So specifically what about the European Accord-based TSX (smaller than American Accord) was somehow lacking compared to the ILX, which is just a Civic with leather seats and better audio and a 4 year warranty sold by a dealership with higher overhead and a *more* expensive service department?
SOMEBODY has to pay for the Acura dealer goodies that the Honda dealer doesn't have, and that's the sucker who buys the car.
And the ILX is so transparently nothing more Honda's Cimarron:
Honda's management has SERIOUSLY put their heads in the sand. You could probably ask them directly about why they think this is any different than the Cimarron situation, and they'd specifically deny having any knowledge of the Cimarron--which we all know is pure bullshit. Honda thinks THEY can do something that Cadillac couldn't do, because Honda thinks they're better. Honda thinks they can fool the buyers like this, and that the buyers are such idiots they'll respond in droves.
Civic Si w/nav and 18" alloys (factory leather not available), $27K MSRP. ILX 6 speed manual (nee Civic Si) with factory included leather plus a few goodies, $31K MSRP.
Or Civic Si w/nav and 18" alloys and aftermarket leather for less than $31K MSRP.
I'm deadly serious: what about a TSX is inferior to the ILX? And why pay a few thou more for the Acura badge when buying a Civic Si (for example)?