  We study the intrinsic transport anisotropy and fermiology of the quasi
one-dimensional superconductor Ta$_4$Pd$_3$Te$_{16}$. Below $T^*=20$ K we
detect a thermodynamic phase transition that predominantly affects the
conductivity perpendicular to the quasi one-dimensional chains, consistent with
a thermodynamic transition related to the presence of charge order that
precedes superconductivity. Remarkably the Fermi surface pockets detected by de
Haas-van Alphen (dHvA) oscillations are unaffected by this transition,
suggesting that the ordered state does not break any translational symmetries
but rather alters the scattering of the quasiparticles themselves.
