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Future Vehicles '09 Acura TSX
53 messages, Last post on May 03, 2008 at 2:27 AM
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I think Acura's chances of breaking into the top tier would be greatly improved if they'd convert their cars to RWD. SH-AWD isn't a substitute for RWD architecture, since it has little value, or negative value in warm weather regions. I think Nissan/Infiniti have the right strategy, which is largely why Infiniti is making inroads against the German high end brands, while Acura isn't. The TL is arguably the best (lower end) luxury FWD car on the market, but it could be THE best if it were RWD, in my opinion, by combining 3-Series driving dynamics and Acura reliability. Insofar as the '09 TSX is concerned, I agree with nippononly. I'd rather have a Civic EX-L, and save the difference.
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Replying to: relerel (Apr 14, 2008 1:59 pm) |
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Replying to: hpmctorque (Apr 16, 2008 7:20 am) No kidding! In fact a Civic SI-L, if it were available with the Acura badge, would be the best thing Acura could do for the TSX right now. Goose the interior a little, give it NAV and a super-duper stereo system and all these gadgets people apparently crave, and price it at $27K. It would be a much better addition to the lineup than the '09 TSX is at $29K, and it wouldn't crowd the TL either. |
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"a Civic SI-L, if it were available with the Acura badge, would be the best thing Acura could do for the TSX right now." I agree with you, for the reasons you mention. I mentioned the EX-L Acura quivalent because it suits my particular needs better than the SI-L, but I believe the SI badged car would be a better fit for Acura, strategically. The major thing that would be lacking, that the TSX has, is the double wishbone suspension. It would be nice if that could be incorporated in the Acura version of the model we propose, since it would positively differentiate the Acura from the Honda. I sense, though, that it would be too difficult and expensive to modify the Civic to incorporate this feature. Oh well, since I don't crave the presitge of the Acura name, I could be perfectly happy with a Civic. Incidentally, one of our cars is a '99 TL, which has been a delight to own. My wife and I felt it was worth the extra cost over the Accord EX-L, but that may not apply today.
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Replying to: hpmctorque (Apr 17, 2008 7:04 am) Oh, I think it most certainly does. The new Accord is a big lumbering beast. The TL is not my favorite car in the world, but it is limber and sporty compared to the new Accord V-6, which is a large car indeed. The Civic SI, of course, is for all intents and purposes a 4-door version of the last RSX-S we got (I forget - did the RSX have rear struts or 'bones?). For them to put it in the lineup today as the new TSX would be to admit that their drive "upmarket" didn't work out as planned, but the '09 TSX is a very weak alternative, and I think at $29K it will continue the sales slide for that model.
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The RSX didn't feature the double wishbone suspension. It'll be interesting to learn about the '09 TL, even though it'll be larger than I'd like it to be. I imagine it'll have cylinder deactivation, but the '08 Accord V6 with that feature has gotten mixed reviews. I've read that the '09 TL will be offered with FWD and SH-AWD, but it's unclear to me whether the SH-AWD will be an option, or be part of an "S" version. I also don't know whether the TL will have a more powerful version of the Accord 3.5 V6, or the 3.7 V6 of the RL. Maybe the FWD TL will have the 3.5, while the 3.7 comes with the SH-AWD. Have you heard or read anything about these possibilities?
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Replying to: hpmctorque (Apr 17, 2008 5:33 pm) I'm not sure that I agree that it will probably have cylinder deactivation. Even the 6-4-3 that Honda is using now doesn't provide a huge gas savings, and "luxury car" buyers are supposed to care less about those costs anyway, right? Also, it's possible that the TL is also slated for eventual use of the new Honda diesel 6-cylinder, which could be the fuel-saver option in future for that model. |
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Replying to: nippononly (Apr 17, 2008 4:15 pm) |
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Acura would have some easy remedies for slow sales of the TSX. First, since the '09 is a totally new model, it shouldn't do too badly the first year, but we'll wait and see. For 2010 there will be the diesel option, which should provide some incremental sales. If that doesn't do it, Acura could swap the turbo motor from the RDX for the NA engine, at no additional charge, for 2011. For 2012 they could refresh the body and, maybe, the interior. Then for 2013, the last year for this generation, they could offer some great lease deals to move the iron. Although I'm disappointed in the '09 TSX, it'll probably sell okay.
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Replying to: hpmctorque (Apr 18, 2008 1:51 pm) Just because they call it a $30K car doesn't MAKE IT a $30K car. If Acura wants to start its lineup at $30K, then they need to design some models that earn that price, and are NOT based heavily on their FWD Hondas.
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