NealX
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I was out and about this morning and stopped by a Phoenix area Acura dealer to see if any brochures on the ILX were yet available.
You might remember I stopped by my nearest dealer on the first day of sale and at the time they had no brochures available and a single, black 2.0 w/premium they were preparing for display on the showroom floor. If anyone was informed of the on-sale date and wanted information on the car they would unfortunately have had to leave empty handed. I believe at that time website was still categorizing the ILX as a "Future Vehicle" with no option to build and price, etc. yet for a few days to come.
I took the opportunity to ask a couple of "GenY-type" associates about the level of interest in the car and more importantly, how the initial days on sale have been going.
As of today they have sold ZERO ILXs.
Interest, they say, has been very low for this vehicle and the 5-6 or so that have come by to look at the car (with more than a casual interest) have walked away primarily because of price, but also due to disappointing mpg and hp figures (particularly the hybrid) and also a lack of an available AT on the 2.4. Only a couple have commented on the cramped rear quarters and headroom. Their "opinion" is that the car should have been priced starting at $24,000 rather than $27,000. Some "adjustments" may have to be made soon and/or some very aggressive lease deals may be on the near horizon.
If you are seriously considering this car it may be prudent to wait until July or August when reality pays a visit.
They were under the impression that there is some sort of recall on the audio system, citing some sort of "annoying booming sound" from the rear, IIRC...
Next week they are hosting a launch party with wine, cheese, etc. Invitations were sent to every current customer and to date they have received 8 RSVPs. They asked if I would please come and bring some friends, "because it will be pretty embarrassing if no one shows up."
On the up side, every RDX is being sold practically "off the
truck" - so that's a solid winner. Whoever was in charge of the RDX needs to be in charge of every Acura moving forward. That beast hauls axe in any form while feeling oh so light on it's feet.
Civic Circus 2.0 for the ILX, then?
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LudegarH22A7
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Thanks for sharing.
Though sad to hear albeit this is what I expected...
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99SI
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Agree. This car hit the mark on styling, but missed on performance and price.
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NealX
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In no way do I relish this report. It's still a fine car, but burdened with somewhat easily addressable issues which were pointed out earlier on. Pricing appears to be the first place to start.
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VTEC_Inside
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Neal wrote:
In no way do I relish this report. It's still a fine car, but burdened with somewhat easily addressable issues which were pointed out earlier on. Pricing appears to be the first place to start.
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I dont have a big problem with price. Here in Canada the 2.4 is only slightly higher than my RSX-S was 8 yrs ago.
I have a big problem with the models.
A manual transmission is not an option for me, its a must have.
Unfortunately Id also like the tech package...
Id forego the tech package for the 2.4L, but it would bother me to no end that the guy in the Civic Si next to me can mash the gas coming out of a corner without vaporizing his inside wheel and I can't.
Lack of LSD has been an annoyance for me only a couple times over the years in my RSX, but with the 2.4L Id def want it. It might just make up for the lack of the ELS.
Actually as I think about it, it wouldnt. None of the ILX models could ever be considered a replacement for my RSX-S so that put its firmly in my DD category (ill always have a 'fun' car). So as a DD I want the damn tech pack and 3 pedals!!!
/rant
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Torque
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I hate to bring it up again but I said give it less than a year and Acura will be discounting this car to levels rivaling the ZDX and RL (percentage wise). Charging 27k to 30k to start with a car that cut too many corners is sheer stupidity. Its probably still a decent car but at that price range there is nothing smart about "smart luxury". The Acura brand does not have the brand cache companies like Audi or BMW have. Before they start charging a premium they first need to be viewed as a premium brand.
At least the RDX was done right.
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JMU R1
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On the horsepower front I think a big problem for the ILX is that the base model has less horsepower than the previous entry level Acura (the RSX) from TEN years ago. Not acceptable IMO.
The 2.4L is a good engine for that car and I'd almost rather see that be the base engine with an optional automatic. As for the hybrid, I suspect it will meet the same fate as the Lexus HS250. Anemic horsepower along with fuel economy that doesn't approach that of the dedicated hybrids is a turn off for a lot of customers. Then there's the whole deal with hybrid buyers wanting a car that looks like a hybrid.
But, as Neal points out, the price is probably the biggest problem. Hard to justify spending $29000 just to get leather seats on the ILX. Granted at $29000 the only other competitor that would be cheaper is the A3, but that's still only about $3k from the G25, which is a bigger, more powerful car.
Hard to say what the next best move will be. Aggressive lease deals would be one way to go, big rebates would be the other but that would hurt resale value.
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s2ktaxi
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it may have been more prudent of them to launch with the new ED engines and new transmission options ... oh well.
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iutodd
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Neal wrote:
In no way do I relish this report. It's still a fine car, but burdened with somewhat easily addressable issues which were pointed out earlier on. Pricing appears to be the first place to start.
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I don't really think the vehicle would do any better starting at $24K. I've read it on this website a ton of times, especially concerning Acura: if they build a car that is worth the price tag then people will buy it. The challenge all along with the ILX was going to be it's size: American's are always looking for "bigger" and the TSX (along with any number of other cars) are "bigger" and offer similar to almost as good performance/efficiency numbers for a similar price. Like you said Neal - the car is fine (which is only slightly different from being a "fine car") but when a car is trying to exist in a somewhat new segment it needs better adjectives than "fine".
When it comes to pricing: people pay for the little things I think: the ILX 2.0 Tech - for $32,000, is missing these things compared to the TSX SE 5AT (for the same price):speed sensing interval wipers, a second front power outlet, manually adjustable lumbar, trunk light, signaling side view mirrors with passenger auto tilt-down, programmable keyless entry/remote, seatback storage. Yes the Tech has all the NAVI goodies and the ELS sound - but all of the things listed above should be part of this car and they aren't.
I think in the long run the ILX will be successful. Give it the new Earth Dreams powertrains (30 more hp and 3-5 more mpg would do wonders), add a few more features and better tires and brakes and it's suddenly an outstanding car that would be worth $27-33K. Which is another way of saying that the car is fine now.
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NealX
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Perhaps the ILX has "yet to go viral" though just the thought of that makes me a bit ill...
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NealX
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@iutodd:
I agree that the "Earth Dreams" tech (the associates rolled their eyes at this) may provide some much needed lift, but my "concern" is that by the time it arrives it may well be too late - that the fickle/fleeting/supposed market may have since moved on the next greatest "mobility app" whatever that may be - knowing they do not carry the same "brand loyalty" as we might.
And the current styling is certainly not the big "captivating" quality here. That's where my coupe, wagon and 5-door concepts could come to the rescue and offer a full "ILX range" of possibilities. A (hot) chicken for every pot.
That's the "smart" part.
Last edited by JeffX on 06-01-2012 12:55
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Phil17
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at least the new Acuras finally have the 3 turn signals thing. My Acura is the only car i've owned without this feature and it's pretty annoying
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JimmyEats
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I think all of our views on pricing is skewed from the car industry's view.
I see retail car prices going up this year and over the next few years, even if they give some discounts, SO THAT car companies can afford 2016 fuel saving measures. Yes, Toyota introduced models with a lower price, but now they've raised them mid year, so did Honda.
I propose the features and price of the ILX will make sense in 2014 and beyond, when every car sold costs $2000 more than now.
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NealX
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JimmyEats wrote:
I think all of our views on pricing is skewed from the car industry's view.
I see retail car prices going up this year and over the next few years, even if they give some discounts, SO THAT car companies can afford 2016 fuel saving measures. Yes, Toyota introduced models with a lower price, but now they've raised them mid year, so did Honda.
I propose the features and price of the ILX will make sense in 2014 and beyond, when every car sold costs $2000 more than now.
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So essentially we have a car that's right for 2009, but priced for 2014?!
I propose that the ILX showroom "traffic" has determined that Acura's current view of pricing is "skewed." And may I suggest everyone conduct a real-world barometer test by visiting their local Acura dealership this weekend and engage in a "discovery conversation."
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rev2damoon
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I have my own issues with this ILX car and my own opinions, but I'll just say that I haven't seen a single TV AD pushing this new product from Acura. Not ONE! Meanwhile the RDX is getting the royal treatment...lol.
I like the styling of the ILX, but that's all I like. There is no viable enthusiast version that can convince me to step up from my 8th gen Si.
And then there's the whole ED thing. You have this whole new line of engines and powertrains, yet you launch a brand new product that doesn't feature them whatsoever. WTH?! By the time you get around to it, like Neal said, the fickle crowd will have moved on....and then you're scratching your head wondering, "why aren't our adjustments working?" Really? You really don't know? DUH! You're behind the curve...AGAIN, stupid! Second chances are NOT easy to come by in this industry, Acura. You better start getting it "right"...right off the bat.
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Brutus
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I was one of the first to buy a TSX when they first introduced it. It was a lot of bang for your buck and had all the features and cachet for my budget with Honda reliability and ergonomics, which I think is what Acura offers over others. I think people looking at any of these luxury nameplates expect leather or order it as an option. I believe one thing that Acura had over everyone else was their base car had all the features that were optional on other cars. If the ILX was priced at 25900 and included what the premium ILX includes at nearly $4000 more then they would have an awesome entry, but nearly $4000 is a ton of cash when an entry level luxury buyer is looking. In fact if they at least offered the leather seats/power/heat forget the other goodies, then they would have a very solid car and a winner. Who would purchase an ILX premium and not just go and buy a TSX makes little sense.
Some quick changes:
1. ILX to get leather needs to be a hell of a lot cheaper or thrown in, 25,900 with leather/power/heated seats and you have yourself something.
2. ILX 2.4 needs to be offered with auto
B.
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NealX
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The leather is of the same grade found in the Elantra Limited (though not as well fitted) except with contrasting stitching on ebony.
Please (and I can't say this enough!), as an "enthusiast" by any measure, you are obligated to go to your nearest dealership and with an open mind and senses on full alert, scrutinize every detail. Poke, prod, climb, crawl, sit, stand, squint and peer in to the essence of this latest offering. Read the literature. Listen to the position and press releases. Absorb the media.
Consolidate your honest opinions with what you have previously heard and said, agreed with and/or dismissed. Then speak easy.
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PhrozeDeuce
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According to the May sales report, they sold 168 ILXs (incl. 34 hybrids) and if I'm not mistaken, the car wasn't made available until after Memorial Day. I guess time will tell but it still sold more RLs and ZDXs combined and those two models had the ENTIRE month. I understand the target market and I think this car will sell well. For us yearning for LSD and more power, Honda unfortunately made a car for the masses, not the enthusiast. Face it guys, we're a dying breed.
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JeffX
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PhrozeDeuce wrote:
According to the May sales report, they sold 168 ILXs (incl. 34 hybrids) and if I'm not mistaken, the car wasn't made available until after Memorial Day. I guess time will tell but it still sold more RLs and ZDXs combined and those two models had the ENTIRE month. I understand the target market and I think this car will sell well. For us yearning for LSD and more power, Honda unfortunately made a car for the masses, not the enthusiast. Face it guys, we're a dying breed.
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I was told by an Acura spokesman that there were 900 available for sale in May. The onsale date was actually May 22nd, so they had a little over a week in May.
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superchg2
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rev2damoon wrote:
I have my own issues with this ILX car and my own opinions, but I'll just say that I haven't seen a single TV AD pushing this new product from Acura. Not ONE! Meanwhile the RDX is getting the royal treatment...lol.
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How about the heavy advertising of the future NSX with Jerry Seinfeld and Jay Leno, that Acura ran. They did have an ILX in the background, though.
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Colin
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rev2damoon wrote:
I have my own issues with this ILX car and my own opinions, but I'll just say that I haven't seen a single TV AD pushing this new product from Acura. Not ONE! Meanwhile the RDX is getting the royal treatment...lol.
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They've made it clear that the ads for the ILX would start with the NBA finals. Probably to coincide with dealer inventories getting up to speed.
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A77
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I went to the combined RDX/ILX event here yesterday. Food was nice and tons of it as there were only five there. I have written elsewhere on the RDX.
I asked what the ILX's competitors were supposed to be and after a lot of consultation was offered IS250 and Jetta. Seemed perplexed by the question. I still only rate its appearance as OK - and no where near as nice as gen 1 or II TSX. Still that's just IMHO. Inside it's narrow - and the space on the dash in front of the passenger is plain ugly - blocky, with vents which seem to take up too much space. Nice enough in front of the driver. nice to have a 3 way back up camera - surprised no lumbar adjustment, but the seats are good. Handled like a dream compared to the RDX, Q5 and GLK on the tight circuit, even if its steering is no more communicative than the Civic - just a bit weightier. The 2.0 did not feel slow on this track - no chance for higher speed acceleration. And it is quieter and more refined than the Civic for sure. Felt very similar otherwise. Good ride - so has a Civic.
They also had a 2.4 manual (no hybrid as i thought). It was fun - I begged to try my TSX on the same course and they wouldnt let me. No competitors cars to try. Suspension felt the same as the 2.0. Which it is. I'd way prefer it to an Si - even though I prefer the Sis styling. Just it is too pricey compared to a TSX. My impression is that the TSX - though wider and less chuckable in theory - is more firmly sprung, sportier, more rorty.
The more or less confirmed the TSX was going away. I forgot (silly me) to ask wtf no 2.4 auto. Doubt I'd have got a good reason. Asked about ED engines - didnt really understand the response. They then had to deal with the next group - I think numbered 2 or 3.
There's only so much you can tell from test tracks - obviously a more extended drive at a dealer is also needed to get a complete picture.
Deleting the TSX is very risky. If the ILX does not catch on then the new TL has to cover both existing TSX and TL customers. There's nothing wow enough about it. I don't get it. if its a new sector it needs to look really really nice to get people attention. And it don't. Nothing particularly good, nothing particularly bad. Nothing ventured?...beginning to sound like a song. I think its price is too high too.
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CarmB
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So a comparably equipped Civic, or at least as comparable as you can get, lists for just shy of $23,000 and some consumers are expecting the ILX to start at $24,000.
Yes the Civic has a leather interior but in terms of features alone, the ILX offers far more, certainly more than a $1,000 worth of extras. That's not even factoring in the upgrade in materials across the board or significantly higher grade of mechanical equipment be it engine, suspension bits, etc.
Is Honda supposed to offer all those upgrades free of charge because that would be such a swell thing to do? The last time I checked, Honda was running a business, not a charity. If upgraded components are something you're not prepared to pay for, don't waste anyone's time by asking for them. Go buy a Civic or something else like it. The ILX is Honda's attempt at a premium compact sedan. Don't expect that attempt to come for virtually the same price as the Civic, not when the list of upgrades is rather long and impacts virtually every aspect of the product.
To my way of thinking, $24,000 is what a range-topping Civic would go for. It would be the height of foolishness to expect Honda to apply Civic pricing to an Acura-badged product. Really, why would Honda bother. If that was the plan, they might as well have brought out a Civic ILX and saved themselves millions in development costs.
If Honda has taken pains to distance the ILX from the Civic, it's inevitable that MSRP would see some distance as well. If you're not prepared to pay for that distance, you're not the customer this car is being targeted at. The ILX is not like the Canadian-market Acura EL had been and that means the price of admission is gong to be higher. If that doesn't work for you, move along, there is nothing for you to see here. Honda will not implement Civic pricing for the ILX. Doing so would render the ILX rather pointless.
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ClementZ
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The reason for why the ILX isn't selling, is because the TSX still exists.
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JeffX
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CarmB wrote:
So a comparably equipped Civic, or at least as comparable as you can get, lists for just shy of $23,000 and some consumers are expecting the ILX to start at $24,000.
Yes the Civic has a leather interior but in terms of features alone, the ILX offers far more, certainly more than a $1,000 worth of extras. That's not even factoring in the upgrade in materials across the board or significantly higher grade of mechanical equipment be it engine, suspension bits, etc.
Is Honda supposed to offer all those upgrades free of charge because that would be such a swell thing to do? The last time I checked, Honda was running a business, not a charity. If upgraded components are something you're not prepared to pay for, don't waste anyone's time by asking for them. Go buy a Civic or something else like it. The ILX is Honda's attempt at a premium compact sedan. Don't expect that attempt to come for virtually the same price as the Civic, not when the list of upgrades is rather long and impacts virtually every aspect of the product.
To my way of thinking, $24,000 is what a range-topping Civic would go for. It would be the height of foolishness to expect Honda to apply Civic pricing to an Acura-badged product. Really, why would Honda bother. If that was the plan, they might as well have brought out a Civic ILX and saved themselves millions in development costs.
If Honda has taken pains to distance the ILX from the Civic, it's inevitable that MSRP would see some distance as well. If you're not prepared to pay for that distance, you're not the customer this car is being targeted at. The ILX is not like the Canadian-market Acura EL had been and that means the price of admission is gong to be higher. If that doesn't work for you, move along, there is nothing for you to see here. Honda will not implement Civic pricing for the ILX. Doing so would render the ILX rather pointless.
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I have driven a $24000 Civic EX-L and I feel that it is quite overpriced. So the overpriced lunacy carries forward to the ILX.
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A77
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The EXL civic is $3400 more than the model below - for which you get some leather (which costs next to nothing to honda imho), sat radio (next to nothing), the navi (a few hundred) and heated seats ($50?) cost. In the sedan we get a power seat (like the ILX - no lumbar adjust). That's it. We actually sell quite a lot - but has to be very profitable for Honda. Still $5000+ less than ILX.
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mobis21
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I do think the ILX looks a lot more expensive than a Civic, but not too sure I would buy an ILX over the TSX.
Where are all the Civic boys that bitch about the civic no longer having double wishbones?
ILX has mac struts, and the TSX has the double wishbones.
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TraXtaR614
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I just visited a Acura dealership in The Bay Area CA. sales guy confirmed this thread. 0 ILX sales since they got the shipments in. RDX - SOLD OUT as soon as they get off the truck. Only one there was a demo car that wasn't for sale, the only other one on the lot was spoken for... win some lose some i guess.
i saw a ILX- tech, was rather impressed with the styling. i'd say it looks very svelte, sexy and sleek. interior seems quite nice, a step under the TSX but nice nonetheless. I told the sales guy i think they would probably sell ok if it started around 23k-24k. Actually thinking about buying one, but hard to justify the 32k price when a TSX can be had with $3000k off sticker. Who would buy an ILX for 32k when you can buy a base TSX for $27k???? i asked him if that was why ILX's arent moving... haha. then i told him i might wait a few months (after SLOW ILX sales) and come back and try to deal. guess what the sale guy said? "would deal NOW" they seem pretty desperate on the ILX TBH... How much under sticker would you guys offer for an ILX???
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Powered by Honda
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TraXtaR614 wrote:
I just visited a Acura dealership in The Bay Area CA. sales guy confirmed this thread. 0 ILX sales since they got the shipments in. RDX - SOLD OUT as soon as they get off the truck. Only one there was a demo car that wasn't for sale, the only other one on the lot was spoken for... win some lose some i guess.
i saw a ILX- tech, was rather impressed with the styling. i'd say it looks very svelte, sexy and sleek. interior seems quite nice, a step under the TSX but nice nonetheless. I told the sales guy i think they would probably sell ok if it started around 23k-24k. Actually thinking about buying one, but hard to justify the 32k price when a TSX can be had with $3000k off sticker. Who would buy an ILX for 32k when you can buy a base TSX for $27k???? i asked him if that was why ILX's arent moving... haha. then i told him i might wait a few months (after SLOW ILX sales) and come back and try to deal. guess what the sale guy said? "would deal NOW" they seem pretty desperate on the ILX TBH... How much under sticker would you guys offer for an ILX???
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csx, ilx were cursed and dammed from day one. Soon there will be 5000k off incentives to keep factory running and people at work.
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superchg2
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Sorority Girls will have their new ILX 2.0's because they are cute, and automatic. Price really doesn't matter, since Daddy is paying for it.
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