Originally Posted by rockstar143

isn't it ban a MOD...he's not a mod, how could he get banned?

Originally Posted by Franchise1124

Maj is notorious around here...OG status. He might as well be a mod.

Originally Posted by Franchise1124

I do have to ask though - what's with everyone rocking Maj's avatar? Solidarity?

Originally Posted by rockstar143

Dude...I miss the boys.

Originally Posted by thoiboi

whatchu talking about, we're right here!

Originally Posted by Franchise1124

I do have to ask though - what's with everyone rocking Maj's avatar? Solidarity?

Originally Posted by RLX-Sport Hybrid

Ok, so here is the rest of the discussion.

When I went in to pick up my MDX from service, I found the service manager, the sales manager and the Acura corporate manager all talking with each other about how to best market an unsold 2014 ILX that was still on the showroom floor. The Acura rep turned to me and asked if a sign saying $10,000 off would entice me to buy it. I said no as I am not the demographic to buy that car at this time. The sales manager then said that I am one of their very special customers as I have purchased many Acuras over the years and currently own both a new MDX and a Sport Hybrid. The Acura rep’s face lite up and he said “well I want to talk to you”! So he and I started our fairly brief discussion from there. I said that there are many things Acura is doing well, but there are clear opportunities to capture new customers if they were to make some changes. The rep frowned momentarily, but was respectful and patient listening to what I had to say. Here are the things I touched on:

1. The show car wheels and brakes typically look great but what we get in the production models pale by comparison. (TLX and RLX show cars relative to the production versions)

2. Limited hybrid options for both economy and performance. It should be available in every model these days and the more they do the lower the manufacturing costs will be per unit of production.

3. TSB issues regarding wind noise and most importantly the suspension noises many including me have complained about. (The Blackbird is at the shop as I write this post right now to address it again and I already had the TSB done previously). They clearly saw an issue and redesigned the 2016s to have updated shocks and sway bars to remove eliminate the problem, so clearly there is a repair that can be implemented. That is what I am hoping they will do for me.

4. The car reviewers were not coached on how to access 1st gear and thus the reports on performance, while very complimentary, don’t give the whole picture as everyone who tested it did so starting in 2nd gear!

5. The hybrid technology going into the next NSX is directly shared with the Sport Hybrid and they have not referenced that at all in the current marketing efforts that I have seen. I said that both cars should be marketed together, partially to share the marketing budget across two models, but also to draw more positive attention to the brand to show off how cutting edge they can be. If you are dreaming of an NSX but it is outside your budget, the Sport Hybrid is a way to get a hint of what it is like to drive an NSX for $65,000 or less depending on the version (which they should all be the Advance model for manufacturing simplicity).

6. All Sport Hybrid owners should be offered a special NSX experience ( on a race track like Road America or at Monticello Motor Club) which would of course be video taped to make testimonials for future marketing campaigns as well as woo those buyers to consider the NSX as a bucket list purchase. Maybe to offer an exclusive deal for Sport Hybrid customers (Ferrari does this as you can’t just go into a dealership and buy a LaFerrari off the floor. You have to be “invited” to buy one). I’m not saying the NSX is on the same level as Ferarri, but conceptually keeping the Acura customers “in the family” could also elevate the brand in general if they publicized it correctly. Exclusivity is a hard thing to create when you have volume, but less so if you have limited supply. The Sport Hybrid is exclusive ONLY because of the short supply because very few people (in the public) truly know about the car, much less the people who sell it. Only us owners truly get it and that irritates me.

I continued on from there with additional thoughts but that covers the bulk of my comments. I emailed the Acura rep last night offering to share additional ideas in greater detail so we will see what if any response comes from this.