Acura TLX Type S want list
 

Starting this to hopefully start a want list that maybe Acura can at least look at for what people want. No that they will but I know on the RD forums manufactures monitor them. Here are mine. Would be better to have a wiki page with the thread so things can bubble up for most wanted items.

1) 340-360Hp mated to a responsive transmission.
2) Bring the shift lever back with the left swing over to hit a true manual mode that will not up shift to the next gear but rather have the rev limiter will kick in. Also when downshifting not have the "surge" forward like the current TLX but actually be able to use it like the 3rd gen type S to downshift up to a light where it seems natural and you barely touch the brakes till you want to fully stop.
3) Not go overboard on the low profile tires. Already on the A-Spec have had some tire claims on the wheel insurance.
4) Don't over stiffen the suspension. One thing on the 3rd gen type S the ride was kinda harsh and IMO the A-Spec sh-Awd suspension wise is near spot on with very little lean and great handling through corners under acceleration while still providing a comfortable ride for everyone.
5) Body mods that are not ridiculous like the civic type R but distinguish it from the other variants of the TLX.
6) Brembo brake package.
7) Quad exhaust which looks like it's coming back. It's a great look and forget about the piped in exhaust noise. Tune the exhaust like the 3rd gen type S where you get a quite ride and when you punch on it you get the nice growl inside and outside the car.
8) Better front seats with some more bolster in them.
9) Offer it in lunar silver or some variation close. Literally one of the three top colors of cars and you can't get it in the A-Spec.
10) Full leather seats with more color offerings.
11) Bring back the aluminum pedals.
12) Do not make it a hybrid.
13) Make idle stop a permanent user setting on the Type-S.
14) Use round headlamps rather than the jewel on the Type-S (much more aggressive look) and have the LED surrounds white (although the amber is ok) with the option to not have daytime running lights on at all times but have the LED's run only during the day. (minor thing but the look is nice).
15) sh-Awd of course.

Ability to adjust steering, suspension, throttle response etc individually. When i drove TLX Aspec, i liked sport mode dynamics but would want steering of Normal mode. This will enable multiple different combinations as per likes of different people.

Agree, left it off my list but certainly should at least have some offering there. Hell, the civic has had a digital dash for years.

75+ more HP, cooled brembos, 4 inches more rear legroom, panoramic moonroof, customizable aggressive ambient lighting, power off neutral handling torque vectoring like the RLX, and body styling similar to the 4G TL.

Lot of wants are showing up, will be showing up on the list. Key question is how much will you pay for one?

A real honest to god manual transmission.

The only real want I have is the one that will never happen: a manual transmission. Current power level with a manual AND advanced features (ie not stripper model like Honda does with the Accord) would be great! I would find a way to trade out for that.

Short of that, a bit more power for us enthusiasts, the RDX single screen system, and a less complex way of keeping the radio on after the car turns off are realistic and doable.

One other comment: I don’t think we need a shift lever for the automatic. Not having a shift lever causes us to keep our hands where they belong: on the steering wheel. This is my second Acura with the push button automatic and I think it’s a good idea.

First agree with hands on the wheel

Second depends on how much software they put into the transmission, suspension & steering & how these feature are linked. Paddles will always run manual either with or without a red line upshift. What the stick does is let the driver select different ranges & feature sets of auto & manual driving. Also can act as a up/down shift device in either range.
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I think most of this stuff can be done with a sticker price around 48k or less. Then when some discounts kick in your getting closer to the 43K mark after a year or so. My 07 Type S had a sticker just over 38K and I purchased it late in the model year for under 32K and it had been on the lot for several months. I think the only option on that car was summer tires, other than that larger engine, quad exhaust, beefed up suspension and brembos were all there along with a lot of other small but nice features to separate it from the other TL models.


I have had two with the push button trans and having had the shift lever with manual mode in the Type S I think I used the paddle shifters in that car maybe twice in ten years. I almost never use them in the TLX due to the surge effect. Both hands on the wheel is great but try making a quick K turn using the buttons and it's not so great. The trans pairing on the 3rd gen Type S was really well done though.

Your point is well taken. By your own admission they delivered the type S at 46K in todays dollars. About everything I mentioned in the OP the 07 Type S had. Add the $1800 for sh-Awd and your pretty close to there. I didn't have the A-Spec package which was rare back then but it's a dime a dozen nowadays with Acura.

Also compared to the 3rd gen Acuras interior quality soft touch wise is not close.

I'd think in typical Acura fashion, the Type-S would have to undercut the S4 and C43 AMG in price. S4 is right around $51.4K, so my money is on $49K for the Type-S.

Let me ask you guys another question: how much is a Q50 400 hp in the USA?

Infiniti Q50 sales numbers are better in the US than Canada but still not beating MB, Audi and BMW. So if Acura brings all these features and price it around $48K. Do you think the sales numbers will ex impressive? Worth for Acura to go that far?

About $56K RWD. AWD will add $2K. Don't think Acura has established it self as a $55K vehicle. Look at RLX sales in this price range. The RLX sells about 150 cars a month in the US. In Canada it only sold more then 10 cars in a month twice.

We're takling almost $55k for a TLX-S, seriously....


Just 10 years ago it was $39K....


Was a 1998 TL $23k in fully loaded form...



End rant....


Sorry guys... I'm interested to see where this goes...


I hope more companies fallow Infiniti with going back to HPS... But we can only wish... And I've gotten NO jist of this whiz... Be OK, drink some honey...


Done rhyming... But seriously, as of now, the Accord kicks TLX butt.... I applaud Acuras new enthusiasts stlye lineup... I feel like maybe someone at HQ is lurking here on AZ...

BTW, I saw a 2018 Accord Touring for sale with 3K miles for $29K, so I think anyone spending $55K on a sedan is a bit nuts... Considering that I've called my sister crazy for spending $44K on a new Pathfinder 5 years ago...


Sorry... But I am having sticker shock...

Think they are going to have to add hundreds of thousands of new beds to the nations funny farms every year.

You have any idea how many $50K+ per year pickup trucks are sold in the US each year. The F150 Limited "starts" at $67K & 4 of the 7 F150 model series "start" over $50K. Just think about it if you can only get one thing you can choose a new F-150 Limited or a new StingRay Grand Sport.

Think you need to get out more but be sure to wear a defibrillator.:thumbsup:

And I'm itching to buy a $7k Accord... So far, new cars are just, well, blah... Big boats... Hard to see out of, and over styled.... But I get your point and have no concerns that if it'll sell... It's just hard to believe...



Now, what I can't believe is that people would spend $80K on a truck... And where I live in Mississippi, registration sticlers are annual and are calculated by vehicle value... Lady at the tax office said her husband's new King Ranch was $967 to get a tag on...


I'm from Louisiana, and we pay $25 for a 2 year sticker... That's it... Otherwise, MS is cheaper in almost every way...

Whats really crazy is the are three price levels above the King Ranch - Raptor $53K (one I would buy) - Platinum $55K - Limited $67K. My son in law chose wisely & got a sub $50K Lariat.
Due to an American Graffiti friendly NCDMV policy for cars older than 35 years, Hot Rods, home built etc my COBRA's annual property tax is $45. My 440 is $354.

to get back on topic.......

On the TLX I just want the crease coming from the rear quarter panel to the front fender gone. It turns me off about the TLX.
But I think they have some work to do to make it look much different from the TLX A-Spec.
A Type-S shifter would be nice.
I'm not a motor head so an umph under the hood and tight steering is what I would want on a Type-S.
And an updated Type-S badge that I can put on my 08 :yum:
Maybe diamond cut leather interior
Acura Brembo's would be nice
Update to the 3rd Gen Aspec wheel as an optional wheel and make it 19's
Exclusive Type-S headlights as mentioned before without the jewel eye to be different

Agree totally on the shifter, brembo brakes and no jewel headlights (never liked the look). A type-S badge is a no cost item but that's a given to be on the car. A lot of people seem to be worried about the cost but the 3rd gen Type-S had most of the items I had in the OP. Even with a higher price tag if done right the residual value on the car versus the additional cost will be a low cost upgrade. 07/08 Type S values on resale or trade-in were and still are significantly higher than the base model and highly sought after (granted there are more variants now of the TLX). A well done type S will not be a high volume car but if done right will hold value way better than the lower level variants. It's not an investment but a the 3rd gen Type S real world resale and trade value shows that the extra cost retains a lot of value over time.

Don't be a dummy. You've totally neglected inflation.

Well, is inflation really $17 added to $33K over 10 years? Seems more like $5-7K, but I think I know why...


Technology and Safety Features...


Stupid things like switching from R35A to R1234YF...


Newer cars come with nicer wheels from the factory too... That muse push up the price!!!



That's all I've got...


So, here's the deal...


Comparing to Accord"""


In 2012, An Accord EX-L V6 Navi was about $33K, I think... It went up to $37K for 2013, and is steady at $38K fir the new 2018, so, this seems peculiar to me...



OK, luxury brands inflate faster...

An earlier poster put the 38k type S cost 10 years ago to be just over 46K in todays dollars. I bought the Type S new with a sticker of 38,400 or about that for basicly 32k. Seems reasonable and the other poster was going back to 1998 which is another nine years and no type S was close to the standard model like the 3rd gen was. Inflation from 1998 to 2008 was much higher than 2008 to now. At least going back to 2007/8 models you can get an idea on value. Agree with you Taco on the 23k cost in 1998 is too far to gather any real comparison at this point. A Type-S to sell reasonably well will need to be priced in the 47-48K range and after a year or so you should be able to get it for 42K. A Type-S will never be a high volume car but has to be in a range that some of us will buy it and as I said if done right will hold value very well.

When I first see the type S I want it to send me into an immediate state of mesmerize.

A loaded S4 is north of $64K US and my guess is the only way a Type-S will come is loaded with SH-AWD and be above the Advanced package, which mean all Advanced goodies, sport suspension, of course turbo V6 and I suspect it will be easily $52-54K to compete with the Genesis G70 not the Audi S4, although I suspect it will hold its own against the S4. I don't see Acura going about 350-360HP.

I think $52-54k for a TLX Type S is high. I could be wrong, though.

Think there is a price ceiling on non-Lexus Asian cars around $50K. This year Infiniti Q50 base $36K sold 2000+ a month, Q60 (coupe) Base $40K sold 800 a month, Q70 base $50K sold less then 500 a month.

Assuming a lot of Kia Stingers are $45-50K performance models, not the best plan, they only sell about 1000 a month. Stinger numbers do not hold a promise of heavy sales for a $50K+ TLX S Type. Thing to remember is outside of the Acura fan base going back to the 3G "S-Type" has very little meaning. That was a time when the base, repeat base, TL was the performance equivalent or leader of the segment -$10,000 in cost.

Comment from most of my family when I brought the TL 6MT home was "Whats an AK COURE A?"

When I was shopping for my Acura my wife (not a car person at all) and I had this conversation:

Wife: "Acura?? What's an Acura?"
Me: "It's Honda's luxury division. Acura is to Honda what Lexus is to Toyota."
Wife: "Why don't you just buy a Lexus?"

If my wife was to ask me that I'd say, "Because most Lexus cars I've seen are seriously fugly."

My situation was worse as far a brand recognition goes. Two of my three girls are car people both currently with a Porsche & have completed competition driving school. My wife & 54 years has suffered though a my car stuff since we first met as teenagers at 15/17 years of age. She had, at the time, a pretty good idea what the entry level Luxury market was. By that time we had been through Cadillac, Mercedes, Jaguar, Volvo & I was currently driving a BMW convertible.

This was also a time when they were knocking out 70K+ annual sales for the TL. From a marketing perspective, where I made my living, Acura has always sucked & the brand is almost invisible to most of the buying public. Acura marketing has really done a great disservice to what is a very good car. Its certainly better then a 2000 unit a month seller

In general I agree that at 50k+ the value proposition for a non-Lexus japanese car definitely can drop off significantly due to the fierce competition...and the fact that those who are able/willing to spend 50k+ will likely need to see something very interesting/unique before jumping into that vehicle.

BUT as I was doing some internet-window shopping and looked at what entry to mid level offerings are in the 50-60k-ish luxury sedan segment, I was a bit shocked at what I saw in terms of price and hp.....

These are mid to low 50k starting MSRP I found from OEM websites:

• BMW 530i, 248hp turbo I4, $53k starting (540i gets 335hp and at $60k)
• Mercedes E 300, 241hp turbo I4, $53k starting (E 450 gets 362hp and $60k)
• Audi S5 Sportback, 354hp turbo V6, $54.5k starting (S6 is over 70k)
• Lexus GS 350 F sport, 311hp V6, $52k starting (GS F is over 80k)
• Honorable mentions Alfa Giulia Ti, 280hp turbo I4, $40k starting (Quadrofolio is over 70k), Stinger, Genesis G80

I was actually surprised how little HP you are getting at some of those entry to mid level models.

Could Acura have a value proposition here if they keep the hp numbers up and MSRP at or not much above 50k? Though as already been posted, the brand prestige/recognition is likely a huge roadblock to break into the luxury, sporty sedan segment. (one that the NSX knows all too well....)