Detroit Free Press Claims The TLX SH-AWD Is The Game Changer Acura Needs - Do You Agree?

If Acura really wants to make this car a contender, they need to put the SH-AWD system in the 2.4L model as well and put better tires on the whole lineup, or at least make them an option.

Nowhere does the article use the phrase "game changer", so no, the Detroit Free Press ISN'T saying what the subject alleges. The actual article's title (see link) includes "...back in the luxury game". As far as I know, there are no awards for simply showing up to play. You only get recognized when you're outstanding in some way, in a good way or bad.

Personally, I'm not convinced that this is Acura's turn-around car, or winning car. It looks to me like something that would compete with a mid-market car, like a Camry. I don't think it could go up against the likes of BMW, Mercedes, Lexus, or Audi. That said, I'm glad Acura isn't throwing in the towel. I'm glad they're still trying.

LOL don't you just love how Autospies likes to create click bait?

So, have you actually driven the car(s) to make the definitive statement?

cidflekken asks me "So, have you actually driven the car(s) to make the definitive statement?"

While some people might buy a car based on handling alone, and not care what it looks like, I'm not one of them. This Acura doesn't look like a luxury car to me, inside or out. To my eyes, it looks like a mid-market car. On that criteria alone, I don't believe it will be well embraced in the luxury car arena. A similar example is the recent Cadillacs. They are said to have a noteworthy ride and handling, similar to world-class sports sedans like BMW, and yet they are not well embraced in the luxury car market. Clearly, ride alone isn't the sole success factor in this market, though lack of a respectable ride could condemn an otherwise good car.

My question of driving wasn't just in terms of its handling/performance. It was also in terms of actually experiencing a car in its totality before making definitive judgements. We're all guilty of that. I, myself, have made such comments, but typically I try to add that I'd have to experience it first-hand before just making a judgement. It's fair if you choose to make decisions in that manner, but I was just wondering if you had actually experienced it first-hand.

And let me just add this.

Even as an Acura fan, I was hesitant about the TLX. Its design was overly conservative and its interior was pretty regular based on all the photos I had seen. I test drove both the 2.4L and the 3.5L FWD models and walked away not overly impressed. Keep in mind I'm coming from what may be considered a higher-caliber car that cost almost $20k more than the highest-priced TLX model (which I didn't drive), so that was my comparison point. However, after I test drove almost every other car in this class, I realized the TLX was, in fact, right in the mix. Specifically considering its price point, it was easily comparable to the entry-level 3 Series, C-Class, IS and Q50. After I test drove those cars, my impression of the TLX changed because I now had a different comparison point than from my original perspective. The TLX still easily trails the 335i/435i, S4, and IS350 F-Sport, but those cars are also priced much higher in comparison.

cidflekken, as a self-confessed Acura fan, your emotions are getting in the way. It appears you're offended by my perception (i.e., you've taken it personally), as you've gone on to explain why I should be different than I am (e.g., pay less attention to how I feel about the car's look and go for a test drive, otherwise my disliking the look isn't valid).

My perspective is that this vehicle simply doesn't have what it takes to attract someone like *ME*. I'm the wrong target audience! I desire a vehicle that LOOKS more attractive (to me), and LOOKS more like a premium vehicle (to me). Your perspective gets pissed at a guy who prefers a BMW and doesn't care for an Acura, because you believe the Acura deserves more respect that it's getting from the guy who prefers a BMW.

To each their own. Go ahead and like your Acura. I don't think any less of you for it. I don't think you need to check out Audi or BMW or Mercedes to get "educated" on luxury. It's great that you've found what you like. Just know that what you like might not be liked by others.

Get rid of that "beak". Must be the ugliest design language among all "luxury" marques.

At this point Acura is just being stubborn and has too much pride to admit it does not attract customers. Not a way to run a business. I second the comment for Lexus.

It's just a semi-OK looking Japanese Mercury.

NO

Good car for Honda owners looking to "move up" but will not attract sales from BMW, MB, Lexus, or Audi base.

HELL NAW. It is nothing but a much nicer Accord.

I must admit that I like the way the TLX looks...and I bet it drives great. I did think I heard a blurb about a glitch with the new transmission on an automotive show in passing, but have not followed up on the Web to see if anything else had been reported. This would not surprise me. My own personal experience with Acura was in a 2002 TL-S...new model that year, with a shiftable automatic, which was a new concept at the time. Fast forward a year and a half after buying it, and the transmission started jerking all over the highway. At some points it was like the transmission could not find a gear and was shifting from drive gears to neutral and back. Online there were many people complaining of complete tranny failures. Of course, all were replaced under warranty. It seems the US supplier of this transmission had production issues with the alloy being used in the construction, which ultimately was causing these failures. It impacted all Honda/Acura products with a V-6 engine mated to them. It also was ultimately reported that for years 2002-03, there were approximately 26,000 transmission failures reported. This was news Honda did not want to go public even though it eventually did. There was even a reported wrongful death lawsuit where someone was killed on an interstate when the failure happened and a car was rammed from the rear because it could not accelerate out of the way of another vehicle. The next worse thing was that Acura replaced my transmission, and within a week of the replacement, this transmission failed too. The dealer bought the vehicle back, but not until after much arguing with Honda Southeast US rep who insisted that I just did not know how to drive. I would never own another Honda/Acura product since.

Here is an article online about the TLX transmission issue...oh, and I have to agree with the other posters about Agent009's free-wheeling spirit with headlines. After reading some of his articles I can only conclude there are some reading comprehension issues here, so we should not fault him too much. One of the negative side-effects on the Internet is that it has dumbed-down reading/writing skills in general.

http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2014/12/2015-acura-tlx-under-stop-sale-recall-notice-for-transmission-issue.html