[dieselmilk]

Hey all,

After combing through the common issues threads it looks like many complaints are about oil consumption and trim pieces. I was curious if you test drove the vehicle, loved it, and then ran into some issues maybe 5-10k miles after you owned it that may have been a good cover up from the dealer.

The model I'm looking at is a 2012 TSX special edition 6MT. I immediately fell in love with how comfortable it was, and haven't felt doors close so solidly since my 1985 Mercedes. The 6MT is also very good and am planning to buy it after I sell my Avalanche. The Acura is coming off a lease and has ~25k miles. I'm just curious if you guys have loved a car on the lot and then started noticing small issues later that you didn't pick up during the test drive. They have all the maintenance info and Carfax considering it was leased and serviced at that dealer. The staff generally seems cool but they're also trying to sell me a car, so I'm always skeptical.

I will be using this car for a 120mi daily commute (reason for selling Avalanche) and really need it to be able to put on miles quickly without rattling apart in 1 year. What has been your experience following buying the car?

Thanks

 

[obert]

Unless you can spend some good time with the car it's going to be hard to find the small stuff like radels, scratches small shakes or anything that is not noticeable on your 10 min test drive. Check out every inch of the car if you can like seats, steering wheel all the buttons for wear. Make sure everything works, being it was a lease the dealer probably went over it pretty good to make sure the care was not damaged to bad. And if it was they would charge the person who was leasing it.

But who knows how the car was driven since it was a lease. Could have been driven hard or even moded and put back to stock when the lease was up. There are just so many things that could hav happened with the car and this goes for any used car. Or it could have just been a person who just drove it and did not beat it.

You just have to try and look at what ever you can. Just my 2 cents good luck !

 

[CalgaryTSX]

That car should have a 4 years 50000miles/80000km bumper to bumper warranty.

This warranty starts at the in-service date of the car which could be in 2011.

http://owners.acura.com/Documentum/Warranty/Handbooks/BWL45509.pdf

If the car still has a year of full warranty left, it's a no brainer.

Also, don't fall for the Acura CPO nonsense. Every used car on every used car major dealer lot is CPO.
If you read the fine print, it's just marketing.

 

[dieselmilk]

Thanks guys for the input. Calgary, they state they have a 12mo/12000mi warranty, which I'll use up in 5-6months, but that's just the nature of my commute. I was impressed with the interior quality and everything was still nice to the touch and seemed like it was in very good condition. It doesn't seem to be driven hard or anything like that, so I'm not too worried, but thanks for the heads up.

 

[CalgaryTSX]

Thanks guys for the input. Calgary, they state they have a 12mo/12000mi warranty, which I'll use up in 5-6months, but that's just the nature of my commute. I was impressed with the interior quality and everything was still nice to the touch and seemed like it was in very good condition. It doesn't seem to be driven hard or anything like that, so I'm not too worried, but thanks for the heads up.

The car must be older than 4 years for the bumper to bumper warranty to be expired.

If you read the warranty booklet carefully in the link I posted, you will see that the car has a 6 year/70000 miles powertrain warranty.
The powertrain warranty is not much but better than nothing.

The 12month/12000 mile used car warranty is likely similar to the powertrain warranty. Read the fine print carefully.

Since there is really no warranty on this car, despite the super low miles and since your automotive skills sound limited, I recommend that you get an independent mechanic to check it out.
Plus run the VIN thru Carfax.


The risks of a newer used car like this are:

- Accident history/repair.
- Flood water damage.
- Wiring/electrical problems.
- Engine condition.

A 6 speed manual is a much better choice with less risk than an auto trans.

 

[dieselmilk]

It's not a lack of automotive skills, as I do all maintenance possible that can be done without a professional shop or specialty tools, it's just I do not have any knowledge of Acuras or Hondas having never owned one. I've also never bought a car new enough to have a warranty so I have trouble trusting anyone that tells me "it's covered" since they're trying to sell me something. I just imagine stealerships weasling out of repairs somehow. That Acura manual is super helpful thanks for linking it.

 

[anthony]

The TSX/Euro Accords have a brilliant reputation for reliability and build quality,so I would not be worried about buying this one...

 

[dieselmilk]

Drove a 2013 A4 2.0T today to cross shop. Not even close to the quality of the Acura. Cheap interior and already some strange grittiness in the gas pedal after backing up and then putting it in 1st and taking off. If I want AWD I'll get a TL SH-AWD. Really impressed with Acura right now, too bad the sticks are pretty rare; I have to travel at least an hour to find one. I haven't driven the AWD but reviews I've read have been good for it. Really want to drive one.

 

[obert]

There is a local who has a newer awd tl but I think it's a auto but he loves it.

 

[dieselmilk]

There is a local who has a newer awd tl but I think it's a auto but he loves it.

How have you found your TSX to perform in snow? I've had a 2001 Saab 93 for about 5 years and its traction control has been brilliant in the snow. It's very rough around the edges at this point in its life but has gotten me where I have to go when I don't have the truck. Obviously tires are important, but I'm curious how your Acura has performed for you. Being in Washington I'm sure there has been snow and ice in your commute. I'm in PA and we have moderate-to-somewhat-severe snows a few times in the winter months, but i'm curious if you've longed for the AWD at all. We obviously see more rain vs snow during the year, so I'm hoping you can shine some light on how you've felt FWD vs AWD.

 

[obert]

We had no snow in the low lands this year so I have yet to drive the tsx in snow but I am sure it will do fine. It's done fine in lots of rain, I had a awd bmw and I loved it. If get another car it will be awd.

 

[dieselmilk]

model?

We had no snow in the low lands this year so I have yet to drive the tsx in snow but I am sure it will do fine. It's done fine in lots of rain, I had a awd bmw and I loved it. If get another car it will be awd.

what year and model BMW did you have? Did you have it for many years?

 

[obert]

what year and model BMW did you have? Did you have it for many years?

I actually had two bmw's. One was a 08 328i rear wheel drive. Had it for a year and it did horrible in the snow. I traded it for a 08 335xi and I had it for a year and I should have never got rid of it and I loved the awd.

 

[dieselmilk]

is that the car you had before the acura?

I actually had two bmw's. One was a 08 328i rear wheel drive. Had it for a year and it did horrible in the snow. I traded it for a 08 335xi and I had it for a year and I should have never got rid of it and I loved the awd.

is that the car you had before the acura?

 

[obert]

is that the car you had before the acura?

No believe it or not I traded the bmw for a Kia and I hated that car. I was looking for lower payments at the time.

Now I have the Acura and I will have it for years to come I love the car and I will love it even more once my super charger ships and I install it

 

[CalgaryTSX]

We use our 1st Gen TSX for skiing all over the B.C. mountains.

More important than FWD vs. AWD vs RWD is the proper narrow winter tires.
See my sig for excellent dedicated winter tires for our TSX.


All FWD cars are fine in snow because they just understeer. That makes FWD safe and easy.
RWD is just as good in the snow but RWD requires much more driver skill.

I'm not a fan of AWD. All things being equal RWD will out perform AWD because of the weight difference.
AWD does not help with braking or steering and actually makes that worse due to extra weight.

Of course AWD will launch from rest better than FWD and RWD.

 

[Rice & Gravy]

For that year and mileage I'd be looking for a CPO vehicle. In fact, I'd want to know why that vehicle isn't CPO considering it 'should' meet all the criteria.

Also, don't fall for the Acura CPO nonsense. Every used car on every used car major dealer lot is CPO.
If you read the fine print, it's just marketing.

An extension of the powertrain warranty to 6 years from date of in-service or 100k miles is just marketing?

There's most certainly a difference between "used car" CPO and factory backed CPO.

 

[dieselmilk]

Rice, their website puts a label on that says Acura Certified Preowned and it states a 7yr/100k mile warranty as well. Hopefully that's true for this car.

Used 2012 Acura TSX For Sale | Mechanicsburg PA

I know the 6MT is more rare but they are selling it for around $2k more than a similar mile, same year 5spd auto with the tech pkg. I don't feel it should cost more than $21k. Am I off base?

 

[Ulrblitzer]

It's probably marked up because it's the SE package

 

[obert]

It's probably marked up because it's the SE package

And CPO will be a mark up as well. But if you wheel and deal you can get the price down a little.