Economy Doesn't Have to Mean Misery

Economy. It's a buzzword that's been on the lips of nearly everyone for the past decade. Whether it's referring to our economic practices as a country or the fuel economy of a car, the American people have a good idea of just what economy means. And for automobiles, that usually means more negatives, from an enthusiast's standpoint, than positives.

Automobiles today are becoming more and more advanced, all the while becoming safer, easier to operate, and more efficient than ever. On the other hand, cars in the present day are also being pushed to broader audiences. Not to mention these advances in technology usually mean sacrificing quality for the sake of quantity and ultimately affordability.

Over the past couple decades, we've seen plenty of truly miserable economy cars here in the US. However, all is not lost, as several pristine apples refuse to be spoiled by the bunch.

One of these apples is the new joint project between Toyota and Subaru (although Toyota can only take credit for a couple of small improvements). This 2012 venture has resulted in the Scion FR-S (deemed the Toyota 86 overseas) and the Subaru BRZ, rear engine Japanese sports car that keep affordability in mind. These two hark back to the essence of Japanese sports cars from decades past. The lightweight coupe body is mounted to a Subaru-designed sport suspension, with power being sorted by a standard 6 speed manual transmission and delivered to the rear wheels by Subaru's familiar 2.0 liter boxer powerplant. This setup will return you 34mpg on the highway, on the way home from a blast through the mountain passes, no doubt. And what's the price for this back road bruiser? Why, it's only a couple bills over $25,000.

But what if you're looking for something with a little more heritage? Well, not to worry, because the Mazda Miata is here. In fact, it's been here since its launch in 1989. Drawing on inspiration from classic British sports cars like the Lotus Elan and Triumph Spifire, the Miata enjoyed massive success, employing the same modest dimensions and front-engine rear-wheel-drive layout of its predecessors. Much like the Porsche 911, the Mazda Miata has only grown better with age. Refreshed for 2014, the Miata comes with a 167 horsepower engine mated to either a 5 or 6 speed manual gearbox. This Sport trim level will net you a combined 25mpg, which isn't brilliant, but at a price that is: $23,720.

What if you're leaning toward a hot hatchback, though? I can hardly blame you, as there have been a myriad of truly epic five door wonders redefining the joys of driving for the past couple decades. For the purest driving pleasure with arguably the most practicality, we need to steer towards Ford. More specifically, the all-new Ford Fiesta ST. This is a five door, five passenger hatchback that's powered by an Ecoboost four cylinder that will have you giggling like a school girl at recess. At its peak, this turbocharged powerplant is producing 197 horsepower and 202 pound feet of torque, which is a lot, considering the car only weighs 2,700 pounds. Mated to a six speed manual, this car is built with the cash-conscious enthusiast in mind, returning over 30mpg on the combined cycle. With a base price of $21,400, this is also the least expensive of the group.

As we press forward into a world with increasing demands of efficiency, safety, and simplicity, we need to be reminded that cars like this still exist and are still being built and sold right now. Rather than being cars for all people, these cars are instead made for those of us who enjoy the feeling of connectivity to controls, to the road underneath us, and to the activity of driving. However, each of these three cars could easily be used everyday and while they may not be practical for everything, they can be depended on for one thing: to consistently put smiles on the faces of their drivers.

Why "Refined Luxury" Was Doomed From The Start

Every distinguished car brand has their flagship model: the dealership showroom's dazzling centerpiece that's meant not to sell in outrageous numbers, but to showcase the very best that company can offer the public.

Since 1986, Acura had been winning over their fair share of former BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Lexus owners with the Legend, a front-wheel-drive six cylinder sedan which boasted lavish interior amenities paired with--cough-- legendary Honda reliability.

However, By 1996, Acura felt it was time for a change. The Legend saw decent sales in the United States, but the numbers were dwindling as the competition started bringing out the big guns.

Lexus had just released a new LS which managed to be faster, quieter, and more economical than the previous model while still sporting a classically desirable V8, rear-wheel-drive configuration.

Honda execs felt that Acura's flagship needed a name that resonated with buyers of traditional German business wagens, so the Legend became the 3.5 RL (RL standing for "refined luxury").

With a 210 horsepower, longitudinally mounted V6, premium audio system, and a price several thousand dollars lower than it's closest competition, the RL looked like an undeniable success right out of the gate. But that wasn't the case.

By 1998, sales were dismal, and they only proceeded to get worse.

The RL was given a series of refreshes from 1999 to 2004. In 2005 the second generation was launced, which saw even worse numbers, despite boasting a clever all-wheel-drive system, keyless entry, and a more powerful engine.

It's difficult to pinpoint an exact reason why the RL was and continues to be so unsuccessful (it's still being sold today as the RLX). However, there are many different reasons that come together to paint the picture.

For one thing, Acura is not as well-established as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, or even Lexus. The brand still suffers the same sort of identity crisis faced by Lincoln and Cadillac. Acura vehicles are too closely based on their Honda counterparts to fully break away from Honda's image and models like the late RSX, Integra, and even NSX resonate far more with the type of buyers that Mercedes-Benz drivers sneer at from behind their UV-treated glass.

Another issue was the styling of the RL. Luxury flagships are meant to be conservatively styled, but the RL took the blandness to another level, with a truly forgettable interior and a drab exterior. Worse still, both the inside and outside of the car were still far too reminiscent of their Honda roots.

Those all-too-apparent underpinnings weren't just limited to the styling either. Buyers wanted --and still want-- a full-sized luxury sedan with a traditional front engine, rear drive formula, which Acura has historically refused to provide. Things got better in the second generation RL, which was available with all-wheel-drive, but the 290 horsepower produced by its V6 --the same powerplant found in the more popular TL-- ranked it far outside the competition.

These factors worked together to create a flagship vehicle that has been largely unsuccessful since its launch almost two decades ago. This is a pity, because RLs performed wonderfully, were built with fastidious attention to quality, and included technology that was on par with the luxury sedans of their time.

The upside to this is that a used RL can now be picked up for dirt cheap. Second generation RLs with low mileage can be had for $9,000-$17,000, while first gens can be picked up for under $7,000. So, you could have a brand new base model Dodge Dart, or the very best luxury car Honda can make. Your choice, really.