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Acura would be much better off to load up on an all-new RL with AWD, 325+ HP, and all the electronic gizmo they can think of.
Question: Any of you here drive the CL-S 6-spd? I never got a chance to so I was interested in some feedback on the combination. I assume the same setup will be "re-tuned" for the new TL?
How do people get disappointed when Acura never made any comments or announcements indicating that the TL would have AWD in the first year or ever?
The CL was looking old compared to the TSX and the new TL and this car had about 130 miles on it , probably like the ones I put on it. Actually there were two six sppeds a black with tan and a silver with black. I really wanted a black with black with Nav ; no 6-speed navs to be found ( an the new nave is so much better).
In January 2001 we purchased TWO of these vehicles. The TL 4 door sedan in 2001 was available ONLY with the 225 hp engine,and that is what we bought, but the CL coupe had the S engine option and we bought a type S car here. Both cars are 5 speed automatic cars with no options other than trunk mat and mud guards, everything else being standard. The S car came with memory seats and an in dash 6 disc CD changer(which should have been standard and now is on the TL beginning with the 2002 model year) and 17 inch tires 215 x 50 aspect ratio tires as opposed to the 205 x 60 aspect ration 16 inch tires on the TL. The engines are the other difference.
Now with 39K miles on the TL we love the car totally except for the missing memory seats and the CD changer. The ride is excellent although clearly weighted towards the stiff side of the handling spectrum as opposed to the softer riding Lexus vehicles and the engine is quite smooth and has adequate if not excellent power across the entire power band. We love it. The car replaced a 1998 RL Special Edition which was a bit too large and soft riding a car for us. The TL is a better fit for our needs.
But we must tell you that the S car is just SO MUCH MORE a road vehicle that the comparison is not even close. That engine is just so much fun to tip into every so often that it just makes the CL-S car even more pleasant to drive. So a TL with the S engine would be the best of both worlds, not so? We would be buying one in January 2004 if it were not being replaced by the new TL car which should be even more a road car from what we are seeing....more power, bigger brakes, all the good stuff standard and not optional as one finds in the Infiniti G35 cars.
Make no mistake about it, the TL is a fine car and an excellent investment, but the S car is the one to buy whether you have four or two doors in mind.
Problems, yes of course. I knew the transmission was in some difficulty at 12K miles when I changed the fluid (which was looking grey in color and not pink as anticipated) and found lots of grey sludge adhering to the magnetic plug. I took a sample and presented it to Acura service and was told "perfectly normal"....right! I continued to change fluid at 12K intervals and remove less material from the plug but was not comfortable with the trans. At 35920 miles last week the S car ate the transmission as we anticipated it would be doing according to the Acura letter we received a year ago advising of some extra ordinary transmission problems before we had them. The car now has a totally new transmission and trans computer (plus a new engine fuel pressure regulator....why that item was changed I can not imagine) and they even furnished a new dip stick for the trans! The car is like new and the 2-3 shift is more firm than it ever was. Our TL with more miles is not showing any transmission difficulties.
Tires were a bit of a disappointment as the 50 series tires are very short in static loaded radius and therefore transmit a bit more road "feel" to the seat of your pants. And I blew one tire in a small pothole after a snow storm that should have not been a problem. I was travelling slowly and the pothole was not deep, but apparently I hit it just right to rip open the side wall of the tire. I would prefer to have 225 x 60 16 inch tires on this car and not the 50 series but I also see that in 2001 when this car was new 215 x50 17 tires were RARE and now they are showing up on all sorts of sport sedans and coupes do I guess the 50 series is here to stay.
The S car replaced a 95 Mitsubishi 3000 GT car and is more car in every way. We used to purchase Legend 2 door coupes with the more powerful engine and frankly the CL-S car is everything the old (1993 and 1995 models) Legend Coupe was for us.....at 10,000.00 dollars less money. That is surely a winner.
So friends, if you are in the market for a TL or CL before they go away in October 2003, go for the S version. It is truly worth every penny more.
Fuel mileage is 1 mpg LOWER in the S car than the normal TL (perhaps because of the tendancy to enjoy the engine a bit) but they are both OVER 30 MPG at constant 70 mph (1900 engine rpm in gear 5) and around town in mixed driving we get 24 MPG on the TL and 23 on the S car. We surely can live with that.
Short story - I've never owned a more reliable car. It's a great highway cruiser and has been exceptionally cheap to own and run. If you like 3-series BMWs, for example, you'll find that it isn't a great-handling car... but for luxury on the cheap, with safety and long life, I think it's among the best. I'd own another in a minute.
The S model does pump things up a bit. I have a TL-S and when I get a TL loaner, there are so many differences. I'm glad I spent the extra $2k on the S.
I also had a '95 Legend LS Coupe 6-speed. LOVED that car.
I wish MD(mini disc)player in tl.
Downside: 45 grand to start, I've seen them on the lots for 50K. THe TL should be around 32-35K, also would like to keep my next vehicle for about 7-10 years and Volvo's reliability is still a bit sketchy IMO. Also if I were to go the R route, I would go with the V70 merely for the utility that comes along with the excitment.
Just curious, How do you sum up the reliability of your 99 TL? Has it been good to you?
Oh, I think I know how they fixed them. With every new (refurbished) tranny replacement they started including a new Power Control Module that somewhat reduces the engine's power. What a great idea.
Eddie G
The TL-S also retards the engine when a wheel slips. Plus, the TL-S adds stability control to the mix.
In a nutshell, the differences are:
more HP
17" Tires (vs 16)
stiffer suspension
different seats
different gauges
VSA vs TCS
If you go to www.acura.com they mention the S type extras in more detail.
In addition, the TL isn't force to have AWD because it is already a 4-season vehicle. Currently the G35 can't claim that which maybe affecting its sales in the Northern areas of the US. AWD would definitely help G35 sales in those areas.
In the end, the TL will still be a more polished, refined sports sedan than the G35 even with AWD.
Personally, I'm actually trying to decide between the TL and the Lexus RX330. I know it's kind of odd to cross-shop these 2, but I wanted something with AWD. That's why I'm kind of disappointed the TL would not be offered with AWD. BUT, if the TL has Navi, that may be enough to sway me since I can't really afford an RX with Navi.
I actually am leasing an RX300 now. I like how well it is built - nothing rattles. But it has a mushy ride.
Just pray you don't get into any accidents with a Pearl color car.The paint is a three stage process and body shops hate repairing this color.
Secondly, if you do have an accident, you need to find the right Body Shop.The color is very difficult to match and if not match properly you are going to end up with two different shades of white.
I am not discouraging you from getting the WDP, my previous Millenia was that color and so is my current TLS.
Just don't get into any accidents or any major scrathes ie- keying.
Mishima - The back of the Accord is not pretty, but I think the rest looks great.
I do see a few architectural similarities between the Accord and new TL. But the sheetmetal on the TL is both more traditional in some places and more bold in others. They each have a unique style.
I understand that the Maxima gained about 200 lbs. from the 2003 to the 2004 model. That illustrates the efficiency of Nissan's design, that they could pack in what looks to be 1000 lbs. worth of additional ugly and keep the weight increase to only 200 lbs.
Do you think there will be a 3-4 month waiting list like there was for the MDX during its first year on the market?
-Brian
When the dealer has only a dozen MDXs and knows they won't get replaced soon, they are willing to let customers walk and wait for the next guy who is willing to pay MSRP or higher.
I'm ready to buy something now, but there is NO way that I will pay MSRP or higher. I'll just have to wait. Otherwise, I'll have to settle for a TSX or Accord ES-V6.
Frank D.
As for the images of the new '04 TL, it sort of reminds me of the BMW 3 Series at certain angles. Both look nice.
In New York area you can get a G35 with Nav, leather, and loaded with goodies for under 33K. Mind you, they are selling near INVOICE. The New TL is expected to START in the Low 30's and go upwards to 40 (maybe) So aples to aples a new TL with Nav, leather and goodies will most likely be more expensive than a G35...and by the way the G35 is not too shaby.
So in my opinion you are wrong by saying "The TL will be 3K less than the G35"
My 2 cents