[zep]

Lincoln is consistently undermined in the automotive media, even on these boards people can be seen calling Lincoln a stagnant failure. Why no hate on Acura?

2013 Sales

Lincoln MKZ: 32,361
Acura TSX: 17,484
Acura TL: 24,318

Numbers get even uglier if you dive into RLX vs MKS...

 

[MKZFan]

I have a feeling TLX sales will jump far past MKZ sales. The new TLX is much better than it's predecessor, by far.

 

[Truthiness]

I don't know about that... I do think that the TLX will sell some but I would put it at equal to the MKZ. Personally I like the MKZ better than the new TLX.

 

[golfball]

I present you.

The growth and the fall of the Acura TL

Calendar year US sales
1995 16,539
1996 24,700
1997 23,151
1998 31,883
1999 56,566
2000 67,033
2001 69,484
2002 60,764
2003 56,770
2004 77,895
2005 78,218
2006 71,348
2007 58,545
2008 46,766
2009 33,620
2010 34,049
2011 31,237
2012 33,572

 

[MKZFan]

Makes sense. Kind of sad how TL sales died so much after 2006.
But it's a result of a poor successor. Now we should see a steady incline on sales, maybe even getting close to 2005 numbers? would that be possible?

 

[alcatraz]

I doubt that this model is going to return Acura to 2005 levels of sales. it should pick up sales a bit, but I don't think it is the car they needed to make if they really wanted to have a resurgence. There is so much hearty competition from other brands, and I think other brands' offerings often eclipse the TLX in terms of styling and specs.

 

[MKZFan]

I doubt that this model is going to return Acura to 2005 levels of sales. it should pick up sales a bit, but I don't think it is the car they needed to make if they really wanted to have a resurgence. There is so much hearty competition from other brands, and I think other brands' offerings often eclipse the TLX in terms of styling and specs.

It will be harder, that's for sure. From 2005 to now the industry has changed a lot, a lot of stiff competition. We still have more to see on the TLX, going to have to wait for more on it, it could just be what they wanted it to be.

 

[golfball]

People like to hag on Lincoln because its a under performer for domestic brands

But the same goes for Acura.

Don't think people don't hag on Acura. THEY DO. There are so many articles about how Acura is boring and out of their minds. blah blah

Out of all the Japanese brands they are probably the most criticized.

 

[MKZFan]

People like to hag on Lincoln because its a under performer for domestic brands

But the same goes for Acura.

Don't think people don't hag on Acura. THEY DO. There are so many articles about how Acura is boring and out of their minds. blah blah

Out of all the Japanese brands they are probably the most criticized.

I know people hate on them, especially since they're the only japanese luxury car maker that isn't trying to become the next BMW or MB or Audi.

There's a demand for affordable, reliable and refined luxury, that's where Acura comes in, people dont get that.

 

[golfball]

Acura will have to work some serious magic to get back to sales numbers of the past.

This segment has outgrown Acura

 

[MKZFan]

The TLX seems like it could be one of the vehicles to help them out with this, aside from that, it's not looking too good for the rest.

 

[zep]

but I don't even find the tlx to be all that original.

 

[golfball]

the TLX looks very similar to the RLX and ILX. Does that count as original?

 

[MKZFan]

Not original at all. To me it looks like they took the ILX rear and RLX front, merged them together and changed the design up a bit and got this. Fail

 

[jrasero23]

Lincoln is consistently undermined in the automotive media, even on these boards people can be seen calling Lincoln a stagnant failure. Why no hate on Acura?

2013 Sales

Lincoln MKZ: 32,361
Acura TSX: 17,484
Acura TL: 24,318

Numbers get even uglier if you dive into RLX vs MKS...

You bring up a good point. Both companies are very similar in their approach and sales. The TSX and TL are way too similar and probably ate into each others sales and that is why the TLX is being made, but even with the TLX I don't think it will sell more than 40k units a year.

Lincoln gets ripped and I mean absolutely ripped for using Ford platforms which is fine but Acura is the biggest offender of this and never gets called out for this and this coming from a former Acura buyer.

So there is no small car to compare to the ILX but the ILX when I drove it was probably the worse $27k-$30K you could spend on a "luxury" car. I will admit I enjoy the ILX styling and it doesn't suffer from looking too similar to its humble Civic roots, but it completely drives and even feels 90% like a Civic EX-L.

Then there is the TSX and TL. Again the styling differentiation has never been Acura's problem, more so a Ford/Lincoln one but the TSX and TL are 80% like a Accord EX-L V6. The one credit I will give Acura is that the TL comes with the option of an AWD system and the handling on both the TSX and TL are superior to the very light Accord handling, but other than that would you rather have a 2014 Accord Coupe EX-L w/ HFP for $35,245 before installation or a 2014 TL SH-AWD for $39,580? Unless you need the four doors and AWD the Accord Coupe is an obvious pick.


I think the main place Acura shines are the CUV/SUV with the MDX and RDX since the Pilot and CR-V for me have no balls and lack luxury touches.


So what is driving Acura? One is reputation and that their best cars are SUV/CUV cars which is the biggest growing car segment. I think Lincoln can get there with a MKC which will be priced the same as the RDX. The revised MKX will defiantly help when they restyle and revive the motor and the Navigator with the dual turbo charged engine.


I think Lincoln is an easy target because it American and what grandpa used to drive while Honda as always been that be different kind of car until recently where they are now making cookie cutter cars.