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Honda Accord vs Acura TSX
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Comments
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Those wheels also look good on the TSX.
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I'd do the sway bar first. It's inexpensive and also the single most effective way to reduce understeer.
There are a number of dynamics involved here, but put simply, a 215 Kumho Ecsta MX will grip better than a 235 Kumho Ecsta SPT because it's a superior performance tire. Of course, it might be noisier, and it might not last as long.
Still, if it were my money, I'd go with quality before quantity - the MX.
I do recommend installing one upgrade at a time so you can tell the effect each has on handling and response. I would do the tires first with stock suspension to get a feel for the new grip, and then install the RSB - I say this because I suspect the TL 17mm RSB is just too close in diameter to the TSX 15mm RSB, and may not make a noticeable difference.
If you find the TL RSB doesn't have the desired effect, I recommend the Comptech 22mm rear sway bar - it's the single most popular TSX upgrade in the enthusiast community, and $130 well spent.
http://www.comptechusa.com/store/140145tsx.html
Yep, I was/am going to do that. The Accord RSB is 14mm diameter, so the 17 would be a 20% increase over stock. If/when installed I'd like to see some additional cornering improvements over the high performance tires without undue harshness when encountering (one-sided) road imperfections. The 17mm is only $50-60 on the web according to the Accord mod sites, so that's a pretty cheap experiment. If I want to go thicker I'd go to 20mm, from the TL sport I think it is. 22mm just seems a bit much for me.
I do like wider tires tho.
Given that the TSX is a relatively heavy car, it still has sharp-handling and very good steering response. When you need it to be, it has the practical, useful characteristics of a sedan, and it get good gas mileage. I've had mine 3.5 years now and it still puts a smile on my face every time I get behind the wheel.
I've not been able to say that with any other car I've owned.
Just one (admittedly biased) owners two bits worth.
The best comparison is going from standard definition TV (the Accord) to high definition TV (Acura). You can do exactly the same with both; but, the Acura looks and feels sooo much better and it is more enjoyable. I never look forward to driving my Accord; but, I always look forward to driving the TSX.
The 06+ Accord is a totally different animal from the 1997 Accord. In fact the new 4 cyl is faster than the V-6 from 1997.
FACTORS FAVORING TSX --
TSX Pros:
Available Now at great pricing
Has just about all the bells and whistles I'm looking for, especially BlueTooth
Longer warranty, Acura intangibles and image
2008 Honda Accord Cons:
Potential first year bugs/glitches unless I wait months or for 2009 model
BlueTooth only available on Nav models
May sell for close to MSRP for many months, and for as much or more than TSX available for currently
Factors Favoring 2008 Honda Accord
With Nav, has the bells and whistles I want other than memory seats. I can live without that."
Better emissions (ULEV rather than LEV)
May Hold value better
Updated Engine, technology generally
Smoother ride than TSX without being as slushy as Toyota/Lexus
Bigger, but may be bigger than I need.
TSX Cons:
Smaller backseat, difficult entry/exit in back.
Full model change due next spring ...may get better pricing if I wait until spring.? Not sure if pricing will get much lower than now.
I'm leaning toward a TSX on the theory that an Accord EX-L with Nav (to get BlueTooth) will cost nearly as much or more than the TSX.
I'd appreciate thoughts on points I've missed, on how folks would weigh these factors. For me, I'd really like BlueTooth, don't care too much about sportiness between the two cars, and am not too hung up on Navigation either way. Wouldn't pay $1500 for Nav in and of itself.
Thanks. :confuse:
The 08 Accord will have been out for a while, so hopefully the prices will stabilize once the ‘new kid on the block’ factor wears off. Plus, you can continue read the Accord forums to see if there are any hiccups on the revamped car.
The redesigned 09 TSX is supposed to hit the market in the spring time. Maybe some information will leak out by winter, and you can get a deal on the ‘dated’ 08 TSX.
Sidebar: If you go for a 2007 TSX now, you may have very limited availability in color combinations. Oh, and not to add pressure, but the TSX incentives end 9/4.
Some cars age better and some age worst because of engineering, materials and owners. A 04 TSX look so much more sporty and luxurious compared to a 04 Accord with similar features.
You could wait for the all new TSX in 09. I think once the 09 TSX is unveiled, we will never see another new Acura vehicle under $30,000 ever again. I’m expected Acura to place the price for the new TSX between $31,000 and $33,000 for Navi/Non-Navi models. This will separated the Honda EX V-6 and Acura TSX brands by price points hopefully forever. Folks will start to say in 09 “For $1,600-$2,500 more I can get a TSX with a longer warranty, sh-awd, 240hp turbo engine, w/ 260 lb/tq (more torque than 3.5L TL Type-S or RL), better handling, better styling, the same or better mpgs, and every luxury/safety/convenient features standard (except navi) compared to V-6 Honda EX”. Just my IMHO.
I’m rolling the dice and hoping to purchase the 2008 TSX around the end of the year perhaps catch an end of the year special.
Even if half of the rumors of the 09 TSX are true, I wouldn’t be interest in it. But I won’t tell the dealer that. :P
mrgold is correct about the changes between 06 and 07/08 TSX. But the 08 TSX did finally get a cd player that can play mp3s though. That is an option I would want.
Took a test drive in a TL, big mistake did not want to pay that much, but that solved my problem, love it. Got one last monday,23 MPG on my commute to work, have not had on hiway trip yet, car has 300 miles now. Also I am 59 and with Honda making the Accord bigger to satisfy older folks I don't get it. All kids are grown so don't have to haul around lots of stuff, the days of the minivan are over for me. Old Mike
I wavered on TSX versus the New 2008 Accord. I saved about $3K (Bought at Dealer Invoice...last day of the month negotiation tactic)
Anyway, my EX-L with Navigation has all of the same features as the TSX, except the Accord is larger. I purchased the four year warranty for an extra $1K so I'm now apples to apples on warranty. This still left me with $2K in total savings.
No one can argue that the TSX is a better looking vehicle. One passed me on the road yesterday. There will always be that luxury envy, but I am money ahead for now.
What did you decide to do?
The engines come from the same engine family, but are different.
Acura TL has two engine options, a 3.2L with 258 horsepower, or a 3.5L with 286 horsepower (the 3.5L comes on the Type-S).
The 2007 Honda Accord has a 3.0L with 244 horsepower. It is still plenty fast (0-60 MPH in less than 7 seconds).
The TSX was geared more to compete against the previous generations of Lexus (IS300), 325 BMW, and 1.8T Audi, Jaguar 2.5L X-type. Most of these cars have updated their vehicles and pretty much left the TSX behind in features, power, and price points. Now the gap is closing on the TSX from non-luxury models from Toyota, Honda, and Nissan.
We have to wait for the all new TSX in 09 to widen the gap between Honda and shorten the lead of BMW/Audi/Lexus.
The Sandman
Using 87 octane will still make the car drivable and you will not notice anything different in normal conservative driving. The ECU will adjust the fuel/spark timing to reduce engine knock during high engine stress driving (hard acceleration, driving up hills, carrying a full load). The downside will be not having the full high performance potential the engine can give you. You will use more gas and have less power compared to 89-93 octane users IF you drive your car to its performance limits.
If you are a conservative driver and don't need max performance, you could use 89 octane and maybe 87 octane with no problems. I just use 91 octane because Sam’s club only has 87 or 91 octane at the pump in New Mexico.
I think I might need 3 years and 45K miles, so the TSX will have full warranty and the Accord would be out of warranty for 9K miles if I used the entire 45K miles. To getfull warranty coverage on the Accord for the entire lease, I would have to buy an extended warranty and the majority of that waranty would be wasted if I really only need 9K of coverage (unless you can get a refund of unused portion at lease return).
The Accord would probably be cheaper to maintain and would get better gas mileage and use cheaper fuel and maybe cheaper insurance.
I think the Accord should be cheaper to lease 3 years based on MSRP, but if Acura has lease incentives, maybe the TSX could be leased for around the same cost as the Accord since Honda has no lease incentives on the 2008 Accord.
What do you think?
Only you can answer those questions...
There would have to be an aggressive lease program on the TSX for costs to be close, but I don't know if there is. I know there is no discount lease rate program on the Accord.
Well, your TSX has a powerband that doesn't come alive until WAY up there, above 6,000 mainly. As long as you aren't going past redline, you won't hurt it.
It's great that the turbo will be available in the next TSX but I'm disappointed that it will only be available in some sort of top end sports model. It should be available across the board. Like with the GLI, I don't want all the stupid dip stick boy racer crap that comes with the car.
I'll believe it when I see it. :confuse:
For the record, I have a 4-cyl Accord, but I think when weighing costs, if the vehicles cost the same, I'd take the V6 Accord over the 4-cyl TSX. Both will give you 30 + MPG on the highway if you keep your speeds at 70 MPH or less.