Recent Comments:
Honda Legend facelift leaks out {Autoblog}
May 5th 2008 4:39PM smj has it right. The advantage of alphanumeric names is people invariably refer to the brand rather than the model. specifically, people refer to their "Lexus" or "Mercedes" rather than "GS" or "C-Class". This actually calculates to a measurable difference in brand image, and more importantly, Brand loyalty. It was when the brand referral effect was found to be working on Japanese rivals, Lexus and Infiniti that Acura decided to make the change.
Frankly, I don't really mind. "Legend" was always a bit overblown and "Integra" was just as bland as all the other generic "-a" names like Sentra, Maxima,Corolla, Sephia and so on.
More images of Carrozzeria Touring's coachbuilt Maseratis {Autoblog}
May 1st 2008 5:02PM Entire fake windows on the hatchback? Are they kidding? It is bad enough when some car makers over extend their window trim, but fake windows? Lets hope this is s photographic anomaly and that such a thing is not being considered, particularly on what looks like a beautiful car.
First Drive: 2009 Honda Pilot {Autoblog}
Apr 15th 2008 2:19PM psarhjinian is on target here. The families this was designed for don't have looks as their top priority. Looks certainly weren't the prime consideration when I bought my family hauler, itself technically a Honda (you figure it out) and at ten years old, I couldn't be happier with how it had fulfilled its mission. I hope to keep it another ten years.
The only real offensive piece is the grille trim (Aftermarketers, ignore my second sentence and get to work!) the rest of the vehicles is just staid. The new Ford Flex certainly does square better and there are a lot other of attractive competitors in this market now, but Honda has repeatedly proven they can deliver what this target market wants.
Rumormill: 2009 Acura TL coming in 2 flavors, gets AWD {Autoblog}
Apr 15th 2008 1:27PM Can someone tell me why all this FWD hate seems to be aimed at Acura? As posters have pointed out, Audi, Volvo, Saab and others have also had primarily AWD offerings but not every post about one of those brands turns into a FWD vs RWD debate like it does for Acura. Hell, Acura is becoming far less of a FWD company anyway. RDX, MDX and RL are AWD only. The TL will offer both, and that just leaves the TSX as their only strictly FWD model. Add to that the fact that SH-AWD is not exactly just a poor-weather add-on, but a true performance enhancer.
I've driven FWD, AWD and RWD back-to-back on a tight, twisty track and I prefer RWD, though my times were probably faster with AWD. But off the track, the drivetrain configuration disappears and steering feel and suspension tuning become far more important.
I've only had FWD for my daily driver for the past two years, and on my commute, the configuration is irreleant. Even when I do get on a twisty mountain road, I'm not alone in the car so any rate of speed where RWD proves its superiority, is going to be past my passenger's comfort/car-sick threshold anyway.
I suspect it isn't that much different for a bunch of you RWD braggarts as well.
Jeep Commander could meet its demise in 2009 {Autoblog}
Apr 14th 2008 8:09PM The main problem with this vehicle is that it had no purpose. It purpose was suppose to be a three row Jeep. But its third row was completely awful (you are way more comfortable in the hind quarters of a MAZDA5) leaving it having no purpose at all over a Grand Cherokee, which by standards of practicality and reliability is a pretty dubious proposition in it's own right for a family car.
New York 2008: 2009 Honda Fit gets in shape {Autoblog}
Mar 26th 2008 4:46PM I agree. The biggest beef I have with the Civic is we don't get the hatchback. (2nd biggest the dash). My only real issue with the current fit was that the freeway ride was a little choppy. That and the fact that (as Chris Davis alludes to above) there was a used MAZDA3 5-Door in the same lot and there is no comparison between the two in the test drive competition. That may not change much, but if the math on the MPG disparity works out, I'll be looking forward to the Fit intro with keen interest.
Skoda's Twindoor: An innovative all-in-one trunk and liftback {Autoblog}
Mar 7th 2008 7:43PM I would like to see how something like this would sell in the US. Personally, I prefer a plain hatch with an aggressively sloped C/D pillar (yes, it reduces interior space, I know) like the MAZDA6, or better yet, the 88 Mazda 626 but most Americans stubbornly yearn for the dignity of a sedan. It would be interesting to see the US market acceptance of such a thing.
Honda shifts Ridgeline production from Canada to Alabama {Autoblog}
Mar 3rd 2008 2:38PM Boy Liquor, you are good!
I like the Ridgeline and my hair is thinning. If that doesn't prove Honda made a mistake, I don't know what does.
Then again, I don't have comb-over, but I'm not fond of the Ridgline's grill either (which kind of resembles one), so the analogy may still be intact.
Spy Shots: 2009 BMW 7-Series snagged in Melbourne {Autoblog}
Mar 3rd 2008 2:00PM That is one hell of a character line going across the door handles! It may just be the photography but it looks like they added on the sheet metal that was scooped out of the side of all those Acura TLs. That's not really a criticism, though. In fact it looks like this design may have promise.
Acura recalls 273,000 TLs due to fire fears {Autoblog}
Feb 29th 2008 9:57PM Most of the owners I know really appreciate the technology. The easy to use nav, the bluetooth, the surround sound stereo. Plus the car handles quote well for a front driver has a good safety rating and it looks good.
Sure it isn't a rear driver, but there is nothing that says once you make a certain amount of money you have to drive a car at 9/10s whenever possible. They aren't all car idiots like us. Some just want a nice car. The TL delivers.
