MMsTSX
04-22-2008, 08:52 PM
Most of us 1st gen. TSX owners will be test driving the new 2nd gen. TSX soon.
I figure to keep it neat, we'll all put our test drive opinions in one thread.
I test drove two of them today, one manual, one auto.
The manual didn't have the tech, the auto did.
So...
Well, I'm in no way impressed.
Everyone says, "wait until you drive it."
or, "it looks different in person."
Well, it doesn't look any different in person at all.
About 5% of the time I was looking at it my eyes were pleased.
About 95% of the time, I just didn't like what I was seeing.
I think the grille actually looks worse in person.
They didn't even bother to fake chrome the whole thing, just that blade part.
My opinions are not too technical, but here it goes:
Pros:
it's newer.
it's bigger.
I can see a bit better on the corners when driving (A-pillars).
1st to 2nd gear is much nicer, you can keep gears longer all the way through.
new gadgetry. (however I'm not a gadet-y person, so this is of no matter to me).
more inner room it seems. elbow and knee wise.
Cons:
it's bigger.
it's heavier.
it's slower (in my opinion).
it's clunkier, doesn't steer as well, not in touch with the road well.
the interior is less comfortable to me.
its looks.
all those buttons!
body roll.
feels big and kind of sloppy to me, kind of unresponsive too.
I took it on some nasty hairpins, it didn't do so well at all.
it feels more like driving the TL. I test drove a TL today too, my wife is going
to buy one. She was originally going for the '09 TSX, but she doesn't like it either.
So this or next week she'll buy a TL.
Overall it was harder to see, the back seems higher to me with less visibility.
it's like a TL with a much smaller engine if you can picture that.
The interior design, doors and such, remind of me of a TL, a cheapened version of one.
I went into it not liking it really. And as soon as I saw it, I just picked up where
my skepticism left off. I watched two of them get sold though while I was there.
One old man, probably about 60, and one middle aged woman, probably about 45.
The woman was with her husband, but the car was for her.
Both took autos, both techs, one glacier blue like in color, the other silver.
There's 8 left at the local dealer now. 4 of which are manuals. Only one tech left.
All in all it's just not for me.
I hear most people saying the first drive sucks when comparing it to the first gen.
TSX, and I totally agree. But if I were to judge it on it's own, or vs. say an A4 or
something, I'd say it's okay.
Maybe I'm spoiled with my Tein CST and Progress RSB, but I haven't had them
too long, and I remember how my TSX handled before modding it.
As I see it, the TSX offers great handling, luxury appointments, and a very classic
and timeless look. The new TSX drops the ball on the handling part, and for me
on the look part as well. I could care less about whatever luxury it may offer now...
luxury plastic.
Just not for me, nor for my family.
I'm interested to hear others' reports though, so please chime in.
And no, I didn't bring my camera with me, I forgot it.
If you want pictures I can try to go back tomorrow to get them.
But every dealer in America should have them now, so I don't see too much
of a need, just go test one yourself.
I figure to keep it neat, we'll all put our test drive opinions in one thread.
I test drove two of them today, one manual, one auto.
The manual didn't have the tech, the auto did.
So...
Well, I'm in no way impressed.
Everyone says, "wait until you drive it."
or, "it looks different in person."
Well, it doesn't look any different in person at all.
About 5% of the time I was looking at it my eyes were pleased.
About 95% of the time, I just didn't like what I was seeing.
I think the grille actually looks worse in person.
They didn't even bother to fake chrome the whole thing, just that blade part.
My opinions are not too technical, but here it goes:
Pros:
it's newer.
it's bigger.
I can see a bit better on the corners when driving (A-pillars).
1st to 2nd gear is much nicer, you can keep gears longer all the way through.
new gadgetry. (however I'm not a gadet-y person, so this is of no matter to me).
more inner room it seems. elbow and knee wise.
Cons:
it's bigger.
it's heavier.
it's slower (in my opinion).
it's clunkier, doesn't steer as well, not in touch with the road well.
the interior is less comfortable to me.
its looks.
all those buttons!
body roll.
feels big and kind of sloppy to me, kind of unresponsive too.
I took it on some nasty hairpins, it didn't do so well at all.
it feels more like driving the TL. I test drove a TL today too, my wife is going
to buy one. She was originally going for the '09 TSX, but she doesn't like it either.
So this or next week she'll buy a TL.
Overall it was harder to see, the back seems higher to me with less visibility.
it's like a TL with a much smaller engine if you can picture that.
The interior design, doors and such, remind of me of a TL, a cheapened version of one.
I went into it not liking it really. And as soon as I saw it, I just picked up where
my skepticism left off. I watched two of them get sold though while I was there.
One old man, probably about 60, and one middle aged woman, probably about 45.
The woman was with her husband, but the car was for her.
Both took autos, both techs, one glacier blue like in color, the other silver.
There's 8 left at the local dealer now. 4 of which are manuals. Only one tech left.
All in all it's just not for me.
I hear most people saying the first drive sucks when comparing it to the first gen.
TSX, and I totally agree. But if I were to judge it on it's own, or vs. say an A4 or
something, I'd say it's okay.
Maybe I'm spoiled with my Tein CST and Progress RSB, but I haven't had them
too long, and I remember how my TSX handled before modding it.
As I see it, the TSX offers great handling, luxury appointments, and a very classic
and timeless look. The new TSX drops the ball on the handling part, and for me
on the look part as well. I could care less about whatever luxury it may offer now...
luxury plastic.
Just not for me, nor for my family.
I'm interested to hear others' reports though, so please chime in.
And no, I didn't bring my camera with me, I forgot it.
If you want pictures I can try to go back tomorrow to get them.
But every dealer in America should have them now, so I don't see too much
of a need, just go test one yourself.