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The Car Thread ... !
- Thread starter D.T.
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I can't speak for today's Infiniti, but they were rather quality back when the first iteration of the G35 came out. The issue is that Infiniti rocks a fine line between upscale economy (like Acura) and luxury (like Lexus). Q50 had issues, still does, but the Q60 has been hush hush for a while now. Perhaps Infiniti is making path toward the roots it laid in the early 2000s with the G35, which was also a premium priced car for a Japanese owned brand. When you take into account what's being offered today, inflation and rising costs, the new pricing scheme makes sense. As an example, the 01-03 LS430 began at $54K and fully loaded set back a customer a cool $68K-ish. There is a $20K+ difference in bast price now in the LS line. The same applies for just about any make and model that's carried over. It wasn't unheard of to land a Civic LX for just over $13.5K then. Anyway, the Q60 uses a unique steering setup that was explained semi-in-depth on Motortrend's video channel months ago. Out of the Infniti line up, I'm inclined to say the GLA based Q30 is an eye-catching car. It honestly reminds me of the Mazda SUV I posted a month or two ago, but much nicer, more refined, not as pedestrian; whatever floats your boat.
At least Infiniti is attempting to innovate, even if it means riding off of Merc's success and parts bin. That's a hell of a lot more than Acura is doing. Unless Acura is going to announce they're getting into bed with Audi.
Though, on the other hand, that would be a bit funny. BMW with Toyota, Mercedes with Infiniti and [hypothetical] Audi with Acura. I'm quite happy the two aforementioned partnerships are happening. Hopefully it leads to sleeker design from the Japanese and not the bulbous tanks that have been flowing out over the last several years.
At least Infiniti is attempting to innovate, even if it means riding off of Merc's success and parts bin. That's a hell of a lot more than Acura is doing. Unless Acura is going to announce they're getting into bed with Audi.
Though, on the other hand, that would be a bit funny. BMW with Toyota, Mercedes with Infiniti and [hypothetical] Audi with Acura. I'm quite happy the two aforementioned partnerships are happening. Hopefully it leads to sleeker design from the Japanese and not the bulbous tanks that have been flowing out over the last several years.
The problem with Infiniti is the modern car look ugly and feel cheaper than their competitors. An Acura TLX is just a much more comfortable and better car to the everyday driver than the Q50.
And it's not that Acura doesn't innovate. They are far more innovative than Infiniti. The problem is they struggle to mix that innovation with style. The Sport-Hybrid Acura RLX is some amazing technology, but the style on the RLX is just garbage.
I'd say innovation takes styling into account. Which reminds me, who did the body lines first, Infiniti or Hyundai? All this talk about the Q50/Q60 reminds me of the Genesis something or another @AutoUnion39 posted several weeks ago. I mean, if I wanted an overpriced Honda, I'd buy a Honda. Innovation in Acuras won't make up for worsening reliability, using bin parts from Honda or the premium pricing. I can't imagine a lot of people out there, aside from yourself, saying "Ah yes, I'll go with the RLX over the GS350, even if both cost around the same and the Lexus will have far better reliability and resale down the road."
We've had so many issues with our QX60 (which I didn't want her to buy in the first place). Lots of CVT issues. They kept reprogramming it until finally they replaced it. The headrests are very uncomfortable for long periods. The 360 degree camera looks like a feed from a VHS. The Bose stereo is terrible (very muddy, worse than usual Bose). I can't wait until we replace it soon. The gas mileage is nowhere near what the EPA rating is. We've also had issues with the gas tank sensor, now that I think about it.
Hahaha, now this sounds like fun 
Flyin' Miata's 525-hp V8-powered ND finally hits the streets
http://www.autoblog.com/2016/07/29/flyin-miatas-525-hp-v8-mazda-mx5-official/
Flyin' Miata's 525-hp V8-powered ND finally hits the streets
http://www.autoblog.com/2016/07/29/flyin-miatas-525-hp-v8-mazda-mx5-official/
And is there any problem with that? This is the car thread, and someone who's participating just bought one.
Infiniti has no idea what they're doing, but the Q50 Red Sport seems promising. The 400hp V6TT is interesting, but it is stuck with that horrible electric steering system.
I find it hilarious that the Mercedes-derived entry level Infiniti QXwhatever probably has the best interior of their lineup. I much prefer the looks of the Infiniti over the GLA.
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I'm not sure about that. The higher trims of the Q50 are way more car than any TLX. Infiniti offers 300+hp and a hybrid. Something that Acura doesn't do.
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Neither of them are doing any noteworthy innovating. Both Nissan and Honda have no idea how to properly manage Acura/Infiniti. Both of those brands have basically become irrelevant. Acura is the MDX/RDX brand, that's it. No one cares about the RLX and ILX.
The lack of innovation and technology in a modern Acura/Infiniti is pretty sad. The Germans/Lexus/Volvo are doing everything these days.
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What's interesting is that both Infiniti and Acura actually have pretty terrible quality these days. Both are having some serious problems, yet people still think they're reliable. What a joke. Lexus is in a league of their own.
http://www.consumerreports.org/cars/how-car-brands-compare-for-reliability/
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Hahaha, now this sounds like fun
I must be the only person out there that hates the Miata.
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Am I reading that chart correctly when I interpret that Mazda has fewer problems per thousand cards than similar Japanese makes sans Toyota/Lexus?
Edit: Actually, never mind. I don't know why I assumed it was 1,000 cars. Is the chart referencing data of 740K+ submissions to Consumer Reports and averaging them out?
Edit: Actually, never mind. I don't know why I assumed it was 1,000 cars. Is the chart referencing data of 740K+ submissions to Consumer Reports and averaging them out?
BS
Continue to fawn over the completely pulseless, unimaginative disaster that is the 2nd generation Audi R8.
I have to agree with most of what @AutoUnion39 says. I think Acura and Infiniti have a lot of issues to iron out.
Acura sold about 3-4,000 more TLX than Q50.. 47,000 vs 44,000. I think Acura has some major design issues. The ILX is garbage. The RLX doesn't sell, just like the RL. Infiniti's styling has become old too and many of their cars are still using a very dated interior. People who want a luxury car doesn't want a rebadged Nissan pathfinder. Somehow I feel they will get screwed getting in bed with Mercedes, as that's basically a historical trend. I haven't seen too many GLA driving around... I wonder why they think putting an Infiniti badge on it will make it sell.
Acura sold about 3-4,000 more TLX than Q50.. 47,000 vs 44,000. I think Acura has some major design issues. The ILX is garbage. The RLX doesn't sell, just like the RL. Infiniti's styling has become old too and many of their cars are still using a very dated interior. People who want a luxury car doesn't want a rebadged Nissan pathfinder. Somehow I feel they will get screwed getting in bed with Mercedes, as that's basically a historical trend. I haven't seen too many GLA driving around... I wonder why they think putting an Infiniti badge on it will make it sell.
Ahh yes. One of the fastest NA cars out there is "pulseless"
It's hilarious how worked up you get over something so trivial.
That being said, the NSX is vaporware as far I'm concerned. They're barely on sale after all these years and no major automotive magazine has been allowed to get instrumented numbers out of a press car.
I want to see a track battle between the 911TTS, 570S, R8 V10 Plus, and the Honda.
What is Honda so scared about?
BS
Continue to fawn over the completely pulseless, unimaginative disaster that is the 2nd generation Audi R8.
I'll just point out that we're talking about consumer level cars. Its great if they can build an imaginative $160,000 super car, but they're probably not making much, if any of their money off super cars.
The new TLX and MDX front ends someone posted the other day are absolutely hideous.
You nailed the ILX on the head, but the 9spd DCT on the 4 cylinder TLX is spectacular. The ZF on the 6 cylinder is garbage and likely a problem for multiple of their models.
The biggest source of innovation in the NSX is a Sport Hybrid drivetrain that is available on two of its core models, both of which are "consumer level".
Meanwhile, Infiniti calls this "design"
This could double for Monstro in a live-action Pinocchio film.
You want the facts, here they are. Infiniti is doing nothing of value currently. It's fairly obvious Nissan couldn't care less about the Infiniti brand because 1) The Q50 Eau Rouge never made it to production and 2) The GTR is a Nissan.
And I get the love for Lexus (despite the IS being too small and the ES being too senior citizen Cadillac-like), I really do, but when it comes to Audi and Mercedes, the price is just ridiculous and CR really doesn't do a good job of taking into account price to own. The A4 continues to be beautiful, but it's stupid expensive. The CLA is a complete sellout Mercedes and it's nearly impossible to move up from the base 4 cylinder in an Merc without immediately taking out a second mortgage.
I give BMW a lot of credit. The 335/340 is a great car, as are the M models, but let's be completely open on this, BMW is diluting the crap out of its brand. It's really not even the same thing anymore. Get a fully loaded consumer level midsize before wasting your time with a 320i.
Acura's problem is simple, they simply cannot escape the accountants at Honda. They aren't able to make their own platforms when they could really succeed if they adopted a RWD platform all their own. Honda just hasn't figured out quite where the H stops and the A begins. 5ish years ago it was more obvious. The different between a TSX and a base Accord is night and day in terms of NVH and finish. Now, the ILX that replaces a TSX is just so much worse than an Accord touring.
Infiniti is such a confusing model line. They don't do anything better than Nissan, really. The interior is cheap, unrefined, and doesn't stand regular use well. Infiniti's idea of innovation is a drive by wire system that destroyed the drivability of the car. Their body lines on their SUVs are atrocious. Nothing about it flows or looks at all natural.
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1) the ER didn't make it because Johan left for Cadillac, but we still got a 400hp V6TT in the Q50 Red Sport. More powerful than any mainstream Acura car. Not to mention, the Benz 2.0t in the Q50 is better than the junk I4 in the base TLX.
2) What does that have to do with anything? Weren't you the one who arguing that Honda has so much heritage? Well guess what? Nissan does too. The GTR has earned its place in the supercar segment.
NSX? Honda is still too scared to pit it against the big boys.
3) You want facts? Here you go. Acura can't sell a $60k+ car to save their lives. They have become a crossover company.
But why would you ever but a Q50 when
- It's louder
- It doesn't drive as well
- It's significantly more expensive
- It missing many key standard features?
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Here are the facts. Honda Motors doesn't care about a $60,000+ car. They simply don't care about it. If they did, the NSX wouldn't have disappeared for a decade and the S2000 would still exist or have moved upscale.
Their sales of the TLX and Q50 are roughly equal. I imagine Infiniti is not selling their vehicles at MSRP -or- not a lot of people are interested in the 4cyl TLX at which point the prices are within $2000. I don't see any profound differences interms of available tech or interior quality. If I had to pick I'd probably go with the TLX.
That said, Acura/Infinti/low-end Lexus models sales have been very much cannibalized buy the German makes. 15 years ago Acura sedans were everywhere. It seems now people are turning to the low end BMW/Audi/Mercedes models instead.
Acura as far as I know was only supposed to be a premium level car- not a luxury sports sedan. It seems like perhaps Honda hasn't noticed that people are turning towards sports sedans. At the same time, they need to work on their styling. First the beak, now these chunky front ends? They need to utilize focus groups more or something. The 2003/4-2007 Acura TL was a beautiful car, I wish they'd go for that look again.
My mom looked at the RDX briefly since Acura is known for good reliability. It had such a shortcoming of features that it didn't take long for her to walk out.
Ah, yes, the Acura Legend. *Lights lighter and waves it* The last Acura that was worth buying.
I had plans on watching Nascar today. I never watch Nascar, but there was nothing else on. What a boring Sunday. At least I have the bickering in this thread to keep me entertained.
I had plans on watching Nascar today. I never watch Nascar, but there was nothing else on. What a boring Sunday. At least I have the bickering in this thread to keep me entertained.
Great. So even you agree that Acura is basically Honda+. Roughly similar recognition as Infiniti, Lincoln, and Buick.
They do not belong in the same class as BMW/Audi/Mercedes/Lexus. These brands that have no problem spending billions on R&D and can sell $60k+ cars with no effort.
I really liked the 3TL from like 2005-2010. Before the beak came. That was a great car.
It's unfortunate that Acura STILL doesn't have some typical luxury features.
Panoramic roof, rear AC vents (RDX didn't until the facelift), adaptive HID/LED Headlights, headlamp washers, color HUD, massage seats, multi way power passenger seats, connected tech, air suspension, etc.
Edit: Their interior/exterior combo restrictions are pathetic too. Brown leather is restricted to white or black exterior. wtf?
Maybe people would be willing to overlook the hideous grill if these cars actually had some luxurious features.
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