Correction, I meant to say, I would like to believe that Honda is not that petty. They have been falling off this decade
I agree. I've owned Honda/Acuras through the 90's and 2000's and the newer models are simply not as exciting. As Toyota did in the 90's, today's Hondas are getting bigger, heavier and more "plush", i.e., more American.
Engine displacement and torque are going up, suspension response and high-RPM power are going down.
I drive a 2007 TSX right now. Overall, it is just fine for my needs. All the options are nice, the navi works well and it gets me from A to B. But for a
Honda it is not as good as years past. The car feels bloated and heavy. Steering response is decent, but the car leans through the turns and the K24 just doesn't have the oomph to get that ~3500lb moving. Another consequence of the weight is about 17mpg city on a
four cylinder.
My car before that was a 2004 Accord Coupe V6 6MT. While the performance was there, even that car felt heavy in the turns.
My very first Honda was a 1988 Accord Lxi 5MT. Compared to the above two cars, it was far more exciting. That little car was light, nimble and very responsive. The gearing was great, the transmission snicked into every gear, and the engine pulled stronger as it approached the redline. Moreover, it got almost 40mpg on the highway in 5th gear. I put almost 100k miles on that car- it got me though college and law school- and it never let me down. It was fun to drive, even with only about 100 hp. The newer cars are just not the same. It feels like Honda has lost its identity. Back then, no matter what you bought, NSX, Integra, Civic etc, all Honda cars had that certain character. Sporty, fun, light on their feet and efficient. Now, I drive these new cars and the words that come to mind are heavy, lethargic, soft and "adequate."
If the NSX replacement ever does come out, I fear it will follow this new trend. I'm sure it will be fast and have the magazine specs to be "adequate" for a GT saloon. But, I bet it will
need 500hp to get out of its own way. For the first time, I think my next daily driver might not be a Honda. :frown:
Well, at least I've got the NSX.
