The Temple of VTEC - Honda and Acura Enthusiasts Online Forums > Acura Announces $25,900 Starting Price for 2013 ILX >

Great_Tubimi wrote:
Neal wrote:
CarPhreakD wrote:
Right, I see a lot of people defending the ILX, making the point that other Acuras are also platform prostitutes. That's true, however, the ILX makes no effort to even hide this.

The RDX (and I have problems with that CUV too), TL, TSX and even the current RL do a much better job offering better equipment levels and don't look anything like their platform-mates. The ILX just looks like a Civic, it even reminds me of the 6th gen sedan in terms of boring.

I'm sorry but I don't agree with that at all. I had the black 2.4 parked right next to a new black Si Sedan for several minutes, climbing back in forth between the two, multiples times. Visual (surface) similarities are essentially non-existent.

No effort? The ILX is ALL about masking its Civic origins. Still, that doesn't make me a "defender."

By doing what exactly? I would think that you, Neal, of all people would be able to see the trickery with the sheet metal. I know when I say "it looks like a Civic," I'm saying that it would mean nothing to call this thing a Civic. I certainly wouldn't say that it's the "most amazing Civic I've ever seen," because Civic's generally don't evoke that type of emotion.

I wish you could photoshop a Honda grille onto the ILX and show it to some folks while telling them it's the new Civic. I'd bet no one would care much. They probably wouldn't "hate" it or "love" it.

One thing I think it's time to ask ToV:

IN TERMS OF BAD INVESTMENTS BY ACURA, WHERE DOES THE CALIFORNIA DESIGN STUDIO RANK?

They kept the wheelbase identical, the dimensions (too) similar, engines and transmissions (too) similar. The desperate effort "shines through" in the (awkward) proportions. I don't think anyone is saying Honda didn't TRY to cover this one up, but I think people are just calling out the kid who sucks at hide-and-go-seek. I also don't think people don't realize that this vehicle is a successful improvement over the basic Civic's fit and finish, but I'd argue that if that's all it takes to make an "Acura," then this vehicle serves as a concession to aspirations of ever truly belonging in the realm of luxury. Is it so hard to see that Honda is blatantly trying to create artificial appeal for the ILX by dumbing down the Civic?

Instead of a "mainstream" compliment to the NSX, they build this. Reviewers (that care about road performance) are already saying that the ILX has noticeable body roll, noting that the 2.4 has the exact same suspension setup as the 2.0 models. Anyone looking for that 1g TSX feeling is in for a letdown, according to them.

I just think it's sad that Honda tries so hard to change what luxury is by staying in their vacuum and parts bin.