Greg Bennett writes:
Acura is giving away a TSX wagon as part of some new media/action sports hybrid marketing bullshit. New media because it’s on FB, action sports because they’re giving it away to somebody who participates in picturesque young-people activities like kayaking or snowboarding. Ridiculously, Acura doesn’t see fit to include any form of auto racing in their list of action sports.
I want to make them pay for this oversight. And I want a new TSX wagon. But mostly I want to make them pay. If I win, I’m going to race it any way I can — auto-x, rally-x, road racing, drag strip if I have no other options.
However, I don’t think I have enough clout on the internet to make this happen alone, so I’m here asking for help. Any chance you guys would want to adopt another cause? I’d plaster the car with TTAC stickers and name drop everywhere I go if you do. It’d be worth it to see someone rally a TSX wagon, no? Please!
OK, thanks.
I don’t know how the Best And Brightest feels about this, but as far as I’m concerned, car enthusiasts are an endangered species and deserve our support. Remember, this is about more than one promotion: if Acura cared enough about enthusiasts and amateur racers like Mr Bennett, perhaps they’d have brought the TSX wagon to the US sooner and with the option of a manual transmission. In any case, this seems like a good place to draw a line in the sand… if just a fraction of TTAC’s readers hop over to Facebook and vote for Mr Bennett, this could even be the moment where one company realizes that passion for their product is more important as a marketing tool than a million unrelated “lifestyle sports.” Or, as the saying goes, not. Either way, it’s worth a shot, and voting only takes a minute [Please note that this contest is guided by Acura’s privacy policy, which is disclosed here].
While you’re over on Facebook, make sure you’ve “liked” TTAC’s page too… there are no prizes, but we do give our content away every day, and we ask for so very little in return. Plus, it’s a great place to discuss the stories that are too obscure even for TTAC, post your own comments, tips and pictures and check out the bonus content that didn’t make it to the TTAC blog.
Cool but don’t be a ho for likes. Just be the best
I think if he wins it should automatically be allowed to be a LeMons competitor…
I think the taxes alone would probably exceed $500
I’m down.
i don’t want to one of our few TSX wagons ruined as a damaged racer. Eff that. We don’t even have them in Canada, and the guy is basically saying “if I get it, I promise to destroy it for fun as soon as I can.” That’s what Panthers are for, not rare wagons.
I agree. There are a lot of people around who could make good use of a brand new car like this, and one would hope that the car will find a better, more deserving home than satisfying someone’s juvenile vendetta.
EChid:
Its only rare because its a JDM Accord Tourer.
If Honda did the RIGHT thing, theyd bring this bastard over as the Accord Wagon from JDM, but instead we get the Crosstour, that is neither a hatch nor a wagon.
Sir, with Yen exchange rate bumping along 80 Yen for one dollar, you’re just kidding yourself into thinking a Accord wagon from Japan.
Norma:
I dont know what planet you are from.. but thats what THIS IS. Its a Accord wagon from JDM. What the hell would you rather drive — if you could actually tear this bastard up at all?!?
A 2.2ltr i-ctdi manual deisel based on the TSX frame with a wagon out back… not weighing anymore than 3600lbs.
OR
The bastard Honda Accord Crosstour that is begging for sales as the only Accord EVER not to have a 4cycl, teamed with a 5spd automatic tipping the scales at 4100lbs with the b.s 4wd unit.
Philosophil:
You do know.. this is doomed for failure.
Its facing competition against the MDX / RDX and or the ZDX.
Every wagon from the Mazda6hatch/wagon from 5yrs ago, to the Freestyle, to the CTS wagon is going to lose to internal competition. Fuckers would rather buy the Escape over the Freestyle, or Tribute over a Mazda6wagon/hatch.
GM sells the Caddy Theta against the CTS Wagon for cheaper… and sales are nuts.
The wagon is doomed for failure.. because the competition is too generic, too wide spread, not enough of its own wagon competition ntm the market itself is tilted against it.
In the long run..
Out of all of the bastards who bought a RDX for their perceived awd / safety needs, WHO would buy a Accord Wagon from Acura? WHO would pass over the MDX for a car ya can actually drive?
Then let me know why no one, other than VAG, BMW, Mercedes sell any diesel in the land of free? Any idea how much incentive BMW has to pile on its 335d to move it? And how many were sold?
One question: how much you want to pay for a diesel Accord wagon?
Norma:
There is a very complicated methodology to sell diesels in the U.S.
The German automakers have to sell their cars above 30g to make a decent profit in the U.S. There is also fear that under 30g they think they will be devalued against the Japanese and or U.S domestics.
Selling a deisel under 30g and you have to have the platform the car is on amortized to pay for profits and or losses in the U.S
U.S Domestics will sell various FULLSIZE pickups at about 40g with the diesel, but not under it. The Japanese (Mazda, Honda, Toyota, Subaru, Mitsu, Suzuki) wont even offer any vehicles because they fear they wont make money on the cars in the U.S. There is also the issue of fuel and or mait that is a trade off for higher mpg.
NOW,
As for a JDM Honda Accord Wagon. I could see spending 20-22 for it.
P.S
The concept of why ya cant buy a affordable diesel in the U.S that isn’t a german car has been around for years. Its that ceiling that the germans have to break even on for the U.S.
P.S.S
http://www.realcartips.com/news/0404-bmw-335-rebates.shtml
“NOW,
As for a JDM Honda Accord Wagon. I could see spending 20-22 for it.”
Good luck, and good night. Have a sweet dream.
Aside from Niedermeyer’s usual anger at some unknown earlier sting in life, this is a little rough. Acura actually had the balls to bring over a wagon. That’s huge. Instead of acting like a child, let’s try to remind them that the reason they brought over the wagon was for the enthusiast who rejects the SUV/CUV silliness and wants more. Like maybe a 3rd pedal and that sweet turbo 4 from the RDX.
At least they managed to find a photo for this article that does not show people dying.
These guys increasingly take themselves too seriously. The irony is thick.
Matthew,
How can you say that we take ourselves too seriously when Ed says something like the following?
Plus, it’s a great place to discuss the stories that are too obscure even for TTAC,
@Ronnie:
You’re pointing out individual trees of self-deprecating humor from within the forest of mean-spirited self-righteousness and hypocrisy of that TTAC has become.
TTAC is transforming into the type of entity it used to lampoon. Kind of like Joan Rivers did.
I’m counting the days until some starts a blog titled The Truth About The Truth About Cars.
You do recognize….
Honda didn’t bring it over for its own benefit. Its like watching a controlled implosion.
Honda wont bring over a compact hatch.. with no awd to compete under it. Honda wont even make the TL THRASHABLE for fear that its only source of income might hit the skids.
You do know.. this is doomed for failure.
Its facing competition against the MDX / RDX and or the ZDX.
Every wagon from the Mazda6hatch/wagon from 5yrs ago, to the Freestyle, to the CTS wagon is going to lose to internal competition. Fuckers would rather buy the Escape over the Freestyle, or Tribute over a Mazda6wagon/hatch.
GM sells the Caddy Theta against the CTS Wagon for cheaper… and sales are nuts.
The wagon is doomed for failure.. because the competition is too generic, too wide spread, not enough of its own wagon competition ntm the market itself is tilted against it.
In the long run..
Out of all of the bastards who bought a RDX for their perceived awd / safety needs, WHO would buy a Accord Wagon from Acura? WHO would pass over the MDX for a car ya can actually drive?
As an amateur racer and a former TSX owner – hope it’s a v6 as the 4 cylinder was never really up to the task to pull all that weight and compete with its proper sports sedan competition.
The TSX is to sports sedans as the Ridgeline is to a true pickup. So, just lease a base WRX hatchback on the cheap and be done with it.
The wagon is 4 cylinder and automatic only. :(
Only the Automatic with the 4 cylinder? Yikes! With the 6 speed manual it was fun to power out of a corner with good exit speed and you could keep the tail lights of an Odyssey from disappearing too quickly.
I’m surprised anyone who called himself an enthusiast would be interested.
Acura is smart to target this mild application away from anything remotely associated with sports driving.
I’d gladly vote for you if you would consistently tow 3300lbs (braked trailer) with it.
Hah! This is Acura we’re talking about.
A-C-U-R-A.
What have they done recently that leads you to believe they care one iota about enthusiasts?
In fact, I’m sure Acura would prefer we enthusiasts just shut our pie holes so they can continue making their vehicles in relative peace. No constant shouts from the peanut gallery of how “appliancy” they’re becoming and how they’ve lost their passion and zeal for building outstanding performance oriented automobiles.
Acura should be ashamed to even call this thing a SportWagon. It’s anything but.
Acura still offers the TSX sedan with a 6-speed manual and the TL SH-AWD with a 6-speed manual. That is enough to put Acura on my shopping list, as opposed the BMW 528i, which isn’t available with a manual transmission anymore.
528i at least has what is called RWD – meaning much more competent platform to drive than a equally heavy FWD car. AWD is nice when the weather is wet or nasty – but on a dry road – the balance of a well made RWD platform is just too much fun.
Unfortunately BMW has decided to replace 5 series wagon with 5 series GT.
Sigh. Is that a joke?
Enjoy your RWD high riding GT!
Norma:
They didnt replace the 5 series wagon aka F10. They built on its frame… making sure it wont come to the U.S, knowing “how Americans wont drive wagons”.
When was the last BMW with ‘frame’?
I’d vote, but for Honda Motor America Inc (and all of its subsidiaries) wanting part of my data. Jerks.
Vote, then uninstall their app the next day.
Well, I was going to vote, but apparently the voting has closed. Figures.
All I can say now is From one wagon-driving Bennett to another…All The Best!!!
No, voting isn’t closed, just registration for new contestants.
Since even EN described ‘car enthusiasts are an endangered species’, what is the reason for Acura to cater to such a ‘dying breed’?
Thanks for the nod! I’m actually surprised at the support I’m getting, but I guess nobody wants to see a waterskiier win. And a shirtless one at that!
A shirtless female waterskiier…