I used to own a 1995 Acura Legend and it was such a pleasure to drive. I've been considering this model since before it came out but have yet to pull the trigger.
Here is the problem with Honda-Acura. They make fantastic cars,everyone who ever driven Honda knows,that Honda means reliability,quality garnished with sport. And everybody is wondering why for God sake VW sells more cars,when they are not even half as reliable and exciting to drive than Honda. Why? Honda knows engineering,but knows NOTHING about marketing. VW develops DSG and in a week even the media in Somalia creates big fuzz about it. Not that its better than the one in Honda or Toyota. Just they pay huge amount of money for presentations,media coverage and marketing. And that gives impression to everyone,that VW is everywhere,their products are the best and they always have the latest and the greatest.Not even close. For near 3 years in one of the biggest BOSCH car services in Helsinki,i havent yet open Honda engine. Not just open,i havent seen one to come for repair in the service. They come for just oil,filter,brakes and belts change. Just for the last week i repaired 2 Skoda Octavia latest generation (water pump leaks) and Audi,VW are just like everyday patients. All is made of plastic. Water pump,cheap plastic..,collectors,cheap plastic..,fuel pumps,oil pumps..,cheap plastic. Fancy LED lights,fancy names and big fuzz in the local media is what sells these cars. They are not even close to Honda quality. thedriversseat mentioned that Audi A4 would be the better competitor of TLX,but i wouldnt downgrade it so much,just cause its Audi. TLX can easily compete with A5 and even A6 when it comes to equipment and build quality. And whoever thinks,that Audi and VW are making good cars,just cause they have nice classic shape and the media doesnt get tired to blow superlatives about em,go take a trip to your nearest service and take a look inside. Have a coffee with some of the guys inside and ask them few things about Lexus,Acura,and VW.
chigasaki06 "it looks sportier" They are just hollow tubes. There is nothing sporty about them. "just like every other sports sedan in the class" If you wanted Acura to be like other sports sedans, what is the point to call it as Acura but not a BMW, or Audi? If only people would have the sensibility enough to consider Acura is engineered superior to European junk, :).
hp peak is generally high in the rpm range. its how it works. look at the equation for hp. N/a engines will always have somewhat flat torque curves and higher peaking values. Comparatively most factory turbo cars have quite a large amount of low end torque and lose it in the upper rev range...they still make peak hp up high though.
Hi Ron, it seems like this SH-AWD TLX gives you 95% or more of the Lexus GS350 AWD in luxury, quietness and performance, for a lot less $$$. Is that true? Are they really comparable? Thanks!
The GS is not a competitor to the TLX. The GS is larger and rear-wheel drive biased. The TLX is definitely more of a competitor to the ES350 and the IS350, but the ES is not available in AWD. A better competitor would be the Audi A4 or Volvo S60 since both are available in AWD and are FWD biased.
TheAtheistReader But to your point, the TLX represents a more value-oriented alternative to the GS350 AWD. Unlike wanting to go with the RLX SH-AWD Sport Hybrid, the truer competitor to the GS, which would cost you about $70K when loaded up.
The GS is all rear drive based this TLX is basically an Accord with a Honda Odyssey engine, thats mates to a SHAWD that front drive biases and not the same as the Lexus BMW or Infiniti power trains. Also all the other comepttitors have DOHC Valve timing motors, this TLXis only V6 with SOHC it sucks basically
+Bob Wilson Engine performance is what matters not whether it's DOHC or SOHC and their SHAWD has received plenty of praise. An Accord is not on the same level, try actually driving them before making baseless claims.
It will be difficult to revive Acura with it's present management. They fail to comprehend that you sell the sizzle and not the steak!! They make good quality bland boring cars (NSX excluded) and just refuse to get it!
Honda is the "new" old, meaning they're the cars that old people would buy, like Toyota and Lexus are. To their credit, Toyota/Lexus is trying to change their perception among buyers. Honda/Acura is trying to fill that hole.
Thanks for the compliment, Steve! Honda touts themselves as an engineering company, so you make a valid point about their marketing skills. Maybe they have engineers doing it, which is why it's terrible lol...engineers develop/make stuff, not market the stuff they make.
Steve W It is not about marketing it is the idiots such as yourself who does not understand the market dynamics. BMW softening up their cars to compete with Lexus, MB is turning to FWD to compete with Japanese cars, And you and idiots like you repeat the same old idiotic phrase that says "Buy a Honda instead of Acura it is the same thing." The best part is, you idiots never even had been in an Acura much less test drive one.
Fussinated In other words it markets them to idiots like you that are unable to compose a sentence with proper English? Maybe with all your wisdom you could explain why they don't sell well.
+fissnated I'm an idiot that know what he likes. Go check the car out and sit in it before you start bashing. You obviously never drove or owned an Acura before. IDIOT. lol.
I used to own a 1995 Acura Legend and it was such a pleasure to drive. I've been considering this model since before it came out but have yet to pull the trigger.
TDS Ron, Alex on Autos and CNET Cooley make up the top three American car reviewers on TH-cam. Thanks for putting this together.
Here is the problem with Honda-Acura. They make fantastic cars,everyone who ever driven Honda knows,that Honda means reliability,quality garnished with sport. And everybody is wondering why for God sake VW sells more cars,when they are not even half as reliable and exciting to drive than Honda. Why? Honda knows engineering,but knows NOTHING about marketing. VW develops DSG and in a week even the media in Somalia creates big fuzz about it. Not that its better than the one in Honda or Toyota. Just they pay huge amount of money for presentations,media coverage and marketing. And that gives impression to everyone,that VW is everywhere,their products are the best and they always have the latest and the greatest.Not even close. For near 3 years in one of the biggest BOSCH car services in Helsinki,i havent yet open Honda engine. Not just open,i havent seen one to come for repair in the service. They come for just oil,filter,brakes and belts change. Just for the last week i repaired 2 Skoda Octavia latest generation (water pump leaks) and Audi,VW are just like everyday patients. All is made of plastic. Water pump,cheap plastic..,collectors,cheap plastic..,fuel pumps,oil pumps..,cheap plastic. Fancy LED lights,fancy names and big fuzz in the local media is what sells these cars. They are not even close to Honda quality.
thedriversseat mentioned that Audi A4 would be the better competitor of TLX,but i wouldnt downgrade it so much,just cause its Audi. TLX can easily compete with A5 and even A6 when it comes to equipment and build quality. And whoever thinks,that Audi and VW are making good cars,just cause they have nice classic shape and the media doesnt get tired to blow superlatives about em,go take a trip to your nearest service and take a look inside. Have a coffee with some of the guys inside and ask them few things about Lexus,Acura,and VW.
So what happens if you spill soda or coffee on that button gear selector? Seems like they'll get stuck. I prefer traditional gear selectors.
Pour 99% iso in it. No worries.
Please acura SHOW YOUR EXHAUST TIPS!!!
Why? do you have some phallic attachment to exhaust tips.
Fussinated it looks sportier....just like every other sports sedan in the class.
chigasaki06
"it looks sportier"
They are just hollow tubes. There is nothing sporty about them.
"just like every other sports sedan in the class"
If you wanted Acura to be like other sports sedans, what is the point to call it as Acura but not a BMW, or Audi? If only people would have the sensibility enough to consider Acura is engineered superior to European junk, :).
Great review man! Good lengthy review just needs to be more structured
hp peak is generally high in the rpm range. its how it works. look at the equation for hp. N/a engines will always have somewhat flat torque curves and higher peaking values. Comparatively most factory turbo cars have quite a large amount of low end torque and lose it in the upper rev range...they still make peak hp up high though.
Nice review, thanks.
Nice review...Ill add that to my list I guess.
Hi Ron, it seems like this SH-AWD TLX gives you 95% or more of the Lexus GS350 AWD in luxury, quietness and performance, for a lot less $$$. Is that true? Are they really comparable? Thanks!
The GS is not a competitor to the TLX. The GS is larger and rear-wheel drive biased. The TLX is definitely more of a competitor to the ES350 and the IS350, but the ES is not available in AWD. A better competitor would be the Audi A4 or Volvo S60 since both are available in AWD and are FWD biased.
Thanks!
TheAtheistReader But to your point, the TLX represents a more value-oriented alternative to the GS350 AWD. Unlike wanting to go with the RLX SH-AWD Sport Hybrid, the truer competitor to the GS, which would cost you about $70K when loaded up.
The GS is all rear drive based this TLX is basically an Accord with a Honda Odyssey engine, thats mates to a SHAWD that front drive biases and not the same as the Lexus BMW or Infiniti power trains.
Also all the other comepttitors have DOHC Valve timing motors, this TLXis only V6 with SOHC it sucks basically
+Bob Wilson
Engine performance is what matters not whether it's DOHC or SOHC and their SHAWD has received plenty of praise. An Accord is not on the same level, try actually driving them before making baseless claims.
Good review
7:05 Acura has always been about performance!
It's ok but i will stick with my 09 TL -SH-AWD
It will be difficult to revive Acura with it's present management. They fail to comprehend that you sell the sizzle and not the steak!! They make good quality bland boring cars (NSX excluded) and just refuse to get it!
Honda is the "new" old, meaning they're the cars that old people would buy, like Toyota and Lexus are. To their credit, Toyota/Lexus is trying to change their perception among buyers. Honda/Acura is trying to fill that hole.
Srotag Adirolf You make a valid point. I wonder if it's intentional or sheer lack of marketing knowledge.
Thanks for the compliment, Steve!
Honda touts themselves as an engineering company, so you make a valid point about their marketing skills. Maybe they have engineers doing it, which is why it's terrible lol...engineers develop/make stuff, not market the stuff they make.
Steve W
It is not about marketing it is the idiots such as yourself who does not understand the market dynamics. BMW softening up their cars to compete with Lexus, MB is turning to FWD to compete with Japanese cars, And you and idiots like you repeat the same old idiotic phrase that says "Buy a Honda instead of Acura it is the same thing." The best part is, you idiots never even had been in an Acura much less test drive one.
Fussinated In other words it markets them to idiots like you that are unable to compose a sentence with proper English? Maybe with all your wisdom you could explain why they don't sell well.
Buy a Honda accord EXL V6. lot cheaper, fast, and u get a spare tire.
There isn't a tsx or tl anymore. ....
+fissnated
I'm an idiot that know what he likes. Go check the car out and sit in it before you start bashing. You obviously never drove or owned an Acura before. IDIOT. lol.
Nice Accord LOL.
Not even close. This car is so nice. I don't get why people don't like it.
and you are another idiot