If you are looking for a mid-sized sedan that can get your daily errands completed without killing your pocketbook at the pumps, but at the same time has a sense of style and performance, then check out the Acura TSX. Speed:Sport:Life put this baby through the paces recently and found it to be a great handling machine with some top of the line features for the price.
Check out how this sleek sedan handled the Racer Boy Review Categories.
What kind of girl will this car help me meet?
The smart kind. You know the type, she wears glasses, but still rocks the short skirt. She has her own career and isn’t looking for anything serious for a while. However, she has enough class that she doesn’t want to be taken to Applebee’s on a Thursday night riding shotgun in a Toyota Camry. She wants something extra, maybe it’s just dinner at Ruth’s Chris Steak House or a nice cruise in the Acura TSX. I promise you this car will not attract a trailer park tattooed single mom. We all know that those girls only love boys who drive Camaros.
What kind of burnout can I do with this car?
Um, sorry… that would be none. This car is too civilized to do those sorts of shenanigans. However, while cruising this thing around, the information it was feeding me through the “Technology Edition” was that I was getting near 40 miles to the gallon (the official average is 31 mpg highway). At $4.59 a gallon in California, screw the burn out (who can afford it?) I’ll keep cruising around sensibly so I can afford to go another mile.
Can I fit a body in the trunk of this car?
Certainly. And you won’t even have to cut off any limbs (which is always so messy). This car has a solid sized trunk ready for action. It even came with a couple of sturdy tie downs so you can strap your luggage in for some canyon carving. And this car will corner fantastically. The tie downs in the trunk are there for a legitimate reason.
Will this car get the attention of Johnny Law?
My guess is this may be one of the least pulled over cars in America. The po-po won’t even remember this thing going by. If you want to rob a bank, this would be a fairly solid getaway car. It handles great, it has a large trunk to store lots of money and automatic weapons. Four doors so the crew can get in and out fast, and after the heist the FBI will probably be looking for a white van while you and the crew are cruising in the car pool lane on the way to the airport. This plan can’t fail!
Can I back up while talking on my cell phone and eating a cheeseburger?
This car was designed specifically for people who like to back up while talking on their cell phone and eating a cheeseburger. The blue tooth connectivity was incredibly smooth to work with. The phone access is just a touch of a button on the steering wheel. For backing up, the navigation screen goes directly to the backup camera when the car is placed in reverse. The side mounted rear view mirrors automatically aim downward to watch for little kids on their big wheels in the neighborhood. The power steering is effortless at low speeds. The cup holders are adequate. It’s too easy. Keep on backing and keeping on talking with your mouth full, this car takes away the challenge. Get yourself a double-double from In-N-Out Burgers and have your unlimited minutes ready.
Is there enough room in the backseat to get a little something-something?
The back seat of this car wasn’t designed for sex, however, the back seat of a VW Beetle wasn’t either, and plenty of people on this planet today were conceived in the back of those during the sixties and seventies. There is certainly enough room in the Acura to get the job done.
But the truth of the matter here is, the girl you meet with this car wants you to get a hotel room. She isn’t interested in pulling a hammy in the backseat of the Acura.
How many clams is this bad boy going to set me back?
$38,650 for the V-6 with the technology package and $30,010 for the four cylinder base model. All of the models look great. The fit and finish is standard Acura quality all the way and you will not be disappointed with any aspect of this vehicle for the price.
Is there a motorsports event where this car could be competitive?
One word: Realtime. Enough said.
Realtime Acura is one of the most successful teams in SCCA Pro Racing’s World Challenge Touring Car Series. The team is currently campaigning the Acura TSX with great success. However, if you are looking for an auto-x car or something to do some track days with, without considerable modifications, this probably isn’t your car.
But just for kicks we took the Acura TSX to a road rally and ended up winning first place!
The navigation system kept us from getting lost and we made it to the pizza parlor to pick up our trophy. Win!
Randomness and Extras
The navigation system and syncing up my phone were the most intuitive systems I have come across with any new vehicle. I loved the large joystick, rotating, button in the center of the dash. This thing was fast and easy to work with.
The blue tooth loaded up my contacts quickly and I was making calls within seconds. Like a lot of cars with nav systems, the owner’s manual is half an inch thick, but the navigation system manual is like a phone book. Good news! You don’t need to read it. The system was made with common sense therefore you don’t need a Master’s degree in communication systems to run it.
If you’re interested in information other than if you can back up while talking on your cell phone and eating a cheeseburger or what kind of burnout the car will do, you can get those nerdy sorts of stats at Acura’s TSX page.
The 2012 Acura TSX has been officially Racer Boy thrashed on road tested.
