PeterUbers

iTrader: (1)

I received a copy of "Acura STYLE" magazine (never knew they had a magazine). On the back of the mag, there is a new ad for the TL-S:

"Zero to Sixty in 6.28 Missisippis [seconds].

>>>>Pic of the TL-S running thru twisties in the canyons<<<<<

Introducting the 260-hp Acura 3.2Tl Type S. That's exactly what you get when you combine a powerful V-6 engine with VTEC, 5-speed automatic transmisson with Sequential Sportshift, and 17" alloy wheels with performance tires. So don't wait another second. Hurry in to your dealer today.


As tested by Motortrend 2001 ... "

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

Yeah, I got that mag about a month ago and I noticed that ad. I thought it was pretty cool actually. My dad got a kick out of that too, and he's not a big car guy.....

RHINO928

Received mine today.... I'm buying a g-tech and a GPS and find out what my car will do.... I have not been making many trips to the track this year because my engine is being modified so the S-Type has not been "INITIATED" into my stable on the track... Stay Tuned!!

Road Rage

Hey Peter, what did you think of the mag?

I think it is an atrocity, targeted at the latte drinkin, West Wing watchin, Will and Gracin, Al Gorein, yuppie and soccer mom pablum that wouldn't know if any Acura were FWD or RWD. I wish they had not sent it to me - I am staggered to think I am oin the demographic that ***** Style is writing to. I refer to it as BILE!

Phheeeww, I feel better - now back to Enterntainment Tonight and Connie Chung....an d a Biscotti

lonny

Do they only send this to certain areas? I have not gotten it nor have I even heard of it until now.

BB16

Everywhere cept Downey and Lakewood Ive been told

WDP/Ebony - Still lookin for someone to clue me in on the quality of the Giovanni's..... BB

PeterUbers

iTrader: (1)

If this is the automotive industry's pathetic attempt to walk into the opinionated lives of the so-called avant garde, tres tres chic culture/socio-economic group in trendy metropolitan areas, count me out. The first thing I did was skip past the b.s. and read Peter Cunningham's "unbiased" critique of the RSX Type S. I watch him w/ an unblinking eye all the time on Speedvision. I wasn't too enthused w/ the article, there were only a few of the memorable, peculiarly positive Cunningham quotes followed by redundant marketing babble.

I receive a similar mag from Benz every six months, and I've seen one for Lexus. I feel that it's Acura's attempt to afford more luxury and class/prestige to their name in the automotive industry. It's a sly, seductive way of approaching the task, but, nevertheless, it must be appealing to someone in upper management, otherwise it wouldn't be on my desk right now serving as my new mousepad. MB, Lexus, Jaguar, and BMW remain the top names in the "Oh you drive a ______" category. Maybe, w/ the advent of cheesy printed literature and a handful of Braetling ads, Acura can achieve the same! Cheers.

power-fade

At least ACURA did not refer to Road & Track' s test of 7.0 sec. and 15.3 sec. @ 93.2 mph.

RHINO928

Yeh and these Prick's could of put these resources and revenues back into the QUALITY of the cars.. Instead some talking head in a suit decided to be a "me too" and now you and me have some kmod literature.. I hope H.O.A realizes that to enter the category you mention, they will need to focus on making a capable rear wheel drive and upgrade a few interior materials. And especially work on things like rattles, recalls, etc. Most importantly though they need to enhance the dealership expierence, I find that many of the Luxury dealers you mention offer unique customer service programs, I.E. Oil changes, loaner cars, Saturday car washes for free, these little things are what it will take to get my business again! Then Acura will have achieved that Level of Luxury......

DJ Iceman

Okay, now I can only speak for Acura and BMW, 'cause that's what I have experience with.

Acura has published this magazine at least since 1987 when my sister bought her first Integra (which she just traded in for another Integra three months ago--14 years and almost 500,000 miles later). So it's not some new gimmick to appeal to the snob buyer. To get any kind of magazine from BMW, I had to join the "Car Club of America", which if I had know what a rip-off it was I wouldn't have wasted my money.

The build quality, fit/finish, and overall dealer experience (both with Acura and BMW) has been much higher with Acura. MUCH higher! It seems to me that BMW is resting on their image while Acura is actively striving to constantly improve an already fine product.

You're right that Acura doesn't have the snob appeal of a Benz or even a Lexus. Maybe that's part of why I like Acuras so much. They just give you a great car for a reasonable price!

Again, these are just my impressions based on my experience. Your results may vary...

yee

I wish they have an accessories book like Mercedes, BMW, Audi, etc...

DJ Iceman

Every year Acura DOES publish an accessories book. Just go to your dealer's parts department and ask to look at it. Granted, it's not as extensive as you might like (heck, BMW has a huge catalog just of wheels) but it does exist!

DavidV

I've seen the same type of literature from VW and Subaru!

pjonkheer1

you go... I can't agree more...

Although, if you remember, Acura in a sense used to have that nostalgia. With the old TL and Legend. Those cars were targeted for pure luxury (at the time.) Now the the CL and TL are "almost" pure performance. When is the last time you saw a 225bhp CL on the road?? Look at what's going on with the RL. Everyone is *****ing because the performance sux. But I do agree, with you guys. Acura needs to stick with ads like the Television bits for the RSX. I have always thought Acura's marketing scheme sux. Maybe they should give Nissan a call....

PeterUbers

iTrader: (1)

I'll agree w/ you w/ regard to the Legend of old. I mean, that car came w/ optional an automatic door closing system similar to that of the $90,000 S500. For its time, it was, in fact, pure luxury, as far as I'm concerned. And though it didn't boast a V8, it certainly provided every other ammenity that someone may want from a car of that "stature."

The issue of the CL and TL being pure performance: I see where you're coming from, but many on this board will argue that the CL-S and TL-S are more luxury than sport, and some will argue the other way (more sport than luxury). The problem is that there are more luxurious cars for about $35,000 w/ less sport, and certainly more sporty cars for less than $35,000 w/ a lot less luxury. So I'd have to agree w/ the comment above that Acura is the specialist at "the most for the money." Somehow, that will be argued to.

Their marketing scheme does suck to younger people like you and I. With Acura using Jazz in the background as a 30-something couple road-trips across the plains of Arizona w/ the sunroof up and their legs sticking out (hmmm.. sounds like a bad episode of the Beverly Hillbillies), I doubt they'll appeal to mid-20 something crowds. Yeah, Nissan's commercials rock .. they make the wimpy Sentra seem like a race-worthy track car in that commercial w/ it running 'round the oval track (isn't that Moby in the background).

Hmm.. Jazz vs. Moby

40-something vs. 20-something

Guest

I know what you're saying, I think something should be done with the RL (is it due for a makeover ?). My GS430 seems more luxurious than a loaded RL I was in a few weeks back. Granted, they're about the same price, but since the RL is Acura's flagship, I know it competes moreso w/ the LS430, which can price out in the high $60's. It seems Acura was lost for awhile, found it's way, but this time is approaching from a different angle. They seem to be tapping into a younger median w/both the RSX ($20's) and the CL/TL/TLS ($30's), and ignoring for now the RL. I'm not even sure if they care about taking on BMW,MB, and Lexus' ENTIRE line, and just focusing on capturing more of the entry-level market, of which they're doing a good job.

PeterUbers

iTrader: (1)

TedC,

Can't agree w/ you more.

I wouldn't put it past Acura to have fiendishly been deriving the ultimate replacement for the RL all these years. If you think about it, the RL is the most luxurious FWD V6 sedan out there. Sure, it lacks many of the luxuries of the E-Class, 5-series, etc. .. but its true market value (according to Edmunds) can dip below $40K. That's not too bad.

Wait two years, the V8 Honda engine will be out, and in the RL. The RWD platform should be heavily marketed against the Bavarian line-ups. I have a gut feeling the price will start under $50,000 as well.

Pete

1SICKLEX

Did ya'll read the article on the RL in this month's CAR & DRIVER, jeez ya'll thought I was harsh.....

THe guy who was in charge of the RL (renamed legend) is NOT incharge of the new one.

PeterUbers

iTrader: (1)

Iceman, do you know someone by the name of Ken Cosentino, he's a friend of mine's brother that lives up by you in Monteray. He drives an M3, owns a Shelby Cobra (vintage), and a Lola.

thejavagod

Upper management? Its appealing to the whole world you fool. Image and perception is everything...why do you think people buy scrap metal like the Land Rover?

PeterUbers

iTrader: (1)

Um, sure.

tea elle

Sounds like you've got some serious envy issues. Or, are you just another Republican with a chip on his shoulder?

tea elle

Who do you think is buying most of the TLs? You seem to think the primary consumer is 20-something IT guys who turn the car into a modded, almost generically raceable street machine. For my taste, a TL with 19" ghetto wheels and reduced ground clearance is totally absurd. I'm getting sick of how myopic alot of these comments are. I have to keep reminding myself that this site has so many guys in their 20's who think they're revolutionarily insightful about the shortcomings of every baby boomer influenced thing that came before them.

DJ Iceman

*LMAO*

So what about us thirty-somethings who like jazz AND Moby??

I'm sure as hell not going to buy some Nissan POS because they put good music in their ads. If I was that influenceable, I'd be driving a Mitsubishi Eclipse! ("Just start the commotion...", and that blonde in the passenger seat is HOT! )

Road Rage

PU: what do politics have to do with it - do you like the mag or not was the question?

Whom do I envy - Martin Sheen?

I personally have not found one item in Style that was of the slightest interest to anyone who knows his way around a car - to me that its a certain demographic - if that depicts me as you describe so be it. I am not into labels particularly.

P.S. I didn't like "The Candidate" either

PeterUbers

iTrader: (1)

RoadRage --

I thought I answered your question: I skipped past the b.s. and read the Cunningham report of the RSX test drive. I perused further and the only other noteable aspect worthy of mention was the unique ad in the back (sparking this topic). I didn't particularly care for this magazine, no.

Iceman --

Apparently, since the Renault acquisition of Nissan a few years back, Nissan has been very successful w/ their ad campaigns, and they do (demographically speaking) appeal to the younger crowd. The use of Moby is an attempt to lure in a younger crowd. I didn't say anything about 30-somethings liking Moby, or liking Jazz, you misread. I stated that Acura uses Jazz in their video ads, and it seems to appeal to an "older" buyer. This is all common knowledge though, we're not revealing anything new here.

Tea Elle --

Don't get so upset quite yet. I did not state that 20-somethings are purchasing the TL (in terms of a majority purchase). I said that Nissan appeals to younger buyers w/ more youth-oriented commercials (just my opinion, deal w/ it if you disagree ), and Acura .. blah blah, uses Jazz.

"You seem to think the primary consumer is 20-something IT guys who turn the car into a modded, almost generically raceable street machine. For my taste, a TL with 19" ghetto wheels and reduced ground clearance is totally absurd. I'm getting sick of how myopic alot of these comments are. I have to keep reminding myself that this site has so many guys in their 20's who think they're revolutionarily insightful about the shortcomings of every baby boomer influenced thing that came before them."

You're blatantly misconstruing what I've said. Pjonkheer1 is a good friend of mine, I was speaking directly to him, perhaps I'll use a private message, or better yet, give him an actual phone call next time I comment on Acura ad campaigns. Just because I don't like the Acura ads doesn't mean I believe they are mistargeting their campaign at the wrong audience. It [Acura division] is obviously doing something right, leading the sales numbers for mid-size, entry-level lux. sedans in 2001.

Guess what, there are younger owners of practically every type of vehicle out there that installed some "bling blingin" 19" chromes on their rides, regardless if they were Benz's (um, do you watch rap videos, do you think Mercedes only appeals to younger, black males w/ hip hop influence?), Cadillacs, BMW's, Buicks, Alfa Romeo's .. etc.

This has been a taste of what I like to call "my opinion", I'd love to hear what you have to say, let's just not insult one another when we rebuttle. Thanx for flying!

tea elle

Peter, to answer your question about whether I watch rap videos and see that they drive Benz', no I dont watch them. All I need to do is drive down the block to La Cienga and Beverly and I'll see plenty of (my opinion) ridiculously lowered Mercedes with "BRABUS" or some other nonsens on the deck lid.

No I don't watch rap videos and although I really enjoy some of the work of Dr. Dre, Biggie Smalls, Snoop Dogg, Slick Rick and more, I'm totally bored with hearing the same pointless rhetoric about how "I've got all the b!tches and ho's, and I got all the money, and I'm better than you, and I grew up in the 'hood, and I'm better than you, and I can't be beat, and I got the biggest meat between my legs, and I'll waste anyone who tries to beat me at anything, bla bla bla...it's all been done before! I can't wait 'til the kids get bored with it too and maybe then the public will start to demand that M-U-S-I-C BY A-R-T-S-T-S finally come back to the forefront instead of these tire "acts" that keep doing the same crap over and over until you just want to shoot Christina Aguilera and P Diddy and Jay Lo right between the eyes!!!!!

Boy...that feels better!