“With outstanding resale value and a strong lineup, Acura will be in an excellent position when the automobile market begins its recovery.” Which can’t come soon enough for Honda’s up market (mid-market?) brand, which saw sales sink by 39.3 percent. The situation is so dire– or the PR department so clever– that the company isn’t providing the usual chart showing December ’07 vs. December ’08 sales broken down by vehicle, and stats for year-to-date comparisons. All they’ll tell us is the headline number and “in its second full month of sales, the all-new 2009 TL performance luxury sedan remained Acura’s sales leader for November with 3,160 vehicles sold… The all-new 2009 TSX sports sedan recorded sales of 1,712 for the month, with year-to-date sales reaching 29,694 units. The MDX luxury SUV was Acura’s best-selling light truck, with sales of 2,101, while the RDX crossover SUV tallied 681 units.”
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The RDX can’t crack the 10K per annum mark? That’s sad — I suspect Acura was expecting more like 40K/year.
Except for the MDX, there just isn’t anything here that would excite me to pay more than the $25K that a well equipped Accord goes for.
Five years ago, Infiniti stole their thunder, and now Hyundai with the Genesis. The guys at Acura really need to put on their thinking caps, because their market niche has evaporated.
Bring back the Integer and I might buy one.
Perhaps Honda could do a goodwill recall on the grilles of some of these abominations. While Acura’s problems go well beyond style, it’s definitely worth a try while they revamp the lineup.
Did a quick google search, and here’s the reason why they won’t give the comparison;
-The TL is down 47% compared to December last year. (they sold 5988 last year)
-TSX was down only by a reasonable 9%
-RDX was down a whopping 70% compared to December 2007
-MDX sales were down 64%
Acura was a bloodbath. There’s no way around it. Even though their overall number was okay (comparatively), they have some of the biggest year-over-year drops in the entire industry.
If Acura had a more appealing design theme, I think they would sell considerably better. Put the existing lineup into better looking packages and you are back in business.
Gosh, you’d think the typical Acura customer would at the least have the kind of high FICO scores required to get financing, and better job security than Joe the Dodge buyer. So, that doesn’t seem to be a deterrent.
I sure think the snaggle-toothed, 18-million-angled “styling” they’ve inflicted upon themselves might have TONS to do with it. I just can’t believe that ANYBODY would say “THAT’S the kind of styling I want!”
TL sales down 47% – okay, hands up everyone who’s shocked. People have eyes, and that may be the ugliest sedan on the road.
With the exception of the (overpriced) MDX, Acura is completely out of it.
A couple months ago, I took my ’01 TL in for service on a Saturday afernoon. Other than the sevice dept., the place was a morgue. I saw maybe two people looking at new cars, and NOBODY at the used store. This was over the course of a couple hours from noon to two.
+1 on the Integra. I had a 1991 GS Sedan, and it will remain one of my favorite cars of all time. Reasonably quick (for the day), great gas mileage, and very good handling, especially for a front-driver. The low cowl (once a Honda trademark) gave excellent visibility. You felt like you were right there where the action was. Most importantly, no hideous grille. Actually, no grille AT ALL.
Two Bad Things: Motorized seatbelts and marginal A/C.
187K on the original clutch when it was stolen.
Man, I loved that car.
Where was I? Oh yeah, the current lineup. Ugly cars.
The TSX was a player until they ruined it in the update. Bigger, softer, cushier. Worse.
The new TL is nice, but it’s FWD when all the competitors are RWD. They can get some of it back with the SH-AWD, but the fundamental chassis design still puts all the weight on the front wheels. Technology can do a lot, but Newton will not be denied.
RDX: See Honda CR-V. Buy Honda CR-V. Next.
My current 2001 TL has been very good, and the tranny has held on for 90K. However, I will probably go with an M35 when the time comes to replace it. The TL is a good car, but it has had its soul surgically removed. The old Integra had passion, but the TL is an appliance.
I’m a cheapskate, and always buy used. I’d consider an RL, but the M35 is a roomier car with better performance.
Honda stuck Acura with FWD long after the market declared RWD for performance luxury cars. Honda, in it’s engineering wisdom, shares platforms, and while this is good for efficiency, it is killing Acura. They are becoming the Mercury of Japanese cars.
They are becoming the Mercury of Japanese cars.
That’s gold!
I have to disagree about Acura having to have RWD. They’ve shown with the Integra, RSX and gen 1 TSX they can build fun pocket rockets, and with the original and gen 2 Legends as well as the last TL they can build competent, even fun sedans.
When dealers have to put lipstick on your pig (/a), you’ve got a problem.
They’ve lost their way. I predict an emergency face lift on the TL within 12 months.
The TL may be uglier than an Edsel.
No wonder sales are tanking.
Heh, I kind of like the new TL. Then again, I think Subarus are beautiful.
I thought they were on a good track with the 1st gen TSX, followed six months later by the new (last-gen) TL… It looked like a good design direction — handsome, sharp, understated, and a good philosophical direction — minimalist, form-follows-fuction, quality, tactile materials, driving pleasure.
What happenned? They didn’t even go a single generation with that direction (after the TL, it was the MDX and its introduction of the blade-grill).
As a long, long time Acura fan, I’m distraught.
The botched styling on all of the new Acura models sure hasn’t helped.
I’m with the others – lose the 90’s Anime shield on the front pronto and that should help a bit. I love the first generation TL and can’t stand to look at the new one.
I like the TSX but as others said it has grown larger and softer. Honda needs to go back to what they were doing in the 90s if they intend to stick with the FWD platforms for Acura and get away from the current trend they are on with the brand.
Part of the problem is that Honda has moved upmarket, particularly with the new Accord and CR-V. Take a look at those vehicles, and then ask exactly why you should pay more for an Acura.
The answer is for Acura to move up, but then it begins bumping into the lower-level BMWs, Mercedes-Benzes and Lexuses, and Acura just doesn’t have the image to go head-to-head with those more prestigious rivals.
Acura has appealed to a relatively young crowd, and those buyers were probably stretching to buy one. They are getting hit the hardest in this downturn. I’m sure that they are feeling the full effects of the contraction of credit, elimination of home equity as a source of financing for new vehicles and overall job losses.
I agree with everyone on the styling, although my wife likes it, thus I think this is a combination of styling and the economy. Personally I really liked the previous generation TL. While it may not have the performance of a G35, it’s way more practical as a daily driver. I’m thinking mostly MPG’s and overall cost of ownership. And I think there is a market for a dressed up Accord. Lexus doesn’t seem to have a problem with their tarted up Camry.
Since I’m no fan of the new Accord I don’t think I’d shop either model now, but past generation I would’ve cross shopped the two depending on what I was willing to spend.
Still, aside from some styling dislikes, they aren’t terrible cars. If they can find a niche between the top end Honda and the low end Lexus I think there’s a solid market for younger entry level lux buyers. Credit access isn’t what it used to be so I think the “kids” buying 3-series will be looking for something more economical in the future and Acura can grab that share…maybe.
Acura needs to understand that hairlip-based styling cues will never be considered desirable. I look at the front of the TL and feel pity for the rest of the car. I realize designers want us to have irrational thoughts about their products, but this is just wrong.
Sorry, but clearly fellas, you are a bunch of bore asses when it comes to design. It may not appeal to the masses as hoped, but at least its not the same old dull crap most companies are putting out. I myself enjoy different and pushing design cues. Go drive the car, its phenomenal and an outstanding bargain. But, opinions are like certain orifices, everybody has one.
Go drive the car, its phenomenal and an outstanding bargain.
Yeah, and some women are like mopeds.
Five years ago, Infiniti stole their thunder, and now Hyundai with the Genesis. The guys at Acura really need to put on their thinking caps, because their market niche has evaporated. – SherbornSean
As the owner of a late model RL and a year-old Infiniti, I heartily concur. The latter brand runs rings around Acura in terms of design, quality and especially customer care.
I looked at the new Acura TL on showroom display the other day while my car was in for repairs. Notwithstanding the front end styling is hard to countenance the overall first impression is reasonably favorable. Nonetheless, I will not buy another Acura.
I will consider the Hyundai Genesis the next time I’m in the market.
Sorry, but clearly fellas, you are a bunch of bore asses when it comes to design.
I’m guessing you drive a Subaru Tribeca and a Z4……