Sometimes life presents an amazing opportunity, and you jump at the chance: a new job, a new home, further education, a new relationship… or a cross-country road trip! My friend Josh, who shared his cross-country winter journey last year, is back once again, this time relaying his account of driving from Pittsburgh to San Diego and back, all for fun!
In part two of this post, we’re going to explore a road not taken. Last year when I bought my Acura TLX, it was a close decision between that car and the new Acura Integra. I do not regret my purchasing decision, but when I see an Integra on the road, I often wonder how that car would have been as my daily driver. Fast forward to earlier this month: my TLX had to go to the dealer for some maintenance and warranty work, and I was handed the keys to a 2025 Acura Integra as a loaner car. Living with the car for nearly a week was interesting, and I’d like to share that write-up with you.
We’ll close with some garage updates, and hints at some upcoming road trip adventures!
Let’s begin:
The Summer Cross-Country Drive
My friend Josh works as a medical courier, driving much of the eastern United States every day, bringing medicine, equipment, and supplies to hospitals, pharmacies, and other offices needing just-in-time deliveries. His 2014 Honda Accord, bought earlier this year, is the replacement for his previous Accord, which was totaled in an accident last spring. This is his third 9th generation Honda Accord – the first one (a 2015) reached over 500,000 miles before an errant deer ended its time on the road.Josh was traveling to visit a friend in California. Josh and his friend both served together in the US Navy, and a meetup was long overdue. The route would take him from Pittsburgh, to St. Louis (pictured), Oklahoma City, Flagstaff, Phoenix, and then onto Southern California. Josh: “I decided to visit some of the sights that we had missed last year due to Tropical Storm Hillary, as well as new places such as Yosemite that I had never visited before.”When asked to name the coolest thing he saw on his trip, Josh didn’t hesitate: The Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) in California.“When we were there (the Pacific Coast Highway), we happened to stumble upon the world’s largest car show! The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is an annual event that has been celebrated for 74 years. While on the northern portion of the PCH near Monterrey, CA, we were able to snap several photos of vehicles, some of which dated back to the early 20th century.” Editor’s note: Cool cars, and an awesome view!Josh also named the PCH as a must-see spot for anyone in California: “Great vistas and views of the Pacific Ocean are all over the place, and it is ridiculously scenic. Perfect photo opportunities for selfies or glamor pics of your vehicle.”Josh also named Death Valley as another fantastic location to visit. “The natural landscape (Badwater Basin, Devil’s Golf Course, and others) is a great region to explore, if you come prepared. I have yet to experience the full vastness of the park, and would like to visit again.”As enthusiastic as Josh is about visiting Death Valley, he is also frank about the dangers inherent in one of the hottest places in the nation. He spoke of the importance of bringing plenty of water (preferably in a cooler) to maintain hydration.I asked Josh how he stays alert, and entertained, during all those miles of driving, and he replied: “I call family and friends, which keeps me engaged, and keeps me going if I begin to fatigue from all the driving. I also listen to podcasts, Youtube videos, and music that I have saved on my ancient Walkman.”Josh’s third recommended site was Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias in Yosemite National Park. He hiked up to see the Grizzly Giant, the 26th-largest giant sequoia.“Mariposa Grove is the largest giant sequoia grove in Yosemite National Park, with several hundred mature specimens.” Editor’s note: I absolutely love this shot.Monterey, California, was both one of the worst, and one of the best, stops on the trip. The worst? Hotel prices were 2-3 times higher than expected, leading to Josh sleeping in his car overnight (a skill he has developed through his work as a courier). The best? A lovely breakfast at the Old Monterey Cafe.When asked to name the most peaceful moment of his trip, Josh didn’t hesitate: sunset at Morro Bay, California.I asked Josh how his Accord held up through over 6,700 miles of driving. His response: “The Accord performed magnificently, as usual. She ate up the miles, like she always does. I think that she figured ‘Ho hum, just another week of 3000-4000 miles driven.’ The only thing that I did before the trip was get an oil change, rotate the tires, and refill the washer fluid. The car burns no oil, so I have 2 spare quarts of oil that have been in my trunk since I bought her in late May.”Thanks, Josh, for sharing notes from your summer road trip with us! It seems like you had some amazing views and experiences!
The Extended Test Drive
On a recent Tuesday morning, I arrived at Bill Vince’s Bridgewater Acura just as they opened. I was so early that not all the lights were on in the showroom yet! My TLX was due for an oil change, tire rotation, and alignment. The dealership was also going to chase down a rattling noise and replace the driver’s side sun visor, which had stopped functioning correctly.Remind me to skip breakfast the next time I bring my car into the dealer- there was a pretty good assortment of complimentary snacks and drinks available. I may have taken a slice of Entenmann’s pound cake to have with my lunch…As the dealer would need to keep my car for several days while a replacement sun visor was ordered, I was handed the keys to this beauty: a 2025 Acura Integra A-Spec. I enjoyed my test drive last summer when I considered buying one, so I looked forward to living with the car during an extended time behind the wheel.Setting off toward my destination, I was instantly impressed by the tight handling, accurate steering, and strong acceleration. I remembered the car was a lot of fun, and the drive to work reinforced that notion.The cabin was well-designed, with controls all falling to hand easily. Despite being a compact car, the Integra does not feel cramped. The design is tasteful and modern. On the other hand, I did notice two negatives. First, the seats are less comfortable than those in my TLX. The Integra’s seats are not awful, but I definitely needed to stretch out my back if I was driving for longer than an hour. It also transmitted more road noise than my TLX, which is whisper quiet.One other area where I would ding the Integra… the door pockets are tiny. In my old Accord, I could put a large water bottle in the door pocket comfortably. I can kind of jam one into the door pocket of my TLX, but the door pocket of the Integra seems capable of holding nothing larger than a 16-ounce bottle of Poland Spring. When you’re taking long road trips, these kinds of details are important!The infotainment unit of the Integra is, like most new cars, reminiscent of an iPad that’s been glued onto the dashboard. It works fine, and Acura has done a good job of making it not interfere with the driver’s sightline, but I prefer the recessed screen in my TLX. On a positive note, the ventilation controls are easy to use, and the seat heater controls are physical buttons, as opposed to the touch screen controls on my car (which are difficult to operate without taking your eyes from the road).My TLX has a fancy-pants push-button shifter… I much prefer the old-school style shifter in the Integra. The rest of the controls are well-labeled and easy to use, and the piano black trim does a nice job of resisting smudging and finger prints.The rear seat of the Integra is a pleasant enough place to pass the time. There are no vents, and no power ports, however, so passengers have to “rough it,” an odd choice in a luxury car. On the positive side, rear seat leg room is fantastic, as good as my car, and better, frankly, than some other, larger vehicles that I have tested.As a hatchback, the Integra offers voluminous trunk space, with a flat floor to maximize cargo storage. The only issue I spotted is the high trunk lip, which means you need to bend over to place or remove objects in the trunk. Easy enough for grocery bags, but anything larger, such as my guitar amp, would require a bit of a workout.The Integra’s 1.5-liter turbocharged engine was peppy and responsive. It’s the same motor that is in the Honda Civic Si. Where it really shone during my test drive was in fuel economy – look at that average mpg rating! I ended up consistently getting about 41 miles per gallon. Impressive, especially considering that my work commute is a mixture of highway driving, city streets, and lots of stop-and-go traffic.Any car is a compromise, and no vehicle is perfect. The question is if you can find a car whose compromises you can live with day in and day out. Overall, I was greatly impressed by the Integra. I think it would make an excellent, affordable ride for someone seeking entry-level luxury features and sporty handling. Had I purchased it last fall, I would not have made a mistake.However, I was thrilled to get back in my TLX when the repairs were finished. I absolutely purchased the right car for my needs. The Integra was lovely. The TLX is even better.
It’s Been One Year…
On Saturday, September 23, 2023, I drove my Acura TLX off the dealer’s lot. Over the last 12 months, my car has been to 8 states, traveled over 26,000 miles, and created countless new memories. From driving New Jersey’s most haunted road, to meeting up with thousands of Honda and Acura enthusiasts in Maryland, to carving up mountain roads in the Adirondacks, the TLX has been a great purchase.Aside from a couple of small repairs (trunk latch, sun visor, both covered under warranty), the car has been trouble-free. It has dodged a couple recalls that have affected other TLXs. I’ve been happy with how well the paint and interior trim has withstood 45,000 miles of driving. As always… onward!
Wrapping Up
I want to once again thank Josh for sharing his summer vacation adventure with us! I know I have added some great new destinations to my “must see” list!
October is going to be a bit on the quiet side, but stay tuned to this blog in November! First, we are going to dine at a world-famous culinary institute! Second, after years of my wife planning amazing birthday road trips for me, I am going to return the favor and take her on a journey to a place of great significance, where… well, you’ll just have to wait and see!
Thanks for coming along on another journey down the open road ahead!
That was a great recap of Josh’s road trip. I also really enjoyed hearing your take on the Integra. That was cool that you had a rental that allowed you to get that hindsight perspective!
The Open Road Ahead 
What a great write-up by both of you. Another epic road trip by Josh. Some great shots. He got to see some really cool sites.
Great comparison / review of the Integra to your TLX. Reinforces you made the correct decision with your car.
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I agree – it was awesome coming along on Josh’s adventure!!
Glad you enjoyed the write-up in the Integra. Thanks for reading!!
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Making me crave a cross-country road trip. Congrats on 1 year with the TLX.
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Same here – definitely in the mood for a cross country road trip soon. Thanks for reading!!
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That was a great recap of Josh’s road trip. I also really enjoyed hearing your take on the Integra. That was cool that you had a rental that allowed you to get that hindsight perspective!
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Glad you enjoyed the post! It was definitely cool to have the Integra for an extended test drive. Thanks for reading!
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