Rep Power: 0

So... As mentioned in my previous post, my stock suspension went wonky on my 2001 Acura EL, and Acura in Markham was nice enough to replace them under warranty at 98,500km. (The story on the internet goes like this: service advisor tells them that so many people complained about the 2001 shocks that they silently put out a bulletin to increase the warranty coverage of front shocks to 100k)

A few days after getting them installed, I noticed I was still hearing weird noises in front; the shock/spring on the driver side was now squeeking.... Now, my original shocks leaked and were replaced at ~20k (driver side), then replaced again at 98.5km (passenger side)... So WTF?

I brought it in again, and this time was fortunate enough to get "Mario" as my service advisor. He's a real cool guy, real service-oriented, young guy... I
told him I had a whole whack of problems (with no attitude towards him):
- front driver side squeeking while just pushing on the shock
- drive shaft clunking sometimes when turning wheel at low speeds (or some other funny noise
- On the way to the dealership, after getting my spark plugs changed at an independent shop, my passenger wheel started to sound as if something was loose when driving... (Didn't tell him about the spark plug part, shouldn't matter)

So, he goes and says "well, it sounds like this is all because of the shock replacement! If it's shody workmanship on our part, we will take care of you..." ..... I told him it No comment No use in blaming him if it is... That's what Acura service is for.... So he goes on and says he is on my side, and will rectify everything, etc.

I ask for a loaner car, and he said he was just gonna ask me that, as he would probably want to keep the car for awhile (Saturday morning, until Monday night.) I'm expecting a sweet 2005 EL to drive in.....

I guess because of the possibility of the poor workmanship on their part, he up'd my loaner car to a TSX!

2005 ***-white auto-tragic TSX, with < 500km on the car!.... (Car still had that blue plastic protecting the door sill plates

OMG, let me tell you that car is sweet.....

I'll list my pros and cons and observations.... Couldn't test it out too much, weather was bad. This is in comparison to my 2001 EL auto.

Pros
- ***-white colour.... sweet
- HID... OMGHI2U!
- Alarm. When locking it, instead of the usual HONK to tell you the car was locked, it gives off this electronic "beep"... Interesting... Nice...
- OMGBYE2U - Feel the POWER. I've never driven such a powerful car. I've driven the EL, Civic, and a Hyundai Elantra (170hp) before, that's it. Power on TAP.
- Auto-tragic manual shift mode is neat... I can drive 5 speed, so I can at least have some fun.
- The centre console flows from all sides.... Artistically... Sweet
- Interior lighting is very bright compared to my EL.
- The automatic traction assistance thing is great, I can feel the auto-braking on independent wheels
- 8-way power seats
- 6-CD changer, built-into the console!
- volume/channel controls built onto the steering wheel.
- Speakers are GREAT... They even have speakers built into the rear passenger doors
- Rear passengers get a cup holder/armrest by pulling it out of the seat, thru the middle.
- trunk space is alot.
- Damn engine is QUIET.... holy cow, when I turn the car over... Can't hear a thing. Whisper quiet.
- rear-view mirror I think is electronic.... Didn't know how to use it, but I know it dimmed at night; sweet.
- Braking is great, traction is great. Not sure about handling, it was bad weather yesterday.
- mirrors have the signals built-in, I like...
- I can't feel the car! OMG, I gas it on launch, and I soon realize I'm already at 70km/h......
-

Cons
- Darned expensive premium gas. Everyone told me to just pump regular, cuz it's not my car..... I'd rather not... I'll think of the premium price as "car rental fees"...
- Chews up ALOT of gas... Maybe cuz I was hard on it...
- Hood doesn't have shocks, it should
- I hate the new centre piece, behind the tranny. Maybe cuz I'm fat, I can't get my hands into that corner to lock the seat belt
- the T-shaped wheel.... Meh. Great for spirited driving where you have 2 hands on the wheel, not so good in my "gansta/lazy-lean posture".... I usually drive with my hand at 8 o'clock on the wheel, held up by my left knee.
- Leather was supple, but not beautiful looking. Much nicer and softer than my EL crap, but I'd say BMW or something else would win over it.
- Damn fawking hump on the floor is back, for the rear seating.... What's with that hump???
- The shift lever is pretty nice, short, and has all those "gates" for the auto-tragic... However, it's 100% leather.... Why not some kind of sylbol on the top, like an acura symbol or something? I think the TL Type-S has one...
- I suck at the "manual" mode.... I keep on jerking the car Sometimes I would launch in manual mode, and then forget to shift... so I get off the gas a bit, then gas it again... Thus the lurching, because I forgot to shift.
- Expensive car...... In it's class, probably competitively-priced, but too rich for my blood

Observations:
- Gas pedal is not your typical gas pedal that's "suspended" in the air with a steel pole in a "J" shape.... This one actually embeds into the footwell. i.e. Can't use Walmart carmats, etc.

CN: Brought the POS EL into Acura in Markham, probably thought I was a rich HK satillite kid, up'd my loaner car from EL to TSX, treated me like king.

Site note: Changing the spark plugs on my EL (98km) to new NGK Iridium plugs really made shifting and idle alot smoother....... Hrm, is that normal? Or just in my head?

 
Rep Power: 0

I just bought a 2005 White TSX from acura 2000, after driving a 2002 EL for 3 years.. I can't get myself out of the TSX, I just want to keep driving, and driving. This is by far the best car I have ever purchased.. Loving it!

 
Rep Power: 287

My friend has a tsx, and I love riding in his car. 6 spd manual tranny... sweet !!!

 
Rep Power: 282

OMFG I replaced my stuts at 80,000 on my 01 lx honda. grrr stupid silent bullitens! Sisley just refused to fix my suspension because i was out of warrenty.

Thats some good service, if anyone here ever goes to Sisley honda the general manager there Ian Daniels is an a$$hole, his employees even think so.

I was at honda 2 summers ago when my tranny was replaced under warrenty. There was some miscommunication so I asked to speak the to manager and I swear to god no word of a lie the girl at the counter said

"You can talk to him, but hes a real a$$hole"

boy was she right, stay away from sisley, on a side note the acura dealership around the corner has parts open til midnight monday to thursday sweet

 
Rep Power: 369

Very nice. I've heard nothing but good from the few TSX owners I know, the auto mag reviewers, and of course the car looks sweet. I'm saving to buy one as soon as I get this pesky "buying a house" thing out of the way. After all, the wifey needs something to drive too, and I'll be damned if I let her curb ELena.

 
Rep Power: 0

ELena?

It's ELeanor.... ala Gone In 60 Seconds

After getting sex'd up by the TSX, The EL is feeling more like El Cheapo..... The Sex is just mind-blowing...

I'm telling you, this is a car to pimp... Man oh man...

 
Rep Power: 0

Few more honourable mentions:

More Pros:
- Built-in garage door opener... Looks like 2-3 can be programmed into the headliner area...
- The trunk has nicely molded sections to which the brackets holding the trunk lid slides into... On the Civic/EL, it's barebones POS, looks cheap
- Has a liner under the trunk lid...
- Nice blue LED shining down on the shift **** from above... sweet looking thing.... Seriously, this was like a "mod" from the factory!

Cons:
- Realized there's no air vents for the rear passengers... Usually there's vents from the back of the mid-section, where the parking brake/storage compartment is for higher-end cars... not the TSX.
- Slight oversight on the engineering part.... The brake lever is covered in leather.... Well, the way it's made, you can very easily lose small things like coins, keys, etc into the slot.... You'll NEVER see them again! Where they go? Into the tranny? Out under the car? No body knows!

 
Rep Power: 0

Wow nice, all I've ever gotten from Acura in Markham has been ELs and once a premium RSX for loaners.

I'm with Telly, the TSX will likely be my next car as well.