dj_segfault
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Background: I'm on my sixth Honda right now (2004 Accord). In September I want to buy something a bit more upscale. This will be my first starter luxury car. Of course I thought of Acura first, especially I was one of the 25 people that went crazy for the original "beak" and drastic angles in front and back of the TL. I love high-tech and modern looking. I will NEVER drive a car with real or simulated wood trim. The more buttons and gadgets the better.
I test drove a TL and a 2013 RDX last weekend (I like the high-tech look of the TL much better, but the RDX may work out more practical for the family). The one thing that struck me immediately when I started driving it is that the steering wheel felt almost disconnected. There was hardly any feedback and it turned very freely (a bit less so in the TL). It did take a bit of the fun out of driving. Granted this is on a 10-minute test drive...
It's certainly easier to drive, and I do take long trips, but it would take getting used to. It *is* very responsive (I turn the wheel and the car turns quickly), but I missed the feedback.
So here's my question: Is that disconnectedness... "luxury"?
Is "luxury" somehow the opposite of "sporty"? Sporty cars fight back a bit and let you know when you've run over every rock. This felt like I was phoning it in to someone else who was driving. Is that a feature?
Are all luxury cars (in that price range; I'm sure there are much sportier luxury cards closer to $50K+) going to feel like that? Or is that part of the new electronic power steering?
Should I expect the same experience from the TL?
Thanks.
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eneka
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test out a bimmer?
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dj_segfault
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eneka wrote:
test out a bimmer?
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Feature-wise it's not a bad comparison. Looks-wise it's pretty much the direct opposite of what I'm looking for, and I spend about two hours a day in it, so that matters. Like I said in my original post, I want something high-tech looking, not old-growth-tree wood grain looking.
Thanks for pointing it out though. A few models were actually in my price range, which I didn't expect.
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JeffX
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eneka wrote:
test out a bimmer?
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today's BMWs are largely a disappointment to me because while they still possess good performance they have gone whole hog on the luxury thing and the interference from the safety electronics pretty much ruins the FR driving experience. BMWs are much heavier and softer these days and lack much of the visceral appeal of past BMWs - I'm talking about the ones that really connected you to the road while still providing a refined ride. I'm trying to figure out when the 3-series peaked and provided the best balance of performance, refinement, and luxury - maybe the E46 was it. Or possibly E36.
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dj_segfault
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Jeff wrote:
today's BMWs are largely a disappointment to me because while they still possess good performance they have gone whole hog on the luxury thing and the interference from the safety electronics pretty much ruins the FR driving experience. BMWs are much heavier and softer these days and lack much of the visceral appeal of past BMWs - I'm talking about the ones that really connected you to the road while still providing a refined ride. I'm trying to figure out when the 3-series peaked and provided the best balance of performance, refinement, and luxury - maybe the E46 was it. Or possibly E36.
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Are you saying that other car makers are deadening the feel of their luxury cars? I can see how some people would like that (easier driving experience), but I find it hard to believe that the majority of luxury car buyers don't want at least a bit of sport in their ride. Then again, like I said, I'm new to this. I would be anxious to hear other opinions. Thank you for yours.
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Nick GravesX
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It's a classic case;
Most people want all the silly pointless gewgaws & buttons these days - "content" as it is referred to at the expense of the driving dynamics.
Many people don't like road feel, since the majority these days have possibly never driven an enjoyable car - they started getting crap over a decade ago now. And if everything you've driven has been on a Playwithyourselfstation anyway...
Certainly EPS, combined with dumbass big wheels and loads of heavy luxury/safety crap don't help the dynamics one iota. But they're not mutually exclusive.
I believe manufacturers are concentrating on content & NVH & not really bothering with the dynamics. Stuff it full of unreliable FREDs instead of carefully-adjusting steering bushes/damping.
Probably the FT 86 is one of the few cars that reverses the trend. And mfrs. worry the youth are no longer interested in cars? Fools...
the 8 6 is certainly about the only modern car I'd be interested in buying. And I'd ultimately rather have my old Hondas, thanks. Which is why I do.
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Grace141
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For me the 3-series peaked in 1991 with the following model up to 1998 being just an acceptable car. The 5-series probably peaked with the last of the original model. The 635's thru the '80s were wonderful cars which only leads me to see the current 6 as something of a clown car. More fairly, a little overly wrought. BMW for me will always be the 2002 and, sadly, that thrill is gone. I still blame Lexus. It was only when the Alfa sedans were considered that the BMW's seemed understated.
Honda's first cars having power steering also felt somewhat disconnected compared to the older cars so there was a slow growth period of relearning what a car should feel like to drive. I think most of us today think of a proper power steering system as being the mechanically-linked speed sensitive systems Honda developed during the late-'80s but even those felt simply awkward at slow speeds. I think some of Honda's hydraulic systems today are much too light but they are communicative which is what I assume we're talking about here, a proper degree of isolation being the concern.
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Nick GravesX
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It's more than pure steering feel, though; there's a sort of numb lack of precision.
The S2000's steering is a bit 'dead' without chassis braces, yet the car is very precisely-placed inch-perfect & rotates about one's middle ear.
Drive a modern & there's a disconnect between steering angle & direction; like a sloppy old Ford Cortina or something.
Might as well take the bus...
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