Acura ILX Prem 6MT 201HP

[Vikas]

Just test drove it. It was a fun little car. The engine is eager to reach its 7K redline although it sounded harsh after 6K. VTEC kicks in after 5K. But it never felt buzzy or strained.

The gearbox is simply amazing. Extremely precise, short throw and just the right amount of detent. The clutch however was engaging at its upper limit which made my shifts not so good. The aluminium drilled pedal feel was just about perfect. This was brand new vehicle (less than 100 miles) and backed out of the show room just for me to test drive!

It might be tarted up Civic but the driving dynamics and the power-train is a gem. Obviously, the list price on this is insanely expensive but I have a feeling that people who are in market for this car should be able to knock off some big chunk off the asking price.

I don't think I have seen anybody review this car here.

 

[Lead Shoes]

I have yet to see one around town either, but I am in Gm country lol.

 

[dparm]

Glad to hear Honda hasn't lost their way with gearboxes. The old Honda B- and F-series had some of the most amazing manual transmissions I've ever driven.

 

[JHZR2]

Not sure why I'd waste thousands for a civic SI.

I'd buy an SI.

Not this.

If it had some semblance of difference, ok. But soft touch material and leather seats in an econobox just is silly.

Acura clutches always engage too high up, IMO. Makes it more exhausting and more difficult to drive smooth, compared to my German cars which are effortless to drive even in bad traffic. Glad to hear the shifters are still slick.

They should have put the RDX turbo engine in there and had a good discriminator. CRV awd system too? That would be neat and worth a few bucks premium.

 

[Lead Shoes]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Not sure why I'd waste thousands for a civic SI.

I'd buy an SI.

Not this.

If it had some semblance of difference, ok. But soft touch material and leather seats in an econobox just is silly.

They should have put the RDX turbo engine in there and had a good discriminator. CRV awd system too? That would be neat and worth a few bucks premium.


Now your thinking like an enthusiast, lol

"If they don't make it, ill build"

Originally Posted By: dparm
Glad to hear Honda hasn't lost their way with gearboxes. The old Honda B- and F-series had some of the most amazing manual transmissions I've ever driven.


You would enjoy my carbon synchro ITR trans then

 

[Vikas]

The showroom had a brad new 6-speed TSX on the floor. TSX is actually made in Japan whereas ILX is a domestic car. But the TSX shifter just did not have the quality of the ILX.

Do Civic Si comes as 4-dr sedan? If not, then I can see how ILX could be aimed at different segment.

 

[Lead Shoes]

You can get a 4dr civic Si

 

[Vikas]

No wonder I see no ILX around then!

 

[SLCraig]

Originally Posted By: Vikas
No wonder I see no ILX around then!


They are incredibly rare.
I have think I have maybe seen 1 or 2.
I see Si sedans every single day around here, and in my condo area there are at least 3 8th gen Si's.

 

[dishdude]

The biggest issue with this car is the powertrain options. You can't get the 2.4 with an auto, and the 2.0 puts out a measly 150 HP. A 1995 Dodge Neon put out 150 HP from it's 2.0 engine.

You can't get navigation with the 2.4. What kind of luxury car is that?

 

[Vikas]

The dealer said next batch of ILX automatic will come with the 2.4 engine. Frankly, without 6MT, I just don't see much of redeeming value in that car especially in that price bracket.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: Vikas
The dealer said next batch of ILX automatic will come with the 2.4 engine. Frankly, without 6MT, I just don't see much of redeeming value in that car especially in that price bracket.


Agreed. Without a 6MT, totally blah.

Though Ill bet the intent of this is to cater to schmucks with a "luxury" marque that gets them into a fleece or high rate finance deal with payments they can afford. Not because they actually want to maintain driving purity and dynamics.

I wouldnt want the car with nav. Another thing to break and destroy the lifecycle cost of a "luxury" car with a chance at reliability. Just make it solid, fun, add a better powerplant for discrimination sake, quieter, faster, cushier, etc.

Id prefer it to be more integra-like though... Substantially differentiated, not a civic with a badge. Reminds me of late 1980s GM...

 

[VicVinegar]

I'd just buy a CPO TSX and sacrifice a few mpg. Of course I wouldn't be buying a MT with my commute.

I've seen a few around, but not many. It is more "adult" than a Civic Si, but ultimately not worth it unless there was a significant discount.

 

[jrustles]

I love the rear of the ILX. The design is everything the Civic should be, right now.

 

[Vikas]

Originally Posted By: VicVinegar
I've seen a few around, but not many. It is more "adult" than a Civic Si, but ultimately not worth it unless there was a significant discount.


I am not in the market but my niece might be looking for the Civic Si. I am betting that Acura dealer would be offering insane deals to get it off his lot. My suggestion to her would be to find the cheapest price on the similarly equipped Si and then offer few dollars more to the Acura dealer and see if he bites.

 

[rjundi]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2


Acura clutches always engage too high up, IMO. Makes it more exhausting and more difficult to drive smooth, compared to my German cars which are effortless to drive even in bad traffic. Glad to hear the shifters are still slick.



Have you driven an Acura clutch recently? I have tried the TL and TSX and that was not apparent in them.

 

[SLCraig]

Originally Posted By: jrustles
I love the rear of the ILX. The design is everything the Civic should be, right now.


You know I gotta agree with you.
The Civic is a good car but I still dont love the styling since the 8th generation ended.

 

[BrianWC]

I'd thought about the ILX but got the Si instead. The biggest problem I had with the ILX was that you couldn't get the tech package with nav optioned on the 2.4l engine. I guess this was to move people up toward the TSX? I think they also missed out by not offering a paddle shift auto in the 2.4l.

The 2013 early refresh of the Civic smoothed out a lot of rough edges. I've never had much of a problem with the looks of mine. But the top of the dash was one place that DID need help. It was very Cobalt-ish. Thankfully they soft-touch'ed it.

 

[Mykl]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
If it had some semblance of difference, ok. But soft touch material and leather seats in an econobox just is silly.


Maybe you want some premium options without the premium size? I like the soft touch materials in my car, and I'd love to have leather seats even if I wasn't terribly interested in paying for them.

 

[sciphi]

Originally Posted By: Mykl
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
If it had some semblance of difference, ok. But soft touch material and leather seats in an econobox just is silly.


Maybe you want some premium options without the premium size? I like the soft touch materials in my car, and I'd love to have leather seats even if I wasn't terribly interested in paying for them.


There is a market for smaller luxury and "premium" cars with all the toys. For some folks, smaller size is a luxury all its own. Those folks want all the goodies without the exterior bulkiness.