Being an owner since 2021. The vehicle is a 7 out of 10 rating from me. It is a comfy and sporty sedan with good features and amazing design for the money but lacks power output and gas efficiency due to the weight of the car. The SHAWD system is wonderful and the ELS sound system is amazing.But my grip with this car in particular is the 10 speed transmission. It needs more perfection.. mine broke at 25k miles and it was stock. It gear hunts too much in low speeds and when trying to have fun in back roads.. it doesn’t respond how you want it to respond at times. Build quality is good but i did have problems with rattles and squaks behind the steering wheel and left door. This is my honest comment as an owner of this car for over 2 years and 7 months. ⚠️For those asking.. ⚠️No mods were done to my vehicle. Transmission torque converter went out, Transfer case went out, differential went out and car became a FWD Type S. Corporate was a mess to deal with and the dealership were lost and useless.
What broke in the transmission and how severe was it? Also can you comment on how the dealer experience was (assuming they should have taken care of it lol)
If you desire more power, Hondata offers the solution. That's why Acura/American Honda left horsepower/torque to be found. They know MOST of their customer base MODIFY their vehicles...
As a customer I don't care about track numbers or 0 to 60 performance I just want a sport sedan can put a big smile on my face and comfortable to set in with decent sound system
@FastRedPonyCar I passed on all of them and bought this car. I like it more, and when I sell it with 150k on it, I will get a good chunk of money back. Those other cars not so much.
@cardiacresp No. There's certain aspects of each car that are better, but overall, no. Bmw has nicer-looking seats and more power, but it doesn't handle even close to comparable. It's unattractive. G70 also has a nice interior and about the same power. Doesn't handle like the type s, and the chassis flexes going up driveway aprons. It was squeaking and rattling brand new. Stinger isn't even on that list, not even close. Finally, both audi and bmw are German. That's a car that will last me 3 years max before it's scrap. I drive 25k miles a year. Bmw was 67,000 and my tlx was 54. Wouldn't even look at the audi. I know someone with two.
@@MikeYurbasovich wow, the amount of things you said that were wrong there is astounding. First of all, the BMW and G70 wipe the floor with the Acura in terms of handling. Both are rear wheel drive based platforms while the Acura is FWD, and both have way better weight distribution. When you push the Acura it understeers like crazy, the M340i and G70 are both much more composed in the corners and give you the ability to slide the rear a little. Both are also way more composed in a slide and way easier to handle at the limit. The Acura falls apart after 7/10s. This whole fucking notion that BMWs fall apart after 3 years is complete and total horseshit. I have personally seen BMWs make it to 200k+ kms without any issues. The B58 is one of the most reliable engines ever made and fucking Toyota of all people sells a BMW. Toyota themselves stress tested the BMW parts that went into the supra and found them to be extremely durable. The G70 interior is extremely well put together, idk what the fuck you’re on about saying it squeaks, it doesn’t. The Acura TLX type S is a fat, slow, underpowered pig that looks nice. There are so much better options out there and hey, you don’t have to believe me, you can look at how awful it’s sales figures are compared to BMW or Genesis. Edit: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-cOyJr9qbmfM.htmlsi=Nya91p0eLOtWaEp5 Here’s the type s getting fucking wrecked in a drag race against its competitors. You bought the wrong car mate.
I was in the market for this genre sports sedan, and Accura dealers ruined this car for me, none of my local dealers would sell this at sticker which is wild in this climate, this and the IS500 were the only cars with ADM that I looked at. I ended up with a wildly discounted new '23 G70 which I think is slightly more fun to drive than this anyways due to its natural RWD bias and a bit quicker, they are very similar in most other regards. The Type S drove very well and the chasis is excellently tuned, and it has an established dealer network. Anyone who picks one up for a reasonable price will be very happy if they are in the market for a non German, long term car!
Honda's issue is that they are amazing at building great engine's and tuning chassis and driving feel. But god they just love doing it "their way" even if its worse. But Honda+Acura combined are still a tiny company compared to even BMW. And they act like it too. Their dealers are Royal POS's compared to pretty much everyone I have ever went to. Even in the hardest time, toyota and lexus were reasonable.
Same here. Dealers demanding $65 to $70 thousand for a car with a real-world market value of about $52K at most. You can tell they were over priced by how quickly they drop to about $48K used with only 4K miles.
I have a 2021 TLX Type S. Everywhere I go people compliment this car. It looks amazing and is quite rare actually. I drive it daily and its a great value and looks amazing.
Value? $60,000 for 300hp is absolutely horrendous. People like you are exactly why vehicle prices are out of control. This car is only slightly better than a spec'd out Mazda, slower, and $20K more expensive.
2023 Type-S owner here. Purchased new in early fall 2023. Great dealer experience - $1750 off MSRP and no ADM, gimmicks or surprise charges. This is a great enthusiast's everyday car - one to commute in and plenty good for long trips. G70 has a tiny trunk and no spare tire. This has a decent trunk and one can buy a spare tire if you don't want the compressor with sealant goo. The comparison to German cars comes down to how long to keep the vehicle. I keep cars for 12 to 18 years. That rules out the German cars and their wallet-cleaning long term maintenance costs.
You need to refresh your view. There are a few german cars that will get you to 12-18 years. Meanwhile I hope your Type-S doesn't have a transmissoin issue or the rod -knock that some owners are reporting at low miles due to bearing defects.
My 95’ Mercedes E300 with an NA diesel all original nothing rebuilt 398,XXX miles currently as we speak. I have a 91’ BMW 750 with the V12, maintained from the start and it causes me zero issues. Oh. Full size spare and unexpectedly fast at highway speeds. Rear hydraulic suspension and bilstein B8 shocks on the front. Car is flawless for 30+ years old🤣
This is one of my favorite reviews from you guys. You have perfectly explained why the vast majority of us need a 7/10ths-8/10ths car, and not a 9 or 10/10ths car. This car will be literally the perfect daily driver.
@@BB2001hjk incorrect. I have a 2024 TLX a-spec. Yes, it has a small rear seat. No, the trunk is NOT small, it's actually very big. The MPG for local driving might be bad, but highway driving is 30-35 MPG which is quite good for a heavy luxury car. It's just built very sturdy, maintains road grip well, and is very reactive (steering, acceleration, braking). I use this for my daily drive and can't think of a sedan that's a better overall value.
('22 A-Spec owner here) My only difference of opinion from you guys is about the touchpad. I think Acura's UI works great with it, and I've come to terms with its CarPlay shortcomings (at least Siri is far better than Acura's voice assistant... but god help you if you try to scroll through a playlist!). But I like how it lets the screen be farther away so it's easier for me to read, there's no fingerprint smudges, and I now prefer being able to leave my arm on the console. Other than that, yeah, I'm on the same page(s). These TLXes have plenty of power for getting around, the SH-AWD is very capable, the back seat is just enough for carrying coworkers to the baseball game (IMO, if you're in the target demographic for this car, you also have a family SUV), the balance between physical buttons and infotainment screen is good, the ELS system sounds wonderful to me at comfortable volumes, and they're loaded with comfort & convenience options. I'm never going to be able to manhandle this thing at 9/10ths in my part of the state, so I'm perfectly satisfied with the performance envelope as it stands.
Sorry I'm not a native, but what does driving at 9/10ths mean ? 90 miles an hour ?😂 I have heard that phrase many times but still couldn't understand what it means
@@ohchord9573 “10/10ths” would be driving as fast as physically possible - hard on the brakes, hard on the gas, on the edge of traction and grip in the turns. “100% fast”, basically. When they talk about 7/10ths, it’s staying in safer speeds, but still with some speed and fun.
The TLX really does stand out and have a great look out on the road. Turns my head for sure. The type S was brand new when I picked up my 2019 Stinger, so a little out of my price range. Now I'm thinking a used 2023 or 2024 model might be my next car in a few years.
I feel like you'd be bored in this after owning the stinger. I know those things rip (I own a Kona N) and honestly love how the stingers look although this is also a great looking car
Every time i've seen a TLX Type S, I'm stunned as to how good it looks. Genuinely one of the best looking sedans out there. For its driving capability under 8/10ths, its value, its character, and its reliability, I think this is kind of unbeatable for most people. Let's be honest, most people who bought a M340i or S4 will never take it to the track and this car probably serves their needs better. I really like this car. I'm unsure Acura will do another generation of this car in the future. Once they get rid of this I feel like many people will miss it quite a bit.
Mark and Jack. Awesome review as always. You guys bring a great balance between general overview and technical review and I truly enjoy the technical review as you provide detail info no one else covers. I daily drive a 2021 TLX-S (MSRP) and love it. No issues and no regrets. I like all the other cars you mentioned and driven them but this best met my requirements.
I think it’s important to note that the vast majority of people who own sports sedans will very rarely/never track them. It’s also an equally small percentage of drivers who know how to take these cars to 9-10/10ths consistently, even if they don’t want to admit it. But that won’t stop many drivers from taking the car that feels better at 10/10ths.
Nevermind sports sedans, the vast majority of owners of pure sports car have no intention of tracking them. I'm not skilled enough to be a high-performance driver, but I like high-performance cars because a car that can go 180mph will perform effortlessly at 100mph. And a car that can corner at > 1g will glide through normal corners. Plus those cars look cool! 😎😄
@@DaveP-uv1ml I was chatting with a guy in a BMW performance driving class that I was participating in, and he said he tracks his leased M4. But I don't know if he was doing it in violation of his lease or not. Actually, it was kind of funny because he remarked that he tracked it only because it was a leased car, as he wouldn't want to put a car he owns through the punishment. lol As a sidenote, it really amazed me how much punishment a box-stock M-car can take. They had a professional race car driver do a demonstration for us, driving the cars at 10/10th.
I tried to buy one of these in 2022 and the markups were crazy. Was going to fly to FL and get one and they wanted to add another 10K for "out of market adjustment". I'm not a brand loyalist, I'm fortunate enough that the cost is not a major factor if it checks all the boxes. But I'm not paying BMW money for an Acura. So I bought a BMW. The TLX does have a cooler front end vs say the 340, but the B58 is spraying the TLX's windshield with exhaust condensation at every light.
I had the 2021 for a week to review and it was surprisingly nimble on a winding road, despite it being a heavyweight. The superb chassis and the SH-AWD hides the weight well making it super fun to drive quickly. Only gripe is the tiny backseat. I’m only 5’10 and barely fit behind myself with my driver seat settings.
Yes! What struck me was how well it handled at speed, downhill even! I'm used to a '12 Si which suffered from under steer despite a RWB, HFP shocks and sticky rubber. Hate to say it but this TLX out-handles the Si on all but tightest twisties like the Dragon.
Thinking of getting a used 2021 type tlx with 14k miles but I’ve heard that the 2021 have had difficulties not sure to stick with it or get a 2023. Any complaints on the 2021 other than the rear seats being cramped.
@@Andyverses The main different between the 2021 and 2024 is the updated front fascia. The small rear seat sucks, but it’s not a deal breaker unless you have a large family that you’ll be hauling all the time.
I agree whole heartedly with everything said. I personally went with the Acura Integra Type S which in Canada stickers for $55,600 CAD ($41,300 USD) so it was an absolute no brainer for me. I was hard stuck for a bit between the Integra or the M240i just because of how great the B58 is and awd system, but I'm thinking of keeping the car long term and figured as good as the Beamer is it might get a bit boring eventually just going fast and having no engagement from a 3rd pedal or steering feel. I was considering the TLX Type S at one point but I'm a single 24 year old with no kids so I don't need a large heavy vehicle and M240i comes in around the same price so there's no competition between those 2. I do really like the CT4 V Blackwing but it comes in at $73,730 CAD starting price with no options so it's at least $10,000 more than any of the other cars I was looking at and being RWD it's not the best for winter. I'm considering in future picking up a used manual supra as a fun summer car so I can enjoy the B58 in all its glory, just sucks living in Canada I couldn't get a supra as my only car. Thanks for the insight and awesome video!
as a canadian, do you mind sharing a bit of your career background to purchase an integra type s? lol i’ll be happy with the Normal integra type a manual
@@rayrayimpact currently live at home rent free and am a transit bus driver I make $75,000/year, I’ve heard the manual none Type S models are really fun as well!
I own a 2023, and I can say that I am very happy with it. I am a long-time Honda fan, and I can tell you that this doesn't drive like an old integra or civic. It does have a lot to offer when you spend a little time with it and learn what it is good at. It handles extremely well, especially if you are applying power through corners. Understeer is completely neutralized in this setting. The steering is quick and precise. If you are approaching a decreasing radius turn, then it feels a little nose heavy in these situations. The transmission is excellent when left in automatic mode in sport plus. It stays in the right gear and makes great sounds. It is pretty quick too. Obviously, an m340 is faster!! I am impressed with the brakes for Back Road blasts. Track work would overheat them. The seats are excellent. Supportive, comfortable, and grippy. Seat ventilation is a great feature. The stereo is clear and has a nice full sound. It might be a little bass heavy with certain music. I personally love the looks. Wide and low never went out of style. It feels like it is more expensive than it is. All the switches have a quality feel. The engine sounds expensive and refined. There is the promise of low running costs, which can't be underestimated. Cars are depreciating assets, and expensive repairs will affect your long-term term financial position. Now, to be fair, we are still talking about an expensive purchase. If we were all and little smarter and a little more practical, we would drive Camrys!
My mom raised me as an Acura fan (she has the ‘22 TLX Type S) and I can’t wait to buy my own! I don’t really care going over 100 mph every once in a while so top speed isn’t a concern. I just like a luxury car that’s #1 reliable and #2 comfortable. Loved your video from a technical and car fan perspective!
I'm rushing out of my house right now... because this video just nailed-it on how absolutely fantastic this car really is! Heading to Acura to see what $57k will buy me. Oh, the value!!
As someone who was looking for a car like this, the one thing that kept me away from it was the transmission. It's sad because I really like everything else about it (I do wish the motor was more rev-happy, but I could probably live with that). The problem is, having a mediocre transmission in a car really kills so much of the fun you can have as an enthusiast. I totally agree that this thing would sell a lot better by just changing that, ESPECIALLY if a Manual was offered.
To which transmission through? Only Audi has found a way to shoehorn the awesome ZF8 into a FWD/AWD layout. There are no other FWD cars with a transmission that can hold a candle to the ZF8.
Friend was a die-hard Acura fan since the Legend days and had a TLX. Experienced the infamous engine failure when it threw a rod. Happened just outside a small window outside factory warranty, but did nothing for him. Really soured him on the brand. Supposedly Acura is going to give him some sort of compensation now with the backdrop of a class-action lawsuit, but we'll see.
@@Superdimensional J35 so all non-S trims. Class Action Lawsuit was announced in December, it followed the massive mid-November Honda/Acura recall (Pilots, Ridgelines, TLXs etc etc).
Honda is a shit cheap company that does not make reliable anything anymore. It started in the early 2000's. Example: the 3.5 V6 is a disaster and had a class action. I know because they only replaced my spark plugs with the engine failure, then a month or two past the extended class action warranty, it went again and they refused anything, even after I argued the engine and lawsuit were about the whole engine requiring to be rebuilt. But their shit ways were they used spark plugs to fix limp mode and codes long enough to take it past warranty and then refused to pay a penny to rebuild the whole top of their shitty engines they knew were faulty. All when they knew spark plugs just were a quick fix temp fix (but they argued had to start there, that's the process, not their fault the engine went again 2 months after the warranty, even though the problem stated before then). Don't buy Honda, they're no longer any more reliable than the average brand (haven't been for over a decade) and they make unreliable engines, which is literally the most important and expensive thing in a vehicle to have be faulty.
I can happily say while I don't hate the current TLX Type-S, I'm glad that I got the FL5 Type-R. The FL5 is more of an enthusiast product that you can daily, rather than a daily that's slightly more enthusiast.
Newsflash: You can barely get ANY car for $30k these days. Even lower trim Civics are not far from that price. So you can complain about the price of this car all you want, but average car prices are just continuing to increase.
Love how during the drive Jack is just blabbering away sounding all technical while Mark is joyriding this thing to the max the whole time. Tells you a lot that if you just shut up and stop comparing shit, you’ll thoroughly enjoy this car for what it offers
Love how Jack takes a critical look at a product and doesn’t just blissfully and ignorantly enjoy it at face value instead of actually analyzing its strengths and weaknesses. Anything can seem nice when in complete isolation. “Stop comparing your color TV to my black and white! When it’s alone it’s great at what it does!”
the biggest deal breaker for me for this car is it weighs 4,200 lbs that weighs almost as much as a Dodge Challenger but is equipped with a turbo V6. Same priced BMW weighs less and makes as much power too. it's in a class of it's own honestly, doesn't seem to be competing that much with anything in it's price point.
Yeah, but you can get a used 2021 Tesla Model 3 performance for around $35k which will do 0-60 in 3.2s. Sure, it won't be as refined, but then why even go for the Type S? Save your money and get the A-Spec/Advance trim.
@@YaYousef5 i and most people shopping this car and competitors would want extra power. And not be satisfied with the 2.0t and wanna put as much money into it to get the powers the type s has stock Overall we dont want electric right now
@@thecivic215 paying $20k more for a one second 0-60 difference sounds financially dumb to me. You don't want electric but the entire market is shifting towards that including the car companies. Give it another 10-20 years and you'll be laughed at for paying $55k for an ICE car that does 0-60 in 6 seconds. Pay $40k for an electric car that has a super car 0-60 time or just get an economy car.
@@YaYousef5 no car enthusiast cares about teslas and there horrible build quality and a theyre 0-60. Idc and we as a car culture dont care about 10-20 years from now. we will buy an electric car when we have to. Enjoy the good times while they last. Or you can sell teslas for them. Thats cute.
Hi! Target buyer here. X factor for someone like me, is realizability factor. The competitors you’re referencing…. Are 3 or 4 year lease options in my mind. I’d buy this car outright, and sacrifice that final 2/10th’s Jack keeps coming back to because frankly, where am I going to drive it full out…?
"Where am I going to drive it full out?" is the question I had for myself, too, and my answer was "nowhere". In a previous car, I've been autocrossing, been to the dragstrip, and none of that is safe to do on public roads. I'm also not going to track my daily driver because the shit that goes wrong out there has much bigger consequences.
Love the TLX- agreed- it's beautiful, if a little pricey. But if I had $50K to spend on a car, this would be near the top of the list. Great review as always.
Had a 2023 Acura TLX Type S for 3 months (someone stole it) and this is my feedback: Very sexy car (tons of compliments) Good sound system Phenomenal SH-AWD Great daily driver Nice auto rev match in Sport + when speed drops. 10 speed is so so with nice pop noise on aggressive up shifts from 1st to 2nd however it changes gear way to many times and only feels in aggressive in Sport + also not sure how durable going to be with some jerkiness/hesitation at low speed. Very very small interior space for its exterior dimensions. Wish red interior had more red. Nice customizable ambient lighting. I added an aftermarket intake and bypass valve and made awesome swish noises along with nice induction noise when accelerate aggressively. The stock active exhaust is nice and noticeable noise difference with sport mode change but could be more aggressive. Fit and finish with exterior body line connections not the best. Very heavy compared to competition and less efficient with less power. I for-see a high aftermarket in the future if want more performance.
As a die-hard Acura fan, I love the TLX, and would not recommend it to many people. The Integra I legitimately do recommend to everyone because it's literally just a better Civic, but this car is special and only for someone who wants Acura "stuff" like the AWD and the ELS system and the styling.
@@savagegeese Fine, no slippage at all. Running strong. About 8,000 miles on it. Im not tracking the car, but I do drive it hard on the street. Id be incredibly disappointed if a modern 10-Speed, built for a 4200lb car making 350hp couldnt withstand an extra 100whp/wtq at 500lbs less weight. That 500lbs, I am sure, is really helping save the drivetrain lol
@@LeoorLeonard Rear seats removed, Carbon Driver Race Seat , carbon hood, Full Titanium Turbo-back exhaust, Forged Light-weight wheels, and pretty much everything in the trunk removed. I really hope to be able to get a carbon trunk option and body panels at some point as well. The car weighed in at 3742. so I dropped 479lbs total, which I think is pretty good. Im sure there are a couple other small things I am forgetting.
@KLow49.. Wishful thinking on the manual! There weren't many takers of the manual transmission on the 2018 Honda Accord 2.0 Sport, and Honda pulled it after a couple of years. So they know, people won't buy a manual TLX Type-S. I have a 2023, and the most you can wish for is an extra 100HP and/or twin turbo's..
Buddy bought a 23 type S and he's loved it. After a string of entry level muscle cars, in his advanced age of 38 he saw this and decided that he wanted to pretend to pretend to grow up. Regardless, great lookback factor.
15:12 To your point, imo this means that Acura should not have bothered making the Type S TLX in the first place, because this drive train would have sold a lot better as a RDX Type S with the lack luster engine and transmission.
I think you nailed it in Final Thoughts. You buy this car if you love Acuras or Japanese sports sedans, or you're budget conscious (like me). Even though this is slower than its European rivals, I would probably buy a Type S over a 340i or S4. It's cheaper to buy, cheaper to maintain, and may depreciate less and have a higher resale value in several years when I'm ready for another new car. That being said, I can see the driving experience is more rewarding in its rivals, but it's not like this is a boring econobox either. I just checked, and at the three closest Acura dealers to me here in NE Ohio, there are six brand new 2023 TLX Type S' on their lots. These aren't flying off the lots, and the fact there are this many sitting locally may not bode well for the refreshed 2024 model. I should mention I am somewhat biased. My wife and I have owned several Hondas and one Acura. I came close to buying a new Integra A-Spec 6MT a couple times, and sometimes wish I had. I test drove a TLX A-Spec once and really liked it, too. I can see buying one in the future.
The TLX is essentially the Japanese Dodge Stratus. It's great in all sorts of ways, including (and perhaps most importantly) how it looks compared to its competition. But it just isn't all there for a lot of customers. However, for a certain segment of customers, it's exactly the right car. "I drive an Acura TLX!"
I am absolutely going to buy one as I love the looks, quality and feel of this vehicle; for me it is a perfect "long-term commuter" car. However, I did not buy it new as the price was too high for what it was; the markups only made it even worse. Its a Honda so I have little worry about buying one Certified at 1 or 2 years old when the price is more in line with the product.
don't forget the steering wheel: probably the best feeling wheel I've ever used. The one draw back for me is the scrn not being touch.. I hated using that trackpad.
No touchscreen is a deal breaker for me. That touchpad interface sucks. But nailed this video, the compelling selling point is the pre-owned value if you compare against Golf R and other cars around 40k.
I really like this car. I was deciding between this and the Integra, and as much as I love that manual (had a chance to drive one), this has more power, a nicer interior, and it's more comfortable.
Pirelli Cinturado All Seasons on a press car? Those are 700 treadwear tires harder than Jack's six pack. No wonder understeer is mentioned multiple times.
TBH, the optional summer tires would've sucked during these winter drives. I'm in Maryland and wouldn't get the summer tires unless I also plan on a second set of wheels with all-seasons or winters (which I did on a previous car).
I always went back to that first Type S video because of how interesting it is. The car screams sports car but presents GT. It would be very desirable for 80 percent of all the buyers for this, but its clear that there is more the vehicle could do. It makes it a curious ride, cause you couldn’t say its bad, but you know its not the “best”, and you question why the best is needed/wanted.
Used, you can get the Type S for a good price. Under $50K all day long. And for 40-45K its got a lot going for it. I'm in the 80% of buyers category and I don't push it to its limits at all and does what it says on the box. I don't lose sleep over not having a BMW.
@@LJ-wo1wf Same here with my '21. ...and with the stage 3 tune, it's a blast to drive!!! (I just need to upgrade to Type S Brembos, which I plan to do it the next few weeks.)
@@MidnightAspec Yeah, I wish they all had bigger brakes, too. I haven't "warped" my rotors yet (haven't had warped rotors since at least 1991 since adapting my driving style) but if it ever happens with my car, I'll push for the Brembo upgrade.
2009 TL /Tech owner here. I just hit 200k in my V6 version. I do regular maintenance myself (oil, brakes, filters) and use a trusted mechanic shop for the other stuff (timing belt, water pump, belts, etc.). Still runs great with no major issues. The oil pressure chime triggers on occasion, even though I had it replaced. Otherwise, smooth sailing. Purchased the end of 2008 for around 36k. Can't believe the car prices nowadays.
What do you mean V6 version? Did they make a 4-cyl TL back then? Don't think so. FWD TL w/ J35 wouldn't have the known issues the J37/SH-AWD combination had.
I disagree with the steering statement unless it’s different in the type-s. I tested an ASPEC and I found comfort and normal mode steering to be distressingly soft and floaty. Sport mode was a little stiff but definitely the better of the two. I don’t think Grandma needs to be able to drive one handed and yet that’s exactly how it felt it was designed to me.
Agree with Mark on transmission. Get rid of that touchpad, clean up the center console, and give us a manual. I would strongly consider. Horsepower needs to be closer to 400 as well imho to pull more buyers from BMW and Cadillac.
Buying this new is just not smart. Realistically, I'd just go for an Audi. Thank you for a nice early review, as always -- it's so great to start my morning with one of your videos, guys!
@@savagegeese That's true! Which is why I owned my TL for 18 years. It's in immaculate condition, 6-speed, navi, a-spec with the Comptech performance kit (supercharger, exhaust and short shifter). A timeless classic and a reminder of when Acura was on top of their game. If I lived closer, i'd let you guys review my TL, just like AHC Garage did.
I love the looks, but if I'm buying a "big" sedan, I need more back seat room for my family and gear. I could live with the performance limitations described in the video, but a tight back seat makes this a hard sell for me.
@@TML34 I did, test drove two of them. If I could have convinced my wife to go for a manual, I might have gone for it. That said, the hatch area is vastly over-rated in it's "roominess," and I found the front seat bottoms shockingly hard. As much as I love a smaller car with a manual transmission, I had to walk away from the Integras...
Fantastic review and great discussion from both of you, pulling from two different directions. It is indeed a fantastic car for ‘normal’ use and unless you’re a real enthusiast, this is more car than most will ever use. I relate to both points of view and in the end whichever way you go, grass is always greener. I went with CT4 Blackwing Manual, mulling over Supra, M2, M3 and even M240i. In the end, it just had to be a manual for me, but I can see how this is a fantastic car too. For me, dumbest financial decision of my life, but I look back every time I park the car, can’t wait to drive it every single day..
Kudos to Acura's assembly line workers as I totally expected to see the grab handle come off in Jack's fist at that first corner in the driving impressions.
4 years later: THIS is the best video that accurately addresses all of the shortfalls of this car. Sooo MANY people made this car sound better than it is. The reality is it's about 75% of what the competitors are and you guys did it in a very neutral take. I love it
I’m a former 2024 x3m comp owner and I traded that in for a used 2022 type S. Did it because I felt I was spending too much for the x3. I agree with Mark in that it is very fun for my daily commute and is much more comfortable when I don’t feel like driving. The x3 was just too harsh in normal driving conditions. I put the type S in comfort mode and it is super smooth but becomes a beast in sport or sport+. The dual character is really what I really appreciate. Others may disagree if they have different priorities. But as a professional who only has a limited amount of free time and doesn’t take my car to the track I think the type S is a perfect car as compared to the x3m or even the m3.
Having owned a turbo BMW for about a year, I'd say that while this Acura may not out muscle/track the comparable BMW, it's far more likely to spend the majority of its life on the road instead of in the repair shop for some techno module failure or another.
Bingo. Having Helmut or Wilhelm work on your Audibmwmercedesvolkswagon at twice the cost of the Acura and likely much more down time would be reason enough why I'd buy this Acura over any of those German autos.🤔
Mark gets it. Owners love this car. It's the same price as a new CT4-V (non-BW) and the CT4-V is an uncomfortable, unrefined, low quality, shaky piece of trash. I traded my CT4-V in for this and couldn't be happier. I love driving this car. It gives me everything I need.
We will all begin to appreciate how great this car is when we stop comparing it to the German sedans in its class. My plan is to wait 2-3 years to let this depreciate and buy myself a certified used one w the top trim.
@@tyhyhhNot these. No tuning capabilities makes it a failure. Acura made sure nobody can make these fast. Ecu is locked. No TCU tuning, so it’s stuck at 6k rpm max. Heads are small runners so airflow is heavily restricted. There is nothing good in a tuners world about this car. Therefore it will have no appeal and drop in value. M340 are the cars everyone wants. Fast, lots of tuning parts for cheap. Those are in high demand.
Best advice I can give. Buy a 2 year old Lexus RC-F for the same price and get a nicer more comfortable car that handles better and is more fun to drive with a 487hp NA V8.
I’m not an Acura guy but market wise, nuts main reason some one spends the money on this vs a German competitor isn’t performance at 90%. It’s the longevity. You keep a bmw for 5 years, you keep this for 10. Maintenance/repair costs used to be big factor but I’m not sure if that’s entirely true these days.
@@Striker50_ not sure what the metrics are there or who is doing the ranking, but either way, maintenance and fixes on BMW are about 3x the cost overall. So, even if an Acura really were more unreliable, it wouldnt really matter, because BMW cost that much more to maintain.
thank you for showing us the brace between the trunk area, and the back seats at 2:04. i did not know there was a brace there, and i sometimes haul musical instruments long enough where i need to fold down the seats. this is a deal breaker for me. wonder if the regular A-Spec has this too?
I was thinking exactly what you guys were, this is potentially a fantastic certified used car buy for a sporty/fun daily driver. Sedans in general just don’t hold their value as well and with the market now leveled deals are out there. At $58K new, it’s just not special enough.
I sold my TLX Type-S 2021 Canada version (it has 360 camera), it was too long and too easy to scratch the ground (hood is too long). If Acura keeps the length of previous gen, it should be much better. This facelift version brings all the gadgets from MDX, very good. But Apple CarPlay is still not fullscreen. Hope they fixed the problem that there's a 10-20% chance that CarPlay isn't recognized unless you long press 3 buttons of the touchpad and reboot the system (or stop the engine, open driver's door then close it, restart the engine).
I've been at a constant back and forth between this and one of the Giulia trims, they're both really great vehicles and I could see why anybody would go with either of them, Giulia especially, it does have that cool X-Factor of being a great alternative to the usual German equipment. Though, despite all that I've found myself within the Acura camp nowadays. I figure it goes beyond the usual reliability that befalls that particular make, seeing as the more recent Giulias are the most solid vehicles that brand has made in recent memory. I believe the styling and its handling characteristics are something I've become fond of more than the typical RWD sedan has for the time being. It's no exaggeration to say that in the usual road use, and even 7-8/10ths on autocross-courses, it really feels like magic. Inputs feel very intuitive, and when you're hunkered down on a highway cruise or bumper to bumper traffic, it's downright pleasant to spend time in, that with the superior sound system, and comparable in-cabin refinement. To me, it's got that right mix of being a fun daily, and a good canyon carver. I'll save the 10/10ths for whatever cool sports car will come by next from them, or just get a Miata lmao As for the Integra Type-S, I deeply admire the styling on that vehicle as well, and that shifter is the best of anything I've ever spent time in too, but I can't help but come away with the sensation that the TLX just feels more 'substantial' to me, but who knows, I might end up with that too, they're both great choices as sport sedans, fulfilling their niches quite well if you ask me.
I like how these look and reliability should be a plus. Definitely something I would consider used, but at new pricing idk who buys this over a M340i that seems far better in every way. After options the BMW is probably a few thousand more, but doesn't matter at this price point. Acura really needs to chop their starting prices by at least $5k.
Awesome Review. Keep them coming. Lol as a former Acura TL Type S owner, I think I have the same opinion on this new Type S as I did when I had mine. In 2010 I was in my early 20s and bought my first nice car. It was a 2007 Acura TL Type S, Black Exterior with Black Interior (The Seats were a Black & Grey Combination). I will say, I loved that car, considering what I was coming from, it basically was a Ferrari to me (At first anyway). However, 3 months later, my buddy bought an Infinity G35 (I believe it was an 07 as well. It was a G35 but it was the new body style of the G37 but still a G35) and I really felt his car was overall better then mine. His sound system was better (Bose) vs (Dolby Digital), Navigation was about the same, I liked his interior quality better, the G35s Peddle Shifters are some of the best, column mounted not like mine which were on the steering wheel. Most importantly my Types S had 287 HP and was Front Wheel Drive and his G35 was I think 307 and Rear Wheel Drive . Sooo when we use to line them up, I would get toasted every time. I would be soo pissed 😂. I would get him on the highway because my limiter was higher (and cause I drove better 😁). I say all that because, I am an Acura Fan, but I wouldn’t buy a brand new Acura TLX Type S ever, I just feel you can get better for your money. I agree with a lot of what they’re saying. If you wait 3 years and it drops 20k to maybe 35k-40k then it’s totally worth it. *Edit: I typed my comment while I was watching the video but prior to finishing, and it’s just so funny, they totally have the same take, wait a few years and get it at the cheaper price.
Great review! I don't understand why we're comparing an Integra to the tlx though. I'm an executive with a family. I don't want to look like a kid from fast and furious. The tlx looks like it could be the one.
Agree 100%. Integra is NOT a luxury sedan. The TLX is and you can get the A-spec (middle tier) and have better MPG, same looks, and save $7k. You're not gonna miss the extra horsepower 90% of the time.
Its got the infiniti issue. Great looking sedan's/coupe's but oh my god are they under engineered and horrible on the inside when it comes to infotainment crap.
@@_dmfdStinger and A7. those are completely different classes Arteon is an overpriced fwd based platform competing against the big boys. Sounds familiar
I'd buy one if I could afford it, but unfortunately out of budget for next car. At least they replaced stylish analogue gauges with decent digital gauges. Another great review from Savage Geese!
My Mom bought a 2012 TL 6sp manual, and I gotta tell you, its super fun to drive and slide around corners, lol. She bought it with 125,XXX mi on it and the only rattle in the whole car is in the rear deck due to a blown subwoofer, but doesnt rattle on all songs, lol! Overall, its a pretty awesome car! Obviously, its not really fast, but its fast enough and just plain fun to row through the gears. My gf and I recently took it on a roadtrip from San Diego to Felton(Santa Cruz), and for being over 4,000lbs, it was REALLY fun to super handle my way through the coastal redwoods on those narrow, tree branch shaded twisty roads!
In Canada for the price they are encroaching on is audi a6 pricing....and as a technician/sales person in the industry that's worked at both companies...I couldn't justify spending almost 80k on an Acura when I could get an Audi. If anything I would cross shop a Genesis G70 3.3t or a G80 with the 2.5 motor.
Im not a KIA fan. However, KIA Stinger tribute GT2 is underrated amazing car without being badge conscious. KIA hit home run hiring former BMW M Vice President of Engineering Albert Biermann. Designed by Peter Schreyer and Gregory Guillaume. It’s more unique and its sport hatch for every day use. I have done research since come out on the Stinger very little known uses on 3.3T engine!
To me, the TLX type S and the Stinger are very similar cars with similar goals. Look good, have decent performance, and be relatively practical. These sporty sedans have to be Renaissance cars and be an all-in-one car for most owners. Stinger has the great practicality from the hatch, but the TLX is gorgeous and has a nicer interior. Coming from a '19 Stinger GTS owner.
This is a pretty substantial video that substantially increased my already substantial knowledge of the substantial improvements made to the Type-S's substantial brochure. ❤️
Regarding your comments on the "used proposition", this is the only car of the ones that you stated that I would dare buy used. If you're planning on keep this long term (as I tend to do with my cars) then this is the only reliable option that won't rob you blind over the long term. I know this review isn't really addressing the long term/total cost of ownership aspect of the Type S but it is a factor to be considered when you purchase if that is what one plans to do.
@@bbartlow0307lol let's be honest. The engine B58 and trans in the M340i are gonna last longer than this car's You're more correct if this was a decade or two ago
But how sure are we that this will be bulletproof? Or any more reliable than the excellent B58? I’ve own Acuras before and the truth is, yes the cars are much more tolerant to abuse. But modern Acuras aren’t any more cheaper to fix than a modern BMW. When something goes wrong, you WILL be paying a ton of money so don’t be fooled. Buy the car you want. I currently own a BMW 328d Sports Wagon and the car absolutely keeps me up at night because while it is actually a very reliable and very well built car, in the back of my mind I know that if/when something breaks, I’m looking at a $500+ repair whether I like it or not lol. But it’s the price you pay to drive the car you want, not some Hyundai Kona (nothing against, Kona’s, just making a point).
@@papa_pt Yep, at this point I trust B58/ZF8 more than whatever Acura's making. When's the last time Acura put out a car with a reliable trans? Even their engines are failing (look at the J35 recalls). Fact is the only car is this segment that has undisputed reliability is the IS500.
I think in terms of overall package, the TLX is a very appealing choice for the price. Sure it's not as good as the German rivals but you know it will last.
For a daily driver, commuting car this car is amazing have the A spec and its amazing. Not everyone is buying TLX to go on canyon runs and go on tracks.
you guys summarized it well. I am a fan of Japanese performance cars - mainly for their reliability, ease and low price of maintenance, and their ability to hold resale value pretty decently, but I'm a larger fan of good driving dynamics, and performance. this car is a great car but it is held back by it's transmission mainly, and it's power level secondly. a turbo v6 can easily produce more power. I wanted to like this car, but just couldn't - not when the CT4V Blackwing exists with a a fantastic manual transmission. Loving my CT4.
FYI for anyone considering the G70, dealerships are changing a lot right now. At least in the PNW. After a collision in November, it took three months for my body shop and insurance to come back and say the car was a total loss due to unavailability of parts for repair. Dealerships closing down and they're trying to separate from Hyundai. The car is fantastic and I would buy it again in a heartbeat but in the current climate I would shy away from it. It might take a couple years but I feel like the experience should be better in the future.
First let me say I have owned 6 Honda civic’s (5 of them manual and one was an 09 orange pearl Si coupe, the only auto was the 17 turbo hatchback), 4 accords all manual, a crv, odyssey, and a pilot. So I am a bit of a Honda fan. Having said that I don’t understand why a TLX type S is underpowered (only 355hp from a twin turbo 3.0l v6?), and overweight (4,221lbs in a Honda sports sedan?) My 2012 Honda odyssey that seats 8 weighs 4,412lbs, that’s a 191lb difference from car to van! What gives Honda? Also please make a lightweight return of the s2000! The Miata and Boxster are still around, the Supra has kind of returned, the brz/86 are going on for over a decade, the Z just got refreshed, let’s bring back the s2000 (not in ev form) just drop in the type r engine in a lightweight rwd coupe or convertible and keep the weight down please 🙏. Before people chime in and say you can’t make a lightweight sports car has not seen a current 24 Miata that weighs under 2,400lbs or a brz/86 that are under 2,900lbs so it is definitely possible and is being done. Just not by Honda who used to be very lightweight and fun to drive.
@@stanmarcusgtv Great but why does a sedan weigh almost as much as my van! Also the normal tlx can be reliable give the type S more power! At least 400hp and it should stay reliable.
Wow, I didn’t look at it in that light…..but spoken very eloquently, with facts on your side. Been watching these guys for years now, and really thought they were as objective as any other youtuber……if not more. Your comment makes me realize that if this was another manufacturer, they would have been extremely critical, and not just glance over those facts. Honda, the power (of Marks) dreams.
@@stanmarcusgtv not just Germans, and that's not them just being conservative. Modern turbos can easily and reliably handle more. Does that mean the type R and the gr corolla will be unreliable? i think not, and those two are as stung out from the factory as we see. Its a nice car, but with those power number it should be much lighter at least.
@@KN-jw7ts Thank you so much. I love these guys as well, they do an excellent job. My channel is tiny at the moment only 1,800 subscribers but I have been an automotive journalist for a few years now and I am excited to see what’s next. On a completely unrelated manufacture, we were voting for ev of the year last year and many journalists voted for the Ioniq 5 and it is pretty good but lacks a very obvious feature that no one noticed, no rear window wiper? On a hatchback or small suv that seems like a big oversight. You can now get the ionic 5 N and it finally has a rear window wiper.
Honestly this thing reminds me of the most recent Taurus SHO. A big performance sedan that feels way smaller inside than it looks from the outside. I'm surprised they can make this a whole 1000lbs heavier than a MK6 Jetta with it hardly being much visibly bigger.
