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Comments
The TL leather is a definite step or two up from the Accord, as is the seat design. I have a 2002 Honda S2000 and, manual adjustments and all, think the leather seats (made by Recarro, I believe) are the best I've sat in. The TL seats are a notch below the BMW 5-series sport seats and Volvo, but are well above the Accord and others that simply put leather over a chair. The leather quality appears to be above average.
As for the Lexus comparison, I concur that they have some of the best interiors and leather quality in the business, but the seat design itself is not as form fitting as the TL. Not to mention that the rest of the car drives like a very high quality Buick. We may very well end up with a GX470 as our next SUV, but the Lexus line does not include a single sports sedan that I find enjoyable to drive. If you don't care that much about driving dynamics, the ES330 may be worth considering for you, but it never came close to making it to my short list.
Thank you for your posts. I agree that the Lexus leather is outstanding; however, I too am not excited by the ES300 for the same reasons -- the ES300 seems more fitting for my father who is 72, and not for me at age 37. I am happy to hear that the leather is better than the Accord leather, and that the seats are designed better.
If you think the Accord leather is "plasticky," you might think the TL's leather is "rubbery." It is grippier, so you don't slide as much.
If you want to see some plasticky leather that makes the Accord look like a Lexus, look at leather in almost any Pontiac.
http://www.freep.com/money/autoreviews/phelan22_20040422.htm
Spec package ? I'm particularly interested in knowing how the suspension, tires and brakes affect performance.I plan to test drive one but would appreciate comments from posters who have one.Thanks.
I've been lurking the dark corners for the past few months researching this and that and I finally pulled the trigger yesterday on a Metallic Anthracite 6MT non-navi. Hopefully the dealer will find my baby in the next few days so I can get started breaking her in!
What I was wondering, has anyone had any experience self-installing the splash guards? Dealer price is too steep for something can be purchased for cheap on E-bay and that seems easy enough to install yourself.
Contributions appreciated!!
At least try it, and tell him that you've got friends who had this done at other dealers without any hassle, which is true.
Plus, get the trunk tray thrown in while you're at it. Some have also gotten the wheel locks and/or all-weather floor mats included for free.
Be firm. Good luck.
Seems to suggest that the TL is a very poor handling car, which is inconsistent with my test drive of a 6-speed. However, I will give another test drive myself to make sure before I make the plunge. After driving home in my S2000 yesterday with the top down in great weather, I sure don't want to trade it (and my Maxima) for a poor handler.
And not to discredit Mr. Phalen, but he does write for the Detroit Free Press and thinks the Pontiac Grand Prix GTP is the pinnacle of handling. Take that for what it's worth.
P.S. Has anyone test driven both the automatic and 6-speed extesively enough to notice a difference in their suspensions and handling? If so, comments?
I'm still going to give the TL a mor thorough test drive myself, but Phalen has marginal credibility at best.
Yeah, I wonder about that as well. I don't think mags such as Car and Driver would ever agree with his statements.
"This was most apparent over 40 m.p.h. Driving up Woodward Avenue, even slight bumps and changes in the road surface would lead the TL's nose to dip disconcertingly toward the next lane. The same wanderlust showed up in highway driving, creating the unnerving feeling that I had to hang on to the steering wheel for dear life at all times."
Mine are autos, so that might makes a difference.
AWD will add at least a couple of hundred pounds to the car, but it will still be front heavy and, unless I'm mistaken, the car will still be a FWD car unless wheel slippage is detected. At least that's the way the MDX and Pilot work.
I'm sure an AWD TL will handle better in the slush and snow, but don't count on it being a better balanced car or better cornering on dry pavement. As far as I'm concerned, they can keep the extra 200+ lbs, especially given the TL's high horsepower, but low torque engine.
Other opinions?
Actually, your assumption that Acura's new SH-AWD system works like other AWD systems or will perform any better or worse than FWD on dry payment is incorrect. When road traction is compromised not only does this system vary the power to the wheels appropriately, as with Infiniti, Audi, BMW, etc. -- it does something that no other drive system in the world does. It also varies power to the wheels based on applied G-forces the car endures, say in a corner turn for example. So, even on clean, dry pavement the system works to maximize performance and handling. In other words...the perfect drive system! And by the way, I am an engineer. ;-)
regards,
kyfdx
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I appreciate your explanation, but since you are an engineer, another questions. :-)
It would seem to me that the "killer" AWD system you describe would help offset some of the negatives, but aren't FWD and FWD based AWD cars just inherently imbalanced? Most are 60/40 front weight biased and still use the steering front wheels to pull the car through turns. I personally can't imagine a heavier AWD vehicle with a 60/40 weight balance feeling as crisp as my S2000 or the BMW M3.
kyfdx,
Which brings me to the A4/S4. I would acknowlege that the A4 Quatro seems to handle better than the FWD version, but it still feels front heavy to me and offers nowhere near the handling feel of a 330i, in my opinion. Same with the S4 vs. M3.
It seems to me that RWD with it's 50/50 weight balance and lighter weight is a better handling alternative than AWD with a 200+ pound weight disadvantage and 60/40 distribution. At least on dry pavement. But I concede Acura's system (and Audi's) may offer handling advantages over pure FWD.
In case of RL, SH-AWD apparently is setup to sharpen the run around the corners. ATTS from Prelude SH, now serving the rear wheels, with some improvements and additions to boot including a speed device which can turn the outer wheel faster than the inner wheel and should help the dynamics of the car going around the corner.
And now, back to the TL.
regards,
kyfdx
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The dealer actually brought one in last week on a dealer-trade from Alberta. They were nice enough to inform me of the circumstances and gave me an option to take it, or wait. I chose to wait 'cause I don't like dealer-trades, and I wanted to inspect the car before they prepped it.
robertsmx - well stated
Obviously, in considering the TL, I need to be willing to make some trade-off between all out handling and overall versitility. Plus the overall package of the TL - features, aesthetics, high reliability, price, etc - is tough to beat. I just need to verify through another test drive or two that I am sufficiently pleased with my subjective opinion of the handling of the 6-speed.
My comments/questions have been more towards the "academic" side of the handling issue. I will be anxious to see, with all of it's ultra high technology, whether the "Super Handling" AWD Acura RL can match the simplistic old fashioned RWD 530i sport. Technology has helped my golf game, but I'm no Tiger Woods (or should I now say, Phil Mickelson)!
Back to the TL as the Host suggests.
If you are worried about handling the TL is in a different league form your car.
I test drove both and was impressed with the six speed-the car as some get up to it.
Right now I am enjoying the "S" - what a sweet ride for an automatic.
I will be back in the market in 2006 when my car is paid off-by then the market should be flooded with lots of good choices, I saw them (cars) at the NYC Auto Show.
My local dealer (Gunn Acura ) are asking $1800 dollars....
big Difference..
Please tell me if you have had anydealings with Curry Acura or honda in Mass.
Thanks
regards,
kyfdx
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I personally don't buy them. It's always cheaper in the long run (otherwise they wouldn't be making money off the extended warranties). Only exception is if you can't afford a large repair bill and you roll the cost into your monthly payment. But if you can afford $1500 to buy one now I would argue that you can afford to pay for a repair, even a major one.
Have heard that no one will know where you purchased it anyway...Correct
thanks about the no negative info.
Regards
sonny
Regards
sonny
regards,
kyfdx
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I couldnt take my eyes of it. Its so cool.
Congratulation, hals120. Watch out for tall puppy syndrome.