What was with the "car" (i think thats what it was) on the NAV screen... some sort of loaner car advertisement or what?  Anyway... a 5speed AT... I guess Acura is even behind Infiniti as far as keeping up with Lexus.  In any case.. the car is still somewhat appealing, but I can only imagine the 3.7L has poor gas mpg and that will hurt sales along with the questionable styling.

I think you're wrong about the gas mpg, for one, gas is considerably more expensive.  I was just looking at my expenditures a couple days ago... my household gasoline expenditure is within 100 dollars of total gas expenditure for year 2007.  So based on these calculations I think my cost will be 150% of last year's.  (which I guess calculates out right, since gas is about 150% of its price last year, ie: $4 vs. 2.75).  If you don't think it concerns people shopping for cars in the mid 30k range, just look at the boards.  People are concerned about mpg no matter what they're driving these days. 

And for Oz... no this still wouldn't keep ME from buying a guzzler, but everyone has their priorities. 

Is there any evidence that points towards Acura making a RWD car?  I mean I'm not an Acura buff, but does honday make RWD?  I know the Ridgeline is... and the Pilot I guess.  But what else?  S2000?  I'm just thinking out loud.  I don't see what would encourage them to do so if they're having success without RWD.   

As far as those civic headlights... maybe thats where Sean got his inspiration? 

I agree, Honda has no pride, borrowing from the Civic and then crap Cadillac's.   

Plus Mike, it is going to be hard going from a LS to a TL.   

Hey, once you get past a certain age, retire, and start living on pensions, social security and your IRA, it gets easier to move to less-expensive cars.   

In fact, I fully expect my next car to be a step down from the LS ... sad, but true - those $1400/mo. lease payments could be going toward buying more meds for my aches and pains.

And Brandon - no, I don't see any indication Acura will build a RWD car at this point. Sadly, they are slaves to the Soichiro Honda mentality that says build 'em good, but build 'em cheap and make 'em get good gas mileage. Acura mavericks managed to get past the gas mileage mandates somehow, and they have built a few cars that weren't made cheap (the current RL, for example), but they haven't gotten away from the 6-cylinder, FWD mentality.

They came up with SH-AWD, but that's really nothing more than a technical tour-de-force to make FWD acceptable. And it really hasn't turned out to be as acceptable to the buyer as they expected it to be. There are stories that the next-gen RL will have a (gasp!) V-8, but I'll have to see it to believe it.

The trouble with Acura IMO is that they just never quite "make it" in terms of hitting the bullseye with buyers ... and it's because they appear to cut corners just as they almost get there. The '06 RL I had, for example, was actually quite a nice car. It had everything you'd want in the way of amenities and electronic goodies, and even had the Audi-like aura of AWD. But it was just a little short on power (290hp V-6), and it was just a tad too small to compete in its price class. So it sold like shiteee. Acura just cut things a little too short and missed the target.

People on Acura forums get mad at me for saying it, but after owning 3 Acuras (TL, RL and MDX), I feel qualified to tell them to do the following to be really competitive:

- Get a V-8, even if it's just an option,
- Make your vaunted SH-AWD an OPTION,
- Lose the FWD and go RWD,
- Make your flagship car as big as the other guys' flagship cars,
- Add another gear or two to your 5-speed transmission,
- Exercise tighter quality control on the TL assembly line or design out the rattles and squeaks.

one thing is for sure... they can't go RWD without price increase, because they just don't have the technology in place to support RWD cars.  Everything they make is FWD, and they borrow and share tech from the honda platforms.  To completely separate that R&D would probably be expensive, but I agree.. its necessary at this point to be competitive

Good point, especially about the Maxima and A4, as these are both well equipped and similarly performing FWD vehicles (with the Acura and Audi offering AWD).  At the same price, its most likely going to come down to styling, and you the new A4 is good looking.  The Max is nice, and the Acura is "unique."