Acura ILX?

[magbarn]

A gimmick? The only thing you'll get over in a week is having to ever dig out your keys. It's SO NICE to be able to go straight from home into the car and out of the car all day long never ever needing to take the keys out. Once you have it you will never, ever want another car where you have to use the key.

I don't know OP...do you want an expensive Civic from a brand that is having an identity crisis and not selling well?

We have 4 cars in our family, my DD is a 335d with start-stop, and I have no problems driving my wife's TSX at all. In fact, Acura's keyfob is really nice as far as key fob/remotes go. One thing about Acura's is they're very reliable and super cheap to maintain. Case in point, my 335d uses $8-9/qt synth oil of which it uses 8 qts of. Not to mention the $22 oil filter. (Yes, BMW has free maint, but I'm already over 50K miles) OTOH, my wife's car uses $3 Honda oil filters and runs great with $24 for 5 qts of Mobil 1 synth oil. Even worse, I just paid $800 for them to change my automatic tranny fluid (Late model BMW's must have the automatic fluid changed while the tranny is within a precise temp range as the fluid levels change on temp and there's no dipstick!), whilst our TSX uses $18 of Honda ATF per change.

 

[imaketouchtheme]

We have 4 cars in our family, my DD is a 335d with start-stop, and I have no problems driving my wife's TSX at all. In fact, Acura's keyfob is really nice as far as key fob/remotes go. One thing about Acura's is they're very reliable and super cheap to maintain. Case in point, my 335d uses $8-9/qt synth oil of which it uses 8 qts of. Not to mention the $22 oil filter. (Yes, BMW has free maint, but I'm already over 50K miles) OTOH, my wife's car uses $3 Honda oil filters and runs great with $24 for 5 qts of Mobil 1 synth oil. Even worse, I just paid $800 for them to change my automatic tranny fluid (Late model BMW's must have the automatic fluid changed while the tranny is within a precise temp range as the fluid levels change on temp and there's no dipstick!), whilst our TSX uses $18 of Honda ATF per change.

You should never, ever change your transmission fluid in your BMW. It does more bad than good.

 

[magbarn]

You should never, ever change your transmission fluid in your BMW. It does more bad than good.

Did it on my 2003 330i with changes every 50K miles, sold the car with 220K miles with the original tranny. The reason why not to, is that most BMW owner's follow BMW's worthless maintenance recommendations such as their 'Lifetime Fluids' BS. By waiting >100K+ miles to change the fluid, there's already so much junk inside the tranny that when you change the fluid to clean ATF, it actually dislodges the junk which then then clogs the tiny passageways, destroying the trannsmission.

 

[Synchromesh]

As a former Acura owner ('00 Integra GS-R) I'd like to mention that ever since Acura stopped producing Integra/RSX their line up of cars became completely boring. The TSX is a piece of Eurotrash and is not worthy to kiss Integra's feet. The last decent-looking TL was made in 2008 and the RL... well, if you're into those - go for it.

Honda already tried a "fancy Civic" approach with Integra. It worked great because aside from basic Civic underpinnings there were lots of good things about those cars such as great handling, good drivetrains, and many options including modification. But ever since they started pushing Acura's image more upmarket their cars became crap. The new ILX is just basically a Civic with a lipstick. The engines are hardly impressive, the looks are average at best and prices are not quite low. It'll never be a new Integra.

I used to be a Honda fanboi but their current crop of cars is entirely lacking. There is no enthusiast models save for the Civic Si which is outgunned by most others for the price. So if you enjoy sporty cars look elsewhere. That's what I did.

 

[solo118]

If you want the ILX make sure you get the 2.0 engine

My advice is to get a TSX you may get a better price, and there is only one engine choice which is similar to the 2.0 ILX.

I just wish they put that turbo i-4 in the TSX (that was in the RDX)

 

[chris2k5]

The ILX is a glorified Civic from my test drive. I didn't like that it didn't scream luxury or high end to me.

Go with a TL SH-AWD with Tech package or a G37 with Navigation.

Of course if you want German, you get the new BMW 328 or Audi A4.

 

[dukebound85]

Also if it gets cold where you live you can get an optional heated front windscreen. It is patented by Ford so you can only get it on Ford and Jaguar cars, but it is totally worth the extra so that in the morning when it's frosty you just press a button and a minute or so later you can drive away with a perfectly clear view.

(Full disclosure: I drive a Ford Fiesta and love it!)

hmm my subie has defrosters on my windscreen for the wipers, which is almost just as nice haha

 

[yg17]

Just test drove a TSX tonight and really like it. I think the ILX is out, it's pointless when the TSX is a couple grand more. Got the salesman's supposedly rock bottom price. Going to another dealer tomorrow, and then put them against each other to get the best price I possibly can.

 

[GoCubsGo]

Just test drove a TSX tonight and really like it. I think the ILX is out, it's pointless when the TSX is a couple grand more. Got the salesman's supposedly rock bottom price. Going to another dealer tomorrow, and then put them against each other to get the best price I possibly can.

Try getting it straight from the fleet dealer. I was doing that with my last purchase and pit the fleet price to the dealer and paid just about $9k less. I could have gotten it from the fleet dealer easy enough as they were only 1 hour away.