My first car was a Legend, and my friends had a Vigor and Integra at the same time. We were very noisy and I would like to apologize to literally everyone.
Everyone goes through a "Louder is gooder!" phase, don't sweat it. I ran a 95 Dodge Ram 1500 with the 5.9 V8 with a literal straight pipe exhaust for like 4 months before I realized that the droning loudness was not, in fact, cool. But instead really annoying to literally everyone
One thing not mentioned: I think the "Growing pains" Acura went through had a lot to do with the retirement of Honda's best engineers after the RSX, S2000, and NSX lines ended in around 2006. They added cars that didn't exist in Japan and they gave the styling to the US office (Beak). It wasn't just some sort of collective mind-haze at Honda/Acura going on. A lot of people in the comments mentioned that the build quality wasn't up to snuff after that era either... it all lines up doesn't it?
I agree a lot of cars get middle aged & bloated the manufacturer try to keep brand loyalty as consumers grow old and make money this is the problem Harley Davidson has had for years maybe get rocket bunny to consult !
Exactly. Honestly myself I would definitely pick an Accord Touring over a TLX. It's a combination of Honda being too good and Acura being not good enough.
honestly it's kinda hard for me with toyota and lexus for certain models, like i'd rather take a fully loaded sequoia than a lexus LX because personally the sequoia platform is a platform i am more familiar with
@@alexc7864 I guess it depends; I love the new accord, but the current tlx is def nicer on the inside. And if you want awd, you’re outta luck with the accord.
I have a TL 2013 305hp AWD and I can't have the equivalent in Honda. Acura's interior finishes are far more superior and you have much more powwwwwwaaaaaa bebe .. and great traction ! They definitely have the Honda reliability too ! (Damn, I didn't knew about the beck :3 )
I think one of the biggest automotive tragedies of the 08 recession is when Acura and Honda were in the process of creating the new Acura RL and were considering going rear wheel drive and developing a V10 for the new NSX, however when the market crashed Hondas president was sacked and replaced, this also coincided with the cancellation of the S2000. I feel like Acura would definitely have a more sporty brand identity if it never happened. An enthusiast can dream :( edit: on jason camissa's podcast The Carmudgeon Show ep. 58 he talks about how Acura has dropped the ball on car development, specifically talking about certain decisions that were made around their cars, highly recommend starting around 35 minute mark. Innocency distinguishes between good product and a compelling product and specifies that while Acura makes good cars they don't make compelling cars as opposed to buying a Lexus or BMW or any sporty luxury cars. Really interesting stuff.
Also...Honda was just about to launch Acura in the Japanese (JDM) market before the recession hit. That would've given the brand a HUGE boost and a direct connection to its enthusiast roots.
YUP! Ur spot on bro. Tht RL was gonna have a 4.8L V8 as well. The brand would have been lightyears above what it is now in terms of sporty driving dynamics. Now they’re trending in the wrong direction. Imagine if the NSX was a V10 or if they decided to keep it more simple with a V8TT design. Them ditching Type S made it no better either. They’re lost and need to get their act together. Their recent design language is really well put together. The cars look up to par they just need the engines and power to back them up
@@ty.exit140 their sports cars do have the power, they’re just heavy, which is needed in order for the vehicle to be attainable, reliable, and at the same time be luxurious.
@@aydenu9057 I got a 06 TL its my first car. Had it for 4 years. Love the thing. Decent Power really good suspension setup. Enough to hve fun with but not enough at the same time. HP sells whether they know it or not. Yes u may lose some reliability but we are not asking for crazy numbers. The 355 in the type s is cool but it weighs 4200. Tht car needed at least 415-420 to bring in new ppl to the showroom nd for it to be formidable to the competition in sporty terms. Great car underpowered. U hve to come correct if u bring a car lik tht to the market. I love it and hope it gets aftermarket support. Its a good step but they need to push the envelope and stop being hesitant.
During the “beak era” I feel that Acura lost its performance edge as well. I believe the new Integra, while having the modern Acura styling cues, should have retained its previously smaller stature. It looks quite a bit larger than the civic platform they were once based off of. Premium should be about luxury and performance. The Type S does this, but I feel the base Integra should already do that. Then have a Type R that sacrifices luxury for an even greater performance increase.
I agree the car should be smaller. Civics are huge now and they’re basically the same size as an Accord if we’re being honest. Btw the new Civics look like crap in my opinion.
The TLX Type S is a comparative bargain when you actually look at what you're getting - kind of like how Acura's used to be. (Of course, that's assuming you aren't going to a dealer who is charging over MSRP.)
Here's what actually happened. Acura and Honda as companies got over confident and relied too much on customer nostalgia for success. While their competitor Hyundai,Genesis, and Kia took the innovative approach and actually listened to the enthusiast and offered something affordable and fun but Honda still kept their build quality over the years. Something Hyundai needs to learn from since their engines keep getting attention for build quality issues recently.
Well said. Honda and Toyota just gave up on enthusiasts and now are scrambling to catch them at a time when the market has moved towards SUVs/trucks. Lexus is of course still strong, but the overall Toyota buyer is skewing geriatric. Mazda, Nissan, Mitsu and Subaru fought the good fight for a while but the market hasn’t been kind to sports coupes. Subaru capitalized and focused on their granola lineup, while Mazda jumped on the SUV bandwagon. Glad to see them survive (former RX-8 owner).
Very true BUTTT would you rather drive a cool ass car that breaks down and is in the shop 50% of the time orr drive a decent looking car that will almost never leave you stranded or break down a lot? You see you can't have both. I mean Kia/hyndai have came a long way but the reliability isn't there quite YET.
Man, that 2008 market crash almost killed off Acura as a brand, they had major developments in the works...they were planning to make a RWD V8 flagship sedan, the 2nd-gen NSX was going to have a V10, and they were going to launch Acura in the Japanese market. Sadly, the crash scrapped all of those plans.
Shocked you didn't mention the first gen Acura TSX 04-08, timeless looking car with Honda's bulletproof k24 (detuned from factory type-r) engine which has so much potential. Such a beaut, front and back end.
had a 2008 TSX NAVI car was a workhorse until i sold it to my friends wife now it runs over 100 miles a day 5 days a week. 200k miles runs like a champ. if i could find a good manual TSX im grabbing it
There's actually a motortrend piece made in period going over all the missteps to leave Acura in decline. You are mostly right though, as a company they didn't understand their buyer and lost their identity in the process.
Yup. They didn't understand their buyer and didn't listen to those who wanted to buy. They ended the sporty lines of cars and killed off the V8s and V10s before they had a chance to enter production. Imagine how different things would be if we had a V10 NSX and V8 sports coupe/sedan from Acura instead of the TSX/TL they gave us
I love the way new TLX Type s looks inside and out, the ELS 3d might be the best audio for the buck and its not slow, but that price makes me want to get something "Nice" but used instead.
I'm like your dad. My favorite car was my 95 GSR. I had 3 friends with Teggies and we'd always drive together. I drive an Audi now. F*** Acura and their marketing morons.
Back then if you owned a GSR let alone a Type R you were a baller! I'm 46 now, didn't own a GSR untill 2008. . Unfortunately sold it for 6500$ due to the housing crash... but now I'm back into a Honda. A Civic of course.. that was my first love. EG Coupe.. rebuilding it again now with a Acura B18B block and B16A head, Nippon Turbo GSR Pistons and Scat Rods, Type R IM, 1320 Big Tube Header and 3 Inch Exhaust . Then painting it white. Full interior, and also had weight cut. Car will be tuned again on E85.
2002 rsx type s. not the shortest throws ever but still relatively short throws for a $24k car and by far the silkiest smoothest shifter I've experienced.
acura has made some cool products lately, even if some of the performance aspects are a bit disappointing. regardless, i like their current/future lineup better than the snoozefest of a lineup we had a couple of years ago around 2016.
The other thing I didn't hear mentioned is the fact that Acuras aren't too different than a Honda these days. And if they were smart, they would have gone retro with the Integra....
I don't think they are looking for our demographic of those who grew up with them, they want fresh blood and new generation of customers not for us "Older" folk to relive our youth. This is why I also believe they restyled the NSX instead of bringing back the old design.
@@bravobrk the nsx design was well thought out and fits the cars performance, and acuras great attention to detail. The integra they brought back looks like a shameless copy-paste of a civic with a different badge and grille. Acura sure has lost their way understanding their target audience. The civic already suits young adults, so where does this civic+ fit? Acura would have fools believe that this new integra is more premium than the new civic si even though they share the same parts(engine, transmission, options). This reminds of the RSX vs civic si, acura added leather, and called it premium.
this is it. there is nothing that screams 'LUXURY' about acura. they all just seem too utilitarian, and the performance seemed to be equal or maybe just slightly better than a typical honda. if you're going to charge 25% to 50% more from your standard base brand, it has to either be super stylish (strike 1) AND either ultra luxurious (strike 2) OR stupid batshit powerful (like AMGs or M series; strike 3). there isn't any value to buying an acura otherwise.
@@bravobrk The first gen nsx has a timeless design. Looking at automotive pricing authorities, a clean low mileage 1st gen 2005 nsx t is priced similar to a 2017. Hence why Acura is discontinuing the nsx. Sales are pathetic. Due to a price factor but more so due to a shameful power plant. V6 twin turbo with 3 electric motors. Really?
Finally, a video that takes an objective look at the new Integra and Acura as a whole. Great work Nolan. You are the first person I have heard, other than myself, say that new Integra is indeed an Integra based on the company's history. Yes, it doesn't look much like the old Integras, but it is still an Integra. Also, I couldn't agree more with the part about the "beak." I love my CU2 TSX, but man I had to get rid of that beak. Car looks so much better now hahaha.
Integra fanbois pretending their tegs weren't always tarted up civics lol, hell, one of my favorite versions is the DA 4 door sedan, just a smart looking little sedan that for a while escaped being trashed by the kids.
I’ve been watching for about 3 years now I’m so glad that you guys are still going strong 💪 I appreciate everything you do and how you guys do so much for your fans 🤩🤩🤩
I remember that first impression I had when I saw the new beak nose TL for the first time. I had a TL at the time and the new redesign completely killed it for me. I went from an Acura TL to a Lexus IS300 all because of that beak nose. That being said, I never regretted my choice.
Great option. Where acura mistepped for like 20 years, Lexus has been putting design language, engineering techniques, and reliability on the forefront. I love the look of the new IS350 over the new TL. Lexus understands proportions.
Excellent vid as always, great research, great writing, great delivery. So many of these have some relevant economics history which I think is really important.🙏
Great video. I like the new design I love that Acura is consistent across its models and have their brand design dialed in finally. Wish I could update my 2015 TLX with all the technology my 2020 Mid-level Osyssey has.
I hope the new Integra will be just like the Dodge Charger's history: from a badass 2-door muscle car that kicks ass, to an absolute monster of a sedan that's appreciated a lot, even when looking at the original models.
I still dislike modern day chargers. Went from a beautiful 2 door muscle car, to a family sedan. They look so bland nowadays. Dodge nailed the modern Challengers perfectly, but I'd never own a modern Charger, ever.
@@tinystar3010 Yeah I still hope they could bring it back to a 2-door coupe. Or if they could make a sedan Charger version, like the one we already have and a 2-door Charger version, it would be insane! :P
My reaction to people's reaction of the Integra : "I thought you guys knew" The Integra has always been based off the Civic. Honda doesn't even have the 2-door coupe anymore, there's no way they were going to develop one just for Acura. To be completely fair the Civic platform is getting too big to be "compact" anymore but that's a different issue.
@@Refridgeratr This is nothing new. Have you seen any Genesis, Lexus, VW, BMW, Audi, Lincoln, Cadillac, Infiniti, Nissan, Peugeot, MB etc models lately? All have the same design stretch across different body styles. Of course their are some differences. I think the only brands to have a similar deisgn language but make their models look different from each other (mostly) is Kia and Hyandai. Kia has the tiger's grill and Hyandai seems to be going ham on the waterfall style head lights and triangles and whatever the name of that grill on the Tucson, Elantra, Sonata is.
@@Bolwbasaur as Steve said Honda isn't going to make a special platform just for a 2-door Integra. Civic coupes obviously didn't sell very well because if they did, they would've kept making it. At the end of the day, they are going to make what sells
My first 2 cars were Integras. The first being a GS (LS with leather seats and premium sound,) and my GSR which I absolutely loved. I drove so many of my friends Type Rs though and helped build B20 Vtecs. To see the development turn into this is just heart breaking.
Today I learned Canadians say "sorry" so much that The Apology Act was passed in 2009, declaring that an apology can't be used as evidence of admission of guilt.
I’ve owned an 87 Legend, a 92 Legend, a 92 Integra and currently drive an 05 RL. I sold Acura’s for a number of years. As a salesman in the early to mid 90’s, I was invited by Acura to “brian storming” events to discuss Acura’s place in the car world. Sorry to say, they didn’t really listen to salespeople. Personally, I thought the 2nd gen Integra was the best. When the 3rd gen came out, not one sales person I worked with liked the car. My suggestion 30 years ago is the same as it is today: 1. Keep the distinct names: Integra, Legend, etc. 2. Develop a true 8 cylinder luxury car to compete with Lexus and Mercedes S class. 3. Develop a better luxury experience for the owner 4. Keep the sporting edge
I grew up driving during the 90's and the Integra brings back so much nostalgia but this refreshed version reminds me of when i first saw the refreshed Supra for the first time and thought, what the heck is that?! Not going to lie, I was hoping Acura was going to do it right but alas, it seems as though, Nissan 400Z is the only refresh that excites me for it's release.
Unpopular opinion: I think the all-new Acura NSX was a great looking sports car and right amount of fast too. This Integra doesn't deserve it's name because this don't have the spirit of the legendary Integra. At least the 2022 Civic looks better than this.
I own a 1970 240Z and have owned an Integra GSR. I couldn't care less about the new "Integra" since it's just a rebadged ILX. The new Z is going to outsell the Integra 10x over.
As a huge fan of Honda, and Acura in the 90s, I really feel like their change in "design language" in the late 90s and 2000s was a mistake, even before the beak. Honda had a wonderful thing going aesthetically with their cars, inside and out. Simplicity, minimalism, clean uncluttered lines and elegant style. I think the Integra, Vigor, and Legend Coupe were great examples of this, and of course the NSX was its ultimate form -- to me one of the most beautiful cars ever made. The cars that followed took such a different path, with sharp angles and visual noise that in my opinion just cried out the loss of Honda's soul. I doubt they'll ever really recapture what I loved about the style of their older designs, but I do think they're moving in a good direction now.
I agree with everything you said, first car was an integra and grew up surrounded by acuras. But at the end of the day i want to try something else. So in a way I'm glad that Acuras changed their style and lost me as a customer, this also allows them to get new generations of customers. While those of us who grew up with them will move on. I don't want to be like those old guys that have only bought "Cadillacs" because their dad always bought them and in their 50-60 years of driving life have never driven anything else.
100%! I was researching which cars to buy and found that Acura cars are just ugly. Something about the angled grilled just doesn’t look right. And the dashboard just looks bulky and uninteresting.
great video. i do think them bringing back Type S is big. the performance of the cars seems to be a bit underwhelming when compared to the competition but its a step in the right direction.
Yeah I'm happy donut doesn't do everyone else do. They dont just say negative stuff that everyone else has already said but actually say some positives. Great vid donut as always 👍
Acura’s biggest mistake was changing their model names to an alphanumeric scheme; thus proven by the _NEW_ Integra reintroduction. Going from Legend to 3.5 RL to RL proves how uncertain the brand is of themselves. I went from owning a first generation Legend and a second generation Legend to no Acuras in the past 15 years. I miss the brand and the new car buying experience I once had with Acura.
Yeah the old names were way better. But I don't think the names could've saved them from sub-par interiors (compared to other premium brands) and the beak lol. I actually do like where they're going with the new TLX, RDX, MDX, we just need the names of the sedans back, and hopefully the integra is a sign of that.
I'd like to know the "driver's" that these automakers talk to when they decide things. I imagine a room full of Karens talking about safe and stylish....creativity is dying
It was more in going with the flow of what Luxury Brands were doing. Every luxury car brand was using Alpha Numeric naming at the time. Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Porsche, Lexus, Infiniti, all used Alpha Numerics. Strangely when Acura converted from names like Integra and Legend to letters and numbers, Porsche was switching from names like 944 and 928 and going into names like Boxster and Cayenne.
Acura needs to take its design team out to a big fancy dinner then take them outback and 🪢 👔 and then start over but I don't drive acuras or Hondas so 🤔 hmm maybe they just aren't really sure about what the design of there car should be
This is my new favorite Wheel House. Nolan has become such a fantastic host, about halfway through the video I've just been struck by how a good a job he does!
I own a first gen TLX and I gotta say I like the beak on this particular model it doesn’t look bad on a wide body. That being said I do think the new Type-S looks amazing and is probably a dream to drive
@@tsins In a sense I kinda agree. You may not realize it but those RSX Type S actually can fetch over $15k depending on the condition. That big money for a 17 year old that's probably gonna damage it lol. All I'll say is be responsible so that you can prove your dad wrong!
When the Acura "beak" first showed up on the TL one of the most popular options at the dealership I worked for then was to have it painted body color. It really did look better that way.
Which is weird because I have never seen one with a painted grille. But I bet that was a really popular option, because that would look WAY better, just thinking about it without seeing it
@@angelgjr1999 Kia logos are fairly small compared to Acura, which just has a big ass “A” logo right in the center of the grille. That’s more of a rolling advertisement than anything Kia has made
So glad to finally see a nod to the TL, the 08 Type-S is the best looking Acura IMO. My 4th gen was totaled recently and the only thing I don’t miss is the beak :(.
I've always felt the big 3 of Europe and the big 3 of Japan compete more in pairs. Lexus vs Mercedes, Acura vs Audi, BMW vs Infiniti. Lexus and Mercedes make land yachts that isolate you from the road. BMW and Infiniti both make stiffer sportier rides and are RWD or AWD designs. Acura and Audi try to find a sweet spot in the middle between sporty and luxury and make either FWD or AWD models.
@@s.willis8426 so basically since Nissan is barely producing any cars, and most of what it does now is lackluster, BMW doesn't have a competitor anymore?
@@MrTresto I don’t even think they compete in pairs cause they don’t, Acura and especially Infinit have been on the decline, and Lexus has stagnated. I say Merc, BMW, and Audi are trading blows amongst themselves because that’s their home turf and they all sell comparatively to each other.
Lexus barely changes their styling and the infotainment system is always outdated. The interior from the IS models from 2014 still looks the same from inside but the the exterior styling has edged acura from 2009 to 2018 thats for sure.
"the beak" observation is SPOT ON. Nice job 👍 I'm a CL9 fan and hate what they did to my car in 2009, both stylistically and with cheapifying the power train. Haven't been happy with them since.
Yeah Honda hasn't been much better either. I don't know who they have styling their cars but almost everything they have sold in the last 15 years has been so awkward looking.
I've actually got an 09 TL. It may look pretty funny, but inside it looks great, its a dream to drive and handles its weight exceptionally. Can't love it enough 😁
@@neilvandeloo429 Yeah besides the exterior I really like how Honda makes cars. Makes it more frustrating that their designs are so different from my taste.
@@irshangill9347 that sh-awe drive system is no joke it’s pure comfort and confidence I drove through like 40 cm snow no problem with all seasons that’s one thing Acura didn’t flop on was handling I’ll give them that anyday
They aren't really overhyped when everything coming out afterwards went downhill. It was a steady climb of amazing 90s jdm, and since nothing significant came afterwards, all we're left with is boring modern day jdms, so everyone goes back to last best options available. I'd still own anything from the 90s jdm over any ANY car of modern day.
I think people got their hopes up from the integra way too high because of the type R, forgetting that the base Integra has always been based on the civic chassis.
My first car in 2011 was a 2003 MDX, part of that middling sales era you mentioned. I loved that car to death it hit 430,000 miles with only minor oil line issues. It was unfortunately totaled by a deer in 2015, but I upgraded to a 2012 after that. This one is approaching that 200k miles mark and not a single significant issue. That's what brought me to the brand. That's what has made me decide I will continue to buy them for the rest of my life. Unbelievably reliable. I'm even okay with the beak at this point, it is just the perfect car for my needs and I love the style so much more than the other luxury SUV's.
I want a 2012 mdx very bad to replace my Santa Fe but gas is expensive rn and I don’t wanna pay for premium gas lmao My Santa Fe tows my boat just fine but would want something a bit bigger n sportier
2009 MDXer and 09 TSXer over here. Both over 300k. MDX is a freaking BEAST. Take it to the Rockies every couple weekends and it handles most trail ok. My TSX has that godawful beak, so I blacked it out but it still eats my soul. ☺️ So I took out the k24 and slammed it with pistons, changed compression, skunk2 header, ported cylinder head, ported oil pump, cat delete, coilovers, CAI and hondata. After tuning and Dino she hits 220 to the wheels. The beak will hurt less if I can get it to 250 at the wheels without turbo. Now it’s the fuel system upgrade, throttle body and intake manifold! Wish me luck… I seriously can’t believe how reliable my car is even after all these mods… and 312k kms. It’s still a daily for chrissakes 😆
Hey Nolan and other Donut Media members, I truly appreciate the work you do and hope you revive Money Pit and make a Hilow a daily series! From Chennai, India
I’ve had a DC4, and currently have a DA9…at the start, I was excited about hearing about the Integra’s revival; after seeing the reveal, I’m fine with the new car, I just honestly feel a lot of us would be happier if it just wasn’t named Integra. Even if they started with a “blank slate,” it looks like they bit off the ILX’s design, we haven’t heard any news of a potential coupe, and it gives no such vibe as a legend brought back from the dead.
Exactly. "We started with a clean slate" *proceeds to call a 4 door 4k lbs car an* "integra"... it's sad, I really don't like any car from any manufacturer past like 2012 and I was hoping (being a dc5 owner) that the integra would be what it's meant to be.
@@iroekyjHD I agree, on multiple occasions I’ve been asked what car I would want if I couldn’t have my Integras and I honestly could never really give an answer. As far as what I can afford realistically, I’ve always been attracted to Acuras, and I was also excited for this, but honestly calling it an Integra was a miss. It’s a dope car, but for sure the Integra community had much higher/far different expectations than what we got.
Im here for a return to form for Acura. Had a friend in highschool with a TL and that was a fantastic car all the way around. I think the integra should be a coupe for sure. Maybe 4 door standard, and type s a coupe. Other than that, i like what im seeing from them. Energy i can get behind
Acura Integra actually was my first Tamiya, I agree that the design was timeless. The wrong side is, that I feel Acura's design tends to be sporty than a luxury one
Excellent topic! Been on my mind for a long time. My problem is Type S is no where near what it was. TL TYPE S was an ass kicker. Anyway great video and found a new channel 👍
It's honestly a timeless design. I think it'll look beautiful for at least another 20 years or more! I just wish the infotainment screen wasn't there because it's honestly the one thing that dates the car.
@@alexc7864 honestly I painted my radio knobs/ selection button/ center console trim pieces all black and it honestly updates the interior more than I expected. New white interior LEDs help to w bringing the car up to date. And to be fair, the infotainment screen was pretty baller for the time haha
@@wheelsyproductions yeah but nowadays it kinda sucks. Even screens from the mid 2010s are starting to look dated so I can't be too harsh. I would consider doing stuff like that to mine but I'd probably just be too afraid of devaluing it.
In my opinion, acura went from being sporty looking to being monochromatic. The rsx didnt look like an integra either but it still had somthing of a sporty look. The chrome beak completely killed it for me as well.
How do you use a term describing a color scheme to describe a boring car design??!! There’s some really awesome art pieces that are in a monochromatic color scheme!!!
I grew up a huge Acura fan (I'm nearly 40 today). I loved their stuff in the 1990s and even into the early 2000s. The 3rd gen TL type S was solid, the first gen TSX was amazing. The Integra was great. They lost their way. Their current lineup is ok, their RDX and MDX are excellent (we just bought a 2022 MDX). I'm in the market for something to replace my 335i and was excited about the TLX Type S, but again they missed the mark. It's close, but yet so far away. The package is poor, it looks good but has less room inside than a 3 series with the footprint of a 5 series. It makes less power than the M340i AND gets significantly less MPG. They basically missed again on that car. Have you done a similar video on Infiniti? They're in abysmal shape at the moment, I think they're close to death if they can't get it together in 3-5 years.
@@xxNickxx23xx they look fantastic just do your homework. In that space there are some amazing options and the m340i is pretty effing ridiculous (in a good way)
@@6SpeedTA95 Oh trust me... I most certainly did. I was paying attention to that car before it even came out. I own the 3rd gen type s and I've looked at their competitors already. I choose this car because I'm a firm believer in Honda reliability. If I wanted overall performance I would go with the beamer no question. Even the Genesis is faster for less money.
Interesting, the shot with the yellow Integra at 0:12 is taken at the Private Honda Museum in Torrance, CA. No, you can’t get a tour there, but over the years we did get people asking us about it on social media quite a bit. I hosted several events there to the point where it just got boring, but it was always exciting to bring some new people there for events. I’m sure many people would be so jazzed to be able to go in there.
Acura used to be a huge upgrade (performance, luxury, looks etc) from a typical Honda, now the differences are minor. I couldn’t believe for an extra 10k I only get an added 15 hp and minor bells and whistles. Went with a Honda Touring 🤷🏽♂️
The one on the thumbnail is actually the China exclusive “Honda Integra” by GAC-Honda, pretty much a facelift 11th gen Civic which is similar to the Acura CSX we had in the Canadian market. Has much lesser change to the civic platform compared to the North America spec new Integra.
I own a 2013 Acura TL no complaints. It's got the right amount of power, anything more would be a waste in a daily driver, in my opinion. The thing that stands out is the handling and tractions control. SH-AWD feels amazing with a good set on tires. It's only enthusiasts that complain. In terms of second hand cars you can get insane value buying an Acura. They don't have the brand recognition in the used market like Toyota and Honda do, even though it's Honda owned brand. 2014 Honda Accords with less features and more miles were selling for same price as my Acura.
Me too. I got about 110k miles on it with zero issues. Never have had any huge issues nonetheless. In my opinion it doesn’t look half bad, but the beak was a bold choice. Great power, great handling, great performance.
@@gahbah274 I had my 06 TL and it ran 250k miles original Tran but I maintained it very carefully changed the tran fluid here and there and was easy on the pedal it was mad reliable
@@gahbah274 Owned a 2003 TL. It was reasonably reliable...except for the sub par seat heater relays, went through 2 sets in first year. Dashboard foam slowly disintegrated over next 7 years around the vents and blew foam bits around the cabin. Transmission started to slip occasionally @ 110k miles. Was worse with cold winter temps. Two ignition coil failures @115k and 130k miles. Heater and a/c dashboard controls would fail to actuate until cabin was heated. Traded it in with 139k miles for a new base model 2011 Honda....no problems and still driving it today.
So disappointed in Acura. As a Honder man, I'd love to see some old school N/A VTEC engines being produced, but I get that alot of legislature s won't allow it. But they could bring back the Type SH with a 6 speed manual and drop that in the new Teggy
My 2nd Generation TL that I had as my first car was really was one of the best cars I’ve ever owned. It sounded great, was good on gas, extremely comfortable, and went like stink when you wanted it to. A far cry from what they’re offering now and I wish they could get a bit of that spirit back
My first car rn is an ‘07 TL and driving it in the highway for the first time and hearing the VTEC kick in made me realize why people love cars so much
The circle headlights were available in Japan for a couple of years though. It wasn’t popular in the Japanese market so they discontinued it and revised it with the rectangle headlights. Likewise here in the US the Integra wasn’t popular with the rectangle headlights so they released the newer (at the time) car with the circle headlights and it became more popular.
I owned a 99 Integra DB8 Manual for almost a decade. I still miss that car and it was just a GS. It was a solid car. Went to Subaru and Honda years following and as you stated in the video, I have returned to Acura. I got a TLX Type S last fall and I love this car through and through. A few quirks but honestly, it has been a an awesome experience. Comfortable and fun. And without any dealer markup.
I think a reason Acura does not have as crazy sales as other Luxury companies is because of Honda. Look at the 10th gen accord 2.0t compared to the Tlx based on a similar platform. Accord is faster, is good looking, similar features for less.
The 3rd Gen tl type s was one of the best they’ve built by far. I wish the tlx type s could come in a manual. 😭. Loved the fact the tlx type s is now a turbo v6 with awd, still including brembos. If only it came in manual.
Agree about the TL type S. I had a 1992 Legend LS 4 dr manual. I got the regular TLX for my wife. There is a lot of good in the TLX. I don’t like it enough to say that the type S with a manual would make me want one as much as I wanted that legend. I think I would buy an IS 350 in a manual before I’d get the TLX type S in a manual. I’d take my current car with a manual before I’d buy either of those (9th gen V6 Accord) The TLX is so big on the outside, with so little space inside. The back seat is smaller than a civic. You sit so low. The huge front end is nice but you sit too far back. If they make an Integra Type S with the TLX 2.0 engine, AWD or LSD, with a manual, I will definitely test drive it.
I feel the rear of the new Integra kinda looks like an RSX, and the RSX is my favorite version of the Integra. Honestly if they made a coupe model next to the sedan I’d be happy.
My first car was a Legend, and my friends had a Vigor and Integra at the same time. We were very noisy and I would like to apologize to literally everyone.
You guys sound like my friends and I would've loved you XD my best friend has a CRX and my wife and I have 2 Integras
Apologizing is unmanly
-John Wayne.
I shant apologize, screw your ears
Everyone goes through a "Louder is gooder!" phase, don't sweat it. I ran a 95 Dodge Ram 1500 with the 5.9 V8 with a literal straight pipe exhaust for like 4 months before I realized that the droning loudness was not, in fact, cool. But instead really annoying to literally everyone
No worries
Let em speak
I will never say no to seeing a well-made graph, Nolan!
Data is always cool.
Numbers don't lie. Data is a lovely thing. Provided it's accurate and correct.
While this is true, there are many ways to manipulate data with differing results
Who's the genius that decided to use a white line on a light pastel blue background?
@@smallbutdeadly931 indeed!
@@joshuagibson2520 numbers don't lie. Graphs skew the truth though.
It is crazy how the 3rd gen TL type s has a timeless design that still turns heads till this day!
@@morgan98801 you just dont have taste my man
It's a good design overall. But the related Accord Euro of that generation is soo much more Sleek and Refined. A design that aged very well.
Was titled the best looking TL. I had the type S blue.
One thing not mentioned: I think the "Growing pains" Acura went through had a lot to do with the retirement of Honda's best engineers after the RSX, S2000, and NSX lines ended in around 2006. They added cars that didn't exist in Japan and they gave the styling to the US office (Beak). It wasn't just some sort of collective mind-haze at Honda/Acura going on. A lot of people in the comments mentioned that the build quality wasn't up to snuff after that era either... it all lines up doesn't it?
I agree a lot of cars get middle aged & bloated the manufacturer try to keep brand loyalty as consumers grow old and make money this is the problem Harley Davidson has had for years maybe get rocket bunny to consult !
The only beak Acura that looked nice was the 3rd Gen TL
@@TheOne_p2nd gen TSX looked pretty good after the facelift, imo
I think the trouble started when it was difficult to choose from a high end Honda vs. Acuras. It should be an easy choice like with Toyota vs Lexus
Exactly. Honestly myself I would definitely pick an Accord Touring over a TLX. It's a combination of Honda being too good and Acura being not good enough.
honestly it's kinda hard for me with toyota and lexus for certain models, like i'd rather take a fully loaded sequoia than a lexus LX because personally the sequoia platform is a platform i am more familiar with
@@alexc7864 I guess it depends; I love the new accord, but the current tlx is def nicer on the inside. And if you want awd, you’re outta luck with the accord.
In Europe we only have Honda, from cheap to luxury models and Honda brand value top acura's one. it's easy
I have a TL 2013 305hp AWD and I can't have the equivalent in Honda.
Acura's interior finishes are far more superior and you have much more powwwwwwaaaaaa bebe .. and great traction !
They definitely have the Honda reliability too !
(Damn, I didn't knew about the beck :3 )
I think one of the biggest automotive tragedies of the 08 recession is when Acura and Honda were in the process of creating the new Acura RL and were considering going rear wheel drive and developing a V10 for the new NSX, however when the market crashed Hondas president was sacked and replaced, this also coincided with the cancellation of the S2000. I feel like Acura would definitely have a more sporty brand identity if it never happened. An enthusiast can dream :(
edit: on jason camissa's podcast The Carmudgeon Show ep. 58 he talks about how Acura has dropped the ball on car development, specifically talking about certain decisions that were made around their cars, highly recommend starting around 35 minute mark. Innocency distinguishes between good product and a compelling product and specifies that while Acura makes good cars they don't make compelling cars as opposed to buying a Lexus or BMW or any sporty luxury cars. Really interesting stuff.
Also...Honda was just about to launch Acura in the Japanese (JDM) market before the recession hit. That would've given the brand a HUGE boost and a direct connection to its enthusiast roots.
@@KardiFan2000 yes. I bet those cars are also best suited for Battle Gear games.
YUP! Ur spot on bro. Tht RL was gonna have a 4.8L V8 as well. The brand would have been lightyears above what it is now in terms of sporty driving dynamics. Now they’re trending in the wrong direction. Imagine if the NSX was a V10 or if they decided to keep it more simple with a V8TT design. Them ditching Type S made it no better either. They’re lost and need to get their act together. Their recent design language is really well put together. The cars look up to par they just need the engines and power to back them up
@@ty.exit140 their sports cars do have the power, they’re just heavy, which is needed in order for the vehicle to be attainable, reliable, and at the same time be luxurious.
@@aydenu9057 I got a 06 TL its my first car. Had it for 4 years. Love the thing. Decent Power really good suspension setup. Enough to hve fun with but not enough at the same time. HP sells whether they know it or not. Yes u may lose some reliability but we are not asking for crazy numbers. The 355 in the type s is cool but it weighs 4200. Tht car needed at least 415-420 to bring in new ppl to the showroom nd for it to be formidable to the competition in sporty terms. Great car underpowered. U hve to come correct if u bring a car lik tht to the market. I love it and hope it gets aftermarket support. Its a good step but they need to push the envelope and stop being hesitant.
During the “beak era” I feel that Acura lost its performance edge as well. I believe the new Integra, while having the modern Acura styling cues, should have retained its previously smaller stature. It looks quite a bit larger than the civic platform they were once based off of. Premium should be about luxury and performance. The Type S does this, but I feel the base Integra should already do that. Then have a Type R that sacrifices luxury for an even greater performance increase.
I agree the car should be smaller. Civics are huge now and they’re basically the same size as an Accord if we’re being honest. Btw the new Civics look like crap in my opinion.
I actually like the new Acura Type S cars, they look really nice. Probably cost too dang much though.
nowadays yea markups up the wazoo
The TLX Type S is a comparative bargain when you actually look at what you're getting - kind of like how Acura's used to be. (Of course, that's assuming you aren't going to a dealer who is charging over MSRP.)
Cars are too expensive in general. Jobs don't pay more but things cost alot more.
That's all cars today.
@@TENTHIRTYONE 56k msrp is not cheap....
Here's what actually happened. Acura and Honda as companies got over confident and relied too much on customer nostalgia for success. While their competitor Hyundai,Genesis, and Kia took the innovative approach and actually listened to the enthusiast and offered something affordable and fun but Honda still kept their build quality over the years. Something Hyundai needs to learn from since their engines keep getting attention for build quality issues recently.
Hi Mugensamurai.
Well said. Honda and Toyota just gave up on enthusiasts and now are scrambling to catch them at a time when the market has moved towards SUVs/trucks. Lexus is of course still strong, but the overall Toyota buyer is skewing geriatric. Mazda, Nissan, Mitsu and Subaru fought the good fight for a while but the market hasn’t been kind to sports coupes. Subaru capitalized and focused on their granola lineup, while Mazda jumped on the SUV bandwagon. Glad to see them survive (former RX-8 owner).
Very true BUTTT would you rather drive a cool ass car that breaks down and is in the shop 50% of the time orr drive a decent looking car that will almost never leave you stranded or break down a lot? You see you can't have both. I mean Kia/hyndai have came a long way but the reliability isn't there quite YET.
Hyundai/kia are dog poop cars
Yes
Man, that 2008 market crash almost killed off Acura as a brand, they had major developments in the works...they were planning to make a RWD V8 flagship sedan, the 2nd-gen NSX was going to have a V10, and they were going to launch Acura in the Japanese market. Sadly, the crash scrapped all of those plans.
yup, the test mule for the v8 rwd drivetrain was a stretched tsx body!
@@jay92889 Damn...I didn't even know they made a test mule for that! I thought it was just in the planning stages...
Acura is in the Japanese market now, at least (I think since 2018). No idea why, though. The exact same cars just have a different badge.
@@Josh_Quillan They aren't in Japan yet. They do have a presence nearby in China though (and previously in Hong Kong).
@@KardiFan2000 I live in Japan; I assure you they are in Japan now. Or else where are these (RHD) Acuras I keep seeing in traffic coming from?
Shocked you didn't mention the first gen Acura TSX 04-08, timeless looking car with Honda's bulletproof k24 (detuned from factory type-r) engine which has so much potential. Such a beaut, front and back end.
Yeah I have an 08 TSX with 217k miles and it's bulletproof
I have 2007 tsx and it is great lovely car
had a 2008 TSX NAVI car was a workhorse until i sold it to my friends wife now it runs over 100 miles a day 5 days a week. 200k miles runs like a champ. if i could find a good manual TSX im grabbing it
One of the few made in Japan Honda cars in modern times.
K24A2 is a good engine, definitely made my EG civic more fun.
I had a 99' Acura CL manual and it was such a great car. Never had any engine issues with 300k miles
There's actually a motortrend piece made in period going over all the missteps to leave Acura in decline. You are mostly right though, as a company they didn't understand their buyer and lost their identity in the process.
Yup. They didn't understand their buyer and didn't listen to those who wanted to buy. They ended the sporty lines of cars and killed off the V8s and V10s before they had a chance to enter production. Imagine how different things would be if we had a V10 NSX and V8 sports coupe/sedan from Acura instead of the TSX/TL they gave us
@@Aaphree While I never would of been able to afford a V10 NSX, I would of snapped up a V8 RWD Acura in a heart beat. A shame neither exist.
@@Aaphree ever drove any Acura cars yet? For me i ever use one in Gran Turismo like RSX and NSX Type S Zero.
@@richardr5888 Yes. Acura should keep the MR Integras instead.
@@purwantiallan5089 yes. With that Acura should survive longer.
“As you can see from the graph, the eight ladies and early nineties…”
Nolan, was that on purpose? I laughed so hard lmao
I came here to make this same comment 😂
@@kittenswithketchup lmao same
I was convinced I had lost it when I heard “eight ladies” 🤣
I'm glad I'm not the only one who picked that up - I had to do a double take :-0
thought i was going insane lol
I love the way new TLX Type s looks inside and out, the ELS 3d might be the best audio for the buck and its not slow, but that price makes me want to get something "Nice" but used instead.
2007 TSX was my favorite car I’ve ever owned. I was disappointed that they abandoned it after the housing crash.
At 5:27 Nolan says, “8 ladies and early 90s” instead of “late 80s and early 90s” love it!!! Love #Donut
Was looking for this comment
My dad's all-time favourite car was his '96 Integra GSR. And he was offended to his core by what they've done. But not at all surprised.
Begone sexy and lesbian bots.
Your dad has good tastes. I have a 95' Integra GSR now and I love that thing
@@damarfadlan9251 lmaoooooo😭😭😭😭
I'm like your dad. My favorite car was my 95 GSR. I had 3 friends with Teggies and we'd always drive together. I drive an Audi now. F*** Acura and their marketing morons.
Back then if you owned a GSR let alone a Type R you were a baller! I'm 46 now, didn't own a GSR untill 2008. . Unfortunately sold it for 6500$ due to the housing crash... but now I'm back into a Honda. A Civic of course.. that was my first love. EG Coupe.. rebuilding it again now with a Acura B18B block and B16A head, Nippon Turbo GSR Pistons and Scat Rods, Type R IM, 1320 Big Tube Header and 3 Inch Exhaust . Then painting it white. Full interior, and also had weight cut. Car will be tuned again on E85.
I had a 2006 RSX Type S. Today it's still my favorite car I've ever owned. It was the perfect combination of luxury and speed.
2002 rsx type s. not the shortest throws ever but still relatively short throws for a $24k car and by far the silkiest smoothest shifter I've experienced.
Speed? I like that car, bit I would say it was that quick. Very loud though.
Loved my RSX. Still the best car I ever owned. I miss ripping through gears in that.
I got a beaked 2011 RDX and I love it! One of the most comfortable rides and a joy to drive!
acura has made some cool products lately, even if some of the performance aspects are a bit disappointing. regardless, i like their current/future lineup better than the snoozefest of a lineup we had a couple of years ago around 2016.
100% agreed. That new grille is evrything
The ZDX was the point that acura was truly lost
That moment when 2016 was 6 years ago...
@@Ultra.Z33 yes. The new grille also remind me a lot to Hummer H2.
@@adamgraham6265 lost in the dust in the shape of RSX.
The other thing I didn't hear mentioned is the fact that Acuras aren't too different than a Honda these days.
And if they were smart, they would have gone retro with the Integra....
I don't think they are looking for our demographic of those who grew up with them, they want fresh blood and new generation of customers not for us "Older" folk to relive our youth. This is why I also believe they restyled the NSX instead of bringing back the old design.
@@bravobrk the nsx design was well thought out and fits the cars performance, and acuras great attention to detail. The integra they brought back looks like a shameless copy-paste of a civic with a different badge and grille. Acura sure has lost their way understanding their target audience. The civic already suits young adults, so where does this civic+ fit? Acura would have fools believe that this new integra is more premium than the new civic si even though they share the same parts(engine, transmission, options). This reminds of the RSX vs civic si, acura added leather, and called it premium.
this is it. there is nothing that screams 'LUXURY' about acura. they all just seem too utilitarian, and the performance seemed to be equal or maybe just slightly better than a typical honda.
if you're going to charge 25% to 50% more from your standard base brand, it has to either be super stylish (strike 1) AND either ultra luxurious (strike 2) OR stupid batshit powerful (like AMGs or M series; strike 3). there isn't any value to buying an acura otherwise.
Totally agree. That’s why dodge found huge success with its charger, ford with its mustang. By going retro.
@@bravobrk The first gen nsx has a timeless design. Looking at automotive pricing authorities, a clean low mileage 1st gen 2005 nsx t is priced similar to a 2017. Hence why Acura is discontinuing the nsx. Sales are pathetic. Due to a price factor but more so due to a shameful power plant. V6 twin turbo with 3 electric motors. Really?
happy to hear the new focus is performance driven inspires me to continue building my 3.2L J series for an 06’ 6MT TL 🏁
Finally, a video that takes an objective look at the new Integra and Acura as a whole. Great work Nolan. You are the first person I have heard, other than myself, say that new Integra is indeed an Integra based on the company's history. Yes, it doesn't look much like the old Integras, but it is still an Integra. Also, I couldn't agree more with the part about the "beak." I love my CU2 TSX, but man I had to get rid of that beak. Car looks so much better now hahaha.
Integra fanbois pretending their tegs weren't always tarted up civics lol, hell, one of my favorite versions is the DA 4 door sedan, just a smart looking little sedan that for a while escaped being trashed by the kids.
There is no sport look within this car. This integra is just a badged ugly sedan. They could have put more time in design.
What grille did you go with to get rid of the beak? Trying to do the same on my CU2
I’ve been watching for about 3 years now I’m so glad that you guys are still going strong 💪 I appreciate everything you do and how you guys do so much for your fans 🤩🤩🤩
I agree 100%
I remember that first impression I had when I saw the new beak nose TL for the first time. I had a TL at the time and the new redesign completely killed it for me. I went from an Acura TL to a Lexus IS300 all because of that beak nose. That being said, I never regretted my choice.
That, too! They're competing against Lexus, and those customers don't walk away unhappy, just like most Honda customers don't. It's a cruel world.
Great option. Where acura mistepped for like 20 years, Lexus has been putting design language, engineering techniques, and reliability on the forefront. I love the look of the new IS350 over the new TL. Lexus understands proportions.
Excellent vid as always, great research, great writing, great delivery. So many of these have some relevant economics history which I think is really important.🙏
Great video. I like the new design I love that Acura is consistent across its models and have their brand design dialed in finally. Wish I could update my 2015 TLX with all the technology my 2020 Mid-level Osyssey has.
I hope the new Integra will be just like the Dodge Charger's history:
from a badass 2-door muscle car that kicks ass, to an absolute monster of a sedan that's appreciated a lot, even when looking at the original models.
I still dislike modern day chargers. Went from a beautiful 2 door muscle car, to a family sedan. They look so bland nowadays. Dodge nailed the modern Challengers perfectly, but I'd never own a modern Charger, ever.
I hope
@@tinystar3010 Yeah I still hope they could bring it back to a 2-door coupe. Or if they could make a sedan Charger version, like the one we already have and a 2-door Charger version, it would be insane! :P
Integris have always been available as a sedan. Just so you know
@@robertstone9988 Thanx you!
My reaction to people's reaction of the Integra : "I thought you guys knew"
The Integra has always been based off the Civic. Honda doesn't even have the 2-door coupe anymore, there's no way they were going to develop one just for Acura.
To be completely fair the Civic platform is getting too big to be "compact" anymore but that's a different issue.
We all knew it was based on a a civic. What we didn't know is that it was going to look so BORING. It looks exactly like every other Acura
we all knew it was based of the civic. However a 96' 2 door Teggy looks nothing like a Civic of the same year. And thats the point!
You could get a civic si as a coupe!! Even in the 10th gen so why would they not?
@@Refridgeratr This is nothing new. Have you seen any Genesis, Lexus, VW, BMW, Audi, Lincoln, Cadillac, Infiniti, Nissan, Peugeot, MB etc models lately? All have the same design stretch across different body styles. Of course their are some differences. I think the only brands to have a similar deisgn language but make their models look different from each other (mostly) is Kia and Hyandai. Kia has the tiger's grill and Hyandai seems to be going ham on the waterfall style head lights and triangles and whatever the name of that grill on the Tucson, Elantra, Sonata is.
@@Bolwbasaur as Steve said Honda isn't going to make a special platform just for a 2-door Integra. Civic coupes obviously didn't sell very well because if they did, they would've kept making it. At the end of the day, they are going to make what sells
My first 2 cars were Integras. The first being a GS (LS with leather seats and premium sound,) and my GSR which I absolutely loved. I drove so many of my friends Type Rs though and helped build B20 Vtecs. To see the development turn into this is just heart breaking.
Love my DA9 and GS-R DC2! great vid!
Let’s go I made it in a Donut video! That’s awesome! Thanks for talking about the Type S and including us! 6:35
Well done!!
Today I learned Canadians say "sorry" so much that The Apology Act was passed in 2009, declaring that an apology can't be used as evidence of admission of guilt.
Sorry about that
I’ve owned an 87 Legend, a 92 Legend, a 92 Integra and currently drive an 05 RL.
I sold Acura’s for a number of years. As a salesman in the early to mid 90’s, I was invited by Acura to “brian storming” events to discuss Acura’s place in the car world. Sorry to say, they didn’t really listen to salespeople.
Personally, I thought the 2nd gen Integra was the best. When the 3rd gen came out, not one sales person I worked with liked the car.
My suggestion 30 years ago is the same as it is today:
1. Keep the distinct names: Integra, Legend, etc.
2. Develop a true 8 cylinder luxury car to compete with Lexus and Mercedes S class.
3. Develop a better luxury experience for the owner
4. Keep the sporting edge
Was looking for some RL love in the comments
My synthwave brother! Great vid.
I grew up driving during the 90's and the Integra brings back so much nostalgia but this refreshed version reminds me of when i first saw the refreshed Supra for the first time and thought, what the heck is that?! Not going to lie, I was hoping Acura was going to do it right but alas, it seems as though, Nissan 400Z is the only refresh that excites me for it's release.
Unpopular opinion: I think the all-new Acura NSX was a great looking sports car and right amount of fast too.
This Integra doesn't deserve it's name because this don't have the spirit of the legendary Integra. At least the 2022 Civic looks better than this.
I own a 1970 240Z and have owned an Integra GSR. I couldn't care less about the new "Integra" since it's just a rebadged ILX. The new Z is going to outsell the Integra 10x over.
As a huge fan of Honda, and Acura in the 90s, I really feel like their change in "design language" in the late 90s and 2000s was a mistake, even before the beak. Honda had a wonderful thing going aesthetically with their cars, inside and out. Simplicity, minimalism, clean uncluttered lines and elegant style. I think the Integra, Vigor, and Legend Coupe were great examples of this, and of course the NSX was its ultimate form -- to me one of the most beautiful cars ever made. The cars that followed took such a different path, with sharp angles and visual noise that in my opinion just cried out the loss of Honda's soul. I doubt they'll ever really recapture what I loved about the style of their older designs, but I do think they're moving in a good direction now.
I agree with everything you said, first car was an integra and grew up surrounded by acuras. But at the end of the day i want to try something else. So in a way I'm glad that Acuras changed their style and lost me as a customer, this also allows them to get new generations of customers. While those of us who grew up with them will move on. I don't want to be like those old guys that have only bought "Cadillacs" because their dad always bought them and in their 50-60 years of driving life have never driven anything else.
100%! I was researching which cars to buy and found that Acura cars are just ugly. Something about the angled grilled just doesn’t look right. And the dashboard just looks bulky and uninteresting.
Just got a new 2023 Integra. Been loving it so far!
great video. i do think them bringing back Type S is big. the performance of the cars seems to be a bit underwhelming when compared to the competition but its a step in the right direction.
can confirm what was said about the TL Type-S, I absolutely adore mine
Yeah I'm happy donut doesn't do everyone else do. They dont just say negative stuff that everyone else has already said but actually say some positives. Great vid donut as always 👍
yeah that's great
The car is trash
@@Kronic420 Keeps doesn't make cars
Pretty much, they say to just: Settle down.. NEVER SETTLE DOWN with this car just because it drives like a car.
@Neon shitting on the product and poor sales numbers will send automakers the message that they screwed up.
The beak?
I do agree absolutely!
I've got a big, bulbous '09 TL. I absolutely love it. Can't see the exterior from the inside, and the interior is lovely.
Acura’s biggest mistake was changing their model names to an alphanumeric scheme; thus proven by the _NEW_ Integra reintroduction. Going from Legend to 3.5 RL to RL proves how uncertain the brand is of themselves. I went from owning a first generation Legend and a second generation Legend to no Acuras in the past 15 years. I miss the brand and the new car buying experience I once had with Acura.
Yeah the old names were way better. But I don't think the names could've saved them from sub-par interiors (compared to other premium brands) and the beak lol. I actually do like where they're going with the new TLX, RDX, MDX, we just need the names of the sedans back, and hopefully the integra is a sign of that.
I'd like to know the "driver's" that these automakers talk to when they decide things. I imagine a room full of Karens talking about safe and stylish....creativity is dying
It was more in going with the flow of what Luxury Brands were doing. Every luxury car brand was using Alpha Numeric naming at the time. Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Porsche, Lexus, Infiniti, all used Alpha Numerics. Strangely when Acura converted from names like Integra and Legend to letters and numbers, Porsche was switching from names like 944 and 928 and going into names like Boxster and Cayenne.
Acura needs to take its design team out to a big fancy dinner then take them outback and 🪢 👔 and then start over but I don't drive acuras or Hondas so 🤔 hmm maybe they just aren't really sure about what the design of there car should be
No rwd and no v8 also affected the brand
This is my new favorite Wheel House. Nolan has become such a fantastic host, about halfway through the video I've just been struck by how a good a job he does!
wheel house is definitely the best show on the channel imo, nolan is just great to listen to
100% agree. I love Donut Media but much of the good content gets delegated to James, and I really can't listen to that guy for more than 30 seconds.
I took a 89 integra rs and swapped a jdm b18c with s80 lsd trans with ls 5th gear swap
That was a fun car it ate wrx Sti for lunch !
I'm fine with James but jeremiah burton🤮
I own a first gen TLX and I gotta say I like the beak on this particular model it doesn’t look bad on a wide body. That being said I do think the new Type-S looks amazing and is probably a dream to drive
My first car was a TL, fo a 17 year old in high school that thing was quick! I miss it a lot
i absolutely love my rsx type s- My dad wants to sell it cuz it’s “too old” but there’s no way i’m getting rid of it.
Hell yeah bro I got a '04 type-S with full bolt ons and KPro, thing still drives like a champ.
@@Animosity00 sheeeesh i have a 05 type s and i’m struggling to pay my insurance AND buy car parts for it🤣
A car being too old is never a reason to sell it
If It runs and drives I see no problem
@@Snoo42 exactly- but my dad sees the rsx as not the best first car for a 17yrold lmaoo
@@tsins In a sense I kinda agree. You may not realize it but those RSX Type S actually can fetch over $15k depending on the condition. That big money for a 17 year old that's probably gonna damage it lol. All I'll say is be responsible so that you can prove your dad wrong!
When the Acura "beak" first showed up on the TL one of the most popular options at the dealership I worked for then was to have it painted body color. It really did look better that way.
Which is weird because I have never seen one with a painted grille. But I bet that was a really popular option, because that would look WAY better, just thinking about it without seeing it
I’m overall not a fan of giant logos. It’s like you bought a moving advertisement. Looking at you, Kia.
@@angelgjr1999 Kia logos are fairly small compared to Acura, which just has a big ass “A” logo right in the center of the grille. That’s more of a rolling advertisement than anything Kia has made
@@original__gmebvy I’m thinking about the lettering of the T E L L U R I D E
I just got a ‘22 ILX and I love it
I had a 2004 TL for 5.5 years , great car. Have a 2019 RDX A spec, great car.
So glad to finally see a nod to the TL, the 08 Type-S is the best looking Acura IMO. My 4th gen was totaled recently and the only thing I don’t miss is the beak :(.
Interesting that everyone complained about the break, have they even seen today's front ends?
Why did you go for beak instead of another 3rd gen
The regular tl deserves some love too! Love that 3.2L
@@gary6576 eh, it's nice but everybody wants the type s lol.
@@alexc7864 They made a type-s in the first TL generation ;)
Personally I absolutely love Acura. I like the NSX and the sport models of the sedans. But I just think Lexus does it just a little bit better.
I've always felt the big 3 of Europe and the big 3 of Japan compete more in pairs. Lexus vs Mercedes, Acura vs Audi, BMW vs Infiniti. Lexus and Mercedes make land yachts that isolate you from the road. BMW and Infiniti both make stiffer sportier rides and are RWD or AWD designs. Acura and Audi try to find a sweet spot in the middle between sporty and luxury and make either FWD or AWD models.
@@s.willis8426 so basically since Nissan is barely producing any cars, and most of what it does now is lackluster, BMW doesn't have a competitor anymore?
@@MrTresto I don’t even think they compete in pairs cause they don’t, Acura and especially Infinit have been on the decline, and Lexus has stagnated. I say Merc, BMW, and Audi are trading blows amongst themselves because that’s their home turf and they all sell comparatively to each other.
🍪
Lexus barely changes their styling and the infotainment system is always outdated. The interior from the IS models from 2014 still looks the same from inside but the the exterior styling has edged acura from 2009 to 2018 thats for sure.
I had a CL I loved it. It was fun to drive.
"the beak" observation is SPOT ON. Nice job 👍 I'm a CL9 fan and hate what they did to my car in 2009, both stylistically and with cheapifying the power train. Haven't been happy with them since.
Yeah Honda hasn't been much better either. I don't know who they have styling their cars but almost everything they have sold in the last 15 years has been so awkward looking.
I've actually got an 09 TL. It may look pretty funny, but inside it looks great, its a dream to drive and handles its weight exceptionally. Can't love it enough 😁
@@neilvandeloo429 Yeah besides the exterior I really like how Honda makes cars. Makes it more frustrating that their designs are so different from my taste.
As a 3rd gen TL owner, I can say that the community is awesome and Acura’s are wonderful to own
Straight love my 3G
3G love✌🏽
Facts love my 1st gen rdx
@@irshangill9347 that sh-awe drive system is no joke it’s pure comfort and confidence I drove through like 40 cm snow no problem with all seasons that’s one thing Acura didn’t flop on was handling I’ll give them that anyday
Factsssss lol
The OG Integra was a unique car, in Type R trim the best FWD car ever made. The new one has no soul.
The vigor was a unique car, the itr was normal in comparison.
I mean idk why people over hype the car like the supra and integra i like them i think it's just a problem of over hyping.
They aren't really overhyped when everything coming out afterwards went downhill. It was a steady climb of amazing 90s jdm, and since nothing significant came afterwards, all we're left with is boring modern day jdms, so everyone goes back to last best options available. I'd still own anything from the 90s jdm over any ANY car of modern day.
@@tag206 Before the 2nd gen Integra the Vigor was the best looking Acura
I think people got their hopes up from the integra way too high because of the type R, forgetting that the base Integra has always been based on the civic chassis.
Type S was my first car, and I'm never getting rid of it. We've had numerous honda's and they're amazing cars. Seeking to get the new type S as well.
I grew up riding in my dad's '04 TL. He loved the manual transmission. Went out and got myself a 2020 ILX, love it!
He also drove his TL to about ~300,000 miles
My first car in 2011 was a 2003 MDX, part of that middling sales era you mentioned. I loved that car to death it hit 430,000 miles with only minor oil line issues. It was unfortunately totaled by a deer in 2015, but I upgraded to a 2012 after that. This one is approaching that 200k miles mark and not a single significant issue. That's what brought me to the brand. That's what has made me decide I will continue to buy them for the rest of my life. Unbelievably reliable. I'm even okay with the beak at this point, it is just the perfect car for my needs and I love the style so much more than the other luxury SUV's.
Are used to detail at a car dealership in Franklin Tennessee and God those MDX sold like bread and butter
You’re gonna be a future Lexus customer 😂
my 06 MDX passed 250k recently. Barely broken in!
I want a 2012 mdx very bad to replace my Santa Fe but gas is expensive rn and I don’t wanna pay for premium gas lmao
My Santa Fe tows my boat just fine but would want something a bit bigger n sportier
2009 MDXer and 09 TSXer over here. Both over 300k. MDX is a freaking BEAST. Take it to the Rockies every couple weekends and it handles most trail ok.
My TSX has that godawful beak, so I blacked it out but it still eats my soul. ☺️
So I took out the k24 and slammed it with pistons, changed compression, skunk2 header, ported cylinder head, ported oil pump, cat delete, coilovers, CAI and hondata. After tuning and Dino she hits 220 to the wheels. The beak will hurt less if I can get it to 250 at the wheels without turbo. Now it’s the fuel system upgrade, throttle body and intake manifold! Wish me luck…
I seriously can’t believe how reliable my car is even after all these mods… and 312k kms. It’s still a daily for chrissakes 😆
Hey Nolan and other Donut Media members, I truly appreciate the work you do and hope you revive Money Pit and make a Hilow a daily series! From Chennai, India
@@Dan_R That is true
They could maybe bring back the Bestest
love acura, i got a tsx rn bout to install a new intake in it. def want an integra down the road
I so agree with the beak issue.
My first car was a 2003 CL-S. Man I loved that car, heated leather seats and everything. And 260hp for a small coupe was enough for me
I still have mine....I bought it in 2006...it's just a fun car now...has 215,000 miles on it...still going strong.
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
I’ve had a DC4, and currently have a DA9…at the start, I was excited about hearing about the Integra’s revival; after seeing the reveal, I’m fine with the new car, I just honestly feel a lot of us would be happier if it just wasn’t named Integra. Even if they started with a “blank slate,” it looks like they bit off the ILX’s design, we haven’t heard any news of a potential coupe, and it gives no such vibe as a legend brought back from the dead.
Exactly. "We started with a clean slate" *proceeds to call a 4 door 4k lbs car an* "integra"... it's sad, I really don't like any car from any manufacturer past like 2012 and I was hoping (being a dc5 owner) that the integra would be what it's meant to be.
@@iroekyjHD Integra 2003 model was a better car tbh.
@@iroekyjHD I agree, on multiple occasions I’ve been asked what car I would want if I couldn’t have my Integras and I honestly could never really give an answer. As far as what I can afford realistically, I’ve always been attracted to Acuras, and I was also excited for this, but honestly calling it an Integra was a miss. It’s a dope car, but for sure the Integra community had much higher/far different expectations than what we got.
@@purwantiallan5089 yes. Dont forget 1995 Integras also.
@@LearningAutomotive yes jose.
Had a 94 integ back in the day. Can't wait to get the 2023
Im here for a return to form for Acura. Had a friend in highschool with a TL and that was a fantastic car all the way around. I think the integra should be a coupe for sure. Maybe 4 door standard, and type s a coupe. Other than that, i like what im seeing from them. Energy i can get behind
Acura Integra actually was my first Tamiya, I agree that the design was timeless. The wrong side is, that I feel Acura's design tends to be sporty than a luxury one
True, but i just saw the Integra in performance red... it's beautiful.
Just looking at the Prototype made me appreciate the RSX so much more. That's like the only thing the prototype reveal was good for.
Pretty sure RSX prices jumped when everyone saw how lame this new Integra looked lol
This was so well done and much needed!
ACURA?
Excellent topic! Been on my mind for a long time. My problem is Type S is no where near what it was. TL TYPE S was an ass kicker. Anyway great video and found a new channel 👍
“The 8 ladies and early 90s”. lol.5:27
Thought I was the only one, caught me off guard
I have an 08 TL Type S and it still looks beautiful after 14 years.
It's honestly a timeless design. I think it'll look beautiful for at least another 20 years or more! I just wish the infotainment screen wasn't there because it's honestly the one thing that dates the car.
Love mine so much man. Glad to see other people love theirs too
@@alexc7864 honestly I painted my radio knobs/ selection button/ center console trim pieces all black and it honestly updates the interior more than I expected. New white interior LEDs help to w bringing the car up to date. And to be fair, the infotainment screen was pretty baller for the time haha
@@wheelsyproductions yeah but nowadays it kinda sucks. Even screens from the mid 2010s are starting to look dated so I can't be too harsh. I would consider doing stuff like that to mine but I'd probably just be too afraid of devaluing it.
Well put together video
In my opinion, acura went from being sporty looking to being monochromatic. The rsx didnt look like an integra either but it still had somthing of a sporty look. The chrome beak completely killed it for me as well.
How do you use a term describing a color scheme to describe a boring car design??!! There’s some really awesome art pieces that are in a monochromatic color scheme!!!
How about just lame!!
I grew up a huge Acura fan (I'm nearly 40 today). I loved their stuff in the 1990s and even into the early 2000s. The 3rd gen TL type S was solid, the first gen TSX was amazing. The Integra was great.
They lost their way. Their current lineup is ok, their RDX and MDX are excellent (we just bought a 2022 MDX). I'm in the market for something to replace my 335i and was excited about the TLX Type S, but again they missed the mark. It's close, but yet so far away. The package is poor, it looks good but has less room inside than a 3 series with the footprint of a 5 series. It makes less power than the M340i AND gets significantly less MPG. They basically missed again on that car.
Have you done a similar video on Infiniti? They're in abysmal shape at the moment, I think they're close to death if they can't get it together in 3-5 years.
I'm a huge fan of the new Type S and will be buying one. but I must say that you make some really good points.
I feel lik ur not lying
@@xxNickxx23xx they look fantastic just do your homework. In that space there are some amazing options and the m340i is pretty effing ridiculous (in a good way)
@@6SpeedTA95 Oh trust me... I most certainly did. I was paying attention to that car before it even came out. I own the 3rd gen type s and I've looked at their competitors already. I choose this car because I'm a firm believer in Honda reliability. If I wanted overall performance I would go with the beamer no question. Even the Genesis is faster for less money.
5:27
“the eight ladies and early nineties”
English is quite the hard language I will not lie Nolan haha
Interesting, the shot with the yellow Integra at 0:12 is taken at the Private Honda Museum in Torrance, CA. No, you can’t get a tour there, but over the years we did get people asking us about it on social media quite a bit. I hosted several events there to the point where it just got boring, but it was always exciting to bring some new people there for events. I’m sure many people would be so jazzed to be able to go in there.
My buddy had the RSX it was a lot of fun
Acura used to be a huge upgrade (performance, luxury, looks etc) from a typical Honda, now the differences are minor. I couldn’t believe for an extra 10k I only get an added 15 hp and minor bells and whistles. Went with a Honda Touring 🤷🏽♂️
yep, and the Accord sport is faster than the 2022 TLX anyway. and the Type S is double the Accord's price.
The one on the thumbnail is actually the China exclusive “Honda Integra” by GAC-Honda, pretty much a facelift 11th gen Civic which is similar to the Acura CSX we had in the Canadian market. Has much lesser change to the civic platform compared to the North America spec new Integra.
I own I put a tone of miles on my daily 2016 RDX, drives great, reliable, confortable, would recommend and I’ll probably get a RDX A-Spec soon
I’ve a 2004 TL. Great car. Fast, quiet, comfortable, great highway mileage.
I own a 2013 Acura TL no complaints. It's got the right amount of power, anything more would be a waste in a daily driver, in my opinion. The thing that stands out is the handling and tractions control. SH-AWD feels amazing with a good set on tires. It's only enthusiasts that complain. In terms of second hand cars you can get insane value buying an Acura. They don't have the brand recognition in the used market like Toyota and Honda do, even though it's Honda owned brand. 2014 Honda Accords with less features and more miles were selling for same price as my Acura.
Me too. I got about 110k miles on it with zero issues. Never have had any huge issues nonetheless. In my opinion it doesn’t look half bad, but the beak was a bold choice. Great power, great handling, great performance.
Driving an Acura TL 1999 still runs good
What about all the transmission issues they were having in the early 2000's? Has that been resolved?
@@gahbah274 I had my 06 TL and it ran 250k miles original Tran but I maintained it very carefully changed the tran fluid here and there and was easy on the pedal it was mad reliable
@@gahbah274 Owned a 2003 TL. It was reasonably reliable...except for the sub par seat heater relays, went through 2 sets in first year. Dashboard foam slowly disintegrated over next 7 years around the vents and blew foam bits around the cabin. Transmission started to slip occasionally @ 110k miles. Was worse with cold winter temps. Two ignition coil failures @115k and 130k miles. Heater and a/c dashboard controls would fail to actuate until cabin was heated. Traded it in with 139k miles for a new base model 2011 Honda....no problems and still driving it today.
So disappointed in Acura. As a Honder man, I'd love to see some old school N/A VTEC engines being produced, but I get that alot of legislature s won't allow it. But they could bring back the Type SH with a 6 speed manual and drop that in the new Teggy
At least supercharger over turbo.
@@MJ-uk6lu turbo is better than supercharger
@@peterstoyanov7897 facts
@@MJ-uk6lu turbo over supercharger for me.
@@peterstoyanov7897 Not in a single way. You get same boost, but you get lag, uneven power band.
Drove a 97 CL. Great car.
I got the Integra A-Spec Tec y me encanta!
My 2nd Generation TL that I had as my first car was really was one of the best cars I’ve ever owned. It sounded great, was good on gas, extremely comfortable, and went like stink when you wanted it to. A far cry from what they’re offering now and I wish they could get a bit of that spirit back
04-08 manuals- soooooo good
My second was a a first gen type S, absolutely loved it. 6 cars later and that tl is the most nostalgic car I owned.
@@mofayer yeah I have lots of fond memories of putting the cocky dudes with all the V6 S197 and new edge mustangs in their place in high school lol.
Driving an Acura TL 1999 as a high schooler. Still runs good
My first car rn is an ‘07 TL and driving it in the highway for the first time and hearing the VTEC kick in made me realize why people love cars so much
I always preferred the Honda integra solely on the reason that I like the square headlights over the circle ones.
1st gen was the best looking but it's not a fair competition because.... pop up up and down headlights... game over.
The circle headlights were available in Japan for a couple of years though. It wasn’t popular in the Japanese market so they discontinued it and revised it with the rectangle headlights. Likewise here in the US the Integra wasn’t popular with the rectangle headlights so they released the newer (at the time) car with the circle headlights and it became more popular.
@GameBoyKolor I didn't know about the switch. That's a cool fact thanks for sharing homie.
I owned a 99 Integra DB8 Manual for almost a decade. I still miss that car and it was just a GS. It was a solid car. Went to Subaru and Honda years following and as you stated in the video, I have returned to Acura. I got a TLX Type S last fall and I love this car through and through. A few quirks but honestly, it has been a an awesome experience. Comfortable and fun. And without any dealer markup.
I think a reason Acura does not have as crazy sales as other Luxury companies is because of Honda. Look at the 10th gen accord 2.0t compared to the Tlx based on a similar platform. Accord is faster, is good looking, similar features for less.
TL sales plunged after Honda came out with the Accord Touring.
The 3rd Gen tl type s was one of the best they’ve built by far. I wish the tlx type s could come in a manual. 😭. Loved the fact the tlx type s is now a turbo v6 with awd, still including brembos. If only it came in manual.
Agree about the TL type S. I had a 1992 Legend LS 4 dr manual. I got the regular TLX for my wife. There is a lot of good in the TLX. I don’t like it enough to say that the type S with a manual would make me want one as much as I wanted that legend. I think I would buy an IS 350 in a manual before I’d get the TLX type S in a manual. I’d take my current car with a manual before I’d buy either of those (9th gen V6 Accord) The TLX is so big on the outside, with so little space inside. The back seat is smaller than a civic. You sit so low. The huge front end is nice but you sit too far back. If they make an Integra Type S with the TLX 2.0 engine, AWD or LSD, with a manual, I will definitely test drive it.
@@beb1527 agreed
💯💯
agreed have 2 of them
I had an ‘87 Integra with the 5spd manual as a first car. I sold it for a ‘94 Z28. Damn I miss my Acura. It was a fun tossable car indeed!
5:26 "The Eight Ladies". I love it!
I had a 2000 Integra and I LOOOOOOOVED it! I definitely would get this if I could.
I feel the rear of the new Integra kinda looks like an RSX, and the RSX is my favorite version of the Integra. Honestly if they made a coupe model next to the sedan I’d be happy.
At least they didn't call their 4 door a coupe (Porsche and others are doing this).
@@albchu Still remember when Mercedes called their SUV a coupe
@@stiffybeanie4148 there needs to be some accountability.
Always great videos from Nolan. Thanks for all the work you do, friend
My first ever car is the 3g Integra. Then went to 2008 TSX. Now a 2.0t Accord Sport.
I get why it’s polarizing, but I love the beak lol. Maybe not on every model, but in general. It was totally unique imo.
Me too. Late 2000's Acura was peak design. So clean.