There was a waiting list for the Type-S at my dealership. I went in to put my name on it, and that’s how I ended up pulling the trigger on my current TLS. It was going to be Blue over Red. Don’t know where I was on the list, if I had been put on it. I just wanted to get a general feel of the TLX’s new platform by testing the A-Spec. Was impressed enough to buy the A-Spec as the 2.0T and the 10-speed are really a nice combo. Plus, it had red interior…LOL!
When driven aggressively, my TLX seems to “shrink”. Coming from a heavy, albeit much more powerful Stinger, I found the 2.0T a nice match, albeit a bit slower (which so far, I haven’t missed).
My son is not sure what he wants. The GTi has served him well. But, he’s at the point now where repairs are beginning to crop up and he likes the idea of something less costly to maintain and something that isn’t in the shop as much.
As I get down to the last few weeks before I buy out the 2018 TLX that I've been leasing, I've been going over the math one more time to see if there's some other car that's as nice or nicer to drive that seems reasonable financially.
One alternative might be the Tesla Model 3, but even with the gas savings it doesn't make sense. Right now the least expensive Tesla Model 3 costs about $42,500, once you add the destination charge and the cost for the new charger in the garage. That's $24,000 more than the buyout on my TLX, which is 18.5k. I get 4-8 mpg higher than the epa mpg rating on the highway in the TLX 2.4 (sometimes getting 40 mpg), and so my best guess is that owning a Telsa would save about $1200 a year in gas costs vs. the electricity for the Model 3. That means it would take 20 years of driving 15,000 miles a year for me to begin to get some savings from driving a Tesla.
One comment I saw called the Touring model of the new 2022 Civic the "Acura of Civics," but it still has that CVT that's in my wife CR-V that I'm not wild about when compared with the 8-speed DCT in my TLX. There are other features that my TLX has that aren't in the Civic, including 4-wheel steering, rear seat ac vents, pocket behind the driver's seat, CD player, and just the refinement of the TLX in all the little details that I doubt that even the new Civic will be able to match. Plus the Civic Touring is 10k more than buying out my TLX, and only saves $500 a year in gas—and so again that 20-year time horizon. The 2022 Civic EX would only be 7k more, but then you don't get the nice Bose Stereo found only on the Touring.
Bottom line is that as of now I'm going to throw a lot of money at buying out my TLX, not just because I really like it, but because the other options cost a lot more.
Anyway, mpg today for my c. 22 mile each-way trip to Bernheim Arboretum and back, going c. 65-70 mph.
And then below that is a nice video review of the new 2022 Civic Touring by a British guy with a nice accent and a low pressure approach.
Apparently the Hatchback is going to offer a manual.
Interesting. That won’t be out to next year (I haven’t even seen spy shots yet). And have learned not to believe rumors about manuals until it’s on the website!
Yeah, that lease beats the 1% goal since the msrp is 39k. It's only a 7500 a year lease, but since Acura has that "mileage forgiveness" program for only an extra $750 (if you need it) you've actually got 30,000 miles over 3 years. The TLX with the Tech package has an msrp of 43k, and so maybe the lease on that might be around $430 a month?
What's the latest on your TLX? How's the mpg so far? I know the new TLX is about performance and luxury rather than mpg, but still I'm curious.
PS Tyson Hugie has 231,000 miles on his 2013 ILX, and as far as I know he's just done regular maintenance on it. Hoping for something similar with my 18 TLX. In this short video he's showing off a detailed model along with the car on a hot day.
An internal Acura presentation to dealers about a year ago showed that sometime in late 2021 the long-awaited ILX replacement will arrive. If that's still true that's just a few months away, but so far no leaks about this new vehicle that I've seen. Could it be a hatchback? Maybe with a double-wishbone suspension and the 2.0 turbo? Or a sedan with those things with a starting msrp of c. $32k?
Oh, and to answer your question @stickguy , this review says that the 6-speed manual will be available on the new top level Civic Hatch, which is called the Sport Touring. If Honda holds the line on prices, as they did for the Civic Sedan Touring, the msrp with destination will be about $30,000.
The 2022 Civic hatchback is 179 inches long, and so about 5 inches shorter than the sedan. That's a difference from the outgoing model, where I think the sedan and hatch were the same length.
There's about 24 cubic feet of storage behind the back seats in the hatch, and probably about double that with the seats lowered.
Here's the Honda press release. The Civic Sport Touring Hatchback with the 6MT option does sound like a pretty nice drive.
Here's an interesting drag race between top-end versions of the Camry, Accord, and Mazda6. The Accord wins. Now imagine putting that 2.0 engine in a smaller and lighter Acura ILX replacement.
thanks. makes the Civic hatch more interesting. Not sure the wife is fond of the stick idea though. So I should get something like a PU then start shopping toys!
I have been predicting for a while now that the next ILX will be a small hatch/CUV to compete with the X1/X2 sized stuff. Maybe a sedan version too? That is what I would do.
I'm conflicted when it comes to a manual transmission. Since I mostly drove manuals from 1979 to 2016, I do miss that feeling of engagement and fun. But I don't miss the once-in-a-blue moon time (and it was quite rare) when I would stall myself out. And these days sometimes I'm just lazy, and enjoy having the shifting done for me—and then I can concentrate even more on the steering, throttle, and brakes when swinging around a corner a bit fast.
Manuals are still very fun to drive, and it seems poignant that they are dying out. If I hadn't just bought out my TLX it would be tempting to get one before they are gone.
But some of the reasons I used to drive manuals just aren't true any more. It used to be that they cost about $800 or so less than the auto version of the same car. That was even still true for the manual version of previous generation 2021 Civic hatch, but if you can even find them these days at all sometimes the manual costs the same. It used to be that you could get better mpg with a manual, but these days autos, like the 8-speed DCT on my TLX, get significantly better mpg than a 6MT. Finally, used to be you could accelerate faster with a manual, but with the super fast shifts of the DCT, or even any transmission, maybe even a CVT in sport mode, the auto is actually faster.
If I was going manual, I might go all the way to the Civic Si, which also has the limited slip differential as well as the adaptive suspension with settings. I mean that's a real sports car from my pov. On the other hand, the Civic Hatch 6mt would probably be almost as fast, and would be kind of a unicorn.
In terms of getting a Maverick and then a fun car as a toy, well, I wonder if your thrifty soul (or my thrifty soul) would want to pay insurance and maintenance on three cars. I'm sure you have more space than I do, but a third car would just get in the way for us.
The Maverick sounds like a great deal even at msrp. And given that you tend to only keep your cars for 2-3 years anyway, maybe you should consider getting it, and then if you don't fall in love with it maybe just trading it in on something else in a few years. But my guess is that the lease numbers on it won't be good when compared to msrp.
To me it seems like you already have a utility vehicle in the RDX that can move some stuff, and so getting even a smaller truck on top of that seems overkill? Why not just rent a Uhaul or truck when you really need it, and/or hire some guys?
If your wife dislikes driving a manual, and my wife is the same way, then you'd have to decide if there are times when she'd need to drive whatever it is you get. I mean sometimes I take my wife's car out for some reason, if just to get it washed or serviced for her, and then she needs to take my car somewhere. Plus there are trips.
In any case, I feel like if it were me I'd wait for prices to drop, we hope in Dec.—or at least by March. Buying something at full list, even if it's an msrp as good as the Maverick's, is something I've never done.
To bring it back to Acura, I think you might consider waiting a few months to see what the replacement, if any, is going to be for the ILX. With the loyalty rebates Acura sometimes offers that might end up being a good deal on something that's nicer than a Maverick.
all good points. I also learned on a stick and had one as my regular car for roughly the same period you did (with some toys also sprinkled in). And for about 10 years, that is all we had so my wife drove one too. I would buy one just because I like driving them.
I don't wring every 10th out of the car so an AT being faster on paper doesn't matter. And I always found that sticks in real world did a lot better than the EPA ratings (opposite with ATs unless you want to lug around at 1,200 RPMs all the time).
The biggest drawback is very limited options, and you usually have to compromise (like getting a stripped base model). I also don't know if I want a real sports car as my daily (hence the interest in a loaded Civic hatch instead of an Si).
I have had 3 cars before. I just need to move first to get more efficient parking!
An appeal for me of the Civic Sport Touring Hatchback is that it would have almost have Acura-levels of luxury, features, and performance, but at a nicer price. The Civic Touring has the Bose premium sound system with 12 speakers, 9-inch touchscreen infotainment with wireless CarPlay/AA, power seats, rain sensing wipers, led headlights, performance tires, etc., yet you also have the function and cargo capacity of a hatchback, and almost the performance of an Si with the 6-speed manual. Plus all it needs is regular gas and it'll get in the high 30s on the highway.
Getting the 6-speed manual, however, is going to be tricky. Back when the Accord had the 6MT it was more theoretical than real, because almost no dealers ordered them.
A special order is possible, I think, or at least I did it back in 2008 to get a top-of-the-line Accord with a manual transmission, but when you're special ordering there's less room for negotiating on the price.
Still, with the value price on the Civic Hatch already baked in, plus the possible $800 discount for getting the manual, even something close to list might be a good deal.
the touring Civic I sat in could have passed for an Acura ILX pretty much. Maybe upgrade the leather and add a few more gadgets. But overall it was like a Mazda interior. Just seemed more expensive than it really was.
The Civic might actually have some manual stock. They did sell some of those, and especially before the Si comes out it will be something to get sporty buyers into the showroom
I'll believe it when I see it when it comes to dealers stocking a manual Civic that's not an Si. I hope so, but....
One thing that might sway you away from the Civic Hatchback is that the interiors for Hatch only seem to come in black. The Civic Touring sedan has a nice grey leather available, but for whatever product simplification reasons Honda doesn't seem to do that even for the top level of the hb.
Sounds like you wouldn't consider a Civic Si, but that car is maybe the biggest bargain in the Honda line-up. My guess is that they sell that one break-even as a halo car. Anyway, the last Civic Si at 26k msrp was about $4000 less expensive than the Civic Hatchback in top trim. The Si gets a more powerful engine, adds a limited slip differential that is supposed to be outstanding for putting the power down around corners, plus it has a sport version of the adaptive suspension found on the $38k Accord Touring.
The last Si was a bit of boy racer parody when it came to looks, but one spy shot of the new version shows a toned down look that seems quite good.
As far as I can tell the one thing you lose with the Si are the power leather seats, but the red and black cloth manual seats in the Si are comfortable and supportive.
I think the Si will probably end up being a full second faster 0-60 when compared to the Civic Hatchback. If they hold the line on prices, 26k for the Si is a deal. I think driving it would put a smile on my face. I'm tempted to just test drive one for kicks when they come out, but since I'm not in the market I don't think I can bring myself to do that.
Still, the Si is rather like what the small Acuras used to be back in the 90s.
I test drove the Si a couple times before I bought my Elantra. Passed on it partly because of the manual (at the time there was still likely some sharing going on with my daughter). But the one thing I actually did not like was the seat. Just did not find them comfortable. And I think my wife found them way too confining (she does not do well with tight, heavily bolstered sports seats). It was a good deal though!
"one of the better deals is probably the TLX. can get a FWD tech (sticker ~42K) for $440/month 1st only DAS. Out of curiosity I check the ILX. Not many left, and just about the same payment. That is an easy choice! An Accord EXL was just about the same too."
The fact that I could lease a loaded TLX for less than an Accord EXL was what got me into my car. Driving an Accord EXL and the TLX back to back in 2018 it was clear the TLX was more luxurious and drove better.
As you know, the auto industry is such a competitive biz that they literally have to balance the price/benefit ratio for parts down to the last dollar—and sometimes even down the last cent. Acura gets better for everything when compared to an Accord or Civic. I mean the interior door handles on the TLX are nicer and better than in an Accord, and you can multiply that out to the batteries, tires, shocks, steering, leather for the seats, etc. I'm sure the Bose stereo in a Civic Touring is very good, but the ELS sound system in a TLX Tech is going to be outstanding. As much as we and car-reviewers can say that a top-end Civic is kinda Acura-like, there's still a difference that you can feel right away. And the bottom line is that when the Civic Sport Touring hatchback is available a lease on it will probably be about the same as a TLX Tech today. But the loyalty incentives that they have on the TLX expire today, July 6th. Not clear if those are going to be renewed at the $2500 level, but I kinda doubt it in this market.
PS But a TLX at 75" wide is probably too wide for your garage. Plus so far it doesn't seem like you really have to have a second car anyway? If you save your money for another six months by just having one car probably you can score a good deal on something then.
A few details about the new Integra. Acura chief Jon Ikeda says the 2023 Integra will be an affordable and high-volume car that will be fun-to-drive. Based on an enhanced version of the new Civic platform, the new Integra was designed mostly in Japan. The head of the new Integra design team is an owner of an Integra from c. 25 years ago, and was encouraged to keep the spirit of the original. Model year 2022 will finally see the last of the bargain-priced ILX, although Ikeda says the new Integra won't be a direct replacement. The profile in the announcement of the new Integra suggested a coupe would be available, and in some ways that makes sense because the coupe version of the Civic has been cut for this generation. So, potentially like the original Integra there will be a 4-door sedan as well as a 2-door coupe. Given that it will be a volume vehicle, they'll need to be careful with the pricing. The current ILX starts at $26.5k before destination, and my guess is that the new Integra will start at maybe c. $29.5 before destination. A Type S Integra is likely for the future, but to start it's a good guess that an enhanced version of Honda's 1.5T will be the engine for the Integra. My guess is that they might also provide a 6-speed manual imported from the Civic Si. Could the excellent 8-speed DCT be the other transmission? That would make sense to set it apart from the CVT Civic.
"(Solved & Explained) Cars / By Ian Jarvis / July 31, 2021
The Acura TLX is a reliable, durable vehicle that can last 250,000 to 300,000 miles on average. Based on an annual mileage of 15,000 miles, TLX owners can expect 17 – 20 years of service before requiring uneconomical repairs. This is dependant on conservative driving habits and proper maintenance....
Acura TLX vs. Audi A4 The Audi A4 is a German compact executive sedan that matches the TLX in terms of luxury and performance.The Audi A4 can last on average between 150,000 – 200,000 miles or 10 – 13 years of service if it is properly maintained, and thus has a shorter lifespan than the TLX’s 250,000 to 300,000 miles or 17 – 20 years.
According to RepairPal,The A4 has a reliability rating of 3.5/5.0, placing it 14th out of 31 in the luxury midsize sedan category. The TLX’s reliability score is 4.5/5.0, placing it 1st in the luxury midsize sedan segment. The A4’s annual average repair and maintenance cost is $739 vs. $440 for the TLX. The TLX has a lower annual average repair and maintenance cost and can last for many more years than the A4."
I'm good on maintenance, although sometimes I have a heavy right foot. But I'm going to guess that 200k over 10-12 years or so is still probably possible.
Since I'm planning to keep my TLX long-term, I looked the owner's manual today. One weird thing to me about Acura's service schedule is that it seems like they only say to change your oil filter every other time. I ignore that, and so does my Acura dealer, and so the oil filter gets changed every time. Plus they use full synthetic oil, which I don't think is required. The manual does, however, say to change your brake fluid every three years, and so I guess I'll do that.
I'm now at about 48,000 miles, and my last oil change was at 38,400. 9600 miles is pretty good, and even at that the Maintenance Minder is still showing oil life at 15%.
Let's see. One other thing I found out was that Acura Roadside assistance seems to last for the 6 year 70k powertrain warranty. And they'll tow you all the way to the nearest Acura dealer, even if it's far away, which is more than AAA will do for a regular tow.
I saw they were still doing the every other time filter. I never had a dealer do it either, and I would go nuts if they tried. Really don't understand why Acura still does it that way.
I assume the dealer uses whatever oil it is specced for. I am fine with that.
I just had the 6 symbol pop up when I crossed 10,000 miles. But likely will have my next change by 11K so will push that (the differential fluid change) off until 15K when it is due.
I always go in as soon as the wrench comes on when it hits 15%.
My appointment to get the oil changed is tomorrow, actually, and so I'll hit it at 15%. But given the full synthetic and the filter change every time I'm okay with it going to 5%, which has happened once so far.
This guy's statistical look at small luxury car longevity found that only 2% of old used Audi A4s had more than 200k. 5.8% of BMW 330is were at 200k, while the number one small luxury car was the Acura TSX, with 12.5% over 200k.
For 2022 the RDX gets some updates, including standard blind-spot monitoring on the base model, standard wireless AndroidAuto/Carplay, quieter cabin with more insulation, improved safety via rear-seatbelt pre-tensioners and strengthened body structure, etc. There are minor styling updates too, but they seem subtle enough that I don't really notice them in this photo.
I do wonder if Acura's True Touch system is going to last. Lexus has recently moved to touchscreens for its cars, and it seems possible that Acura might go that way too at some point, since the automotive press, as well as some customers, seem to prefer touch screens. Since I have the earlier version of a non-touch system on my TLX—the chromed control dial—I feel like the advantages probably outweigh the disadvantages. With a non-touch system you obviously don't get fingerprints on the screen, and the screen itself can be placed higher so that you can better keep your eyes on the road.
Anyway, if Acura keeps close to the msrp of the 2021 model, this does make the base RDX for me an attractive alternative to a CR-V Touring. The 2021 CR-V Touring with destination now has an msrp of $36,775 with destination, while the base 2WD 2021 RDX has an msrp of $39,445, a difference of c. $2700. The CR-V would have AWD, but if you can live without that it's not that big a jump, and sometimes Acura has loyalty incentives that might reduce the gap by another 1k or so.
Went in to get my TLX serviced today and, in addition to an oil change and a change of the brake fluid, they also convinced me to change the transmission fluid. I hadn't had the Maintenance Minder code for that pop up, and so I questioned them on it, but they said they recommended 30k for transmission fluid. In our CR-V manual Honda does say for severe service (lots of mountains, trailer towing, etc.) 25k for the transmission fluid, and so roughly double that for normal service seems fine. But I saw a few sites that said transmission fluid these days might only need to be changed every 90k. Overall came to $331 with the various coupons, which seems to me fair enough for keeping everything tip top. I'd rather spend $130 or so every 50k to get the transmission fluid changed than need to pay c. 4-6k to get a new transmission.
Below is a somewhat useful discussion. Starts out by making it seem that 30k is just an upsell for changing the transmission fluid, but by the end some reasonable people are saying that's what they do. Other people say 60k. Anyway, strange the Acura's Maintenance Minder might not be right when it comes to transmission fluid changes, but I'm beginning to wonder.
I did 30k changes on my HOnAcura V6 models. Out of paranoia on the early weak transmissions. Plus I consider that relatively cheap insurance, and it can’t hurt.
Not sure what having the DCT in the TKX means though, if it should need it sooner or less frequently. But if you are around 50k miles, seems like a reasonable decision since you want to get 200k out of it.
"The manufacturer’s maintenance schedule for many automatic transmissions doesn’t call for fresh fluid until 100,000 miles or, with some Ford transmissions, even 150,000 miles. A lot of mechanics say that is too long and that it should be done at least every 50,000 miles."
"Change transmission fluid every 30,000 miles. Most owner's manuals say it isn't necessary. Yeah, right. That's why transmission shops are making a fortune replacing burned out automatic transmissions. For optimum protection, change the Transmission Fluid and filter every 30,000 miles (unless you have a new vehicle that is filled with Dexron III ATF, which is supposed to be good for 100,000 miles).
Why ATF Wears Out An automatic transmission creates a lot of internal heat through friction: the friction of the fluid churning inside the torque converter, friction created when the clutch plates engage, and the normal friction created by gears and bearings carrying their loads. It doesn't take long for the automatic transmission fluid (ATF) to heat up once the vehicle is in motion. Normal driving will raise fluid temperatures to 175 degrees F., which is the usual temperature range at which most fluids are designed to operate. If fluid temperatures can be held to 175 degrees F., ATF will last almost indefinitely -- say up to 100,000 miles. But if the fluid temperature goes much higher, the life of the fluid begins to plummet. The problem is even normal driving can push fluid temperatures well beyond safe limits. And once that happens, the trouble begins.
At elevated operating temperatures, ATF oxidizes, turns brown and takes on a smell like burnt toast. As heat destroys the fluid's lubricating qualities and friction characteristics, varnish begins to form on internal parts (such as the valve body) which interferes with the operation of the transmission. If the temperature gets above 250 degrees F., rubber seals begin to harden, which leads to leaks and pressure losses. At higher temperatures the transmission begins to slip, which only aggravates overheating even more. Eventually the clutches burn out and the transmission calls it quits. The only way to repair the damage now is with an overhaul -- a job which can easily run upwards of $1500 on a late model front-wheel drive car or minivan.
As a rule of thumb, every 20 degree increase in operating temperature above 175 degrees F. cuts the life of the fluid in half! At 195 degrees F., for instance, fluid life is reduced to 50,000 miles."
"Changing the transmission fluid used to be a staple of routine maintenance schedules, usually every 50,000 miles. These days, though, the transmissions in many vehicles are filled with fluid that may need to be changed only every 150,000 miles – or never, according to some automakers.
How Often Should You Change Transmission Fluid? It varies by automaker (and among different vehicles from the same manufacturer) and how the car has been driven. If you do a lot of stop-and-go driving, frequently haul heavy loads or tow a trailer – all of which generate more heat and stress on the transmission – you should change the fluid more often than you would if you mainly do light-duty suburban or highway driving. Manufacturers typically describe these high-stress conditions as “severe” driving:
GM often recommends changing the fluid every 45,000 miles under “severe” conditions. For “normal” driving, though, there is no mention of changing the fluid. Toyota says to change the fluid every 60,000 miles for severe use; otherwise, it’s not necessary. Honda recommends on its continuously variable automatic transmissions (CVT) to follow the Maintenance Minder on its vehicles, which monitors time and mileage and alerts the driver when service is needed. But if you do a lot of mountain driving or towing, Honda recommends changing the fluid every 25,000 miles. Ford’s recommended interval for “normal” driving is 150,000 miles. BMW says to change the fluid every 60,000 miles. Mercedes-Benz says every 40,000."
Weird that Toyota, legendary for the long life of its vehicles, says that in normal conditions you might not ever need to change your automatic transmission fluid.
For this ZF transmission this mechanic recommends a 50k transmission fluid change interval. In another video I watched Scotty K. recommended a 60k-80k interval for most transmissions.
Anything you've needed to fix beyond normal maintenance?
There was a steering rack issue associated with a power steering thing that was covered by the warranty, so a long time ago.
Our family is very Honda-friendly (yeah, I know, @roadburner would rather be drawn and quartered). At a Mothers' Day thing a number of years ago there were six Honda products lined up in a row at a Papago Park picnic spot. Anyway, my #3 son keeps his vehicles as long as I do, and he's had to replace more than one steering rack over the years. That said, the vehicles involved are probably 15-20 years old by now. Point being, the only issue I've had with my TSX is the steering system, and at the time (10 -15 years ago) it was fairly common.
The sad fact is that everything is getting more complex, so there's much more to go sideways.
Anything you've needed to fix beyond normal maintenance?
There was a steering rack issue associated with a power steering thing that was covered by the warranty, so a long time ago.
Our family is very Honda-friendly (yeah, I know, @roadburner would rather be drawn and quartered). At a Mothers' Day thing a number of years ago there were six Honda products lined up in a row at a Papago Park picnic spot. Anyway, my #3 son keeps his vehicles as long as I do, and he's had to replace more than one steering rack over the years. That said, the vehicles involved are probably 15-20 years old by now. Point being, the only issue I've had with my TSX is the steering system, and at the time (10 -15 years ago) it was fairly common.
The sad fact is that everything is getting more complex, so there's much more to go sideways.
The information in this thread makes me think that a CPO TLX would be a good car for me to buy and keep for the next 10 years.
I'd somehow almost forgotten until last night, but when I leased my TLX 3+ years ago it didn't come with the full owner's manual, but instead a "mini-manual." I don't think any vehicle has the full manual these days, since they tend to run 500+ pages and fill up the glovebox. The full paper manual can be requested from Acura, but I didn't bother to do that. Like for other vehicles it's available online as a pdf, however, and it finally occurred to me to look up what it says there about transmission fluid changes. Here's the only thing I found.... So in the fine print it says that "severe service" for a TLX means that it's run at slow speeds (and so a low gear) for long periods on mountainous roads. In that weird but not impossible situation it says change your TLX's transmission fluid at 40k, and then at 30k intervals after that. So 30k transmission fluid changes are for quite severe conditions, and I think I can try to resist my Acura dealer's strong pressure to do that (if I can remember maybe I'll show them this) and instead change at 50k, which I think would be still well before the Maintenance Minder is going to say to change it. My guess is that the Acura MM wouldn't advise to change the transmission fluid until maybe 80k-90k, which is still much sooner than the 150k of Ford and a few others.
Anything you've needed to fix beyond normal maintenance?
There was a steering rack issue associated with a power steering thing that was covered by the warranty, so a long time ago....
Impressive that you've gone 14 years and 178,000 miles in your Acura TSX with just regular maintenance + one thing fixed under warranty. There's a guy on youtube who has a TSX older than yours who has gone 500k on the original engine. And Tyson Hugie has gone c. 240k in his ILX with just regular maintenance.
For me it seems a good thing that the 2.4 engine in your TSX is similar to the 2.4 engine in my TLX. The main difference is that mine is direct injected, but if I keep using Tier 1 gas and do regular oil changes I'm guessing it won't have issues with carbon build-up. And if it does I suppose at some point there would be some way to clean that off.
Comments
When driven aggressively, my TLX seems to “shrink”. Coming from a heavy, albeit much more powerful Stinger, I found the 2.0T a nice match, albeit a bit slower (which so far, I haven’t missed).
My son is not sure what he wants. The GTi has served him well. But, he’s at the point now where repairs are beginning to crop up and he likes the idea of something less costly to maintain and something that isn’t in the shop as much.
Told him that decision is his alone.
Then he ignored it all and went and got what he wanted anyway.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
One alternative might be the Tesla Model 3, but even with the gas savings it doesn't make sense. Right now the least expensive Tesla Model 3 costs about $42,500, once you add the destination charge and the cost for the new charger in the garage. That's $24,000 more than the buyout on my TLX, which is 18.5k. I get 4-8 mpg higher than the epa mpg rating on the highway in the TLX 2.4 (sometimes getting 40 mpg), and so my best guess is that owning a Telsa would save about $1200 a year in gas costs vs. the electricity for the Model 3. That means it would take 20 years of driving 15,000 miles a year for me to begin to get some savings from driving a Tesla.
One comment I saw called the Touring model of the new 2022 Civic the "Acura of Civics," but it still has that CVT that's in my wife CR-V that I'm not wild about when compared with the 8-speed DCT in my TLX. There are other features that my TLX has that aren't in the Civic, including 4-wheel steering, rear seat ac vents, pocket behind the driver's seat, CD player, and just the refinement of the TLX in all the little details that I doubt that even the new Civic will be able to match. Plus the Civic Touring is 10k more than buying out my TLX, and only saves $500 a year in gas—and so again that 20-year time horizon. The 2022 Civic EX would only be 7k more, but then you don't get the nice Bose Stereo found only on the Touring.
Bottom line is that as of now I'm going to throw a lot of money at buying out my TLX, not just because I really like it, but because the other options cost a lot more.
Anyway, mpg today for my c. 22 mile each-way trip to Bernheim Arboretum and back, going c. 65-70 mph.
And then below that is a nice video review of the new 2022 Civic Touring by a British guy with a nice accent and a low pressure approach.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
https://www.acuraatoxmoor.com/newspecials.html
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Edit: today, it is $443/$443 for 7,500 miles. Which are enough for me.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
What's the latest on your TLX? How's the mpg so far? I know the new TLX is about performance and luxury rather than mpg, but still I'm curious.
PS Tyson Hugie has 231,000 miles on his 2013 ILX, and as far as I know he's just done regular maintenance on it. Hoping for something similar with my 18 TLX. In this short video he's showing off a detailed model along with the car on a hot day.
Oh, and to answer your question @stickguy , this review says that the 6-speed manual will be available on the new top level Civic Hatch, which is called the Sport Touring. If Honda holds the line on prices, as they did for the Civic Sedan Touring, the msrp with destination will be about $30,000.
The 2022 Civic hatchback is 179 inches long, and so about 5 inches shorter than the sedan. That's a difference from the outgoing model, where I think the sedan and hatch were the same length.
There's about 24 cubic feet of storage behind the back seats in the hatch, and probably about double that with the seats lowered.
Here's the Honda press release. The Civic Sport Touring Hatchback with the 6MT option does sound like a pretty nice drive.
https://hondanews.com/en-US/releases/2022-honda-civic-hatchback-makes-global-debut-during-honda-civic-remix-virtual-performance
I have been predicting for a while now that the next ILX will be a small hatch/CUV to compete with the X1/X2 sized stuff. Maybe a sedan version too? That is what I would do.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Manuals are still very fun to drive, and it seems poignant that they are dying out. If I hadn't just bought out my TLX it would be tempting to get one before they are gone.
But some of the reasons I used to drive manuals just aren't true any more. It used to be that they cost about $800 or so less than the auto version of the same car. That was even still true for the manual version of previous generation 2021 Civic hatch, but if you can even find them these days at all sometimes the manual costs the same. It used to be that you could get better mpg with a manual, but these days autos, like the 8-speed DCT on my TLX, get significantly better mpg than a 6MT. Finally, used to be you could accelerate faster with a manual, but with the super fast shifts of the DCT, or even any transmission, maybe even a CVT in sport mode, the auto is actually faster.
If I was going manual, I might go all the way to the Civic Si, which also has the limited slip differential as well as the adaptive suspension with settings. I mean that's a real sports car from my pov. On the other hand, the Civic Hatch 6mt would probably be almost as fast, and would be kind of a unicorn.
In terms of getting a Maverick and then a fun car as a toy, well, I wonder if your thrifty soul (or my thrifty soul) would want to pay insurance and maintenance on three cars. I'm sure you have more space than I do, but a third car would just get in the way for us.
The Maverick sounds like a great deal even at msrp. And given that you tend to only keep your cars for 2-3 years anyway, maybe you should consider getting it, and then if you don't fall in love with it maybe just trading it in on something else in a few years. But my guess is that the lease numbers on it won't be good when compared to msrp.
To me it seems like you already have a utility vehicle in the RDX that can move some stuff, and so getting even a smaller truck on top of that seems overkill? Why not just rent a Uhaul or truck when you really need it, and/or hire some guys?
If your wife dislikes driving a manual, and my wife is the same way, then you'd have to decide if there are times when she'd need to drive whatever it is you get. I mean sometimes I take my wife's car out for some reason, if just to get it washed or serviced for her, and then she needs to take my car somewhere. Plus there are trips.
In any case, I feel like if it were me I'd wait for prices to drop, we hope in Dec.—or at least by March. Buying something at full list, even if it's an msrp as good as the Maverick's, is something I've never done.
To bring it back to Acura, I think you might consider waiting a few months to see what the replacement, if any, is going to be for the ILX. With the loyalty rebates Acura sometimes offers that might end up being a good deal on something that's nicer than a Maverick.
I don't wring every 10th out of the car so an AT being faster on paper doesn't matter. And I always found that sticks in real world did a lot better than the EPA ratings (opposite with ATs unless you want to lug around at 1,200 RPMs all the time).
The biggest drawback is very limited options, and you usually have to compromise (like getting a stripped base model). I also don't know if I want a real sports car as my daily (hence the interest in a loaded Civic hatch instead of an Si).
I have had 3 cars before. I just need to move first to get more efficient parking!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Getting the 6-speed manual, however, is going to be tricky. Back when the Accord had the 6MT it was more theoretical than real, because almost no dealers ordered them.
A special order is possible, I think, or at least I did it back in 2008 to get a top-of-the-line Accord with a manual transmission, but when you're special ordering there's less room for negotiating on the price.
Still, with the value price on the Civic Hatch already baked in, plus the possible $800 discount for getting the manual, even something close to list might be a good deal.
The Civic might actually have some manual stock. They did sell some of those, and especially before the Si comes out it will be something to get sporty buyers into the showroom
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
One thing that might sway you away from the Civic Hatchback is that the interiors for Hatch only seem to come in black. The Civic Touring sedan has a nice grey leather available, but for whatever product simplification reasons Honda doesn't seem to do that even for the top level of the hb.
Sounds like you wouldn't consider a Civic Si, but that car is maybe the biggest bargain in the Honda line-up. My guess is that they sell that one break-even as a halo car. Anyway, the last Civic Si at 26k msrp was about $4000 less expensive than the Civic Hatchback in top trim. The Si gets a more powerful engine, adds a limited slip differential that is supposed to be outstanding for putting the power down around corners, plus it has a sport version of the adaptive suspension found on the $38k Accord Touring.
The last Si was a bit of boy racer parody when it came to looks, but one spy shot of the new version shows a toned down look that seems quite good.
As far as I can tell the one thing you lose with the Si are the power leather seats, but the red and black cloth manual seats in the Si are comfortable and supportive.
I think the Si will probably end up being a full second faster 0-60 when compared to the Civic Hatchback. If they hold the line on prices, 26k for the Si is a deal. I think driving it would put a smile on my face. I'm tempted to just test drive one for kicks when they come out, but since I'm not in the market I don't think I can bring myself to do that.
Still, the Si is rather like what the small Acuras used to be back in the 90s.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
"one of the better deals is probably the TLX. can get a FWD tech (sticker ~42K) for $440/month 1st only DAS. Out of curiosity I check the ILX. Not many left, and just about the same payment. That is an easy choice! An Accord EXL was just about the same too."
The fact that I could lease a loaded TLX for less than an Accord EXL was what got me into my car. Driving an Accord EXL and the TLX back to back in 2018 it was clear the TLX was more luxurious and drove better.
As you know, the auto industry is such a competitive biz that they literally have to balance the price/benefit ratio for parts down to the last dollar—and sometimes even down the last cent. Acura gets better for everything when compared to an Accord or Civic. I mean the interior door handles on the TLX are nicer and better than in an Accord, and you can multiply that out to the batteries, tires, shocks, steering, leather for the seats, etc. I'm sure the Bose stereo in a Civic Touring is very good, but the ELS sound system in a TLX Tech is going to be outstanding. As much as we and car-reviewers can say that a top-end Civic is kinda Acura-like, there's still a difference that you can feel right away. And the bottom line is that when the Civic Sport Touring hatchback is available a lease on it will probably be about the same as a TLX Tech today. But the loyalty incentives that they have on the TLX expire today, July 6th. Not clear if those are going to be renewed at the $2500 level, but I kinda doubt it in this market.
PS But a TLX at 75" wide is probably too wide for your garage. Plus so far it doesn't seem like you really have to have a second car anyway? If you save your money for another six months by just having one car probably you can score a good deal on something then.
https://www.motortrend.com/news/2023-acura-integra-details-interview/
https://enginepatrol.com/how-long-acura-tlx-last/
"(Solved & Explained)
Cars / By Ian Jarvis / July 31, 2021
The Acura TLX is a reliable, durable vehicle that can last 250,000 to 300,000 miles on average. Based on an annual mileage of 15,000 miles, TLX owners can expect 17 – 20 years of service before requiring uneconomical repairs. This is dependant on conservative driving habits and proper maintenance....
Acura TLX vs. Audi A4
The Audi A4 is a German compact executive sedan that matches the TLX in terms of luxury and performance.The Audi A4 can last on average between 150,000 – 200,000 miles or 10 – 13 years of service if it is properly maintained, and thus has a shorter lifespan than the TLX’s 250,000 to 300,000 miles or 17 – 20 years.
According to RepairPal,The A4 has a reliability rating of 3.5/5.0, placing it 14th out of 31 in the luxury midsize sedan category. The TLX’s reliability score is 4.5/5.0, placing it 1st in the luxury midsize sedan segment. The A4’s annual average repair and maintenance cost is $739 vs. $440 for the TLX.
The TLX has a lower annual average repair and maintenance cost and can last for many more years than the A4."
As long as it’s the 2.4 TLX should be cheap to own.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Since I'm planning to keep my TLX long-term, I looked the owner's manual today. One weird thing to me about Acura's service schedule is that it seems like they only say to change your oil filter every other time. I ignore that, and so does my Acura dealer, and so the oil filter gets changed every time. Plus they use full synthetic oil, which I don't think is required. The manual does, however, say to change your brake fluid every three years, and so I guess I'll do that.
I'm now at about 48,000 miles, and my last oil change was at 38,400. 9600 miles is pretty good, and even at that the Maintenance Minder is still showing oil life at 15%.
Let's see. One other thing I found out was that Acura Roadside assistance seems to last for the 6 year 70k powertrain warranty. And they'll tow you all the way to the nearest Acura dealer, even if it's far away, which is more than AAA will do for a regular tow.
I assume the dealer uses whatever oil it is specced for. I am fine with that.
I just had the 6 symbol pop up when I crossed 10,000 miles. But likely will have my next change by 11K so will push that (the differential fluid change) off until 15K when it is due.
I always go in as soon as the wrench comes on when it hits 15%.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I do wonder if Acura's True Touch system is going to last. Lexus has recently moved to touchscreens for its cars, and it seems possible that Acura might go that way too at some point, since the automotive press, as well as some customers, seem to prefer touch screens. Since I have the earlier version of a non-touch system on my TLX—the chromed control dial—I feel like the advantages probably outweigh the disadvantages. With a non-touch system you obviously don't get fingerprints on the screen, and the screen itself can be placed higher so that you can better keep your eyes on the road.
Anyway, if Acura keeps close to the msrp of the 2021 model, this does make the base RDX for me an attractive alternative to a CR-V Touring. The 2021 CR-V Touring with destination now has an msrp of $36,775 with destination, while the base 2WD 2021 RDX has an msrp of $39,445, a difference of c. $2700. The CR-V would have AWD, but if you can live without that it's not that big a jump, and sometimes Acura has loyalty incentives that might reduce the gap by another 1k or so.
https://acuranews.com/en-US/releases/release-a0525a4b9f1f2e7c24eef9e25108d02f-2022-acura-rdx-remains-atop-the-podium-with-new-styling-more-features-and-available-long-beach-blue-pearl-paint
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Below is a somewhat useful discussion. Starts out by making it seem that 30k is just an upsell for changing the transmission fluid, but by the end some reasonable people are saying that's what they do. Other people say 60k. Anyway, strange the Acura's Maintenance Minder might not be right when it comes to transmission fluid changes, but I'm beginning to wonder.
https://www.tlxforums.com/threads/transmission-fluid-replacement-timing-and-cost.40466/
Not sure what having the DCT in the TKX means though, if it should need it sooner or less frequently. But if you are around 50k miles, seems like a reasonable decision since you want to get 200k out of it.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
https://www.cars.com/articles/do-you-really-need-to-change-the-transmission-fluid-1420663062864/
"The manufacturer’s maintenance schedule for many automatic transmissions doesn’t call for fresh fluid until 100,000 miles or, with some Ford transmissions, even 150,000 miles. A lot of mechanics say that is too long and that it should be done at least every 50,000 miles."
https://tandwtire.com/transmission-fluid-flush-tips
"Change transmission fluid every 30,000 miles. Most owner's manuals say it isn't necessary. Yeah, right. That's why transmission shops are making a fortune replacing burned out automatic transmissions. For optimum protection, change the Transmission Fluid and filter every 30,000 miles (unless you have a new vehicle that is filled with Dexron III ATF, which is supposed to be good for 100,000 miles).
Why ATF Wears Out
An automatic transmission creates a lot of internal heat through friction: the friction of the fluid churning inside the torque converter, friction created when the clutch plates engage, and the normal friction created by gears and bearings carrying their loads. It doesn't take long for the automatic transmission fluid (ATF) to heat up once the vehicle is in motion. Normal driving will raise fluid temperatures to 175 degrees F., which is the usual temperature range at which most fluids are designed to operate. If fluid temperatures can be held to 175 degrees F., ATF will last almost indefinitely -- say up to 100,000 miles. But if the fluid temperature goes much higher, the life of the fluid begins to plummet. The problem is even normal driving can push fluid temperatures well beyond safe limits. And once that happens, the trouble begins.
At elevated operating temperatures, ATF oxidizes, turns brown and takes on a smell like burnt toast. As heat destroys the fluid's lubricating qualities and friction characteristics, varnish begins to form on internal parts (such as the valve body) which interferes with the operation of the transmission. If the temperature gets above 250 degrees F., rubber seals begin to harden, which leads to leaks and pressure losses. At higher temperatures the transmission begins to slip, which only aggravates overheating even more. Eventually the clutches burn out and the transmission calls it quits. The only way to repair the damage now is with an overhaul -- a job which can easily run upwards of $1500 on a late model front-wheel drive car or minivan.
As a rule of thumb, every 20 degree increase in operating temperature above 175 degrees F. cuts the life of the fluid in half! At 195 degrees F., for instance, fluid life is reduced to 50,000 miles."
https://www.carfax.com/blog/transmission-fluid
"Changing the transmission fluid used to be a staple of routine maintenance schedules, usually every 50,000 miles. These days, though, the transmissions in many vehicles are filled with fluid that may need to be changed only every 150,000 miles – or never, according to some automakers.
How Often Should You Change Transmission Fluid?
It varies by automaker (and among different vehicles from the same manufacturer) and how the car has been driven. If you do a lot of stop-and-go driving, frequently haul heavy loads or tow a trailer – all of which generate more heat and stress on the transmission – you should change the fluid more often than you would if you mainly do light-duty suburban or highway driving. Manufacturers typically describe these high-stress conditions as “severe” driving:
GM often recommends changing the fluid every 45,000 miles under “severe” conditions. For “normal” driving, though, there is no mention of changing the fluid.
Toyota says to change the fluid every 60,000 miles for severe use; otherwise, it’s not necessary.
Honda recommends on its continuously variable automatic transmissions (CVT) to follow the Maintenance Minder on its vehicles, which monitors time and mileage and alerts the driver when service is needed. But if you do a lot of mountain driving or towing, Honda recommends changing the fluid every 25,000 miles.
Ford’s recommended interval for “normal” driving is 150,000 miles.
BMW says to change the fluid every 60,000 miles.
Mercedes-Benz says every 40,000."
!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Our family is very Honda-friendly (yeah, I know, @roadburner would rather be drawn and quartered). At a Mothers' Day thing a number of years ago there were six Honda products lined up in a row at a Papago Park picnic spot. Anyway, my #3 son keeps his vehicles as long as I do, and he's had to replace more than one steering rack over the years. That said, the vehicles involved are probably 15-20 years old by now. Point being, the only issue I've had with my TSX is the steering system, and at the time (10 -15 years ago) it was fairly common.
The sad fact is that everything is getting more complex, so there's much more to go sideways.
If I needed a car of my own, that is.
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2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige
So in the fine print it says that "severe service" for a TLX means that it's run at slow speeds (and so a low gear) for long periods on mountainous roads. In that weird but not impossible situation it says change your TLX's transmission fluid at 40k, and then at 30k intervals after that. So 30k transmission fluid changes are for quite severe conditions, and I think I can try to resist my Acura dealer's strong pressure to do that (if I can remember maybe I'll show them this) and instead change at 50k, which I think would be still well before the Maintenance Minder is going to say to change it. My guess is that the Acura MM wouldn't advise to change the transmission fluid until maybe 80k-90k, which is still much sooner than the 150k of Ford and a few others.
Complicated!
For me it seems a good thing that the 2.4 engine in your TSX is similar to the 2.4 engine in my TLX. The main difference is that mine is direct injected, but if I keep using Tier 1 gas and do regular oil changes I'm guessing it won't have issues with carbon build-up. And if it does I suppose at some point there would be some way to clean that off.