acura ilx: honda's not getting out of this funk any time soon

[vshah]

Yes. The ILX will replace the CSX in Canada. The US had no equivalent to the Canadian CSX, so the ILX seems "new" to most people from the US.

ZV

a bit more differentiating them. the CSX was basically the asian market civic. the ILX design is unique to acura.

 

[Zenmervolt]

a bit more differentiating them. the CSX was basically the asian market civic. the ILX design is unique to acura.

You're thinking of the Acura EL, which was a re-badged Domani (an upscale Civic variant sold at Honda Clio dealerships in Japan). Honda abandoned its three-tier marketing method in Japan (the separate Honda Verno, Honda Clio, and Honda Primo dealerships) in 2006 and discontinued the JDM Domani, no longer needing the differentiation.

The CSX was a Canadian design first, which was adopted for the JDM Civic only after the CSX had already begun production. It's much more accurate to say that the Asian Civic was basically an Acura CSX than the other way around.

The only reason the ILX is "unique" to Acura (though, really, little more than the badges, the body panels, and a handful of options are "unique") now is because so far only the North American versions of the 9th generation Civic have been revealed. The European and Asian variants, when revealed, will no doubt share significant structure with the North American versions.

ZV

 

[evident]

You're thinking of the Acura EL, which was a re-badged Domani (an upscale Civic variant sold at Honda Clio dealerships in Japan). Honda abandoned its three-tier marketing method in Japan (the separate Honda Verno, Honda Clio, and Honda Primo dealerships) in 2006 and discontinued the JDM Domani, no longer needing the differentiation.

The CSX was a Canadian design first, which was adopted for the JDM Civic only after the CSX had already begun production. It's much more accurate to say that the Asian Civic was basically an Acura CSX than the other way around.

The only reason the ILX is "unique" to Acura (though, really, little more than the badges, the body panels, and a handful of options are "unique") now is because so far only the North American versions of the 9th generation Civic have been revealed. The European and Asian variants, when revealed, will no doubt share significant structure with the North American versions.

ZV

european civic has already been revealed. I think the ILX was what honda initially wanted to be the new USDM civic but then decided to make the new civic smaller. I just wish the TSX didn't have to go away because of this thing.

 

[senseamp]

Honda should shut Acura down. There is no room for a premium mainstream brand, since most mainstream cars now have a premium feel and options. Acura is where Honda should be. ILX shows that Honda is not willing to do what is necessary to sufficiently differentiate Acura in terms of drive trains. And differentiating by premium features on mainstream drive trains no longer works when mainstreamers like Passat and Fusion have interiors like this:

While Acura's so called "luxury" car has interior like this:

 

[exar333]

I would think so, but it doesn't seem to be that way. I noticed that all of my pens at work are made in Japan as well. My sharpies, my rollerball pens, my highlighters. One would think it's cheaper to make that in the US or Canada, but apparently not. Made in Japan + shipping half way around the world = cheaper.
I'm not sure why. GDP/capita in Japan is about 45k while GDP/capita in Canada is about 50k. The wage gap is pretty small. Japan's electricity is from nuclear, which is cheap, but manufacturing in Canada is mostly hydro powered which is cheap as well.

This a ridiculous post. Pens <> cars!

And if you think nuclear power is cheap, you are grossly mistaken. Ever wonder why foreign companies build factories in the countries they want to sell cars in. Here is a clue, its cheaper!!

 

[vshah]

You're thinking of the Acura EL, which was a re-badged Domani (an upscale Civic variant sold at Honda Clio dealerships in Japan). Honda abandoned its three-tier marketing method in Japan (the separate Honda Verno, Honda Clio, and Honda Primo dealerships) in 2006 and discontinued the JDM Domani, no longer needing the differentiation.

The CSX was a Canadian design first, which was adopted for the JDM Civic only after the CSX had already begun production. It's much more accurate to say that the Asian Civic was basically an Acura CSX than the other way around.

The only reason the ILX is "unique" to Acura (though, really, little more than the badges, the body panels, and a handful of options are "unique") now is because so far only the North American versions of the 9th generation Civic have been revealed. The European and Asian variants, when revealed, will no doubt share significant structure with the North American versions.

ZV

ah cool, didn't know that. I go to india a couple times a year, so that's the first time I saw the CSX body style.

 

[exar333]

Honda should shut Acura down. There is no room for a premium mainstream brand, since most mainstream cars now have a premium feel and options. Acura is where Honda should be. ILX shows that Honda is not willing to do what is necessary to sufficiently differentiate Acura in terms of drive trains. And differentiating by premium features on mainstream drive trains no longer works when mainstreamers like Passat and Fusion have interiors like this:

While Acura's so called "luxury" car has interior like this:

That was a great post. Again, I will say that Honda is stuck in the 1990'a where it competed against a terrible GM/Ford and Toyotas were simply tools (much like they are today). No Kia, no Hyundai, etc.

The best analogy I can see is that Honda = Sony. They are already becoming irrelevant, and will be soon unless they change their ways.

 

[vshah]

Honda should shut Acura down. There is no room for a premium mainstream brand, since most mainstream cars now have a premium feel and options. Acura is where Honda should be. ILX shows that Honda is not willing to do what is necessary to sufficiently differentiate Acura in terms of drive trains. And differentiating by premium features on mainstream drive trains no longer works when mainstreamers like Passat and Fusion have interiors like this:


While Acura's so called "luxury" car has interior like this:

pro shots of passat/fusion and some crappy flash pic of acura. I think acura interiors are generally pretty nice. its the exteriors and powertrain that need work. they should put sh-awd in everything.

 

[cliftonite]

Why would they make the 2.4 manual only? I would consider it if it had an auto.

 

[senseamp]

pro shots of passat/fusion and some crappy flash pic of acura. I think acura interiors are generally pretty nice. its the exteriors and powertrain that need work. they should put sh-awd in everything.

Doesn't look much better on pro-shots: Grey and black plastic all around.

This would have been pretty nice a decade ago, but it is mainstream car grade interior now.
Agreed on AWD. I would be looking at TSX wagon if it had that.

 

[manimal]

honda = Sony


LOL!

 

[foghorn67]

Doesn't look much better on pro-shots: Grey and black plastic all around.

This would have been pretty nice a decade ago, but it is mainstream car grade interior now.
Agreed on AWD. I would be looking at TSX wagon if it had that.

Some Acuras have two toned interiors.
No room for premium mainstream brand? lolwut?

 

[senseamp]

Some Acuras have two toned interiors.
No room for premium mainstream brand? lolwut?

That's right, it's a different market now. The mainstream brands like VW and Ford have improved interiors and technology and moved into the space once occupied by Acura. Honda will have to follow or it's going to get smacked for crappy interior like the latest Civic did in Consumer Reports. And if Hondas become more upscale, there is that much less reason for Acura to exist at all.

 

[ShawnD1]

That was a great post. Again, I will say that Honda is stuck in the 1990'a where it competed against a terrible GM/Ford and Toyotas were simply tools (much like they are today). No Kia, no Hyundai, etc.

None of that has changed though. Toyotas are still geared toward people who suck at driving and always drive 20 below the speed limit. GM thinks it's a victory to be declared more reliable than BMW, Mercedes, and Audi (hint: all of those are VERY unreliable and expensive to fix). Despite what the people on this forum say, Ford is still a company that makes garbage vehicles. Kia/Hyundai are just as junky as they've always been with the exception of maybe 1 or 2 vehicles.

Honda gets away with charging too much for too little because there's nobody to stop them. If you want a car that won't fall apart in a year and you want it to be slightly fun to drive, you have very few options.

The best analogy I can see is that Honda = Sony. They are already becoming irrelevant, and will be soon unless they change their ways.

The difference is that Sony sucks. Every Sony product I've owned had problems with the power cords making a weak connection. I'd be playing my PS1 and some jerk butterfly in China flaps its wings and it jiggles the cord enough to make the PS1 shut off completely.

they should put sh-awd in everything.

They really should. Right now Subaru is pretty much the only game in town if you want AWD but don't feel like buying a $50,000 truck or a piece of crap Suzuki whatever.

 

[foghorn67]

That's right, it's a different market now. The mainstream brands like VW and Ford have improved interiors and technology and moved into the space once occupied by Acura. Honda will have to follow or it's going to get smacked for crappy interior like the latest Civic did in Consumer Reports. And if Hondas become more upscale, there is that much less reason for Acura to exist at all.

There is plenty of room for premium brands. Look at the sales.
Not sure how you are thinking the opposite.

 

[evident]

That was a great post. Again, I will say that Honda is stuck in the 1990'a where it competed against a terrible GM/Ford and Toyotas were simply tools (much like they are today). No Kia, no Hyundai, etc.

The best analogy I can see is that Honda = Sony. They are already becoming irrelevant, and will be soon unless they change their ways.

in that post, the first two pics are professional photos, and the third one of the acura is one taken at night with a crappy flash.
edit: nevermind, someone else pointed that out... im always too late to the discussions

 

[senseamp]

There is plenty of room for premium brands. Look at the sales.
Not sure how you are thinking the opposite.

There is room for true premium brands with premium platforms and interiors. There is no room for premiumed up mainstream car brands like Acura, because all mainstream brands are premiuming up their cars now. So if Honda is not willing to step up and build Acura specific platforms and move Acura into the Mercedes and BMW levels of prestige, luxury and refinement, they should just shut it down. People can now get a V8 RWD Hyundai, while Acura is still pretending tp be a luxury brand with it's restyled Hondas.

 

[exar333]

None of that has changed though. Toyotas are still geared toward people who suck at driving and always drive 20 below the speed limit. GM thinks it's a victory to be declared more reliable than BMW, Mercedes, and Audi (hint: all of those are VERY unreliable and expensive to fix). Despite what the people on this forum say, Ford is still a company that makes garbage vehicles. Kia/Hyundai are just as junky as they've always been with the exception of maybe 1 or 2 vehicles.

Honda gets away with charging too much for too little because there's nobody to stop them. If you want a car that won't fall apart in a year and you want it to be slightly fun to drive, you have very few options.


The difference is that Sony sucks. Every Sony product I've owned had problems with the power cords making a weak connection. I'd be playing my PS1 and some jerk butterfly in China flaps its wings and it jiggles the cord enough to make the PS1 shut off completely.




They really should. Right now Subaru is pretty much the only game in town if you want AWD but don't feel like buying a $50,000 truck or a piece of crap Suzuki whatever.

Ford makes world-competitive cars, and GM has improved greatly. Those are pretty much indisputable. There are certain issues still out, of course, like long-term reliability and such, but the cars coming from GM/Ford are MILES ahead of where they were. Fact is, a new Ford Focus is MUCH better than a current Civic. Never thought you would hear that huh?

No thanks to the SH-AWD system. It is heavy and expensive compared to Subaru's or Audi's solution. Poor selection of vehicles as well. Most Hondas get the crappy 'reactive' AWD system.

No issues with Sony quality IMHO, but their vision and lack of vision are what they share with Honda. Limiting options, resting on their past successes, and not moving ahead with the rest of the industry may doom them both.