Acura: Development and Technology News

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 11-23-2009, 12:29 PM
  #2201  
The sizzle in the Steak
 
Moog-Type-S's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Southern California
Posts: 71,436
Received 1,877 Likes on 1,297 Posts
Grille Kit for Acura vehicles is like a band-aid for cancer.
Old 11-23-2009, 01:58 PM
  #2202  
Senior Moderator
 
fsttyms1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Appleton WI
Age: 49
Posts: 81,383
Received 3,063 Likes on 2,119 Posts
Originally Posted by Moog-Type-S
Grille Kit for Acura vehicles is like a band-aid for cancer.
Even these are better looking
Old 11-23-2009, 03:01 PM
  #2203  
CL6
My only car is a Bus
 
CL6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Republik of Kalifornia
Posts: 3,254
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Now I am however I sold Acuras for four years and still know people there and my presence on this site illustates my continued interest in the brand...

Originally Posted by crazyasiantl
not for acura though..mbz
Old 11-23-2009, 04:23 PM
  #2204  
Suzuka Master
iTrader: (2)
 
paz840's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: St. Louis
Age: 45
Posts: 6,083
Received 42 Likes on 40 Posts
The grill needs a complete redesign not a cover-up or "fix kit"
Old 11-23-2009, 04:30 PM
  #2205  
I drive a Subata.
iTrader: (1)
 
JS + XES's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Socal
Age: 39
Posts: 20,301
Received 2,603 Likes on 1,571 Posts
its not just the grille. it needs to be re-designed.
Old 11-23-2009, 07:48 PM
  #2206  
Drifting
 
afici0nad0's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: 905
Posts: 3,339
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes on 8 Posts
dealerships had already been providing the option of color matching the chrome grill for the TSX/TL. i was surprised to see a black TL on display in a Seattle mall, when the TL first came out, with the black beak.

definitely looked better than the chrome, but, i agree, total redesign is the solution.
Old 11-24-2009, 01:47 AM
  #2207  
2G TLX-S
 
Edward'TLS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: YVR
Posts: 10,172
Received 1,133 Likes on 813 Posts
I believe this factory "grille kit" rumor will go on for another year and a half. By then the mid-model cycle change will officially kick in, and the ugly TL front grille will really get redesigned.
Old 11-24-2009, 01:57 AM
  #2208  
2G TLX-S
 
Edward'TLS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: YVR
Posts: 10,172
Received 1,133 Likes on 813 Posts
Originally Posted by CL6
One could try and say this was the case for larger wheels, a spoiler, etc.
This is different. The grille kit, if exists, is to rescue the TL sales. It is to try to bring back all those potential buyers who are scared away by the hideous TL front grille.

Not quite the same as selling larger wheels or other accessories to complement the car. The customer must be willing to buy the car first.
Old 11-24-2009, 02:14 AM
  #2209  
2G TLX-S
 
Edward'TLS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: YVR
Posts: 10,172
Received 1,133 Likes on 813 Posts
With the high power V8 and V10 programs now dead, so goes the possibility of the flag-ship sport car. As a result, this is all Takanobu Ito can say in his about-face speech.

Honda never learn. Even the light-weight aluminium NSX had consistently been criticized for the lack of torque and power amongst it's class of sport cars. High power IS always the heart and soul for top-class sport cars.
Old 11-24-2009, 09:00 AM
  #2210  
I got the Shifts
iTrader: (5)
 
phee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Age: 35
Posts: 14,203
Received 230 Likes on 163 Posts
i dont think it looks bad.

pic attached

Old 11-24-2009, 09:00 AM
  #2211  
I got the Shifts
iTrader: (5)
 
phee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Age: 35
Posts: 14,203
Received 230 Likes on 163 Posts
sorry its a clickable thumb. im at work. rehost for the win
Old 11-24-2009, 12:41 PM
  #2212  
Instructor
 
Rugel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Ontario, Canada
Age: 43
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by phee
i dont think it looks bad.

Pic attached

lmao
Old 11-24-2009, 05:44 PM
  #2213  
how handsome I am
 
agranado's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Miami, FL
Age: 39
Posts: 12,983
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by phee
i dont think it looks bad.

pic attached

already looks ass-loads nicer.
Old 11-24-2009, 06:56 PM
  #2214  
Senior Moderator
 
neuronbob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Cleveland area, OH
Posts: 20,015
Received 4,612 Likes on 2,193 Posts
I think I said somewhere on the 4G TL board a year ago that Acura should come out with an optional grille kit. Glad to see they are fixing the Power Phlegm grille (if indeed true).

Another option is to contract with RonJon for his grilles.
Old 11-24-2009, 08:58 PM
  #2215  
Racer
 
MIKEYDRED's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Age: 42
Posts: 293
Received 58 Likes on 36 Posts
Originally Posted by Colin
I agree. You'd need a body color insert to accomplish that and I can already see the color match complaints. Hopefully they won't try that now. IMO, a 'black chrome' color would help lessen the impact on a darker color car. Maybe at MMC they can work on re-doing the bodywork to make the piece over the headlight continue in one piece (from fender to fender) and then get the grill below the cut line like in the TSX.
I was thinking the same thing. Although I do not have a problem with the grill as it looks great on a sunny day,they did take it to far by crawling on the hood. Like stated above only a redo of some of the body work will allow for a new redesigned grill that lines up with the headlights, the plenum would also look better if somehow they were able to get the plastic honeycomb pattern to line up with the bottom return of the plenum (i.e. move it out more, would not look like a beak)
Old 11-24-2009, 09:12 PM
  #2216  
Senior Moderator
 
GreenMonster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Swansea, MA
Age: 57
Posts: 35,218
Received 15 Likes on 7 Posts
Doesn't Acura use focus groups before they release shit ??

Are monkeys running the design and marketing departments ??

It's nice to see them coming up with a remedy, but the cars should have never been released looking that that in the first place
Old 11-24-2009, 11:16 PM
  #2217  
2G TLX-S
 
Edward'TLS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: YVR
Posts: 10,172
Received 1,133 Likes on 813 Posts
^^^^^ It could be one of the many mistakes which finally led to the Honda CEO to change hands.
Old 11-24-2009, 11:40 PM
  #2218  
Suzuka Master
 
Colin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Posts: 6,802
Received 1,012 Likes on 567 Posts
^^ They do, and from everything I've heard it tested really well. I can only wonder if they asked the attendees the wrong question. ie. "Is it distinctive?" They answer "um yes" Bam, it's tested well.....
Old 11-25-2009, 12:24 AM
  #2219  
What Would Don Draper Do?
 
JediMindTricks's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Houston
Age: 43
Posts: 22,223
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by afici0nad0
dealerships had already been providing the option of color matching the chrome grill for the TSX/TL. i was surprised to see a black TL on display in a Seattle mall, when the TL first came out, with the black beak.

definitely looked better than the chrome, but, i agree, total redesign is the solution.
yup. saw one here too. looked much sharper. granted, the one i saw also had the 19" tech wheels, which are a HUGE improvement over the stock.

Originally Posted by GreenMonster
Doesn't Acura use focus groups before they release shit ??

Are monkeys running the design and marketing departments ??

It's nice to see them coming up with a remedy, but the cars should have never been released looking that that in the first place
honda had that facebook account...
Old 11-25-2009, 10:20 AM
  #2220  
Senior Moderator
 
LuvMyTSX's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: NY
Age: 44
Posts: 14,667
Received 13 Likes on 11 Posts
Originally Posted by Colin
^^ They do, and from everything I've heard it tested really well. I can only wonder if they asked the attendees the wrong question. ie. "Is it distinctive?" They answer "um yes" Bam, it's tested well.....
Yup, totally depends on the questions they asked.
Old 11-25-2009, 11:00 AM
  #2221  
old school
 
elessar's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 5,312
Received 39 Likes on 27 Posts
Originally Posted by Colin
^^ They do, and from everything I've heard it tested really well. I can only wonder if they asked the attendees the wrong question. ie. "Is it distinctive?" They answer "um yes" Bam, it's tested well.....
It's funny because I just had this conversation with my buddy Monday night. His RL (07 or 08) was in the shop and he had a new TL loaner, which he let me drive (I have an 04 TL). I agreed that it drove really well and was top notch inside but looked like ass outside. He claimed not to mind the grille too much, but he's not a fan of the back. This all led me to ask, for the umpteenth time, WTF Acura was thinking, considering this was about the most positive comment I'd heard so far on the TL's looks.

How the HELL do you get past the drawing board with something that the vast majority of people find downright fugly, and the minority are "just ok" with?? Especially when the previous generation looked so nice (obviously biased here, but still).

Agree with those who say that a grille kit is a start, and a hopeful sign for a mid-model change, but the back (of the TL) needs a complete re-work as well.

Last edited by elessar; 11-25-2009 at 11:03 AM.
Old 11-25-2009, 04:12 PM
  #2222  
OG
 
justinjsw's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: LA
Posts: 4,064
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 2 Posts
Gave up on Acura years ago...
Old 11-25-2009, 04:39 PM
  #2223  
CL6
My only car is a Bus
 
CL6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Republik of Kalifornia
Posts: 3,254
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
They translated the question from English to Japanese then once they got the OK they translated it back to English. By that time I'm sure it was something like:

"Do you like the nose of the large heron" or something like that.


Originally Posted by Colin
^^ They do, and from everything I've heard it tested really well. I can only wonder if they asked the attendees the wrong question. ie. "Is it distinctive?" They answer "um yes" Bam, it's tested well.....
Old 11-25-2009, 06:46 PM
  #2224  
Drifting
 
afici0nad0's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: 905
Posts: 3,339
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes on 8 Posts
Originally Posted by JediMindTricks
yup. saw one here too. looked much sharper. granted, the one i saw also had the 19" tech wheels, which are a HUGE improvement over the stock.
yup, the one i saw also had the 19's. the display car was pretty much loaded to the nine.
Old 11-25-2009, 06:51 PM
  #2225  
Drifting
 
afici0nad0's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: 905
Posts: 3,339
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes on 8 Posts
Originally Posted by CL6
"Do you like the nose of the large heron" or something like that.


"...and when we say. 'Heron,' we really mean the King Vulture."

Old 11-25-2009, 08:05 PM
  #2226  
You'll Never Walk Alone
iTrader: (1)
 
iforyou's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Age: 37
Posts: 9,492
Received 834 Likes on 518 Posts
Originally Posted by Edward'TLS
With the high power V8 and V10 programs now dead, so goes the possibility of the flag-ship sport car. As a result, this is all Takanobu Ito can say in his about-face speech.

Honda never learn. Even the light-weight aluminium NSX had consistently been criticized for the lack of torque and power amongst it's class of sport cars. High power IS always the heart and soul for top-class sport cars.
That's why it's always interesting to see the NSX-R keeping up/beating those 400-500hp sports cars on a track driven actual professional race car drivers again and again - something that other Japanese cars can't do, other than the GTR.
Old 11-26-2009, 03:22 AM
  #2227  
CL6
My only car is a Bus
 
CL6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Republik of Kalifornia
Posts: 3,254
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
I'm sure that serves some sort of design function. Unless you need to pop open your beer bottle I'm not sure what the Acura beak does.


Originally Posted by afici0nad0


"...and when we say. 'Heron,' we really mean the King Vulture."

Old 11-26-2009, 07:53 AM
  #2228  
dom
Senior Moderator
 
dom's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Toronto, Canada
Age: 47
Posts: 47,710
Received 801 Likes on 662 Posts
Originally Posted by justinjsw
Gave up on Acura years ago...
Where the hell you've been?
Old 11-26-2009, 09:17 AM
  #2229  
OG
 
justinjsw's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: LA
Posts: 4,064
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally Posted by dom
Where the hell you've been?
How are you doing Dom? Happy Thanksgiving!

I have been with BMW all this years.
Old 11-26-2009, 10:13 AM
  #2230  
Punk Rocker
 
majin ssj eric's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: St Simons Island, GA
Age: 45
Posts: 3,579
Received 79 Likes on 57 Posts
^^^That makes you like most everybody else here! Lol.
Old 11-26-2009, 10:15 AM
  #2231  
dom
Senior Moderator
 
dom's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Toronto, Canada
Age: 47
Posts: 47,710
Received 801 Likes on 662 Posts
Originally Posted by justinjsw
How are you doing Dom? Happy Thanksgiving!

I have been with BMW all this years.
Welcome back and Happy Thanksgiving to you too. I hope all is well.

Now that you're converted away from Acura there still may be hope for Colin yet.
Old 11-26-2009, 04:24 PM
  #2232  
2G TLX-S
 
Edward'TLS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: YVR
Posts: 10,172
Received 1,133 Likes on 813 Posts
Originally Posted by iforyou
That's why it's always interesting to see the NSX-R keeping up/beating those 400-500hp sports cars on a track driven actual professional race car drivers again and again - something that other Japanese cars can't do, other than the GTR.
Professional drivers on the race tracks - yes.

Civilian drivers on the populated highways - no. It's more practical to have tons of hp at low rpm under your feet, rather than having to drive near the red-line all day long to get any decent power in order to challenge the 400hp sport cars on the other lanes.
Old 11-26-2009, 04:29 PM
  #2233  
2G TLX-S
 
Edward'TLS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: YVR
Posts: 10,172
Received 1,133 Likes on 813 Posts
^^^^^ I always have this tendency to stand in front of the current gen. TL grille and solute it with awe. Maybe this is what the Acura beak makes people do.
Old 11-26-2009, 04:52 PM
  #2234  
Team Owner
iTrader: (1)
 
Sly Raskal's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Fontana, California
Age: 47
Posts: 30,991
Received 582 Likes on 346 Posts
Originally Posted by LuvMyTSX
Yup, totally depends on the questions they asked.
And who they asked.

I've always wondered why they don't pool their actual customer base to see what they think. I have plenty of feedback to give for my first integra, cl and now my 2nd integra and a4 avant, but no one to provide that feedback to.
Old 11-26-2009, 08:47 PM
  #2235  
CL6
My only car is a Bus
 
CL6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Republik of Kalifornia
Posts: 3,254
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Are your pants on or off when you do this?

Originally Posted by Edward'TLS
^^^^^ I always have this tendency to stand in front of the current gen. TL grille and solute it with awe. Maybe this is what the Acura beak makes people do.
Old 12-01-2009, 03:48 AM
  #2236  
Suzuka Master
 
YeuEmMaiMai's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 9,863
Received 435 Likes on 342 Posts
problem with acura is that they have honda with the same options for less money. add to that craptastic styling (even the new ZDX has that fucked up grill) and that is what killed them.....

when the CL-S came out it was significanlty better than the accord coupe....by 2003, the accord was at the same level........
Old 12-01-2009, 10:34 AM
  #2237  
CL6
My only car is a Bus
 
CL6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Republik of Kalifornia
Posts: 3,254
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
I went to the auto show last night and I saw the new MDX... here is a beak for ya!
Old 12-01-2009, 02:11 PM
  #2238  
Super Car Enthusiast
 
hdcolumbus's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Ohio
Age: 47
Posts: 5,653
Received 190 Likes on 91 Posts
Meh. Had the front and back color-matched before I took delivery. Never looked back.
Old 12-01-2009, 02:33 PM
  #2239  
אני עומד עם ישראל
 
Hapa DC5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Los Gatos, CA
Posts: 9,860
Received 810 Likes on 522 Posts
Acura has a strategy?
Old 12-04-2009, 11:04 AM
  #2240  
Happy Holidays!
 
Silver_Surfer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: SF Bay Area
Age: 45
Posts: 1,059
Received 35 Likes on 28 Posts
The grill on the 2010 MDX looks decent, just like the TSX. Good flow. Not gigantic like the TL. Of course I prefer the original shield on the MDX. It's nice!



Quick Reply: Acura: Development and Technology News



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:48 AM.