Give Us Three Reasons Why Honda Shouldn't Give Up On Acura

1. Because Honda could hire someone to redesign the grille on the entire Acura line without a problem.
2. Because Honda could install a redesigned non-hideous grille for the same expense as installing the current hideous grilles.
3. Because customers might not fly off the lot to get away from the star trek inspired, industry trailing front end design. The 2008 line is a better looking car. Everytime I drive past my nearest Acura store I think that they should have the cars' ass ends facing the street.

1) i agree with pieman
2) pieman is right
3) vote pieman for new Chair of Acura

@Pieman

I must say, the last generation TL had one of the most clean cut, visually appealing exterior designs of recent memory.

Until Acura offers rear wheel drive and v8's or turbo sixes they will never be a true luxury brand.

I hate to agree with nonofyobus but the man's got a point.

I agree with the rear wheel drive and kinda with the V8 but luxury cars don't need turbos. Japanese luxury cars shy away from that they just put a bigger engine. Lexus just started offing turbo with their performance cars the ISF and the LFA but Infiniti and Acura don't and to me they are definitely legitimate luxury brands and very few people go for V8's honestly I couldn't care less because when you drive the V6 they are more than fast enough.

Old Think

With a few years, you'll be lucky to get any of those features from the Germans or Cadillac..........

I see a big role in the future for Schuco wind-up cars.

I think you missed the part where we brought up sales figures from three years ago to point to the marque's demand destruction.

Based on official Sales Numbers - Acura has sold 60,680 vehicles thus far:
source: http://www.autospies.com/news/Vehicle-Shortages-Force-Honda-To-Take-A-24-5-Hit-In-June-Sales-Acura-Falls-22-8-65180/

Reason #1
That's more 5,000 then "prestigious Audi"
Source:
http://www.autospies.com/news/Audi-Continues-To-Impress-With-Record-Month-Up-16-9-In-June-65179/

Reason #2
That's 13,000 more then the other "Japanese Luxury Marque" Infiniti
http://www.autospies.com/news/Nissan-Gains-16-7-In-June-Infiniti-Sales-Plummet-24-3-65177/

Reason #3 They are not last place....

Don't get me wrong - they have a lot of problems - but being midpack is no reason to give up - simply a reason to try harder

#1 BMW
#2 MB
#3 Lexus
#4 Cadillac
#5 Acura
#6 Audi
#7 Infiniti
#8 Lincoln
#9 Volvo
#10 Jaguar
#11 Saab

I like what you say with:

"Don't get me wrong - they have a lot of problems - but being midpack is no reason to give up - simply a reason to try harder"

The problem is it going to try harder AND if it does, will Acura make the right decisions?

I mean, building the ZDX, which has a rear seat with virtually no utility is a pretty daft idea, no? Doesn't show me that the company is making decisions of a thought-leader.

there is only one thing that they are doing wrong: outside design.

in term of engine choices, it is actually fine as is for its targeted audience. yes you want V8 or V12, but how many V8 inifiniti does it sell? not much.

in term of quality, they are ranked second only to Lexus, and their quality has been very good for MANY years, something cannot be said to a lot of brand.

they also have a nice touch in the interior for the price.

all they need is a new corporate design, a hybrid TSX, and a two door coupe.

You had me until you talked on the interior only being second to lexus for one that is partly a matter of opinion but two I have never heard or felt that way. If anything they had the opposite reputation. I really couldn't see them in the top five.

Didn't they say they want to be tier 1 luxury? More cylinders and perhaps larger displacements would be nice! Hyundai can do it! Why not Acura? Imagine an S2000 engine on steroids! :D

simple, they need to quit building cars based in Accord...

"What is wrong with the Accord platform? "

- Nothing is wrong with the Accord platform but it isn't a premium platform. People have issues with spending top dollar on a car that contains economy car underpinnings. But then again the Acura TL doesn't really cost that much more than a V6 accord. There's a reason for that.

Cars priced like the TL can get away with using a modified Accord platform, Cars priced like the RL cannot get away with using an Accord platform.

If Honda um... Acura want's to step it up to Lexus level they wont be able to do it by using cars that utilize an Accord platform. They need another "Legend".

" I'll ask you the same question. What specifically about the Accord platform needs to be different."

- That depends on what kind of car that they plan on building in the future you A-Hole? Nothing is wrong with the Accord platform if all they plan on building are Acura TLs. If they plan on building a LS460 Competitor then there’s plenty wrong with the Accord platform in regards to that specific application. Got it?

There are issues with the Accord platform if you plan on using it for larger more expensive vehicles. It's like using the Civic platform for a TL. But this will never be able to penetrate your dumb fanboy brain. I'm wasting my time with you. It isn't my fault that you choose to be a fan of cars that are irrelevant. Glad I'm not you.

Did they do it before 2006? If not then Mitsubishi beat them.

SH-AWD isn't torque vectoring. WOW!! You know zero about cars.

SH-AWD utilizes Torque Vectoring. So do several other makes. Acura isn't anything special.

I don't get japanese luxury brands. It's stupid to create a brand only to build a little shinier cars. They can call it Lexus, Infiniti, Acura and whatever they want, but you will always know that underneath is Toyota, Nissan, Honda and so on.

They do this only for you, americans, because they know these brands has no future in Europe. It's pointless like if Mercedes tries to built non-luxury cars.

Each company has its choice at the beginning. If they want to make mass-production they choose to be a VW, Ford, OPEL, Chevy and so on. If they want to be luxorious they start as BMW, Audi or MB.

Have you ever asked yourself why VW never came up with a new luxury brand? Because they can't? No, because they know that they have nobody to sell it. That's why they bought Lambo, Bugatti, Audi, because they made up Phantom, but customers preffered to buy an A8 instead. Well they may be the same car, but when you say "I'm driving an Audi" sounds prestigious and when you say "I'm driving ultra expensive VW" they'll think you're crazy.

That's the reason why Lexus and Infiniti have very few customers in Europe and Asia, because people in Europe and sia know that they pay for a Toyota and Nissan and these cars will always stay a Toyota and Nissan even if they put a golden badge on them.

Acura uses many european Honda platforms to make their cars.

Don't you, americans, as customers feel screwed, when you know that you pay for something pretty ordinary, but with shiny badge?

Think about it!

PS: Sorry for my English, but it's not my first language, it's not even my second, so I may have some mistakes!

Our culture is our culture and its not going to change because of how they make German cars. 1- They are Honda Nissan and Toyota but they cost what they cost for a reason whether it be quality engine features so on and actually out perform many of their German competitors.
2- The Japanese weren't the first to do it they made them specifically for the American market because American auto makers had already set the model in motion. GM had Cadillac and Ford had Lincoln. The Japanese copied them in the late 80's to make their 30k+ cars appeal to Americans so if they don't appeal to you then that makes sense because you are not an American.

Once and forall, the A8 and the Phaeton are not the same cars and never where. For one thing the A8 is aluminium and the Phaeton is steel with different platforms.

he is kind of right you are dead wrong

Legend, Integra, Vigor. OK, so it has been awhile.

I would like to see them move the RL farther upmarket, and re-name it back to the Legend.

I've had a couple of TL's, and I may get a 2013 when my current MB lease expires. Changes I'd wish for the TL were a slightly smaller size (my 2007 was perfect), and a more luxurious and quiet interior.

1. Because we know they can do better
2. Because there are tons of Honda enthusiasts waiting for their return
3. They owe it to Sochiro Honda.

#1 Reliability = top 10 for many years
#2 Quality - again top 10 for many years
#3 Mid-pack sales can be driven up with better designs

My experience has been to the contrary despite the numbers. I think the Acura brand is just a distraction to Honda.

please post that article about any future models and motors, we are dying to hear about them to see if they might have finally come around to listen to their buyers

Acura!!!! Acura!!! RAH!!! RAH!!! RAH!!!

Pieman started out on the right foot.

1) A new stylist can be hired.

2) A new stylist can be hired.

3) A new stylist can be hired.

I have had a lot of problems with my MDX and it just only crossed the 50K mark. Acura and it's dealers do not understand luxury experience. They hassle you for getting warranty work. I regret not buying the Lexus or Mercedes. Honda is okay as a budget car, but not Acura. Avoid at all cost. They are also ugly cars now.

1) None
2) None
3) None

You know I used to really like and respect Acura. They had a good lineup, the TL has always looked good until recent years, I always enjoyed the RSX and the Integra, and while the TSX is a car that fails to excite me, it wasn't bad. I even liked the MDX, and of course, the NSX.


The designs as of late just aren't appealing. They don't look "upscale" and I absolutely HATE what they are doing with the chrome on the front end of the car. It ruins the look of every one of their cars for me.

I like the company and I like Acura, so I'm hoping they change directions because I've always found their cars a good value and well built. But if they are trying to compete with the likes of BMW/Merc/Lexus they have a long way to go. Guess the appeal is that they usually come in at a lower price point than the competition and offer more features as standard.

Give Us Three Reasons Why Honda Shouldn't Give Up On Acura
Reason #1
Just to p**s of Autospies.com

Reason #2
Just to p**s Agent 00R

Reason #3
Because changomo is correct.

N, S, and X. . .

(next time, please use a DOHC V8 or even a V10)

Reason # 1
MDX

Reason # 2
SH-AWD

Reason # 3

Strong Residual

The problem with current Acura entire line up is their dont look JDM anymore

I think they should for the following reasons:

1. Acuras are ugly
2. They get uglier each model year
3. Their designers brought a duck to a cockfight. Their management bet on the duck.

Acura today builds nothing better than the Buicks of the 90's amd Millenium.

Highs: Reliability, resale value
Lows: Boring design, soft or too soft suspension, no engine with guts or sound for that matter. Where is the soul of the NSX in this lineup?

PS: I recently dumped a 2011 MDX Advanced after 45 days of ownership for a 2011 BMW X5M. Two differnt car companies with two vastly different philosophies. I prefer the driving dynamics, uncluttered/simple dash, transmission, and visual styling of the BMW.