I have driven the TSX & I much prefer it to the Amercan Accord, excellent car for the price but I would still pick the IS250 over it If the guy plans to keep the car for a long time, it's worth the extra $ for the newest tech. & style it offers. T new IS is the best looking Lexus sedan to date IMO & is more attractive than the TSX

 

My sister currently drives the TSX, which I bought earlier this year in spring. If I recall correctly, I got the car for 750 over invoice.

I had the opportunity to put some miles on it, and also do some long distance drives to PA and MD from NYC. For the value and the equipment, theres nothing close in that price range. I would give it the best buy for under 30k. Sound system and Navi are both good japanese stuff.

I have driven the IS250 and yes, it is a slightly more sophisticated car at, of course, a higher price. Regarding size and fit, is your friend tall ? I am 6'3, and I feel that I have more space in the TSX than in the IS250. Dont know what the others feel.

For engine and HP, 200 horses for a small compact like the TSX is enough, more than enough to give my sister a speeding ticket. Low-end pull for city driving in the manhattan is very good, and I sometimes wish I can use the TSX for short trips in the city so that I can dart around lanes, compared to my LS... its very nimble and its small size makes it a perfect city car.

For 'races', I actually beat a couple of older 323i and a C230k coupe. ... so, guess its pretty fast.

If he wants the TSX, get it ... its a good car!
The IS250 is just newer, at a little more money.

 

Actually, now that I think about it, I've gotten a TSX as a loaner before. As a daily car, I'd rock it. I have an MDX so I am rather familiar with the Acura interior layout so I felt right at home. I don't know about long term reliability but for the one day I had it, it was nice enough drive. Of course it I start to pick it apart, I am sure I can find things I do not like. Then again, we can do this with any car, including the Lexus.

I am not sure if the car would be on (or near the top of) my list of future car but I would not turn one down if it was given to me.

 

The tsx has a hot motor. Hey they even race them in the world touring car championship races. They do quite well against the bimmers and mazda 6's

 

i agree, if i have to choose, i would choose the tsx over the accord and also the tl, i think it's much better than the tl

but then also, i said i probably would own another acura... so i prefer lexus

 

I had a 97cl v6. Boy i love the sound of the v6 when u floor it.. almost like a ferrari. But I got tired of it. One thing about the Acuras....They can handle

 

Yes. K20 engine is peaky...but torqueless. In order to get some go from it, you have to plant the engine in the 7-8k range to get it to move. Nice package overall...but nothing I would buy.

 

My friends mother has one, he drove it the other day and let me drive it. Needless to say, its perfect for his mother. Her reason for buying "I could get an "Acura" for the price of a Accord or Camry". Another lady friend of mine has one and she is happy, moved up from a Civic. Her reason for buying "I was looking at the Accord and found out I can get an Acura for the same price".

Notice the trend.
Its not about handling, the interior, nothing. She can get a luxury badge for 25k. Yippie, how impressive.

This car is an Accord and drives like the older one to me. A lil friskier than the current USDM Accord which is now bigger and less frisky (you can feel the weight difference in the newer Accords to the older ones). The interior is nicely built and the ergonomics are the usual Honda damn near perfect. Room is fine. The car had most any feature you could want for the price.. The exterior is not ugly, very safe in design, it will offend no one. The engine is nice but you really have to rev it to get any reasonable power.

In conclusion, this is another classic Honda in execution and a good car and its very easy to see how they sell 3,000+ a month of them.

The I-4 and FWD thing totally kills it for me. I would take the USDM Accord instead. The inteior is just as classy, you get a V-6 and more room with the same identical features.

 

Well guys, my friend has decided on the auto TSX. The Lexus is too much money for him. He says he doesn't mind it being a 4 banger, and he actually prefers front wheel drive because he's been driving a Camry for the past 7 years. So we're going to the dealer this week to drive and negotiate. I'm looking forward to grinding the salesperson on pricing. After being in sales for so long, I believe the payback makes it so enjoyable. I've helped a few other friends buy cars and it's almost scary how much I get into negotiating. My friends just laugh and think it's funny how I make salespeople so nervous. Is it wrong to get satisfaction out of this? hehe

 

not really, if you help me to get stuff under invoice

 

You will find this to be the case with most Honda-designed VTEC fours....and with some Toyota-designed ones as well like on the Matrix XRS and Celica GTS. This is perhaps the main reason why these engines can produce both power and gas mileage. They get good mileage at low RPM's because of a lack of power and torque but produce HP at high revs when pushed.

I will take your word for it in the 7-8K rev range on this car because when I test-drove the TSX it was a brand-new car so I kept the revs well below that.

I am right on the borderline about whether I would buy this car or not. Like you I thought it a nice package...and with one of the best manual FWD shift linkages in the buisness..... but it did not did not have quite the refinement and sound insulation the Lexus IS did.

 

Nice going, Liz......and good luck. Give your friend my congragulations...and my usual recommendation for SCRATCH-OUT to keep the paint pristine.
http://www.kitwax.com/html/kitProducts.htm
I take it you will invite your friend to join CL....though there are Acura forums as well.
If the dealership does not give him the break-in rules ( they should also be in the Owners' Manual ) let us know, or have your friend PM me...and I'll give them. Hondas and Acuras are a little different from other vehicles on the break-in. While other vehicles can benefit from a oil change at 1000-1500 miles at the end of the break-in period, Hondas and Acuras generally use a special break-in oil at the factory that they want left in for a least the first 3000 miles.

Don't forget, Liz.....while the deal itself is important, the condition of the car itself in some ways is even more so. Check the body and trim for scratches, loose trim parts, or any sign of an accident or repaint. Check underhood ( engine cold ) for all the engine fluids at the proper level.
Test-drive the car and make sure the car tracks straight, the steering wheel doesn't shimmy at 50 MPH and up, the brakes stop straight, don't pull left or right , and the pedal doesn't vibrate. Make sure all the controls and buttons work properly and that hot and cold air comes out the proper vents...this may take a few minutes....but hold the wipers for a rainy day. You don't want to run them on dry glass. And defintely check the tire pressures cold. Don't let them BS you and tell you that has been done when it hasn't.....I see this left and right. That is the #1 problem I find with cars on the lot today......overinflated tires. They do this on the transporter to prevent wheel damage and often forget to delate them to proper levels after the vehicle is unloaded at the dealership. ( #2, BTW, is steering-wheel shimmy from tire-mount, runout, and balance problems)
The vehicle inspection will be good experience for your friend because then he / she will learn what to check for in the future on their next purchase. Honda / Acura and Toyota / Lexus are two of the best automakers in the buisness when it comes to getting things right at the factory, but occasionally some things slip by.

Again....good luck, and thank you for taking the time to help your friend. I don't think you will be disappointed. Helping inexperienced car buyers can be one of the most satisfying things in life....there are many people out there who need it and want it. I've been doing it for almost 30 years.

 

I once had a TSX as a loaner, I really liked it alot, the room, the interior, the NAVI oh my is so so much better than the LEXUS navi. In fact I too have been going back and forth myself over the two cars IS/TSX because I simply have too many gas hoags, every time I look up I'm on empty. Soon as I get some time I'll go and test drive the IS and finally make my choice.

 

You sold your GS already ? I see it's gone from your signature.

 

Haha yeah, actually its been gone for a good while now (dang near a year) I just never got around to taking it off or announced anything. It was leased..

I think I'll be doing a poll later to get some feed back on what else to get..I want something a little smaller and fun.