clee109

It's still a Honda Accord, it has a stigma to it. Looks good yes, but so does the Kia Optima, but it has the stigma of Kia associated with it

bluecarbonfiber

accords are way more reliable the kia optimas.. i guess yes the leather isnt to par as an acura but its still decent all arounds specially for the price.

minkl81

iTrader: (2)

I don't know if its only me or not but I don't really see premium on Acura over Honda.

What I'm thinking
Lexus > Toyota
Infiniti > Nissan
Acura = Honda

Hopefully Acura up the premium image with upcoming vehicles. RLX, TLX, NSX

clee109

Acura spent so much time on creating the stigma of an entry level luxury car for the common man that it's hard to decouple it from Honda as a premium brand. Whereas the other guys started off in life with "this is not for the common man, this is for the accomplished successful rich man" lol It's all in the messaging.

Mr Marco

I'm not on the paddle shifters very often. If I want to pass I just drop it in S and mash the pedal to the floor. It has become second nature now. I don't even think about it before I do it. They call it "Muscle Memory Encoding." Also often refered to as "Single Guy Syndrome." That's the one where you bookmark porn sites on your lap-top because you don't have a girlfriend and live alone.

Mr Marco

Exactly why Acura shouldn't have introduced the ILX.

bluecarbonfiber

honestly what they should do is have there rsx coupe back.. then do a TL, then RL then nsx ,, while still have there suv line up... it might help there sales alittle more.. plus then you have a luxury car that hits all the people.. imagine a rsx today with a v6.. yummy! the TL models would be different though.. there would need to be a 4cyl then 2 v6 versions to make up with the gap the tsx delivers

minkl81

iTrader: (2)

TSX will soon be gone I think. It'll probably be RLX > TLX > ILX. If I have extra money to spend, I'd love to buy a TSX wagon as a collection It'll be a rare car to find 10~15 years down the road.

Acura should have a entry level coupe that is performance oriented. Maybe with that RDX turbo engine with SH-AWD and priced around $30k. It would be even nice to have a TSX wagon with RDX engine and SH-AWD.

And for the paddle shifters.. Its something nice to have as a interior decoration. Looks more sporty and upscale. But when it comes to as a usage, its something that isn't really needed or used daily.

minkl81

iTrader: (2)

Been doing the research on the G37 Coupe's stock exhaust. Not much info if it has better flow rate than the G35 coupe or the FX35. But I found out its interchangeable without any cutting or welding when using rear sway bar from G37.

Just by looking at it, G37 looks better flowing desing with the true dual design.

G37 Coupe Stock on right


G35/FX35/350Z stock

Mr Marco

But then you'd be stuck driving a TSX wagon for 10Yrs. Might as well just buy an RDX w/turbo like the rest of us....

mucter

Marco, I am constantly swearing at the RDX's transmission. The paddles only work half the time, and when they do, they are WAY too slow.

That said, the MDX. mother.... of.... god.....

Put that bitch in S and it's like a sports car. W T F.

The new 6 speed auto that Honda put with the flappy paddles is incredible. You can grab multiple gears on the fly and it'll rev-match downshifts and get you to that gear quickly. So you can be in 5th gear in S, double tap the down shift paddle and it'll rev match to 4th then down to 3rd. Yes it will take a command for a multiple gear shift. Like a heal toe shifter would do it in a race car. They put the flappy paddles in the Accord coupe v6 with the 6 speed auto, I'm sure that thing is a riot. I'm confused that they didn't bother in the v6 4dr's, would have been really compelling. But at least the coupe, the sporty one, gets them.

The 2012 TL's have this tranny setup too btw.

bluecarbonfiber

i can shift down 2 gears in the tsx i have now.. but there are rules to it.. which drive me insane! lets say im doing 60 in 5th gear i want to go to 2nd gear to get the extra umph its a no go.. but if i was doing 55 sure it will do it.. and thats a 3 gear drop down.. i wish hondata or someone like that would make something so i can change the max rpm downshifts in the auto.. sure would make it a funner drive

Mr Marco

I know. I should never buy the first model year. too late now. Monday night we made a pact to just keep the cars we have and drive them into the ground.
We have some debt that needs a wittlin' (including the TL) so we are kinda stuck with them. Wish we hadn't spent so much money remodeling the house.
Love being in the kitchen now, getting really fat.

bluecarbonfiber

i bet all the people who bought stainless steel appliances are going to be kicking them selves soon when its out of fashion..

Mr Marco

Yep. Agreed. You have to be from Jersey to like our kitchen. SS, dark wood and countertop. Went out of style in 2007-8, but we love it. Old look & white cabinets are now "in" again.



Reminds me of my mother's house.

clee109

We have white cabinets and wet sand looking quartz countertops in our new place, looks fresh y0!

Mr Marco

^See, they are "in." I'll have to sell to eASTERN eUROPEAN OR A JERSEY SHORE CAST MEMBER TO GET RID OF MY HOUSE.

GD caps lock.

Mr Marco

For Brando:

mucter

2 things.

- You don't have flappy paddles, you have that sport shifter things. Flappy paddles have needed help to become useful.

- Your ish doesn't do throttle blip rev matches before engaging the gear. So you get that moment of weight transfer from the engine having to rev up to meet the tranny drag...

Mr Marco

Lets face it, unless it's the Ferarri Scuderia F1 tranny, This \/ is faster than the Acura paddles.

minkl81

iTrader: (2)

Lexus SC @ Speed Concept





http://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/ptd/3360554823.html

Surprised to see this car went up for sale. Its my friend's friend car and saw this car getting lotta things done recently at Speed Concept but now its up for sale.
Few of the stuffs I remember is, new radiator, new full bushings kit, new brakes, and fluid stuffs. It'll be a good project car.

Mr Marco

^Nice. they also had a really good forest green for the SC of the era too.

Plus this comment is a good excuse to bump the " spotted 2G TL on I-90" thread down. They are having a little bro-love-fest going on up North of us.
getting tired of having to go three pages in to see if anyone of my bros posted.


:heart:
:brolove:

bluecarbonfiber

nothing worse then ruining a good dash by puting vinyl on it.. alittle here there is nice but that it just disgusting..

i like the wheels with it =) 3500 is alittle spendy though.. saw a 93 on CL that needs paint and waterpump for 1500 im sure i could get them down more then that.. i really want a black on black or something with black interior.. since its going to be a project car for me all i care about is the body being straight and the panels are free from dents.. after that its game on.. if i do find one im looking for i plan to carbon the fenders, doors maybe the hood too and then paint over it.. i want it to be light and incognito


autos are slowly catching up to manuals.. specially with the help of after market tq converters.. some drag cars are autos due to the tq stall and being able to hook up better then a manual.. there are many things out there that can make many Autos better its just the cost and research to do it makes it rare to have or see.. with more and more vehicles becoming automatic you will start seeing it more i think.. its a untapped market for the most part

minkl81

iTrader: (2)

seeing lotta good reviews on Porsche's new PDK tranny. plus many auto trannies these days shifts faster than the manual. but manual is just more fun and engaging to drive. i want s2000 if i can afford another car. or even a nicely used NSX.

Mr Marco

I'm stuck with what we bought. In some ways it's good to own two really nice choices from the HMCo line. In other ways I wish I had forced my hand a little harder and just brought home a used S2000 that someone else put a couple of their own paychecks into. Then her reason to get a family car, "Where does the child seat go?" would be an excuse for me to buy another car.

mucter

The only auto trannys that shift faster than manual are the ones that aren't really an automatic. They're the dual clutch trannys with the ability to have the next gear already selected before you decide to shift. Those trannys don't have torque converters, they are not slush boxes, and really should become a new category unto themselves.

A torque converter based tranny will always be a bit sluggish just due to the fact that it is literally pushing torque through a pile of slush to make the car move forward lol.

That said, the newer designs Honda is putting in their sportier / high end cars are nice enough to go out and have a lot of fun. That's what matters ultimately.

bluecarbonfiber

for the price of the TL you could of gotten a Evo lancer Touring addition with leather heated seats sun roof, plus its a paddle shift and cant forget one of the best AWD systems on the market

mucter

I'd rather have a late model TL, by a wide margin. I've spent over a 1000 miles in the newer TL's as loaners. And I've had plenty of fast raucous rice burners. To me, the TL's are worth their price and are vastly superior, for a variety of reasons.

Mr Marco

I'm just lucky to have a girl who doesn't kick my fat ass out to the curb, let alone drive a nice ride. If not for her I'd be living with some dude named Ezra who has to hide the bong every time his PO comes over.
My car would be electric, made by Siemens and cost $2.50 to ride to work everyday. Shit.

bluecarbonfiber

sure luxury wise.. but after market with more hp potential plus resell value the evo has it beat..

mucter

FlashPro is about to hit for the '12 Si, '13 ILX, '07-08 Fit, ships Nov 5th. I see some fast ILX's in the future... you can do a head swap on those engines to get real VTEC.

bluecarbonfiber

nothing for the newer tsxs though? the 11's and 12s? they need to start doing the v6s too seems like acura is going to do more v6 line ups

mucter

It's always, "but what about this car?".... jesus. I actually said to my buddy, "they're releasing flashpro for 3 new chassis and expanding support on another, all on the same day. But watch, all people will do is bitch about 'why did the ILX get it so fast, and why doesn't it support the newer fit?'". blah.

clee109

Cause the ILX is ghey... thus the bitching

bluecarbonfiber

ya very ghey! i am happy they got it.. i just wish they would support something other then the 4cyl line up..

minkl81

iTrader: (2)

So, I bought the G37 exhaust even though I'm not sure if it'll do much since it was only $100 for the whole setup. Saw one review about having smoother rev and peppier low to mid range power from a guy that owns two G35 coupe (6mt for him and 5at for wife). Will see after some cutting and welding to get it fit.

Plus local FX forum member wants to do a trade for my stock FX exhaust. I can choose one from these two: Nismo axleback muffler or the Unichip.

Nismo axleback exhaust is for the 350Z but it fits both the G35 and the FX35 with the tips extended.


G35 vs G37 exhaust sound


G35 with G37 exhaust

bluecarbonfiber

i am so confused.. why wouldnt you want to keep the g37 exhaust vs the g35? Isnt the g37 suppose to be better??

minkl81

iTrader: (2)

Nobody really know which is better. Sound wise, people are preferring the G35 system but flow rate wise, no one really knows. These Infiniti/Nissan guys don't have detailed info like Acurazine. I can specifically find out how much ATF it'll require for a drain and fill on my TSX here in Azine. Over at several Infiniti forums, no specific answers. Best answer was, always buy more than 10 just in case it takes more than needed. wtf..

Its just design wise, G37 system looks like it'll flow better with true dual design single in dual out desing of the G35/FX35

bluecarbonfiber

hmm interesting.. all new things i learned =)

minkl81

iTrader: (2)

Ordered new exhaust tips to go along with the G37 system. It'll be one off custom exhaust that no one have tried on the 1st gen FX.

2.25" in 4" out Borla resonated tips


Didn't bought to tune the sound. Just like the resonated style of the tips and 4" diameter will look perfect. Can't wait to get the whole thing fitted.