2009 Acura TSX 6MT: The Oppositelock Review (2018 Update)

"interstate366, now In The Industry" (interstate366)
01/08/2018 at 18:00 • Filed to: oppositelock review, Oppo review, acura tsx, Embiggen this

It’s the last interesting Acura. Well, aside from that other one.

The TSX in its natural habitat of a fairly large city.

The Acura TSX was introduced to North America in the summer of 2003 as a 2004 model, but as the Japanese and European 7 th generation Honda Accord it had existed in some form since late 2002. In the middle of 2008, the car’s next generation appeared, with the chassis code CU2. Mechanically it wasn’t a whole lot different. Physically it was 3 inches wider and an inch lower, and gained about 70 pounds. The base US TSX was equivalent to the Canadian Premium Package; the base Canadian TSX had fewer amenities. (You’d think this would be the opposite, since the TSX was the entry-level Acura in the US for most of its existence, while in Canada the CSX, which served as the basis for the JDM 8 th gen Civic, was below it.) As with its predecessor, it was available with either a 6-speed manual or a 5-speed automatic. Acura’s ubiquitous Technology Package was a commonly chosen $3100 option, adding a voice-operated navigation system, a rearview camera, and a 10-speaker DVD audio system. In 2010, a V6 was added as an option, and the following year a wagon debuted in the US, the first time an Accord wagon had appeared here since 1997. Both the V6 and the wagon were only available with the automatic, and the wagon was only available with the 4-cylinder. A Special Edition trim came out in 2013, and North American sales ended a year later, when the replacement TLX came out and replaced both the TSX and the larger TL. While JDM sales of the equivalent Accord ended between 2012 (sedan) and 2013 (wagon), when the 9 th gen Accord came out and the Japanese and American market Accords became essentially the same car for the first time since 1997 (although Japan’s version is hybrid-only), production of the CU2 Accord continued for a few other markets until 2015.

My journey to the TSX as a daily was a long one, with a starting point of the 9 th generation Civic Si. I wasn’t a fan of the 9 th gen when it came out, preferring the looks, if not the driving characteristics, of the 8 th , but I fell in love with the car after taking an orange 2013 coupe on a test drive in March 2017. I wanted one. I needed one. But at the time they were out of my price range, so I moved on. Living in a place that does get snowfall, I had also thought about a 1 st generation CR-V for a winter DD, but with them being the same age as my Prelude and starting to age out, I wanted something newer. I looked at the Element, since it was praised as being dog-friendly, but moved on after noticing that it really doesn’t have much more ground clearance than a car. (Almost all of the extra height is at the top.) I thought about a 3 rd gen CR-V, but I ultimately just couldn’t see myself being totally satisfied with one. The next vehicle on my list was the 1 st generation Acura RDX, which is more or less a faster CR-V with a turbocharged engine. But I wasn’t sure about DDing a vehicle with a turbo and torque vectoring (particularly the latter after seeing the horrors of what age does to the system in 5 th gen Preludes). Still, I was interested in test driving one, and would often check CarMax for them. When looking at my local CarMax’s inventory, one day in early July 2017 I noticed a 2009 TSX with a 6-speed at a decent price, within my prospective budget. I knew 2 nd gen 6-speed TSXs are pretty rare, so, even though I was planning to wait a few more months to make a purchase (saving for a down payment), I jumped at the chance. A few days later, I test drove the car, and a day after that I brought it home. It’s a much different car than I’m used to, being larger and more technologically advanced than my Preludes, but I like it just the same.

Don’t ask why I parked this way. I don’t know.

(Full disclosure: Acura wanted me to drive this car so badly they let its technology get slightly outdated and put a manual transmission in it, so it would depreciate to the point that a pleb like me could afford a good one in under a decade.)

Exterior: 9/10

The DRLs are almost always on.

First off, we have to talk about the beak, or as Acura called it, the Power Plenum grille. Is it weird? Yes, of course. But it’s really not as bad as it is on other Acuras. Also, look at the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and tell me with a straight face that it’s a definitive improvement. (I may buy a Mugen grille for it at some point.) Now, that said, aside from that it’s a very attractive car, if understated. Yeah, it looks like the XV50 Camry, but this came first, so in reality the Camry looks like this. The Grigio Metallic paint wasn’t my first color choice, but it’s a nice color that has grown on me. (It also isn’t the most original color name. It’s just the Italian word for grey. However, in most, if not all, of the markets where the car was sold as the Accord, the color was called Volcano Grey. That’s a much cooler name, and what I tell people the paint color is.) The paint looks really good despite the neighborhood birds repeatedly using the car for target practice. Two types of spoilers were optional, one flush-mounted and one a small wing. I can’t say I’ve ever seen the wing on a car in the wild, and even the flush mount I’ve only ever seen on an SE. Either way I’ll still look back at the car whenever I walk away from it, and that’s what’s important.

Interior: 9/10

Pro tip: Don’t try to take photos of a black interior at sunset without a tripod.

I really, really like the interior of the TSX. Since my entire vehicle ownership history, and most of the vehicles in my family that I’m familiar with driving, consists of things originally released between 1987 and 1996, the late-2000s goodies inside the TSX are a whole new world to me. The layout is still your typical Honda functionality, with everything closely accessible. Above the center console is a fixture that has a couple of map lights, the sunroof controls, garage door opener controls, and a space for a pair of sunglasses. Unlike the 4th and 5th gen Preludes, whose sunroofs open up and then back, the TSX’s slides straight back like the 3rd gen Prelude. The center console has a few hidden pockets to go along with the usual chamber under the arm rest. There are cupholders, a 12V outlet, a coin holder, and storage space in those pockets, and the arm rest chamber has aux, USB, and 12V ports, so at least two people can charge their wireless devices simultaneously. Even three, if you use the USB port as a charger. A fold-out cupholder is between the rear seats.

Toys: 9/10

So many buttons!

It has a lot of them, but I don’t have the Technology Package so it doesn’t have all of them. But I’m fine with that because manual cars with the Tech Package are almost impossible to find, so much so that Acura dropped the availability of the combination after a couple years. Still, even without it there’s a bunch of stuff to talk about. (The owner’s manual is 500 pages!) In the middle of the speedometer is a multi-information display that shows such things as MPG, tire pressure, oil life, and more. The low-beam headlights are projectors, which were standard in the US, as were the fog lights. The rearview mirror in the center automatically dims at night to reduce headlight glare. I’ll talk more about the stuff it has in the Audio, Comfort, and Safety sections.

Audio: 8/10

The TSX in my natural habitat of a local craft brewery. I took quite a few shots from this angle and I’m not quite sure why.

There are two exhaust ports on the back, a tradition carried on from the previous two generations of Japan-produced Accord. It’s a single exhaust that splits into a Y-pipe. The engine is quiet at idle and sounds like your typical Honda 4-cylinder as you climb the rev range. When on the throttle you can hear a whirring sound, which I thought was odd at first, but all research I’ve done said this is normal. The audio system has CD, auxiliary, USB, and Bluetooth capability, along with AM, FM, and XM radio. The Technology Package added a DVD audio system with more speakers, but I’ve read that those speakers have issues. The audio system in the base model still sounds great. Lows and highs come through well, without any distortion, even in the bass-heavy music I listen to.

Acceleration: 5/10

There’s so much room for activities! The V6 didn’t come until 2010 but it was designed for it from the start.

Accleration isn’t great. But I didn’t expect it to be. It’s literally an Accord. I bought it to do Accord things. Interestingly, despite growing slightly in weight, the 2 nd gen TSX actually made less peak power than its predecessor, 201 instead of 205, albeit at a slightly lower RPM. Torque, however, was slightly increased, from 170 to 172, and according to multiple sources the torque band was wider. This propelled the car from 0 to 60 in a decent 7.5 seconds with the manual. The automatic was no doubt slower. Under the hood, there’s lots of space, since there was room for a V6 built in. I’m perfectly happy with the K24, since I’ve wanted a K-series for years. (Also, reviews of the V6 say it doesn’t handle as well as the 4-cylinder version due to the extra weight up front, and as previously stated, you couldn’t get the V6 with a manual.) The 2.4L K24Z3 has a redline of 7100 RPMs, with the rev limiter coming on at 7500, and was the basis for the 9 th generation Civic Si’s engine (which, interestingly, redlines 100 RPMs lower than the larger car.) As with all K’s, the engine is driven by a timing chain instead of the more risky timing belt of 1990s Hondas (although the J-series V6, itself initially a 90s design, still uses the belt). It really is a fantastic engine, and it was worth the wait to get one. Overtaking on two-lane roads isn’t too bad, since it has plenty of gears to choose from, but it’s not as easy as with my Prelude. On the flip side, I usually get better gas mileage than advertised, which is a good thing when the car needs premium. I’ve averaged about 29 MPG over six months of ownership.

Safety: 8/10

Hiding in the inner buildings of historic Fort Monroe, VA. An old fortress is pretty safe, right?

In my Prelude reviews, this section was just about the brakes, but I never had much to say. So instead I’ll talk about the general safety of the TSX. But first, the brakes. 2009 TSXs (and a handful of early 2010s) were known to have rotor issues, but that issue was solved by 2011 and with 108k on the odometer when I bought it, my car has already had them changed once. The brakes feel fine to me. They don’t grab as hard as the racing brakes in my Prelude, of course, but the upside to that is that they don’t leave dust all over the wheels like the Prelude either. Six airbags are standard: two in the front and four on the sides. Like most late-model cars, the TSX was affected by the Takata airbag recall, but only on the front passenger’s side. My car had its passenger’s front airbag replaced about a month after I bought it. Traction control was standard, and called Vehicle Stability Assist (or VSA for short), and the deactivation button is right by the driver’s hand. It comes on from time to time when I floor it, but hasn’t yet when I’ve been in the twisties. The doors automatically lock when you take off, and unlock when you turn the car off. The previously mentioned projector low-beams make night driving easier. (Well, maybe less so for oncoming traffic. Sorry.)

Comfort: 8/10

Downtown Richmond

As with Safety, this is a broader category as opposed to my previous reviews, where I talked about the ride. That’s still covered here, but there’s so much more to talk about with this car. The engine sounds quiet and smooth. The seats feel great, and are heated for extra comfort in the winter. The heated seats have two settings, with high used for warming up and low to keep them warm after they’re warm. They’re great. On the flip side, black leather in the summer in Virginia isn’t too much fun, but the seats are still pretty comfortable in the heat. The driver’s seat has two memory settings, so if you have a second frequent driver you can each set your own seat position. The rear seats have head rests. The glass is slightly tinted from the factory, and the climate control has dual-zone, auto, and manual modes. The ride is overall quite comfortable; I could sit in the car all day and be fine. You can still feel bumps, but they’re not bad, and road and wind noise is only slightly present.

Gearbox: 9/10

The camera hides the shift knob’s scratches and dimples.

One of the poster children for “wait, you could buy this with a stick?” Long before I bought this TSX, I had driven both the automatic and manual version of the 1 st generation. I remember absolutely nothing about the automatic version except that it was red, but the manual was a nice car to drive and the transmission and clutch felt good. I have to say the 2 nd gen picks right up in that regard. According to the Acura dealer where I had the airbag recall done, only about 3% of 2nd gen TSXs came with the 6-speed, and it wasn’t available in Japan at all. (To my knowledge, Europe was the only market where the manual was available in the wagon.) The manual still has that Honda magic to it, and contemporary reviews of the car when it was new say the manual version is the one to get. It took me a bit to get used to having a 6 th gear. I accidentally shifted from 5 th to 4 th several times in the first few months of ownership. It’s also a bit weird dealing with a physically (i.e. hydraulically) controlled clutch and an electronic throttle simultaneously, but that’s just how it is anymore. The shifter feels great, with nice short throws. My only complaint is that the knob feels a bit cheap when compared with the rest of the interior. It’s primarily aluminum, but it just seems like they made it an afterthought. The sides of it are rubber with a fake leather look. I could always get an aftermarket one, but it is a minor, minor quibble compared with the rest of the car.

Handling: 6/10

This is the closest I got to a back road photo. Colonial Parkway, near Yorktown, VA

One of the first things I did when I got the TSX was drive it out to a back road to see how it handles. I didn’t expect it to be a 3-series, or even a Prelude, in the curves, but it holds its own. It still has that traditional Honda all-around double wishbone suspension. Body roll is present, but it’s not too bad. A front strut tower bar is standard. For all the bad things I hear about electric power steering, I don’t mind it. Yeah, steering feel is decreased, but it feels lighter and more even than the hydraulically-assisted power steering of my Prelude. It’s enjoyable on twisties, but I wouldn’t autocross it.

Value: 8/10

Early 2 nd generation TSX prices range between mid-to-high 4 figures to low 5 figures, depending on mileage. Newer models, of course, are more expensive. For the money, you get a reliable, comfortable car with many modern features, as well as a hint of sportiness and a style that appeals to many (beak notwithstanding). I would absolutely recommend one to anyone who’s looking for a mid-sized sedan, especially if you can find a 6-speed model.

Overall: 79/100

They’re good cars, Brent.

Engine: K24Z3 2.4L DOHC i-VTEC I4

Transmission: 6-speed manual (5-speed automatic with Sport Shift was available at no cost)

Power/torque: 201 HP/172 lbft (a 280 HP V6 was later added as an option)

Curb weight: 3385 pounds

0-60: 7.5 seconds

Top speed: 135 MPH (drag-limited)

Seating: 4 or 5, depending on whether the rear console is down

MSRP in 2009: $28,960 (base), $32,060 (Technology Package)

Console goes up, console goes down.

I got chased away from this site after I took this photo, otherwise I would have done a better retake. Oh well.

New photo. I quite like this shot.

DISCUSSION (43)

10mmSocket > interstate366, now In The Industry
07/24/2017 at 10:36

You were pretty upfront about your needs for this car and that your bought a well optioned Accord but, Exterior 9/10? Really? I have close proximity to one of these and have driven and serviced it. Even though I wildly disagree in the looks category (like a 300SL Gullwing would be approaching 10 so no, this car is not 90% as good looking...) I actually arrive at your exact score of 79. The biggest annoyance to me in this car is the revs it turns at highway speeds. It’s geared short because no torque, fine. But they could have went a hair taller in 5th and 6th gears (or final drive really) to refine the experience at speed.

interstate366, now In The Industry > 10mmSocket
07/24/2017 at 11:37

I factored the physical condition of the exterior in as well. The paint and trim and all that is in fantastic shape. I’ll admit my Prelude is generally a better looking car aesthetically, but when I reviewed it I gave the exterior a 6 because it had rust on the rear wheel wells, a scratch on the back, and a couple of cracks on the front bumper. And yeah, I’m surprised how short 5th and 6th are on this car.

aberson Bresident of the FullyAssed Committe > interstate366, now In The Industry
07/24/2017 at 18:56

brown

Chariotoflove > interstate366, now In The Industry
07/24/2017 at 19:22

Good review.

Nick Has an Exocet > 10mmSocket
07/24/2017 at 19:28

Scrolled to comments to comment on the scoring as well. It’s all subjective but man, I couldn’t get over a 4/10 on the exterior here. An 8 is an F-Type. A 9 is a Countache with all the optional aero. A 9.5 is a 300SL gullwing. A 10 is 250 GTO.

interstate366, now In The Industry > Chariotoflove
07/24/2017 at 19:30

Thanks. I didn’t spend nearly as much time on it as my last review, but I felt I got enough information across.

Chariotoflove > interstate366, now In The Industry
07/24/2017 at 19:31

I do too. I like to get a picture of a car to see if I would like to test one, and this did that.

wpudvah: GTI, Super Beetle, now with more 80-Series > interstate366, now In The Industry
07/24/2017 at 19:38

I had a 2012 for about a year, sold it to my old man. great car, but I just couldn’t do that 5 spd A/T. can totally imagine how much better it would be with the 6MT!

InfinityAero > interstate366, now In The Industry
07/24/2017 at 21:32

I always liked these when they first came out— I’ll bet an appropriately lowered first gen with its 70 fewer pounds would be a hoot on a canyon road or maybe even an AutoX track.... assuming you didn’t care about being leagues behind the pack.

interstate366, now In The Industry > InfinityAero
07/24/2017 at 21:38

1st gens are getting cheap. They also had EPAS but I think (don’t hold me to it) their throttle was still cable-actuated. A few years back there was an article in one of the import magazines (remember them?) about a Euro-R in Japan that dominated its class, so there’s a little hope for them. This generation, from what I can tell, was only sold with an automatic in Japan, so its aftermarket is much smaller, but it does have some Mugen parts available.

interstate366, now In The Industry > Chariotoflove
07/24/2017 at 21:58

Glad to help.

interstate366, now In The Industry > Nick Has an Exocet
07/24/2017 at 22:04

Again, I’m factoring the physical condition of the exterior in there. The paint and trim are in perfect shape.

Turd_Ferguson > interstate366, now In The Industry
07/25/2017 at 08:03

I’m in the process of replacing my 1st Gen TSX (+200k w/ blown steering rack) and it bums me out how challenging it is to find a 2nd gen TSX with a manual transmission at a reasonable price. Most if not all of ones in the Northeast are going for at least $1000 over blue book value. Glad you found one. If you don’t mind my asking, how much did you pay for yours?

interstate366, now In The Industry > Turd_Ferguson
07/25/2017 at 09:54

Mine was $11,000. Blue book was $10,700, but since I bought it at CarMax that was to be expected. Hope you find a good one.

HONDAD > interstate366, now In The Industry
07/25/2017 at 12:20

Nice review! I drive an ‘05 TSX. Sadly it’s an auto, and that bums me out daily. What also bums me out is how much these have tanked in value since I bought it only 2.5 years ago (but I believe that’s true for all used cars). I’ll probably drive it for another two years, then hopefully switch over to an ‘18 Accord 2.0 turbo with manual. It is an enjoyable car to commute in, and the handling really is its best attribute (coming from an ‘00 Accord, it feels sooooo much tighter and capable). I also really like the style of the first gen, and purposely bought an older car for its looks. Glad you are enjoying yours!

interstate366, now In The Industry > HONDAD
07/25/2017 at 13:02

Thanks. I like the 1st gen too. I plan to hold onto this one for awhile. After I pay it off (probably in 2021) I either want to do as you plan to and get a 2.0T/manual new Accord, or possibly wait another year and import the little-known 6th gen JDM Accord SiR-T, which was the predecessor to the original TSX. Or I may try and find an IS F. Or maybe just get an S550 Mustang GT.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > interstate366, now In The Industry
07/25/2017 at 14:12

“I wouldn’t autocross it”

you should tho

Jason Spears > interstate366, now In The Industry
07/25/2017 at 14:35

Haven’t finished reading yet, but I’m pleased with your honesty here.

Zack G > interstate366, now In The Industry
07/25/2017 at 14:41

Excellent review! I had myself an almost brand new, ‘05 6-speed, no nav. Got rear ended by some idiot on a cell phone. Guess what? Turns out the car is a unicorn and the insurance company took two weeks to find anything comparable for a total-out price. Now I drive a POS 2010 Accord 4 cyl and it’s the worst car I’ve ever owned hands down. I’d go back to my ‘93 Accord if I could.

Tl;dr: NEVER GET RID OF THIS CAR IT IS BEST CAR!!!!!

interstate366, now In The Industry > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
07/25/2017 at 15:09

Maybe one day for shits and giggles, but the 1st gen is much better for it because of more aftermarket availability.

interstate366, now In The Industry > Jason Spears
07/25/2017 at 15:14

In 9 years it lost 60% of its value. I was very surprised at how affordable it was.

interstate366, now In The Industry > Zack G
07/25/2017 at 15:14

Thanks. I plan on keeping it for a long time.

HONDAD > interstate366, now In The Industry
07/25/2017 at 15:48

Lots of good options! I change my mind about every day what my next car will be...

interstate366, now In The Industry > HONDAD
07/25/2017 at 18:40

Yeah, I do too.

criscrozz > interstate366, now In The Industry
07/26/2017 at 20:22

Kinja'd!!!

I see you too! haha anyway nice write up. If you got time to go on facebook, look us up. We’d be happy to have you in the group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/165719330286083/ . Here’s my CU2 with the Mugen grille. I also just copped a JDM grille which should be installed one of these days when i get free time. And lucky on that 6M/T.

interstate366, now In The Industry > criscrozz
07/26/2017 at 20:41

Thanks. Love that Mugen grille. Unfortunately I’m not on Facebook, but I am on Instagram @elspectro29. I just got the OEM rubber floor mats and door visors today. Floor mats were a quick install but I’ll put the door visors on when I get enough free time.

criscrozz > interstate366, now In The Industry
07/26/2017 at 20:53

Cool! our IG is @cu2squad. i’ll send u a follow

interstate366, now In The Industry > criscrozz
07/26/2017 at 21:16

Followed you back.

Oppositewonk > interstate366, now In The Industry
11/09/2017 at 15:12

awesome

Serolf Divad > interstate366, now In The Industry
12/18/2017 at 09:08

Awesome car. I just bought a 2011 Tech-Package 6-Speed. Didn’t realize how much of a unicorn I ended up with until I started researching it. 6-Speed TSX are rare to begin with. Tech package 6-Speeds are rarer. But in 2011 Acura updated the infotainment system in these cars. The new system is nicer, in many ways than the older one. Not a huge improvement in actual functionality, but nicer looking over all. The biggest area of improvement is that the Navi information is now stored on a hard drive, rather than DVD, and you can add 15Gb of your own music to the drive. In 2012 and thereafter, the Tech-Package was’t available with the 6-Speed (or so I’ve read). This really strikes me as one of the last of a dying breed. Try finding a car that gives you all of the following:

1) Manual Transmission (real, honest-to-goodness 3-pedal and a stick)
2) Leather interior
3) Sunroof
4) Navigation
5) Satellite Radio
6) Ipod interface/mass music storage
7) Adequate power

As best I can tell only the current Mazda-6 comes close (though you have to accept pleather instead of leather, and 15 fewer ponies under the hood. Not sure if you can get it with a sunroof) and maybe the 2018 Accord (which is a really big looking car, but does have the added benefit of a manual option on the higher output, 250HP 2.0 Liter engine).

When I bought mine, last month, it was the only 2nd gen, 6-Speed, Tech Package available in the whole country through Carmax (had to pay to get it shipped to me). Every now and then I peek at Carmax for curiosity’s sake and still haven’t seen another for sale. A true, rare, gem.

interstate366, now In The Industry > Serolf Divad
12/18/2017 at 10:25

Congrats on your purchase! You definitely got a rare one indeed. Like you, I occasionally check Carmax for them to see if they have any manuals. There’s usually one, occasionally two, sometimes none. Usually a handful of wagons and a couple V6s, too. A 2018 Accord 6-speed is something I may look at after I pay the TSX off and make it a weekend car. It does look a little bigger, yeah, but the TSX is the same size as a current generation Civic, so no surprise. Hope you’re enjoying your car as much as I am mine.

Serolf Divad > interstate366, now In The Industry
12/18/2017 at 11:02

I’ve only owned it less than a month, but I’m already convinced that it’s the last car I’ll ever buy. When the engine goes, I’ll have a new one put in, lol!

interstate366, now In The Industry > Serolf Divad
01/08/2018 at 11:06

I know that feeling very well. I plan to keep this one a long time too.

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > interstate366, now In The Industry
01/08/2018 at 12:08

wait wouldnt the last interesting acura be the TL Type S?

interstate366, now In The Industry > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
01/08/2018 at 12:11

That came earlier. This and the beak TL came out around the same time.

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > interstate366, now In The Industry
01/08/2018 at 12:19

ahh gotcha, a tl type s is on the short list of cobalt replacements but theyre getting harder and harder to find with low-ish mileage

bob and john > Serolf Divad
01/08/2018 at 12:24

WRX, 3 series, A4 (i think you can still get with a stick) golf(regular, gti, R) focus (regular, ST, RS), Camaro, Mustang, challenger, new accord (think you can still get a stick in it)

#2-6 is pretty much avaiable in anything made post 2010.

its #1 thats a bit hard, and #7 is subjective to the person. (me? I’d like 300HP. zoidberg i think would be amazed by anything in the triple digits)

interstate366, now In The Industry > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
01/08/2018 at 12:39

Yeah, they are. And they’re holding their value extremely well. Never saw one on Carmax when I was looking.

winterlegacy, here 'till the end > interstate366, now In The Industry
01/08/2018 at 22:43

Quite possibly one of the best looking Acura sedans.

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > interstate366, now In The Industry
01/08/2018 at 22:58

The CSX was not based on the 8th gen JDM Civic. The 8th gen JDM Civic came after the CSX. The CSX was originally designed as the CSX, Honda Japan liked it so much they put a Honda badge on it.

interstate366, now In The Industry > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock
01/08/2018 at 23:03

I know, I said the CSX was the basis for the Civic, that is to say that the Civic was based on the CSX.

interstate366, now In The Industry > winterlegacy, here 'till the end
01/08/2018 at 23:04

It’s one of my favorites.

JesusTheVampireSlayer > interstate366, now In The Industry
03/06/2018 at 16:20

Nice review, one of the rare MTs that combines luxury and practicality into one package without any showy and useless tech, the K engine and tranny got attitude and personality.

If anyone’s interested and in the area, there’s a used car place outside DC called A1 import that hoards these 6MT TSX in excellent shape and low mileage. They usually have a couple of them you can choose from.