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| 2006 Acura Tsx Review | |||
| Whether you're about to spend $40K on a brand new car, or half that on a used car, it is always important to learn as much as you can about the used car. Read these car reviews to learn about all aspects of the vehicle. Each of the usedcar reviews cover interior and exterior features, options, road tests, and more. | |||
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Introduction
| Road Test
| Inside & Out
| Other Thoughts
| Last Word
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| Other Thoughts | |||
Once Acura kills off the RSX at the end of the year, the TSX will serve as both the entry point to the brand and to the car's supposed competitive set. This has been made possible by a $28,505 base price, a sum that pays for everything mentioned thus far (and some not mentioned: sunroof, HID headlights, XM radio, six air bags, and a new maintenance minder system) except for the lone option: the $2,000 navigation system. The automatic transmission costs not a cent more than the slick-shifting manual - good news for the majority.At face value, it all sounds perfectly inviting. But when Acura starts dropping names like BMW 3-series and Audi A4 and lays claim to the TSX having "outstanding road feel that rivals the best Europe can offer," we have to halt this mostly celebratory review to slap some reality into the slanderers. Those could not be called wisely chosen battles. The 3-series in particular can mop any mountain road with the TSX: its tires hang on longer, its communication skills and balanced 50:50 weight distribution put it in another league of fun, and even Acura's best effort with a big 4-cylinder can't compare to a BMW straight six in power or feel. A base 325i wastes the TSX to 60 by more than a second and has a lot more fun in the process, and the list goes on. You could also take this paragraph and substitute the word "BMW" with "Infiniti" or "Lexus" or "Mercedes", because only one contestant was naïve enough to step into the ring with front-wheel-drive and four flaky cylinders. Acura. Sure, you could argue that the finishing gap isn't all that vast. But the very point of stepping up to the luxury class - or at least the legitimacy behind the idea - is to have the real thing, to be one tangible step above the masses. Otherwise, what does that brand name represent? The TSX's only defense is that Acura gives a fair discount to compensate for its transgressions, but is that even true? There are other sophisticated, 4-cylinder, front-wheel-drive compact sedans out there; they wear names like Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart and Mazda 3 s and carry prices of about $8,000 to the south. Alternately, imagine if Honda offered their 197-horsepower Civic Si in 4-door form: we'd have a faster, 400-pounds-lighter alternative ready for the taking at $20,840. Sure, the TSX deserves some credit for its double-wishbone front suspension, leather seats, and rockin Pioneer speakers. But unless we get seriously creative with our accounting here, the TSX is at least $5,000 over the hill. |
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