The Next Chapter.

In the spring of 2015 I was on the hunt for a new car. At the time, I owned a Subaru, and while it was a capable little machine, it didn’t exactly stir my soul. So I went in search of something newer, more powerful, better handling, and more stylish. What I found was a faithful road trip companion, a car that would see me through three jobs, four moves, and a marriage. It took me to mountaintops, oceans, lighthouses, and countless other road trip destinations. My little 2012 Honda Accord EX-L V6 coupe became my road trip companion, and our explorations of the highways and byways of this country became the foundation of this blog.

But time moves on. After 228,000 miles of service, the elements, and the harsh northeastern United States roads, were taking their toll. While the engine and transmission were still strong, I was having to spend more and more money on keeping ahead of the deterioration caused by living in the snow belt. I was also, simply, ready for something new. So I began to explore the new car market, creating a short list of vehicles to test drive, before deciding which would usher in the next decade of driving.

So come along, then, for this episode of The Open Road Ahead – The Next Generation:

Contender 1: The 2023 Honda Accord

Blue 2023 Honda Accord sedan.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the first car I tested was… the Honda Accord. In 2023, Honda released the 11th generation of this venerable model. I test drove a Sport Hybrid model, which pairs a gasoline engine with a battery and electric motor for excellent fuel efficiency.
Interior of 2023 Honda Accord.
And while the fuel efficiency was impressive, the driving dynamics were remarkably less so. The Accord has always been an affordable fun-to-drive car, but the newest Accord felt lifeless on the road during my test drive. Add to it a spartan interior, and I was deeply disappointed with the car. Cross one off the list.
Honda N600 on showroom floor.
The dealership had a Honda N600 on the showroom floor. This little hatchback was the first model that Honda sold in the US, and it was a bad sign for the 2023 Accord that I spent more time examining the N600 than I did the car I was test driving. Onto the next car!

Contender 2: The Acura Integra

Blue bumper with word Integra stamped on it.
My second test drive was a car that harkened back to my youth – the new Acura Integra. Growing up, the Integra was the vehicle of choice for teens and 20-somethings who wanted a fun, and relatively affordable, car. In 2022, Honda resurrected the name after a two-decade absence, attaching it to a sporty 5-door hatchback based on the Honda Civic.
2023 Acura Integra in white, parked next to 2012 Honda Accord.
I stopped by Bill Vince’s Bridgewater Acura in Bridgewater, NJ, to take the new Integra for a test drive. Although the compact hatchback looks small when I have seen it on the road, I was surprised to see that it was actually the same size as my midsize coupe. Before taking it on the test drive, I admired the efforts of the designers who worked to create a visually appealing car.
Interior of 2023 Acura Integra.
The car was an absolute blast during the test drive. Fun to drive, nimble, with good acceleration from its turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, it made for an enjoyable gallop around the back roads of Bridgewater.
Gauge cluster of 2023 Acura Integra.
While I loved the Integra, economics played a part in my decision not to purchase it. As the Integra was so recently released, very few exist in the used car market. Buying one would mean getting a new car, and while I’m not opposed to that, my budget limit meant that I’d be buying an entry-level model. Getting the kinds of amenities I want would have meant a top-trim level car, easily breaking my budget. After buying a house last year, finances certainly played a role in the decision to walk away from the ‘Teg. Bridgewater Acura will appear again in this story, however. Stay tuned.

Contender 3: 2021 Acura TLX A-Spec

Silver 2021 Acura TLX A-Spec parked in front of Jeep dealer.
At a local Jeep dealer, my wife spotted a 2021 Acura TLX for sale on the lot. It drove nicely, and was filled with amenities. However, it’s a BIG car. It’s actually longer than my wife’s Jeep Grand Cherokee. I didn’t fully love the driving experience – it was certainly a capable car, but it didn’t fit me. And the dealer was asking way too much money for a used vehicle. The search continued…

The Winner

2012 Honda Accord coupe parked in front of Bridgewater Acura.
Trolling the used cars listings during my lunch break recently, another vehicle caught my eye. On a rainy Saturday afternoon, my wife and I headed back to Bridgewater Acura, where I pulled my Accord into a parking space near the front door.
Car odometer reading 228026 TRIp A 232.7
Before I turned off the car I snagged a photo of the odometer, which would turn out to be the last mileage photo I’d ever take of my trusty Accord.
2020 Acura TLX in black.
I met Scott, one of the salespeople, who gave us a tour of this gorgeous 2020 Acura TLX. Based on the 9th generation (2013-2017) Honda Accord, the TLX is a luxury midsize sedan that was first introduced in 2014. My wife and I were allowed to take the car on a test drive alone, which was a nice surprise. From the moment I pulled it off the dealer’s lot, the car just felt right… it was the same feeling I had when I first drove my Accord, so many years ago. The car also comes equipped with all-wheel drive and tackled the wet roads with ease.
Steering wheel of 2020 Acura TLX.
The TLX is filled with all kinds of fancy bells-and-whistles… Lane-Keeping Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, a premium stereo system from ELS Studio, and Apple Car Play integration means that anything I could possibly need while on the road is at my fingertips. But despite its premium badge, the car is ultimately still a Honda, which means parts and repair prices are far cheaper than many other luxury brands.
V6 engine in TLX engine bay.
The 2020 TLX is the last passenger car from Honda or Acura to come equipped with a V6 motor. Honda/Acura vehicles now have either a hybrid engine or a turbocharged 4-cylinder, with the V6 being reserved only for larger vehicles like the Honda Odyssey minivan and the Acura MDX SUV. This engine was an enormous plus, in my eyes, as the Honda/Acura V6 motor has been in production since the mid 1990s and is rock-solid reliable. The power plant in the TLX produces nearly 300 horsepower, while returning 30 miles-per-gallon.
Interior of Acura TLX.
Despite being three years old, the interior was free of any major blemishes (heck, the leather even still smelled new). The car also has what are easily the most comfortable seats I have ever tried in a passenger vehicle.
LED headlights with word "Acura" emblazoned on housing.
The car features LED headlights for bright illumination at night. I also appreciate some of the little details about this car, such as the Acura logo emblazoned on the headlight housing.
Close-up of stereo system.
When I turned the stereo on, it was pre-tuned to “80’s on 8,” the SiriusXM station that highlights pop music from the 1980s. It was like the car was doing its best to get me to buy it!
2012 Honda Accord parked beside 2020 Acura TLX.
And buy it, I did. The negotiations were painless. I got a fair trade-in value for the Accord, and the price for the TLX was reasonable. Bridgewater Acura did an excellent job of making the car-buying process as painless as possible. Special kudos to Scott, our salesperson, and Elaine, the finance director, who made our buying experience an absolute pleasure. After my new car was prepared, it was parked beside my old Accord. As I transferred my belongings to the Acura, I also took a moment to say goodbye to a good friend. The Accord was the best car I ever owned. The TLX has some pretty big shoes to fill.
Gift box with two Acura keychains and an Acura pen.
Before leaving, the finance director handed me a small gift box – with two Acura keychains and an Acura pen. So cool!
2020 Acura TLX parked in front of Whole Foods.
My first road trip with my 2012 Honda Accord was to Cape May, New Jersey. My first road trip with my new TLX was to… the grocery store. Ah, well, we have a longer road trip planned for an upcoming weekend, and I’ll be sure to check back in with some more detailed updates (and hopefully, some photos under sunny skies!).
Shelves with different colored binders in office supply store.
The most important stop of the day: a trip to Staples to pick out a new binder for all the maintenance records! And yes, I chose a black binder to match the color of my car.
2012 Acura TLX parked in front of trees.
Lousy weather over the past week has meant the opportunities for cool photos of the car have been few and far between. It’s something I’ll definitely fix in the coming posts after the car has gotten a thorough wash and wax!
Gauge cluster, with odometer reading 18697 miles.
18,697 miles – this was the mileage when I first entered the TLX. Next up – 19,000, and then the race to 100,000 begins! Onward!

Wrapping Up

My Honda Accord was the setting for so many road trip memories over the years – completing the 2018 New Jersey Lighthouse Challenge, driving Watkins Glen International Raceway, numerous visits to the New Jersey Shore and to Adirondack State Park, checking out Cooperstown, New York, visiting countless roadside attractions (world’s largest duck? check), seeing car shows, museums, battleships, botanical gardens, mountains… it wasn’t just a car. It was a memory maker. In the coming months and years, I am super-excited to put the TLX through its paces, and accumulate new memories with it as well.

Thanks for coming along on this journey as we found a new car for our future travels down the open road ahead!

‘Til next time.

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theopenroadahead

15 thoughts on “The Next Chapter.”

    1. Thanks! It’s a little bittersweet – the Accord was a fantastic car. However, this TLX is absolutely an amazing machine. Looking forward to lots of new road trip memories with it – including meeting up with a certain PMC TLX!

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    1. You can tell Mr. Thomas that I’ve always been interested in cars, since I was, like, 3 – I’ve always read books and magazines about them, watched TV shows about them, gone to car museums… there is always more to learn !

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  7. I’ll miss seeing your Accord. I’m glad I got to see it in person and drive it before you traded it. Whoever gets that car will get a very well kept machine.

    Congrats on the TLX! It’s beautiful. Can’t wait to see it in person.

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