Does getting older blunt one’s tendency toward impulsivity? It might seem so, given the months-long process of research and endless test drives that finally resulted in the purchase of this new Acura TSX Sport Wagon. But when it came to getting this car home, which was bought from a dealer in Boise, Idaho, I pretty much topped myself in terms of making a spur of the moment decision. Coming from me, that’s saying something.
Those of you who have read about my previous new car purchases will know that every one was highly impulsive; one of them even happened on the way to work one morning, which made me only a little bit late (driving the new car). But I’m (definitely) older and (hopefully) wiser now, and as you’ve been reading here for way too long, we’ve been in the market to buy a new car to replace Stephanie’s 2000 Forester. That car was decided upon (without even a test drive), bought and driven home in a matter of about two or so hours. So why couldn’t we decide this time around, dragging the process out for months? Because nothing really excited us?
Part 1: The New Car Hunt
Is it because I’m a sexagenarian or is it the cars nowadays? In the past, I always had a mental list of the cars I was hot for, and when something triggered the decision to buy, I knew exactly what I wanted: 1983 Turbo Coupe; 1985 Jeep Cherokee; 1986 Mercedes 300E W124; 1992 Dodge Grand Caravan; 2000 Forester; 2005 xB (bought used in 2007). The pattern eventually fell into one every seven and a half years; one for each of us every 15 years. But this time? I was drawing a blank.
The obvious starting point was Subaru. Our Forester has treated us quite well; it’s only now developing a leaky (to the exterior) head gasket at 170k miles. Subaru says the piston slap it developed some eight years ago is “cosmetic”; well hearing it clatter like a on old VW diesel from the 70s every morning is like being confronted with a bad case of acne in the bathroom mirror each morning. It may be cosmetic, but it’s ugly and it gets old. Go away already!
The XV Crosstrek was a good place to start looking, and in many ways very compelling. There were two strikes against it: its luggage compartment is too small for the dog and other possible bigger loads. But the deal-breaker was this: this is the red-hot car in Eugene now, and they’re popping up in driveways this spring like weeds. After enduring almost 15 years of look-alike dark green Foresters (the hot car here back then), Stephanie just didn’t want to do that again.
The Forester would have solved the first problem, but not the second. I just can’t adequately explain how insanely popular Subarus are here. It’s been the case for a long time, but it’s becoming almost comical. Everyone who’s buying a new car either has one of these, the Outback, the Crosstrek, or maybe the occasional Prius. If Toyota made a jacked-up AWD Prius, they’d have a real winner here.
So the Forester was the logical default choice, and we came close a couple of times. But then I decided we really didn’t really need an AWD car. I’ve yet to find a back-country US Forest Road that has stumped my xBox, and a set of snow tires is just as good as AWD with M/S tires, I’m now convinced. What we really wanted was a car that would be nice for longer road trips, as the Xb is a noisy tin can. So that opened up another prospect: station wagons. Just one problem: there are hardly any to be had.
The Passat wagon would have been a logical choice, but it’s long gone, so we checked out the Jetta SportWagen. Nice car, but somehow it just didn’t ever stir us. Never mind that there wasn’t a gas engine version to drive; TDIs are very popular here, and that’s all the dealer stocks. A diesel just didn’t make sense for us, given the low annual mileage this car will get. Aside from the additional $2k or so upfront, and the 15-20% higher fuel costs, my concerns about whether all that expensive high-tech hardware will last 15 years without a major failure took the TDI out of the running. The gas version was still a contender, but it would have been nice to actually drive one. Still, it rose to the top of our list, by default.
But there were nagging questions, since we’re going to presumably keep this one a long time (15+ years). I wanted something that had decidedly better than average odds of avoiding expensive repairs. Which meant that our next test drive was a waste of time.
The Fiat 500L had some compelling aspects, including a roomy, tall package and styling that is not exactly cookie-cutter, except for the obvious tribute to the Countryman. Its interior, in the higher-trim version, is also rather appealing. We both love the little 500’s looks, and while the 500L is not as cute, it has some genuine flair, and certainly doesn’t look like another Forester.
But a test drive confirmed what I’d read: the drivetrain is a disaster. The little 1.4 L turbo four has lag like the bad old days, and the jerky twin-clutch auto-manual transmission does it no favors; it’s an unfortunate forced marriage bound to end badly. I’m sure it’s fun enough with the stick and heavy foot, but a manual is out of the equation: Stephanie no can do. Old-time Fiat prejudice aside, it’s hard to see this as a long-term keeper.
We drove the Prius V, which had some compelling qualities. It’s very roomy, especially in the back seat and cargo area, and of course gets excellent mileage. I have an intrinsic soft spot for Prii, as they speak to the geek-efficiency part of my brain. But the nicely equipped one we drove had a $33k sticker, and although it drives well enough, it certainly isn’t an engaging car. More like a non-autonomous pod. If our left brains were doing the deciding, this could well have been it.
I thought it would be a waste of time (and I was right), but Stephanie wanted to check out popular CUVs like the CRV and new RAV4. Don’t get me wrong; these are well done, for what they are. But there’s something boring about them. They’re certainly not engaging to drive, and the CRV reeks of…middle-aged woman. Which is of course what Stephanie is, but who wants to shout it?
Back to wagons, which meant an obligatory trip to the Volvo dealer. The brand new V60 we looked at had a very nice interior (heated leather seats were a must for Stephanie), but its high-trim sticker was pushing $50k. No thanks. And that automatically applied to the German premium brands.
I should point out that this whole process was going on for several months. About two months ago, we decided that nothing really turned us on, and the plan was to put some money into the Forester and keep driving it, since we liked its boxy, glassy body, and it’s a decent driver. My cheap side was talking, and I was looking into rebuilt and used Subaru engines, or just putting in new pistons and head gaskets. But that’s a project in its own right, and meanwhile, the Forester developed a nasty intermittent hesitation when taking off; scary in some circumstances. Thanks to some googling, it turned out to be a bad knock sensor, and I found one for $10 on Ebay, which did the trick.
But that episode had Stephanie rattled, and reading up again. One morning over breakfast, she entered “sport wagon” in a Google search intending to pursue the Jetta some more, and up came this. She said, “Paul, what’s this Acura TSX Sport Wagon?”and turned her laptop screen to me.
“Jeez; I totally forgot that car existed. Hmmmm….”
I certainly hadn’t forgotten the first version of the TSX (2004-2008). An Acura-badged version of the smaller Japan-Europe version of the Accord, it was highly praised for its delightful high-winding 203 hp 2.4 four and slick-shifting six-speed manual, as well as excellent handling. I’d rather lusted after one for quite a while, but as there never was a wagon version in the US, it had no relevance in our actual driveway.
The second generation TSX got a bit fatter in every dimension, which made it a bit less athletic and thus somewhat less desirable in my eyes. And although I undoubtedly “knew” that the wagon version (Accord Tourer in Europe) existed at some point, it had obviously never made a lasting impression, underscored by the fact that it’s an incredibly uncommon sight on the streets.
A Passat wagon competitor made by Honda in Japan…intriguing. Why hadn’t I thought of that? And just how much are they? My rather predominant cheap side just couldn’t quite see spending more than about $28-30k on a new car, which had eliminated the rather similar V60.
Undoubtedly a reflection of Acura’s low sales volume expectation, the TSX Sport Wagon only comes in one flavor: very well equipped ($32,880 MSRP w/shipping), with the 201 hp four and five-speed automatic (no V6 or manual available on the wagon), sports suspension, premium tires, full leather upholstery, power front seats with memory, premium sound, sunroof, blah, blah, etc. The only main option is the Technology Package, for a whopping $3,650, which in my opinion is essentially a grossly overpriced iPad in the dash, with a hard drive, no less. No thanks; I do the hard driving in my car.
Only one problem: as uncommon as these wagons are to start with (only a couple thousand sold per year), almost all of them come with the Technology package, for obvious profit-boosting reasons. A search found only three in the North West: a used one nearby, a 2014 in Portland, and a new 2013 in Boise, ID.
The first step was to drive one, a Tech-Package version at our local Acura dealer. Short test drives are pretty frustrating, but this one clearly whetted my appetite: the Sport Wagon’s sport suspension made it feel like a genuine Sportwagen. Firm, yet not harsh; very connected to the road. And the seats were eminently comfortable, a big plus as we both have pretty serious back issues. I’ll get more into the actual driving experience later, but from the moment we slipped inside the TSX, we knew this was a substantial step up from the Jetta, which of course it is. (Alex Dyke’s review at TTC here)
Part 2: The Negotiations
I hate buying (and selling) cars, which may explain why I do it so rarely. And I’ve never negotiated successfully, having just avoided it in the past. The Turbo Coupe was paid for by my employer at asking price. The Mercedes was a company lease. The Jeep Cherokee was red hot at the time and we just sucked it up. Same for the ’92 Grand Caravan…I even bought that through a broker (at full price) to avoid interacting with the dealer. The Forester was an advertised special, and we just wrote a check for that and drove off.
But this time I was determined to get aggressive, and decided I wanted a TSX wagon for less than $29k, 100% bottom-line out-the door price (no sales tax in Oregon). That meant shaving off some $4500 from MSRP (including the inevitable dealer add-on “NW Protection Package consisting of little wheel-opening “mud guards,” cargo mat, floor mats, etc… ).
Stephanie found a used 2012 nearby with 20k miles offered at some $27k. It had a little ding in the hood and a scratch on the side. The Chrysler-Jeep dealer didn’t want to budge. Good bye. I’ve quickly learned that late model used cars are more profitable than new cars for dealers, as the margins are greater, the pricing absurd, and they tend to be obnoxious about them (this was all confirmed to me by the VW Sales Manager during the Jetta test drive, who shared his experiences selling cars, along with the rest of his life story; “Shut up already, so I can listen to the car instead of your incessant prattling!”). Another excuse to scratch the Jetta off the list.
The Internet Sales Manager for the Portland Acura dealer told me she had the last non-Tech Package wagon in the NW, and no more were coming (the TSX is now history, having been replaced by the smaller Civic-based ILX, and the new, bigger 2015 TLX, which will also replace the TL. No more wagons, in either case). The one she had was charcoal gray (too dark for our long gray winters), but her best price was still north of the $30k barrier. She let it slip that there was a white one in Boise, but that they didn’t trade cars with that dealer. And Stephanie had already seen that one in Boise on the web too. It was calling us.
So I called up Lyle Pearson Acura and was connected to Michael Baird. We instantly hit it off, as he’s a genuine car guy (here’s what’s sitting in his driveway; the ’70 Charger was his first car), and he was always perfectly gracious about my determination to meet my price objective. He just kept going back to his Sales Manager, who eventually relented, including his last-ditch effort to throw in a $399 “Doc Fee.” “Oh no you don’t!”
I finally got what I wanted: $28,999 (including the NW Protection Package). With a $14 Title fee, the grand total was $29,013. Plus, we took up Acura’s incentive financing offer: 0.9% for 60 months, worth about another $1,000. Signed, sealed… but not delivered.
Part 3: Getting There
Boise is 450 miles due east of Eugene, across the Cascades and a long stretch of high desert, river canyons, and a few tiny towns. Hwy 20 is a straight shot between there and here, and a superb drive, not to mention lonely one. I can’t imagine another highway that bisects the middle of a state that is so desolate, except perhaps in Nevada. I really wanted to drive it home on it.
The problem was getting there. Flights are pricey, via Seattle with an absurdly long lay-over. So how about the bus? Sure enough, Greyhound has a pretty good schedule, but out of Portland: leaving at 12:45PM, arriving at 11:00PM, for $70. And there’s a $12 Bolt bus from Eugene to Portland, with just barely enough time to connect. I was set to go Thursday, and had my schedule arranged accordingly.
Then I got a message late on Wednesday from Michael that Acura Finance red-flagged our application. Turns out I had memorized (and given them) Stephanie’s SS number one digit off! Dang… It’s been a longer, colder and more difficult winter than average by a long shot, and I was desperate to get out of Dodge, now.
Thursday morning first thing, I left the corrected number with the Business Manager, and asked him to call me as soon as he knew. But he got tied up, and the time to catch the 10:00AM bus to Portland passed. I decided it had to be put off a day, and got busy. I was at a rental house fixing a smoke detector when I got the call at 10:15: “Your application is approved.” I made a quick mental calculation: I could still drive up to Portland, and son Ed could meet me at the bus station, and take my xB, which he rather needed just then anyway (long story). But it would be cutting it razor tight.
I dashed home, asked Stephanie to pack me a sandwich, nuts and dried fruit, and I stuffed some things into a backpack. I backed out of the driveway at exactly 10:37, under a steady rain, and headed for I-5, which can get backed up in such conditions. The Greyhound bus left downtown Portland, 114 miles away, at 12:45. Theoretically, it was doable, but it left absolutely zero margin at all, never mind parking, buying the ticket, etc.
About ten minutes into the trip, I realized how absurd this was, and told myself that I was an idiot, especially when I looked at my gas gauge and saw that I had barely a quarter tank; not enough. A raging mental fight erupted, one side screaming “Turn back,” the other, “Go for it!” Aren’t I a little old for this?
image: pickuptruckdiaries
The adrenaline was too far kicked in, and the “Go for it” side won. But I decided that my usual tactic of setting the cruise control at 75 (ten over the limit) was too risky in terms of getting there in time, especially with a gas stop and the wet weather. So I threw caution to the rainy wind, put on my Bose noise-cancelling headphones, and gave the xBox the spurs. I pulled off at a quiet little country exit with a gas station right off the ramp, which worked out perfect: no other cars, and the attendant was right on it. It doesn’t take long to pump ten gallons.
I realized I had never been to the Portland Greyhound station, and knew it was near the train station, but I had no navigation or map. I’d been to the train station years before, so I picked what I thought was the best route, and almost nailed it, overshooting by just a few blocks, having to circle back around. There was an empty parking space right on the street a half block away as I approached it. I parked, and looked at the time: 12:05 PM. Much better than I could have hoped for; exactly 114 miles in 88 minutes, including getting out of Eugene and into Portland. Average speed: 77.19 mph.
Ted (as we know Ed) showed up just then, and I handed off the keys to him and headed back in to board the bus. Whew! And then the bus was delayed for a good twenty minutes. Hurry up and wait.
image:travelatusa.com
The ride up through the Columbia River Gorge is always a wonderful one, even on a Greyhound bus. Actually, the bus did little to diminish the experience, especially since I found a seat with a vast amount of legroom across the aisle from the handicapped door/lift. Yes, these latest buses have that, and it was even used on part of the trip.
The MCI D4505 45′ long coach was very quiet and rode along effortlessly, even up the grades, with its 425 hp Cummins diesel essentially inaudible. Quite the contrast from buses in the way-back days. I ate, napped, had an interesting conversation, and checked up on CC with the wi-fi. The only notable event occurred when someone obviously lit up some pot in the back of the bus. It took a while for the scent to reach the driver, who was not happy. He pulled over, made everyone get out for ten minutes, and really wanted the perp to confess and apologize. No response. He opened the two emergency escape hatches in the roof, and drove with them open for about twenty minutes, perhaps to air out the bus, but more likely to punish us all with the cold blast of air.
It felt good to escape the rain; the sun’s last rays lit up the golden grassy hills as we left the Columbia basin. I was glad to have brought my food along, as the fare on hand for the main supper stop was dismal, at best. Other than that, it was a pleasant enough ride, and we arrived in Boise right on time. I walked six blocks to the motel room I reserved while on the bus, and slipped into bed.
Part 4: Getting It Home, Quickly
At 7:30 AM I was awakened by a beeping text message: sales rep Michael wanted to pick me up, take me out to breakfast, and then send me off in my new car. He took me to Goldy’s Breakfast Bistro, the best place to start a bright sunny day in Boise, and hear about Michael’s two Mopar project cars.
There’s my new baby, still in the showroom, where it’s been for too long. Let’s face it, my “deal” was undoubtedly predicated on some desire to see the last of its big, round butt there. It even needed a hot-shot to get it started.
Michael let me skip the usual Owner’s Manual review, and I pulled out front for a farewell shot. Michael Baird is a car guy, a gentleman, highly knowledgeable, and a consummate professional in the very best way, and he deserves a plug here. Here’s his direct line: 208-703-7073 (Lyle Pearson Motors also sells Mercedes, Volvo, Jaguar, Porsche and Land Rover).
It was exactly 9:29 when I pulled out.
There are two ways to drive across Eastern Oregon on Hwy 20: set the cruise control for 65, thanks to the most absurd place in the world to have a 55 mph limit, and relax, big time. It’s what we do when we trundle across in our old motor home.
The other option is to throw caution to the high desert breezes, and take advantage of one of the best places in the US to drive fast. Was there really a choice?
Another car will come along the other way every once in a while, but otherwise the road might as well be your own private race track. Endless straights and long sweeping curves following the river bed. Painted hills. Clear blue rivers.
Occasional rises and ridges, with distant vistas. Sage brush and junipers. And the right car to savor it with.
Yes, ultimately, this is why I ended up with the TSX: a car to remind me of the joys of driving fast; I’ve always loved it, and I still do. And I’m glad to have a car again that is a very willing and able partner.
My main point of comparison is the white ’86 300E I drove relentlessly fast throughout California for seven years. I sold that car before moving to Oregon, as part of a major personal/familial “downsizing.” Not that I gave up driving fast, as just about any car is capable of that, even the Grand Caravan with the whole family aboard on this very same stretch of highway, on one memorable vacation trip. But it’s one thing to have a willing partner; another thing to have an enthusiastic and capable one.
And just how do the two compare as high-speed delivery systems? Well, the TSX is quite happy at speeds up to about 130, and 110 is a relaxed lope. But the 300E was an even more eager speeder, and the difference really comes down to gearing. The 300E had a four-speed automatic, with direct drive in top gear, and its final drive ratio was selected in the old classic German way to design such things, so that its top speed (140 mph) would perfectly correspond to just slightly above its power peak (177 hp @ 5700 rpm). That is of course necessary to wring out the maximum top speed of any car.
The Acura’s five speed automatic and gearing is such that it could likely never attain its theoretical maximum speed in its overdrive fifth. As it is, it’s electronically limited to 130 anyway. But its not quite as responsive and eager to get up there, as it’s well below its power peak at very high speed. Of course, I could have held it in fourth gear, which would have taken it up to its regulated 130mph at its 7000 rpm peak, but I just wasn’t wanting to flog my brand new car quite that hard. A gear in between would be theoretically ideal, but the very smooth and willing K24Z3 four was running right near its 4200 rpm torque peak (yes) at about 125 or so, which was plenty of beans to get it there and keep it going.
The Mercedes’ lack of an overdrive meant that its ultra-smooth inline six kept spinning pretty fast at freeway speeds (3750 rpm @ 75 mph). The Honda four is more relaxed, unless pushed fully. But on the other hand, the Acura’s suspension is overtly sportier than the W124’s, and exuded splendid confidence even in triple-digit bends in the canyons (no pics in the curves; sorry). The W124 was never out of its element either in these circumstances, but there was more body lean, and the smaller tires reached their limits faster.
In terms of straight line acceleration, the two cars are very closely matched, with a 0-60 time of some 7.5 seconds, depending on whose test results you go by. Not much progress for almost thirty years? Well, my ’85 300E stickered at $78k in 2014 dollars, almost triple the price of the TSX. And this essentially a Honda Accord; remember what they were like in 1985? The world has changed.
Not surprisingly, the TSX weighs some 200 lbs more than a 300E, despite the four cylinder engine. But its four makes a delightful sound as it climbs its long scales, and when it hits 7000 rpm on a full throttle upshift; well, a Honda four at 7000 rpm makes wonderful music, not totally unlike a muted Offy four at full chat. Muted, yes; but a big four at those speeds has a decided edge to it.
The engine is commendably smooth, as smooth as a four of this size can be. I wouldn’t have taken the V6 even if it was available, as 201 hp is plenty, since I’m not exactly planning on drag racing it and I prefer as little weight on the front of a FWD car as possible. It’s hard to even tell that its front wheels are driven; there’s just no torque steer, or any other tell-tales signs of “wrong wheel drive.” Time to put that worn-out expression out of its misery.
The five-speed automatic may be short a few gears compared to latest 23-speeders, but it works well enough. It’s easy enough to “shift with the throttle”; I never caught it once hunting for the wrong gear. There are paddle shifters too, and crossing the mountains I did use them, mainly for downshifting on the downhill sections.
Is it all hugs and kisses? In my one quick drive, the weakest dynamic aspect would have to be the electric steering. I’m a fan of old-school hydraulic power steering, and have not been enamored of the electric systems. I hear the latest generation of cars from the best makers is really getting there, but then this Acura isn’t exactly state of the art, given that it first appeared in 2008.
The steering is quick and accurate, and not too light, but there is the unmistakable awareness that an electric motor is playing along too. Slight movements of the wheel create a subtle artificial feedback; realistically, that was mostly provoked by deliberately looking for it, but it’s something that one just can’t find in the hydraulic steering of yore. My xBox’s steering is better in comparison; perfectly transparent, with genuine feedback.
The only town on this whole main stretch until Bend (other than a few dusty outposts) is Burns, and the Acura was ready for a fill-up, having left Boise with less than a full tank. I didn’t even bother to calculate or consider fuel economy, given the speeds I was driving. But I expect it will deliver about 25-27 mpg average, and around 30 in relaxed freeway driving. Much better than any of these big old Chryslers, in any case.
I also stopped to shoot this ’58 Continental Mark III, even though we just featured one here. It’s for sale, and I ended up having a lengthy chat with its owner about its colorful history. I’ll do a separate post on it, as this one is already way too long. My apologies… I don’t get a new car very often.
Both of us replenished, we hit the road for the second part of the wide-open stretch between Vale near the Idaho border and Bend, where civilization encroaches once again. It’s 244 miles between the two, and although I didn’t time it, it was undoubtedly the quickest 244 miles I ever put behind me while still on the ground. Soon enough, the white tops of the Cascades appeared in the distance; the Three Sisters dead ahead and shrouded in their own clouds, and Mt. Bachelor to the left.
A little further on, Mt. Jefferson appears to the north a bit, and even Mt. Hood was visible well over a hundred miles away. And another car sharing the road… Hi there!
Bend’s traffic on a Friday afternoon was a forced re-entry into reality, and the end of triple-digit cruising. Sixty suddenly felt like 25. The drive over McKenzie Pass was a bit busier than ideal, but the TSX took advantage of any opportunities to jump ahead of the queue.
At 3:30 PM we pulled in at home, 29 hours after taking off in the driving rain in the Xbox. We brought Idaho’s sunshine back with us, as well as deeply satisfied driving muscles and re-energized parts of my brain that had been dormant all winter, or even longer. I basked in the glow of a successful journey and the feeling of falling increasingly in love with this car after some initial doubts. It had been too long… and to think that Stephanie found it. And she’s glad she did, as she absolutely loves it. It’s never too late for a little role reversal in a long relationship; it keeps things interesting.
And Lil’ Man approves too. What’s not to like?
Just curious, but what does the Owner’s Manual say about “break-in” period? I realize that isn’t the major issue it was decades ago, but I’m curious to know if your first trip was within whatever guidelines Honda might have set…?
I didn’t have time to read it 🙂
Just curious, but what does the Owner’s Manual say about “break-in” period?
Well….it’s broken in now, isn’t it?
I’ve been telling my Aunt that I can’t mosey down to Columbus to help her with car shopping until the Jetta is broken in. Manual says drive real easy for the first 600 miles, then just drive easy until 1000, that all means no engine speeds more than 2/3rd of maximum. I’m at about 450….but then winter hasn’t given up in Michigan yet either. Winter storm watch posted with 4-5″ of snow due Wednesday for Detroit.
I just checked the owner’s manual on the Acura web site. The only thing I can find about breakin is don’t tow a trailer for the first 600 miles, so Paul is golden with his 120mph cruise.
Uh oh; I forget to mention the 30′ travel trailer I picked up in Boise too. It tracked very well at those speeds 🙂
Drive it like you stole it !
But seriously…. With roller followers and cams you dont need to break in modern cars like the 60’s . But do not change the oil for at least 3500 miles as the factory uses a high zinc / non detergent oil for break in .
Also , keep an eye on your mileage for determining the grade of fuel used. If you drop to a lower octane at your elevation you may lose more in MPG than you save in the cost of fuel.
It’s all about volumetric efficiency……I’ve been dying to use that phrase ! Lol..
If you drop to a lower octane at your elevation you may lose more in MPG than you save in the cost of fuel.
Acura specs premium for the TSX wagon.
It’s all about volumetric efficiency
And Honda is the master of that art. My 1.6L Civic would absolutely run away from my 2L Escort, and get better mileage too.
I have run my Acura on 89, 91 and 94 sans deathanol. It runs much better on the 94 without the corn juice and the consumption is a good 10% better the higher octane fuel. The 91 contains 10% corn power, which has only have the energy of gasoline to begin with, so that will give 5% better economy right there. The 94 is only 3 cents a litre more, so worth it. It is really worth it in the long run, since I won’t be replacing hoses and injectors.
I have run my Acura on 89, 91 and 94 sans deathanol. It runs much better on the 94 without the corn juice and the consumption is a good 10% better the higher octane fuel.
We in the US don’t have a lot of choice as the corn ethanol industry has bribed the government into requiring a fixed amount of ethanol be blended into gas per year. Recently, the oil industry did some pushback complaining that falling demand for gas requires more ethanol be blended per gallon to meet the government mandate of a fixed number of gallons of ethanol be used, regardless of falling demand for gas.
One thing we can do is use so called “top tier” gas. “Top tier” is a level of gasoline additive to reduce fouling that exceeds the Federal standards. “Top tier” gas is recommended by Honda, VW/Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Toyota and GM.
List of refiners that meet the higher standards here:
http://www.toptiergas.com/retailers.html
‘course, it may only be hype.
@Steve, for the most part you can blame your state gov’t and/or the oil companies for the amount of corn in your tank.
Yes there is the RFS or renewable fuel standard which requires a certain amount of ethanol to be blended into the fuel supply but we are far far away from making it be in all gas.
A great example is my state WA. The tree huggers in OR state legislature passed an E10 mandate and the oil companies took advantage of that to force it on us in WA since the two states share a fuel distribution network.
Once the oil companies have invested in the blending equipment there are big advantages to the oil companies to put as much ethanol in as they can. Because of the octane boost that ethanol provides they can make 85 octane gas that turns into 87 with that 10% ethanol. The 85 octane is cheaper for them to make. While it fluctuates it is also usually cheaper for the oil companies to buy the ethanol than it is for them to make gasoline. They get the blenders credit against the federal tax. On top of it all it increases sales since most vehicles get worse MPG on E10 than on pure gas, this means that their sales go up. In short their are 4 ways that selling E10 increases the profits for oil companies.
@Steve, for the most part you can blame your state gov’t and/or the oil companies for the amount of corn in your tank.
Yes there is the RFS or renewable fuel standard which requires a certain amount of ethanol to be blended into the fuel supply but we are far far away from making it be in all gas.
Eric, some states have mandates for 10% ethanol content, usually in states that grow a lot of corn.
There is also a Federal mandate that requires a fixed amount of ethanol be blended. There was a lot of pushback, by the oil industry, against the mandate last year as the Federal blend mandate was on course to push the blend above 10%
Bipartisan push imperils ethanol mandate
Enacted eight years ago, the standard has increased steadily, requiring refiners and blenders to use 16.55 billion gallons of renewable fuel in 2013. More than 13 billion gallons of this total will be met by the use of corn ethanol, the lawmakers said.
…responding to concerns about the so-called “blend wall.” As U.S. gas consumption declines, refiners face a point when the RFS mandate will exceed the limit at which ethanol can be blended into the fuel supply, critics say. The result could be higher fuel prices and a gasoline blend that could damage cars, they said.
Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/energy-environment/192978-bipartisan-push-imperils-ethanol-mandate#ixzz2viqv2jRT
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@Steve, I’m sorry you’ve been mislead by the anti-ethanol crowd. The reality is that many of the states that have or had E10 mandates are not large corn producers, say CA, OR, HI, FL, MO. In states that are large corn producers E10 is usually sold alongside unadulterated gas and they also have E85 widely available. In the midwest it is not uncommon to find 89 octane E10 for the same price as 87 octane pure gas or 87 octane E10 for less than 87 octane pure gas.
Yes on the surface the oil industry publicly claims that they are against ethanol but the reality is that is combined with the “it will cause gas prices to increase” which is just a ruse to increase their profits and blame it on the politicians. Publicly claim it will cause the gas prices to rise, self fulfill on that “prediction” and reap the rewards of a greatly increased profit margin by simultaneously lowering their cost while increasing the price and increased volume. Just follow the money the oil companies often launched anti E10 PR campaigns when there was pending legislation but didn’t send any money on lobbying against it.
I learned all about ethanol and what it will do to an old truck. My 1970 C10 started to run rough and die out, I had an old Airtex electric fuel pump under the tank. I could tap it with a hammer and it would run for a while. It finally would not run anymore. I took the carb apart and all the gaskets had turned to goo. The diaphragm in the pump was the same. I got a rotary type electric pump and new carb kit with ethanol resistant gaskets, and changed all the fuel lines as well. Then it was fine. Until it started dropping cylinders at about 95,000 miles. 3 cracked exhaust valves and burned seats. I’m sure the fact it did not have hardened seats for no lead gas contributed to that problem. After valve job with hardened seats, and new timing chain and gears it was fine until I sold it at 160,000 miles. But by that time it was burning a quart every 3 to 500 miles.
I learned all about ethanol and what it will do to an old truck.
We have to worry about more than just the rubber. At the Detroit auto show many of the manufacturers have models of their engines on display with the features labeled, lncluding “fuel lines made of 304 stainless steel to resist corrostion from ethanol”
Paul, congratulations! An excellent article and an excellent choice! You know I love my cars a little on the obscure side, and these fit that description and look handsome to boot. And it’s not another dull crossover!
It would be interesting if Buick had brought over the Insignia Sport Tourer. I wonder how that would’ve compared.
Great read Paul ! I was riveted !
Glad to hear your trip home was a journey !
I got fire in the hole tonight…!!! Not sure my neighbors appreciated a 20 minute breakin with open headers….lol
BTW , the 70 Charger was my first car. Had to bust your chops…..
You had me hooked at ” I’m going to hitchhike out there ” hahah…
Thanks for the good words. I will be out to visit.
Michael
Hi Michael. Yes, it was epic, to use an overused word.
Sorry about the mix up; I’ll fix that. My mind was on other things….:
Would have liked to been there, with my ear plugs 🙂
I blasted my buddy’s 2001 TL over Roger’s Pass at dawn one morning. That was truly epic. Had the Mounties gotten out of the Tim Horton’s in Golden, I would have been in jail. Blasting a Cadillac over the same pas was also epic, but a rather slower and less comfortable epic. I like the TL so much after that trip I went looking for one.
YAY! New Car glee.
Thanks for sharing Paul – and wheesht about the length, a cracking read as ever.
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Those pictures and the description of the drive give me one of those occasional “I wish I lived in a big country” pangs. Really quite jealous here.
That said, the whole episode also set me happily reminiscing about belting down to Oxford to test drive – and ultimately buy – my old FIAT Coupe a few years back.
Long story short I’d been looking all over for a good 20VT and was dead set on getting it in the iconic broom yellow which (to my eye) suits it so well and is (coincidentally) my favourite colour. I’d driven a couple of sadly thrashed examples at garages nearby (in Fife and Lanarkshire) and a few in and around London that were either over-priced and/or in bad shape one way or another. Then I spotted an ad from an Oxford based specialist garage. They’d a great reputation on the owners’ forums and the car was both in my price range and had exactly the specs I’d been looking for. A hired Ford Focus and an overnight drive with a friend later I was test driving it and that afternoon drove it home to Scotland.
300 miles up the congested UK motorway network isn’t a patch on this though – even if it does get a little bit interesting and scenic once you’re north of the border. What I wouldn’t give to have that drive over, in that same Coupe on the 1000mile run you’ve described. *sigh*
Beautiful car Paul – exact color (exterior/interior) that I would have chosen. I’m approaching the same age range as you, and I have noticed a distinct change in my perception of wagons – don’t know if its an age thing or what – but I’m a big wagon fan now – and wish there were more here in the US.
Two that we don’t get that stand out are the new Mazda 6 (Atenza) and the Audi A4. The Mazda is just flat out gorgeous – the wagon capturing the superb flowing lines of the sedan. The A4 comes in an Irmscher performance edition – hunkered down and menacing (as compared to jacked up and cladded Allroad we get).
That ticks me off–I hadn’t realized you could no longer get the standard A4 Avant in the US any more. I hate the stupid jacked-up stance and ugly black cladding–much prefer the standard height, alloys and color-keyed trim.
Volvo did the same thing a few years back–cancelled the V70 but kept the XC70. Boo!
Paul, put me in the camp that forgot this car even existed but it is the perfect choice for what you’re looking for.
So what is the plan for the old Subaru?
Want it? 🙂 It’s got a couple of dents, one self-inflicted during our epic winter storm.
If you don’t want to deal with selling it, donate it to a charity. Around Detroit, there are a ton of charities that take cars. Someone that needs basic wheels can get one, and the donor gets a tax deduction.
Donated an 81 Mazda in 99. Called the charity, they asked “does it run?”, which it did. Then they set the appointment for their tow truck to come get it.
There used to be a ton of fraud in the valuations people were claiming for their cars. A coworker of mine donated a 12 year old Hyundai Excel, with 190,000 miles, a broken timing belt and bent valves, and claimed $4,000. I think now, you wait until the charity actually sells the car and you get a form giving the sale price for your deduction.
Nice choice Paul! Personally I was hoping you would go for a Forester XT (the ultimate Q-Ship), but even as a recent Subaru convert I can understand your not wanting the AWD in a locale where it’s not really needed.
Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a TSX wagon outside of an Acura auto show booth. Too bad it’s going away after this year.
One question is how long did the car sit at dealer? If it was in the showroom, that would keep it somewhat fresher than outside for a year.
Having moved to Oregon from New York I am annoyed that Oregon’s speed limits are even more archaic. In New York there are 55 MPH roads that you cannot go 55 on without crashing (unless you own a Corvette-like vehicle though you are still likely to crash) and it is nice New York gives you the option to make your own choice. If I have to travel long distances in Oregon I am bringing my radar detector with me because I have tasted the freedom of speed (Some at surface roads in the Southwest have a 65-70 MPH speed limit) and do not like being held back. Enjoy the Acura, maybe I will buy one someday.
Those Greyhound buses going to Portland are going to be full of Leather Tramps once the weather warms up, should be an interesting Summer with the police trying new tactics.
I really enjoyed this post, as I own a similar TSX (2011 in Charcoal Gray without the tech package). I bought mine in October of 2012 from an Acura dealer here in Orange County (CA) for just over 25k with 21k miles. It was in perfect shape, and was Acura certified. I love just about everything about the car, especially the stereo, which is better than the BOSE system in my prior car (2008 G35). It could use a slightly more powerful engine though. The turbo engine from the old Acura RLX would have been a good fit here.
I’m a big fan of wagons (I owned a 2005 Mazda6 Wagon in the past), and I don’t understand why these don’t sell at a higher number. It handles like a sports sedan, looks better than the 4 door version, and has as much room inside as many SUVs. I was able to get a good deal though since these don’t sell well (a bonus of liking wagons), and it is fun driving a car you don’t see every day.
Excellent!! I read this while sitting in the park on my lunch break today, the first nice day of the year (almost 60 degrees) after a winter of pure shit, and I was right there along with you. I could smell the new car smell and hear the upshift after the engine nearly clipped it’s redline for the first time, saw the green valley pass by out the window of a Greyhound bus and felt the miles of road passing beneath my feet. I love long drives and good cars. I hate – HATE HAAAAAAAAATEEEEEEE H8 H8 H8H8H8H8H8H8 car dealers, car salesmen, haggling, credit scores, loans, signing papers, paying bills, etc., so I’ve never bought a new car, but reading this kinda convinces me I’m missing out.
Love the car, too. I remember when these were first announced and thinking they were way cool, but I never remembered seeing any after that. I had completely forgotten they existed for the longest time. Then, about 6 months ago, I happened to come across one parked on the street and since then I’ve started noticing them all over the place. It’s really strange, actually – I dunno if I was just mistaking them for something else (wagons are still very popular here) or if everyone waited to start buying them until they were no longer being made. In any case, the TSX has been the best Acura since it’s been in their lineup as far as I’m concerned and I’d love to have one of these myself. I had always been a strict adherent to the 4 cylinder engine = needs manual transmission school of thought, but I think that logic may have finally become nonsense for modern cars. The last few 4-cyl/auto rentals I drove, which were mostly all garbage compared to this, were way beyond adequate in that respect. Automatics shift lightning fast these days and although I know many of my fellow commentators feel that anything beyond a Powerglide is fluff, I do believe that those extra gears make a world of difference. These cars are an entirely different experience from what was typical even ten years ago.
This is also the first Honda product you’ve had, right? From the many things you’ve written about what you like and what you don’t, I have a feeling you’ll end up loving the wagon even more as time goes on. Honda & Acura have taken some well deserved knees to the groin for certain things over the past decade or so, but at their core they’re still what they always have been, and this is one of their best recent efforts. Some of that is also due to the automotive press and blogosphorium becoming more obsessed with superlatives now than they’ve ever been, and as Canuck said so well up above, that’s not at all what these cars are about. No one else is better at turning necessary compromises into well-balanced assets. In my experience with (way too many) Hondas, they’re always fun (enough) to drive and they always do exactly what you want them to. What more can you ask?
I should go test drive one of these while they’re still in showrooms, just for shits and giggles. Sure would be nice to drive one off the lot and never come back… Tomorrow’s Forecast: 20 degree bullshit + chance of snow. Oh well… back to reality – thanks for a great little vacation from it, though! Congratulations and enjoy!
Tomorrow’s Forecast: 20 degree bullshit + chance of snow.
Sean, the salesmen will be desperate for someone to talk to. Go for it.
fwiw, the day I bought the Jetta was just like that. The best weather in Detroit in weeks: 20 degrees and heavy overcast with chance of snow, but the roads were clear right then. By the time I was driving the new Jetta home that evening it was snowing like crazy, roads completely snow-covered. Found out the much vilified cheapie OEM Bridgestones worked quite well in snow.
I would truly like to own one of these, but I’m only daydreaming here. Maybe one day in the not too distant future, though. I’ve grown to like my beater Buick for grunt work and long distance hauls (what a TSX wagon would do if I bought it), so it’s not going anywhere for the moment. That said, I don’t keep cars too long… I think 2 years was the longest, and I’m already up to 6 months on this one. Plus, you guys would all make fun of me like crazy if I bought the same car as Paul, LOL. I’m not trying to swagger jack anybody… that would be like showing up to homeroom with the same haircut the coolest kid in the class just got the day before.
For new cars in general, however, it does create an itch! Right now is really the first time in my life that the stars have aligned to fill dealer showrooms with some new cars I like and my pockets with enough money to own them, so it seems like the timing is right. But if I do sign my soul over to the man, it’ll be for something that’s more of a toy, but still practical. The short list is something like Fiat 500 Abarth, MINI Clubman and *gasp* the electric Ford Focus!
I like the Jetta wagon a lot, too! I’ve always wanted to get a ride in this kind. There’s only a few around and they’re all TDIs, or Hybrid if it’s a sedan. I’ve tried to flag them down many times, even if I didn’t need a cab, but no luck so far. If I catch one today, I’ll take it as a sign from the universe to buy a new car.
This TSX Wagon is going to be a future classic. Overlooked from its debut it is one of the best cars of the last 10 years.
Late with my comment, but let me congratulate you on an excellent choice of new car. So glad you love it, and it was Stephanie’s find! I think this bodes well for the marriage.
Daughter-in-law’s car is acting up, may need to give them the Corolla to finish college and have another look at those first generation TSX’s-have liked them since they came out.
This strikes me as a great choice, and one that would not have occurred to me. For some time, Acuras have seemed insubstantial and almost invisible… they generally don’t have the presence or gravitas of a European car. But this one hits the sweet spot at a good price… there’s even a bit of VW/Audi in the greenhouse and C-pillar to make me feel at home.
Great car. I’d have broken it in by the book though, since I keep my cars. Did you have oil consumption or head gasket issues with your Subaru?
I would like a car like that – perfect size for my uses. I often carry one bicycle, some luggage and at most one passenger.
But: no Focus wagon in USA; no Mondeo/Fusion wagon in USA; no Acura dealer within 100 miles; no Mercedes dealer within 100 miles and cost too much; Volkswagen is scary with reliability issues.
I drive in the wide open west at speed: Cheyenne to Scottsdale or Tacoma or Milwaukee or Bozeman are the usual trips. All of the above wagons, except a Ford, also scare me with the dearth of dealerships for warranty/repair in the high desert, high plains or mountains. Why can’t I have a Ford that is a proper station wagon?
Enjoy the Acura. It looks distinctive but very conservative. I admire the choice.
But: no Focus wagon in USA; no Mondeo/Fusion wagon in USA; no Acura dealer within 100 miles; no Mercedes dealer within 100 miles and cost too much; Volkswagen is scary with reliability issues.
The current Focus hatchback is pretty close to having the capacity of a wagon. The downside is Consumer Report rates the Focus’ reliabilityworse than a VW Jetta wagon.
Paul, congrats on the Acura. I think it would be a great vehicle to replace my wife’s Mazda 5. Took her to look at one, but she sat in it and decreed that the seating position was too low for her.
BTW, are you running Premium in your TSX? That’s the only thing that gave me pause.
We are, but it isn’t necessary. We don’t really drive that much, just for errands and pleasure, so fuel cost is not a big issue for us. We’re averaging 25+ mpg.
Great story and congratulations on a very nice catch! I saw one of the last week, shortly followed by an ILX. Both rare sights in this otherwise Acura-laden part of the US. Yesterday on my way home from work I followed a variation on that theme – a 1st gen TSX fully JDM (or perhaps Euro) badged as a Honda Accord, front and rear. An interesting twist on badge engineering. By the way, when we bought our Forester XT back in ’04 I looked longingly at the 6MT TSX, but we really needed a wagon. If the TSX wagon had been available then we might still have it.
Loved the story, hit all the right notes! Drove Hwy 20 to Bend a few years ago in my wife’s G35X – great fun, although I would have been hitchhiking back to Denver if I pegged triple digits! I couldn’t get over the 55 mph limit either; afraid I became quite the broken record. Reminded me too of my long search / decision to replace an old Saab. I’ve always been a wagon guy and finally decided on an ’07 Mazdaspeed3. It’s been a great car, and my DD for 4 years now. I found it online at a dealer in PA, negotiated w/ their Internet Sales Mgr, flew to Harrisburg, got the car and drove home to CO. Road trips and fast wagons, whoopee!
Paul, I read your story a few weeks ago when I was shopping for my wagon, and it was instrumental in my final choice. I gave my daughter my Mazda 3 six years ago when she graduated H.S. I replaced it with an 01 Saturn LW200 (Opel Vectre) with the 2.2 Ecotech and the fabulous Saturn 4-sp overdrive auto. It’s a well appointed wagon, a notch up from the Jetta or the Focus. Like Stephanie, I DID NOT want a Subaru, and over the past five years I’d been watching all the other mfg’s abandon their wagon lines. I camp, ski and have big dogs, so a wagon/hatch is a must. I almost bit on a Mazda 6 wagon w/ 40k mi a few years ago, but the dealer played hard ball on price and i walked away; I watched it sell >13 months later for less than I had originally offered.
So I too had been looking at low mileage Jettas and Volvos, when I discovered the TSX. When the economic cards fell into place, I began earnestly looking for ONLY this vehicle. I expanded my AutoTrader search radius to 500 miles and found a silver one in NJ w/ 3800 miles – it had been a service loaner at the Acura dealer in Turnersville. I got them down to $29k flat, out the door, with PA tags on it. I paid $400 to have it delivered to my work site, outside of Pittsburgh. Instead of getting to know it all at once, I had to sit in my office watching it out the window for >8hrs before I got to drive it the 6 miles home in the dark. And I’ve been putting in 10-hr days since, so I’m still looking for a reason to put some miles on it. In good time….
I’ve had it now for four days and I’m LOVING IT. Good luck with yours; your review was great and helped me make my final choice.
Congratulations. We love our TSX as much as ever, although a white interior in our muddy winters might have not been the most practical choice 🙂
It’s got 12k on it now, and of course totally without any issues. One oil change and tire rotation.
Enjoy!
Late comment, but…congrats on the new vehicle, and an enjoyable well-written piece on the journey.
Weird CC effect: my neighbor has a nice 2005 Accord coupe with a Lyle Pearson front plate! (I must learn about the backstory on the car.)
Do you still have that TSX? How about a five year update?
Yes. And I’ve been planning a five year update for a couple of months. Just haven’t gotten around to it, but will soon.
Fun read, thanks. I bought a used 2012 wag in 2017 and still love it. Plenty of go, comfy, good sound. The tech package gets a better sound system, nav, and a remote hatch opener, which I use all the time.