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New here and thinking about the TSX

3K views 26 replies 16 participants last post by  jcg878 
#1 ·
Hi! I'm new on the board although i've been lurking for a while.

Basically, i've looked at the Acura TSX and the Saab 9-3 2.8T... now, I've looked on the forums, on the google, etc. and I couldn't find much on that comparison. Now, my situation is that, without much haggling (yet), the 9-3 comes at 7000C$ more than the TSX (6MT without Navi) with 1.8% lesser interest rate over 48 months.
The problem is, the Aero has some pretty cool features not available on the TSX. those are small things like Rain sensing wipers or the thing that turns the real wheels for better cornering (forgot how SAAB calls it). this, and the 250hp Turbo V6 which feels just great in my opinion.
basically the question is, has anyone compared these two cars before, and if so, what were your impressions. thanks.
 
#3 ·
From what I hear, rain sensing windshields are ass.

I think the TSX has a better system. You turn on the wipers and set a speed. When you come to a stop, they automatically stop wiping. Then when you start going, it goes back tot he same speed as before.

Try looking up on the net about SAAB reliability...that may deter you from buying one.
 
#4 ·
welcome..well i got a tsx...i duno about montreal but insurance is a bitch..but tsx is low compared to other $40000+ cars..also gas issue since the saab is 250 hp(50hp diff) but v6 u'll be paying alot for gas.

The rain sensitive wipers can be annoying my friend has a bmw which has it..and well its annoying since it turns on without even it rainin hard..just lil spitting...

also tsx is a luxury car so when ur making a turn..well u rly dont feel it and if ur a good driver u wont need the better cornering thingy.

also the resale value on a tsx is much greater compared to the tsx. and if u wait it out tsx the intrest will drop on the 06..but if u go for the 05 u wont have to..05 and 06 not much diff. and u save more $$
 
#5 ·
Yea, I'll have to check about insurance. I know for the TSX and its pretty cool, but i didn't ask for the Saab yet. The TSX handles great, but the 9-3 is better in this case. About the rain sensing wipers... you guys are probably right. about the gas mileage, its not too bad on the 9-3 (as per internet numbers) but while i was driving it, the onboard computer was saying 24l/100 kms!! (but maybe I misread and it was MPG).

One thing, how do you guys feel about the turning diameter? I don't know how much its important (if you are making a lot of U-turns??? but who does that?)
 
#7 ·
The turning diameter isn't as great as I'd like, but I started driving on a benz that had a super tight turning radius...if the car had a tail, I could make it chase it's own tail lol.

In high school, I drove a Saab 900s turbo. I remember driving from LA to Orange County, and then my saab died on me. I guess using turbo was a bad idea. Somehow my dad got it working again (he somehow re-arranged the order of the spark plug wires leading to the distributor). I've had problems with it (both before and after this incident).

The thing I liked about the Saab was it's suspension...there's hardly any body roll, and it was a stock car. That, and the ignition key was in the center, below the gear stick.

I thought about considering the Saab (thought they might have improved), but they don't come with HID lights I believe (one of the requirements I had).
 
#8 ·
SoCaliTrojan said:
I thought about considering the Saab (thought they might have improved), but they don't come with HID lights I believe (one of the requirements I had).
The Aero comes with HIDs standard... Some questions. Is hondata worth it? and does it void warranty? also, I've read that the A-Spec suspension really helps so I might go that way too.
 
#9 ·
as narci said rain sensor sucks, even in light rain it will start whiping extremely fast.
"Is hondata worth it?" Different people have their own opinion on this mod I myself think its not worth it because I dont need it =P and for the a-spec susp. it will improve your ride dramatically plus will lower your car slightly.
 
#10 ·
Darknodin said:
Is hondata worth it? and does it void warranty? also, I've read that the A-Spec suspension really helps so I might go that way too.
It depends on you. The TSX redlines around 7200 rpm's stock, and vtec engages at 6000 rpm's. That's only 1200 rpm's to play with before you have to switch gears (and when vtec engages, the needle practically jumps to redline because it's so short).

Hondata lowers the vtec threshold, and increases the redline. If you don't drive above 4600 rpm's or so, then you'll never notice the Hondata reflash. If you go to redline alot, you will have increased performance. Fuel mileage only suffers if you start driving aggressively.

Some Acura dealers offer Hondata, so if you go with them and get it a guarantee in writing, it won't void any of your warranty. But for the most part, the dealers won't know you have it unless they specifically look for it. You can always reflash to stock for $50 I believe.

A-spec suspension is nice for those who only want to drop their car an inch. It's $600, which is a pretty hefty price for an inch of drop. You could drop your car lower with less money...
 
#12 ·
RainX

I admittedly do not know mucha bout Saabs other than I have heard they are among the least reliable cars out there.

As for wipers -- I hardly ever use mine bc I use RainX -- actually Wal-Mart's cheap brand RainBlock -- but it works great. I hardly ever turn my wipers on.
 
#13 ·
SoCaliTrojan said:
It depends on you. The TSX redlines around 7200 rpm's stock, and vtec engages at 6000 rpm's. That's only 1200 rpm's to play with before you have to switch gears (and when vtec engages, the needle practically jumps to redline because it's so short).

Hondata lowers the vtec threshold, and increases the redline. If you don't drive above 4600 rpm's or so, then you'll never notice the Hondata reflash. If you go to redline alot, you will have increased performance. Fuel mileage only suffers if you start driving aggressively.

Some Acura dealers offer Hondata, so if you go with them and get it a guarantee in writing, it won't void any of your warranty. But for the most part, the dealers won't know you have it unless they specifically look for it. You can always reflash to stock for $50 I believe.

A-spec suspension is nice for those who only want to drop their car an inch. It's $600, which is a pretty hefty price for an inch of drop. You could drop your car lower with less money...
I dun have hondata but my car won't cut off the fuel until 7500rpm. Also a-spec is not just for drop. It improve both the ride & handling. Yes you can just get lowering spring and drop it for 2" but then it will ruin the shocks and give a bouncy ride that will make you want to throw up!
 
#14 ·
ians said:
I dun have hondata but my car won't cut off the fuel until 7500rpm.
The tach is probably not real accurate at that end of the scale.

Also a-spec is not just for drop. It improve both the ride & handling. Yes you can just get lowering spring and drop it for 2" but then it will ruin the shocks and give a bouncy ride that will make you want to throw up!
Heh, yeah, and then you'll pay more than the A-spec price for coilovers.

It sounds like that's the thing -- if you're concerned about lowering, you'll have to go aftermarket, but if you don't want much lowering, just better handling, get the A-spec. I'm still trying to decide what I want.
 
#17 ·
My insurance on my TSX is around 1900 a year. I just turned 23 and am 1st driver. Mind you i was insured on my sisters Olds Alero for 5 years previously with no incidents and i stuck with the same company so they gave me a discount since 2 cars under one address. I am with La Capitale.
 
#18 ·
MTL-TSX said:
My insurance on my TSX is around 1900 a year. I just turned 23 and am 1st driver. Mind you i was insured on my sisters Olds Alero for 5 years previously with no incidents and i stuck with the same company so they gave me a discount since 2 cars under one address. I am with La Capitale.
... My insurance broker quoted me slightly less than 1800$ a year. I'm 22 and will be first driver. I was first driver on my previous car for 6 years but I had an accident 5 years ago. The guy is pretty cool, since that price even includes CAA Premium (kinda useless with roadside assistance, but if i'm riding with someone I can help them). It's with ING.
 
#21 ·
My insurance is only about $400 every 6 months with a joint insurance account with my Mom. As for Saab reliability, my gf has a '99 Saab 9-5 which was BEFORE Saab got bought out by GM. And the car is already falling apart so I can only imagine how crappy the reliability is AFTER GM took over. But beside the reliability issues, I love the Saab. It's unique and has alot of neat features. Hell, it's a 7 years old car and it has more luxury features than my TSX. My gf also recently test drove a new Saab 9-3 and was very impressed. If you are leasing the car, I say go for the Saab so you don't have to worry about warranty issues. If you plan to keep the car, get the TSX.
 
#22 ·
I bought my car from Luciani Acura on Jean Talon. Got it for 40k tax in 05AT Non-Navi got it in august. I knew the invoice and worked with that, also they gave me the grad thingy where i get 1k for a down payment. Also since i work in a related feild to my studies they were able to cut off .35% from my interest. So my interest is 2.65% for 5 years.
 
#23 ·
Its a tough call, I like the looks of the Saab Aero and its pretty unique. The power on paper sounds intoxicating compared to our 4 banger weakling.

I'd drive both if I were you and decide from there. The driving experience is what you'll face day in day out.

If it's a tie driving experience wize, then I'd say go for the TSX. But you've come to a TSX forum so people here are going to be naturally biased :)
 
#24 ·
MTL-TSX said:
I bought my car from Luciani Acura on Jean Talon. Got it for 40k tax in 05AT Non-Navi got it in august. I knew the invoice and worked with that, also they gave me the grad thingy where i get 1k for a down payment. Also since i work in a related feild to my studies they were able to cut off .35% from my interest. So my interest is 2.65% for 5 years.
WHAT!? The dealer gave me 41K tax in for a 6MT Non-Navi (including the grad rebate... which was 750$ for me), but i NEVER heard about the interest rate rebate... I guess I'll call them on monday.

@ Spidy: I drove both. The V6 in the Aero was GREAT, I drove an IS right after that, and although the guy was bitching about Saab, all I wanted was to get back to Aero (by the way, although the IS has the most kickass interior i've ever seen, the drive is quite lame). For driving feel, the Aero was better than the TSX.

but, I don't want to spend too much either, and the saab would cost me more in payments, gas and insurance. the clincher was the knowledge that I could get a 2003 9-3 for less than 15K. even though i'm leasing at that wouldn't make much a difference, it somehow pissed me off. So I ended up giving a deposit 2 days ago for a CG TSX 6MT. I'm not planning to take delivery before the end of July (b/c of vacation) but now i have the interest rate clinched if it was to go up for july... we'll see tomorrow. And, even though the Saab was more fun, i still liked driving the TSX, a lot!
 
#25 ·
I like the looks and uniqueness of Saabs, even if GM has numbed them a bit. But I doubt I'd buy one. Every time I seem them in comparison tests, they come out near the bottom. To hear that the 9-3 is more than the TSX is shocking to me - I would never pay more. They depreciate like used sneakers too.

Hmm, sounds like I don't like Saabs. I really do like them, I just think they are poor buys. There is always the appeal of having stereo controls that look like this though:



OTOH, if we went with best buys all the time we'd all be purchasing used Accords and Camries. Go with your gut.


edit: If I was shopping now and a 325i and a 9-3 were the same price, I don't think I'd look back on the Saab!
 
#26 ·
jcg878 said:
I like the looks and uniqueness of Saabs, even if GM has numbed them a bit. But I doubt I'd buy one. Every time I seem them in comparison tests, they come out near the bottom. To hear that the 9-3 is more than the TSX is shocking to me - I would never pay more. They depreciate like used sneakers too.

Hmm, sounds like I don't like Saabs. I really do like them, I just think they are poor buys. There is always the appeal of having stereo controls that look like this though:



OTOH, if we went with best buys all the time we'd all be purchasing used Accords and Camries. Go with your gut.


edit: If I was shopping now and a 325i and a 9-3 were the same price, I don't think I'd look back on the Saab!

Ya... Saab 9-3 Aero Premium is 45K Canadian against 36K MSRP for the TSX. MSRP for a base 325 is 39K. difference is, both the Aero and the TSX are loaded. Also, because of GM's difficulties, the interest rate is low enough that the monthly price comes closer to that of the TSX.

oh... and is the Accord really a better buy than the TSX? I doubt it... and way to big for me... (and there is a stigma associated with Camrys here in montreal (for haitians at least))
 
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