http://www.marionstar.com/news/stori...ws/407489.html

Quality under control

By JOHN JARVIS
The Marion Star

MARION -- The 2004 Acura TL is a "true homegrown product," particularly for one Prospect woman.

Kristie Jerew of the Marion County village served as vehicle quality project leader for the new Acura automobile, being manufactured exclusively at the Marysville auto plant.

Jerew was responsible for managing the quality department through the project "as far as specifications, new features and scheduling the cars."

The wife of Kim Jerew and mother of Ashley, 12, and Eian, 8, made sure each unit had the correct design items, wheel type, seat type and other features "just to confirm that we match the design," she said.

For example, Acura TLs to be sold in the United States "get fog lights" and the units sold in Canada are supposed to have daylight running lights and mud guards; "that's just something they (Canadian auto dealers) request," she said.

From concept to manufacture, the process for the 2004 Acura TL took three years, all of it in Ohio, said Jim Macaluso, engineering project leader.

It was designed by Acura's research-and-development facility in Raymond, manufactured in Marysville, the transmission is produced from the company's Russells Point facility, and the engine is manufactured in Ana.

"It means a whole lot of things," Macaluso said, of the Buckeye State-born Acura, "like job security, and of course pride in the product."

Jerew is happy to say the model is Ohio-born and raised.

"The associates here have put forth a lot of effort to produce this car, and it shows," she said.

Macaluso shares her enthusiasm.

"This car has been a very exciting car to work with, not just the car, but the people, the teamwork and enthusiasm from the people has been amazing. ... It's been great working with the people and the teamwork atmosphere that this car has generated."

Acura's goal?

"The main objective was to create a sporty, aggressively styled vehicle with great design characteristics, excellent performance and a lot of value for the customer through the features and amenities we've applied to this car," Macaluso said.

The 2004 Acura TL boasts a 270-horsepower V-6 engine, 45 more horsepower than the 2003 TL has; choice of five-speed automatic transmission or six-speed manual transmission; the industry's first standard DVD-Audio 5.1 surround-sound system and hands-free phone system that allows calls to be made using the car's voice recognition and audio controls, according to Acura literature.

Macaluso said the company has rated the new model best-in-class with a five-start safety rating. The car has dual-stage air bags on the driver and front-seat passenger sides, as well as side curtain air bags and seat-side air bags.

While Acura welcomes anyone interested in purchase the 2004 TL, the target customer is a man in his early to mid-40s in age.

"It's probably been one of the most exciting cars I've been involved in so far, just the way it looks and the way it handles when you drive it," Jerew said. "It's got a lot of get-up-and-go and when you're sitting in it, it kind of surrounds you."

Price of the 2004 Acura TL is $32,650.

 

So Are we paying for a Japanese or an American car?

 

How many of us aren't the "target" customer?

 

I'm not a "target" customer--I'm too young for the TL. Actually, I was too young for the old TL.

I am proud that I have kept Ohioans in specific/Americans in general employed by buying a total of three cars produced here in Ohio....lowers (in theory) my tax burden, and keeps people employed.

 

I'm never a target customer for the cars that I buy. I'm also too young. Well, at least the target customer of the TL is younger than the target customer of my current vehicle.

 

So I guess they aren't quite on target then.

 

You in the market for a new car Therm?

 

That is weird I'm 27 and gonna get one of these things within a year. Haha. I'm an admitted Honda freak though and I can afford one.

 

Yes. I joined this forum to learn about the tl. I will be giving back my 330i the end of dec. I wanted a bigger car, a little less expensive, and just as much fun to drive. I test drove the auto, but I want the 6 mt. I was never a bmw snob, It was a car i always dreamed of owning since i lived in germany as a kid. I really enjoyed the test drive. It will be my next car.....unless bmw gives me a 545i for 325 a mo on a lease. you get the point.

And I'm 29. to young for this car I guess.

 

I also am not in their target market for age, and i am not male. But you can bet i will have one in my posession by summer of next year.

 

I'm not a male either. It seems that most cars are "targeted" towards older men. Hmmmm...I wonder what cars are targeted towards the female buyers...mini-vans?? Just a question.

 

Hmmm, I am the target for this car. I guess I'd better not stand in front of it.

-r

 

I don't think any car is targeted speciafically towards women, mini-vans are targeted towards "families" and it is usally men that buy them.

 

Volkswagan Golf convertibles, and Infiniti I30 are cars targeted for women. How do I know this you ask? Most of the time I see these cars, women are driving them
Seriously, I am the target market, but would still appreciate this car if I were younger. Unfortunately, when I was in my 20's and 30's, I couldn't afford to buy this car.

 

OK, the window sticker does say ENGINE - USA, but how come it says TRANSMISSION - JAPAN?????

Per the article, it is made in Ohio?

Also, the Car is only 65% ( from memory) USA/Canada parts, where are the rest from, Mexico like the big three in Michigan do????

I am not flamming, just wondering abut the Tranny specifically

 

Hope no one is offended, but I would never buy a VW beetle. To me that is a "female car". I think they have tried to market it to men and women, but it hasn't worked. maybe if it had a rear mounted engine, 320+ horse power, sleeker design, a bigger movable wing on the back..........sounds a little familiar.....hmm.

 

Well, I'm not offended...I'm a female and would never buy a VW beetle.

 

Me either

 

Apparently, although I'm male, I'm 16 years too young to buy this car. Oh well, I guess I'll go visit the Kia. dealership.

 

Johker, do you mean a TL or a male?

 

nice catch Legendguy, but i am already engaged, i was refering to the car

 

Again, engaged to a TL or to a male?

(Sorry if my joke went too far!)

 

Not engaged to a TL, but I will probably "marry" (own) a TL before i get married to my fiance. And, if I am nice, I may even let him drive MY TL.

 

95% of TSx is made in Japan.. Will TSX be more reliable than TL?

 

Someone should find a way to get this woman fired.

-josh
2004 TL auto/navi Pilot Sport A/S

 

Okay...was I the only one that noticed this...

So if US dealers made a stink about DRLs, we'd get them too then?

I think it's time to bitch and whine to our local dealers.

 

To my understanding, it's not a dealer's request. It is a federal requirement for getting the car homologated in Canada. Maybe it's the reporter who wrote this under a false assumption?

 

Someone was under the false assumption. It's the law in Canada to have DRLs on all new cars.

 

That's what I thought...I found it kind of weird, but I figured if that was all it took, maybe we could get our dealers to speak up too.

 

It's funny...I was helping my sister look for a new car a couple months back. She decided to stop in at the VW dealership to see what they had. The sales guy looks at her and says (with a look as if he's about to say something profound), "I have the perfect car for you...a Beetle." And my sister responded with, "Hell, no. I'm not driving a Skittle on wheels."

I think only the "cutesy" type females like the styling on the Beetle.