The Temple of VTEC - Honda and Acura Enthusiasts Online Forums > 2013 ILX pricing to start at around $27k, hybrid and 2.4 models at $30k >

owequitit wrote:
atomiclightbulb wrote:
jeffbatt wrote:
Also, having owned many hondas and acuras, I firmly believe their overall build quality in the 90's was better than their more recent cars.

My experience w' Acura is limited, but my sense is that Honda interior quality peaked in the mid-2000's. My '94 Accord's interior design looked great even in 2009, and I think the 7G Accord (2003-2007) is even better. Likewise, the 8G Civic (2006-2011) was impressive for its class.

Things started to go downhill with the 8G Accord. I see Model Year 2008 as the turning point when successive models started to lose their design cohesiveness, ergonomics, and nice interior touches. Things are turning around though. The CR-V is definitely a signal that Honda is committed to good interior design going forward.

jeffbatt wrote:
The suspension on the integra was in all probability better than the ILX.

integrator wrote:
Any Honda product isn't known for the highest power available. But they were known for the handling. No DWB's = FAIL

I'm not so sure the double wishbone matters so much anymore. The 8G Si handles very well for an FF sedan, and it has struts up front. My personal opinion is that the limited slip differential is more important. Why? On my 7G Accord, hitting the throttle when cornering results in nasty wheelspin and loss of traction. This was lessened some once I threw out the OEM Bridgestone tires (utter junk), but even with better tires it still happens. Try the same thing in the 8G Si, and the LSD prevents that from happening.

The ILX will probably live up to its Acura heritage in terms of interior design and practicality, and engine too (after Earth Dreams upgrade). I just don't know if it'll have the cornering capability that it should have in the 2.4L version. Without the LSD, it'll certainly suffer the same problems as the 7G Accord.

IMO, Honda interior quality bottomed in the early 2000's. The 6th gen Accord had an interior that was crappier than both of our 7th gen's and our 8th gen. The vinyl like leather (which was splitting by the end of year 4), the hard top dash and the cheap, easily scratched plastics. I had more quality concerns with that car than any Honda we have ever owned. My friend had a 4 banger and it was pretty lackluster as well. Then there were the perpetual tranny issues, and the more I dug into the car behind where the average owner sees it, the more I didn't like it.

To be fair, the current crop of Hondas are still not where they used to be, but overall the trend has been better IMO. That includes the Civic where my cousin's 2001 Civic had some interior based issues, as well as some other 7th gen Civics I have dealt with, but my 8th has had none.