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I thought 3000 units for the TLX isn't that good, and I kinda expected that for 2016. But wow, looks like the other cars in this segment aren't doing so well either.
I'd imagine the 3 series would be quite a bit higher than that??
I'd imagine the 3 series would be quite a bit higher than that??
The 4 is just the Convert & Coupe split off from the 3. In the past they were all 3's. 7278 cars for a months sales is not to shabby for a car that can get pretty price pretty quickly. The 4 series starts at $41,600 for the small engine version & was only 400 units behind the TLX that starts at $31,700.
The coupe & convert also used to be the highest base priced in the 3 series.
Last edited by BEAR-AvHistory; 03-01-2016 at 05:16 PM.
All the soccer moms and spoiled young ladies are buying X3's, X5's, and (ugh) X6's now. Those X6's are the ugliest things I've seen in awhile.
The SUV marches on.
Agree the 3700 X3's & 3842 X5's are doing pretty good for SUV's that don't carry a whole lot. My daughter had an X3 which was too small when carrying people & a pair of Old English Sheepdogs at the same time. She swapped it for a Porsche Cayenne.
She liked the Porsche better than the X5 or Range Rover she was also looking at. Good choice IMHO. Don't think I spoiled her to much, just provided a first class education, since she has done well enough at her job to afford an $80K+ car.
Fortunately the ZDX clones the X4 & X6 sell like the RLX & might soon hopefully be put to a merciful death.
The news of transmission issues on the TLX may now be hitting their bottom line. CR recently downgraded the TLX so we'll see if next month takes another hit. The transmission issues, even though I don't think are as wide spread as many think, are enough to just keep people from even considering the car. Of course many won't even research a car very thoroughly. But those that look into it, read CR, look at Acura's Facebook page, will hear about it, and who wants to take a risk on a new car purchase. Made even worse by Acura's poor handling of the problem.
I think the TLX is a great car, except for one very important part... the transmission. But that counts a lot.
It's too bad, because the RLX hybrid SH-AWD is a superior engineered car and probably a better buy than many of it's high end competitors. Lack of marketing and lack of snob factor for the price.
It's too bad, because the RLX hybrid SH-AWD is a superior engineered car and probably a better buy than many of it's high end competitors. Lack of marketing and lack of snob factor for the price.
Frankly I think it's also the styling. The RLX looks like a larger Honda Accord. It's nice looking, to be sure, but it really doesn't have any edge to it at all. It looks like a common grocery getter - not a high end luxury sedan. The Sport Hybrid is a beast by all accounts - but for that money I think most people want to have a car that also looks the part.
The 4 is just the Convert & Coupe split off from the 3. In the past they were all 3's. 7278 cars for a months sales is not to shabby for a car that can get pretty price pretty quickly. The 4 series starts at $41,600 for the small engine version & was only 400 units behind the TLX that starts at $31,700.
The coupe & convert also used to be the highest base priced in the 3 series.
Yea I know there was no 4-series before, but still...
2015 Feb: 6004
2016 Feb: 4595
That's quite a drop for the 3 series.....and the 4 series came out in 2014. For comparison, the 4 series sales for Feb 2015 and Feb 2016 are quite similar.
Originally Posted by youngTL
All the soccer moms and spoiled young ladies are buying X3's, X5's, and (ugh) X6's now. Those X6's are the ugliest things I've seen in awhile.
In my case, among things that almost restrained me to get one were the dash and the lack of shifter. The dash is way overwrought, very confusing (tries to hard to be stylish) and the buttons system needs my attention more that I would like.
The 15% reduction in coefficient of drag certainly helps, but if you want to see more momentum out of the TLX, Acura will need to give it a new engine. The turbo engine from the upcoming Civic Type R would be nice. The J series engine is long in the tooth.
The TLX's unit body utilizes advanced lightweight materials, including ultra-high-strength steels, aluminum (hood, bumper beams and front subframe) and magnesium (steering hangar beam), to minimize weight while providing for a high degree of rigidity that benefits both dynamic performance and occupant safety. Also incorporated into the body is the next generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) frontal body structure, and a new one-piece, hot-stamped-steel door stiffener ring, similar to the design first applied on the 2014 Acura MDX. The new, sleeker body design is also optimized for class-leading aerodynamic efficiency and boasts a 15 percent improvement in the coefficient of drag versus the outgoing TL.
Yea I know there was no 4-series before, but still...
2015 Feb: 6004
2016 Feb: 4595
That's quite a drop for the 3 series.....and the 4 series came out in 2014. For comparison, the 4 series sales for Feb 2015 and Feb 2016 are quite similar.
BMW reported the combined 3/4 the number for Feb 2015 @ 8748 so Feb 2016 is down about 1500 units, MB-C about 1000, Buick 1100, ATS 500, Q50 300, ES 300.
AUDI bucked the trend +26
The TLX also dropped year to year. Feb is a tuff month to do a valid year to year analysis because its very weather dependent in a lot of the country. The US had a lot more snow in the month this year especially in the North East from VA through MA where it set records. Think the mid west also had record snow falls.
That said overall they still ranked quite well in sales position against the other cars. Expect most sales VP's on the list would sell their first born to move 4595 4 door cars in any month along with almost another 2700 2 door cars.
The 2015 TLX is a great car except for the transmission, you mean. 2016+ are fine.
But it's too late, by fucking up the 2015, they tainted the reputation of future ones.
I really, really love my 2016, even more than my 07 TL-S. But those with a 2015 will have a very different viewpoint.
The only thing is that at every point in time, the new buyers always claim that the problem is now fixed with the transmission. I remember several months into the 2015 model year, posters here were crowing about how the latest software flash has permanently fixed the problem (looking back, you now know that this was wishful thinking).
I think it's still too early to proclaim that the 2016's have truly fixed the transmissions once and for all. Add this to the CR reliability data, and you have flashbacks to the 2000's era of epic Honda transmission failure.
In my case, among things that almost restrained me to get one were the dash and the lack of shifter. The dash is way overwrought, very confusing (tries to hard to be stylish) and the buttons system needs my attention more that I would like.
1) Transmission problems that Honda can't hunt down. Just like 10 years ago with the Honda automatics.
2) Generic parts bin interior styling with the low-budget dual screens. You step from a TLX into a Honda Odyssey, CRV, or Accord and you feel like you're practically looking at the same center console because of the touch screens, along with the same clunky operation. This absolutely destroys any upscale image Acura is trying to sell.
In my case, among things that almost restrained me to get one were the dash and the lack of shifter. The dash is way overwrought, very confusing (tries to hard to be stylish) and the buttons system needs my attention more that I would like.
It's a crowded segment with lots of very nice cars in competition. Plus (generally speaking) the sedan is currently out of favour - being slowly replaced by the CUV.
Plus - lets face it - your neighbours don't care about the Acura badge. You can't deny that for many people the badge is status and that's a factor. When I was shopping for mine my wife had never heard of Acura (she's not a car person ) - I told her it was the Honda luxury division and she said "Oh - like a Lexus?"
That said - I'll wager Acura is mostly satisfied with the sales numbers - given the transmission issues. I think they "righted the ship" and have it pointed in the right direction - now they need to do some fine tuning.
Greetings.... The Wife and I are trying to decide between the TLX and the IS350. She is moving back to a car from our 2011 Lexus RX and previously had a 2006 TL. The TLX felt like familiar territory but that IS350 was pretty slick and I loved the seats. We'll probably go with the TLX because it is a hair roomier and maybe better for every day driver so we will help with the number by 1... I assume the tranny has been figured out in the 2016 model?
Greetings.... The Wife and I are trying to decide between the TLX and the IS350. She is moving back to a car from our 2011 Lexus RX and previously had a 2006 TL. The TLX felt like familiar territory but that IS350 was pretty slick and I loved the seats. We'll probably go with the TLX because it is a hair roomier and maybe better for every day driver so we will help with the number by 1... I assume the tranny has been figured out in the 2016 model?
From what I gathered, the 2-3 rough shift has been fixed in the 2016. However the transmission itself can still use some improvement. I heard the downshift is still not where it's suppose to be. Maybe 2016 owners can chime in on this.
The 15% reduction in coefficient of drag certainly helps, but if you want to see more momentum out of the TLX, Acura will need to give it a new engine. The turbo engine from the upcoming Civic Type R would be nice. The J series engine is long in the tooth.
I still think the CTR engine is a bad idea for the TLX-S. That's a rev happy, screaming to redline, purpose built race engine. While the Type S is a sporty variant, it's still not on the same realm as the CTR.
I mean, the CTR was built to do only one thing. Destroy race tracks. The TLX-S would still be more of a creature comfort, yet fun and sporty car. The TLX already weighs about 600 pounds more... With the CTR hitting 0-60 in 5.7 seconds, the TLX-S would likely be around the 6 second mark, if not slower.
Long story short, the CTR is not built for 0-60, but more so for sticking high in the RPM range... (i'd imagine) not what the TLX-S is intended to do.
High revving low bottom end torque engines are not a good plan for anything but a light weight street car or a road course track day car.
This even true of some fairly powerful 8K+ engines. One of the drivers for BMW going to an I6 turbo in the current M3/4 is the prior cars V8 showing 414 HP @ 8300RPM was consistently getting wacked by special stock versions (IS) or lightly tuned 135's & 335's on the street.
I still think the CTR engine is a bad idea for the TLX-S. That's a rev happy, screaming to redline, purpose built race engine. While the Type S is a sporty variant, it's still not on the same realm as the CTR.
I mean, the CTR was built to do only one thing. Destroy race tracks. The TLX-S would still be more of a creature comfort, yet fun and sporty car. The TLX already weighs about 600 pounds more... With the CTR hitting 0-60 in 5.7 seconds, the TLX-S would likely be around the 6 second mark, if not slower.
Long story short, the CTR is not built for 0-60, but more so for sticking high in the RPM range... (i'd imagine) not what the TLX-S is intended to do.
I fully agree. The current TLX has been clocked anywhere from 5.4 to 5.7 seconds 0-60 depending on test conditions. A TLX-S would need a turbo J-series to best that, not a turbo I4 of any kind.
From what I gathered, the 2-3 rough shift has been fixed in the 2016. However the transmission itself can still use some improvement. I heard the downshift is still not where it's suppose to be. Maybe 2016 owners can chime in on this.
There was a TSB that recently addressed the downshift 'surge' behaviour. That was really the only issue, and only happens if you manually try to downshift. Also they made the transmission a little more aggressive with that update supposedly.
Mine hasn't yet had that update (Canada is behind on TSB's but we get them eventually).
But yeah, the transmission has been great so far. Downshifts from 9 to 4 take awhile thanks to the 2 dog clutches, but I'm glad they're there because it reduces driveline drag and increases fuel economy.
BMW reported the combined 3/4 the number for Feb 2015 @ 8748 so Feb 2016 is down about 1500 units, MB-C about 1000, Buick 1100, ATS 500, Q50 300, ES 300.
AUDI bucked the trend +26
The TLX also dropped year to year. Feb is a tuff month to do a valid year to year analysis because its very weather dependent in a lot of the country. The US had a lot more snow in the month this year especially in the North East from VA through MA where it set records. Think the mid west also had record snow falls.
That said overall they still ranked quite well in sales position against the other cars. Expect most sales VP's on the list would sell their first born to move 4595 4 door cars in any month along with almost another 2700 2 door cars.
I guess my point is that, I'd have thought the 3 series be the class leader in terms of sales.
Like for the whole 2015, BMW sold 94527 3 series, and Mercedes sold 86080 C Class. I understand that MB combines its C Class sedans and coupes into one, but even so, the 3 series still managed to beat it.
The only thing is that at every point in time, the new buyers always claim that the problem is now fixed with the transmission. I remember several months into the 2015 model year, posters here were crowing about how the latest software flash has permanently fixed the problem (looking back, you now know that this was wishful thinking).
I think it's still too early to proclaim that the 2016's have truly fixed the transmissions once and for all. Add this to the CR reliability data, and you have flashbacks to the 2000's era of epic Honda transmission failure.
There was a hardware change between the different transmissions. I don't think it's too early. And harsh shifting for some 2015 transmissions isn't the same as reliability issues. The old 5AT shifted perfectly fine but blew up because of bad design. We don't know whether this 9AT will hold up long term, but I think it will, given that some other makes have used it for over a year before Acura, and some of those people have driven a lot of miles. ZF generally makes very robust transmissions.
I fully agree. The current TLX has been clocked anywhere from 5.4 to 5.7 seconds 0-60 depending on test conditions. A TLX-S would need a turbo J-series to best that, not a turbo I4 of any kind.
C&D usually has the quickest acceleration results of any other magazine and the TLX SH-AWD got only 5,8 sec. in the 0-60 (the FWD V6 did it in 5.7) and both clocked 14.2 in the 1/4 mile.....
03-01-2016, 12:20 PM
) - I told her it was the Honda luxury division and she said "Oh - like a Lexus?" 
