I would like to buy a new ClS for myself for christas, and i was curious to know the differences between the 01 & the 03 I mean besides mileage. All i found was the nav system option. Any feedback?

 

there are several differences,

03 has..

color matched door handles
no road lamps
white strip on the tail lights
blacked out headlights
thicker exhaust tips
on the later 03 models, the tranny is supposedly better or fixed from the tranny troubles
there also no diff in mileage , not that i know of

thats about all i could think of
cheeck out the faq page, it has all your answers or do a search

http://www.geocities.com/gamesmgr/chod/acura/

 

the '03 CL's also had available brushed aluminum trim for the interior of the car. Other than that I believe Andy got it right on. Also, only '03's are available w/ the manual transmission.

I say, if you can, just get the '03. People dump hundreds of dollars into their '01's to make 'em look like the '03's anyway. (headlight, taillight, and front grille swap).

Also, the outer grille on the '03's are color matched too rather than chrome.

 

The wheels.

All 2nd Gens have the nav option.

 

6 Speed is the only important difference!

 

03 onstar was available, but as mentioned before 6MT >*

 

The steering wheel Acura logo emblem is not molded on and is silver and black on my 03.
The 03 CLS rims are a different style than 01 -02.
I heard the window glass was thickened for sound deadening in 03.
Cupholders and center console is different on the 03 6 Speed manual.
Seat heater settings are different and placed differently on the 03 6MT.
Does the 01 have a handbrake like the 03 manual does?
The 03 trim with ebony interior is simulated brushed aluminum (plastic) instead of fake wood.

 

Let's not forget the most overlooked difference: the color matched mirrors

 

doesn't matter if you get black

Also, the cupholders on the 03 are deeper than the 01.

 

I think the outside mirrors have a slight difference of shape to avoid some wind noise at highway speed

 

If you want an awsome CL-S, check out my ad on the black market here on this site.

It's going for 19K, and you won't have to do anything to it.

Here are some pics:

http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/456683

 

in canada - 2001 acura vehicles cant be considered for extended warrenty...which is horse sh|t cause mines got under 60,000 miles....these guys really dont stand behind the CL at all...i bet they wish the CL would just go away.

 

just get the damn 6 speed man!! you'll love yourself after...

 

yea.....plus 03 means newer car.......what else do u need.....

newer car
6spd option
better looking rims
better looking tail lights....

i had the same decision between a 01 auto with navi.....or 03 6spd.....

i wonder if i would of got the 01.....hmmmm.......it would of been

 

Nope. That was a change in 03.

 

01's have a foot brake.

 

Go for the 03

 

buy mine!

 

 

Double

 

Old thread, I wonder if orig. postor ever bought one.

One more reason to get an 03 CLS -
- Anthracite!
6MT of course.