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What do you most/least like about the TSX?

6940 Views 46 Replies 22 Participants Last post by  n3rb
I have an 04 6MT..only been driving it for around 1.5 months, but:

Most like:

-Handling
-Good gas mileage
-Looks
-High revs
-Fun to drive

Least like:

-1-2 shift
-Rev hang
-Sort of hard car/clutch to drive on IMO
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Have mine for about 2 weeks now
It's an 04 also.
Loving everything about.. fun car to drive

-Wish it was easier to add aftermarket deck and stuff however.
Most like:
fit and finish
rev happy motor
creature comforts (MID, bluetooth)
navi screen
handling
body lines
headlights
gas mileage
how loud the motor is with just an intake
very fun to drive
shifter is so awesome
huge aftermarket support
chassis/suspension setup

Least like:
drive by wire
clicky clutch
Stock sound system/low sound on XM
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Automatic, should of got a manual instead :banghead:
Yea....nothing against the A/T owners but I don't think ill ever fully appreciate an auto equipped tsx. The soul of this car is glorified in its gearbox....
^Couldn't have put it better myself, I had to switch from driving an auto, it just doesn't suit this car well at all.
05 6speed
Like:
Looks of the car
Handling of the car
Space inside the car


Dislike:
The DBW in the TSX is about the slowest reacting of any DBW car I've ever driven
The high Vtec engagement with low redline

The thing I hate the most is the cars inability to grab 2nd gear.
No matter how long I own this car for (And Ive already had it for 4 years) I will always hate that I cannot shift the car into 2nd fast enough or get the car to react fast enough to chirp 2nd.
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DBW issue is solved by a RBC mani or RRC and a bigger TB j35 or j37 just as an fyi :p

The Rev hang is due to our massive flywheel I think its like 22lbs and about another 8lbs for the clutch and pressure plate, that goes away with a lighter flywheel. All the issues with shifting are also related to the heavy driveline.

Other than the fact that parts are very expensive for the car I have no complaints, all the issues I had with the car I have fixed with tuning or new parts.

05 6speed
Like:
Looks of the car
Handling of the car
Space inside the car


Dislike:
The DBW in the TSX is about the slowest reacting of any DBW car I've ever driven
The high Vtec engagement with low redline

The thing I hate the most is the cars inability to grab 2nd gear.
No matter how long I own this car for (And Ive already had it for 4 years) I will always hate that I cannot shift the car into 2nd fast enough or get the car to react fast enough to chirp 2nd.
Why are you trying to chirp second....? You do realize this isnt a 2000lbs civic right? Even at 220whp I dont chirp second.
Most Like = Everything eccept
Least Like = Pain In The @$$ to add aftermarket Head Unit , i wish that was more mod friendly
Why are you trying to chirp second....? You do realize this isnt a 2000lbs civic right? Even at 220whp I dont chirp second.
Its not so much me attempting to do this. It's the fact that like I said. The car is not capable.
Yet a brand new K24 civic SI can and also has way less lag between gears.

Even if you were at 300 I would be surpirsed If you could grab 2nd in your car. The weight of the car has nothing to do with the lag in the DBW system. Or the ratio in the gearbox or the weight of the flywheel. There the main contributers in my complaint.
Is there anyway to fix the 1-2 gear ratio?

I've only had the car for almost 2 months, but it's the only thing really pissing me off. It's like impossible for me to rev it high into 1st and then shift into 2nd smoothly and sometime I need to rev it high in 1st if lets say im turning onto a highway or just making a left turn.

And what does "chirping" mean?
Is there anyway to fix the 1-2 gear ratio?

I've only had the car for almost 2 months, but it's the only thing really pissing me off. It's like impossible for me to rev it high into 1st and then shift into 2nd smoothly and sometime I need to rev it high in 1st if lets say im turning onto a highway or just making a left turn.

And what does "chirping" mean?
yea what does chirping mean?

like a bird chirp chirp? lol :laugh:

you can allways change the gear ratios......

things i like.
fit and quality of how everything fits together.
the engine :king: even if it does lack in power abit
the looks, damn that ass :laugh:
after market tuning support
the interior.
the sound with an induction kit :)

things i dislike.
the way you cant fit anything wide into the boot with the rear seats down because of the stupid side supports
stock the car is pretty top heavy in the corners.

oh yea and the stock brakes are pants!
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I like everything except the fact that i bought it used. Being a 2006 model, it is now showing some signs of wear and tear.
Chirping = spinning the tires (loss of traction)
Is there anyway to fix the 1-2 gear ratio?

I've only had the car for almost 2 months, but it's the only thing really pissing me off. It's like impossible for me to rev it high into 1st and then shift into 2nd smoothly and sometime I need to rev it high in 1st if lets say im turning onto a highway or just making a left turn.

And what does "chirping" mean?
Its a very short gear, your not going to want to change ratios trust me lol. Youll get used to it, it takes awhile but you will. Dont rev out 1st so much try to shift at 3k and go very slow with the clutch engagement into second. Also what state do you live in? Id be willing to give you some lessons if you live near by :p

Its not so much me attempting to do this. It's the fact that like I said. The car is not capable.
Yet a brand new K24 civic SI can and also has way less lag between gears.

Even if you were at 300 I would be surpirsed If you could grab 2nd in your car. The weight of the car has nothing to do with the lag in the DBW system. Or the ratio in the gearbox or the weight of the flywheel. There the main contributers in my complaint.
It has everything to do with weight. Your not spinning second because you have more traction in the front. Theres a reason why the 1-2 TSX gears are used in drag cars. If I spin in first (launching at 6k) and shift to second, second will continue to spin. The stock springs on the clutch are very very soft and will dampen most "Efforts" to chirp second, let alone the fact that the friction material is meant to slip slightly to allow a smooth engagement. Im running a 8lb flywheel and a stage 2 clutch, trust me it grabs. The lag in the DBW system comes mainly from restriction in air flow, the civic uses the same exact system just a different TB and Mani.

EDIT: The lag between gears comes from rotating mass, once again this was made very heavy on the TSX so it is very hard to stall the car and is easy to drive. That can be solved by lighter accessory pulleys and a lighter flywheel/clutch. Ill post a video of how my car shifts and revs if youd like...
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^^^Yeah, but if im turning on a highway or left turn I need to usually rev 1st high or ill then have to shift during the turn. So you can never really let the clutch out fast when shifting to 2nd unless you hold it in and wait for the RPMs to drop? Is that better than releasing it slow?

And im in NJ lol.
^^^Yeah, but if im turning on a highway or left turn I need to usually rev 1st high or ill then have to shift during the turn. So you can never really let the clutch out fast when shifting to 2nd unless you hold it in and wait for the RPMs to drop? Is that better than releasing it slow?

And im in NJ lol.
Bone stock clutch is all about smoothness and slowness, What did you drive before this? and was it a MT?

You can roll 2nd from 5mph up. So if your at a slow roll just pop it in second and go, you have the RBB mani so you have plently of low end tq to do it. But from 1-2 you want fast disengagement and slow engagement. Go in a big empty parking lot and just practice your shifts from 1-2.

Put it this way you do not want to be in 1st, the less your in it the better. Even if you need to shift while turning so be it.

Ill be in jersey soon actually to visit some friends.
Ill post a video of how my car shifts and revs if youd like...
Please do. Ill do the same.
Im a 8 year tech. Ive driven too many cars to name. And the lag between 1-2 on the TSX is shit simply put.
Like:
Body Line
Aftermarket (finally really coming around)
Speaker Location
High Reving Fun Engine
Gas Mileage
HID
Acura Dealerships
Interior
BlueTooth


Dislike
Stock navigation menu's
Brakes
and
Brakes
Did I say Brakes?

The brakes on the TSX are probably some of the worst that i have ever come across in a vehicle that is supposed to be sporty, but all of that can be fixed with aftermarket.
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Bone stock clutch is all about smoothness and slowness, What did you drive before this? and was it a MT?

You can roll 2nd from 5mph up. So if your at a slow roll just pop it in second and go, you have the RBB mani so you have plently of low end tq to do it. But from 1-2 you want fast disengagement and slow engagement. Go in a big empty parking lot and just practice your shifts from 1-2.

Put it this way you do not want to be in 1st, the less your in it the better. Even if you need to shift while turning so be it.

Ill be in jersey soon actually to visit some friends.
If you can post a vid that would be great.

It just seems impossible for me to shift fast from 1-2. When I make turns I always end up having people up my ass. :laugh:
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