Motor Trend: Lexus LFA and Acura NSX Head 2 Head
Posted: August 1, 2012 Filed under: Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE | Tags: 2, Acura, Comparison, Head, Honda, Lexus, LFA, Mind, motor, NSX, Over, sound, Tec, to, Trend, V, V10, V6, video, VTEC 1 Comment »Some great insights and some truly epic sounds. Awesome video, enjoy.
-Nick
Test Driven: Acura TSX Wagon
Posted: November 1, 2011 Filed under: Sports and Executive, TEST DRIVEN | Tags: Acura, Compact, FWD, Mind over motor, NJ, Station Wagon, Test Driven, TSX Wagon, VTEC 3 Comments »
Acura seems to have a very different approach to the luxury car market than its Japanese luxury car kin, and it’s paid dividends for them over the years. While Lexus and Infiniti chase the big boys in Germany, Acura goes after the lower priced market and does a good job of offering a slick alternative to the norm. The TSX, while in every other part of the world a Honda Accord, is Acura’s entry-level model, but this is no bad thing. Since I wanted to try the wagon out for the sake of a family member who may need one in the near future, I got a set of keys and took a black TSX Tech Sport Wagon for a drive. Read the rest of this entry »
Explaining the Death and Rebirth of the Wagon
Posted: September 8, 2011 Filed under: AUTOMOTIVE INSIGHTS | Tags: Acura, Automotive Insights, Cadillac, Chrysler, Cool, Crossover, Death, Enthusiasts, Ford, GM, Market, Mind over motor, Minivan, Rebirth, Segment, SUV, USA, Wagon Leave a comment »
The CTS-V wagon, or the ultimate way of getting the kids to school.
Wagons have a pretty colored history here in America. For ages and ages, they were the ride of choice for the American mom, with long wheelbases, huge interior room, smooth styling, and excellent visibility. However, starting before the beginning of the SUV craze, wagons somehow became uncool among America’s mainstream car buyers. Read the rest of this entry »
Stagnant products, not lack of demand
Posted: August 30, 2011 Filed under: INDUSTRY TALK | Tags: 348, 911, 964, Acura, appeal, demand, engine, Esprit, Ferrari, Honda, I4, Inline, lack, Lotus, manual, Mazda, Mind, model, motor, NSX, Over, Porsche, Roadster, Rotary, RX8, S2000, trnasmission, unchanged Leave a comment »
All of these great cars share a common problem.
With the Mazda RX8 being phased out this year for reasons concerning a “lack of demand”, one must wonder what has gone wrong. The RX8 is a car that had some pretty decent sales numbers early on. Its sports car dynamics with a practical twist gave it much appeal for many people. Yet, today, in 2011, the demand has fizzled out, and I expect the reason is similar to two past offerings from Honda that shared a similar fate. Read the rest of this entry »
Acura RL: Is there a point to buying one? No, there is not.
Posted: August 29, 2011 Filed under: INDUSTRY TALK | Tags: 9-5, Acura, Cadillac, Car, CTS, driving, Industry Talk, Mediocre, Mind over motor, Moderate, Overpriced, RL, Saab, Tepid, TL 3 Comments »
It's just sort of bland compared to the rest of the lineup. A flagship should not be like this.
Acura’s done well for itself over the years, even without a real flagship. The TL has become a desirable luxury/sport sedan. the TSX, despite its humble origins as the Euro-spec Honda Accord, has become a very, very interesting choice for a premium compact that won’t break the bank. Meanwhile, the MDX and RDX are popular in their segments because of their intelligent AWD, responsive engines (especially the RDX’s turbocharged plant), and smart packaging. But what do we all make of their “flagship” RL? I’m not so sure it’s really as good a car as the rest of the line. Read the rest of this entry »
Road Review: 2009 Acura RDX
Posted: August 16, 2011 Filed under: Road Review, Sports and Executive | Tags: Acura, AWD, Compact SUV, Crossover, CUV, Honda, Honda Engine, K23A1, Lease, Luxury, Premium Luxury, Quick, SH-AWD, SUV, turbo, VTEC Leave a comment »
Acura RDX (Front)
Back in 2009, my dad’s lease on his Honda Pilot was up, and he needed a new car. After driving the GMC Acadia and the new Pilot, he realized how sick he was of the three-row SUVs, as he no longer needed the extra space, and wanted better gas mileage. He drove the little Honda CR-V, and regretted it. Then, he drove a new RDX, and without a second thought, signed some lease papers. I’ve lived with it as my dad’s daily driver for two years now, and he’s never had more respect for a car than this one, so I decided to find out why. Read the rest of this entry »
Main Street in Motion: What I think.
Posted: August 11, 2011 Filed under: AUTOMOTIVE INSIGHTS, INDUSTRY TALK | Tags: Acura, Autocross, big, Buick, Camaro, Car, Chevrolet, Corvette, Diesel, East Rutherford, Engines, event, Gas, General Motors, GM, GMC, Honda, Main Street In Motion, Mind over motor, Models, Nissan, NJ, Opinions, PA, Parking lot, Performance, Philadelphia, Pickups, Sedans, Stadium, SUV, Test Drives, Thoughts, Toyota, Truck, Volt Leave a comment »
Cars lined up for Mainstreet in Motion (in NJ)
In a related article, Nick talked about his experience at Main Street in Motion, an event created by General Motors, in order to show off their lineup and all the improvements they’ve made (or in some cases, not made) over the past years. It’s worthy to note that, after a quick talk with another patron, that GM used to do these events often, and this was the first time they’d done this in quite some time. Knowing that, I took some drives and a few observations. For example, they attempted to get lower-optioned versions of competitor vehicles at any chance they could, with some notable exceptions, which I will get to later. Also, like Nick said, the entire event was free of charge. Read the rest of this entry »
Test Driven: 2011 Buick Lacrosse Lineup vs. 2011 Acura TL FWD
Posted: August 5, 2011 Filed under: Sports and Executive, TEST DRIVEN | Tags: Acura, Buick, Car, Comparison, Drive, GM, Honda, Lacrosse, Mainstreet in Motion, Mind over motor, New Jersey, Test, Test Driven, TL 1 Comment »
2011 Buick LaCrosse CXS (18 inch rims).
At Mainstreet in Motion at the Meadowlands at the end of July, I was already somewhat familiar with the LaCrosse, having driven one for two laps around the Buick circuit in Philadelphia. But, I took the opportunity to drive the rest of the lineup during the event in New Jersey, so here’s a few thoughts on it. Read the rest of this entry »
Main Street In Motion, a great experience for anyone to try
Posted: July 19, 2011 Filed under: TEST DRIVEN | Tags: accord, Acura, Buick, Camaro, camry, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Civic, Corolla, Corvette, Cruze, Dodge, Drive, Ford, Free, General, GM, GMC, grand, Honda, Hyundai, In, Main, Main Street In Motion, Mind over motor, Motion, Motors, Sport, SS, Street, Test, V6, V8, Volt Leave a comment »
Corvettes at Main Street In Motion
Main Street in Motion is a free promotional event put on by GM where anyone can come test drive their cars and some of their competition on a closed course. It is a bit of an automotive traveling circus that travels to cities all over the country. As I said it is completely free, even the refreshments, so all you have to do is sign up online and go to the event to take part. Al and I went to their recent event in Philly, here is what I have to say about it. Read the rest of this entry »
On the Subject of Hypocrisy: Honda.
Posted: May 24, 2011 Filed under: INDUSTRY TALK | Tags: Acura, Civic, Civic Si, CR-Z, Honda, Honda boring, Insights, Japan, Mind over motor, NSX, Problem, S2000 Leave a comment »Just in the past two or three years, Honda has lost its mojo. The S2000, once a respected, yet affordable roadster, suffered from the axe after the 2010 model year. Since then, the last non-Civic ‘sporty’ Honda has hit the skids. All we have now is the much-maligned CR-Z—a car that has as much compromises as it does electrons running around in its engine compartment. Read the rest of this entry »
