Agreed, even thought I don’t like the RSX, Acura don’t have a car people want to talk about. The image of the brand is going down. Ex. BMW has the M3 and M5 cars, Audi the S line or TT, Lexus has the IS and Acura nothing. Tl is nice but RL MDX are just boring.

Acura lacks personality WITH the RSX

I think Honda needs to either make Acura a true brand or just fold up shop. All of their models are based off Hondas….nothing original or designed specifically for Acura. Even the NSX was a Honda in other markets. Its almost like Honda doesn’t care and just keeps Acura around to import cars…. really strange since Acura was the original Japanese Luxury company, Now it is a bit of a joke when compared to Infiniti and Lexus,,,

Isn’t that Honda’s place to be the sport brand, and Acura as the luxury? I’m not saying they shouldn’t have a sports car, but is Honda not as good as Acura, they are almost the same, just one costs more.

That is funny because I always considered Acura to be the most soulful of the japanese brands. Lexus are just boring with no soul at all. Infiniti is trying but their styling is a little akward to some people. Acura has some nice styling and some good driving exciting cars. Yeah sure they area all FWD but they are great driving FWD cars. I thought the plan for acura was to remake it as the luxury/sport AWD brand with all vehicles avaliable with SH-AWD. If that is still the plan I think they will find a nice niche in the market.

I agree wholeheartedly with British Rover. Acura represents sporty luxury to me. They could use a flag-bearer though…..

I do think that Acura’s disdain of V8′s, forced induction, and RWD platforms hurts them in when you talk about “real” cars. Don’t get me wrong, I love Acura’s as I own a TL Type-S, but as much fun as that car is, I know there is something principaly better about a C class, 3 series, IS or any other similar RWD car. For the record, though, aren’t the TL and RL’s unique to Acura? The TSX is an accord, and the RSX is a … civic? But if i understand correctly, the TL/CL has a unique platform.

I think Acura should keep the RSX around at least until they release a TSX coupe or something of the sort. The RSX is a great car, and the fact that it hit C&D’s 10 Best List twice in a row should prove that. Yes sales may have been slowing, but this sporty hiatus makes Acura look a bit Toyota to someone like me (MR2, Celica, etc)

The Honda Prelude is the best car Honda ever made. Case closed.

Twenty years ago when Honda decided to get into the premium luxury business, they decided to create a brand name that would set these cars (two at that time) apart from their other cars. In other words, they thought it would be really difficult (in the USA) to have a $26K premium luxury sedan (Honda Legend) on the same showroom floor with a $6K econobox (Honda Civic). To appease the American tastes, they decided to create a new brand name (Acura) for these new cars (Legend, Integra) that would be called Hondas everywhere else. I saw a right-hand-drive RSX that was actually badged Honda Integra The Integra/RSX captured my attention since the first on rolled off the boat in ’86. Finally, after years of driving around in the automotive equivalent of sensible shoes, I wound up with an RSX coupe in my driveway. Soft ride be damned! I’m wondering what Honda has up their sleeve. It would be a major mistake in my opinion if that slot was never filled. A TSX Coupe would be a good idea if they did a total redesign on the TSX. It’s time for at least a facelift on the TSX. As nice as it is, the body has been around for a while (They’ve been calling them Accords in the UK….wagon variants, even).

But what if the new TSX had rear-wheel-drive? Coupe and sedan variations. Don’t forget the 6-speed manual transmission! Oh well!!

Is it possible that they discontinued the RSX because of dimenshing sales and perhaps because they are working on it’s replacement? I think so.

I have no doubt there is a new Acura coupe on the way. Whether it’s based on the TSX platform powered by the new RDX turbo motor, or a larger coupe based around the TL platform with a V6 powered motor I have faith in Acura to not leave us hanging for too long.

I like the Honda Insight, Fit and four door Civic but therwise, I don’t really care about any other Honda-Acura products save the S2000 and departed NSX which are both focused sportscars.

Why? Honda excels in making very gas efficient small cars with cargo room in a small package. I’m already sold on buying a Honda for a small vehicle to commute with and haul equipment in.

I am not, however, impressed by or the least bit interested in any of the Accord line or any Acura vehicle. The article speaks the truth: Acura has no sport heritage and all their vehicles are hampered by a Front Wheel Drive layout.

If I am going to care about a luxury car, it had better have a more mature and sedated version of the driving dynamics and a drivetrain configuration I expect in a sportscar. Nothing Honda builds save the S2000 and NSX philosophies have delivered anything close in ideal– and those are very much hardcore racing vehicles which make the comparison very difficult to make.

The problem for Acura is that if a buyer such as myself were looking for an upscale sedan, for instance, I’d look to BMW, Mercedes and Infiniti first– and in that order.

Instead of buying a 200 horsepower, naturally aspirated 2.4 liter, Front Drive Acura TSX or its larger TL sibling which is also FWD, I would highly consider a new or pre-owned Mercedes C230. The recent C230 is rear wheel drive, only 3300lbs curb weight, extremely luxurious, has a fantastic electronic key and immobilizer system and a 1.8L DOHC supercharged four-cylinder engine making 190 horsepower and a good amount of torque. And you can opt for a 6-speed manual if you like.

Need I emphasize that the car is rear-drive and supercharged with an available 6-speed manual or a very nice automatic?

If the sticker price of the Merc is way above the Acura, I’d still opt to find a slightly used Merc C230 over an Acura TSX.

The TSX and TL are extremely sporty vehicles, they compete against the German rivals without any trouble and often times surpass them. The new RDX sport utility is an incredibly sporty SUV, small and easy to maneuver with good handling. The RL and MDX are different stories, but dont forget about the cars in acura’s lineup that ARE sporty

Considering that Acura was Honda’s attempt to position themselves away from the at-the-time image of Japanese automobiles as cheap econoboxes, I can’t help but wonder if the long-term move may very well be to phase out the Acura branding, and make the TSX, TL, etc. straight-out “Honda” products.

PAUL, Honda by itself needs some revamp on their product lines especially with the failed Accord and the controversial new grill on the upcoming CRV. Sales of the Accord should be a wake up call to Honda that style matters. If the new CRV falls because of the same reason, they better get the new Accord right or they’re stuck with the smaller cars as income and take longer to fix Acura.

True, Acura’s performance image is limited by a FWD line-up and SUV stable. They may be able to squeeze ‘Sporty’ out of the TSX and TL, but they are far from being peformance sedans and I laugh at those that claim they compete with BMW, Lexus, etc. I can’t even begin to recall the last comparison where the phrase “…but for the money, the Acura…”. THAT is their selling point – almost as much car for not as much money. The cars are great for what 95% of buyers will use them for, but they are not the level of the Germans and other upscale Asian brands.

However, if there is a market segment called “Soccer moms and nerd dads”, Acura has it locked-up.

Oh, and I’ve owned Acuras for 13 years. The next car will almost certainly NOT be an Acura. They are becoming stale and stuffy.

Patrick, huge seller but not up to Honda’s initial expectation which in their view is not a success. I’ve been in the business since the 70′s dealing with Hondas so if you don’t know what Honda is really thinking it’s not my problem.

“Oh, and I’ve owned Acuras for 13 years. The next car will almost certainly NOT be an Acura. They are becoming stale and stuffy.”

Coming from someone who currently personally owns 1000+ cars, that’s true for any ride.

Acura has no personalty. Tell me another one. My Cobalt LS is a way better car than some stupid Honda.

acura is losing after it renamed its entire lineup using letters & now the only acura I like is new RDX & TSX but I prefer mazda cx-7 instead. Acura decide to offer a coupe version to replace its RSX when the new TSX appears as the new accord arrives in 2008.

Screw neons, screw stratus, focus, cobalt, on and on..and so many think the RSX is bad? Heh, ya with minimal engine building an RSX can run mid to high 12s (yes, I have done it and for not that much money, still well below the cost of a shoebox shaped WRX or EVO) and handle twisties like a knife. Thanks to true long term racing heritage for that. Honda rules for the pocket rockets, and that is what they are giving up on it seems, after inventing the market. Well, that and silly ricers with 5ft tall wings and fart can exhausts.