Hey Scotty,
I am looking for a good reliable first car and I found this 2010 Acura TSX with 86,000 miles and they are asking for $9,000. I know I can negotiate and get it for a better price but I would like to know how reliable this car is. It looks pretty clean for its age and the seller is Acura itself. I looked at its background and what I understood is that the owner of this car used this car pretty normal and traded in for a new Acura. I will do its maintenance myself (such as regular oil changes, battery checks etc.) I just would like to know If I can still find parts for this car for a reasonable price if something happens.
Thank you!
If it passes a mechanical inspection, you like it, and it fits your budget, go ahead.
But just bear in mind that Acura is to Honda what Lexus is to Toyota: their premium brand. As @InThrustWeTrust said, you can expect parts to be more expensive than they would be on an Accord or Camry.
That sounds like a good deal to me I just searched the other day for someone for one and the cheapest one I found was a 2012 for 13k.
But Scotty always recommends you have a mechanic you trust look over the car before buying just in case. GL with your new car : )
I really wouldn’t recommend that as your first car. Not if you plan to keep it for long & expect it to be cheap to fix.
Look at an Accord or Camry, instead.
I looked at both the Camry and the Accord but this car has everything I need and I don't expect it to be cheap. I am planning to keep it for about 4 years or at least until I pay off my college debt. I will use it normal and probably keep it in a garage. I mean is it really risky? It has FWD, 5 speed automatic, naturally aspirated 2.4L four-cylinder engine. It doesn't have all those bells and whistles like the new Hondas (Cvt) and It's pretty zippy. And I know it takes Premium Gas but that's not a issue at all for me. What do you think? Should I stay away from it?
If you know the risks, then go right ahead.
"I mean is it really risky? It has FWD, 5 speed automatic, naturally aspirated 2.4L four-cylinder engine."
2.4 I4 engine is notorious for excessive oil consumption
https://www.carcomplaints.com/Acura/TSX/
Another source: https://www.motorbiscuit.com/why-acura-tsx-owners-complain-about-the-2009-model-the-most/
The engine tends to knock, rattle, and use excessive oil.
https://repairpal.com/2009-acura-tsx/problems
According to acuraproblems.com , the most problematic years are in order 2009, 2010, 2006, 2012, and 2005.
Every site I looked at shows high number of complaints of excessive oil consumption, power steering failure, and, a common issue with the Honda Accord as well, premature break wear.
Acuras tend to have high maintenance and repair costs, so these easily go into the thousands.
Might as well take another loan to pay for the repairs.
You would be better off with a non-premium brand, and get something zippy by picking a V6 Camry or Accord.
My recommendation would be, if you want a zippy car, get a V6 Accord with a manual, or if you want something premium, get a Camry XLE. Or meet in between. Many options to choose from.
I heard from a friend who also owns a 2010 Acura TSX, that Acura is fixing this issue free of charge if your vehicle is under 120,000 miles.
If you want to read what others are saying about it, here is an online forum thread about it:
https://acurazine.com/forums/2g-tsx-problems-fixes-145/engine-oil-consumption-tsb-13-006-a-946916/
Honestly, I wouldn't take the risk but if you like the car hey worth a shot.
Remember you should have a mechanic do a pre-purchase inspection on it. Make sure its in good shape, etc. Ask if they got it fixed for free.
But then again, they only fix it if its burning a specific amount, just liek Toyota did.
If it burns 0.9 quarts every 1000 miles, they won't fix it.
Here are owners experiences with the issue:
https://www.carcomplaints.com/Acura/TSX/2010/engine/excessive_oil_consumption.shtml
Alright, thanks for your time and help. I will let a mechanic who is a friend of mine check it out and see if its worth the money or not. I will also ask and make sure if they fix it/fixed it. Other than that I don't think it's a bad car is it?
No, they are good cars, just look out for common problems and realize the extra maintenance and repair costs. If its in good shape now and you take care of it, it should last trouble free 4 years.
It seems pretty cheap for being sold by the dealership themselves. At 86k miles, I don't think the dealership would sell it at that price unless there was something wrong with the car. It really depends on where you are located as well. My sister-in-law had 2009 and it seemed to be pretty reliable with just minimum maintenance. But like @Kerem said, you wanted to make sure you get an independent mechanic to check out the common issues that plague these cars. I always wanted V6 Accords but I heard the more powerful engine causes more wear on the transmission. Camry is probably the way to go in that case if you are only looking at bigger sedans.
precisely, that is just the way to go, or you could always get a V6 manual Accord;) That would be a very zippy car.
oh man I would like one of those V6 Accord coupes! Those would be super fun to drive =].