Compared to the new Accord 4 door, the V6 Coupe is gorgeous. I see a lot of the CL profile in it. The tailights are a cross between the Mercedes CLK and the Acura CL. Front is okay but kinda heavy. It definitely turns heads in black.

 

While the 2k3 Accord V6 may or may not be faster car than a CL-S, you can not simply compare peak torque/hp values (along with weight) and instantly know which car will be faster. It is all about that often ignored concept known as the "area under the curve" and gear ratios. Peak HP/torque won't do you much good if you only sustain it for a few hundred RPM.

(to sarlacc23)

With that said... even if the Accord V6 is faster than a CL-S, I'd take a CL-S over the Accord every time. They might be built side-by-side at the same factory by the same people, but the Acura uses (some) better quality components and simply has a nicer interior. There is more difference between an Accord and a CL-S than just looks, an Acura badge, and a few thousand dollars.

 

Hey you posters: I stopped by the Honda dealer and grabbed a brochure. Before I start, let me remind you, I have ABSOLUTELY NOTHING against my 2003 CL-S six speed. But other areas on this posting board swear to god that there will not be a 2004 CL in any form, so, I am merely checking out my options.

2003 Accord coupe, fully optioned; slightly shorter wheel base by about 1", slightly less overall lenght, no "tip down" passenger side mirror when selecting reverse, passenger seat is manual, no power, driver seat is an 8 way. Suprisingly, the maximum interior volume is if you buy the cheapest accord coupe, all I can think of is cheesier, thinner seats I suppose. Also, no memory seats. Heated seats in the fronts, but no heated mirrors.

The brochure makes no mention of the 260 hp engine with a six speed, but honda website does.

Some pluses the accord has are pretty cool. The flourescent dashboard actives when you enter the car, the intensity is low. Put in the key, and the intensity changes to medium. Start the car, and the intensity is full force. Not "trick Lexus" yet, but close. Also, seperate heater controls for the driver and the passenger.

All of which I expect Acura will make available on the 2004, if there is a 2004.

So, I am on the fence on this one. I am not a four door kind of guy, so if the CL-S disappears, the accord coupe is on my radar screen. I suggest that you check www.honda.com for the latest information. For instance, the literature makes no mention of the auto dimming rear view mirror. On the web site, it is listed as a $249 option, $295 installed.

 

wow!! which honda dealer did you go to? stay away from the crooks @ castle honda! they ream without lube!

hmm... things u didn't notice that are cool:

- did you like the remote keyless entry integrated into the key?

- did you click and hold open on the key to watch the windows start to go down?

- did you insert the keys and hold it to the left to watch the windows go back up?

- did you check out the dual zone auto climate control?

- did you drive it to see what a drive by wire throttle system feels like?

- did you slam on the brakes to see what ABS can do when coupled with electronic brake force distribution?

- did you notice how much lighter the car is? did you take turns to see how less weight= more tossable?

- if it had navi, did you speak to the navigation system? "climate control on, 70 degrees", "cd player on, disk 1 track 4". "find nearest chinese resturant", "previous chapter".(stop me when I reach 180)

 

I would never downgrade to an accord from a CL-S. The only thing I've recently considered doing was selling my CL-S and buying a honda civic hybrid because I feel incredibly guilty driving a jap car that is only getting 19/29 mpg(even though that is much better than those fuckng H2s)...but the use car market is HORRIBLE right now because of the 0% financing. I saw a 01 CL-S with 10k miles on it, with navi for $18k in the paper!!!!

As for the styling of the CL-S, I am in love with it. I get really upset with CAR&Driver and Motor Trend when one of them paired up the 6sp CL-S with the 330Ci, and the CL-S lost by ONE POINT because of it got 7 in the looks department where the bmw got 9 or something I think... (Doesnt that piss you off...it outscores the bmw in every dept-even gets a 10 in engine-and gets #2 because BMWs are prettier).

I see considerable praise for our car in every auto mag and report, i think one article was called "Not Particulary Liking a Near-Perfect Car) oh and the FIRST match up with the 01 CL-S auto against the 328i (same mag), the CL won. But that was before the BMWs upping the competition with .2 litres....But why do they continually bash the Acura styling....I think the g35 has a unique nice front but what kind of acid did they take when they styled the rear??? And it still gets "car of the year" at what 35k?

ok now im rambling...any other thoughts on this?

 

Once again, I would NOT BE DOWNGRADING from a CL-S, If there is no 2004 CL-S to downgrade from, or if Acura does not offer something at the same level renamed to whatever. If anyone questions my loyalty, here are my last seven cars: 91 Prelude SI, 92 GSR, 94 GSR, 96 GSR, 97 Type R (in the final analysis, I hated it, the ride was too firm, otherwise ok), 2002 RSX-S, 2003 CL-S, six speed. So, I am an Acura guy, OK?

And torque and Siggy, I will test drive the honda coupe today, if only for a lack of nothing to do. This pays, some times you get a pleasant suprise. I hear many horror stories about the resale value of the CL-S, which I hope only afflicts the automatic transmission models because of their (I hope now corrected) faults. If the CL goes away, I don't think I will have to worry about the resale value of the accord.

Torque and Siggy, two things. Dealers to avoid: Schaumburg Honda. They changed the oil in my sisters Accord, but they forgot to put in new oil! The engine was destroyed, and we had to go to Honda America to get the engine replaced, at no charge. Schaumburg Honda still denies their error, I guess five quarts of oil evaporated in five miles of driving when sis stopped by my house, complaining of noise and funny odors. And Sig, I have a buddy who bought a C 230 K back in september. Although a stripper, I thought it was nice, initially. Since september, his car would not start three times. He had one occasion where the car refused to shift out of first gear (auto). The exterior black plastic trim (on his black car) is already showing signs of going gray (the germans never could get plastic right), and the check engine light came on once MB couldn't find out why. Doesn't matter, the car started ON FIRE ALL BY ITSELF and destroyed itself and the garage. Yea, I want one of these. NOT! Pete went from a Honda, to a MB, now, back to a dependable Accord.

I'm not trying to encite any riots here, just looking for an alternative to the CL-S if it goes away. I don't want a TL or an RL. Can't go back to a RSX at this point. As a corporate entity, Honda/Acura have always treated me right, so the Accord Coupe, with all the bells and whistles will be my choice IF THE CL-S GOES AWAY. Simple as that. And no, I do not want a G35 or a 350Z due to poor build quality and materials. And the comparable Lexus is too costly and way slower.

Do some test drives. Some times you get pleasant suprises. And sometimes you don't. When the Prelude was redisigned in 94, they totally ruined the thing as compared to my 91. No more prelude today! But some of these points are moot. I will not trade again until after thanksgiving, but before christmas. Good luck to you all!

 

you might want to wait a few days for the 6 speed accord coupe! if you don't want to row your own boat, like me, then a demo automagic should be easy to find! Bring your CLS6 in, and make sure the salesmen see it! then, ask them to apraise your car, while they do this(which takes a while) ask them to give you the keys to the accord of your choice, and go and drive it for like 1/2 an hour! test all aspects, handling, hard acceleration, braking, gadgets, etc! This is what I did, so I hope it works for you! you don't want some pesky salesman in the car as you drive it! GOODLUCK, and report back here with a review!

 

Torque: The six speed accord coupe is already here. We just don't have the 260 hp model yet. Of course, if the CL survives through 2004, it is rumored to have a 280 hp engine.

I have to drive from Palatine to Hillsboro, OH on Tuesday for a 10:00 meeting. Hillsboro 40 miles straight east of Cincinnatti. 780 mile round trip to be done all in one day. Taling the CL, and lookin forward to it!

 

Wow, that's exciting....a civic hybrid.

My Viper gets about 10 mpg and I have zero guilt flooring it all day long.

Being conscious of the environment is fine and I am, but being a complete Tree hugger is a bit extreme.

Trust me, you driving a hybrid car isn't going to help save the Earth (maybe in your mind it will).

 

I'd rather have an "A" than an "H" on the back of my car.

 

why not wait for a couple of months? by then, you'll get a definitive answer for if the cl is comming out in '04. If not, get an accord. BUT, if it is redesigned, well, then you'll be kicking yourself in the head

 

Never knew the 6 speed was out already! thought it was commin' in febuary. Oh well, why don't you test drive it anyway and report back to us!

 

I got sidetracked and did not drive the car. My 85 year old mom had a stroke before I was going to drive the thing. This also postponed the Hillsboro, Oh trip where I wanted to report on CL-S mileage. Some things are way more important than cars. Mom, so far, is ok. No need to offer sympathy for me. If it happened to you, you would automatically have mine.

 

sorry to hear about your mom

 

Beltfed, you sound incredibly selfish. Obviously you have never heard of carbon dioxide or cared anything at all about America's dependence on foreign oil.

Oh ya, and being a complete "tree hugger" would be not driving a car AT ALL.