New car for me!

[damaged442]

So, I did it. I pulled the trigger an a new ride for myself. The last time I did this, some of you may recall, was a few years ago. The choice at the time was between two 2006 Impalas. One an silver LTZ with a 242 HP 3.9L and the other was a Laser Blue SS with the 303 HP 5.3L. The wife hated the blue SS, so I took one for the team and got the LTZ.

As only my luck would turn out, the car was a steaming pile. The car would burn two quarts of oil between changes or more, and the transmission would regularly come out of gear and slam back into gear. I'm sure I don't need to tell you what kind of lack of help the dealer ever offered. "Uhhhhh, oil consumption is normal and we can't duplicate the tranny problem and it doesn't throw any codes."

Previously, my 2001 Impala LS behaved in the same manner and I grenaded the transmission. Like...complete loss of all gears grenaded. Since I knew exactly where this was going, I traded in the Impala. Got $8750 for it too. Considering I picked it up at the end of 08 for $12,990, I really don't think I did too poorly. To top it all off, I no longer have to care about oil consumption or grenading transmissions!!

Now that you have read all my useless banter which rambles on only as I truly can, you may be asking yourself what, oh what, it was replaced with.

My first ever vehicle outside General Motors:

http://i749.photobucket.com/albums/xx136/damaged442/IMG_6401.jpg

http://i749.photobucket.com/albums/xx136/damaged442/IMG_6397.jpg

http://i749.photobucket.com/albums/xx136/damaged442/IMG_6403.jpg

http://i749.photobucket.com/albums/xx136/damaged442/IMG_6398.jpg


Behold!! My new to me 2009 Acura TSX. First of all, I never thought the words, "I'll take the 4 banger" would EVER come out of my mouth! Bottom line is, I drive about 45 minutes each way to and from work. The best my Impala would do on the trip was, 23.5 mpg. Right now, I'm averaging 32.5 mpg. This car has a 2.4L 4 cylinder...it makes me want to slit my wrists with the back side of a butter knife to actually say that. Well, type that, but you get what I mean. Even with the 2.4L though, this car is no slouch. It's listed at 201 HP/172 lb.ft. and it's coupled to a 6 speed manual. So far, it's been a pretty fun car to drive. We'll see what kinda shape we're in once I put 100,000 on it...

I actually want to like General Motors, as it is all I have ever known. I just don't think I can anymore. What do you think?

[MrRocket]

Sharp looking car! I wouldn't worry about the 4 cyl. motor. It puts out the same horspower as my 1972 307 back in the day. Technology has been good for little motors! It serves what you need and should be reliable. Enjoy it!

[grumpy hvacr]

Nice car. Nothing wrong with a 4 banger for a daily driver. And sticks are a lot of fun to drive. If you need a horsepower fix, I see a good one in your garage.

Now the black paint, good luck keeping that clean.

As far as the GM service dept, shameful. Boss had a 01 caddy (which went through a few qts of oil between oil changes which they said was acceptable consumption), they couldn't find what was causing a clunk in the rear end which we found in 15 minutes-most was spent drinking beer.

Enjoy your new ride.

[1976CSB455]

Nice lookin' Acura! I've always dug those. Certainly nothing to be ashamed of. I've driven a '96 Honda Civic w/ a 5-speed for 11 years now as my daily driver. I'll take 40 mpg on the highway any day especially with $4/gallon gas!!!!

[THE MALIGOON]

very Nice and cant go wrong with the mileage difference

[Hurstolds1973]

Very Nice Bert!
I had to break down a few years back to get the wife a fuel saver also and ended up outside gm.....
I still drive my Cheby Tahoe fuel farm so I guess it evens out???
Good luck with your new ride!

[Sammybigblock]

black is always nice and as for the 4 banger under the hood verry sporty even for a 4 cyl great choice on the six speed manual trans tecnolagy has come a long way the past 10 + years acura is very well known for performence and mileage 200k-300k no problems and 30 + mpg to boot come on its a no brainer enjoy your new ride :p

[Joe Pawlowski]

Nice choice,super sharp ride.Im not gonna make any friends on board,but I am with you all the way.I am sad to say,Hondas,acuras,nissans,toyotas are great cars and in my familys experience,they are miles ahead of all of our gms as far as reliability.I still drive a 90's cutlass as a daily driver,but it will most definately be my last american car I buy for a daily driver.My daughters UNMAINTAINED 200k honda civic and my other daughters UNMAINTAINED 200k accord are in much better shape than my barely 100k babied MAINTAINED olds and my wifes under 100k pontiac montana mini-van,not to mention all the massive tranny/brake/electrical probs and the ticking my van has had sinse 30k.When I took pontiac van to pontiac dealer to ask why my motor ticks,this was the answer I got.They showed me a bs servive bullitin that acknowledged ticking in all 3.4's and said basically that there was too much piston clearence,just ignore ticking,gm calls it the 3.4 tick.They said it wouldnt affect life of motor though.That was my last chance I gave gm to redeem thereselves..Gm shot thererself in the foot in the 90's and imports took full advantage of it.I still love the 70's american cars and always will.They were built well.Sorry for rattling on,just lettin steam out.

[Firethorne77]

Bert-
I must say that the TSX is a killer commuter car with the stick too!
You will enjoy it until the traffic pisses you off. The black paint, just wash it and keep it polished.. Thats a smart purchase- but see this is where I fell off the gasoline wagon and just plain lost my mind.

It's been 5.5 yrs between daily drivers for me. Got to the point I wanted a change. I loved my '01 Pontiac GP coupe, 55k on it. Mint, but no room for the 4 month old if and when I need to move him around.
Thus my excuse for a sedan. I have always owned coupe's. BUT. I deviated. Drove it home from Rhode Island last nite. :cool:

Not hijacking your thread. That Acura is awesome.. and I feel your pain in deviating from GM. I just went backwards in years, but you live once!

http://http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3278/5847271748_95c1f328d1_b.jpg (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3278/5847271748_95c1f328d1_b.jpg)

[damaged442]

Sweet ride Pete!! Always liked those Impalas better than mine!! Congrats on your new acquisition also!!

[zodiacblue442]

Bert - That Acura will be fun to drive with that manual trans. Nicely styled car too and an increase in fuel economy will sure help the wallet!

Pete - OK, now I'm just plain jealous! :p I love those Impala SS boats! Looks like it's black cherry metallic. Is it a 96 with the console shift and the tach? I have no idea why GM quit making a full size rear wheel drive car. They shifted the Arlington, TX plant to trucks/SUV's and gave the entire police and taxi fleet market to Ford. I'll never understand why they did that.

I still like GM, but not quite as much now that the govt. owns a portion of them. I'll save that rant for another day. Will definitely look hard at GM vehicles when it comes time to get a new vehicle, but the possibility exists that it may be something outside of GM. I've been diehard GM my entire life so it will feel weird if I end up buying something else. If it's not GM it may be a German make.

[ragz442]

Nice car Bert. I agree the imports were more reliable/better built cars in the recent past, but in the last couple years the American cars have come a long way IMO.