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Acura CL
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Comments
This is my first posting, and I'd be grateful for any knowledge on this issue. I'll be leasing a new car in December 2002 (that's when I have to hand in my old leased car). Normally, that's the best time to get a new car, in my case the week of Christmas. But since Acura CL (and TL) will be changed for 2004, and become available in the spring of 2003, I was wondering about the availability of the 2003 CL-S this December. In other words, will Acura stop producing the 2003 coupe soon, with consequent reduction of availability when I'm ready to lease?
Thanks for any advice.
RJ
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
As an addendum to the dealer fix, the day after the repair we noticed the rear bumper cover was scuffed. Since the dealer's service dept was the likely reason for the scuffs, they agreed, insisted actually, that they pay to have the bumper repainted. That's customer service!
I have no problem with Acura/Honda quality at all, especially compared to my 2001 Chevy, and especially for the price ($26K).
One area that can stand improvement, though, is the thickness of the sheet metal, and the quality/durability of their paint.
2001 CL-S, 17 months old and 17,700+ miles and not ONE problem. You are the FIRST one to mention an armrest problem. Never heard of this one. As for the 6-speed- never drove one. Not interested in shifting. The automatic is fine and fast enough for me. This is the best car I have ever owned! Love the "roar/rumble" of the dual exhausts when you floor it and leave everyone in the dust.
If you question Acura quality, go check out some Chrysler products. Better yet, ask people that you see in parking lots that have a DC product. See what they say. Better yet. Go to http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov and check out the Technical Service Bulletins for DC products. Go back a few years. You'll see the SAME problems listed year, after year, after year! They are slow learners for sure
You'll come RUNNING back to Acura! ;-)))
fastdriver
I find the shifter to be typical Honda - very smooth and positive. If anything, the shift effort might be a bit too light. I don't find it to be notchy, although I can on occasion "get lost" in the gears. I think that a 5-speed probably would've been fine for the job, as the 3.2 liter motor has a very broad torque band.
As far as build quality goes - I've seen no flaws yet, and only one design issue: the fuel filler release can sometimes be balky.
If I could change anything, I'd make the car RWD, firm up the supension a bit, and trim off some of the excess length & weight. Minor quibbles, really, as the car has been everything that I expected from it.
It seems to be a typical Honda 'plant. It likes to rev (unless its hot out).
The performance is completely independent of A/C use.
On a more upbeat note - I just replaced my stock shift knob with a Momo short anatomic knob. Tres cool!
Not so with my base CL
Mmmm.. if that was the case, my CL-S should have been moving like a SLUG last week here in So. CT with the weather we had. Not so.
Are you using premium gas?
fastdriver
Haven't posted in about a year,now. I bought my CL-S in August of last year and 5 days later, WHAMMO...rear-ended on the highway! Spoiled my whole new car experience, especially after I got it back from the dealer's body shop in less than perfect shape. The word "Acura" was on a downhill slope and too low on the trunk. They made it right on the second try.
My car just hit 15,000 miles. It's going in for the recommended service. BTW, my car still kicks *ss and I use regular unleaded gas. I haven't noticed any wind noise from the moonroof. I haven't had any problems to date, except for some pesky paint chips on front of the car...I honestly think it was caused by bugs and that really ticks me off. I had better paint quality on my 1995 Grand Prix. It's got a dent in the roof from an acorn or pebble, I have no idea how it happened. The only thing I've noticed is a slight shudder when I brake from time to time. It's due for a brake inspection, anyway. I am surprised by a brake issue after only 1 year, though. I don't think I'm particularly hard on them, but my hubby might not agree. ;-P I just got a warning from a state trooper for speeding. Hee-hee! Must be that new laser, cause my radar detector didn't even give me a heads up. So, now I drive in the slower lane on cruise control to keep me out of trouble! The car just WANTS to do 80. I can't help it!
I finally Zaino'd it in the Spring. It looks awesome and the dirt and bugs come right off now.
Well, gotta go. Be good to your CL's!
Dee in NJ
I don't want to see any of you CL people doing any more than 60 max!
HOW can you go more than 60 in NY OR NJ with all that traffic??? Come to CT and look for Dee's twin and you'll see 80 as I fly past you- conditions permitting of course. ;-))
fastdriver
I don't know what roads you travel on, but I-95 and I-91 RARELY have ANY State Police on them! I have NO clue WHERE they are, but it's not on those roads- at least when I'm on them. I know that every holiday, the CT State Police make a BIG thing about being on the roads looking for speeders and drunk drivers, but as far as I'm concerned, it's all talk and NO SHOW just like Chrysler's "award-winning 5-STAR" dealers!
What roads do you see them on?
fastdriver
Obi
Nope! They're both interstate highways. NO donut shops, not even Krispy Creme!
fastdriver
Well, truck drivers and concert bus drivers need to be curtailed a little. They're another breed altogether. Talk about tailgaters! Guess I've just been lucky then if there's that many out there. They're doing a good job of hiding.
fastdriver
(note about noise in sunroof, try getting a conditioner for rubber, I used that one from Prolong Oil and it goes away, Armor all SUCKS don't even bothers, you need one that feels like conditioner for your hair)
I had to replace the transmission at about 10K miles. The new transmission does not shift smooth like the original did
My memory feature has never worked on the mirrors, it would put the mirror to a totally different position or just not move them at all. I never noticed till my mother needed to borry the car. I took it in, had her pick it up, and they go and tell me that I don't know what I am talking about. << I am pissed, going back this monday.
Now the button to turn the tilt off when putting the car in reverse doesn't work at all
Car had a ruff idol, seems to shake alot when in park and even when the car has already been driven
CD Player is already starting to get stuck with CDs and I don't even use it that much.
Navigation Systems has froze on me like your PC would but took like a day or two to work again, Iwould just get a blank screen.
MY biggest complaint is that before I even hit a 1000 mile I had to replace 3 tires, and I think they were not made to standard because I put 3 of the same tires back on (deal would not replace them) and they have held up to now. Also 2 rims got messed up because of the tires not taking the shock.
As far as everything else the car seems fine, I do smoke alot of cars, even 8 cyl cars.
I can keep up with the Mustang GT for the most part and still keep ahead of these new model cars that the other dealers are coming out with to over do what Acura Did on the CL-S
Sounds like you should have made use of your state's lemon law. Also sounds like you caught a bad one. Happens to all car makers, so I've been told many times!
Maybe if you didn't smoke them so much, things would run a little better.
Hope things improve for you.
fastdriver
Thanks you,
Vafornia
Give it the once over, yourself, to check the physical condition, and get a feel for how the deadbeats took care of it, And, a full inspection by an independant mechanic for around $100. There are even services that come to you or the dealer. I believe one is called "Lemonbusters.com"
And acura-cl.com rules!!!
You're right on both counts! This topic is relatively dead compared to acura-cl.com I think the people here are more "conservative" while the other topic is made up of younger people doing all kinds of mods to their cars and many having all kinds of problems.
fastdriver
Is their spell checker WORSE than what's here? ;-))
fastdriver
What's everyone's opinion on the new Type S 17" wheels. They're nice, but I really like the old 5 spoke design. Do you think change was made for the sake of change?
I'm not sure if I've asked this already (please forgive me if I have), but are there any former Prelude owners here on the board? How does the CL compare to your Prelude?
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
I'm not a big fan of the new 17" wheels - though I feel the same about the previous ones, also. I think that the change was made primarily because the old Type-S wheels (the 5-spoke jobbies) were particularly susceptible to curb rash. Whatever the reason, I hope to eventually relegate mine to winter duty, replacing them with something else for the warm part of the year.
I drove a '97 Prelude (base five-speed) from 3/97 to 2/00. Memory fades, but I recall the Prelude being a much better handler (though I did have the Mugen Sport Suspension on mine). It was very sharp for a front wheel drive car. The CL has the advantage in swankiness, however - and having 232 lb-ft of torque to work with is very nice.
I didn't much like the stock wheels on the Prelude, either.
I guess even stock the prelude would handle better due to its shorter wheelbase, and it weighs 400+ lbs less.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
The suspension kit was also $1300, and in my mind was worth every penny. "Never go cheap, buy the best" is my motto when it comes to aftermarket parts.
In areas of higher elevation, forced induction is the way to go. I remember reading in the Saab magazine that I receive that they drag raced a BMW 540i Sport Wagon (4.4L 282hp & 320 lb-ft torque V8) against a Saab 9-5 Aero Wagon (2.3L Turbo 230hp & 252 lb ft torque I-4) at an airbase in Denver. The Saab's lowly 4 cylinder beat out the Big V8 of the BMW.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
i enjoy this car tremendously. i now consider the car broken in. my last 2 tanks
of fuel resulted in 29 mpg. i have never gotten below 25 mpg a tank. i drive 80%
of my miles on the highway and the remainder on city roads. this cl is getting
better fuel economy than some 4 cylinder cars my friends drive.
zaino: i want my car to look nice and be protected from the elements. if i ordered one
of every product suggested by the zaino people, i'd be spending roughly $170.00.
are these products worth their costs?
Personally I don't have the time to deal with Zaino, so I've been using other products.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
I've been using Mother's products, but Zaino users sure love their Zaino to the point of fanatacism and, quite often, insanity. It must be pretty good.