"newton" (newton)
10/10/2014 at 11:00 • Filed to: acura ilx
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"newton" (newton)
10/10/2014 at 11:00 • Filed to: acura ilx | 1
| 19 |
Revelation for the morning: the entry-model Acura ILX comes with a 2 liter powertrain that makes 150 horsepower. Two things before Acura enthusiasts brutally stab me on the way to my morning Dunkin' Donuts: One, I know this model is not targeted toward performance oriented buyers at all and two, Acura does have consideration for their performance minded customers with the 6-speed manual 201 hp 2.4 liter ILX. I will give credit where credit is due and admit the fact that you can still purchase a manual Acura is pretty cool.
However, allow me to wax haterade for a brief second and explain why a 150 horsepower Acura appalls me. This 2.0 Acura ILX commands a starting price of $27k. A loaded one will run you over $32k. $32k! For a 150 hp car that's not a hybrid nor gets over 30 mpg combined! In 2014!
So what I don't understand is, who is the target buyer for a 2 liter ILX? Consider the fact that:
Both the Ford Focus and Dodge Dart feature 160 hp engines in base trim and start at about $17k. Granted, the Focus and Dart are in a lower segment but they still feature comparable toys and tech.
The same price could buy you a nice 270 hp Passat, a very fun Mini Cooper S or Golf GTI and most Fords (including the Focus ST and non-V8 Mustangs). Tavarish would also comment it can buy you a mint E46 M3 or 500 hp Mercedes.
$/HP ratio is $180 in base form and quickly exceeds $200 with options. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!
My mom's old Nissan Quest minivan she purchased in 1995 made 151 hp.
Okay okay, I know horsepower is not the end all be all for most car buyers and may not even be a factor for many. But Acura, a 150 hp "premium" sedan with no real luxury bells and whistles just seems...pricey. Ditch the 2 liter and offer the 2.4 only or maybe just throw a small turbo in there?
Either way, I'm now intrigued at how the 6-speed 201 hp ILX drives.
Bad Idea Hat
> newton
10/10/2014 at 11:06 |
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Makes no sense at all. I was listening to TST talk about how Acura hasn't been very interesting lately, and this explains a lot of that. That's such a piss poor car for the price.
Nibby
> newton
10/10/2014 at 11:07 |
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Because the ILX is a fancy Civic. /thread.
RazoE
> newton
10/10/2014 at 11:08 |
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What?! Honda's rebadging a Civic and selling it as an Acura?!? THE NERVE!!!
oh wait...
Party-vi
> newton
10/10/2014 at 11:09 |
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It's a Civic with makeup. What were you expecting?
Also, the base model BMW 3-Series STARTS at $32k and only has 180hp. The Audi A3 is $30k and has 180hp as well. Entry-level luxury buyer don't cars about horsepower apparently.
Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready
> newton
10/10/2014 at 11:09 |
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Allegedly, they made the ILX 2.4 a more refined but less fun and dynamic Civic Si.
Milky
> Party-vi
10/10/2014 at 11:11 |
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Came here to post about how the A3 isn't a power house either. BUT it actually has a nice interior …
compared to the honda Acura's.
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Party-vi
> Milky
10/10/2014 at 11:13 |
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Makes sense - the A3 isn't a badge-engineered economy car (to my knowledge).
Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
> Party-vi
10/10/2014 at 11:16 |
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Tis but a Golf in a fancy suit.
Uug
> Milky
10/10/2014 at 11:20 |
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Honestly don't see how the A3's interior is that much better.
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Party-vi
> Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
10/10/2014 at 11:21 |
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Aye, but it's tailored well and looks good. The Acura's pants are too long and the jacket sleeves are too short.
Big Bubba Ray
> newton
10/10/2014 at 11:27 |
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It's for people who want an Acura but can't afford a more expensive Acura so they buy a Honda Civic in makeup. I despise the ILX.
dogisbadob
> newton
10/10/2014 at 11:28 |
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I'd like to see the 2.0L with a manual transmission. I agree the price is too high; it should start around 20k.
There is nothing wrong with a 150-hp premium car. Small fuel-efficient 4-cylinder luxury cars are fucking awesome. I don't need the performance, but I *do* need good gas mileage and low operating costs. Besides, in Europe, they have 100-hp luxury cars!
Rico
> Milky
10/10/2014 at 11:31 |
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The Acura is incredibly ugly, I've never seen the interior and I almost wish I hadn't.
MHunter905
> newton
10/10/2014 at 11:33 |
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Although I am an Acura owner and I do like some of Acura's previous offerings. I can't say I like any of the cars they are currently selling and the ILX IMO is an awful car that should not have been made from a civic in such a half-assed way. Its underpowered, overpriced and ugly. I have had the misfortune of driving one over the summer and i had to blast the stereo just to overpower the wind and road noise. My two 12+ year old Acuras are both faster, more powerful, less noisy, better looking and much more fun to drive. Acura has lost its way ever since they started putting the stupid corporate "chrome bird beak" on all their cars to make them all look the same. Sorry for the rant, I just really dislike everything about the ILX and I commuted 5 days a week in one and I don't recommend it.
n54 & s38
> RazoE
10/10/2014 at 11:42 |
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LOl. Yup. That's what the fiancee drives. 1999 Acura 1.6 EL. This isn't news to any Canadian...
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Milky
> Uug
10/10/2014 at 11:42 |
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Well the Acura looks like its straight out 2005, so thats not a good start.
duurtlang
> newton
10/10/2014 at 11:57 |
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So what I don't understand is, who is the target buyer for a 2 liter ILX?
People who don't care about performance? To a lot of people enough performance to keep up with traffic equals sufficient performance. To many people 0-60 acceleration is something they could care less about.
William Byrd
> newton
10/10/2014 at 12:10 |
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I want to hate it as well, but for the average buyer it doesn't matter. They get a 30MPG (avg.) "luxury" sedan that looks like an Acura and will run forever. A little expensive, I agree, but for who it's geared towards, they'll sell.
Edmunds says the average price paid is $26,217 which is comparable with a Prius that sports a few option packages. MPG isn't as high, but it's also not as ugly. haha
someoneatacura
> newton
10/28/2014 at 17:37 |
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If you had driven one, you'd know it's completely adequate for what it's intended to do, drive around. It feels more like 170hp, the transmission works well with the power band and it never feels down on power for every day driving (including overtaking). Also the more conventional dash is much nicer in person when compared to the civic, with better materials. They've updated that car every year, adding more features and better materials with little markup on the starting price.
Also, if you walk into a dealership and pay sticker you're a fool.