While at a car show not too long ago, I was filling out the car show slip and looked at the categories they had.

Among the 14 different classes they had, the only 2 that I felt my 3G TL belonged in was 'Import' and '2000's' class.

I was iffy about putting import because the car is assembled in Ohio... The 3G TL isn't available overseas in Japan or any other market. Just US / Canada.

Sorry if this question has been asked, but I tried searching "Is Acura TL a Import" and I didn't really find a answer.

So what do you guys think? I think the only reason people consider the TL a import is because its a Acura.... which at heart is really a Honda.... which is plentiful available overseas esp in Japan... but the 3G Acura TL is something different.

Should I stick to calling it a Import?

 

the brand is an "import" brand.

 

^yup even though its made in the good ol USA

 

No, it's not an import by technical definition. The only international market the car was sold in was China.

 

its still a Honda.

which is classified as an import.

you wouldnt be classified as a domestic, thats for sure.

 

I consider it an import.

 

I think it's the country of origination, not necessarily where the factory currently is.

 

+1

If it were the case of the latter, then the Camaro would be an import.

 

Import!

 

I consider it a import as well

 

On an off note:
The VW is an import no matter which way you look at it...
German roots but built in Mexico.

:wink:

 

I consider it to be a domestic. If your mom is from Germany, but you were born in America- that would make you an American with German decent. Ask all the illegal immigrants. :x

 

haha^ sad but true lmao

 

I agree, also it seems like Honda's and Acura's are made in America more than GM's are anymore.

 

It's technically an import. For a car to be considered domestic (however they conceive it now ... Hell NAFTA changed this game big time) it has to have Domestic Part Content (DPC) of 75% or greater. My '08 has a DPC of 70%. Not sure about the earlier models, but I would assume it would be close to, if not, the same.

 

It is an import. Most Bimmers are made in the USA but still considered import cars.

 

BMWs are still made in Germany and some are in South Africa. The only US made models are the X3, X5, and the Z4.

I would say the TL is an import. What most people call domestics are sometimes assembled in Canada and Mexico.

 

Champ, I'm glad you wrote this in red....it's not good to compare cars to people!

 

It was designed in California by American engineers and built in Ohio by American workers and it is only sold in North America (and China apparently?). To me I'm proud to have a car whose design and manufacturing employed Americans. The only reason it is technically considered an import is that it doesn't quite meet the 75% domestic part content. A poster above said our part content is 70%, if that's true then it's almost a domestic, just not quite.

 

Interesting question. At work we move manufacturing of items from the US to Mexico, Mexico to the US, US to China, China to the US, US to Costa Rica - you get the picture. COO (country of origin) only changes when "significant transformation" happens.
What all this means it if we move manufacturing out of the US and the raw material suppliers stay the same, the COO may still be US. It depends on parts content..................

Like others have said - Acura is an import brand with your car being made in OH.

 

You do have a valid point (I'm in freight forwarding). However I'd have to agree that our gen would be considered an import, especially as far as a car show is concerned. Besides, who wants to be in the same class as a stang

 

^

 

Globalization...

 

imported from Ohio

kinda like how Chryslers are imported from Detroit...

 

Being imported from the US is the only way Acuras are like Chryslers.

 

'Imports' have been built in America for some time. The first car in this category I remember was the VW Rabbit and the list of cars has grown steadily since. This is a play the importers can do to save money and increase margins.

I think what matters more is where the money is going- in the case of Acura $ are flowing to Japan which makes these cars imports in my book. If Acura was a domestic, I think we would have had a v8 super car a long time ago because that is Domestic mentality for high performance/luxury cars. Conversely would you consider a ML320 or X5 a domestic since they are also made in the USA?

I think the term 'hybrid' fits better for these type of cars more than how it's used now on cars like the Prius.

 

The only Chrysler that is built in Detroit is the 200.

Funny, the inverse of the OP's question, using Chrysler as the example, is: Is the Chrysler 300 a domestic?

 

the idea, design, and technology is all imported even if the metal is put together here. same goes for the chrysler 300, it's domestic.

 

That's incorrect for the 3G TL. It was designed in California.

 

Might be mistaken, but I think the 300 is built in Ontairo Canada.

 

lol at you guys....


its still a mothafuckin' Honda!




Import!!!!!!

 

you mean i gotta overnight parts from japan for this car?

 

^if by overnight you mean "wait 6 months" then sure!

 

i'll just go to harry's speed shop. im helping him build 3 spoon motors with tubos and nawz. getting ready for race wars.

 

There is very little about the 3G TL that would make it an import. It's an import in name only.

Assembly and engine built in Marysville, Ohio, designed in Torrance, CA.... Nothing import about that.

I've always said my Camaro wasn't a true muscle car. The engine was built in Michigan but the car was assembled in Canada. But then again Canada and Mexico for example are still North America and Central America, respectively.



We can argue semantics all day.... I don't get how the 2G or 3G TL can be considered imports, unless you consider the 2G and 3G have to be imported into other countries.

 

^butt, its still a honda.

 

I don't think the term "import" is used in literal terms.. it's an 'import brand'..

 

 

Import, aren't the motors still produced in Japan?

 

Vietx-see what you've started !!!!!