The S2000 model was released to mark Honda Motor Company's 50th Anniversary.

 

Would not have mattered to me what name is on the car. However, if I do have any work that needs to be done, I prefer to use the Acura service dept.

 

I think s2ktaxi hit upon the reason why we have Acura and Honda dealerships in this country. With the amount of Accords sold, giving all those customers really top-notch service/benefits would break the Honda bank. As separate dealerships Acura can extend a list of services/benefits that appease those who have spent a premium for their luxury car.
I for years have had my CRX-Si serviced at the local Acura dealership for this same reason. I love a good benefit!

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Schatten
[B]this has been argued upon in the past.

 

I would prefer to see the Acura badge on the S2000. They get a year extra warranty and their service is much better. If my car were to be in for an extended service I would much rather if the loner car was an acura (any) than the typical civic or accord (I've gone through this).

If I were to detail the trouble and treatment my dealer and AHM have put me through, you would think twice about buying another Honda.

 

Marketing aside, I think what it all boils down to is the quality of the dealer. I had an Acura and loved the service at the dealership. When I bought my Accord, I was afraid of what I'd run into at the Honda dealer. But after 6 years of taking the Accord in for service, and the two oil changes I've had with the S2000, I've been very satisfied, right down to the car wash my Accord got this week after my quick lunch hour oil change. Now if you want to talk about marketing ... that's a whole different discussion.

 

The marketing acura is doing is downright stupid for the NSX. All the NSX magazine ads I've seen show a road. No car, just a road. Now for a car that can't break past a few hundred sales units per year, why not show the car?

 

I think the reason the NSX is so rare has more to do with its price ($80K) than its advertising support, don't you? I don't think you should generalize about the quality (or lack thereof) of Honda service. I'm sure there are good dealers and bad ones; I'm equally sure the same is true of Acura. I'm glad my S2000 is a Honda; I'm glad my wife's Acura CL is a Honda.

 

Considering the S600 I think the S2000 would have been a huge mistake as an acura. Got to keep it at its roots as a Honda.

 

it's my understanding that it was considered (however briefly), and that Acura dealers lobbied heavily for the S2000 to be badged an Acura. from a business perspective i think Honda made the right decision. they needed the sports car halo pretty badly, whereas Acura is very nearly a lost cause. before they get a sports car halo, they need a flagship that someone (anyone, anyone at all) will buy, as they are fast becoming the cut-rate luxury carmaker that is laughably inferior to products from Lexus, Infiniti, and basically everyone else. Of course the RSX, CL, and TL are successes, but the RL is an abortion.

the only reason i wish it were an Acura are for service reasons. a lot of people tend to ask me what i drive, and it's a great comfort to be able to deflect them with "oh, just a Honda".