Preaching to the choir
04-30-2008, 11:58 AM
#1
Go Big Blue!
Thread Starter
Preaching to the choir
Read an article today that made me laugh. Sounds like this guy has been reading Acurazine 
The article is a review about the new TSX, but keep reading. He goes off on a tangent half way through that sounds slightly familiar
http://www.latimes.com/classified/au...tory?track=rss
The article is a review about the new TSX, but keep reading. He goes off on a tangent half way through that sounds slightly familiar
http://www.latimes.com/classified/au...tory?track=rss
04-30-2008, 12:52 PM
#2
This article is very accurate actually. I was at my local Acura dealer getting the door handle on my 05 RL replaced for the THIRD time, and decided to take the 2009 TSX for a test drive. The description of a luxury car wrapped around an economy powertrain, albeit a very good one, sums it up nicely. And yes, he does sound like he frequents Acurazine based on his marketing comments!
04-30-2008, 01:57 PM
#3
Dan Neil is one of the better auto industry columnists, IMHO-he usually captures the positive AND negative aspects of the cars he reviews and has an entertaining style to boot.
04-30-2008, 02:34 PM
#4
Senior Moderator
OK Dan Neil, have you been reading the RL board here at Acurazine? What's your screenname here? Is SpicyMikey not really from Florida, but from Cali? 
THANK YOU for stating the problem with Acura so perfectly. The best quotes, then I will shut up.
(My bolding) All I can say is fsck yeah! 1000% right! The RL is definitely an amazing car....but you have to get to know it to understand WHY it's as good as the tri-star and white/blue roundel competition. How can Acura be allowed to fsck up basic marketing for the RL like it has? Fire some people, dammit, and start over!
(My bolding again) Excellent point. If Acura is exiting the HP wars, then they should SAY SO and WHY--that message would resonate with the gas-price conscious crowd.
So sorry. /soapbox
Can't wait to drive my RL to the S2K meet tonight, I love the S but still enjoy the relaxed experience of the RL so mch. (It's also too cold to bring out the S.)
THANK YOU for stating the problem with Acura so perfectly. The best quotes, then I will shut up.
Usually, I dismiss big M Marketing as the lowest form of automotive expertise, the department of any company where people put their half-wit brothers-in-law and work-release types. But Acura must do better in getting the message out. The RDX -- the compact luxury crossover -- is the best product in its segment. The RL is an astonishing automobile. Who's being paid to promote these products? These people should be shamed like Japanese companies used to shame their employees: They should be made to stand in front of their building in their underwear shouting abject apologies and self-recrimination while being berated by their superiors. The good old days.
Well, I started out saying there was nothing that interesting about the TSX. Not true. Honda-Acura did something very bold with this car and that was not to gratuitously add displacement and horsepower in the redesign. Acura is, I think, the first luxury brand to step off the horsepower spiral and say "enough." What's under the hood is a stupendously fine 2.4-liter, high-compression four-cylinder producing 201 horsepower (what the previous model achieved with slightly more midrange torque). That's a specific output of 83.75 hp per liter, getting very close to the magic 100/liter mark, while still achieving up to 30 miles per gallon on the highway (with an automatic transmission).
So sorry. /soapbox
Can't wait to drive my RL to the S2K meet tonight, I love the S but still enjoy the relaxed experience of the RL so mch.
(It's also too cold to bring out the S.)
04-30-2008, 03:19 PM
#5
I think I might be Devils Advocate here for a moment and comment on Acura marketing and the lack thereof. I have read numerous comments and threads that have digressed in discussions of marketing. I think all of us here at Acurazine appreciate the RL for the car that it is, the engineering, fit and finish, performance and luxury appointments. I certainly didn't buy the vehicle because of a fancy commercial or marketing catch line, not because someone convinced me that I 'needed' the RL for my image. All of us here at Acurazine have discovered the RL. We would all be remiss if we didn't acknowledge the fact that the deep discounts we have all been enjoying is positive, especially when leasing. Of course this doesn't bode well for depreciation, but we also enjoy the RL for better or for worse. What will happen when and if Acura finally markets like BMW?? Well, we probably won't expect the discounts we currently enjoy, the cars will sell better most certainly. Is this good for us or for Acura/Honda corporate?? Could be good for both I suppose. Maybe brand image will be better, but I don't really think that's what's most important to everyone on this forum. We'll see ourselves driving by a lot more frequently, I personally love the exclusivity and rarely see an RL on my drive to work. Marketing for Acura and specifically the RL could change a lot of the things I currently enjoy about my car. Maybe Acura is doing just enough marketing, maybe not. Just something to think about. 
04-30-2008, 03:22 PM
#6
Honda Fanboy
Funny thing is, I never knew Acura even entered the horsepower wars to begin with. Their most powerful engine doesn't even MATCH the horsepower of their direct competition. 
04-30-2008, 03:25 PM
#7
Senior Moderator
DoctorTuna, you raise a good point. I didn't buy the RL because of a marketing campaign, I am a Hondaphile and pay attention to their cars in general. I also did thorough research prior to my purchase, indicating that the RL and M35 best met my needs, and you see which one I chose.
The reason for marketing is to bring in people from outside the Honda-buying ranks, and Acura has failed in that regard IMHO.
OK, I will really be quiet this time as I've beaten the issue to death again. Sorry!
The reason for marketing is to bring in people from outside the Honda-buying ranks, and Acura has failed in that regard IMHO.
OK, I will really be quiet this time as I've beaten the issue to death again. Sorry!
Trending Topics
04-30-2008, 06:43 PM
#8
Go Big Blue!
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by neuronbob
OK Dan Neil, have you been reading the RL board here at Acurazine? What's your screenname here? Is SpicyMikey not really from Florida, but from Cali? THANK YOU for stating the problem with Acura so perfectly. The best quotes, then I will shut up.
THANK YOU for stating the problem with Acura so perfectly. The best quotes, then I will shut up.
04-30-2008, 09:18 PM
#9
CLS 6MT Navi
Loved that review, the big front toof on the TSX is so right.
Acura sales rep (for what it's worth) told me Acura doesn't do much marketing to save money (for us or them?)
ok fine, so spend some on rims.
Acura sales rep (for what it's worth) told me Acura doesn't do much marketing to save money (for us or them?)
ok fine, so spend some on rims.
05-01-2008, 07:17 AM
#10
Go Big Blue!
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by 123456SPEED
Loved that review, the big front toof on the TSX is so right.
Acura sales rep (for what it's worth) told me Acura doesn't do much marketing to save money (for us or them?)
ok fine, so spend some on rims.
Acura sales rep (for what it's worth) told me Acura doesn't do much marketing to save money (for us or them?)
ok fine, so spend some on rims.
05-01-2008, 11:19 AM
#11
Originally Posted by 123456SPEED
Loved that review, the big front toof on the TSX is so right.
Acura sales rep (for what it's worth) told me Acura doesn't do much marketing to save money (for us or them?)
ok fine, so spend some on rims.
Acura sales rep (for what it's worth) told me Acura doesn't do much marketing to save money (for us or them?)
ok fine, so spend some on rims.
05-02-2008, 07:48 PM
#13
Senior Moderator
Originally Posted by SpicyMikey
You finally figured me out. I'm Dan Neil from the LA Times. I get all my good insight and material from Acurazine, especially you Bob
05-03-2008, 01:27 PM
#14
Trolling Canuckistan
Originally Posted by SpicyMikey
Or at least lower the price on the optional sets! The new TSX offers optionall 18's for over $3000!! Are you kidding me? Considering they get to keep the old set, it should be more like $500.