The crossover segment contains some of the most hacked-up engineering I saw at the Providence auto show this year. Passenger car powertrains crammed under "cab-forward" cowls, transmissions where the add-on AWD unit makes the casting look like it got knocked up, cooling systems with the radiator cap below the engine.
Low point so far was on the Acura RDX. Take a look at the back of the engine. There you'll find the turbocharger. Look approximately 3 inches away on the hot side. There you'll see the alternator. What don't you see between them? A heat shield!
On the other hand, some of them nail the utility/economy/handling/AWD compromise that automakers have been trying to hit for the last 25 years. GM (Traverse) and Mazda (CX-7) certainly got it right.
I like how Tommy got to get in on the review. But the new TSX wagon gives me hope.
I used to work at a tire shop by honda marysville. We did a flat repair on a ZDX that was being test beaten, er driven, by some higher up just to put miles on it. That was lateish winter when it wasnt released yet.
I thought it was an abortion like the rest of its class. It cant be much more then 3-4K to engineer one of those piles. Chassis from anything else in their line up, engine maybe from the same "car", shove a car and an suv body together, jack it up and call it all new. Oh and some wheels that weigh as much as my 1990 era engine.
~Alex
PS I wouldn't mind an engine/tranny from a FX50 though......
chaparral wrote:
On the other hand, some of them nail the utility/economy/handling/AWD compromise that automakers have been trying to hit for the last 25 years. GM (Traverse) and Mazda (CX-7) certainly got it right.
GMC Terrain FTW! loads of space, the right list of features, does not inspire sticker shock, and (though it can be polarizing) does not make me puke in the back of my mouth when I see it - I actually dig the boxy styling and big fender flares - looks great IMHO. It has a good stereo, some wizbang stuff like heated seats and nav bits, but not so many that you forget about driving. I have yet to drive it in snow, but driven in anger, its actually pretty fun, and the somewhat uncommon these days hydraulic power steering is remarkably crisp and provides decent feedback for a crossover. Its big enough to feel spacious, small enough to paralell park downtown, and is AWD (although not full time) without driving like a tank .
The only downside to it that Ive found thus far is braking - I think Im going to upgrade the brakes or at least the pads. Ive never driven something this heavy as regularly as this, so my thoughts may be a bit green compared to regular SUV drivers. In traffic, youre kinda on the brake pedal a lot, and modulation is kinda wonky. Youll be approaching a stop light and youre scrubbing some speed, and you find youre not scrubbing it fast enough, so you have to really get on the pedal to haul the thing down. Weve got the 18" wheels so theres room for some bigger hardware down there, but the thing is too new I think for the aftermarket to have anything out there yet. New higher performance street pads are in order for sure.
the last Acura Id want to own would be a previous gen TSX/RSX. Early 2k's TLs are on that list too. The new breed of Hornbilled Acuras need to meet an early and expeditious demise.
Duke
SuperDork
9/22/10 11:05 a.m.
No matter how much you may dislike the Decepticons... I mean, current Acuras, nothing is currently worse than the Mazda Rictus of Death.
Rustspecs13 wrote:
It cant be much more then 3-4K to engineer one of those piles...
If you believe that, then I have a really rare, rust-, I mean lightweight car to sell you...
Google searches for "rictus define" are through the roof.
Perhaps if we evolve this thread into an Ultimate Station Wagon photo gallery, the entire automotive universe will re-align itself into one, capacious, low frontal area, low ground clearance, crossover-free nirvana where Clarke W. Griswold actually gets the Antarctic blue super-sports wagon.
Allow me to set the ball in motion .....
Steve Chryssos wrote:
Perhaps if we evolve this thread into an Ultimate Station Wagon photo gallery, the entire automotive universe will re-align itself into one, capacious, low frontal area, low ground clearance, crossover-free nirvana where Clarke W. Griswold actually gets the Antarctic blue super-sports wagon.
Allow me to set the ball in motion .....
pretty sure that 850 on 2 wheels is standard fare for ANY thread talking about sportwagons, lol.
So I'll quote it so we can see it again :)
Between BMW and Acura, I NEVER would have thought these manufacturers would feel the need to open such tiny market niches. You would have to think that folks in either marketing or design in both of these companies said "what can we build that folks will buy BECAUSE of the badge on the nose". I guess they figured that if Porsche could build a 2 ton+ "SUV" and folks would "lap them up like inexpensive champange" that the market could support pretty much any sort of craziness.
BTW, BMW is working on a "1" series based SUV, and now that VW has taken over Porsche, Porsche is rumored to get a Tiguan-sized "soft-roader".
I can't help thinking we are heading into a repeat of the '70s when cars hit a peak....then overnight became monstrosities.
integraguy wrote:
Between BMW and Acura, I NEVER would have thought these manufacturers would feel the need to open such tiny market niches. You would have to think that folks in either marketing or design in both of these companies said "what can we build that folks will buy BECAUSE of the badge on the nose". I guess they figured that if Porsche could build a 2 ton+ "SUV" and folks would "lap them up like inexpensive champange" that the market could support pretty much any sort of craziness.
BTW, BMW is working on a "1" series based SUV, and now that VW has taken over Porsche, Porsche is rumored to get a Tiguan-sized "soft-roader".
I can't help thinking we are heading into a repeat of the '70s when cars hit a peak....then overnight became monstrosities.
I think we hit that a year or two ago.
Steve Chryssos wrote:
AH! OH! Crap! I wish I hadn't done that! 
I'm over the noses, just in time for Acura to do an emergency change for 2012.
Does anyone else find it easier just to say "Shawd?"
Why wasn't the S2000 an Acura?
Why did Honda get rid of their NSX halo?
If the TSX is intended to compete with the 3-series BMW (which it is), then why doesn't Honda get serious about it and offer an M-class beater (for thousands and thousands less). Well, OK. Maybe that's a stretch, but would it be that hard to match wits with a 335i? They have all the right lumber in the shed. Just need to nail the boards together.
ZDX? Who cares?
Weird. Why was it so near the top?
There are a ton of filters you can apply to change the order of forum post appearance. No blood, no foul. Just because it's old doesn't mean there's nothing else to say about it. 
A canoe brought it back from the dead. I guess it got deleted.
