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Originally Posted by pocketkiller
I've been driving my TSX (CGP/Ebony/5AT/NAVI) now for almost 4 months and here are my thoughts.
Excellent driving dynamics in all categories (engine, transmission, handling, braking, steering). More than enough performance capability for the average sport oriented driver which does not come at the expense of gas mileage. Excellent blend of performance and comfort, but sometimes ride can seem harsh (depends on road conditions).
Audio system sounds excellent until you reach high volumes where rattles can occur and bass becomes distorted. All power operating systems are excellent including HVAC, but missing auto down/up passenger window and power passenger seat.
Fit and finish is not up to standards set by reputation of this brand. It is generally good, but I can point out several misaligned interior pieces. Rattling coming from silver plastic automatic gear case cover when turning and when going over bumps. Some lower than expected quality items such as poor leather quality (wrinkles) and ill thought out placement of items such as locks and driver side automatic door lock (should be same as passenger - chrome lever next to door handle). Also nighttime buttons should light up in blue, not green.
Exterior paint seems to chip easily by road debris kicked up by big trucks. Average tires for this type of car, although rims are excellent). Overall a value in the segment and the average driver won't need anything else than what this car has to offer (minus the few quirks mentioned).
Recommended upgrades for 05-06 model:
power passenger seat
larger console box (or console cover) - this does not always act as a generously proportioned arm rest
modify drivers auto door lock button to resemble looks and location of passenger door lock - and eliminate or move manual door locks
auto up/down window for front passenger window (or all 4 windows)
optional performance package including 235/40/17 tires and larger brembro brakes including Electronic Brakeforce Distribution
Improve attempts to eliminate NVH
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Actually, IMO you
ARE pretty much right. In fact, you're MORE THAN right -- this is an extremely perceptive and well-done analysis.
About people not having replied (yet): It doesn't mean anything. I haven't done a statistical analysis (yet
), but FWIW I think most of my posts don't get replied to. But then again I think we're on shaky ground using me as any kind of barometer.
BTW I have the "exact same" car. However, mine is from much earlier (4/28/03). I have the idea that "exact same" cars of the same vintage might be from the same "run," and so we might expect the cars to be sort of twins or octuplets or centuplets of whatever. Don't know if that's really true, but anyway it wouldn't apply to our two cars.
I agree totally with the first few things you say, including about the occasional harshness of the ride. (Depends on road surface, as you say.)
I don't agree about "fit and finish." There are some minimal asymmetries (and the like), which I would never have noticed if people on these forums hadn't pointed them out. I haven't found anything about fit & finish that has had any noticeable practical consequence, and therefore nothing that has bothered me. So I give it a definite "A." Maybe it's related to our cars being from different "runs," or maybe it's that you're more sensitive to such things.
I also disagree about the leather and about the console box/cover being too small, but agree with absolutely everything else you say, including the suggested changes. I wouldn't exactly call the steering numb, but I could stand it to be a little tighter. About the colors of those lights, it doesn't bother me one way or the other, but I see what you mean.
BTW in case any people don't know (I had to think about it myself to refresh my memory): NVH means noise/vibration/harshness.