I was just waiting for someone to post that. Thanks for informing me. I had absolutely no idea.

Of course there's nothing wrong with platform sharing. My point was that almost all of Honda's lineup was based off one or two platforms. Engines have nothing to do with it, by the way.

Sienna=Camry
Solara=Camry
Highlander=Camry
RX=Camry
ES=Camry
Avalon=Camry
Sienna=Camry

However, Toyota has numerous other platforms:

Scion xA, xB = Echo
Celica
MR2
4Runner=GX
Tacoma (for now, soon to be shared w/4Runner)
Landcrusier=LX
LS
GS/IS
SC
Tundra/Sequoia
Corolla=Matrix
RAV4
Prius
Scion tC

That's diversity. Honda doesn't have it. That's my point. Oh, lets not even get into other markets, LOL...

Anything else?

Why? Has there been any name calling or serious personal insults? No. Spirited debate should be encouraged, as long as there are sound arguments made to back up statements.

Again the TSX is a great car for the money but another Accord and another FWD car and another sub 30k car for Acura which is supposed to be up-level Honda has me scratching my head. I agree it should have stayed a Honda. Then when the rest of the world says Acura is not a luxury brand but an entry level one, all hell breaks loose.

Imagine if Lexus badged a Corolla or a Scion TC and sold it for 25k. Lexus would sell 1 million cars a year. It would also cheapen the brand and have me cross shopping.

Oh and Honda confirmed no replacements for the S2000 or NSX is coming. Those are some great cars.

Concerning sales, TSX sales were predicted to be 15k but clearly the market loves the car. I think sales will double this year. And the Euro Accord has gotten great reviews overseas. THey love the car as well.

BTW, they don't make Accord-Rs anymore.

you're very welcome

Every car in Honda's lineup is not based on 1 or 2 platforms. They do share a lot of chassis, but remember it has only been from about the late 90s that they started basing many cars off of Hondas Global Platform. Cars like the Legend Coupe and Legend Sedan actually use different chassis themselves. Also, the Oddessy is not an Accord platform. They are all based off the Global Platform but modified for each car. That was one of the whole reason why Honda built the Global Platform was that it was easily modified to meet their needs. It is still accepted that the Oddessy uses a different platform than the Accordd, and the MDX is a yet another modified Oddessy chassis. To say they are the same is nort accurate. This sharing platforms or modifying existing platforms has become an automotive trend not only at Honda but every manufacturer.

As for Honda confirming no NSX or S2K that is still rumors. The Honda president also said in a press conference that they had no intention of scrapping the NSX and when asked about the death of the HSC said the HSC was just one of many prototypes that could have evolved into the next NSX. At this point I call it a 50/50 at best or maybe even a 60/40 in favor of another NSX.

I would agree though, the TSX probaly would have done better as a Honda, but I personanlly feel it should have been the new Accord compared to what they have now. Imagine the TSX body with the 240HP and 6-Speed Accord engine and trans.

The TSX has less interior volume than a regular Civic. A V6 has no place in a small car like the TSX. Could you imagine the torque steer??? America needs a big Accord to satisfy road-tripping old folks and delightfully chunky soccer moms.

The 4-cylinder Accords have a better suspension setup than the V6 Accords anyway.

It shouldn't be a replacement. They should exist side-by-side, I think there is a definite market for them. Again this goes back to having more models...

I agree sharing platforms is a way of life, everyone does it. But I am not impressed with a luxury car maker sharing everything. Imagine a GS 430 or LS 430 with a stretched Camry chassis?
And it is confirmed, no more S2000, no more NSX. More than likely a new 4 seat GT to battle the CLK based off the RL.

AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

Hold on - let me clean up my puke. THE RL? That's retarded.

No offense to retards. What is Honda DOING????

Oh my ...

X a billion.

M.

Honda is a business Making money. THey made hardly any with the NSX selling slow for over 10 years and the limted production S2000, which is made to celebrate Hondas 40th anniversary (I think 40th). The Odyessy, Pilot and MDX have been huge hits and cash cows, as the Accord based TL and now Accord/TSX. The Odyessy based SUT will sell probably, being a Honda and a truck thingie.

Considering their very limited line-up, they sell really well and are well respected and loved worldwide.

This was Pohanka Acura here in Chantilly. I'm not vouching for the honesty of the statement (she got this over the phone), but it is possible that the clientele in this area (younger, richer, and more ethincally diverse) might fawn over the TSX more than in other parts of the country.

As for Honda/Acura misbadging products, personally I feel the biggest mistake they ever made was selling the S2000 as a Honda. Acura is supposed to be the "luxury and performance division of American Honda Motor Company". The S2000 would have boosted Acura's prestige, and sales would also have benefitted from the vastly superior customer service of Acura vice Honda. Maybe I'm just biased, because I would have bought one (instead of an M Roadster) had it been an Acura with the commensurate treatment...

EDIT:

I agree that Honda is in the business of making money - and excels to that end ... but that's precisely why I think we should all expect more from them.

M.

I agree 100%. An Acura S2000 would have boosted the image and I too was a lil confused such a spectacular, special edition car would not be badged so.

Love the TSX. I think it's priced well for its offerings and definitely has the "best bang for the buck" factor going for it. Acura is definitely not trying to go toe-to-toe with the other luxury manufacturers as Lexus and Infiniti are. Even Cadillac, which overtly IS trying to is actually not doing so.

As for TSX vs. IS300, FWD/RWD and price point aside, it's a more valid comparison than not. Seems the Japanese lux co.'s like their entry-lux split of sporty and luxury, although Infiniti is dropping it this year...

BTW, a friend was recently shopping around for cars. He absolutely loved the TSX and was set on getting it, but Radley Acura wasn't willing to budge on price. Guess they're selling too many of them... He test drove almost every car imaginable that was under $35k, and finally ended up getting a 325i. If Radley was willing to come down, oh, $500 or so, he would definitely have gotten a TSX instead of spending like $8k more on a Bimmer.

I agree, Honda didn't exactly make good decisions starting in the mid 90s. Even as a previous and current Acura owner I lost interest when they came out with the RL and G3 Integra. I moved to Lexus at that time and I am still with Lexus. I do think that lately Acura is getting back to what made them one of my favorites in the late 80s early 90s. As for the S2000, they released that car as a tribute to the S200 (I believe that was the car) and their racing heritage. It had to have the Honda badge. I have no problem keeping the S2K in the Honda line even if everyone is right and it would have boosted Acura's image and sales. If it is a good car and I like it I will buy it. It doesn't really matter if it says Honda or Acura, or Lexus or Toyota. I would think more car enthusiasts would think that way as well. Unfortunately, for the rest of the world name brand and image are a much higher priority than anything else. It reminds me of the BMW 318 owners ******* on the Honda Civic Si owners. Seriously, if you own a 318 you don't have much bragging rights. But that is just my opnion People see BMW, or Lexus and they automatically think you made it in society and you have the greatest car. I agree they are good cars, but let's get real. When I went to insure my NSX the agents receptionest was impressed that Honda made such a car and commented on how nice it was. When I went to insure my BMW 325 she was drooling like I just brought in an M3 or M5 or something. I was like, it is just a 325, but she was like it is still a BMW.

IMHO, I think Acura and even Lexus (If they start intruducing more cars) are headed down the wrong path like I believe Nissan/Infiniti has done. I believe they call it canibalizing. With Nissan, you have the Alima 3.5 too close in looks and performance to the Maxima. With Infiniti, they have the M45 and Q45 too close in size and performance. I guess it could be okay for Acura to introduce one more upscale car above the RL to try and compete in the larger Luxury Sedan market, but I think that should be it. The TSX was is just a little too crowded IMHO. What I really want Acura to get back to is introduce a Coupe version of the RL just like they had the Legend Sedan and Coupe. I'd be all over a RL Coupe with AWD

I didn't realize the Accord was that much bigger than the TSX. Either way, the TSX would have been a good addition in the Honda line. I feel the Honda and Toyota lines can have a little more veriety (Even though I mentioned the Canibolizing in the post above) if the cars are differnet enough from each other. It appeats the Accord and TSX would be different enough to coexist.

As for torque steer, I will agree it can be a problem, but even the so called torque steer in the 04+ TL is no problem for me. I guess I'm not one to floor it from a dead stop, but even mashing the trottle when merging into traffic didn't seem to bring on the major torque steer that everyone is complaining about. It would probably be a problem at the track, but I don't think it will be a problem for day to day driving. With that said, the extra HP does feel good when passing a car at 60+ MPH and torque steer doesn't seem to come into play at those speeds.

Is the IS and GS really based on the same platform??? Wow, news to me.