2009 Acura TL

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: GoatMonkey
The TSX would also be much better looking with 300hp and AWD, performance really improves styling.

no, only subaru is allowed to do that =P

Originally posted by: halik
Oooh not bad, that's the best execution of that new acura grille yet. I guess they took all the negative comments about the TSX to heart...

umm... the grille looks mostly the same to me. ugly giant solid piece of "ick"

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: randomlinh

umm... the grille looks mostly the same to me. ugly giant solid piece of "ick"

Me too. If anything it looks even bigger and uglier. I have never bought an aftermarket accessory to improve a car's appearance, but if I bought a TSX or TL (which is wildly unlikely, as I prefer my 330i to either), I would have to pop on some kind of aftermarket piece to replace that awful grille. I presume there will be aftermarket grilles made, since Honda makes great cars and that thing is sheer hideousness.

Honestly I don't know what the hell is going on with Honda. The new Accord is a poor design IMO, and the new Acuras are just dreadful. The new Pilot also seems like a step backwards. I do like the Civic, the Element and the Fit for what they are, however.

 

[AMCRambler]

"Buzz! Your girlfriend! Woof!"

 

[ayabe]

Performance will be about the same taking into account the extra drag and weight of AWD.

Still, probably a welcomed addition.

Something that sticks in my craw a little is this statement:

"Even more newsworthy is a new all-wheel-drive variant (maybe this will finally tame the TL's torque steer) that incorporates Acura?s sensational ?Super Handling? all-wheel-drive system."

Sensational?

I haven't driven the RL or the RDX or whatever it is that has this same system, but I had read conflicting reports on it's actual effectiveness at combating understeer.

Can anyone chime in who has firsthand knowledge?

 

[Arkaign]

Originally posted by: ayabe
Performance will be about the same taking into account the extra drag and weight of AWD.

Still, probably a welcomed addition.

Something that sticks in my craw a little is this statement:

"Even more newsworthy is a new all-wheel-drive variant (maybe this will finally tame the TL's torque steer) that incorporates Acura?s sensational ?Super Handling? all-wheel-drive system."

Sensational?

I haven't driven the RL or the RDX or whatever it is that has this same system, but I had read conflicting reports on it's actual effectiveness at combating understeer.

Can anyone chime in who has firsthand knowledge?

Yes, I had a kitted-up Prelude SH 5G, and the ATTS did an admirable job. I imagine it's improved, that was ~10 years ago.

 

[DomS]

Is...is that a lexus GS.....

 

[aphex]

It looks nice, as if it had been released in 2002

Seriously, the look is tired already.

Thumbs down.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Arkaign
Yes, I had a kitted-up Prelude SH 5G, and the ATTS did an admirable job. I imagine it's improved, that was ~10 years ago.

I also had an SH prelude. It handled like it was on rails and actually had zero understeer with just a touch of oversteer. Weird for a FWD car, but it worked really well.

 

[JJ650]

Just on looks alone, I'm glad I got an '08 TL-S.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Edmunds has several actual pics of the car up today. I hate its looks in more or less every way. As dreadful as the front end is (which is a lot), I think the rear is just as bad. The whole thing makes me want to vomit. Even the interior is inexplicably lumpy and awkward.

 

[thomsbrain]

I would say that 305 HP would be enough to over-come AWD drag and out-run the current Type-S model's 286 HP. It will now be able to really pull off the line instead of scrambling for grip. To put this in context, the Type-S will probably sell for around $40K. Configure a BMW 535xi with the features that even the current-gen TL-S already has, and you're looking at more than $60K. The new TL-S would be a no-brainer.

As far as SH-AWD, Car and Driver has this to say regarding the RL:

As before, the RL?s niftiest gizmo is its Super Handling All-Wheel Drive, which selectively overspeeds outside wheels to induce yaw and create the impression of livelier steering. It works, keeping the RL near the top of our handling charts. Also, as before, you must be caning the car hard through corners to enjoy its full benefits, an exercise most luxury-car buyers do as often as most SUV buyers go winch crawling. Despite the flashier look and feel, the RL?s best assets thus remain hidden.

They've also had nothing but praise for the system in the MDX and RDX.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: thomsbrain
I would say that 305 HP would be enough to over-come AWD drag and out-run the current Type-S model's 286 HP. It will now be able to really pull off the line instead of scrambling for grip. To put this in context, the Type-S will probably sell for around $40K. Configure a BMW 535xi with the features that even the current-gen TL-S already has, and you're looking at more than $60K. The new TL-S would be a no-brainer.

As far as SH-AWD, Car and Driver has this to say regarding the RL:

As before, the RL?s niftiest gizmo is its Super Handling All-Wheel Drive, which selectively overspeeds outside wheels to induce yaw and create the impression of livelier steering. It works, keeping the RL near the top of our handling charts. Also, as before, you must be caning the car hard through corners to enjoy its full benefits, an exercise most luxury-car buyers do as often as most SUV buyers go winch crawling. Despite the flashier look and feel, the RL?s best assets thus remain hidden.

They've also had nothing but praise for the system in the MDX and RDX.

I don't doubt the TL will be decent to drive, but would be stunned if it is a realistic competitor for a 5 series dynamically. I frankly don't regard a FWD-biased AWD car with an automatic transmission as a true sports sedan, no matter what continent it comes from. The fact that the TL is literally one of the world's ugliest cars is only part of the reason I can't imagine buying one. (And before you presume I'm an anti-Honda guy, I have owned an Integra GS-R and two Accords and loved my dad's two Legends.)

 

[GoatMonkey]

I predict strong sales in Acura TL aftermarket grilles.

Great looking interior though. I like the wheels too.

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: Don Vito Corleone

Originally posted by: thomsbrain
I would say that 305 HP would be enough to over-come AWD drag and out-run the current Type-S model's 286 HP. It will now be able to really pull off the line instead of scrambling for grip. To put this in context, the Type-S will probably sell for around $40K. Configure a BMW 535xi with the features that even the current-gen TL-S already has, and you're looking at more than $60K. The new TL-S would be a no-brainer.

As far as SH-AWD, Car and Driver has this to say regarding the RL:

As before, the RL?s niftiest gizmo is its Super Handling All-Wheel Drive, which selectively overspeeds outside wheels to induce yaw and create the impression of livelier steering. It works, keeping the RL near the top of our handling charts. Also, as before, you must be caning the car hard through corners to enjoy its full benefits, an exercise most luxury-car buyers do as often as most SUV buyers go winch crawling. Despite the flashier look and feel, the RL?s best assets thus remain hidden.

They've also had nothing but praise for the system in the MDX and RDX.

I don't doubt the TL will be decent to drive, but would be stunned if it is a realistic competitor for a 5 series dynamically. I frankly don't regard a FWD-biased AWD car with an automatic transmission as a true sports sedan, no matter what continent it comes from. The fact that the TL is literally one of the world's ugliest cars is only part of the reason I can't imagine buying one. (And before you presume I'm an anti-Honda guy, I have owned an Integra GS-R and two Accords and loved my dad's two Legends.)

I'm sure it will be available in a stick. The current model is. The TL isn't suppose to be a competitor of the 5 series, it's 20k cheaper afterall. The competitor of the 5 series would be the RL. Acura must have some big changes in store for it too. The RL really needs an 8 cylinder engine to make it on par with the 5.

I know I'm probably in the minority, but after seeing a new TSX yesterday, I like the new grille. I don't like the tail of the TL in those pics though. I've hated the 3,5, and 7 series ever since they were ruined by Bangle.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: Muadib

I'm sure it will be available in a stick. The current model is. The TL isn't suppose to be a competitor of the 5 series, it's 20k cheaper afterall. The competitor of the 5 series would be the RL. Acura must have some big changes in store for it too. The RL really needs an 8 cylinder engine to make it on par with the 5.

I know I'm probably in the minority, but after seeing a new TSX yesterday, I like the new grille. I don't like the tail of the TL in those pics though. I've hated the 3,5, and 7 series ever since they were ruined by Bangle.

I bet you're wrong about the transmission. They won't offer the SH-AWD car with a stick, because they won't be able to make a case for the cost of the R&D given how few they'll be able to sell - it'll be like the RL in that respect (or not - we shall see - I wouldn't be surprised to see them offer a stick on the base car but not the SH-AWD one, like what Lexus does with the IS). Shame if I'm right, because the Honda manual transmissions are great.

The only reason I was comparing this car to the 5 series is because the poster I quoted had done so. I will say that it appears to be significantly larger than a 3 series, and probably closer in size to a 5 series, but we'll have to wait and see in that respect.

I don't disagree that the current BMWs are a step backwards in the integrity of their designs, but overall I don't mind the 3 series (in fact, I liked it well enough to buy one). The "Bangle butt" looked weird when new but has proven to be quite influential, as many other carmakers have adopted it, and IMO the new Accord (which I think looks horrid) has unquestionably adopted several Bangle styling cues.

I don't think any BMW ever made has reached the level of pug-fugliness of the new TSX or TL, but obviously aesthetics are a personal thing, and if you like the new Acura grille, more power to you. I just find their new design direction kind of sad. I've owned a Toyota, a Nissan, and several Honda/Acuras, but Honda has always been my favorite Japanese carmaker. It bums me out that their bread-and-butter Accord now looks dreadful, AND Acura is pursuing such a weird look for all of its cars. It just makes BMWs, Mercs, Jags, and especially Infinitis and Lexi (their most direct competition) that much more appealing. I really hope the NSX looks good . . .

 

[BassBomb]

For some reason... I can't stand it but I think I will love it

TL competes with 3 Series/ES350/G35 because of its pricing.

 

[mrblotto]

About that grill.....

"Decepticons......TRANSFORM!!"

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: GoatMonkey
I predict strong sales in Acura TL aftermarket grilles.

Great looking interior though. I like the wheels too.

While it's a matter of taste, I don't see anything "great" about the interior. I see about a thousand tiny buttons, a strange, alien-looking "design theme," and an acre of aluminum that will dent as soon as a key or coin is brought into the car, spoiling whatever "look" Acura is going for. A client of mine has a 2006 TL with that aluminum trim and it is dented all to hell after less than two years of ownership. Personally I think it looks cheap as a result. I don't know why, if they insist on using metal trim, they can't at least make it a bit thicker, and more resistant to dents, because once it's dented it looks awful.

 

[evident]

the interior is half decent. but the outside looks worse everytime i look at it.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I don't like it. :thumbsdown:

Maybe it looks better in person though?

 

[ayabe]

Every single thing about this cars sucks.

No manual.

Boring Accordish interior. I really liked the last gen's interior, this is awful, those seats, argh.

F'n hideous exterior, seriously there is nothing attractive about the exterior of this car. An abomination. 6+ inches longer? WTF

SH-AWD, 305 HP? I bet it's slower than the base.

I don't know what Honda is thinking, they've ruined two of their best cars, the TSX and TL.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: ayabe

I don't know what Honda is thinking, they've ruined two of their best cars, the TSX and TL.

Yeah, that really is a remarkable two-fer. Both cars were attractive, fun to drive, and good values, and now they both look monstrous and have gained weight and bulk (while, in the case of the TSX, actually losing horsepower in the process). I just don't get it . . .

 

[Pandaren]

Originally posted by: Don Vito Corleone
(while, in the case of the TSX, actually losing horsepower in the process). I just don't get it . . .

In defense of the new TSX, it has much more usable torque over the RPM range than the outgoing model. Bashing the new TSX for its slightly less peak horsepower is really taking the peak numbers out of context.

VTEC.net test

 

[makken]

Hmm, anyone know when it will go on sale?

I know someone that's toying with the idea of a used 2004 TL, wondering if the price of that would take a dive after this comes out.