Saintor

What to do and the opposite.

Not to say that the previous ones were bad, but 2004 made a difference and 2004 TL (loved that one) & TSX are the products that got my attention. Since then, with the RL as an evidence, things are going almost down hill. RSX gone. RDX is a mess. ZDX even worse. Only the new MDX did well.

TL sales are now half of what they used to be 5 years ago. Market share is seriously down as well.

IMO, that's mostly of a design/styling issue. I don't believe that Acura necessarily need a RWD/v8 platform to enjoy some success back. Except for the MDX, the current styling is like too feminine and don't exude the same boldness that helped to sell so many cars in 2004-2006. Agree (or not)?

Twinstar driver

Agree.
Styling has been uninspired for a number of years now.If Acura was selling econoboxes, that would be all fine and well, but they are premium priced products and should look it.

Carraway

I'm hoping they can get it together and find a way to make a great driver's car again. I have some hopes for the Honda CR-Z, but not too much. If they can get that spirit again, things will be better. Also, they didn't make particularly powerful cars before, but they were quick, agile and fun. I think the criticism of the first generation TSX's horsepower may have gotten to them, so they ruined it. (I also suspect some people at Honda have been deeply traumatized at seeing what was being done to many of their cars and vowed to never make a fun one again).

It's not as if Acura and Honda in general doesn't know how to do great things. They've done it before. Of course, safety regulations and the market have changed quite a bit, but how many of us would love to get a wormhole to an Acura or Honda dealer to a decade or more ago? Even, say, 1993?

Legend:

Integra:

Ramrodthrusterpuppy

I agree somewhat. Acura has always been kinda all over the map with their styling and overall market presence as they've never really fit into the upmarket niche as well as Audi, BMW or even Infiniti. They've tried to make each model refresh revolutionary instead of evolutionary....sometimes works (3G TL), sometimes doesn't (pretty much every model now).
I even like the new TL, the 6MT SH-AWD is a formidable sport sedan...it really performs for such a big car, but many of the styling queues are awkward...they're addressing some of that with the MMC changes to the beak and tail...but still, it's an awkward design at best that works from some angles...others not so much. Let's face it, styling is subjective...what I like, you may not. But universally attractive styling is what gets people into showrooms, if you can't at least nail that, then sales will plummet.

Hapa DC5

fire the exterior designers and those who approved of their post '08 line up.

Spike TL

I agree that the ZDX is ugly and it does not really sell, and the same with the RL, just the RL is not ugly, just way over priced.

I for one like the new TSX and TL, but I did not at first. But if you drive one, I find they drive very nice and they are solid cars. We sells a bunch of them every week at my Acura dealership, and if I had the money, I would be getting a new TL, but for now, I'll just be getting a 04-06 Type-s TL, even tho they have problems, but I just like them.

neuronbob

There are literally dozens of threads on the same topic. You may want to peruse the TL and RL megathreads in the Automotive news section.

Sly Raskal

iTrader: (1)

And plenty of threads/posts in Car Talk and Automotive Discussion as well.

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

PortlandRL

to the to the motherflippin'

This topic has been beaten more times than Chris Brown's ex-girlfriend.