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Auto Talk => Luxury Talk => Topic started by: BMWDave on May 08, 2005, 06:01:44 PM

Title: Do you think Acura should sell the EL in the US?
Post by: BMWDave on May 08, 2005, 06:01:44 PM
Its basically a tarted up Civic with a few luxury touches and an Acura badge.  Power from a 1.8 L engine producing 140 hp.  

(http://www.catalog.auto.ru/images/25c53c2a.jpg)

So should they sell this in America?
Title: Do you think Acura should sell the EL in the US?
Post by: Tom on May 08, 2005, 06:02:35 PM
No.  It doesn't really fit American tastes.
Title: Do you think Acura should sell the EL in the US?
Post by: BMWDave on May 08, 2005, 06:04:22 PM
QuoteNo.  It doesn't really fit American tastes.
I dont think it should be sold here.  It is essentially a Civic.  There is no real luxury to it.
Title: Do you think Acura should sell the EL in the US?
Post by: giant_mtb on May 08, 2005, 06:33:52 PM
I don't believe it's necessary for the particular vehicle to be sold in the United States of America.  :praise:  :praise:  
Title: Do you think Acura should sell the EL in the US?
Post by: Colonel Cadillac on May 08, 2005, 06:45:39 PM
The RSX fits its place as the "economy car."  
Title: Do you think Acura should sell the EL in the US?
Post by: Speed_Racer on May 08, 2005, 06:48:56 PM
Yeah, I see no need for a luxurized economy car. The Civic is a nice enough car. An Acura clone would just complicate things, and might not sell well.

See the Saab 9-2X.
Title: Do you think Acura should sell the EL in the US?
Post by: 850CSi on May 08, 2005, 06:49:26 PM
That car shouldn't exist in the first place. The Civic is ALREADY expensive. Who needs one with an Acura badge and 'luxury' options.
Title: Do you think Acura should sell the EL in the US?
Post by: ifcar on May 08, 2005, 07:06:58 PM
QuoteIts basically a tarted up Civic with a few luxury touches and an Acura badge.  Power from a 1.8 L engine producing 140 hp.  

(http://www.catalog.auto.ru/images/25c53c2a.jpg)

So should they sell this in America?
The TSX is as far downmarket as they ought to go, even in Canada.
Title: Do you think Acura should sell the EL in the US?
Post by: 850CSi on May 08, 2005, 07:20:24 PM
Quote
QuoteIts basically a tarted up Civic with a few luxury touches and an Acura badge.  Power from a 1.8 L engine producing 140 hp. 

(http://www.catalog.auto.ru/images/25c53c2a.jpg)

So should they sell this in America?
The TSX is as far downmarket as they ought to go, even in Canada.
For once ifcar agrees with me!
Title: Do you think Acura should sell the EL in the US?
Post by: 93JC on May 08, 2005, 10:55:32 PM
QuotePower from a 1.8 L engine producing 140 hp.
What?!?!?!?

Try 1.7L and 127hp.  :lol:  
Title: Do you think Acura should sell the EL in the US?
Post by: Catman on May 08, 2005, 11:22:54 PM
I agree with everyone else, no.  Infiniti tried this with the G20 and failed.  Though the G20 was not a rebadge of another domestic offering.  It was actually a Nissan Primera, a car not available here.  I actually owned a 1999 G20t in black on black.  The car handled awesome and was only hampered by lackluster engine power.  It was a great can and always topped reliability ratings.
Title: Do you think Acura should sell the EL in the US?
Post by: 850CSi on May 08, 2005, 11:26:23 PM
QuoteI agree with everyone else, no.  Infiniti tried this with the G20 and failed.  Though the G20 was not a rebadge of another domestic offering.  It was actually a Nissan Primera, a car not available here.  I actually owned a 1999 G20t in black on black.  The car handled awesome and was only hampered by lackluster engine power.  It was a great can and always topped reliability ratings.
I've never been in a G20, but that pretty much sums up everything I've heard about it.

I've been in a Primera. If quality was anything like the Primera, then that was one of hte G20's problems, because the Primera was terrible on the inside.

I think another problem was that it didn't look like a Luxury car and the interior was lacking.

Title: Do you think Acura should sell the EL in the US?
Post by: MX793 on May 08, 2005, 11:27:57 PM
I definately don't see a need for Acura to move any more down market in the US.
Title: Do you think Acura should sell the EL in the US?
Post by: 850CSi on May 08, 2005, 11:29:25 PM
Canadian guys: How much does it cost compared to a TSX?

Does it steal away TSX sales?

Title: Do you think Acura should sell the EL in the US?
Post by: 93JC on May 08, 2005, 11:39:08 PM
EL goes for around $24,000. TSX is about $35,000.

They don't steal sales from each other (at least I don't think people cross-shop tarted-up Civics and tarted-up European Accords). If anything TSX and TL compete with each other.

EL accounts for the bulk of Acura sales in Canada.
Title: Do you think Acura should sell the EL in the US?
Post by: ifcar on May 09, 2005, 05:05:47 AM
QuoteI agree with everyone else, no.  Infiniti tried this with the G20 and failed.  Though the G20 was not a rebadge of another domestic offering.  It was actually a Nissan Primera, a car not available here.  I actually owned a 1999 G20t in black on black.  The car handled awesome and was only hampered by lackluster engine power.  It was a great can and always topped reliability ratings.
The G20 was more in the position that the TSX is in now, maybe slightly lower. And it didn't necessarily fail because it was a mainstream-level Infiniti, it failed because it had rather bland styling that didn't look upscale enough to tempt consumers into the Infiniti brand.  
Title: Do you think Acura should sell the EL in the US?
Post by: TurboDan on May 09, 2005, 10:12:01 AM
My aunt has her 2001 G20 still.  I've driven it, and it handles beautifully.  Only problem is the sorta weak engine, but even that's not THAT big of a deal.  The exterior styling is very nice, IMO.

I think the interior of the car looks too mainstream and not luxurious enough.  That's the only issue I really had with it.  But still, I liked the G20.
Title: Do you think Acura should sell the EL in the US?
Post by: SJ_GTI on May 09, 2005, 10:45:24 AM
I see EL's all over the place. I don't see the point but apparently alot of candian's do. For the money I think I would rather have a VW Golf or Mazda 3s.
Title: Do you think Acura should sell the EL in the US?
Post by: NomisR on May 09, 2005, 11:32:19 AM
EL has no place for the US, RSX is already too low for the lineup in my opinion, but then again if it was moved down to a Honda, I don't think it'd sell as it would occupy the same spot as the old prelude althought it would be more similar to a Civic.
Title: Do you think Acura should sell the EL in the US?
Post by: IrishGuy on May 09, 2005, 12:43:41 PM
<off topic a bit>I test drove a G20 once and loved everything about the car except for the engine. Perhaps I will look at getting a used one soon however.</off topic a bit>
Title: Do you think Acura should sell the EL in the US?
Post by: FlatBlackCaddy on May 09, 2005, 12:57:16 PM
What year did you drive irishguy.

I see alot of people have driven the newer ones.

As with alot of nissan vehicles the best G20 was the early yeared ones(pre 95).
I've owned one and driven several of the early ones and the engine is much better than later detuned versions.

The early G20's use the same motor as the SE-R's and NX2000's of the same time, i've never heard any complaints about weak motors in those cars.
Title: Do you think Acura should sell the EL in the US?
Post by: IrishGuy on May 09, 2005, 12:58:53 PM
QuoteWhat year did you drive irishguy.

I see alot of people have driven the newer ones.

As with alot of nissan vehicles the best G20 was the early yeared ones(pre 95).
I've owned one and driven several of the early ones and the engine is much better than later detuned versions.

The early G20's use the same motor as the SE-R's and NX2000's of the same time, i've never heard any complaints about weak motors in those cars.
As you guessed a more recent one 2000+
Title: Do you think Acura should sell the EL in the US?
Post by: mazda6er on May 09, 2005, 03:07:08 PM
Quote
QuotePower from a 1.8 L engine producing 140 hp.
What?!?!?!?

Try 1.7L and 127hp.  :lol:
Even better! Sign me up!  :P
Title: Do you think Acura should sell the EL in the US?
Post by: BMWDave on May 09, 2005, 03:12:20 PM
Quote
Quote
QuotePower from a 1.8 L engine producing 140 hp.
What?!?!?!?

Try 1.7L and 127hp.  :lol:
Even better! Sign me up!  :P
My bad, I thought the engine was more powerful.  Wow, thats a really weak engine then! :o  
Title: Do you think Acura should sell the EL in the US?
Post by: Fire It Up on May 09, 2005, 03:13:37 PM
No. Its pointless. And the G20 is awesome.  :praise: