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I think they were happy with being Honda+ before. Then the industry moved forward quickly and Acura wanted to be Tier-1. That plan was cancelled though, leaving the brand in this "mess."
To be frank, I don't even know if some of the Acura products can even be considered as Honda+. They aren't really offer noticeably higher performance nor luxury to current Honda models.
The speed with which Acura is fixing their sedan line up is pretty sad.
When the 9th gen Civic was pulled from Consumer Reports' "Recommend" list and the automotive press blasted Honda for making it so cheap looking and feeling, Honda fixed things and made improvements to it within 1.5 years.
When Acura sedan sales fall year after year after year and the automotive press says dire changes are needed at Acura to fix their uninspiring sedan line-up and brand image, the talking heads at Acura give us the same story they've been giving us for years.... that they're working to fix things.
Civic, Accord and CRV are Honda's bread&butter, they can't afford to lose their volume units.
Acura... well they dont give a shit about Acura as shown throughout the years. As in any business, how much the company cares and invests in a product have a direct correlation to its sales.
Haha, considering Acura is pretty much a NA-only operation (with some sales in Russia and China), with sales volume probably at around 200,000/year.....it's understandable why Honda hasn't been paying much attention to it.
But if they want to elevate that brand to be a global brand, then ya they need a solid plan. They have been trying different things but nothing's worked so far for the past years.
Acura is essentially a SUV-primary operation at this point. That's OK given gas prices are low and most automakers are having similar trouble selling sedans. The American market has moved on from sedans...Acura needs to ax the ILX and replace with an HR-V based small crossover since that's what people want.
Even I'm looking at a MDX for my next car/NSX tow vehicle, LOL, and I've hated SUVs up to now. If the RLX is axed, the MDX could be dolled up further to make it the true Acura flagship, which it pretty much is.
In the past, there had been fierce arguments among members as of whether the RLX or the MDX was the Acura flagship model, and finally it was said that the RLX was the Acura flagship sedan model and the MDX was the Acura flagship SUV model, since the RLX is the premium-priced technology leader and the MDX is the premium-priced volume seller.
Acura is essentially a SUV-primary operation at this point. That's OK given gas prices are low and most automakers are having similar trouble selling sedans. The American market has moved on from sedans...Acura needs to ax the ILX and replace with an HR-V based small crossover since that's what people want.
Even I'm looking at a MDX for my next car/NSX tow vehicle, LOL, and I've hated SUVs up to now. If the RLX is axed, the MDX could be dolled up further to make it the true Acura flagship, which it pretty much is.
Forgot where I read it, but reviews for the CDX said it (materials) felt cheap and that it was priced a bit high for what you get. Acura might want (need?) to make some improvements to it if they decide to bring it to the U.S., otherwise it'll have a lukewarm reception like in China. I also have to wonder how well a China-built Acura would be received by U.S. consumers.
Yea, I heard the reviews on the CDX aren't so stellar. If they do bring it over, work has to be done. And that's before considering the car is made in China.
It's a good idea, but the execution has to be right in order to succeed.
Haha, May be ax the RLX, move the MDX up, and bring back the ZDX LOL. The ZDX sales weren't good, but it was still outselling the 2G RL at that time from 2010-2012...(flame suit on)
^^^
I hear you, and you are correct. My point is the same, however. Americans, in their infinite stupidity, don't want sedans. They want CUVs and SUVs. Acura should respond to that market.
Hate to be a downcast, but I'm expecting a disappointment from Acura in the next few days. At the rate they've been going, I just can't see them doing anything special. Hope they can prove me wrong though!
It was good when it came out... I only say 2008 because that's when we still had the 3G TL and the 1G TSX, which I think were good cars- better than their successors anyway. The CSX-S and the TL-S were still available. Nowhere near the top like they used to be, but still respectable and nice looking cars, that were fun to drive.
But by 2009 the RSX was long dead. The NSX was long dead. The CL was long dead. The RL turned ugly and stagnant.
It it was awesome for getting the k20, LSD and 6MT. I liked the exterior styling for the most part (more so the face lifted RSX), but the interiors were always very blah. I considered an RSX-S about 3 different times (even a JDM Type R) and always turned away due to that damn interior. The other issue was that the pre facelifted RSX-S was already owned and driven like a rented mule, however, the facelifted RSX-S was super hard to find... People just stopped buying them.
It it wasn't a bad car... But it was super expensive for what it was when new, and that killed sales after the first two years.
I never liked the RSX. felt it was a cop out to the integra
The materials felt cheap and it didn't look like they put any effort into the interior design and layout. It looks like they took a flat slab, stuck on some buttons, switches, and knobs; cut out a few holes for air vents; and slapped on a steering wheel and a couple gauges and called it a dash. Nothing seems to flow.
The integra had a much more upscale feel to it and the interior itself looked much classier. I never understood the beige looking plastic they put inside.. it's a sport coupe not a luxo sedan.
The only good period Acura IMO was its first 10 years or so, when it was launched, with the Legend and Integra, followed by NSX, 2G Legend, and Vigor. They all had (at the time) nice styling, nice interior, nice powertrain (despite FWD, except for NSX). The 2g RL and Vigor in specific even had longitudinally mounted engine for better proportions. I think everything had double wishbone suspension too, which is excellent.
The 1st gen RL and TL also had longitudinally mounted engine with nice proportions. The RL did ok, but the TL sales were pretty bad. I'm not sure why it didn't sell well.
When the 2G TL arrives, it became a Honda+ car. But, it was very popular. By 2002, Integra is gone, and its replacement no longer has all-wheel double wishbone. And ya, by now, the NSX is very old.
You're nuts.. the 2G TL was a great car and sold quite well... there are still plenty of them on the roads today. Honda+, maybe, but that was an era before a shit ton of electronics were being dumped into cars. It was a roomy car, with plenty of power for its time and nice amenities...
I still think up until the mid 00s, Acura was building great cars that were also desirable.
The only good period Acura IMO was its first 10 years or so, when it was launched, with the Legend and Integra, followed by NSX, 2G Legend, and Vigor. They all had (at the time) nice styling, nice interior, nice powertrain (despite FWD, except for NSX). The 2g RL and Vigor in specific even had longitudinally mounted engine for better proportions. I think everything had double wishbone suspension too, which is excellent.
The 1st gen RL and TL also had longitudinally mounted engine with nice proportions. The RL did ok, but the TL sales were pretty bad. I'm not sure why it didn't sell well.
When the 2G TL arrives, it became a Honda+ car. But, it was very popular. By 2002, Integra is gone, and its replacement no longer has all-wheel double wishbone. And ya, by now, the NSX is very old.
You're nuts.. the 2G TL was a great car and sold quite well... there are still plenty of them on the roads today. Honda+, maybe, but that was an era before a shit ton of electronics were being dumped into cars. It was a roomy car, with plenty of power for its time and nice amenities...
I still think up until the mid 00s, Acura was building great cars that were also desirable.
hahaha yes I had a 2G TL-S for 10 years man. Great car.
And yes it sold well....but it's still a glorified Accord....
Originally Posted by Nexx
i was on board with everything until i saw Vigor.
LOL ya I see what you mean....always thought the fog lights were cool when I was a kid....
other than the POS auto tranny, CL-S/TL-S were probably best in its class at the time in a lot of the categories.
If i remember correctly almost all the "luxury" features available on CLS/TLS were not available in any Honda, let alone Accord. (HID, heated seat, Touch Screen Navi, 5AT, 17" wheels and the J32)
Now Accord has more than Acura.
we all AGREE!!!!!