I couldn't take it any more bros. The Optima sucks and was a huge mistake. Prepping it for sale now
I spent most of early summer car shopping. Unlike with the Optima I did my due diligence... took my time, did some research and test drives etc. You have a lot of time to think during a prison sentence. Here is what I drove and passed on:
GTI- didn't wow me like the internet promised, but more importantly was fucking tiny inside, which surprised me as I didn't remember our Rabbit being so cramped. Then again we literally never used the back seat. With the rear facing seat I couldn't sit in front, and my wife is taller than me. When the kid (or kids?) can do front facing seats I will be looking at coupes (no worries, if all goes to plan that will probably be in 4-5 years at the earliest)
GLI- worked space wise but was incredibly ugly in and out... was at the top of my budget so I wanted nothing less than perfection at that price point. I miss the days when they just grafted a trunk onto the Golf (though it would need more legroom too)
F30 340i- again just didn't wow me like the internet promised (no swipes CALL 911). Basically like the F30 328i I rented a few years ago, but with extra power I wouldn't be dipping into much. Dealer only had used 320is and 340is; maybe if they had a 328i M-Sport things would be different. Again at the top of my price range, but didn't have a lot of things I would have wanted at said price (sport package, LSD, LED headlights etc). Also just couldn't push the button on what will hopefully be a long term car from a German manufacturer
Cars I thought about but didn't even bother to test drive... other FWD mainstreamers; mainly the 6 & Civic Si. Either would have worked price wise. 6 is gorgeous and well equipped, CSi is fun to drive. But I think I'm done with FWD for the time being. One of the things I hated the most about the Optima. Couldn't put power down and would cut it for like 10 seconds. Maybe Civic Si would have put the power down well with that LSD... but Morris' CR-V experience turned me off from the 1.5T for now. New Accord is OK but eh. Can't think of anything else worth considering
So anyway what did I end up with? Well I don't have pictures of mine but I got a 2016 Acura TLX SH-AWD Tech. I can prob sum up the last 2 or so months with it 206 style:
+ I love the exterior; looks like an Alfa when modified
+ SH-AWD is no gimmick; it really puts the power down beautifully and with zero fuss
+ As I mentioned in Car Chat gas mileage is excellent; getting ~25-27 MPG a tank in 90-100 degree weather on the same commute that had me in the high teens in the G and low 20s in the Optima (small turbo engines are a lie). Admittedly tires might have factored into that
+ Has good tech. Panasonic ELS stereo is good (though could use more EQ tuning); multiple rear camera views are very handy
+ J35Y6 engine is the best of all worlds. Has about 85% of the zing/rip of the VQ37 in the G, but better gas mileage than my old Civic, and Honda reliability. Still needs timing belt changes though :facepalm:
+ Not TLX specific but not having a black car is nice... much less stress about paint and it is a bit cooler sitting in the hot sun
+ Got a good deal... was at a Honda dealer in my yokel job town, they were days away from sending it to auction so I got it way under KBB. I should have turned the screws even more
+ Much better aftermarket, and FB group is about 3 levels less scummy than the Optima group, which should have been one of many red flags
- ZF9 is not the best. It is amazing at fuel economy as I mentioned... but at low speeds it can be clunky. 1st & 2nd gear are not short enough. Really should have just used the corporate 10 speed
- Interior is cramped for its size; rear child seat just barely fits behind wifey
- Jewel Eye LED headlights low key suck; almost wish I could retrofit some regular HID projectors in
- Could not find one with Advance package which adds ventilated seats and ACC
- No panoramic sunroof available at all, only thing I will miss from the Optima... hopefully will get one in wifey's next car
- Not much internet clout factor ("Satan we couldn't get you a Ferrari cake so we got you an Acura cake")
Again no pics but mine looks exactly like this:
(https://www.tlxforums.com/attachments/20160111_195431-jpg.11657/)
Yep, not the best financial decision but it is what it is. Somebody has to do it :lol: I feel like I am dealing with a known quantity... bought this with a clear head... and most importantly the more time I spend with it the more I am enjoying it. Compared to German equivalents I can see why car mags and the internet write it off... but for the money I think it's a much better deal. A new TLX SH-AWD Advance with absolutely everything you could want feature wise in a sport sedan lists for $45K and sells for less. What German offering are you getting for that price, and is something like a similarly equipped 330i worth $15-20K more? IMO hell no
Though the real deal in the segment, if you are willing to roll the dice, is the Genesis 3.3T... which is just as well equipped as the TLX for the same money, but with damn near 100 more HP. I still don't trust the Koreans though
As for plans going forward... part of me wants to get coilovers and throw the 20s from the Optima on... but part of me also likes it how it is. Tein makes good coilovers so I might just give those a try. Suspension install is a bitch though; probably the worst of any car I've owned... another deterrent. Also really love the "aero kit". May do some noise bolt ons as well
So yea that is where I am... wanted to wait until I "finished the build" but I got tired of holding out
Nice car, and under rated is good, man. It aint about impressing yabbos on the internet.
But, umm, you sure you want to make the same mistakes on this one you did on the Optima?
Sounds nice. Good luck with it.
Quote from: Soup DeVille on August 08, 2019, 07:04:46 AM
Nice car, and under rated is good, man. It aint about impressing yabbos on the internet.
But, umm, you sure you want to make the same mistakes on this one you did on the Optima?
The mistake with the Optima was buying the Optima, not really whatever came after. Well, besides selling it after a year :facepalm: And everything I'm looking to do is reversible, with good parts. Going into it with eyes open this time.
Nice!
(Be careful about that 9AT, everyone who I know works at Honda HQ says it can be kinda dumpy)
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on August 08, 2019, 07:35:38 AM
The mistake with the Optima was buying the Optima, not really whatever came after. Well, besides selling it after a year :facepalm: And everything I'm looking to do is reversible, with good parts. Going into it with eyes open this time.
Too bad about the Optima. Just sounds like a vehicle that wasn't well sorted. 2Ts do work well when the software is done right. The 9 spd helps as well.
Quote from: 2o6 on August 08, 2019, 07:38:28 AM
Nice!
(Be careful about that 9AT, everyone who I know works at Honda HQ says it can be kinda dumpy)
The ZF9 in my Discovery has been flawless over close to 3 years.
Quote from: 2o6 on August 08, 2019, 07:38:28 AM
Nice!
(Be careful about that 9AT, everyone who I know works at Honda HQ says it can be kinda dumpy)
Car still has about 20K miles left in warranty, and possibly more on the transmission. Some 2015 cars got replacements... I will ask about it
Congrats. Better car than the Optima for sure.
I don't think they've used the 10-speed auto in an AWD application yet? I think it's just the Accord and Odyssey, but yeah, the general consensus is that it's a much better than the ZF9.
Both are really kind of interesting designs
Thanks. The RDX has A 10 speed for FWD and AWD, but I don't know if it's exactly the same one. That's a strong contender for the MKX replacement when the time comes.
:wub:
(https://external-preview.redd.it/9pMFKrlHch16EbPI0qCeEBbKbaVmaQihEwOFe3TBSR8.jpg?width=960&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=1b2b66960c9fa28d0ce5eeabb3e99e7d6b5509b5)
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on August 08, 2019, 08:01:37 AM
Thanks. The RDX has A 10 speed for FWD and AWD, but I don't know if it's exactly the same one. That's a strong contender for the MKX replacement when the time comes.
Oh, good point. Didn't realize that had a 10-speed.
I really wish they offered SH-AWD on the Accord.
They have all the pieces to make something great... just need to put it all together
I do think there is an inherent power limit on transverse transmissions which will cap the performance of whatever they do. But ~25-27 MPG and a 100+ MPH trap speed is about as good as it gets
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on August 08, 2019, 08:20:46 AM
:wub:
(https://external-preview.redd.it/9pMFKrlHch16EbPI0qCeEBbKbaVmaQihEwOFe3TBSR8.jpg?width=960&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=1b2b66960c9fa28d0ce5eeabb3e99e7d6b5509b5)
Beautiful. Now...leave it alone so you don't end up hating it. :huh: :lol:
Edit: Wait, that's a California plate. Looks lowered, on aftermarket wheels. Nooooo don't do it.
I hope this one lasts longer than a year :lol:
Sweet. I'm glad you replaced the Optima- that was a bad move. I'm glad this has the V6 and not the 2.4L (I don't think you can get one with SHAWD?)
SH-AWD is legit as shit. My girlfriend's RDX has it and it's so much fun to hammer the thing on cloverleafs and feel the power shift. Get some pics of this thing.
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on August 08, 2019, 08:20:46 AM
:wub:
(https://external-preview.redd.it/9pMFKrlHch16EbPI0qCeEBbKbaVmaQihEwOFe3TBSR8.jpg?width=960&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=1b2b66960c9fa28d0ce5eeabb3e99e7d6b5509b5)
Is that it? Looks great.
Congrats man, its a bigger car than I would want but I agree it is a very compelling package for the price. Hopefully you found a car you can hold on to for a while. :lol:
Quote from: CALL_911 on August 08, 2019, 09:00:01 AM
Sweet. I'm glad you replaced the Optima- that was a bad move. I'm glad this has the V6 and not the 2.4L (I don't think you can get one with SHAWD?)
SH-AWD is legit as shit. My girlfriend's RDX has it and it's so much fun to hammer the thing on cloverleafs and feel the power shift. Get some pics of this thing.
Yea I really missed the "rumble" of the VQ. Again this isn't quite that rude but it's miles better than any turbo 4 I've experienced. Going forward I'm hoping to avoid FWD and turbocharging as long as possible. And SH-AWD is legit... just a shame Honda hasn't put it in something compelling and affordable. Hopefully the next TLX will get the power and transmission necessary to silence the haters
Quote from: FoMoJo on August 08, 2019, 09:02:37 AM
Is that it? Looks great.
No but that's the color and overall design brief. Wheels, subtle lowering, aero kit, black trim. Just hope the 20s sitting in my garage are comfy and don't kill my FE
Quote from: SJ_GTI on August 08, 2019, 11:07:47 AM
Congrats man, its a bigger car than I would want but I agree it is a very compelling package for the price. Hopefully you found a car you can hold on to for a while. :lol:
Thanks, you and me both brother
Congrats! Love the color and the wheels; badass combination! :ohyeah:
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on August 08, 2019, 11:34:05 AM
...Just hope the 20s sitting in my garage are comfy and don't kill my FE
Will those fit right on? Or will you have to get adaptors for the bolt pattern and/or offset??
If that's the goal, would look good, plan on doing anything to the front look?
Quote from: SJ_GTI on August 08, 2019, 11:47:28 AM
Will those fit right on? Or will you have to get adaptors for the bolt pattern and/or offset??
They will bolt right up. Admittedly part of the decision :lol: I may run spacers in the back depending on how things sit after lowering. Just afraid of how they will affect everything. They actually rode great on the Optima with stock suspension. Hoping the higher quality coilovers will keep them tolerable
Quote from: NomisR on August 08, 2019, 11:54:59 AM
If that's the goal, would look good, plan on doing anything to the front look?
Would love a chicken wire grille to replace the beak but there are no straightforward solutions. Might do a carbon wrap, I dunno. Not critical. Aero kit will tie up the looks
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on August 08, 2019, 12:07:44 PM
They will bolt right up. Admittedly part of the decision :lol: I may run spacers in the back depending on how things sit after lowering. Just afraid of how they will affect everything. They actually rode great on the Optima with stock suspension. Hoping the higher quality coilovers will keep them tolerable
That's handy, I would definitely try them out with the stock suspension first to see how it looks (that might be enough). If they ride well it would be a nice upgrade in looks.
I'd probably hold off on the suspension for a while. Get used to how the car rides before deciding to change it.
Probably a wise decision. I think I've seen them on bigger wheels with the aero kit... that may honestly be enough
Congrats! That's one of Acura's better designs from the last 10 years. I've seen some aftermarket grilles that look really nice.
Seems like a solid upgrade... Will enjoy the adventure this thread will evolve into :lol:
I kind of wish you kept us abreast of your buying process. Vicarious car shopping is fun.
My favorite Acuras tend to be their four bangers, but this is a good pick too. The Honda V6's NVH is amazing.
Quote from: Laconian on August 08, 2019, 02:53:55 PM
My favorite Acuras tend to be their four bangers, but this is a good pick too. The Honda V6's NVH is amazing.
I love NVH, too! You should listen to my AMC tractor engine!
Quote from: Laconian on August 08, 2019, 02:21:22 PM
I kind of wish you kept us abreast of your buying process. Vicarious car shopping is fun.
yeah but it tends to bring out the rabble rabble rabble too. :lol:
Congrats! fun fun.
It cracks me up when young guys don't heed the dad advice about how much kids changes everything (car buying, house buying, life priorities). So your comments about car seats being a major decision factor just make me go: "yup".
We just got rid of booster seats about a year or two ago, my youngest two are like a head shorter than everyone in their grades. Son is sprouting though.
Probably should have gone with a Toyota. The Avalon is quite sporty.
Quote from: AutobahnSHO on August 08, 2019, 04:16:15 PM
yeah but it tends to bring out the rabble rabble rabble too. :lol:
Bah, it's the good kind of rabble.
These new rear facing cold seats really are gigantic and for no real reason when you look at them. Just tons of wasted space. Designers should be given a design constraint of the leg space needed for an adult - which is what a car is designed for.
I mean really, how can a 2 foot kid sitting upright take up more then 3 feet of legroom???
I don't remember this for the step son 12 years ago. His seat fit in everything really easily.
Quote from: Laconian on August 08, 2019, 02:21:22 PM
I kind of wish you kept us abreast of your buying process. Vicarious car shopping is fun.
I did on TCL, and they started calling me out for selling wolf tickets :lol: Plus 93JC was getting really angry at my financial irresponsibility :lol: Plus last time I got consensus I ended up in a Kia Optima :pee:
I had to do some soul searching and thinking on my own. Big realization I came to is that I am a car guy through and through and need something I'll enjoy. I might have ended up in something like a Mazda 6 if people had talked me into it :facepalm: I needed something a little more extreme but still responsible. I think this worked out
Quote from: r0tor on August 08, 2019, 06:36:46 PM
These new rear facing cold seats really are gigantic and for no real reason when you look at them. Just tons of wasted space. Designers should be given a design constraint of the leg space needed for an adult - which is what a car is designed for.
I mean really, how can a 2 foot kid sitting upright take up more then 3 feet of legroom???
I don't remember this for the step son 12 years ago. His seat fit in everything really easily.
Toddlers are closer to 3 feet tall, but it is a bit ridiculous. I look at the seats and all the material they could have removed. You look at something like a race seat for example. But that's neither here nor there. I think I will flip my seat around once she turns two. I'll do more research on seats if we have another one
For the record, I completely tried to talk you out of the optima :lol:
Car seats are crazy these days. I'm all for safety, but damn. Strollers, too. :lol:
Congratulations!! Nice car. That's really good gas mileage although I'm assuming that's on premium 91 grade rather than the Optima's regular 87 grade.
Yea, only takes 93, but the mileage improvement is bigger than the cost increase so it's still a net gain. I was initially adamant about getting a car that took 87 but in the context of all the other things I wanted it was minor. I'd wager my Optima would be a lot more efficient if it were... optimized :winkguy: for higher octanes.
I put a tank of ethanol-free premium in the Taco the other day. Turned a ~$45 fill up into a ~$60 fill up, but I like to run a tank of The Good Stuff once in a while. Taco is now optimized. :lol:
Ethanol free I can agree with. If your Taco isn't designed to run higher octane you are just sending more unburned fuel through your exhaust. Premium is only The Good Stuff if your car is meant to drink it.
You sure? I thought that higher octane only prevented unwanted combustion. Even with octane, it's probably still combusting fully in the presence of compression + spark.
Quote from: RomanChariot on August 09, 2019, 11:08:18 AM
Ethanol free I can agree with. If your Taco isn't designed to run higher octane you are just sending more unburned fuel through your exhaust. Premium is only The Good Stuff if your car is meant to drink it.
Yeah, I did/do it more for the ethanol-free aspect than the octane...wouldn't bother if it was just the octane difference. And even then, a tank of ethanol-free probably isn't really
doing anything...it's not cleaning deposits or anything like that. Alas, I do it anyway. Or just dump the occasional can of Seafoam in with a fill-up.
When I lived near the lake I'd try and get ethanol free 93 for the Z. Anything to get above the typical 18-21 or so MPG it got
Ethanol lifts octane though which is why all the tuner bois drive 30 miles out of their way for fillups to say "I got dat E85 tune yo"
Quote from: Laconian on August 09, 2019, 11:16:08 AM
You sure? I thought that higher octane only prevented unwanted combustion. Even with octane, it's probably still combusting fully in the presence of compression + spark.
In pump fuel the higher octane fuels burn slower so they have different timing requirements. If your vehicle doesn't call for high octane fuel it may not adjust the timing to adjust for the slower burn which can lead to incomplete combustion. This can lead to lower fuel economy and increased emissions. This does not apply to race fuels where you can get high octane, fast burning fuels.
Ecoboost Fiesta gets 93, just to be safe, because low speed preignition is a thing. The manual says it will be fine on 87, but come on, a high compressiom turbo is what it is.
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on August 09, 2019, 11:37:15 AM
When I lived near the lake I'd try and get ethanol free 93 for the Z. Anything to get above the typical 18-21 or so MPG it got
Ethanol lifts octane though which is why all the tuner bois drive 30 miles out of their way for fillups to say "I got dat E85 tune yo"
It lifts octane, but reduces mileage, as ethanol only as about 75% the energy density of dinosaur juice.
Quote from: RomanChariot on August 09, 2019, 11:52:32 AM
In pump fuel the higher octane fuels burn slower so they have different timing requirements. If your vehicle doesn't call for high octane fuel it may not adjust the timing to adjust for the slower burn which can lead to incomplete combustion. This can lead to lower fuel economy and increased emissions. This does not apply to race fuels where you can get high octane, fast burning fuels.
Bahhhhh Taco has VVT.
The 1GR-FE is the 4.0 L (3,956 cc) version, designed for longitudinal mounting in RWD and 4WD pickup applications. It has a bore and a stroke of 94 mm × 95 mm (3.70 in × 3.74 in). Output is 236 hp (176 kW; 239 PS) at 5200 rpm with 266 lb⋅ft (361 N⋅m) of torque at 4000 rpm on 87 octane, and 240 hp (179 kW; 243 PS) at 5200 rpm with 278 lb⋅ft (377 N⋅m) at 3700 rpm on 91 octane. This engine features Toyota's VVT-i, variable valve timing system on the intake cam and a compression ratio of 10.0:1.
Quote from: giant_mtb on August 09, 2019, 12:30:27 PM
Bahhhhh Taco has VVT.
The 1GR-FE is the 4.0 L (3,956 cc) version, designed for longitudinal mounting in RWD and 4WD pickup applications. It has a bore and a stroke of 94 mm × 95 mm (3.70 in × 3.74 in). Output is 236 hp (176 kW; 239 PS) at 5200 rpm with 266 lb⋅ft (361 N⋅m) of torque at 4000 rpm on 87 octane, and 240 hp (179 kW; 243 PS) at 5200 rpm with 278 lb⋅ft (377 N⋅m) at 3700 rpm on 91 octane. This engine features Toyota's VVT-i, variable valve timing system on the intake cam and a compression ratio of 10.0:1.
Good thing you got new tires to handle all that extra horsepower :rockon:
Quote from: RomanChariot on August 09, 2019, 01:58:58 PM
Good thing you got new tires to handle all that extra horsepower :rockon:
HELL YEAH BROTHER.
I put the 20s on.... will grab a pic, then take them off. Just worse in every way and they don't look good on this car. IF I get different wheels they will be light weight 18s or 19s but I kind of like the stockers
Yes. Stock is good.
Nice whip son!!!!!
I really feel like this is gonna stay stock out of pure laziness :facepalm:
We are on vaca now... drove it down instead of the MKX; much more enjoyable. LKA worked OK and came in handy. And we were able to bring down all the crap associated with a toddler. If we had 2 kids or brought the dog it would be different. I still kind of want wifey to get another sedan though
Lux Sport Sedan life is just awesome.
I would love to take the Giulia on vacation for the long drive but we go for the week and (the wife) bring way too much crap.
I'm very late to the party on this Sporty. The last few weeks have been busy enough to distract me from important stuff like this.
Anyway many congratulations. Good choice. It looks great. You made me jealous.
(My 10 year-old G37 and the "Essence Sans Plomb - Eau de Parfum" CR-V have me sniffing around the manufacturer sites.)
Thanks :lol:
I am still enjoying it and really feeling no pressure to modify it, which are both good signs. Gas mileage has dipped a bit but I don't mind. Still have to get rid of the Optima :facepalm:
As for your plight... CX-5 Turbo looks good