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Future Vehicles Article Comments - 2010 Acura TL SH-AWD 6MT First Drive
61 messages, Last post on Nov 18, 2008 at 11:28 AM
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2010 Acura TL SH-AWD 6MT First Drive - First Impressions: Not since the NSX has Acura had such a focused tool poised to shatter expensive glass ceilings. Problem is, the other guys have significantly upgraded models in the pipeline, too. (more)
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Replying to: circlew (Sep 30, 2008 7:30 am) I'd certainly test drive the 2010 Acura TL SH-AWD with a 6 speed manual. The new Maxima is out with it's CVT only transmission (some 4 door sports car!!). My old Maxima is hanging in there, but suffering more problems due to lack of driving as it sits most of the time at our second home. |
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I always wondered what happened to the guy who designed the exterior on the Pontiac Aztec. Kudos to him! I didn't think he'd ever work in this industry again. And at Acura no less! |
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Replying to: habitat1 (Sep 30, 2008 6:12 pm) |
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I just realized something. In November 2007 edminds.com tested the 2008 G35S 6 speed http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/Comparos/articleId=123235#27 and came in 1st and beat out the Lexus IS350, the MB C350, the Caddy CTS and the BMW 335i. Some of the comments include "...the Infiniti is the most capable car in this test when it comes to handling. Our track numbers confirm this with a best-in-test performance on the skid pad with a 0.89g mark and in the slalom with a 69.4-mph mark." Now a year later the same car can't be driven a second time even when it's compared against some of the same cars it beat out?????
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Replying to: jenglish (Oct 01, 2008 7:10 pm) I just realized something - you need to read more carefully: "In the spirit of the segment, each car in the test is outfitted with sport package hardware — usually a stiffer suspension and bigger wheels and tires — and an automatic transmission." So, even Edmunds' editors appears to have a case of bipolar disorder when they check the "sport" box for bigger tires and a stiffer suspension, but then handicap them all with automatic slushboxes. I know it's with the honorable intention of trying to be fair, but to hell with that. Give the automatic only "sport" model designers a big bottle of Prozac and embarass them against a real manual transmissioned sport sedan. Enough of this catering to the lowest common denominator BS. As far as concluding anything from that lame comparison, try rereading these excerpts: "Traditionally, the 335i's acceleration is staggering, and while this car's 5.0-second run to 60 mph isn't as quick as we've recorded in past tests [thanks to the friggin slushbox, no doubt], it's still 0.3 second quicker than the Lexus. Its advantage diminishes to only 0.2 second by the end of the quarter-mile, which comes in 13.6 seconds at 103 mph. It also pulls 0.86g around the skid pad, slaloms at 68.9 mph and stops from 60 mph in 112 feet. Combined, this is the best overall dynamic performance in the test." "The 335i also brings home the most recommended ratings, which means we would suggest it to a friend over any other car in the test." (but please remember Edmunds, friends don't let friends by automatic sports cars/sedans) Put simply, the 2007 Infiniti G35 wins this test because it's ....$36,800 as-tested price is the lowest in the test. (Great, but please let me make my own value decisions and instead rate the cars on the qualities, not their cheapness). P.S. As for the C63 being a sports car?? You must have an extraordinarliy broad definition. Even the owner of Contemporary Mercedes/Acura in my hometown wouldn't call anything made by AMG a "sports car". H personally paid full sticker for one of the first Cayman S's to arrive in the states. And he actually helped me get a good deal on my 911S from a competing dealer. He has sold me two Acuras, both of which we are happy with, and didn't want to ruin the record by trying to sell me a SLK55, CLK63 or even 600+ hp SL65 when I wanted a real sports car. As for the C63, he'd promptly fire any salesperson who even thought of calling that a "sports car".
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Replying to: habitat1 (Oct 02, 2008 4:57 am) Saying a sports car has to have a manual transmission is far too narrow of a definition. A lot of high end "sports cars" come with computer controlled clutch based transmissions. So while they still have a clutch the driver doesn't have the "control" you seem to desire. I think it's a great thing though. The computer can control the transmission far better than I ever could.
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Replying to: mg808 (Sep 27, 2008 1:18 pm) With the RL moving upstream (take on the S, 7series), the TL is really geared towards the 5 series, E class sedans. This is why you will see prices in the $40k range. Acura is serious about performance. ... Really now?  - no V8 - still have a FWD 4-cylinder w/ barely more than 200HP in the lineup - mainly FWD or front-biased AWD vehicles - disproportionate amount of weight hanging over the front wheels Yep, they're really serious about performance!  And you can't possibly think the RL is even remotely in the same league as the S-class/7-series/A8???  The only thing it has in common with those cars is that it's the "top tier" of the product line. It's certainly not a competitor.
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Replying to: jenglish (Oct 02, 2008 6:13 am) What the heck is your definition of "sport". Sitting on the couch eating pizza and watching Monday Night Football? Tuning the Sirius radio in your M3 to ESPN radio? You bought what is arguably one of the best sports coupes on the planet and you think it's "great" to have a computer do the shifting for you? Why don't you just hire a chauffer and enjoy the back seat reading Sports Illustrated? Why be bothered with any of those other nasty inconveniences, like accelerating, braking or steering? When I was buying my M3 I was torn between that and the C63 and the IS-F. I ultimately went for the M3 as I prefered the styling. That pretty much says it all. Take a world class sports coupe, pit it against two slushbox only wannabes, and then pick it because of "styling". You don't actually think any wam blooded driving enthusaist really buys a C63 or IS-F? I don't. Mostly, it's the guy with the couch potato gut that would have a heart attack running a 40 yard dash but still feels "sporty" when he mashes his right foot to the floor on the gas pedal. I'm not sure what either one of us is doing in this forum, but suffice it to say that if/when you are shopping for a sedan, you might want to head straight to the Nissan dealership for the new Maxima. It's a "Four Door Sports Car" according to them. With 3,600 lbs riding on a FWD setup and a CVT only transmission that takes all driver involvement completely out of the equation. But great styling! Me, I'll probably test drive the TL SH-AWD 6 speed and 335i/535i 6-speed. Maybe even that M3 6-speed you passed over to save yourself the inconvenience of shifting your own gears. P.S. Please don't take any of this personally. Everybody has their priorities and preferences, which I respect. I just find it amusing how abused the term "sport" has become. At 50+ I'd still rather be on the field playing competitive baseball and trying to hold my own against a bunch of 30 year olds than on my couch watching it on TV. On the other hand, I have a friend who spent $3,000+ on a set of golf clubs ("just like Tiger's") and then cried like a baby when I suggested we play "the whole course" from the 7,200 yard championship tees. He wanted to play from the 6,400 yard regular tees so he didn't lose too many $4 balls.  He'd probably buy a computer controlled robot to swing for him, if one was avaliable. Sorry, life is too short to be a spectator. Sport is about participation. You don't have to be a world class athlete to play ball or a world class driver to row your own. You've just got to have "game".
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Replying to: habitat1 (Oct 03, 2008 4:06 am) You're gonna love it!! And I agree with everything you said in your post. I fail to grasp people's fascination with these SMG/auto-manual/sport-auto transmissions. Other than being an F1 driver wanna be, what's the point? No street engine revs as quickly as an F1 engine save for sport bikes, so the whole illusion is lost with these flippy-flappy shifters. |
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Replying to: habitat1 (Oct 03, 2008 4:06 am) ..and as such, this new 2420 TL SH-AWD is FAR from any real sports cars! Sure it has a manual transmission but so does econo boxes from Kia! The most amusing part about this test, and why I was compelled to register and respond here, is that they are up in awws about a Honda performing well at a Honda track, which they have specifically tuned the car for - over a period of God know how long! Reinventing hot water?? Congratulations Honda, you win tEh internet! G35 6MT has the best balance of all cars tested and yet they left it dead last. They quickly point out that all transmissions must be 6 speed manual, but completely neglect to state the importance of tire types when testing on small/tight track which requires tons of weight transitions. I bet you I can take a FWD sedan with cut slicks and put better times that SH-AWD bs. I like Honda, but I am sick and tired of mag racing and biased results, be that the mag or manufacturer!! I doubt I'll ever see a TL of any kind at an autoX or track day! On the contrary, there are plenty G35 sedans and coupes participating!
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