LA Acura dealer spends $20 million upgrading dealerships in hopes that brand will become Tier 1

Good luck on that!

Tier 1 doesn't include Bird beaks

Ditto I wish him the best of luck. He's going to need it.

Infiniti is far from Tier 1 as well so I don't know what you're laughing at LOL.

Tier 1 status comes from quality of product not quality of dealership. Acura just isn't there yet.

I bet he wishes he got that $20 million back.

F1 Driver, Acura does make quality products, despite the design direction they have taken, their cars/suvs are still winning awards. Their resale value is second only to Honda, their own parent company.

I feel for the number of employees that will now probably get laid off to get that back.

Chuck, relax man, your G37 is probably really cool and all, but lets be realistic, infiniti makes good cars with really good performance, but the quality and resale value still isn't there. And the engines can get quite harsh, not in a good way. The J35 made Ward's List, the VQ didn't...

TLS - The acura brand is nowhere near being a Tier 1 company. They have to seperate themselves away from Honda more and build a better luxury car before this will happen.

I thought the G37 was on the best resale value list.

BMW4ME, I don't disagree, but the infiniti guy acts like his brand is so great, jus thought I'd point out a few things to him. I don't really care if Acura goes Tier 1 or not, I don't buy a car or do anything with thoughts of what everyone else'll think of me or my car.

You're right Infinti is a Tier 2 car also. Why? no flagship sedan.

Acura needs to start building cars with RWD and 8-12 cylinder engines as a minimum requirement to get to tier 1. You just don't get there with V-6 engines.

btw, I like Infiniti a lot better than Acura, but I still don't consider them tier 1 either.

I can understand someone liking infiniti a lot more, their vehicles cater to perfomance-minded buyers, jus as lexus caters to luxury-minded buyers. Acura caters to those in between. The gray area is your friend :->

Honestly, putting a V8 in the RL at this point in time would be pointless, BMW, Lexus, Mercedes, Infiniti all sell a miniscule amount of their midsized cars with the 8 cylinder, its just for bragging rights, in this economy bragging rights is being able to say that you're actually operating in the black. I do think that once the economy straightens out, Acura should be ready with a V8 and
RWD. When Acura decides to compete in this way, everyone better be prepared...

blakura, seriously, acura is out of touch. You can argue all you want, but the facts remain. Handling sucks, exterior styling sucks... they offer nothing more than Honda. I was a big acura fan. The 04 model TL was a great looking vehicle. I even liked the MDX. Handling wasnt there but at least the cars had style. I want acura to do well, but I cannot support the direction they are going. They had a lot of potential but arent really utilizing it. I think right now, they are just living based upon their reputation. It is wasnt for reliability, I think they would be another Ford. Infiniti is tier 2 as well however I would chose them anyday over an Acura. They have inspiring designs and performance at a competitive price. Whats special about acura? What do they really offer that you cant get anywhere else? Alright..its late... and I am going to bed!

So I've been reading posts on this website for ages and finally decided to register.

My opinion about Acura...I think they have great potentials but they just don't quite get it when it comes to designs...I use to be an Acura fanatic, as proof my family has an 05 RL, yes everyone here hates on this car b/c it's overpriced and etc, but I have my own opinion about liking this car. I was hoping the new TL would be that amazing product that Acura finally got it, but I am dissapointed with:
1. 5 speed auto still? 2. The center console doesn't look sleek but in fact a little tacky. 3. It doesn't really offer anything new that isn't on the RL my family owns 4. etc. etc.
On the other side of the argument for Acura;they do have certain things that ppl don't take notice like blue ambient lighting on the floor and around the cabin, offering a lot of standard technology without adding a bunch of packages which other brands do.

PS- One last thing, maybe I'm just out of loop with the whole engine deal but I think it's weird that people keep telling Acura to add a V8 engine in their line to be taken seriously, when a lot of Tier 1 brands like BMW are downsizing their engines? I'm all for having a V8 but if everyone is downsizing their engines, then if acura has a V8 will everyone start complaining how they arn't downsizing like everyone else? BTW before ppl start saying I'm a BMW hater...I happen to like BMW.

Acura strongly need a good V8 and some turbo V6 and turbo V8 as well, and enlarge Rl to S and 7 size... ... so TL can compete with E and 5, and TSX can compete with C and 3.

the build quality is very good, but they need to develop the styling as well, which means fire all the current designers.... ....

Here we go again....bashing on good cars. Tier 1 status is not going to come overnight, for any manufacturer. Acura is going to release a flurry of automobiles in the next 18 months or so. 2 new coupes, 6 cyl.TSX, big luxury sedan and a product the market does not need, an X6 competitor. Everyone here drinks the "beak" koolaid about how ugly the grill is...blah blah blah....I would venture to say that 95% of the people on this site have never even sat in the new TL much less driven the car. I will put the new TL against ANY car priced 45k or under in the MID SIZE segment. Any of them....and before you spout off...I have drived every one of the TLs competitors....every one of them. The 5 series is an overpriced harsh riding typical german sedan as is the A6. The E classs is a hell of a car...but way overpriced with any options on it..and the Lexus GS is just too damn mushy for any sporting driving.. Acura just made its' intentions about Tier 1 status 10 minutes ago....so give them some time and see what happens....noone can deny the engineering prowess at Honda, so if they say they want to take it to another level, whose to say they won't

V-10 NSX

Jsell - Only you would compare a 5-series to a Acura TL. And yes I have driven the TL. It is a better car than the one previous, but like many dont care for the beak, aka shield look.

5-series with a " harsh ride " - to you maybe cause you are used to driving a softer more forgiving suspension? The 5-series is a Performance sedan first and foremost. It is supposed to let you feel the road thru the steering wheel. It is supposed to let you feel the road as though you are one with the car. Tight handling. That is what a BMW is. Also, it costs lots of money to bring a car to 50/50 weight balance.

If you are in the Chicago area, anytime you would like to bring one of your Acura's TL's and compared it in a driving course to any of my BMW's, just let me know. I have both cars, a 2008 328i RWD and a 2008 535i RWD .. lol

Typical response here at BMWspies...I am glad that you leased 2 BMWs...only a fool would outright purchase one

Jsell, you have some good points. I would bet that a TL SH-AWD would beat or come close to beating a 535i in a comparison. I know what I just said will not be popular here on this site, but I truly believe the TL is that good.

BMW4me...tight suspension and 50/50 weight balance is not worth the extra money, most buyers never even notice the difference or is that the reason for the "magic feel" that comes standard on bmw's. Like Jsell said, give Acura some time, hopefully they'll fire their current design team, but we'll see what Acura can do now that they have set their sites on being a tier 1 company. They didn't lose the race to Tier 1 status to infiniti and lexus (which aren't there yet either depending on who you ask) Tier 1 just wasn't Acura's goal before now. They rarely miss the mark when they set a goal. Save this post and when it comes true, I'll autograph it. Jus kidding, but you guys are way too biased against Acura on here.