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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLrXm-wOCKE&t=460s
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
https://acuranews.com/en-US/releases/release-646e0573fb7532f37f0791004c34be0a-2008-acura-tsx-introduction
"September 12, 2007 — TORRANCE, Calif.
2008 Acura TSX Press Kit
INTRODUCTION
The TSX sports sedan complements the sporty TL and the luxurious RL in Acura's lineup of performance luxury sedans. The TSX is positioned as a stepping stone to other Acura products and provides luxury sedan buyers with an entry point to the Acura brand.
The front-wheel drive TSX is engineered and appointed to compete with Europe's best sedans in the sporty near-luxury segment (the European D segment). This segment includes cars such as the Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series as well as the Volvo S40.
In keeping with its European competitors, the TSX driving character is sharply focused on the sporty end of the scale. Its double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension has sophisticated geometry that helps the TSX corner flat and resists acceleration lift and braking dive. In addition, the TSX has performance-minded Michelin MXM4 V-rated P215/50R17 tires, including a Tire Pressure Monitoring System™, 4-wheel disc brakes, and an impressive arsenal of electronic driver aids including Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with traction control and an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS). A highly refined power rack-and-pinion steering system provides outstanding road feel that rivals the best Europe can offer. The takeaway for the driver is an ultra-competent entry luxury sports sedan that's immensely fun to drive.
The TSX is powered by a 2.4-liter i-VTEC® 4-cylinder engine that produces 205 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 164 lb-ft of torque at 4500 rpm. The TSX is available with either a 6-speed manual transmission (constructed of a lightweight magnesium case) or a SportShift™ 5-speed automatic transmission that offers quick and precise gear changes. Thanks to i-VTEC® intelligent variable valve timing and lift, the engine provides a broad, useable powerband that's uncommon in a 4-cylinder engine, together with a stirring high-rpm power rush...."
It goes on and on for pages and pages, detailing the engine, transmissions, suspension, body structure, etc. But it also includes this part about the likely buyer of the TSX:
"Target Buyer
Young. Hip. Technically astute. Raised on Japanese cars. Aspiring to own upscale brands. Target buyers are all of this and much more, but these terms perfectly define the buyers that are attracted to the distinctive styling of the TSX, its advanced engineering and its sporting handling. Today's leading automotive designs are sporty and aggressive, and TSX buyers will recognize these cues in this sporty Acura sedan.
These young and affluent buyers have an emotional attachment to their cars, but require a rational base to support their purchases. The TSX supports both needs with its outstanding handling, strong engine performance, distinctive overall design, and the world-class quality inherent in all Acura products."
Maybe that was you in 2008 @cdnpinhead !
CARB generally made it impossible to bring the European diesels over here, but VW broke the code -- FWD though, so no sale. In 2008 when I bought the TSX the rumor was that there was going to be a diesel TSX in the next year or so. My plan was to keep the gas TSX until the diesel was shaken down for a year or two, then trade it in. That never happened, and here we are (or at least here I am).
My perfect vehicle would have been a 3-series BMW touring manual diesel. They were thick as fleas in Europe back then and are still around today, but not here. Never will be here, and the VW debacle, plus the market factors driving diesel fuel to a significantly higher price that gasoline (even PUG), has pretty much taken the bloom off the rose.
It's all a compromise, and I will never drive the vehicle I want in North America. The TSX comes as close as possible, so that's that.
2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech, 2006 Acura TL w/nav
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech, 2006 Acura TL w/nav
But you might like its successor the TLX. The 4-wheel steering makes the 4-cylinder TLX a lot of fun to drive. It feels unlike any other car in my almost 40 years of driving.
Anyway, back to Honda K24 engines, here's yet another video by another guy doing an elaborate rebuild combining k20 and K24 engines in a full rebuild with added parts and mods. I'm just amazing at how devoted and skilled these guys are. And check out his little Bob Ross parody starting at c. 4:40
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVz62krasJI
I saw a link yesterday to a recent C&D article listing all the manual trans options available now new. If you want to upsize an Accord sport 2.0t could work, and have some of that Honda familiarity. But I do think that the closest spiritual successor is the Jetta GLI.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Oh, and there's also the Civic Si. But the problem for me with the Civic Si imho is that the current generation is overstyled. The TSX is such an elegant and understated car.
the Si is nice and fun driving, but definitely more on the sporty, edgy side. So really depends on what you are looking for.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wdk6dD3vew&t=359s
Speaking of the Forte, I continue to be blown away by its fuel economy. I typically average mid-40s in mixed driving around town plus urban freeway (EPA highway mpg is 40), but I put most of its miles on with a 48-mile round trip to a customer site, almost all urban highway & freeway. In January I was getting 51-52 mpg on those trips, which was amazing. But as the weather warmed it crept up to where I got two days in a row of 54.6. Then on my latest trip, my eyes popped out of my head (almost): 56.8 mpg. The engine is getting broken in, with 1600 miles so far, but the weather isn't quite ideal yet, with lows dipping into the 20s and highs most days in the 30s-40s. I can't wait to see what it will do with warmer temps (just cool enough to not use the A/C).
There's one thing I don't like about my Forte. I noticed the one time I've used cruise, which was on a cold day a few weeks ago, the RPM went WAY up when I engaged cruise, e.g. from ~1400 to ~2000. I thought that was odd, especially since I was driving on level ground, so I turned cruise off and on a few times, and it did the same thing every time. Since this will really hurt FE, and no other car I've ever driven has done this (including CVTs), I'm going to have the dealer check it out when I go in for the first oil change. I hardly ever use cruise, but I plan on taking the car on a 3000+ mile trip this December and will need cruise on that trip.
impressive though.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
The numbers I gave above are for individual trips, not a tank. I can't compare the TC calculations for a trip to a manual calculation at the pump as I don't fill up after every trip. And I do a lot of short trips (1-5 miles) in town in addition to the 48-mile round trips, and that obviously affects the overall FE and what's reflected at the pump. My long term experience with TCs on other Kias has been they're pretty accurate. Also the gas gauge is in sync with the TC numbers.
Right now I'm not putting hardly any miles on my car due to the stay-at-home order. Took it out for a drive around town yesterday just to get out of the house for awhile on a nice day (sunny, low 40s), got 48.8 mpg on the 60 mile trip which included some low-speed city driving with stops. First time in the car in over a week.
Camry 77,188
Altima 47,347
Accord 47,125
Fusion 36,937
Malibu 35,283
Optima 20,345
Sonata 15,602
Legacy 6,535
Passat 5,981
Mazda6 4,506
2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech, 2006 Acura TL w/nav
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
quite possible there is a little flurry of activity (pent up demand, people celebrating?) initially, but there is somewhat of a fixed inventory since I don't think any cars are being made. So depending on when they shut down and how long it takes to ramp back up, might actually be a shortage for a bit.
so basically, I got no clue.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech, 2006 Acura TL w/nav
2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech, 2006 Acura TL w/nav
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
https://www.hyundaioflouisville.com/inventory/new-2020-hyundai-sonata-se-fwd-4d-sedan-5npeg4ja2lh014909/
But the 0-60 acceleration with the Accord LX 1.5T with the CVT was measured by C&D at 6.8 seconds, while Alex on Autos tested the Sonata with the standard engine at 7.9. Plus the Accord's tires even for the base model are 225/50R17s, while for the Sonata you're looking at P205/65R16. Handling for the Accord is going to be better. That remains true for the upper models too, as Edmunds says in their comparison at the end....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10Jnw576zW0
Ventilated front seats $500
Heated rear seats: $500
Wireless phone charger $200
19” wheels/235 Michelin tires $400
Adaptive damper system $1200
Head Up Display $400
Built-in navigation: $400
Hondalink: $200
Near Field Communication (instant phone pairing): $200
Door handle ambient lighting/chrome handles: $200
Rain sensing wipers: $400
Full led headlights w/auto on/off: $200
Parking sensors: $400
Reverse gear tilt down side mirrors: $200
wifi hotspot for car: $200
That all adds up to $5600, which makes the Touring Accord seem like a good deal to me over the EXL. The feature that most interests me in the Touring are the electronically controlled shocks, which prevent body roll in cornering, while providing comfort over rough roads.
the only options I really want are the LED auto lights, ventilated seats, and HUD. and I will easily live without the last 2.
Not sure what lights and stereo the EXL has, but if they are acceptable, I would stick with that trim level. which really is one heck of a deal!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I just looked it up, and adaptive dampers are a $2400 option on a BMW 3-series. My guess is that adaptive dampers might last about 10 years/100,000 miles. Since I rarely keep my cars that long I probably wouldn't worry about it.
But it's true that if I keep my 2018 TLX for 200k miles or so I'd save some money there.
I'm still likely to just buy out my 2018 TLX, but the refreshed Accord will be on my shopping list.
Also on my shopping list will be the all-new TLX. Still seems too big and too fancy for me, but I think it's going to drive in a wonderful way that's beyond the Accord. Plus since I don't need every one of the 272 horsepower for my driving style, putting regular gas it it would save at the pump. I want the full power with premium with the 2.4, but for me that wouldn't be needed with the 2.0T.
2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech, 2006 Acura TL w/nav
Anyway, I admit that at this point luxury and performance matter for me more than mpg. But gas costs are a factor too. The epa mpg comparison site is handy for that, and to my surprise I might save gas with an Accord 2.0T compared to my TLX 2.4 because of the switch from premium to regular gas, and I might save even more with a hybrid. There's even a small potentially savings with the 2.0T Touring.
Over the last 9000+ miles my average mpg in the TLX 2.4 has been 31.6—and so 4.6 mpg higher than the epa rating. While according to the epa I could theoretically save $850 a year in gas by going from my TLX to the hybrid Accord, the reality is that the Accord hybrid seems to do worse than its epa rating of 47 by maybe 5-8 mpg in the real world. Car and Driver said that in their test that their observed mpg was 40.
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a21755133/2018-honda-accord-hybrid-fuel-efficient/
In other words, I think at most I'd save about $500 a year switching from my TLX to the Accord hybrid. Plus, the tires on the hybrid, not surprisingly, are maximizing efficiency rather than corning performance, and this is what C&D said about that:
"In its quest for maximum mpg, the hybrid wears low-rolling-resistance 225/50R-17 Michelin Energy Saver A/S all-season tires, and they're not particularly grippy. Although the steering is reasonably direct and turn-in is snappy, the front end starts to push in even moderately aggressive cornering. The Accord hybrid registered just 0.83 g on our skidpad; that's compared with 0.86 g for our long-term Accord and 0.90 g for the Accord Sport, a model that delights in such maneuvers."
The Touring 2.0T iirc has the same tires as the Accord Sport.
We all know the extreme things done to achieve the near-impossible 0-60 numbers for magazines, but I think they are useful for comparison. Even if in the real world we'd never get those numbers, it's true that a car that tests as being slower to 60 for a magazine is almost certainly slower in the real world as well. And when it comes to that, C&D tested the TLX 2.4 as going 0-60 in 6.8, while it says the Accord hybrid is at 7.1 That's a small difference, but if I'm going to the expense of getting a new car I probably don't want it to be slower.
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a15108541/2015-acura-tlx-24l-test-review/
I actually want to see the new for 2021 Civic in person. More the size that I want, and of course, cheaper! wonder if the hatch can be had with a stick, on a decent trim level? I did look at the current Civic, but really did not like the seats (even the power ones had too short cushions I think).
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.