New York 2010: 2011 Acura TSX Sport Wagon is lovable, but somewhat underwhelming
04-01-10, 12:13 PM
#31
Lexus Fanatic
How Acura Ruined The TSX Sport Wagon
The Acura TSX Sport Wagon just debuted in New York. A compact, sporty station wagon? What's not to like? Plenty, starting with the lack of both a V6 (or a diesel) and a manual transmission.
I first drove the Acura TSX Sport Wagon five years ago. "But wait," I hear you cry through a series of tubes, "this is a new car!" Well, dear readers, five years ago I was living in London and the 6th generation Honda Accord Tourer had just debuted. That's right, Acura is rebadging a European Honda model and selling it to us silly Americans as a luxury car. Good thing most car buyers here like nothing better than having the wool pulled over their eyes.
That Accord Tourer was great. It was big enough to haul around four tire-shod S2000 wheels in the boot trunk without folding the seats down and it was fun to drive thanks to a sharp FWD chassis, a six-speed manual transmission and a torquey diesel engine. It was even nice inside, belying its budget badge and fuel efficient, returning 40 MPG (US) combined in the Euro cycle. It was exactly the kind of car people want: fairly light, very fuel efficient, fairly quick, fun to drive and you could haul ****.
Here's where we run into problems with the Acura. In translation from Euro Accord to ‘Merican TSX it's lost the manual gearbox, replaced the 2.2-liter hate-something-change-something diesel with a 2.4-liter gasoline engine and gained both an ungainly beak and a luxury badge (and presumably a $30k-ish price tag). What was a fun, practical, economical wagon is now an underpowered, expensive, slushboxed luxury car. Sorry Honda, but you ****ed this one up.
The Acura TSX Sport Wagon just debuted in New York. A compact, sporty station wagon? What's not to like? Plenty, starting with the lack of both a V6 (or a diesel) and a manual transmission.
I first drove the Acura TSX Sport Wagon five years ago. "But wait," I hear you cry through a series of tubes, "this is a new car!" Well, dear readers, five years ago I was living in London and the 6th generation Honda Accord Tourer had just debuted. That's right, Acura is rebadging a European Honda model and selling it to us silly Americans as a luxury car. Good thing most car buyers here like nothing better than having the wool pulled over their eyes.
That Accord Tourer was great. It was big enough to haul around four tire-shod S2000 wheels in the boot trunk without folding the seats down and it was fun to drive thanks to a sharp FWD chassis, a six-speed manual transmission and a torquey diesel engine. It was even nice inside, belying its budget badge and fuel efficient, returning 40 MPG (US) combined in the Euro cycle. It was exactly the kind of car people want: fairly light, very fuel efficient, fairly quick, fun to drive and you could haul ****.
Here's where we run into problems with the Acura. In translation from Euro Accord to ‘Merican TSX it's lost the manual gearbox, replaced the 2.2-liter hate-something-change-something diesel with a 2.4-liter gasoline engine and gained both an ungainly beak and a luxury badge (and presumably a $30k-ish price tag). What was a fun, practical, economical wagon is now an underpowered, expensive, slushboxed luxury car. Sorry Honda, but you ****ed this one up.
04-01-10, 01:06 PM
#32
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04-01-10, 01:12 PM
#33
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So let me get this straight, Honda will now sell both the Euro Accord sedan and wagon as the TSX sedan and TSX wagon (at inflated prices), and the US Accord "wagon" that we get is the Crosstour abomination?
Honda just continues to fail
.
Honda just continues to fail
.
04-01-10, 11:13 PM
#36
Lexus Champion
Nice car...........BUT, it does have some issues:
-Power Plenum grille is FAIL (seriously get that beak off)
-No V6 version (if the sedan has it, why not put it in the wagon as well???)
and
-FWD-only seems to be a bit of a gripe. I mean I'm cool with it.......BUT remember that the last-gen model (at least in Japan) had E-4WD option.
As mmarshall pointed out, I couldn't understand why they would take it out (even in Japan). I can't fathom how this thing would survive up north over there.
I mean: SNOW IN HOKKAIDO IS VERY BRUTAL AND UNFORGIVING. If your automobile does not have 4WD/AWD, then you're gonna have a very hard time plowing through all the ice and snow over there (especially in Sapporo).
To be honest though, I have nothing against FWD (even for this car).......but SH-AWD would be a welcome.
For me, I see SH-AWD as an ASSET and NOT A LIABILITY for Honda/Acura. They did this right with the Legend/RL by making the car SH-AWD ONLY.
I just wished that Honda/Acura would have more resources and monies.....so that they can make ALL their cars SH-AWD.
I personally believe that this would help bring glory back to their brand (just like what Symmetrical AWD did for Subaru).
In any case, don't get me wrong, I love the car.
It's just too unfortunate in my opinion (that there are things lacking in it).
-Power Plenum grille is FAIL (seriously get that beak off)
-No V6 version (if the sedan has it, why not put it in the wagon as well???)
and
-FWD-only seems to be a bit of a gripe. I mean I'm cool with it.......BUT remember that the last-gen model (at least in Japan) had E-4WD option.
As mmarshall pointed out, I couldn't understand why they would take it out (even in Japan). I can't fathom how this thing would survive up north over there.
I mean: SNOW IN HOKKAIDO IS VERY BRUTAL AND UNFORGIVING. If your automobile does not have 4WD/AWD, then you're gonna have a very hard time plowing through all the ice and snow over there (especially in Sapporo).
To be honest though, I have nothing against FWD (even for this car).......but SH-AWD would be a welcome.
For me, I see SH-AWD as an ASSET and NOT A LIABILITY for Honda/Acura. They did this right with the Legend/RL by making the car SH-AWD ONLY.
I just wished that Honda/Acura would have more resources and monies.....so that they can make ALL their cars SH-AWD.
I personally believe that this would help bring glory back to their brand (just like what Symmetrical AWD did for Subaru).
In any case, don't get me wrong, I love the car.
It's just too unfortunate in my opinion (that there are things lacking in it).
04-07-10, 05:57 AM
#38
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There's complaints about no V6 or manual option but those options don't sell in the sedan version in the real world. 
It's easy to sit behind a keyboard and complain about what's not available, but Acura has to deal with reality. The TSX sells in 4 cylinder automatics almost entirely. An AWD option would make sense but would be expensive since even the sedan isn't set up that way. If it was available , we'd be complaining that it cost too much for "just a TSX".
It's easy to sit behind a keyboard and complain about what's not available, but Acura has to deal with reality. The TSX sells in 4 cylinder automatics almost entirely. An AWD option would make sense but would be expensive since even the sedan isn't set up that way. If it was available , we'd be complaining that it cost too much for "just a TSX".
04-07-10, 07:23 AM
#39
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There's complaints about no V6 or manual option but those options don't sell in the sedan version in the real world.
It's easy to sit behind a keyboard and complain about what's not available, but Acura has to deal with reality. The TSX sells in 4 cylinder automatics almost entirely. An AWD option would make sense but would be expensive since even the sedan isn't set up that way. If it was available , we'd be complaining that it cost too much for "just a TSX".
It's easy to sit behind a keyboard and complain about what's not available, but Acura has to deal with reality. The TSX sells in 4 cylinder automatics almost entirely. An AWD option would make sense but would be expensive since even the sedan isn't set up that way. If it was available , we'd be complaining that it cost too much for "just a TSX".
Shouldn't it be the other way around?
Shouldn't the "Luxury car" have the higher end engine and AWD? This is why people don't see Acura as a luxury brand but only as brand for Honda owners to move up to. I mean jeez they are selling basically two Accords to two different brands here.
I mean Nissan doesn't give the Maxima RWD and the 330hp engine. The G37 gets RWD and the 330hp engine, the Maxima gets 290hp and FWD.
04-07-10, 07:38 AM
#40
Even if it doesn't sell, it's suppose to help boost image if there is any for Acura.
I say keep it as an option. No necessary R&D since the sedan is the same damn platform. Don't make the V6 TSX until a customer orders one so you know he/she is willing to pay for it. It's a bone-head move by Acura to say no.
I say keep it as an option. No necessary R&D since the sedan is the same damn platform. Don't make the V6 TSX until a customer orders one so you know he/she is willing to pay for it. It's a bone-head move by Acura to say no.
04-07-10, 07:49 AM
#41
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Even if it doesn't sell, it's suppose to help boost image if there is any for Acura.
I say keep it as an option. No necessary R&D since the sedan is the same damn platform. Don't make the V6 TSX until a customer orders one so you know he/she is willing to pay for it. It's a bone-head move by Acura to say no.
I say keep it as an option. No necessary R&D since the sedan is the same damn platform. Don't make the V6 TSX until a customer orders one so you know he/she is willing to pay for it. It's a bone-head move by Acura to say no.
Wagons HURT image, that is why everyone is making crossovers and ditched wagons. Now they have 3 sedans, a wagon and 2 SUVs. How exciting.
I completely agree just make it an option. I mean why not? At least compete with your own Honda Crosstour.
04-07-10, 01:42 PM
#44
Lexus Fanatic
