MT version as opposed to the automatic. The wheels (from the last gen TL-type S), the red V6 badge, the carbon fiber look trim, and the perforated leather accents remind me that I'm driving a car that's just a bit unique to your typical V6 accord. In my 6 months of owning my car, I've seen only 1 other V6 6MT Accord on the road. Obviously, these differences are minute, but I appreciate them nonetheless!
On the flip side, the TSX offers no distinction between its 6MT and automatic models...same interior trim, same wheels..etc.
Straight performance definitely goes to the Accord when it comes to acceleration, which was proven by my smoking a TSX just recently that thought they were too cool for school.
As far as handling, I liked the TSX's tighter steering and sportier feel overall, which the Accord somewhat lacks when it comes to twists and turns. The TSX basically felt like a smaller car that took a bit less effort to handle, which was nice. As far as the clutches in each, they both have the same silky smooth feel. (my old Accord, a 2001 4-cyl 5spd was anything but sporty when it came to shifting)
I can't accurately compare fuel economy since I only have real world experience with the Accord, but from the EPA's for each, they are just about identical and the Accord only needs regular, which I've been using thus far. On my 100+ mile road trips with the Accord, I average ~30-31 MPG, and my daily city driving has been between 23-25 MPG, so I definitely can't complain about that for a lively V6.
As far as price, my offers for both cars were within $1,000 of each, which pretty much ruled affordability for one or the other out of the equation.
Lastly, you can't forget the ego factor. I know for sure that there are plenty of people that wouldn't make their decision based on thinking they look cooler driving an Acura over a Honda, but there are plenty more that do use that as a big factor. I have learned quickly over the years that it's not worth making a decision on luxury status because it means nothing anymore, especially when I can safely say a solid half of the people driving upscale/luxury cars are making 1/2 of what I make and working OT just to impress people. Don't get me wrong, for some, their decision IS based on just liking a car better than another for reasons other than brand, but that's usually not the case.
In summary, for what each car offers, it was a close decision, and, if I had bought the TSX instead, I wouldn't have regretted it. But, to me, the space and power advantages of the Accord led to my decision. The additional toys and the sportier handling on the TSX were its biggest advantages, but not enough to sacrifice space and a strong engine. I would never say the Accord is a better car than the TSX or vice versa, it just comes down to your particular wants and needs. I hope this helps anyone torn between the two.
I agree with the elantra being a good car for the price. I had a 2000 elantra and couldn't complain about it. My only problems were a couple of blown fuel pumps and wheel bearings, but that's what warranty coverage is for!
...I'm also on the taller side, 6'3", but I actually found the driver seat in the TSX to be pretty comparable, maybe a hair smaller, than that of the Accord.
For the first time today, I filled up with 93 octane gas. I definitely have no gripes with its acceleration when using regular, but I thought I'd see if I could drive even more recklessly with the better gas. I'm pretty sure it added some kick, but that could always just be my mind thinking it was. Do any other Accord drivers use > regular gas and notice a difference?
After another day with the 93 octane, i'm really noticing an extra kick, especially when I get the engine above ~4K rpm's. It just seems to have a more fluid and brisk acceleration...I may have to cough up the extra 15 cents a gallon if i'm still a believer when this tank runs out!