Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/25 for details.
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/25 for details.
Options
Comments
Meanwhile my 2001 TL is labeled as having "leather seating surfaces", which includes the cushions and center panels of the backrest (just not the bolsters and the sides).
When I look up the 2002 Accord, it reads "leather trim".
Just checked-up on myself. Always a good idea after posting.
So it looks like they used that term for both trim and seating surfaces.
I can't wait for them to launch on July 27th. I think I'm going to like this car.
Isn't it obvious? :shades:
But my point remains - Acura must have had some sort of relationship with BorgWarner at the time, because they were servicing these systems in dealerships across the country, and surely went to BorgWarner for replacement parts.
So perhaps that's what planted the seed for B-W to supply SH-AWD, a good working relationship with the supplier.
-juice
B-W is traditionally a supplier for American cars, though, right? I guess Honda has been building vehicles in the USA for so long that's not an issue.
-juice
Obviously, for this situation, Acura is going to go to Isuzu and get the fully assembled transmission. For that to work, Acura would need a contract with Isuzu and a supply line to get parts back and forth.
Now, let's say they just need a new clutch. They can go to BW and work out another contract and another supply line. (Lawyers and Logistics Clerks would appreciate this plan.) Or they can go to Isuzu where those details are already worked out.
-juice
A Sprag Clutch is a free-wheel device having an inner race, and an outer race either of which can be the input or output member
You learn something every day!
-juice
You need to look, seriously, at the RX400h.
My Forester averages 25.1 mpg on the cheap ol' regular fuel, and cost me $19k, probably about $31,000 less than an RX400H. That's a lot of gas!
-juice
However, when you look at similar vehicles, the mileage isn't bad.
BMW X3 (5AT with AWD) = 16/23 mpg
Mazda CX7 (6AT with AWD) = 18/24 mpg
Don't all Acuras require premium? Even the TSX, right?
I'm excluding the RSX because it's being dropped.
-juice
Besides, while RDX is using four cylinder engine, it is turbo-charged and produces power comparable to a V6. To get certain amount of power, certain amount of fuel has to be burnt. So, a 240 HP/260 lb.-ft I-4 turbo cannot be expected to deliver the fuel economy that the engine could if it were less powerful non-turbo.
In reality, RDX could do better than EPA rating (turbos will burn more if they are pushed, again, for more power in exchange for fuel).
Nice thing about turbos is that unlike superchargers they aren't as parasitic. They will "recycle" exhaust energy and use more fuel when you ask it to, but it's not using more fuel all the time like 50% more cylinders would.
-juice
Would this mean that if nearly all my driving is at 5,000 feet I would be fine using an Octane of say 87?
I think you'd be better off buying something that is less powerful and designed to run on regular.
The air up there is indeed less dense, but it's possible that the turbo has excess efficiency so that it would simply use the blow-off valves a bit less. This is why turbos don't lose as much power at altitude, compared to a wheezing V6 engine (normally aspirated).
You can use slightly lower octanes but I would not push it. Maybe 91 instead of 93, sure, but not 86-87.
-juice
TL - varmint would be a better person to ask. I'm allergic to any FWD vehicle that costs over $20k. :P
Just kidding, a Cooper S or Prelude SH wouldn't be bad.
-juice
Worth waiting? Only rumor I've read (with any sort of credibility) is that the mid-model change for the TL will include a Type S model with 290ish hp engine which probably will not have AWD. Changes to the exterior include new foglights and new rims. Interior changes are focused on the gear shifter and gauge cluster. However, even those rumors should be treated as suspect.
Given that you are comparing a mid-size sedan with a small SUV, I'm gathering that features, styling, and image are more important for you then actual performance or utility. Which is fine - I'm just trying to look at this from your perspective.
So, I would say, no. The next TL is probably not worth waiting for. You could get a current TL for less money and probably have enough to add your own rims and whatever other upgrades you have in mind. Or get the RDX and do the same. Personalization is fun and, if you know what you're doing, you can probably get better stuff via aftermarket vendors than Acura is going to offer OEM.
FWIW, I haven't gotten below 21 mpg on my '06 WRX, and have gotten almost 28 if driven gently on the highway, which puts out a little less HP than the RDX. The problem is "driving gently" is almost impossible to do
Bob
-juice
(Well, perhaps they could lower the price of the RL by $10K to compensate :P )
Also, FWIW, the rumors suggest that it will be 290 hp from the same 3.2L block. Very different character than the RL.
-juice
And I expect there will be a price premium for that TL Type S. Meaning it will be priced high enough that it should be a low volume seller.
-juice
I asked at TOV, but so far nobody knows exactly what that means. There has been no news of an A-Spec package. It also "looks" like the suspension and other items (ground skirts and such) can be purchased individually, but I can't be certain of that. If true, this would not be typical of A-Spec.
Anyway, it's something to ponder.
What am I missing here? Are there any other medium-sized cuv's I haven't noticed? (We need enough hauling room to get our kids and their debris to college!)
Jay
Carsdirect.com comparaison
-juice
No. Sport Suspension is listed as an exterior accessory. Take a look at the list on Acura.com. It goes something like...
gold package
front underspoiler
moonroof visor
wheel locks
19" rims
sport suspension
running boards
I checked with my dealer and they have no clue.
The MKX is a replacement for the discontinued Aviator (glitzy Explorer) and would be competition for the Acura MDX.
They downsized that model a lot.
It's weird, because the Edge will sort of slot between the Escape and Explorer, but it's probably closer to Escape size.
-juice
I've heard that they plan on ramping up to 40k units/year, so I would guess that they would be making they in North America. That's purely speculation on my part though.