My wife and I are interested in buying a CL-Type S, 6 Speed. After reading various posts I am concerned about several issues. There seems to be a problem with the automatic transmission, even though we want the manual, I am concerned that problems might develope in the manual transmission and I do not want to deal with the problems. Several cars at the dealership had paint chips on the hood that I assumed came from test driving the car. We do not want a car that will have touch up paint all over. I have heard others reply that the paint is weak or thin for a better lack of a better term. I understand that cars will get paint chips from every day driving it appears that the CL is prone to getting them faster for what ever reason. I am also reading that after a year the car is developing rattles and that concerns me as well. On a postive note, I was very impressed with the way the car drove and handled. We belive that the car looks better with the factory spoiler on the back. The audio system sounds ok (sounds dull) and I believe the Bose system in my wifes 96 Maxima SE has better clarity. The other cars we are considering: CLK 320 or 430, BMW 330 CI manual trans, BMW 530 Manual trans, Maxima SE 6spd, and G35 coupe(due in fall of this year). We believe that the CL is the best buy for the money, the only other car that cost less is the Maxima but not by much. I curently drive a 92 Acura Integra LS as a work car and it has 120k on it and it drives great. I am somewhat suprised by some of the post that others have posted.
The only other thing we would change is the stock rims on the 03 CL-S they do not appeal to us. I would prefer the rims off of the 02 CL-S. It looks as though we will have to order our car, due to the fact that we can not find the color option on any of the dealers lots in Southern California. We want white with black leather interior. We have found white with the tan interior but no black. The 03 CL-S 6spd is at the top of our list as the car we will purchase and if any othe owners have any comments they have about the vehicle, I look forward to reading them.

 

Keep in mind that many people who post here are only bitching about the BAD things about the car.
Every once and a while you will see an “I love my car” thread, but mostly it’s the complaints.
If someone has a problem, they’re more likely to be quite VOCAL about it.

I believe the Tranny’s are entirely different and the problems on the AUTO are related to those cars only.

Many of the areas that caused rattles in the 2001/2002 have been addressed in the 2003.
I’ve had the interior of the car apart when working on installing my RADAR detector and HomeLink LED modifications and I have seen extra padding and rubber bumpers that weren’t in my 2001.
It’s too early to tell, but I haven’t noticed any rattles yet after the first 2-months.

As for the paint, yes that is still probably an issue as it is with most new cars.
The specs for environmentally friendly paints have taken their toll on quality for Acura and many other brands.
Keep a good coat of wax on it and that should help. I recommend ZAINO.

I hated the 2003 wheels too.
I sold mine with the factory rubber and bought new Rims/Tires before I even had the car.
There’s quite a selection of wheels out there that fit and the sky (and your budget) is the limit.

If you like it, buy one because they’re only building 2,700 6-Speeds for 2003.

Feel free to ask any other questions or PM me if you have something specific.

Shawn S

 

another solution to the paint chip is to purchase clear 3M protection tape (for lack of better terms) Should cover your entire front bumper and the two side mirrors. From I remember it runs a little steep (~$300+)

 

35,000 miles here absolutely trouble free including rattles. I use my 01 CLS mostly as a commuter car. Back and fourth to work 70 miles a day on mostly interstates and highways. FYI I have 2 complaints about the car after 2 years. Number one the wind noise above 70 mph is out of line for a car in this price class. And number two the brakes. They do not do a good job of handling the cars 3500 lbs. As I'm sure you know most of us have had to have the rotors trued. Free of charge or not that is also out of line for a car in this price class. Otherwise the car has done an outstanding job. I don't have a passion for the car like I did my 89 Thunderbird SC, but I do like the car. Best of luck in your decision!

 

Buy the Bimmer (any of them) I wish I could of but i need the FWD.

 

Well, I have a TL-S, so it's slightly different, but not so much as it's basically a 4-door version of the CL!

I think Shawn pretty muched sumed everything up, especially since he owned an '01 CL-S, and he now has the 6-speed CL-S. I also use my car as a commuter.... about 70 miles per day. I have the hood portion of the bra only, and that has helped with the chips. I would have to say that this car chipped as much as my '98 CL did, which so far, isn't that bad. I also have about 10 coats of wax on the car so that probably helps a little bit too. I agree with Shawn also about the if you like it get it part. Every car has its troubles. The tranny problems you read about are no more prevelant then engine/tranny/miscellanious issues other cars are having. That's what warranties are for! The odds are in your favor that you won't need to use that Warranty, so you shouldn't need to worry. Good luck!

 

I have 2800 miles on my 03 CL. No chips or rattles. No car is without flaws even if they are minor. The fit and trim on mine is 98% perfect.

 

I have almost nothing bad to say about this car. I got a 03S MT about a month ago and am 3000 miles into it. I too was looking for the White on Black 6MT and could not find a dealer that would order it for me. It seems that the car is constrained and the dealers are reluctant to order them because they still have to sell so many CL-Ps (non-Type s) before they can get more. They would rather wait and sell what is on the lot. Good luck there. I ended up with white on tan.

I have 3000 miles and other than the fact that every time I wash it, it rains and messes up my Zaino job, the finish is perfect as far as I can tell. I do have one scrape in the front bumper where it looks like a rock has hit it but you would never see it unless you were down on your knees wash it the under side of the front bumper.

If you want to protect your paint, there are a number of "clear bra" kits. Do a search on this forum and you will find many reviews.

Rattles: I have none. Shawn posted a message about some of the changes in the 03 that have helped. They have put more "insulation" in a few parts of the car. This should help the road noise and the squeaks but I have nothing to compare to. So far, I have not heard anything. A number of people that have ridden with me have commented on the quietness of the car.

As far as the tranny, it is my understanding that there is almost nothing in common with the manual. I will let someone who knows more about the mechanics of the tranny answer here. I do, however, love the tranny. It shifts easy yet provides great feedback. Some people have had trouble with missing gears due to the closeness of the gate. I have not had this problem. The clutch is perfect for me. Easy but again, provides great feedback. Much better than the CRX for what it is worth.

Handling: I was used to a 91 CRXsi bone stock. It took a while to get used to the body roll and relative size of the car. Now that I have gotten used to it, the handling is good for a car of this size but I would like to stiffen it up once my checkbook recovers from the purchase.

Stereo: I like the stereo stock. I will probably add a small sub some day but not anytime soon. I do realize that it is not audiophile reference level.

Spoiler: I agree, the car looks like crap without the spoiler (imho) and wouldn't have gotten one without it. Also like the splash guards but they don’t make as big a diff as the spoiler. I DO NOT like the gold package. Also like the car lowered but am not there yet.

I looked at the Bimmers as well. The prices were significantly higher with the "extras" that I wanted. The maintenance, from what I understand, will kill you. Same with the MB. I looked at the Lexus line and in the same price range, the interior (the part you as the driver looks at all the time) was far inferior. The Infiniti was going to be more $$ and I was at the top of my budget. I also considered the grandprix GTP, used Porsche and a few other used higher end cars. I came to the conclusion that the Acura was, by FAR, the best value when it came to price + upkeep vs. features, power, drivability, uniqueness, and availability.

Stock Rims: I agree completely with you here. The pre 03 rims are much classier... probably easier to clean as well. Oh well. I guess this is one thing that I wish was different.

Some of the good things you didn't mention.... Power. I love the power of the car. While it is not a super car, it is very respectable and in line with the competition. The interior is VERY comfortable. I have had the car a little over a month and 3000 miles. Every time I get in the car I still smile at the comfort of the seats. The little features... search for a thread titled "whats your favorite little touch…" Uniqueness... I have only seen 2 other CL type S in Cincy and NO 03s. I am sure they are there but I spend 2-3 hours on the road a day and dont see them. Sound.. I love the way the car sounds at 4000+ rpms. Trunk.. very large trunk. Luxury… The car FEELS classy from the quiet ride to the comfort to the solid feel. Navi… one of the best on the market and getting better every year with each upgrade. Price… as I said, the best value on the market (imho)

The bad things…. I drive too fast because the car feels right at 80-90. Gas Milage… I am getting 25 which is OK but I used to about 38 in the CRX with 170K miles on it. Back seat room is slight but I usually don’t have anyone in the car with me.

Hope that helps!

 

IWannanS, nice review.

 

As far as soundproofing is concerened this is one of the problems that Acura has addressed. The 03' CL's have a lot more soundproofing than 01 and 02. You will be happy trust me. I have had my automatic for 8 months now. It is awsome. Like Shawn said....we tend to bitch so the negative things stand out. Shawn has bought another one.... I would definately buy another CL. Any problems you do have Acura service would resolve. Don't think that their problems are any different from BMW or MB. They have their own problems that their owners bang their heads over. Check out their boards.

Trust me, you wont be dissappointed in a CL.

 

Not many miles on my car yet--less than 500--but it's tight, no hint of rattles so far. My understanding is that the faults of the automatic transmission are not relavent to the manual tranny.

The sound system is OK for factory. I'm sure that some factory sound systems for other cars sound good, but I haven't heard one that does. (I didn't hear the 330ci sound system, but it's probably better than the CL's--but I didn't like that you had to put the changer in the trunk or glove box; I like that the CL has both 6-CD changer and cassette in dash.) You usually have to make some aftermarket improvements (new speakers at least) if you want great auto sound (but you know that).

As far as the CL's, you can adjust the treble, so I don't find the sound "dull" at all--it can be overbearingly bright. It's really the midrange that seems off (notchy) to me. Too bad it doesn't have an equalizer--that would probably help.

 

Hey Shawn; tell me about your clutch. The only thing about my test drive in a 6 speed was that the clutch was VERY abrupt in its engagement and very early in the pedal travel... Probably great for 0-60 times but not why I would buy a 6 speed. Your thoughts?

 

Take some more test drives. I've done 3 or 4 and really like the clutch. Yes its a quick engagement but its very smooth. I haven't driven a stick in 2 years and had no problem with the CL.

 

Yes, the clutch grabs quickly, but I’m used to it now.

The only problem it has caused me is when pulling out slowly in traffic.
If the guy in front of me pulls away too SLOWLY, I sometimes tend to crawl up his ASS a bit because the car wants to GO.
She doesn’t like to engage FIRST slowly, she wants to GO…GO…GO.

Shawn S

 

I just got me 2003 CL 6-speed about 10 days ago and have about 800 miles logged. I love the car in virtually all respects, BUT...........I guess no car is perfect for every driver.

My #1 complaint so far relates to shifting problems. The clutch is actually very smooth, and only a tiny bit tricky in first gear. The problem is the engine RPM (at least with mine) when shifting. The tach just hangs there, sometimes rising 200-300 rpm when depressing the clutch. If I don't put about 2 seconds between shifts, it's less than smooth. I've driven manual transmissions since 1968, cars, motorcycles, trucks, including 14-speed Italian racing bikes, you name it! It took me a few days to figure out just what was going on, and thinking I had lost my ability to smoothly drive a stick car. I have a call into the dealer, and he suggests I wait until about 1,500 miles to see if it "smooths out."

Being a computer engineer by profession, I don't think this is a "breakin" issue. Seems like they forgot to change the ECU profile for stick, or it's required to help meet ELEV emission standards. This probably is what most people are referring to as a "tricky" clutch. Anyone else out there with the 6-speed recognizing this engine symptom? Suggestions?

My #2 complaint is really minor - The drivers side windshield wiper makes a thumping noise on the downward return stroke, due to the rubber in the blade flopping over. The blade looks fine so I'm not sure what's wrong. I did notice that the drivers side balde is much longer than the pasenger side, which is quiet.

Unlike other posters for 2001 and 2002 CL/TLs, my 2003 CL is VERY quiet. There is some minor wheel tramp on grooves between pavement sections on one road I drive, but otherwise very nice. My last car was a Cadillac de Ville, so I'm very picky about comfort and noise but got tired of driving a boat.

I love this car, and will be ecstatic when the engine rpm hang problem is resolved. If the dealer can't fix it, I'll do it myself.

 

My 78 280Z does the same thing. Tach just floats when it should coast down. But, if you slow the car down (braking or drifting), it drops at a certain point. The car is smooth shifting below 3k (you don't notice it). 3-5k the tach floats. Over 5k, it will coast down.

 

As some said, the 6-speed manual and automatic are completely different transmissions. Honda's transmissions have a reputation for being durable, however the 5-speed automatic seems to be a rare exception. The 6-speed manual should be as solid as the others.

The BMW 330Ci would likely be my top choice IF I wasn't going to buy the CL. However, BMW is ridiculous in their pricing, their service generally sucks, and they're horribly expensive to fix. Their clutch seems to be a bit weak as well.

I've driven the 6-speed CL and I admit the clutch is a bit quick to bite. I usually like a little "dead-space" so I can ease it in and out when I feather. Eitherway, it's an easy compromise and would be easy to work with.

As for paint chips, paints on newer cars seem to be weaker than of yesteryear, but the quality is likely better than in your 1992 Integra's...Acura as of 1996 or so seems to have improved their paint quite a bit (with the exception of the Legend, who's paint is superb). My 1993 Vigor's paint was horrendous.

If you're still worried about chips, there's a few measures you can observe to protect the pain. Avoid driving behind trucks or dualie-pickups, who spit up more road grime. Buy a lighter colored paint that will hide any imperfections and chips better than a darker colored coat. Also, I have always applied two coats of wax to the hood, trunk and roof (because they're directly exposed to the sun), and to the lower valence panels and lower doors. A strong wax like Zaino will better protect the paint. And I like the 3M tape idea. It goes on transparently and is a nice alternative to the ugly car bra.

As for creaks and rattles, I own a '01 3.2TL, and while it's not a CL, it's based off the same Global Midsize Platform and uses many of the same parts, and with 32,000 miles on it, I am squeak free. Avoid large potholes (or in NH, we call them craters) and the structure should remain tight. For 2002, the MDX, and for 2003, the CL, received more insulation and padding for the trim to quell any potential problems.

The wheel design is okay, but nothing special. I'd end up replacing it just for the fact that the stock MXM4 tires aren't too hot. I like the design of the rest of the car, however.

When I drove the CL, it was nearly devoid of torque steer (as was the automatic '01/'02 CL's), but the '03's now have an LSD (limited-slip-differential) which helps it even more-so.

I had a 2001 3.2CL Type S through a business agreement and used it as a commercial vehicle, but was allowed to use it outside work as well. Unfortunately, I only had a year with it, but I am glad I did not purchase it after lease with the arrival of the 6-speeds now.

I had no problems in the ~28,000 miles I had with my CL. Only complaint I had was the left foglight burnt out often (no longer on the '03's), and the CD changer failed and needed to be replaced (under warranty).

Go with the CL if that's what your gut says. It's a safe bet to get another 125,000 miles out of, and will likely cause you fewer, if any problems, compared to the German competition. It's a great car.

 

trshaner,

Yes......I’ve noticed the “RPM hang” as well and it has been discussed here a bit before.

I thought this was a common problem to ALL fuel injected vehicles to meet emissions standards.
I’ve never noticed it on my wife’s stick Integra, but I’m pretty sure my 5-Speed 91 Legend Coupe did it.

Definitely share what you find out.
Either if it is a problem or something that can be adjusted in the computer.

Shawn S

 

Well, there are good summaries in here... I'm not going to restate what has already been said...

I'm Very Happy with my car. I love to drive it. Every car has it's own little annoying problems, I think for the $$ you can't beat the CL-S.

I think you're biggest problem may be finding the car in the color scheme you're looking for. I was just at the Largest Volume Acura dealer in the Midwest yesterday, and was told that WHITE was the hardest color to get in a 6 speed.

GOOD LUCK!!! and welcome to the board....

DOM