How many Folks would buy Acura Again ??

[ExLexusGuy]

Originally Posted by enigma

yupe, either MDX or RL. GS300/400 or SL500 someday...

I'm with you... just bought a MBZ SL500 and love it!

[Darkness35]

Acura has always sat in a weird-ass market. They kind of hover in the middle. Their vehicle line is pretty small and they don't have any cars that are over the top luxurious. In the price range that we were shopping in, we tested all the alternatives and came out with the 2G TL. It was cheaper, much better quality, and fun to drive.

I think that if Acura were to go out and produce over-the-top, ridiculous cars and actually stole some of the higher luxury companies' thunder, they might forget about the kind of customers that we were. Look at Mercedes. Their C-Class [when we were in the market] vehicles were a tremendous letdown. To make them on par with the TL we bought, there would have been a long list of options. Options mean extra expense, while the TL already had everything. Why should they care about the C-Class? They've got E and S class owners, and let's not forget what was Maybach.

I don't want to see Acura go the way of Mercedes and forget about their lower market. Just because I don't make $200K/year doesn't mean I should settle because "It's still a(n) [ insert brand name here ]".

[hugh9269]

After owning 3 Honda/Acura, this being my 3rd for sure. I cant complain about my car except for 2 rattles the dealer fixed, it has been everything I expected... The only cars I really like and could afford are a BMW 3 Series, Infinti G35 and a Acura TL. I will for sure look into the next gen TL for my next purchase..

[Anthracite]

I just got a used TL. I find the build quality to be decent, but not to the level of Lexus, Porsche, or Audi. It is as good as Mercedes or Infinity. I really enjoy the hi-tech geegaws the TL has. I like the decent power, and good balance between performance and comfort. I believe I will buy another Acura in the future.
Unfortunately the Acura service sucks, just like at Mercedes or BMW dealers, where the staff are snotty, and acting like they're above mere customers.
Nobody beats Lexus in terms of customer service, both in the sales and service departments. Porsche's service comes a distant 2nd.

[Anthracite]

In short, Yes.

[ndabunka]

The TL is one of the best price-performance combo's but a number of quality issues are also evident. I am getting tired of the paint issues. Had the headliner issue originally, etc. If I only had $34K for this level of car, I would buy a TL again however, that is not a constraint so the next car will probably NOT be a TL (even though I voted that I would buy one again....for the price)

[nastinupe2]

I think that my next 4 door car is going to be a Lexus. Probably a 2006 GS in a couple of years.

[Tampa RL]

I think Acura (as most car manufacturers do) are losing focus on quality in order to up the anty of content & technology. I recognize this is driven by market demands. But I think Acura (and Lexus, among others) are riding on a quality reputation they have relaxed focus on.

Personally, I would like to see improvements on build quality more than new features. As we all know technology is fragile, fickle and often inconsistent due to it's complexities and rapid evolution (and WE pay to be the BETA Testers!). I expect more issues from technology than how well something is screwed (or clipped) together.

I too, tend to believe Lexus does it a bit better (but not necessarily $$$ that much better!). I am less forgiving of the rattles in our new GS than I am on the tighter riding TL. But our last generation GS was less technology, but it was built like a vault. I wonder why we traded a rattle-less GS for a new generation GS that has been in the shop more than my TL???

But I was re-reading an issue of Acura STYLE magazine about the building the TL. When they talk about the exacting measurements of the panel gaps the very example used (and in the photograph) was a technician QA'ing the glovebox door! I laughed aloud that that was the example they CHOSE to highlight! Have you ever seen two TLs with the same gap size in the glovebox doors? They STILL focus on the precision & quality of their products as the primary mission, but I don't buy that as being superior to most any other car manufacturer. Is it better than most, yeah...I'd say that. But not to the level they proclaim (IMHO).

I think the things Acura (and others) can manage, realistically, is just building it better (not just cheaper...oops, I meant more 'efficiently'). I just don't know at what point the market (us) will convey that message loud enough to convince them. I don't think I should have to pay $50K for a car that doesn't sound like it is coming unglued on all but the smoothest road surfaces. On the other hand, the GS was $50K, has a softer suspension tuning and has rattles they cannot even isolate!

I think the TL is still the best option in this market segment. And no car is perfect. But if Acura proclaims quality as mission 1, I think they have some explaining to do.

[Brown Chaos]

We're replacing the Honda Odyssey to go side by side on the driveway with the Acura RL. So to replace the Honda, we're getting the Acura MDX.


Should be a nice two car combo on the driveway, plus the other TL and the EL. =)

[Acura_Kid]

TampaTL hit on some good points. IMHO, they just need to stick with a model and simply do yearly refinements. i also think they need to get some basic feature in the car, like a radio that plays MP3's.

i got my lexus gx470 a few months ago. got it with dvd navi system. f'in thing has a cd changer in the glove box !!! it dont take up room in the box but having to load it really sucks balls. odd thing is, if you dont get navi the radio is a unit which can load 6 cd's like the TL does. go figure. we now use my iPod as a player.....

[Tampa RL]

Well being I just abought another Acura, I guess my answer is YES!

Today I pick up my 06 RL. The deal was amazing, and too good to pass up owning an RL. Did I need the RL? NO! If it was 50K, I would be cruising along with my TL.

But for a few K more than I paid for my TL, I get all I love of my TL and (for my tastes) much more. The RL immediately impresses me with build quality over the TL (particularly the interior) and the refinements in ride characteristics please me. That is not to say the ride characteristics of one is better than the other, just different.

In short the RL has the Acura fit and feel I expected in my TL. As much as I love my TL, it fell short on some assembly issues I had expected better from Acura (and a 35K car), primarily with interior buzzes, rattles, tics, pops, crunches and some fit issues. It just sounded cheap. And with the margin between the TL cost and the RL narrowed, it was a no brainer for me to take that on.

I expect the RL will better meet my expectations from Acura. It too is not a perfect car, but every thing I carp about with my TL seems improved upon with the RL (as it should). And not to start a flame war, but I do see a difference in Japanese assembled vehicles versus US assembly. At least it appeases me psycologically? I expect to have fewer detail issues with a Japan assembled vehicle. Have you read about Toyota's Japan exec reeming US plants for quality issues? I think this reinforces the Japan vs. US quality stigma further. But yeah, the Japanese have issues too.

Interestingly, when we returned home from Acura this weekend in our 05 Lexus GS, we both commented the GS was slightly nicer than the RL at 50+K. But an RL at 40K is the hands down choice. I clearly see strengths and weaknesses in both, but they are so close in most regards I still cannot justify the Lexus factor (significantly more $$$). As frustrated we have been with the GS quality issues (although Lexus service remains stellar), could it be we may have TWO RLs in our future? Oh god,,,please help us!

[nastinupe2]

Originally Posted by TampaTL

Well being I just abought another Acura, I guess my answer is YES!

Today I pick up my 06 RL. The deal was amazing, and too good to pass up owning an RL. Did I need the RL? NO! If it was 50K, I would be cruising along with my TL.

But for a few K more than I paid for my TL, I get all I love of my TL and (for my tastes) much more. The RL immediately impresses me with build quality over the TL (particularly the interior) and the refinements in ride characteristics please me. That is not to say the ride characteristics of one is better than the other, just different.

In short the RL has the Acura fit and feel I expected in my TL. As much as I love my TL, it fell short on some assembly issues I had expected better from Acura (and a 35K car), primarily with interior buzzes, rattles, tics, pops, crunches and some fit issues. It just sounded cheap. And with the margin between the TL cost and the RL narrowed, it was a no brainer for me to take that on.

I expect the RL will better meet my expectations from Acura. It too is not a perfect car, but every thing I carp about with my TL seems improved upon with the RL (as it should). And not to start a flame war, but I do see a difference in Japanese assembled vehicles versus US assembly. At least it appeases me psycologically? I expect to have fewer detail issues with a Japan assembled vehicle. Have you read about Toyota's Japan exec reeming US plants for quality issues? I think this reinforces the Japan vs. US quality stigma further. But yeah, the Japanese have issues too.

Interestingly, when we returned home from Acura this weekend in our 05 Lexus GS, we both commented the GS was slightly nicer than the RL at 50+K. But an RL at 40K is the hands down choice. I clearly see strengths and weaknesses in both, but they are so close in most regards I still cannot justify the Lexus factor (significantly more $$$). As frustrated we have been with the GS quality issues (although Lexus service remains stellar), could it be we may have TWO RLs in our future? Oh god,,,please help us!

Quick question... you stated that you have an 05 GS. That's the old body style GS right? And you also mentioned that the 05 is a better vehichle than the new RL? That's saying a lot about Lexus for a car that was released in 1997 to beat out a car that was released in 2005.

[Tampa RL]

My mistake. The GS is an 06 model (current generation).

[nastinupe2]

Originally Posted by TampaTL

My mistake. The GS is an 06 model (current generation).

Oh ok... that makes more sense. The "new" GS is a great car. But that new LS is going to be sick. I have to have one of those. That car is going to change the game. But at $90,000 for the LS600h and it's high resale potential, it's going to be a while before I can get my hands on one of those babies.

But I also read that Lexus is about to release the IS500 with over 400 hp! That is going to be awesome as well! Not to mention the LF-A supercar.

Oh yea... I almost forgot, this is an Acura board............... so what about that RDX fellas? We have so much to be proud of! The new Acura line up is sooooo exciting

Lexus may as well do this to Acura...

I mean, Is Acura a bunch of or what? Make some car's to make me drool please.

[ekimevil]

Originally Posted by nastinupe2

Oh ok... that makes more sense. The "new" GS is a great car. But that new LS is going to be sick. I have to have one of those. That car is going to change the game. But at $90,000 for the LS600h and it's high resale potential, it's going to be a while before I can get my hands on one of those babies.

But I also read that Lexus is about to release the IS500 with over 400 hp! That is going to be awesome as well! Not to mention the LF-A supercar.

Oh yea... I almost forgot, this is an Acura board............... so what about that RDX fellas? We have so much to be proud of! The new Acura line up is sooooo exciting

Lexus may as well do this to Acura...

I mean, Is Acura a bunch of or what? Make some car's to make me drool please.

I agree with you for the most part, but you have to admit, it's going to be hard to make a car or cars that make you drool for a huge portion of the demographic. People are cheap and/or don't make enough money for those new Lexus', and no company let alone Acura is going to build a car with ALL of those amenities/sport features/luxury features plus that build quality for under 30K... I friggin wish they would, cuz it sucks that it isn't that way. Just be patient, Acura will come out with some new cars that will impress you, they have to to stay competitive and Honda's not going anywhere... so just be patient