'01White3.2CL

ok sorry but it seems acura is kind of going down the drain. if you are looking for a relatively fun, reliable, and luxurious car, Acura hands down!...but i really dont feel they have much now besides the TL-S...

ok ill cut to the chase, i want to see some real power from Acura! i was on supercars.net and saw the racing team won the limerock race! no easy feat against porsche etc...so bring it to the road!!

where is the 2nd gen NSX? 3rd gen CL if they were ever gonna make one? where are the cars with just raw badass power...TL-S is sporty indeed, but 290HP? lets see that at the wheels stock like G37 is close to...

i need FWD for the snow, so keep the setup, but make it badass...why go racing with nothing to show? even lexus has the new IS-F with 415 F'in HP!!


Lets go Acura! they got so much down packed, but the badass power aspect which some want from acura, since the people who do NOT want that already got what they are looking for...

anyone feel the same?

iforyou

iTrader: (1)

Well afterall, the TL-S managed to beat the G35S and IS350 on Willow Springs by a whopping 2 seconds, even though it has less power than those two.

But otherwise yea, these few years have been "quiet" for Acura, but we will see changes pretty soon, first up will be the SH-AWD TL, then the NSX replacement that lapped the 'ring in 7:37 IN TRAFFIC, then we will see the 3rd gen RL. Acura did say from now on they will introduce a new model every 6 months for a few years. So, all I can say is, be patient (yes I know people have been waiting for a while now...)!

TheMirror

Ya know, that's an interesting question. Acura has been hammering the Speed World-Challenge series since 1997, winning races and championships with 'teggy Type-R's, RSX's, TSX's, and even NSX's for a while.

I can't help but notice that they've upped the ante pretty big by trying to punch Porsche in the face in LMP2. The win at Lime Rock last week was kind of a lucky one, but that W doesn't change its shape in the win column. Well done.

Perhaps this LMP push is to send the new NSX down the marketing road as far as it will go?

Who knows. One thing is for sure, Acura has been running at the front of the Speed World-Challenge for a LONG time now. Nice.

Costco

Raw power has pretty much NEVER been a philosophy of Honda/Acura. But then again, the IS-F is out of the ordinary for Lexus....

Good luck keeping 400 horses to the front wheels under control. Thats why Acura is going AWD. You can't ask Lamborghini to start making fuel efficient sedans.

Moog-Type-S

..because Acura hates you.

spdy0001

along with most A-Zine members

synth19

Translation: OP wants Acura to devlop SBTS (Super badass Torque Steer).

bigman

Hopefully Acura shapes up. As it is now, it's quickly becoming the new Buick.

fsttyms1

Crazy Bimmer

Meh I came to terms with Acura's market segment.

Their sales numbers are doing well with the TSX, TL and MDX.

Sure making sport cars will help their brand image....but then again it didnt really work for Lexus.

stright-(paint)balling

there's a couple reason why they don't
#1. Acura doesn't have a RWD platform. the 09 (guessing) TL-S is gonna be around 300-305 hp. out of a Front wheel drive V-6 that's nothing to whine about.
#2. fuel prices. Honda.Toyota, and Nissan building the piss out of economy cars.(Civics,Fits, 4 popper Accords, 4 popper Altima, Sentra(not Sentra Spec V) etc,etc).
bottom line: When you build cars(or trucks) you have to pay the automotive workers. and as you know that's hellishly expensive(trust me i know my dad retired from Honda). you can't expect a worker to produce 9 zillion Civics then go down and do this TL type R or whatever they'd call it. you'd have to either hire more workers or scale back on the Civics which dealers are almost cutting off their arms for Civics and 4 popper Accords.

MarbleGT

Trackruner228

iTrader: (1)

Ask them

taz98spin

neuronbob

Don't. Get. Me. Started.

An example of a failure to bring that racing prowess to the road:

The Mugen V8 RL. I would have paid for that. I'm not kidding.

GrandeInter10

Whoa.

wackura

The RSX associated Acura with boy-racers and should have always been badged as a Honda. The NSX does the right thing for their brand because it's a grown up's car so I suspect that they want to unveil it badly but are probably having budget or production delays because supposedly the concept NSX was criticized (yet that didn't stop them from rolling out the RL makeover).

TommySalami

Their cars wouldn't sell as well if they were sportier (and more expensive as a result)

BraveDemon

I don't see what there is to complain about. Yeah Acura discontinued all of their sporty vehicles (Integra GSR/R, RSX-S), something I've bitched about before, but according to many on this site, its a "smart move" in order to move up the luxury chain.

IMO, you want sporty and reliability, go with Honda (Which is what an Acura really is anyway).

I got to drive a new Accord Coupe V6 6 speed, and man let me tell you it is surprisingly enjoyable. OR theres always the Civic Si which is pretty zippy in its own right.

At the end of the day, the A badge is just an H badge that costs slightly more.

wackura

The NSX would help their luxury image greatly even if nobody could afford it. Even though the NSX isn't a luxury car it sends a message that Acura's designers split their time between cars we can afford and exotic sprts cars. That's the kind of team I want designing my car.

LIPPSTUH

iTrader: (2)

this isn't the first time the same question came up

each business competing in the same market must create their own ninche and attract different customers... not everyone wants a sports car, and not everyone cares for reliability...

comparison:
bmw: i love them but here goes. luxury class, race-inspired, great performance cars, great customer service, reliability issues, expensive maintenance after warranty, rwd. basically all about performance and luxury. expensive.

acura: reliable, low cost maintenance, fwd so not much in performance, cheaper luxury, etc etc etc.

basically acura/honda's model are different from bmw, audi, and even lexus. its simple, whether u like it or not... of course we're acura/honda fanboys and would love to brag about a car like how bmw have the M's, etc etc.

so trade off.

wackura

You didn't answer the question, but that's OK it's not like anyone knows.

Costco

bob you forgot my favorite pics of the Mugen Legend

LIPPSTUH

iTrader: (2)

i thought people would process it. basically because the demographics acura/honda is targetting which are individuals (mainly people with a family) who want an economic car all around. safe, reliable, good on gas, cheap maintenance.

so putting more POWER and RWD in a honda/acura will mean a more expensive car, lower mpg, etc etc. it doesn't make sense. its obvious to me that acura/honda is also trying to make their cars low emissions for the environment..

thus a more race-inspired car from acura isn't going to happen. the nsx and s2k is the closest it'll ever get.. maybe the awd tl. but who knows, their direction seems to be changing already for acura at least. as tehnology advances acura will produce more powerful cars and still stick to their current model.

so in short if u want a more race-inspired car, look elsewhere.

Yumcha

@ the Mugen Legend Max...

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

Holy Mugen God.

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

To OP, go with Honda if you are looking for more sportiness.

In my opinion, Acura has been trying to step up from sport to luxury.. I mean RSX Type-S was a great vehicle, trust me I love RSXs, however, looking at the whole picture from the strict marketing perspective, it negatively affected the Acura's perception of being the "luxury" brand....

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

V8

590 hp... @ 9500 RPM...

wackura

Sports cars do not substract from luxury, cheap non-premium sports cars do.

neuronbob

I just didn't want to depress myself further. *sobs quietly in a corner about this lost opportunity*

Acura might not have sold many of these, but I would have been one of those standing in line to buy one.

Now I'm drooling at American iron. Can you say 2G CTS-V?

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

For a company like Lexus, sports cars are welcomed at this point. But, for Acura, it needs to bring up its upscale brand image first..... I love NSXs also, I want to see the next generation of it getting produced right now. But, in my opinion, Acura needs to spend more time on upgrading its flagships.. My

BraveDemon

Couple things.

Realistically, FWD can only handle around 300ish horsepower at the wheels before torque steer becomes unmanageable. So if you're asking for a FWD super sports car, its not gonna happen. IMO, the 3rd Gen TL-S is perhaps the pinnacle of Acura's FWD sports performance: I mean come on, we have all those yuppies who keep saying "OMG THE 3G TL-S BEAT THE IS350 AND G35 ON A TRACK!!!!"

IMO, ask for lightweight SH-AWD solution. Man, if the last gen TSX had an SH-AWD version (without being obese), those things would've been killer.

As I said before, if you want sporty FWD go Honda.

Not necessarily true.

Did the NSX ever raise Acura to Luxury status? Not really. The NSX was sportier than any other Lexus made to date, and Lexus has already attained Luxury Image status. So I don't see how having the NSX would help their luxury image, when for the past decade, it hasn't helped.

The problem is that the masses never realized how awesome the NSX was/is. To the ignorant masses the NSX was "an overpriced Japanese sports car." Here in Orange County, I see plenty of Porsche 911s, Cayman S's, BMW M3s, M5s, M6s and SL500s, SL55s, even Bently Coupes, but I RARELY see an Acura NSX. Why? Because at that price point, most want that "hey look at me I have status" factor along with the sports factor in a car. The NSX just doesn't scream Luxury to the masses.

With that being said, I'd take an NSX over any of those cars I listed (save maybe a 911 GT2).

FiveLiterCheater

That picture gets me wet everytime....check out the redline

GrandeInter10

Why the F**K was this not mass produced?

Ken1997TL

Completely off topic, but I love the stock engine note of the '02 - '04 RL, sounds like a luxury NSX So I guess thats a small dose of Honda's racing heritage.

Just something I've noticed, put over 2200 miles on the car this week

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

^ do they really sound like NSX? I've never heard of them yet.

Ken1997TL

Yes, it sounds similar.

90 degree V6 engine noise for the win

Bearcat94

Doesn't make sense to me.

M///
AMG
CTS-V
Audi RS
IS-F


"Luxury/Up Scale" yet "Sport"

onebadna1nsx

My friend said my exhaust sounds NSXish after 3000 rpm with my exhaust when driving.

Costco

IMO if the Legend Max was made it would be a difficult toss up between it and the CTS-V and M5.... but the CTS-V interior is just too damn sexy, and the RL's is very nice too, both better than the M5. Normally I don't like Mugen body kits or spoilers but that Legend looks nearly perfect!

Best thing about the Legend Max is that its RWD and has a 6-speed manual! and those velocity stacks sucking in massive amounts of air at 9500+ rpm

Here's how I'd rank em

1. CTS-V
2. Legend Max
3. M5

But maybe if I heard a friggin production V8 spinning at over 9500 rpms.... that could potentially change the ranking! That's stratospheric.... that's even beyond Ferrari-rev levels! Wonder how much it would actually cost and if the production engine would really rev that high?

This is why Acura = fail in some peoples eyes on AZ. Overpromise, underdeliver.... it should be the other way around. The concept should rev to 8500 rpms.... which is !!! already.... but the production model should rev to 9500 rpms!!!!!!!!