Repair-It

I finally realized why these car model names are getting so ridiculous (and why it annoys me so much): it's like Samsung phone model naming. Tell me that's not funny.

http://www.autoweek.com/article/2014030 ... dailydrive

So this seems decent, and it's cool they still sell it in a genuine manual. I guess it's the entry level luxury category (they mention the Buick Regal GS, Audi A4 and Mercedes C-class). This car has been out since 2009 and is about to be replaced by the TLX.

It's kinda heavy @ 3,889. That strikes me as a bit heavy. It's annoying that to give a FWD car better driving dynamics, you have to saddle it with a heavy and complicated AWD system. That's a pretty good indicator that RWD is correct.

This is the kind of thing GM used to get hammered for. Kind of nice to see it happening to Acura.

Off the bat, I knew I was going to be confronted with a cluttered, button-laded center console and a fairly solid chassis/powertrain draped in so-so sheetmetal.

Still, I'm always happy to be proven wrong by a car, and though the TL does still sport that unfortunate parts-bin-sourced infotainment cluster, it's easy enough to look past the center console once you leave the driveway.

Sounds like a nice engine.

You'll want to tap the sensitive throttle just because the V6 seems so happy to be revved. The engine note is pleasantly mechanical, and it's just loud enough to hear in the otherwise quiet cabin. I like that; it's a nice, subtle reminder of how Honda got to be where it is today.

Good praise:

All in all, this is the most pleasant, most interesting and most engaging Acura I can recall being in recently. It's not exactly a stunner, but its angles stand out from beak to trapezoidal exhaust tips. It's got a great engine and a surprisingly crisp transmission. And the price isn't even that ridiculous when you consider that a comparable Buick Regal GS AWD is in the ballpark.

Back to their roots? Is there still a market for their roots? I mean it's much more interesting than any number of regular sedan choices (and probably the only Acura I'd really be interested in). And it's a safer choice than something German, I suppose. But these cars have fairly high lease rates and I don't think reliability matters at all under those circumstances.

Next editor:

Nice reference.

This V6 delivers fantastic acceleration in nearly every gear, and pushes hard, even when shifting early. The exhaust note sounds a little metallic, reminding me of the Nissan V6s.

I think the advantage is it may have a roomier back seat than a 3-series, and with the AWD, might be a good daily driver for someone in the snow belt, I suppose. Of course the ATS is now the chassis benchmark for the entry level market...assuming that's a thing people care about. Amazingly, Cadillac graduated right past Acura, Lexus and Infiniti, which is still kind of unbelievable.

The TL comes in right at BMW 3-series money, which is a tough sell for people who care about brands. Would a buyer choose an Acura over the Roundel, all other things being equal? I doubt it.

Next editor:

Kind of an interesting back story, though the "win" being that it has AWD is a little depressing.

The fact that a manual is available in this generation TL with SH-AWD wasn't a given and is only here because engineers at Honda R&D America fought for it. They got the plan approved and developed it, which is the first time a manual gearbox was used in conjunction with SH-AWD. To make it work, they had to develop stronger engine and transmission cradles and half-shafts. What are the chances of a manual getting approved again? Probably slim, but you never know. We can always hope.

Hey, not bad for this kind of platform, no?

It's a dynamic-feeling chassis that's responsive to steering inputs with well-weighted steering feel. It's well-damped to keep the body nicely tied down with minimal body roll. Ride quality is firm but comfortable, with the majority of small and medium ruts smoothed out.

From an entry-level luxury place, it's a fine car. But for sporty sedan in the mid-$40k range, it's Chevy SS all day long (bigger faster better, and I think probably almost as nice inside). Especially if you were already OK with the styling on this TL. Except for fuel economy. And the automatic. But who cars about that anyway? Besides, the EPA combined for the TL is 20 and the EPA combined on the SS is 17. So....

I guarantee no one cross shops this against the SS. If you think going from BMW to Acura is a downgrade in nameplate, Acura to Chevy is even more of a drop off. I think the two main reasons why someone would pick this car over a 3 series are reliability and not getting nickel and dimed on options. I do like the engine options in the 3 series better with the 2.0L turbo gas and diesel options.

The argument is, if you care about nameplate, you're not looking at Acura. So you may be open to lower nameplates.

And if you're choosing the TL because of all of its "performance" then you may also be interested in the SS (since it has a lot more).

I think AWD is also a big selling point for a lot of people. Despite all the improvements in electronic aids and tire technology, they still believe that without AWD you wouldn't be able to go anywhere in the snow.

Yeah I agree. And the TL is probably more a 50/50 split of luxury and performance where the SS biases more toward performance. But as a "Chevy" it's actually a very nice car with all the luxury options/features you could want.