So I've had the car for over six months now and I think that warrants an update but not a full article so if you're reading this now, welcome. In the original article I mentioned a lag in the acceleration. That seems to be gone now and I can only assume it was either me getting used to this engine or the car computer adjusting to my driving habits. Either way it's great now.
I've learned this car's 8 speed auto transmission is dual clutch and has a torque converter which apparently is not the way transmissions are usually done. This means that any dual clutch jerkiness in low speed or stop and go traffic is eliminated because of the torque converter. THAT means the acceleration is very, very smooth when you hit the gas and start going through the gears. Put it into Sport mode and you have some fun acceleration. The computer can handle the gear changes just fine so when you're in Sport mode and are stomping the gas it won't change gears until red line so you get to feel and enjoy the VTEC kick in (bro) around 5000 rpm. You can even use the paddles for shifting yourself if you want to but I've found the computer does them quickly and well enough to not bother.
Also, I originally mentioned that maybe some bolt on parts would help with a few more horses. Everything I'm reading though seems to suggest it might not. The existing air intake is right near the front of the hood so that's about as cool as air can get. If you were to put in a short air ram intake on, that might actually pull in hotter engine air. A cold air induction might be the way to go but I don't see any for the inline-4 engines, just the V6 3.5 models so I probably won't bother.
Real world driving with a mix of highway and city gets me a net result of about 28-30 mpg so I'm filling up about once a week and I often just alternate between the 87/89/93 octanes. The difference in mpg's between the three seems negligible so I'll put in 93 every once in a while for the additional additives and cleaners that normally come with the higher octanes.
The infotainment system is still hot garbage though but the changes showing up in their other 2019 models are promising if they trickle down to the TLX.
If I could have waited another year to buy a car I would still have bought this but possibly gone with the A-Spec variant which has a little better styling, bigger wheels, and some more features on the interior including a fun looking red interior.
Comments (6)
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Thanks a lot!
Welcome to Drivetribe James!
Thanks. Site still has that new site smell.
Oh the smell that's just Jonathan's feet.
So I've had the car for over six months now and I think that warrants an update but not a full article so if you're reading this now, welcome. In the original article I mentioned a lag in the acceleration. That seems to be gone now and I can only assume it was either me getting used to this engine or the car computer adjusting to my driving habits. Either way it's great now.
I've learned this car's 8 speed auto transmission is dual clutch and has a torque converter which apparently is not the way transmissions are usually done. This means that any dual clutch jerkiness in low speed or stop and go traffic is eliminated because of the torque converter. THAT means the acceleration is very, very smooth when you hit the gas and start going through the gears. Put it into Sport mode and you have some fun acceleration. The computer can handle the gear changes just fine so when you're in Sport mode and are stomping the gas it won't change gears until red line so you get to feel and enjoy the VTEC kick in (bro) around 5000 rpm. You can even use the paddles for shifting yourself if you want to but I've found the computer does them quickly and well enough to not bother.
Also, I originally mentioned that maybe some bolt on parts would help with a few more horses. Everything I'm reading though seems to suggest it might not. The existing air intake is right near the front of the hood so that's about as cool as air can get. If you were to put in a short air ram intake on, that might actually pull in hotter engine air. A cold air induction might be the way to go but I don't see any for the inline-4 engines, just the V6 3.5 models so I probably won't bother.
Real world driving with a mix of highway and city gets me a net result of about 28-30 mpg so I'm filling up about once a week and I often just alternate between the 87/89/93 octanes. The difference in mpg's between the three seems negligible so I'll put in 93 every once in a while for the additional additives and cleaners that normally come with the higher octanes.
The infotainment system is still hot garbage though but the changes showing up in their other 2019 models are promising if they trickle down to the TLX.
If I could have waited another year to buy a car I would still have bought this but possibly gone with the A-Spec variant which has a little better styling, bigger wheels, and some more features on the interior including a fun looking red interior.