Odometer (Legend): 528,333
Odometer (ILX): 63,890
I made the realization the other day that I’ve been driving for half my life. This year – my 32nd – is the only year I’ll be able to say that. It’s been fascinating to see how far automotive technology and style have come in the last couple of decades. We now live in an age where cars are far smarter than their drivers, and it blows my mind.
A couple of weeks ago, my friend Devan came over to give me a hand with a detailing project. My buddy Jeremy recently picked up a 2004 Acura MDX that was absolutely covered in every possible dealer accessory. A few of those upgrades are tasteful, but for some reason those brown side moldings just didn’t do much for the look of the vehicle against the pearl white paint. Devan and I stripped the moldings off to give the MDX a cleaner look.
Before:
After:
I got thinking about all the ways people can customize a vehicle and how those styles have evolved in the last 20 years. The MDX had a gold emblem package (I thought those went out of style in the late 90’s!), moonroof visor, chrome wheels, and a bug guard. I remember how badly I wanted my mom to install these chrome fender flares on her 1993 Legend L sedan back in 1998:
For kicks, I pulled out some paperwork from my old Acura Legend GS. The shocker: The OEM (center console-mounted) cellular telephone was $1,143 in 1994. According to the Inflation Calculator, that’s $1,797 in 2013 dollars. Among other goodies on the list are sheepskin seat covers for $499 and gold exhaust tips for $130. I would love to get my hands on a set of the OEM fog lights since they’re long since discontinued, but $565? It’s no wonder they’re so rare to find on Legends today – they were spendy as all get-out! Let’s take a look at how the types of automotive accessories have evolved for Acura.
1994 Acura Legend Accessory Price List
2014 Acura ILX Accessory Price List
Gone are the days of gold emblems, sheepskins, and nose masks, but a few NEW things have made the roster. Mud guards are now called splash guards. Body side molding, which was standard on the Legend, costs $268 on the ILX. The price for an OEM car cover went from $175 to $242. And illuminated door sill trim was probably only a dream in the 1990’s, but can now be picked up for $499 in 2014.
My ILX is pretty highly optioned out. Here’s what I ended up with:
- All-Season Floor Mats
- Illuminated Door Sill Trim
- First Aid Kit
- Trunk Tray
- 17″ Diamond Cut Alloy Wheels
- Decklid Spoiler
- Front, Side, and Rear Underbody Spoilers
- Wheel Locks
All-in, my ILX accessories (“installed”) would ring up at $5,140.28! That works out to 17% of the ILX’s $29,200 list price! Few people are likely to spend such an amount to dress up their vehicles.
This was a fun video that was put together in June 2012 in collaboration with Acura on the day that my ILX was accessorized at Acura of Tempe, Arizona. Most of you have probably already seen it.
What kind of accessories will Acura be offering in the year 2034?
I know I’ve got my friends well-trained when they’re sending me Acura “spy photos” from the road, like my friend Jack did awhile back.
Have a great weekend!
drivetofive 