Do you fit the profile?

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"Performance luxury sedan customers value vehicle traits, such as dramatic and exclusive exterior styling, emotional and luxurious interior design, and fun-to-drive character. These elements are balanced by an equally keen appreciation for quality, reliability, durability and competitive pricing.

Self-guided, discriminating and technically savvy, these customers also feel that prestige is determined more by life experiences than by pure wealth. In other words, experiencing life, rather than just accumulating possessions, is a powerful driver. For this reason they are interested in vehicles that help them enjoy driving to the fullest-and the 2009 TL is designed to do exactly that.

While the 2009 TL is designed to appeal to a broad range of upscale consumers, the target buyer for the TL is expected to be a professional male in his mid 40s with a household income of about $100,000 per year, while the expected TL SH-AWD® target buyer is a professional male in his early 40s with a household income of over $150,000 per year."


Source: http://www.hondanews.com/categories/733/releases/4680

 

All fits me pretty well, except the age and household salaries. Age is 28, household salary $250K+

 

First part sound like a horoscope:

"You're out-going and energetic, but sometimes prefer solitude and quiet time to yourself. People respond to you because you're genuine and freindly .... blah, blah, blah"

i.e. all things to all people.




2nd part: Uhmmm, yeah, that's me.

 

what about you S2000 driver? Now that you own 'two' SH-AWD TLs?

 

Given that I have two now, I am personally "out of profile."

 

I find the whole "combined household income" thing pretty funny. $150 GRAND??? C'mon, who are they kidding? I read this 2 months ago and had a good laugh.

 

The demographics is reasonable. I fit it but I am in my early 30s. I would rather have an Acura or Lexus over any of the Germans, even not factoring price. I guess I have a subversive element to my personality.

 

I definitely don't fit the profile.

 

No wonder I don't own a 2009 TL...I'm over 40 and I WISH I made $150,000.

 

I fit the profile and I love my 4G.

 

 

The demographic fits me perfectly for the TL-SHAWD .. unfortunately when I add the phrase "who hates cheap-looking ugly cars" is where Acura loses me on the new TL. Pity really, because I've driven 6 of their new cars off the lot in the past 10 years ... looks like I have to find another brand if they keep up the cheese slicer look

 

I'm not in the target demographic by a decade. I'm in my late late 20s and I'm targeting the car for purchase by Fall of 2009. Of course, the other car in competition is from a slightly different demographic (I think), the Infiniti G37X sedan.

 

I stopped in my local Lexus dealer yesterday and they offered me 6k off a new (08) ES 350 with a premium package. With the discount, the car would have come in around 32k. For someone who likes that car that is a fantastic buy.

 

All car companys have been discounting their remaining 2008 models for the past 3 months...nothing new.

 

The ES350 is a nice car but it's become the perpetual "granny mobile".....almost every one I see on the road is driven by some white-haired ol' lady going 10-20 mph below the speed limit.

 

Sorry that I am going a bit off topic here, but since we are talking about the ES350. don't you think that it comes with the ugliest exterior colors? Has anyone also seen that poopy mustardy golden color? That is so horrendous and yet people actually buy it so I see it on the road.... yuck!

Now back to the 4GTL! I think it's got some classy exterior colors!!!

 

The ES350 does have some um interesting color choices


(doesn't that scream old people)


But most I see are black, and yes the TL is pure sex. I love my Mayan, but looky here what I found:

 

The silly thing is they never take cost of living into account. $100k in California and NY is nothing compared to $100k in cities like Houston/Dallas or generally anywhere else.

 

[QUOTE=(Cj);10342020]The ES350 does have some um interesting color choices


(doesn't that scream old people)


That was quite a popular color for the Buick La Sabre, Lexus must be going for the same demographic. Soft cars for soft people.

 

Ouch. Now I see why people have been getting bent out of shape. Nasty comments like these don't help lol. I'd lose the RDX before making fun of other people's cars lol.

 

[QUOTE=J.A.S.;10345343]Where do you think all of Buick's former buyers went?

Lexus is the new Buick...

BTW I love the new TL even more when looking at it side by side an ES.

 

The ES350's exterior is fine for me, with the right color. The interior, though, is ghastly. Hated the center console layout, with the teardrop shape. Very ugly, and kind of old feeling. Very surprising, because the interior on the IS/GS is very nice.

 

[QUOTE=(Cj);10342020]The ES350 does have some um interesting color choices


(doesn't that scream old people)


Isn't this just completely gross!? It looked like someone lost their Depends and went completely incontinent over their ES350....

 

[QUOTE=ostrich;10346160]

 

I hit their age and income demographic exactly. I imagine most younger drivers can't/won't pay $40K for a car and prefer sporty over luxury. At my stage in life, I am ready for some of both.

Although many older than me are tech savvy, most I know wouldn't want to have to learn the Tech Package offered in the TL.

 

Don't look at the IS-F's., lol....unreal discounts on those...$11-12K off. Throw in 0.9% financing, and those actually start to look like a bargain....

 

I don't think I've ever seen that Lexus in any colors other than Black/White/Red over here. I didn't even know they were offered lol.

And BTW, the ISF's interior is horrendous. There's nothing in there. The most expensive bare-bones car I've seen in a looooooong time.

 

Looking at that ES makes me want to go take a shit

 

doesn't fit me...

 

"Target" buyer and "Actual" buyer can be two very different animals. Business's have their press releases and who they would like to buy the car, then the numbers come in and either the forecasters got it correct or are off the money.

As for the ES, it looks much better than the TL IMO. Also I find it funny people calling it names when the new TL has grown to be more like an ES. Its bigger, FWD, more laid back than the last generation and reviews don't call the car engaging. SH-AWD helps but its not like anyone is going to the track or going to truly exploit it. Hell its not even faster than an ES.

You can say people who like the ES want depends (lol) and most agree those that bought the TL are blind as a bat (lol).

Both cars have their buyers and they both sell very well for both brands.

 

they caught me and i had no idea of the profile to begin with.

subaru had/has me as the so called man-child... maybe i should have been offended

 

$150 grand!! Can't you afford a more expensive car making that much??

 

Possibly, but maybe Acura assumes its customers are less likely to make a major financial stretch to purchase a vehicle than customers of some other brands (cough...BMW...cough).

 

My next door neighbor is a multi-millionaire and owns 5 homes and other real-estate properties , yet he drives a beat-up 1980's Volvo. It's not about what you can afford, but where your priorities lie.

 

thats crazy. is that his only car??

my parents combined income is roughly 150k and my dad is looking for a car in about this price range. but apparently he's way too old to get the 09 tl.

 

You'd think lol. That's how much I make, and I'm driving one too lol. Here in NY, the cost of living is astronomical. I spend about $20 per day on just breakfast and lunch, and transportation costs about the same per day. Cigarettes are roughly $9 per pack here, and unfortunately I smoke lol. I don't have kids yet, but when I do, I think I'll be priced down to a frigging Kia. Can't wait!

 

Absolutely well said!

 

I've read somewhere that Warren Buffet, one of the most richest and wealthiest men on the planet, drives either a Toyota Camry or a Honda Accord and has been living in the same modest 3-bedroom house for the past 50 years. He gives millions of dollars a year to various charities. Again, it's all about priorities.

 

I urge you to read Chapter 4 of this book:



http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The...1015206/?itm=1