I love Acura. I'm just stating my opinion...

It seems to me that Acura needs to do some reexamination of its vehicles and redesign some of its lineup.

For example, the TL was introduced in 04 and for 2007, it only receives a minor facelift?

How is that going to compete with other competitors?

2004


2007


and the TSX only received a foglight change...

2004


2006


or maybe I am just crazy...

 

Well Acura did just come out with the supercharged RDX, and aside from that the TL and TSX models aren't even 3 years old. It's rather common to hold the same models for several years with introductions of just slight changes in between. I'm just crossing my fingers for a new CL for 08-09

 

Same here, I wanted it to be based off the RL design, but after looking at the '07 TL-S, they need to make it off of that front end!!

 

The TL competes just fine. It'll have a full redesign for 2009 MY.

 

Its funny that I dont like the facelifted versions better. This topic has been discussed at length. I think all the next generation TL, TSX, RL will look much more exciting, based on what the RDX and new MDX look like.

 

I think Acura needs to quit being lazy and start giving their vehicles names again! Bring back integra, Legend...etc.

 

08-09 is just around the corner so keep yer tissue close in hand when the new models come out. I think acura will do some amazing things w/ the next gen. Just sad they're making us wait so damn long.

 

I see nothing wrong with the TL or TSX, they still selling like hotcakes.

 

That has to do with marketing, Look at BMW, Lexus, Audi, Mercedes, even Infiniti. They all use short letter and or number "names" for models.

 

Like the new TL except for the tails, and I hate that 06 TSX front bumper... I like fogs but it isn't pulled off very well in the TSX. I've always thought that the TL/refreshed would look even better if it had that center air dam like the TL Concept.



The changes on the TL and TSX are more subtle compared to other models in the Honda/Acura lineup and to what other manufacturers have done, but why fix something when nothing's wrong with it?

 

no worries man. Those cars are due up for some full redesigns with the next 2 years at most.

Like mentioned previously, im totally down for a new CL (or any 2+2 Acura Coupe).

 

TL type S is what I would like to get

 

Most honda/acura vehicles are on a five year plan... It's just the way it is... FMC (full model change), then a few years later the MMC (Minor Model Change), followed up by another FMC... so for the TL that would be 2004, 2007 and 2009...

There are some exceptions to the 5 year design cycle like the NSX and S2000, etc... hmm.. which just happen to be the RWD offerings...

 

Exactly.

Plus cars are not redesigned every year. Go back and look at the last 10 years or so. The ones that jump out at me are the 5 series BMW which looked the same for years. The Maxima which went through 3 basic designs in 11 years. The G35 has been pretty much the same since 2003.

 

On the TL, aside from the foglights and side mirror blinkers, any normal person will see nothing changed in the styling from 04 to 07.

Same thing with the TSX, aside from the foglights, less chrome bling, and different rims, the bodystyle is the same.

I like that they don't change the bodystyle for 5-6 yrs because it makes my own TSX still look current instead of outdated if they changed the bodystyle every 3-4 yrs.

All that Honda/Acura needs to do is like what Infiniti and Lexus are doing. For example, ES300 became ES330 and now ES350. Then, there is was the I30, I35, and a possible G35 to G37 in the future.

Acura needs to put numbers in their models like they had before, 2.5 TL, 3.2 TL, 2.2 CL, 3.0 CL again.

 

Acura needs to scrap every car beside the TL and start over fresh. And some V8s too

 

same here

 

Acura runs the 5 year cycle on all of their vheicles. The first 3 years the car is the same with only minor updates (extra stiching on seats in 05+06 TL). The 4th year, it recives a MMC (mid-model change)Again in the 5th year it recives a MMC. THe 6th year, it is totally redesigned, this will be the first year of the next generation. EX:

1999-2001 TL 2nd Gen
2002 TL 2nd gen TL MMC
2003 TL 2nd Gen TL MMC
2004-2006 TL 3rd Gen
2007 TL 3rd Gen MMC
2008 TL 3rd Gen MMC
2009-2011 TL 4th gen TL
and so on.

 

The car I wish Acura would make:

TSX size and style.
Rear Wheel Drive
Curb Weight under 3200 lbs.
NA 3.0 DOHC V6 w/ 8000 rpm redline 235lbft/260bhp
Keep electronic nannies to a minimum
6MT a must, don't want no stinking paddle shifters.
List price under 30k without nav

The IS350 comes close, but it's overpriced and doesn't offer a 6MT.

 

As a 2004 TSX owner, I am very happy that they did not have many changes to the newer TSX, as that would really make mine look dated!

Also, if you look at the other premium brands, like BMW and Mercedes, they typically don't have many drastic year to year changes either. So this is a consistent strategy for the premium brands.

 

same here.

 

Me too, but make mine a coupe... heck, I'd even take a sedan with those specs

 

Acura is weird. They have the technology and quality, yet their cars arent shit when compared the Infiniti's lineup. Seriously, Infiniti and Acura should be direct competition, and because Honda is so damn hard headed, they refuse to swithc to RWD. IMHO, Honda should develop a platfor than can be front/all or RWD. This way they can make the Accord front driver, and give the TL some RWD with an AWD option. Honda reminds me of Nintendo when they released the N64. Sony was releasing a a cd based system with less power, but Nintendo stuck to cartridges, making them loose the console wars. Then came the Gamecube, although good, it still had a different media format and controller, making it hard to play games that would be easy on other consoles. The point i am trying to make, is that Front drivers should be left to the Honda brand. Or keep the TSX as a front driver and move the TL to RWD and give it more power. The FWD is seeing it's limit with the new type s and they wont be able to go any further. And believe it or not, horsepower sells cars.

 

About three years ago I started to look at a car to replace my 1997 540. I looked at nearly every manufacturer except BMW, having too many problems with the model I currently owned. My main interests were Acura, Lexus, Infinit, and Nissan. Each model from various manufacturers offered some advantages. When it came to Acura, I found the styling and competitive pricing to be quite attractive. It's cars seemed to well constructed with a host of luxury features and priced quite sensibly. The Infinitis, especially the G35 coupe, seemed to be excellent cars but I couldn't justify the increase in price. Same as Lexus. Perhaps if the 250/350 was offered at the time I would have purchased one instead, but again, I didn't see Acura as being the inferior automobile. In short I kept ending up at the Acura dealership. The only concern I had was with the FWD layout, and always having owned rather powerful rear drive machines I had trepidation over Acura's insistence on FWD. After driving their cars several times I found my concerns unfounded. Sure there was some dreaded torque steer, but only when driving very aggressively. At 8/10ths I found their cars understeered somewhat, but nothing to deter me from owning one. In the end I didn't purchase an Acura, but instead an Accord six speed coupe. I really wanted a coupe, but Acura didn't offer one at the time. If one had been available, I certainly would have gone with Acura, and know that I would have made a proper choice.

Terry

 

As long as Acura are mostly FWD cars, they won't be able to progress into a more respectful brand with prestige.

Most people see that Lexus and Infiniti are the marque Japanese luxury brands, while unfortunately, Acura is seen as the entry level luxury Japanese brand or the best bang for your buck brand, which is good, but lacks class.

 

I agree that Acura should change their designs soon. They are counting on the TypeS TL to keep it up to par with BMW, Lexus, and Infiniti. Yes, 286hp is good, but the others all offer 300hp+. The new RDX is already behind in hp with the 07' X3 offering 260 hp. The new MDX is a big improvment and is now up to par with the Infiniti FX, BMW X5 and Lexus RX. The TSX and RL really need help with design and hp. The RL was a shock when it was introduced with AWD and 300hp, but it still needs more power and the design is already looking dated. The last model is the TSX which is due for a complete redesign in 08' or 09'. From rumors and sketches Ive seen it will be a good competitor, but Acura needs to think ahead of others offering more power and striking designs. I can't wait to see what they come out with in terms of a couple. I think it will more likely be a TSX coupe because they will want to sell more of them. This wouldn't be bad if it had enough to compete with the BMW 328i which has 230hp at least. I wish the new TSX would offer 240hp+. They also need to have the NSX be a hit if they ever actually release it. It would be great.

 

with the HP wars starting now, acura will either have to put an SH-AWD drive system in the 4th gen TL or switch to RWD (i doubt it). THe Rl will most likley get a more pwerfull engine in 2010 when the 3rd gen is released so the RL won't get the last nail in the coffin.

 

As others have stated here, car companies (including Honda/Acura) have a model cycle. BMW just replaced its aging 3-series, Infiniti is replacing its long-in-the-tooth G35...Acura has a couple more years before its cycle comes due. Keep in mind, the situation was reversed back in 2004. A powerful, sleek new TL came out as the 3-series and G35 were more than a couple years old. And to be honest, Acura is not hurting right now. As far as I know, the TL is still the second best selling entry level luxury car (behind the perennial favorite 3 series). So it really doesn't need too much refreshing anyway.

And someone mentioned that Acura is falling behind because they don't have the hp numbers of the other companies...who cares? There's more to a car than engine numbers. Acura isn't getting into the HP wars as much as the competition and I applaud them for it. Quality trumps a flash in the pan power anyday if you ask me.

 

No that's not true Acurafan about the G35 being a couple years old at the time the 3rd gen TL was released, which was back in Fall 2003. The G35 sedan was released in Fall 2002 and the G35 coupe was released in Spring 2003.

 

I don't know if there's any problem with Acura's image or their use of FWD.

A good portion of my family pretty much drives Acuras exclusively and my parents and relatives are hardly sophisticated car nuts. They could not have cared less that the car was FWD or RWD. I think for a large portion of the population, this is going to be true. I know when my cousin was searching for a car, her foremost requirement was that "it be red." A Milano TSX later, she's quite satisfied.

Acura's "street cred" seems pretty sound to me. I find most lay people group Acura in the same class as Infiniti and Lexus. Not in any lower ranking. They have stylish well-engineered vehicles and there aren't quite so many of them on the road. Nothing like the ubiquitous G35 or ES.

The only person I ever met that frowned on Acura was some guy at a gas station in a black BMW 330ci (which was nicely done up). I mentioned to him, "nice car." He said thanks and looked over and said what do you drive? I said an Acura TL and he just kind of rolled his eyes and snorted. Does his reaction even count?

I've driven pretty much every Acura vehicle at some point (only missing original Integra and the post 2004 NSX) and I've always heard "nice car" compliments.

 

Ok...a year, so sue me. What do you do? Scan for posts with one number off and jump in right away to correct them?

To me, the G35 styling aged really fast so it felt old by the time the new TL came out. Whereas the TL still looks fresh.

 

So what? Is acura supposed to redesign the cars every year? Daym, the 3rd gen is just a few years old and you make it sound like they have been running the same design without change for 10 years

 

That is EXTREMELY subjective.

Come to central NJ and you will see how ubiquitious the 3G TL versus the G35 and ES. (Heck! vs the Altima 3.5SE/SL/SE-R and Camry V6)

But the quote above (in italics) is fairly accurate.

 

^ I see TL's everywhere, and I actually see more RL's than I do M35/45s.

 

Same here! I also see TL's everywhere here in NE Ohio. I also seem to see more RL's here than M35/45 too!

 

I thought you lived in Jersey?

 

No, actually the statement "To me, the G35 styling aged really fast so it felt old by the time the new TL came out" is a fact. A statement like "The G35 styling aged really fast so it felt old by the time the new TL came out" would be <i>EXTREMELY subjective</i>. It's like saying "I don't like green apples." That is a factual statement. "Green apples are inedible" is a subjective statemtent.

 

The point is, threads like this come up every couple of years with someone worried that Acura is losing ground just because they're mid-cycle...

 

By definition of a statement which begins 'To me', the reader is being notified of its subjective nature.

sub‧jec‧tive  /səbˈdʒɛktɪv/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[suhb-jek-tiv] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation

–adjective 1. existing in the mind; belonging to the thinking subject rather than to the object of thought (opposed to objective).
2. pertaining to or characteristic of an individual; personal; individual: a subjective evaluation.

Courtesy of Dictionary.com

 

Ah, but my statement is still fact as well.

fact  /fækt/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[fakt] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation

–noun
1. something that actually exists; reality; truth: Your fears have no basis in fact.

So...
i.e. You have fears: True. The fact that your fears have no basis in fact is irrelevent to the conversation. You have fears is true.

True or False: To me, the G35 styling aged really fast so it felt old by the time the new TL came out.

<b>True:</b> It is true that <i>I believe</i> the G35 looks dated. Therefore, my statement is fact regardless of how you feel about the car...I can be the only one in the world that feels that way, It doesn't change the truthfulness of the statement.

Wether the car actually <b>is</b> dated is subjective. My opinion might not be based on fact. But that's not what we're talking about here. We're talking about my statement being fact or subjective. So, yes, my statement is subjective but that doesn't make it any less of a fact. That's why I phrased it as I did. My previous statement, phrased in that way, does still stand as fact.

...not to hijack the thread...