2008 Acura TSX Oppositelock Review

"RTeeJay" (ryanjohnston13) 10/26/2014 at 21:05 • Filed to: None

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Acura, the one auto manufacturer who has lost their identity in the last couple years. Are they a luxury car brand? Are they a sports car brand? Nobody knows, but roll back to the tender year of 2008, and Acura had an identity (and a great platform to build on). Touches of luxury, touches of sportiness, walking the line between "Acura gets it" and "is Acura crazy?" This may be the Oppositelock review we don't need right now, but it is the Oppositelock review we deserve.

Disclaimer: Acura wanted my family to buy this car so badly, they practically gave it to us on a silver platter. It just came off a two year lease, and they wanted it off their lot for good, so my family got a wicked good deal on the TSX.

Exterior: 8/10

The body lines are simple, yet have presence. The headlight and fog lights are perfectly integrated into the body lines. The rear of the car gives the appearance that the TSX is much faster than it really is.

Acceleration: 6/10

There is room for improvement here. From idle to 3500 rpm, there is nothing to write home about. Very lazy, very hesitant, the TSX doesn't really know if it wants to get up and go in this range. Once above the 3500 rpm VTEC threshold, that is where the magic happens. The TSX goes from lethargic donkey to prancing stallion in an instant. Unfortunately the low end troubles outweigh the high end abilities.

Braking: 7/10

The disk brakes in all four corners are very adequate for daily driving, but would have to be upgraded for more intense driving circumstances.

Ride: 6/10

The ride in the TSX is smooth most of the times, but there are occasions where you can really feel a jolt from a pothole or any other road hazard. Also, the ride noise is also unsatisfying high, especially at highway speeds. I find myself cranking up the radio a few clicks to drown out the noise, which is unfortunate.

Handling: 7/10

The TSX is a capable car when it comes to steering. Mild hints of understeer, but you always feel connected to road. Torque steer is minimal on the car when properly aligned, and the turning radius is pretty decent. The capable steering gives me confidence to execute an emergency avoidance maneuver if the situation where to present itself.

Transmission: 6/10

See acceleration problems above. I have the five speed automatic transmission with sport shift as opposed to six speed manual. There have been some occasions when an extra gear was needed, and the six speed would probably help with the low end acceleration problems, but not by much. The sport shift is a fun little bonus, but without a clutch, I feel like I'm playing an arcade racing game, so I usually leave it in auto.

Audio: 9/10

The factory stereo is awesome. Nine speakers, great bass, and great sound distribution throughout the cabin. The fact that it is also AM/FM/XM/CD/Aux capable means I always have something to listen to, which I need to drown out the road noise (still bitter).

Toys: 8/10

Xenon headlight, Bluetooth, multi-function stereo, heated/leather seats for winter, and factory navigation makes for a great combo of options in 2008. The navigation is really easy to use, being a touch screen. Well organized, very detailed, I am happy to shell out $65 dollars for a new nav disk every year because it is such a great unit.

Value: 10/10

My family paid less than $19k to get this car, and considering everything that is jam packed in the TSX, there really is no way to beat that.

Final Score: 67/100

There is something that wasn't factored into the final score, and that is the love/fun factor. The goal of this review was to take an unbiased view of my TSX, but with the fun/love factor factored into the final score, the final score of the TSX is 100/100. I love this car to pieces, and it is so darn fun to drive on a daily basis. I can overlook most of the short comings of the car, but there is no other car I'd like to be driving right now. It has become a part of me, and some people even associate me with it ("You're the guy who drive the TSX, right?") I am glad destiny has joined me with this car, and I will strongly consider buying another Acura if they make a car in the future with the same character as this TSX.

Power Stats

Engine size: 2.4 litre

Power: 205 hp

Torque: 160.5 lbft

Transmission: 5 speed auto w/ sport shift

0-60: ~7 secs

Drivetrain: FWD

Seating: up to 5 people

MPG: EPA (20/28), Actual (18/32)

MSRP: starting around $28,000

Sorry for the phone photos, and thanks for the time. Any tips for improvement would be greatly appreciated.

Alex B > RTeeJay 10/26/2014 at 21:09

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Great review. My family's Odyssey has the same steering wheel controls. :)

bob and john > RTeeJay 10/26/2014 at 21:17

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just loks for the prices for these things in my area. christ balls, 04 with 270K km for 5.4K. WTF

promoted by the color red > RTeeJay 10/26/2014 at 21:26

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What MPGs are you getting? As I recall these had weirdly poor EPA-rated mileage.

Steve in Manhattan > RTeeJay 10/26/2014 at 21:40

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Acura is strange - sedans, coupes, SUVs, and the NSX (badged as a Honda everywhere else, but here an Acura because of the VW Phaeton rule). The Acura RLX was and is, from what I've heard/read, a very capable and roomy sedan. The MDX is, meh. What is Acura?

Lexus - luxury, luxury with some sport (and LFA, last manufacturer you'd expect to do that). The first car was an E-class fighter - some say it won.

Infiniti - quirky, good technology, styling not mainstream. The Q (the one with the basket of snakes on its grill) was an E-class fighter - it lost.

These companies exist because Toyota, Nissan, and Honda wanted to sell in higher-margin sectors of the market. Some of their offerings are great, some are puzzling. Of the three, Acura seems to lack focus the most. Or am I wrong?

RTeeJay > Steve in Manhattan 10/26/2014 at 21:49

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You are right. in the 90's and 2000's, they had some genuinely good cars (Integra, Legend, RSX, NSX), but recently Acura has gone off their rocker. I honestly don't think Acura was ever trying to compete with the Germans, but rather compete with the other Japanese luxury makers, and their efforts were a little misguided.

RTeeJay > promoted by the color red 10/26/2014 at 21:51

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In WV I get anywhere from 14-18 mpg (because hills) around town. When I am home in NoVa, is usually get around 20-24 mpg. On the highway, anywhere between 30-35 mpg.

RTeeJay > bob and john 10/26/2014 at 21:54

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I guess people will pay a little extra for the Honda reliability dressed in a tailored suit.

Steve in Manhattan > RTeeJay 10/26/2014 at 21:57

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I have driven both 1st and 2nd gen Legends - both very capable, although the 2nd gen was a bit largish for my taste. When I got out of law school in '97, Acura wasn't even on my radar, although to be fair, neither were Lexus nor Infiniti. From the street, the MDX looks like I'd hate it. But then the LX350 nor whatever Infiniti sells in that class hold no interest for me either.

bob and john > RTeeJay 10/26/2014 at 22:01

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canada's used car prices are stupidly high to begin with, but this is just ridiculous

RTeeJay > Steve in Manhattan 10/26/2014 at 22:02

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I have also grown up in a 2002 MDX, and that SUV earned every bit of accolade it got from the media. I will post a full review of that sometime in November, but I can tell you the MDX is an absolute beast. My family is looking in to buying another MDX whenever that time comes.

Steve in Manhattan > RTeeJay 10/26/2014 at 22:12

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If it works for you, it works for you. I do not judge.

AthomSfere > RTeeJay 10/26/2014 at 22:16

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Acura was the first Luxury Japanese brand... So they actually started of strong and then... Not sure. I think they tried to stay one step ahead and keep seeking a niche where there was no brand to compete with. Acura was the first move, then Integra / NSX / Prelude etc... then I have no clue what went wrong.