Topic: Test Drive: 2016 Acura ILX A-Spec

[JohnM]

The noise issue should be nailed down.  The Civic Touring is pretty damn quiet so was it just the tires on the A Spec messing things up?

Cheers,
John M.

[Blueprint]

The noise issue should be nailed down.  The Civic Touring is pretty damn quiet so was it just the tires on the A Spec messing things up?

Cheers,
John M.

The Civic Touring I drove was pretty noisy on the highway, but it had winters on. Good quality Blizzaks though - perhaps even louder than my Sentra on the same roads.

[CanuckS2K]

Just can't find any love for this car.

Likewise.  I might have fun driving it, but the outside doesn't inspire me to get any closer.

I can't find a case for it since the TLX is so much better in most respects priced such that I would be more than willing to delete a couple of goodies from the ILX for the goodness of the TLX.

My wife is currently in the market for a luxury compact car, so this seems to fit the bill.......at least on paper.  So there's your case of someone potentially wanting an ILX over a TLX.  Just sayin'   

[CanuckS2K]

I love the wheels on the A-Spec but if my wife settled on the ILX it would have to be the Tech version since it comes with leather.  Looks like some great value in this car, my biggest concern personally would be it's NVH.  Some reviews don't seem to faovour it too much.

[bombastic]

I'll check out the video a little later when bossman leaves.

A great write-up - but how loud is loud (road/wind noise)?  Would that be in part by the A-spec trim?

My buddy, a 29-year old, is looking to buy his first 'smart, luxury/sport' car. Sedan or hatch, who knows.  He's between the GTI, the A3, and I wonder if this should be on his check list?  Certainly cheaper than a GTI, and while down on torque, it's pretty comparable as far as power is concerned.  It would also, presumably, be more comfortable.  No?

Cheaper than GTI?
ILX Base price: $34,890
GTI 5 doors Base price: $32,895

[rrocket]

I'll check out the video a little later when bossman leaves.

A great write-up - but how loud is loud (road/wind noise)?  Would that be in part by the A-spec trim?

My buddy, a 29-year old, is looking to buy his first 'smart, luxury/sport' car. Sedan or hatch, who knows.  He's between the GTI, the A3, and I wonder if this should be on his check list?  Certainly cheaper than a GTI, and while down on torque, it's pretty comparable as far as power is concerned.  It would also, presumably, be more comfortable.  No?

Cheaper than GTI?
ILX Base price: $34,890
GTI 5 doors Base price: $32,895

ILX base price is $29,500.  ( I don't think he was referring to the full load A-Spec).

[dkaz]

I'll check out the video a little later when bossman leaves.

A great write-up - but how loud is loud (road/wind noise)?  Would that be in part by the A-spec trim?

My buddy, a 29-year old, is looking to buy his first 'smart, luxury/sport' car. Sedan or hatch, who knows.  He's between the GTI, the A3, and I wonder if this should be on his check list?  Certainly cheaper than a GTI, and while down on torque, it's pretty comparable as far as power is concerned.  It would also, presumably, be more comfortable.  No?

Cheaper than GTI?
ILX base price: $29,490
ILX A-Spec price: $34,890
GTI 5 doors Base price: $32,895

Fixed it for you.

[dkaz]

Well at least you can get a GTI with a manual transmission and plaid seats. I love those plaid seats.

[rrocket]

I love those plaid seats.

I'm the opposite.  I think they look awful.

[CanuckS2K]

I love those plaid seats.

I'm the opposite.  I think they look awful.

I'm definitely with you on that, I think they look extremely tacky. 

[Noto]

My buddy, a 29-year old, is looking to buy his first 'smart, luxury/sport' car. Sedan or hatch, who knows.  He's between the GTI, the A3, and I wonder if this should be on his check list?  Certainly cheaper than a GTI, and while down on torque, it's pretty comparable as far as power is concerned.  It would also, presumably, be more comfortable.  No?

Cheaper than GTI?
ILX Base price: $34,890
GTI 5 doors Base price: $32,895

ILX base price is $29,500.  ( I don't think he was referring to the full load A-Spec).

^^ what they said.  My buddy would be plenty happy in the base ILX and Autobahn GTI (sans leather and Navi), the latter of which being nearly $4k more than the ILX.  Not apples-to-apples, but they're identical for his purposes.

I find it interesting that this car is so 'noisy' given that it has "Active Noise Control (ANC)" as standard equipment.

[JRM]

I'm not inspired by this either.  In fact, the 2008 TL and TSX were the last Honda/Acura models that I would have considered.   

[Slow_lane]

Virtually every other review I have read about this updated / revised ILX has stated there was a good effort made to reduce noise. Seems maybe not enough.

Here is a link to cabin noise ratings on some cars.

http://alexonautos.com/cabin-noise/

Equal to Audi A3... but not at quiet as others.

[G.Bombay]

Just can't find any love for this car.

Likewise.  I might have fun driving it, but the outside doesn't inspire me to get any closer.

I can't find a case for it since the TLX is so much better in most respects priced such that I would be more than willing to delete a couple of goodies from the ILX for the goodness of the TLX.

My wife is currently in the market for a luxury compact car, so this seems to fit the bill.......at least on paper.  So there's your case of someone potentially wanting an ILX over a TLX.  Just sayin'   

I will check out the ILX when I replace the SI. I prefer the smaller size of the ILX over the TLX. I have always flirted with the GTI but can't stomach the overall cost to own a FGC.

[aquadorhj]

Virtually every other review I have read about this updated / revised ILX has stated there were good effort made to reduce noise. Seems maybe not enough.

Here is a link to cabin noise ratings on some cars.

http://alexonautos.com/cabin-noise/

Equal to Audi A3... but not at quiet as others.

not just decibels but also pitch and frequency of interior noise makes difference as well.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

I'll easily take plaid over a cliched black leather seat that will scorch your arse in summer, freeze it in winter unless you spring for the heated/cooled versions, and look like a 90year old's face in 5 years unless you "maintain" it every other week with exotic care products.

[Slow_lane]

I'll easily take plaid over a cliched black leather seat that will scorch your arse in summer, freeze it in winter unless you spring for the heated/cooled versions, and look like a 90year old's face in 5 years unless you "maintain" it every other week with exotic care products.

Bought a new Accord in 2000 with leather seats. They looked old and tired within a couple years. In year 3 the driver's seat split open. This was with less than 30,000 Kms on the clock. Honda called it normal wear and tear. Of course I did not stand for that and fought like mad till they fixed the bloody seat.

My 2011 328 has fake leather. Thought it was a bad thing at 1st. In the end I like them much better. They look as good as new after almost 4 years.

I have no problem with them being to hot or too cold. I can live with that. I like how easy they are to keep clean and they look great.

[bridgecity]

I'll easily take plaid over a cliched black leather seat that will scorch your arse in summer, freeze it in winter unless you spring for the heated/cooled versions, and look like a 90year old's face in 5 years unless you "maintain" it every other week with exotic care products.

Seats on our CR-V look new after nearly 3 years.  Seats in our 9 year old Pilot looked great when we got rid of it, some stretching but that was it.  Minimal treatment was/is used on either.  The CR-Vs get treatment about once a year and regular wipe down with damp cloth whenever the vehicle is cleaned.  Honda's leather isn't exactly the best quality either.

My truck has cloth.  Wish it was leather.  Last time i vacuumed it I gave the seats a good wack with my hands and the usual plume of dust came out of them. 

Anyway SirO, you're wrong, I'm right.     Just kidding, I see both sides but still prefer leather.

[dkaz]

I wish there were more pleather options in Canada. The middle of the line Mazda 6 Touring gets pleather in the US.

[OliverD]

I wish there were more pleather options in Canada. The middle of the line Mazda 6 Touring gets pleather in the US.

The CX-3 GS has leatherette in Canada, maybe other future Mazdas will as well.