2010 Acura TSX V-6: Day One of a Week Long Test

Today was one of those days that you just never see that often in Los Angeles. It was cold, windy and the rain was coming down harder on the pavement than the press has been coming down on Tiger Woods lately. On the freeways it was just ugly with huge puddles filling the carpool lanes. As is always true of Southern California traffic regardless of the weather no one slowed down. It was madness.

This was also, of course, the day that I was to pick up a burgundy red Acura TSX V-6 for a week of testing. I am well acquainted with Acura products as my personal automobile is a 2006 TL so I figured I knew pretty much what I was in for. I mean, how much could change in 4 model years? Quite a bit I would come to learn.

On my way up the 405 I struggled the whole way with the drive trying to keep my car in the lanes and avoid the idiots going 90 miles per hour in their Bentleys. Thankfully I had my new Lady GaGa CD to keep me company. Yes, bad pop music keeps me from falling into the pits of precarious road rage.

When I arrived at the warehouse where I was to pick up the four door sedan I was going to later dub "Lady Red" I opened my car door and proceeded to step directly into a huge puddle. My shoes sopping wet, I squished and slopped my way across the parking lot and gave them my name and ID. As I emptied my shoe of water I heard the car approach and looked up.

"Uh-oh," I thought to myself. This car was seriously beautiful and painted in my favorite hue of burgundy red. How was I supposed to be an impartial journalist? This car wasn't playing fair. It was love at first sight.

As I pulled out of the parking lot I manipulated the ridiculously easy to use navigation knob located high on the dash that allows you to input addresses on the move (no Nanny State here like in certain Toyota products...ahem.) I had never used this control knob before in my life but from the first twist of the knob it was like second nature. This is automotive engineering as an art form.

It was still pouring down rain so hard that I could barely see but I felt different. This car felt so planted I had to remind myself that there was no four wheel drive system in place to back me up. I then got paranoid and wondered if that, since the car had the address for my destination, the car was actually driving itself? But no, the taut steering and razor sharp handling proved I was definitely in control.

The entire drive home was worse than the drive up but there was something different. There was an increased clarity to Lady GaGa's feminine baritone (is that an oxymoron?) and I never once felt tense behind the wheel. This car drove through huge puddles that sent water flying over pickup trucks and I felt nary a tug through the steering wheel. This car hangs tough like the proverbial steel outhouse.

During that trip home I saw worse weather on the freeway than I have ever seen in all my years living in Los Angeles. I saw one minivan hydroplane into the center divider and then watched two sedans sideswipe each other and keep driving. As if acting with a mind of its own the TSX V6 kept me safe for the whole journey. To be honest, I think I owe my whole well being tonight to this fine car. I am not exaggerating.

Well, day one of my week with "Lady Red" has been quite a thrill ride. I just hope tomorrow is a sunny day so I can really see what she can do. And maybe get some decent photos of that gorgeous paint job in the right light. We shall see.