I was checking some car stats recently. Is it FWD in general or just Honda that need a football field to make a U turn? Our car is 192" long and turns in 39.4" (Type S). The RSX-S is 20" shorter and turns in 16" less space. The IS300 is 15" shorter than the CL-S and turns in 6 FEET less! Its wheelbase is only 2" less than ours. Its even more amazing when you compare the IS to the RSX. The IS is longer overall, has a longer wheelbase, and turns way tighter. Maybe its all the 3 point turns that's wearing out transmissions.

 

Trying to parellel park with the CLS blows. I can't park in any tight spaces at all and trying to do a U turn is asking for a traffic accident. Acura engineers, hear me LOUD AND CLEAR!!! Do something about the crappy turning radius! Maybe what Suburu does with their double turning wheels or something. Or at least let the wheels turn a bit more.

 

the funnier thing is that the CL-P has a better turning radius (prob the 16s) but also a faster steering ratio.. obviously steering was slowed to keep people from turning too fast in the higher powered car.. probably helps mask the torque steer and other FWD problems as well..

 

My dad's 94 Legend sedan kills our car on turning radius. Its a long. mounted V6 but its FWD. It has shafts which bring the transmission's output back forward where it hooks up with the front wheels. It must be transmounting that hurts us. Too much hardware to sandwich between the wheels.

 

As much as i love this car, the turning radius is a joke. You've REALLY got to be sure you can make certain u-turns before you attempt them.

 

I had a 92 Legend LS Sedan myself, and that was the first front-wheel drive car I've driven/owned that had a decent turning radius. I figured it must be an Acura thing, but after buying my CL-S, I see it isn't.

 

The turning radius was increased partially to account for the
bigger wheels (or something like that)

 

feels liek a 72 Buick Electra instead of a 2001 Honda, i refer to it as a boaty

-defrag

 

I will have to jump in on this one ... I went from and Integra GS-R to the CLS and this thing turns like a battleship !

 

Oh puhleeeeeeez.... Are we finding things to pick on now..

When you bought the car, surely you test drove it first.. I am sure that someone with a CL-P would be glad to swap their 16s with your 17s....

 

The facts are the facts ... that's all they are. Obviously, turning radius is not a huge requirement for me cause I am in a CLS and loving it

 

Ditto here. I feel like Austin Powers every time I try to make a K/U turn.... (Hey, I'm still trying to get a feel for the car, it's only 3 months. ) It's not great for the city, but I knew that going in.

 

Yeah i noticed our turn radius suckes when i seen a surburban do a u-turn that i never can make in my cl.'
My sis 318ti only needed half the road to make that same turn.

 

I'm an ex-GSR owner too, and that thing could do a U-Turn in a telephone booth. I think there was a lot of crack smoking going on in the design group for the CLS--like, for instance, why don't they TAKE THE RATTLING HIGH BRAKE LIGHT out and replace the rear deck with a flat one for cars with a spoiler? It looks ridiculous to me to have a high brake light on the spoiler and ANOTHER in the window that isn't even connected!!!!

 

how do you know the cl-p has a faster steering ratio?

I checked acura.com and it makes mention of a 1 ft tighter turn radius (2 ft tighter "turn circle") for the cl-p but fewer turns lock-to-lock for the cl-s (3.06 cl-p vs. 2.88 cl-s).

if anything, it appears that the two cars have the same steering gear but the cl-s has less lock to prevent tire/suspension/steering fouling.

 

It's amazing how many people in this forum complain about the CL. If I didn't own one and came in because I wanted to find out a few things about the car I seriously think I would never buy one. All I read is how crappy the car is with the paint, tranny, turning radius, etc, etc.. Guys, if you hate the car that much or if you complain about the problems just get another car!!! Sure, the CL has some issues that need to be addressed but the way some of you guys moan it's like you hate your cars! I personally like everything about my car because I haven't had tranny problems, the turning radius is fine with me, the auto manual is fine too, the wheel gap does not bother me, and the navi system rocks!

 

My 1979 Mercedes 450 SEL is 210" and turns in a radius of 37'. Now that thing can corner!

 

I agree. I used to like the CL-S, but what with the leaks, rattles, tranny, turn radius, bulbs and moonroof, I'll stick with my current POS domestic.

 

Look, I like my CL-S because it's an emotional thing. I'm sure you love your girlfriend or wife and she's not perfect either. Maybe her ass begins to sag or her face starts to look like someone sat on it for too long. So you bitch and complain to your buddies and start looking at other women. But you still love her, maybe a little bit less but you still love her. I like it when people bitch about what's wrong with their car because then I know it's a common problem and I can watch out for it.

 

dude i thought it was just me my first generation turned on a dime this seems like a cadillac sometimes but its the sacrifice made for speed i guess and i havent had too many problems paralleling the rearview mirror feature is the shiznit!!!!!!!

 

I was making a broken U-turn, swearing I could make it. Almost hit the curb, I can see traffic is closing in so I threw it in reverse while rolling and almost fucked up my tranny right there. I sped off in a panic like a squirrel who almost got ran over. damn turning radius. otherwise, I love it.

 

I think it's the FWD setup & the

TRACK

Type S has a wider track.

Wheelbase obviosly plays a roll too!