Pretty mediocre performance. A little behind the Si in acceleration, a little further behind in handling/braking.
Not unexpected I suppose, but still a little disappointed.
SC
Why would you be disappointed? The ILX was always going to be more "luxury" orientated than an Si, so you would expect it to be a "bit" slower in speed and handling. Does it ride better than an Si, have less noise and great creature comforts? If not, then yes I think you would have a right to be disappointed.
They are just raw numbers, it will be interesting to see how the ride/handling equation pans out in comparison with an Si??
Pretty mediocre performance. A little behind the Si in acceleration, a little further behind in handling/braking.
Not unexpected I suppose, but still a little disappointed.
SC
I'm not so concerned with acceleration, but I wish the braking was better. Probably nothing aftermarket brake pads can't fix, but it's still annoying, along with the old Pilot MXM tires (instead of the newer Primacy MXM4).
I'm surprised at the comment on the steering: " I really like the steering: Friction free, just enough weight and good yaw reaction." The Civic's steering was bashed as sluggish, but it looks like the Acura people got the right balance this time.
Pretty mediocre performance. A little behind the Si in acceleration, a little further behind in handling/braking.
Not unexpected I suppose, but still a little disappointed.
SC
Why would you be disappointed? The ILX was always going to be more "luxury" orientated than an Si, so you would expect it to be a "bit" slower in speed and handling. Does it ride better than an Si, have less noise and great creature comforts? If not, then yes I think you would have a right to be disappointed.
They are just raw numbers, it will be interesting to see how the ride/handling equation pans out in comparison with an Si??
Because it has the same suspension as the more pedestrian ILX models. It should have been firmer, or at least with bigger sway bars, less understeer.
Because it should have had the LSD from the Civic
Because they stuck with crappy tires and crappy brake pads. There are a dozen other all-season performance tires out there that will outperform the MXM4s and a little brake dust on the wheels isn't going to put off someone buying a 6MT ILX.
All of these things save the LSD are basically free. Choosing better tires, better brake pads, larger swaybars, etc. would have made a big difference in this car and would have made it a far more compelling choice in the class. Bean counters win again.
Agreed. Sounds like there's some good in the chassis, but tires, brakes, shock/spring/swaybar choices sucked out performance.
Beside this, for enthusiasts the bigger problem is the absence of a 4 cylinder motor than can deliver well over 200hp for mainstream applications. There won't ever be any performance cars at Honda that many of us will be excited about until the horsepower deficit is rectified.
Pretty mediocre performance. A little behind the Si in acceleration, a little further behind in handling/braking.
Not unexpected I suppose, but still a little disappointed.
SC
Why would you be disappointed? The ILX was always going to be more "luxury" orientated than an Si, so you would expect it to be a "bit" slower in speed and handling. Does it ride better than an Si, have less noise and great creature comforts? If not, then yes I think you would have a right to be disappointed.
They are just raw numbers, it will be interesting to see how the ride/handling equation pans out in comparison with an Si??
Because it has the same suspension as the more pedestrian ILX models. It should have been firmer, or at least with bigger sway bars, less understeer.
Because it should have had the LSD from the Civic
Because they stuck with crappy tires and crappy brake pads. There are a dozen other all-season performance tires out there that will outperform the MXM4s and a little brake dust on the wheels isn't going to put off someone buying a 6MT ILX.
All of these things save the LSD are basically free. Choosing better tires, better brake pads, larger swaybars, etc. would have made a big difference in this car and would have made it a far more compelling choice in the class. Bean counters win again.
SC
The deletion of the LSD is the biggest WTF??? for me. As you say, everything else is simple.
It really sounds like the car has a personality disorder. The Si engine (boring as the new K24 may be) and 6spd say performance, then they drop the LSD and replace its suspension with pillows (exaggeration).
The ILX has the same drivetrain as the Si, weighs more, and is more luxury-focused. Expecting it to match the Si in performance and handling is unreasonable. The ILX is not a GSR/RSX-S replacement in my eyes.
I love the way the Si sedan exterior looks, but I would take an ILX over it any day of the week. Luxury and comfort are more important to me, but I still strongly prefer 6MT.
As with many Honda's, just replace the sway bars, get some good sticky summer tires, get some better brake pads, and may be get some nice looking lightweight rims too.
Hondarulez wrote: As with many Honda's, just replace the sway bars, get some good sticky summer tires, get some better brake pads, and may be get some nice looking lightweight rims too.
That's the easy bit. Unfortunately you'd have to add dropping the tranny to install the LSD to that list.
Hondarulez wrote: As with many Honda's, just replace the sway bars, get some good sticky summer tires, get some better brake pads, and may be get some nice looking lightweight rims too.
That's the easy bit. Unfortunately you'd have to add dropping the tranny to install the LSD to that list.
And void your warranty in the process. The fact that they left out the LSD when the SI have it is just mind boggling considering the demography that would buy the 2.4.
The ILX if for the younger urban professional who wants to appear and act all grown up. Nice car, better than entry level, looks a little upscale (but not too much). The statement it makes is that the owner is smart, sensible, good taste, but not extravagant. The boss will admire your good sense.
The ILX is not a fanboi car. Acura stated that they were going in the direction of "Smart Luxury". The ILX seems to fit that description. Most buyers actually don't really care about nitpicking performance statistics.
If you want more performance or cornering power for your $30K buy something else. Honda did not build this car for you. They built it for the sorority girls and frat boys about four years after they graduate, and settle down to a good career!
Hondarulez wrote: As with many Honda's, just replace the sway bars, get some good sticky summer tires, get some better brake pads, and may be get some nice looking lightweight rims too.
That's the easy bit. Unfortunately you'd have to add dropping the tranny to install the LSD to that list.
And void your warranty in the process. The fact that they left out the LSD when the SI have it is just mind boggling considering the demography that would buy the 2.4.
None of those items are capable of voiding a warranty. And to further boot, Honda can't legally deny a warranty claim unless they can prove that your alterations lead to the failure that needs to be covered.
Case in point. If you put an intake on your car, and the transmission fails, they can't use the intake as the sole basis for the tranny failure. However, if you put aftermarket camshafts in the engine, and it drops a valve, then they can absolutely void the warranty coverage. This stuff happens all the time, and thankfully, Honda is among the more lenient companies when it comes to warranty coverage. A large part of it also depends on the dealer, but again, many Honda dealers are pretty enthusiast friendly about stuff like this. Compare it to BMW where they threatened to void the warranty on my friend's 2007 328i Sport because he had cleaned under the hood with a rag and rubbed of the anti-tamper chalk marks... Or my other friend being threatened to cancel his Mini Countryman S warranty because the premium unleaded he was using wasn't working well (even though he had no way of knowing that because there was no light).
In either case, tires won't void a warranty, pads can't reallly void anything beyond rotor coverage, and the sway bars MIGHT void coverage of suspension stuff depending on how it was installed.
However, I don't think it should be necessary to drop $3K in mods on a car that was $30K from the factory. Especially not since you are now getting into 328i and A4 territory...
If I recall (and I might be forgetting), I thought some Acura people a while ago told us this car would be like an IS250. Now...I fully understand the demerits that many have brought up about the IS cars (rear legroom for one). Having said that, from everything I have read about the comparisons of the IS350 to the IS250 it seems that the IS250 is actually leaning towards a drivers type car. It is way down on power to the IS350, but for a 2006 design it really isn't terrible power. I've seen Si type numbers from the car and descriptions of good balance and overall good performance numbers from a largely sport-luxury car that is known to lean more towards luxury.
I just find it disappointing that Acura can so badly miss their benchmark car and that the benchmark car is a 6 year old design.
My $0.02.
Further embarrassment might come if Toyota decides to use the chassis from the FRS in a Lexus model...which is a rumor. There is even talk of a RWD Toyota badged model. This Toyoda guy seems more likeable the more I see the direction Toyota is taking of late.
Funny the same article calls the ILX "underwhelming".
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