wreak

Finally saw a blue a-spec in person last night at the dealer, very sexy looking car but wow did that thing ever look like a 4x4.

TacoBello

Honda/Acura doesn't seem to realize how badly their 4x4 look impacts the look of their cars. It seems pretty much every other brand has figured out how to get away from 4x4 status, besides H/A.

Seriously, the new Accord would look so much better if they closed in that gap a little. All Honda wheels tuck into the fender anyway... no idea why they are so afraid to close the gap.

Shadow2056

That's my thought. Leave the 4x4 look for the SUVs. Not their sedans. Lower it slightly. Even if it's by .75" or even an inch. IT'l probably perform better and even look better.

pyrodan007

Not only would it look better, but may even save gas! Cheaper than developing a 10sp to save like 0.1 mpg

And if course as I am writing this during lunch I see an Acura ad 'season of performance sale' ...for the MDX. They need to stop this performance ad crap, or match it!!

2012wagon

MDX isn't the problem. Those sell like hotcakes.

The sedan lineup is the problem....

pyrodan007

When I said lowering, it was for sedans. Not just suspension but body flow as well. I mentioned the MDX since their performance tagline can only be used so much before it becomes stupid. Want to do performance, lower your sedans and then we'll see stuff magically improve. Want to do performance on crossovers, use the real SH-AWD on all. Would be great if Acura made one cohesive package across all vehicles, performance then really becomes the underpinnings.

TacoBello

Guys, dropping the car 0.75" won't change the handling or driving characteristics much, if at all, if still paired with the same shocks, anti sway bars, etc. You literally might not even notice it. It may improve fuel economy, but I dunno... I'm even skeptical of that.

Dropping the car would solely be for looks and nothing else. What Acura still struggles to understand is that looks sell.

Shadow2056

That's the thing. Looks is the primary concern. Lol.

But I'm sure if they had a performance kit for it(like they used to with HFP...the crap happened to them), then it would include springs and other suspension parts to enhance the ride and performance.

horseshoez

iTrader: (2)

Enhance ride AND performance? Typically one comes at the expense of the other.

kurtatx

You're not kidding. When I had the TSX, I would take my father-in-law places no big deal. When I got the A4, he had trouble getting in because of how much lower it is.

MTD

Saw and sat in a Touring today. It definitely looks better in person. Its very long, low and wide. The front end that got lots of complaints is mostly gloss black plastic, so it "looks" like its missing something lol. The camera is mounted very low and not covered at all like most other cars. I can really see it getting damaged easily. My biggest gripe about the exterior was the rear. Lots of rear over hang. It was silver in colour. Looked ok, but I think the darker colours will look better and maybe hide some of the odd design elements.

The seating position feels low, now Im not sure if it actually is, or just an illusion because the centre console is so high. I didnt have the chance to turn the car on, so no idea about the new tech features. It did however feel and look much cheaper inside then my TLX A-Spec. Materials not as nice, lots of hard plastics, etc.

Id really consider one, but I wont be trading my TLX in anytime soon. Id consider an Accord a much better buy then a 2.4 TLX, but not a TLX like mine.

pyrodan007

Kia Stinger pricing revealed, 49995 fully loaded in Canada (53K in US). This will for sure hurt the loaded Aspec in Canada, cheaper and you get much more. Will really hurt the RLX since better materials, tech, and looks. Accord will hurt the 2.4 TLX. Basically TLX sales will be affected from now on.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

lmao, I thought the reviewer sounded like wrxfan...and there he was in the passenger seat.
sorry, it's a Kia.
yeah I know...but sorry.

FLYGUY31

I watched a few reviews on the Stinger last night (didn't get to Redline's yet) and overall it's very positive. Maybe they should have branded it under Genesis though??

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

the Genesis has the same platform under a different name; the G70.
literally the same car. just different sheet metal on the outside. (and I think it's a sexier car than the Stinger GT)

Shadow2056

Don't get me wrong. The Stinger is a nice car. But at the end of the day people are going to think "Should I spending $500+/mth on a Kia or Acura?" When people think about it logically, most will opt for the Acura. There might be a few that get the Stinger. But none that plan to keep it for long. Then they'll find that $50k price tag wasn't worth it. Then they'll be stuck in it because the value dropped $25k in the first year.

TacoBello

the real answer: don't spend $500+/month on either

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

idunno man.
Acura was ALWAYS the VALUE play.
Acura is no longer the VALUE player and has lost that crown to Hyundai and Kia.

and if you didn't know, the Acura NSX dropped $30k overnight.
Lot's of pissed off owners who bought at $180-200k

TacoBello

You're thoughts on Kia at interesting. Why would people not necessarily plan on keeping it for long? Kias have proven to be very damn reliable, over the last several several years. Too many people are still hung up on the badge. Peal it off, and man, what a sick DD car. Plenty of power, looks good, RWD, excellent driving characteristics (if reports are to be believed), likely to be reliable, etc.

All I'd do is change the North American Kia badge itself, to their KDM version of just the "K". That in itself transforms the car.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

for the same reason I won't buy US Polo Association over Ralph Lauren.
Just can't do it...even if the quality is similar.

Brand name whore!??!
for some things...

Harbor freight for impact sockets but Snap On for ratchets.
I don't know why but I can't Hyundai or Kia. Honda, Nissan, Toyota and Subaru for imports.

cu2wagon

I really want to like Hyundai/Kia. Their recent designs are tits and it's hard to ignore the value. On paper.

I'm still not sold on longevity, yet, but it's getting there.

I really think in the next 10-15 years they'll be up there, not quite Toyota levels, but maybe giving Honda a run for their money.

cu2wagon

I really see H/K going through the same ebbs and flows that Toyota went through when they first came here.

Look at the OG Tiburon (lawls) vs the Stinger. They've really come a long way. Maybe they just need to buy off some rappers to get featured in some videos to build cred instead of relying on giant hamsters (Target Audience: Richard Gere).

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

SUPER simple cars from Korea, not mexico.
85k on daily driver kia; will out last TL because of how simple it is.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

It was a gerbil. And snopes determined that was a prank gone wrong.

CheeseyPoofs McNut

I could be wrong but I don't see a lot of cross shopping going on between an RLX and a Stinger. RLX and Genesis - yes - but not the Stinger. The looks are a bit too aggressive for that crowd. The new Genesis models on the other hand are classy looking and look more refined.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

I mean, they are listening to what people want with the aggressive styling and led tails and headlights, fender vents etc...
I want to like it, like cu2 said...
but I can't.

pyrodan007

I have an Audi and I couldn't give two shits about the logo, what sold me was the car. If I hadn't leased an A4, very good chance I'd have tested the Stinger VERY soon. Probably even the G70, but that one comes out after my lease would have ended. Curious to reliability as a new model, but overall Kia, very well done. No need for fancy tech, just a good turbo and brakes.

Lastly, the word 'brand' shouldn't even be used in this forum. Nobody buys an Acura for prestige, it's because it's a better Honda ... so if anything the 'brand' is HONDA lol

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

It's because the quality and performance you were after came with that logo...
otherwise you'd have gotten a Jetta and saved quite a few bucks on your lease.

Logo may not be the ONLY reason, but it's A reason...

BEAR-AvHistory

My grandsons Genesis R-Spec 6MT 345 HP Coupe (Hunyadi) is rolling up the mileage & has not missed a beat. Last winter he did a snow board road trip NC to TX to Aspin to Chicago to VT to Boston to NJ & back to NC over 2 weeks. Nice car & I would swap his sport seats for my sport seats in a heartbeat.

I think with the super long term warranty & good consumer reports they are overcoming fears on reliability. Only time will tell but I remember when the all new Lexus luxury brand was announce it was Japanese junk & Mercedes cheap knockoff. The one way to overcome bad customer perception is to build good products on a consistent basis over a period of time. I paid $30K out the door for the car.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

whats the difference between Koreans and Japanese!?
they both have slanted eyes!
(I have slanted eyes, so its not racist )

one could argue Acura is slipping in the reliability sector. the Koreans are getting better and better with quality EVERY year.
AND the Koreans Stand up with their products, actively recalling defective products.
Acura has to be fought nail and tooth to even get something warrantied

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Hey, my Dad had one of the first Excel hatch backs he bought for like $7000 new in 1987...lasted him until 1999 with bubble gum and shoe lace repairing...
30 years later I'm still leery of the brand but it doesn't mean I'm right.

kurtatx

Right. The logo means something. It used to mean something with Acura, and some of the residual meaning still exists (oooh! Acura! Fancy Honda!). The four rings means you're going to get a sleek car with the latest tech and a great interior. The Acura logo means "well, this was fun once and isn't sold anywhere else in the world"

Yumcha

Wait. The NSX went on the Black Friday discount aisle?!?

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

it did. Straight From Acura. $30k off.

Yumcha

Still can't afford one but maybe the used market will have even more markdowns!??

BEAR-AvHistory

Good plan to move them before the new 755HP StingRay ZL1 hits the market.

TacoBello

my Hyundai had ~87k miles too... actually, it's still rolling and it really hasn't had any issues, since it was purchased in October 2011. And it's turbo, to boot.

people's perceptions of the Korean brands are changing, though. More and more people are slowly changing their thoughts and feelings towards them. I was a hater until I actually drove one. I'm willing to bet most haters have never even been behind the wheel of one.

pyrodan007

Nope there's specific features I wanted in the A4, not in any way due to Audi as a brand. Exactly the same logic as I4 aspec vs accord in Canada, features.

kurtatx

Fibby must be PISSED

pyrodan007

For me it's Acura now, but only 3 months instead of your 30 years lol