Another thread--ILX

[Integra Mom]

I have reason to replace my daily driver. Long story but I test drove the new ILX Hybrid. Yes, I do realize I would need to adjust my driving habits for hybrid--but I was left with one question after test drive.

What's the point of having a VTec Engine if you cannot make it VTec?

Just an observation.

 

[Samurai_Blue]

what?
They are all I-VTEC motors...only the 1.5 SOHC is a hybrid.

 

[Integra Mom]

*Sigh* and that may just explain away much.

Look...in area I am in..I had it on Interstate and back road twisties. The car I drove does not deserve that marketing moniker of: Vtec...I could get it to 72mph, but even from dead stop...no chance of seeing the benefts of buying the Vtec.

It was just an epic fail...reason why most choose not to buy hybrids..perhaps? Well, I cannot talk about them, but I do have a motorcycle...and I best be able to get out of the way when needed and this one car could not do that. I am just of the opinion, you do do not market it as Vtec....otherwise, you will damage the brand.

 

[JemmieN]

i'm confused... mind showing some specs of it?

 

[XjoEnX]

i'm confused... mind showing some specs of it?

I'm equally confused.

From what I can make of it, she wants to buy the ILX hybrid. However, it was advertised to her as i-VTEC equipped when it really isn't. But, she took one for a test drive and was disappointed that the hybrid did not engage the i-VTEC when she smashed on it. So she made this thread to get clarification and thinks her local Acura dealership is destroying themselves by lying to customers about the hybrid ILX?

I don't even know if I translated that correctly.

 

[klutchDb7]

That's what I got too^

 

[goofygamer]

I'm not sure of the hybrid's specs, but Vtec isn't only used for DOHC motors. Honda introduced vtec into other types of Honda motors for better economized driving. You should not even be looking at a hybrid if you want power. It's just ridiculous to want to take a stock hybrid and compare its power to a DOHC vtec motor. I don't know the whole details, but if you just googled your issue, answers will show.

 

[Integra Mom]

Jemmie...even hybrid car sites haven't ranked it well yet, You just have try it out yourself. And yes...my issue is about how they are abusing a name....what can I say, a well known, trademarked, name can be abused...it would just hurt my feelings if they continued in this folly, because it simply is not a benefit or feature I test drove for, had some of their competition perform better...I understand they have a market for it, but it should be seperate, and the marketing forces changed to meet the demand. I happen to appreciate and love the technology branded as Vtec.

 

[Nick_C78]

I have already touched on what vtec really is in another thread this week. Many people think it is hondas power adder, but technically it is the opposite. Let me find the post I made:

Some of it doesn't exactly pertain to this thread, but still.

Many people don't know what vtec really is. Have any of you actually taken apart an entire vtec head and observed it? It is pretty cool to see how simple it really is, which is what makes it so genius. Like they said the solenoid is just an on off switch. All it really does is move a pin and activates a rod that shifts some other pins over the locks your rockers together. By doing this, it allows that large center lobe on your cams to work its magic. When you are out of vtec, that center lobe does nothing to the valves. In fact the center rocker just sort of moves up and down freely without having any impact on the valves.

Vtec itself is really just a way of letting you have an economical car, but still be able to have a sport feel when you want it. Having a large lift cam and a small lift cam at the same time. If it was solely a power thing, why would there be vtec killer cams? Vtec killer cams make your standard cam lobes the same size as your vtec lobe. Essentially making it in vtec all the time. However, having the smaller lobes also helps with lower rpm performance. Which is why the variable valve set up is very handy.

Vtec was never really designed to be a way to make the a car fast. It is a way to make a car more efficient. That car you test drove did have vtec, the crossover just wasn't as insane as you are probably use to, because it is afterall a hybrid. Its only purpose in life is economy. It would be stupid for honda marketing-wise to not label it as vtec, when it does technically have it.

Edit: Also, whats really hurting the honda name is the fact that they haven't made a decent track car since the s2k. And 1 good sports car in the last decade is not a good track record, imo. Especially when you look at how insane honda was in the 90's. I want them to do a true remake of the dc2, because honestly I was disappointed by the dc5. And these new civic si's are a joke.

 

[NemesisCBR]

I think the dc5 and its ensuing termination (integras) had everything to do with marketing choices. Ive only heard a few things about the ilx and they were comments of interest in the car but bottom line you have to like the car yourself regardless of others. Most of what i might say about vtec has already been stated so essentially it should clear the air a bit and give u a broader perspective on vtec and its applications/uses. Vtec is a technology, does not mean its fast. Just like many cars come factory with turbo, some supercharged but doesnt make them fast.