hpcacura

I'm looking to buy a 2003 CL type s with the 6 speed trans. I'm really interested in a CL, but the whole transmission thing has me freaked out. Is it only the auto trans that self destructs? Does the 6 speed manual trans last 200k like it should? Does it eat clutches? I'm looking at a car with about 115k miles on it as a commute car - I need to commute about 80 miles/day. Will it get 30 mpg on the freeway?

Thx!

Rajca

iTrader: (8)

the 6spds are built proof. all depends on how u drive the car and how the previous owner drove the car that will determine the life of the clutch.

gas mileage all depends on how u drive, maintenance, road conditions

tnobori1

I got an average of 25-26 mpg with pretty equal hwy/city driving. I sold mine at 115k miles with the original clutch still in good shape. Just make sure the previous owner did the 105k service.

friesm2000

iTrader: (4)

i average about 16-18 (on my swapped TL), but i also beat the living shit out of it at times though (maintenance is still done on time per severe maintenance schedule too)

tnobori1

Well in fairness, I would get about 19-20 if I was WOT all day, but I try not to do that on my cars all the time so I won't get bored with the power too soon.

friesm2000

iTrader: (4)

just means you need more power then, ie: stroker motor, or forced induction...

civicdrivr

iTrader: (9)

I was averaging 26-27mpg. The best I got was 31 on the highway @ 75-85 the whole way with the A/C on.

StreetKA

iTrader: (8)

Best i got was 27mpg on the way to canada. Average is 17-20mpg here where i live. 240miles on the tank in the winter and 270-290 in summer.

fuzzy02CLS

iTrader: (2)

Around 30mpg HW at 80 AC on last time I checked it.
The car is really good on gas as long as you don't WOT stop light race.

dbramaged

WTF?!?!?! I'm averaging about 15-18 mpg in my automatic right now and I've only been WOT a couple times!!! I've only owned the car for about 2 weeks so far and have spent excess of $100 in gas! Mines stock and automatic though

TheWeez

I average about 26mpg in the winter (with winter tires) and about 28-30mpg in the summer. I shift 1-3-5-6 most of the time when I'm driving as it seems to be just worthless extra work to hit 2 and 4 in there. The engine has enough power to do it without causing any harm or struggling. Best I've seen is 37mpg over an entire tank on a road trip.

civicdrivr

iTrader: (9)

Same here, at least when I want to save gas. Some times I start off in 2nd and go to fourth around 2500rpms. But I go WOT at least once a day.

Check the general maintenance stuff; plugs, air filter, oil change.

Im running thicker oil then what Honda recommends, so I could get a few more MPGs if I went back to 5w-20, but that will never happen.

dbramaged

Just bought it... They replaced those things the day I picked it up... I checked myself and they're all new... I'm hoping with a new intake/exhaust it will get a little better mileage, while my friend gets 14mpg in his 01 3.0l accord coupe. But we also let our cars sit for about 10-15 minutes to warm up as it's about 3 degrees in the morning!

civicdrivr

iTrader: (9)

What type of gas are both of you running? How much ethanol is in it too? Ive seen huge mileage decreases with 15% ethanol fuels in my previous cars. I refuse to run anything higher then 10% (and I found a station with 0%!!!, too bad its 250miles away ).

Joe5.0

150k miles (I'm the original owner). Still on the original clutch and just performed normal trans fluid changes every 30k. I have no weird shifting or trans issues at all.

I get 25-27mpg depending on how much city driving I do. I have NEVER gotten below 23mpg over a tank, and I have a pretty heavy foot and almost never skip gears. I usually get ~ 400 miles on a tank before I have to fill up. For you guys getting sub 20mpg, you have something major wrong.

ML03CLS

216k.. original clutch, can't remember my last transmission fluid change. :-x No transmission issues, but the clutch is a little soft in engaging, as should be expected at this mileage.

I keep track of my gas mileage on every fill-up and still average between 23-27 depending on my city/highway mix. I personally have never seen 30mpg, but it gets close when I am 'forced' to cruise closer to 70 than 80+mph.

friesm2000

iTrader: (4)

that is the key there, sounds like you do alot of highway driving (mainly city hear, with any highway only being like across town if that (or hooping on the highway for like less then 10 miles most of the time)(btw commute to work is only like 4 miles for me, so the engine does not really even get "completely" warmed up)


and a heavy foot, does that mean you also have a heavy foot on the brakes too? (ie: speeding up and slowing down alot, or do you just like to speed, but plan ahead a bit for cars coming up, and coast)
also figuring you don't chirp the tires on any of your shifts either...

OperationDarkie

iTrader: (1)

With my city driving I get 28 mpg, but I dont take it over 2500 rpm, ask rajca, he says I drive like an old man.

friesm2000

iTrader: (4)

doing the gangsta driveby...

Jacobpockros

iTrader: (1)

I average 16 or 17 with city and highway mixed. I usually redline it once every time I take it out, but besides that, I shift at 3-3.5k

civicdrivr

iTrader: (9)

BTW, the distance of trips per start up has alot to do with gas mileage (shorter trip, worse mpgs; vice versa).

bebexo

It all depends on how you drive it but I would say that you should be able to get close to 30mpg

SimonCL-S6

I just dont pay attention and my gas mileage is awesome!

Rajca

iTrader: (8)

lmao. yes he does. i cant drive with him bc i get bored and just need to go wot

fsttyms1

i get 30-32 on the hwy, original clutch with 140ishk on it. Still going strong. Many track/lapping days. Manuals are for the most part bullet proof.

StreetKA

iTrader: (8)

70-75 on the highway with cruise control on i cant get more than 26-27 no way... if i go slower 55-60 maybe but... who drives that slow ?

friesm2000

iTrader: (4)

WOW, you be in the slow lane here, speed limit is 75 on the interstate's here (slows down in town/cities thoughto either 65 or 55 depending)

StreetKA

iTrader: (8)

im taking about economy mode :P normaly i drive 80-85

friesm2000

iTrader: (4)

still breakable, but extremely hard without forced induction, and increased power levels (and most cases of heard broken manuals is some form of being driven hard/abused)


as far as the OP questions:

30 mpg - it is achievable, but depends on how you drive, and most of us don't like to drive like a grandma

200k transmission service life - easily, especially with regular fluid changes, and not slamming gears (and yes it's the autos that like to eat themselves)

eats clutches - all depends on the driver, can you get 200k out of one, YES; will most people get that mileage out of the clutch NO; personally i would say 150k is probably a relatively good number to shot for clutch life for most people (with city miles shortening the life expectancy, compared to highway miles)
as far as the clutch on that CL you are looking to buy, about the only way to tell the condition of it; is to actually drive the car (and if it feels like it might need one at some point, use it as a bargaining chip in the negotiations for the car's price)

OperationDarkie

iTrader: (1)

Actually if you want 30 + mpg and you do highway driving, just do the speed limit, I used to have to drive to and from kankakee from South Holland IL and it was about 38 miles there, and my average when I did anywhere from 60-65 was 34 mpg with the a/c on, now if I did like everyone else and did 80 I was only getting about 24-28 miles to the gallon, I just drive conservative now I just give my self more time going to and from work and everything works out, no need to rush, just plan ahead.

TheWeez

You can't say just do the speed limit because many places that's 55mph while others its 75mph. I got 37mpg while doing about 75-85mph through Wisconsin.

friesm2000

iTrader: (4)

what's that ; or do you mean like when you see a donut shop around...

and that is why rajca hates driving behind you

fuzzy02CLS

iTrader: (2)

I don't keep track any longer. Haven't in at least 2 years. Honestly it isn't important to me. I'd be driving a hybrid or 4 banger POS if it did.
I consider my driving city. Stop & go traffic to & from work. Short trips of a mile or 2. Constant revving to high RPM. Only get on the HW if I have to go someone that requires it. When I do it's 85 most of the time.
MPG Don't know now but on a full tank till the light comes on I get about 270 miles with my lead foot. I put about 15 gallons in on fill up.

CL-S progression 01

iTrader: (2)

i just check my mileage the odd time on a long consistent drive that way i know there is nothing out of wack.

I think u get 1-2 more mpg also with headers and intake if u drive the same that is... I think the best I have got is like 28-29mpg i believe... I didn't scrutinize it enough to get the exact number tho.. but the car is listed for 25 i believe it is.. and i can get almost 30 apparently... so that is a good sign..

getting SOME money back for all them mods I put on my baby. :-)

phee

iTrader: (5)

i got 26 mpg on the way to florida and i averaged 87 GPS verified mph

and thats with A LOT OF WOT

CL-S progression 01

iTrader: (2)

do you have a tl-s or tl?

the s burns more i think. lil bugger

civicdrivr

iTrader: (9)

Both.

Jacobpockros

iTrader: (1)

fixed

Joe5.0

I would say my average is 70% highway 30% city, sometimes it changes but thats my average.

I dont race to red lights, so yes I do try to plan, but I always take off moderately fast from a light regardless. The car sees redline pretty much every drive to work, but I dont slam gears as much anymore (I mean its got 150k on it, its a senior citizen now )

friesm2000

iTrader: (4)

mines at 125K, and you gotta keep those senior citizens active and moving, if you want them to enjoy a long happy life






and yes i would say a major thing is how we drive different, and me getting sub 20 MPG