Interesting read on dark horse

[ORRadtech]

One thing, the Acura is a lot cheaper than the DH. But it's pretty expensive still at $52K.

I wonder what Acura's advertising budget is and how much went to Motor Trend?

$52k isn't really that much for a new car. Average new car prices in the US are just a few dollars below $48k. $52k is barely above average.

I don't think it's much of a secret that car magazines are heavily influenced by advertising revenue. It's been that way for decades.

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[5550snotamerc]

Why did Matt Orlove say "screw the lap time" if it had the fastest lap time of the sub-100k cars and also beat the Lambo and the Porsche? That must have been taken out of context. On the topic of the Acura, I think an Ecoboost, especially a PP, would have beat it handily for significantly less money if that is the criteria.

 

[5550snotamerc]

Yes, issue is a car magazines like rodent track (this is funny I said road and track and my phone put in rodent track) I guess my phone doesn’t like road and track either.
No, it was a nice article. However, as many people have said, most car magazines aren’t worth squat anymore.

I think your phone autocorrect replaced "all" with "most"

 

[Tucker80]

The DH exceeds few expectations. That's interesting to me. I guess that must mean it's pretty similar to past Mustangs? What I want to know is whether it's measurably a better performer than the other cars. Seems like it is, based on the numbers.

Picking the Acura as the winner - a front wheel drive car that's 5 seconds slower than the Mustang doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Having four doors and lots of room doesn't make a car perform better. The writer mentions them as if they would sway a performance car buyer. To me, in a Performance Car of the Year contest, those are negatives about the car, not positives. But all Hondas are big now. There really isn't a small, PCOTY fitting vehicle offered by them.

I noticed the Acura was primarily understeering the entire time, which car reviewers typically say they dislike. It also seemed like the tires were really getting used hard. The lap immediately before the "hot lap" was significantly slower yet at 1:31 and change.

One thing, the Acura is a lot cheaper than the DH. But it's pretty expensive still at $52K.

I wonder what Acura's advertising budget is and how much went to Motor Trend?

I just bought a 2024 Civic Type R a few weeks ago so I'm not even the least bit surprised to see the Type S Integra win. I love my mustang and always will, but the Type R is on a completely different level.

 

[s3ltz3r]

It seems like most reviews just rave about the Acura Integra Type S. It must be a special car, but still a FWD car. I would definitively pick the M2. And we know how BMW underrates the power of their performance vehicles. I like the look too.

And then there's the Dark Horse. Hard pass.

 

[Prodigal]

I’d take all-wheel but even that takes the fun out of it.

easy now! you haven’t been following project traction have you?. I bet that thing, especially once he gets the boost added to it is an absolute blast to drive.

 

[klink]

I just bought a 2024 Civic Type R a few weeks ago so I'm not even the least bit surprised to see the Type S Integra win. I love my mustang and always will, but the Type R is on a completely different level.

Tell us more about that type R that is an interesting car for sure.

 

[ice445]

If value matters, they should be recommending a used vehicle or a lower option Mustang as a performance car, not a 4 door FWD commuter car. To me, the Acura is meant for people who want comfort/style as their main priorities. People who will think the car is fast, but not realize how an actual fast car drives.

I remember buying an '83 Mustang GT from someone back in the day (157 HP if I recall correctly). He told me it's fast in an excited voice. I tried really hard not to roll my eyes. The Acura is for people like that guy.

Hey, performance is relative. When I was 18 I thought my Dodge Caravan was "pretty quick". But I had only been driving for a few months, lol. If I had my current car back then I would be dead, full stop

 

[shogun32]

"Normal" people who buy non-performance vehicles would buy the Acura.

I haven't read the article carefully yet (just skimmed it) but how the heck did the Lexus IS350-F not make the list? In AWD mode it should do well enough to "coud'a been a contendah"

Maybe I'm ChatGPT-hallucinating but I thought I read C&D totally pan the Acura as "why did you even bother if you were going to abandon the ethos that made the original special"?

quick spec-sheet comparo between the Lexus and Acura
https://www.edmunds.com/car-comparisons/?veh1=401939770&veh2=401994391

 

[Hack]

Front Wheel drive = yuck
I will never own one!
I’d take all-wheel but even that takes the fun out of it.

I liked my Fiesta ST, but I bought that with 500 miles on it for about $18K. It was a decent winter car and poor weather daily for very little money. I liked it, but I would never in a million years make it Performance Car of the Year.

 

[Dave2013M3]

https://www.roadandtrack.com/reviews/a46362081/2024-performance-car-of-the-year/

The M2 would have beaten it on Track Focused tires like the DH.

 

[Tucker80]

Tell us more about that type R that is an interesting car for sure.

It's not the fastest, but honestly it may be the best car I've ever driven. It's just about perfect. Decent power, perfect suspension, and an amazing manual transmission. My only complaint so far is that it sounds like shit, but a turbo 4 is never going to sound good.

 

[klink]

It's not the fastest, but honestly it may be the best car I've ever driven. It's just about perfect. Decent power, perfect suspension, and an amazing manual transmission. My only complaint so far is that it sounds like shit, but a turbo 4 is never going to sound good.

I’m a huge fan of the GTI even though I’ve never owned one. I grew up in Germany surrounded by them and they were wildly popular. I imagine the art is just a better version of it but I do struggle with the value proposition of what a new R cost compared to a bass GTI, which is already a very very fun car. I’m glad you enjoy yours. Thanks for sharing your impressions.

 

[shogun32]

I’m a huge fan of the GTI even though I’ve never owned one

You owe it to yourself. Gen7.5 rabbit edition with the fancy front diff. And a stage 1 tune. Holy schnikies!

 

[Tucker80]

I’m a huge fan of the GTI even though I’ve never owned one. I grew up in Germany surrounded by them and they were wildly popular. I imagine the art is just a better version of it but I do struggle with the value proposition of what a new R cost compared to a bass GTI, which is already a very very fun car. I’m glad you enjoy yours. Thanks for sharing your impressions.

GTI's are another car that's an absolute blast to drive. They can definitely hit way above thier weight class!

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