Acura thinks going AWD will result in increased sales

"Captain_Spadaro" (Captain_Spadaro)
10/14/2014 at 12:33 • Filed to: bad decisions, Acura, Subaru, Ferris Bueller references, opinion

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Problem is, they're trying to take a page from Subaru's playbook. Acura is not Subaru, and will never be Subaru. I could understand it if they were looking at it from the point of view of 'hey, Audi is doing pretty good with AWD, maybe we should try and see how that works for us'. Problem is, they aren't Audi either. I don't doubt that adding AWD to everything won't increase sales (it will), but doing it for the sake of having AWD strikes me as mindless me tooism.

BMW is 'the ultimate driving machine'
Mercedes is 'the best, or nothing' (and for a long time was associated with 'built to a standard, not a price', even though that wasn't an official marketing line).
Audi is 'truth in engineering'
Lexus is 'the pursuit of perfection'
Acura is...Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?

All of those slogans are subjective, but the public, for the most part, has linked them to their respective brands.

DISCUSSION (19)

For Sweden > Captain_Spadaro
10/14/2014 at 12:37

He's not wrong.

E92M3 > Captain_Spadaro
10/14/2014 at 12:38

I can't understand how a company who was at their peak in 2007 has become so self destructive.

Corz > Captain_Spadaro
10/14/2014 at 12:40

They're not subaru, they don't design a shit flat 4 that blows head gaskets with every oil change

William Byrd > Captain_Spadaro
10/14/2014 at 12:41

They're so cute at that age.

Captain_Spadaro > For Sweden
10/14/2014 at 12:45

True.

For Sweden > Corz
10/14/2014 at 12:46

How much can a real head gaskets cost in bulk anyway?

E92M3 > Captain_Spadaro
10/14/2014 at 12:46

Acura is "Made for Mankind".

The only problem is blind people can't drive YET. Google is trying to fix that though.

Corz > For Sweden
10/14/2014 at 12:53

It's not the head gaskets blowing, it's the eventual cats that'll kill ya

For Sweden > Corz
10/14/2014 at 12:55

Not installing a straight-pipe exhaust right after driving off the dealership

Captain_Spadaro > E92M3
10/14/2014 at 12:56

Blind people driving makes about as much sense to me as blind people playing football.

Captain_Spadaro > E92M3
10/14/2014 at 12:59

I blame yes men, myself.

I'll come right out and say that I've never felt any sort of loyalty to Acura (and Honda for that matter) but the way they've fallen these last few years is just sad. The 2012 Civic, CVTs, the beak debacle...

Captain_Spadaro > Corz
10/14/2014 at 13:00

I know the turbo Subie Boxers have some issues relating to piston rings, but where do the head gaskets (and catalysts) fit in?

Textured Soy Protein > Captain_Spadaro
10/14/2014 at 13:25

All of the slogans you listed are a bunch of marketing nonsense that nobody pays attention to and don't mean anything, except maybe BMW and ultimate driving machine.

The only slogan that Acura should really use is "VTEC just kicked in yo!" But that's not going to happen.

People buy premium cars because of the perception that those premium cars have something to offer above and beyond regular cars.

The perception of Acura is very much "gussied-up Honda." But if you make awd standard across the board, then there's a concrete value proposition to stepping up to an Acura.

I can tell you here in Wisconsin where I live, the vast majority of premium cars I see out on the road are awd. Makes sense in a place with a bunch of snow. Acura, as it sits right now, offers awd as basically the top trim level of the TLX and RLX. Making awd standard (or at least more common) in their lineup might be "mindless me-tooism" as you describe it, but it'll also probably sell a bunch more cars.

Blue 300 > Captain_Spadaro
10/14/2014 at 13:36

but doing it for the sake of having AWD strikes me as mindless me tooism.

We're talking about Acura here. They literally took a sh*t on and gladly ate their credibility when they killed the Integra and NSX. No matter what they do to their cars, it will be mindless.

Cadillac seemed to figure out their downfall and took the plunge to change; It took 10 years to change their brand. I don't see Acura/Honda even remotely thinking about that. Until their leaders figure out that towing the line is ultimately detrimental, they will get absolutely no where.

Captain_Spadaro > Textured Soy Protein
10/14/2014 at 13:39

It will sell more cars, yes, but I don't know if it'd help perception (beyond what you said about value). To me, a gussied up Honda with AWD is still a gussied up Honda with AWD.

Textured Soy Protein > Captain_Spadaro
10/14/2014 at 13:56

Would it not stand to reason that it would be selling more cars, because of more people's favorable perception of Acura?

Corz > Captain_Spadaro
10/14/2014 at 13:58

I've been in the parts industry for about a decade, I don't know the root of the problem (Chicken and egg sort of thing) but there is a faulty design in the boxer cyl head setup causing coolant to slip past the manifold and essentially rot out the cats.

I sell about 20 cats for subaru's on a weekly basis (Just one store btw).

Captain_Spadaro > Textured Soy Protein
10/14/2014 at 14:03

Yeah, it would.

I'm just being pedantic because I can be.

Captain_Spadaro > Corz
10/14/2014 at 14:04

Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaamn.