BL^5 and I just got back from David McDavid in Austin... they had 3 2003's on the lot.

We took a silver 6 speed for a spin.... oh man.

I have driven sticks my entire life, the CL was the first auto I've owned. And taking the 2003 around the block has put manual fever back into me!

It felt soooo much more sporty, even without any mods.

Shawn S... I am jealous!

 

That’s funny.
Everyone is envious of me, yet I think I’m the only one on this site that hasn’t even SAT IN the freaking thing yet.

I think I’ll just say the HELL with the test drive if I’m getting MINE next week anyway.

Shawn S

 

Well I went to Acura and saw the 6-speed. They had about 8 of them including the non-type s I think. I like the tail lights and plan on getting them. The wheels in my opinion are ass. Dont care for the front end either. But in all the car is nice. I wouldnt sell my 2001 for a 2003.
Just my opinion.

 

uhm, what kind of whack ass review is this???? More details!!!!!! Shifting, engine etc., etc., Come on people!

 

You would think with all the complaints of 2001 owners about how the front could be better looking and the driving lights should be fog lights, Acura would actually change it for the better.

They make it worse AND put crappy looking rims on it ?

 

Whew….That was a LOT to read all at once.
Thanks for all of the insightful and hard thought details.

Shawn S

 

doesnt sound like he drove one just saw some '03's....chances are most of the 03's werent 6 speeds either...and they dont come non typeS in a manual...

 

Ouch...

We need a smiley even more sarcastic than !

 

Sorry there bud. They had like 5 6 speeds and the rest were the non type s. In auto. No I didnt drive one cause I was on my way to dinner with my girlfriend. I just stop in to see one. So you all dont have to be rude towards my post I was just giving my opinion on what I saw.
Thanks

 

Subject header is mis-leading. It sounds as if you drove it and wrote a review.

 

Damn, It's a driveby review...

 

Ouch !

 

After Quiteatypes got ripped a new one for his review, I hope mine is worthy :p

My salesman was cool, let me take it out on my own! Did about 5 miles in it. Can't compare against the manumatics, since I ain't got one, but it puts my mr2 to shame

Ok, first of all, the absence of fog lights. The hole there is NOT for brake cooling. There is a honeycomb shaped in the back of the inserts, that is solid when u look closely at it. Only example I can come up with is like the Mustang GTs air intake, and side vents. Also, from what I could tell when looking in the wheel wells there is no hole or way to get this air flow to the brakes. It's just solid plastic wheel well.

Another thing that others were asking about is the tach and if it goes all the way around now that the shift lights are gone. Yes it does, it is stretched out and ends about 4-5 o'clock on the dial. It goes to 9k rpm, redline is at 6800 maybe a lil higher. However I didn't test this as the actual rev limiter, just where the tach becomes red.

Also, while yakkin with sales dude in his office (more like a trailer at the austin dealer) I noticed a unopened box of CL brochures. Had him open it and he gave me one. This is the official release brochures for 2003, not the 4 page teaser thing from before. Here's the cover, I'll post more in a few minutes.

BTW, no mention of body kit in the brochure, didn't see fog lights either. Any other questions?

 

Thanks much.

I’m heading up to Lehigh Valley Acura tomorrow to bang some heads together and see if they have one to drive.

Shawn S

 

My dealership just called me back ! I am test driving one tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. PST. I will not divuldge the dealership, to make sure it's not sold. I will give you my best feedback I can. I am 41 and grew up on manuals.......If I love it, which I probably will, then I'll wait for the black/Ebony Navi 6MT off the truck with the all the wrappings !

Question: Would you guys put the S03's on right after I bought it ? I'm not parting with these puppies.......
Second: Should I switch rims. I love the 01&02 rims.....I'll get over the white is rear lens, but prefer the solid red one via picture. I've never seen the car in person....

BTW: CLS is a Silver with Navi 6MT.

Not going to sleep to well tonight.............

 

Shawn,
I had to pull teeth today to learn that they had indeed recieved a 6MT and were instructed to call me in advance ...........you gotta be proactive with these guys ! So tomorrow I'll test drive one !
Can't wait !

 

I'd make the dealer put some "sticky" tires on it before it left the lot (or maybe you have a F1 team buddy that will bring the "trailer(s)" [if the dealer won't comply] )

 

Links to more of the brochure:

http://home.austin.rr.com/esouthers/01.jpg
http://home.austin.rr.com/esouthers/02.jpg
http://home.austin.rr.com/esouthers/03.jpg
http://home.austin.rr.com/esouthers/04.jpg
http://home.austin.rr.com/esouthers/05.jpg
http://home.austin.rr.com/esouthers/06.jpg
http://home.austin.rr.com/esouthers/07.jpg
http://home.austin.rr.com/esouthers/08.jpg
http://home.austin.rr.com/esouthers/09.jpg
http://home.austin.rr.com/esouthers/10.jpg
http://home.austin.rr.com/esouthers/11.jpg
http://home.austin.rr.com/esouthers/12.jpg
http://home.austin.rr.com/esouthers/13.jpg
http://home.austin.rr.com/esouthers/14.jpg
http://home.austin.rr.com/esouthers/15.jpg
http://home.austin.rr.com/esouthers/16.jpg
http://home.austin.rr.com/esouthers/17.jpg

The rest is just the specs and features, stuff like that, no good pics.

 

Geez, give the guy a break, not everyones here to kiss your ass. Pick your car up already and move on.

 

 

I was there at the Austin dealer Sat and they had no CL brochures or 03 cars. Test drove an 02 CL-S but didn't like it that much, it's fast and loaded but not sporty.

May try out the 6 speed but I'd only buy a CL at a bargain price. I have new car fever but nothing feels as good as my Legend yet (in my price range).
Acura has gotten off track in my opinion as far as 2 doors go.

 

yeah the 2003 6spd just came in last night, and like I said the brochure box wasn't opened, looked like it had a UPS label on it. It just happened to have something like 'MY03 CL Brochure' written on the side of the box and I asked about it. Me nosey
Talk to mark if you go check it out. He's cool...well maybe that's cause he knows he's gettin my money...

2 doors was a requirement for me, and I didn't want anything small. Already got the mr2 for that. The CL just fit for everything I wanted, and the addition of the 6 speed sweetened the deal.

Oh yeah, just another note, not sure if this has been posted yet or if it's on the new acura site, but in August 2002 there's going to be a switch in a paint color for the CLP. Naples Gold Metallic is going to become Desert Mist Metallic. This is just for the CLP, and it looks just a tad bit darker than the Naples Gold.

 

Well fellas' the local dealer called me in yesterday afternoon letting me know that they've arrived and I told him I'd be in as soon as I could. Got in there and he told me that test drives were not possible, but since I've obviosuly have a true interest he'd let me take it out. WOW!!!!! Let me tell you....as we pull out of the dealership, and he's talking about the secretary's breasts he hits 6K RPM in 1st and we're well on our way!!!! It was an absolute thing of beauty!!!! I never got outta fourth gear on my drive but pushed the upper limits on low end gears. We sat down to talk about trade in possibilties, etc. and said that I'd only get approx 23K on my trade in. I only have 7515 miles on mine. Just couldn't bite the bullet. Plus they're not even getting any black manual until May and not getting any black/manuals/nav until July. WTF?!?! He said something about only 6000 manuals in production. Ouch.....

Got back in my car and it just wasn't any fun in comparison. I need a manual!!!!

Anyhow, just wanted to show my true enthusiasm and let all of you know that this is a real beast!!!!! Enjoy!!!!!

 

Well here it goes. Today I bring the R in for 15,000 mile service at Continental Acura. It was supposed to be a 1 and a half hour job and I didn't want to wait. So I go outside, lo and behold, there are about 5 CL-S six speeds outside. Man if your going to get any color on that car I suggest the Anthracite. That and black are simply GORGEUS on that car. Anyways the dealer wasn't sure that the car was already sold or not cause most of them were sold. Anyways I got to test drive a six-speed silver, with no NAVI. It was going for $30,500 or something like that. My first impression once I got into the car is that the seats are very supportive and comfortable. Wasn't bad. Then I started it and drove off. One thing I didn't like about the car was that the clutch was too mushy; too soft. I really didn't like that. The throws were long. But the power is amazing. I didn't get a chance to gun it cause it was a new car, but it was powerful. Felt a lot faster than a regular CL-S. Fifth and sixth gear were tall as hell; found no use for them in street driving. But there was a lot of power available on tap. I liked it alot. Steering was nice and crisp. Power delivery was quiet, something I liked. As a press the accelerator down, I could see the speedometer just gobbling up speed like nothing. It could hit forty in a snap, but I didn't go too fast because it was a new car with only like 11 miles on it. It's an awesome car though; nothing like the Type R though. The R is fast and the gearing and clutch feel is perfect. The CL-S isn't as sporty, but it is fast regardless. I'm seriously thinking about the car in for it. It's an amazing car that we've all been waiting for.
-importtuner

 

Actually the official number is 2,700 total 6-Speed CL’s for 2003.

Shawn S

 

Oh yeah, another thing I forgot to put in my review. In 6th gear at 60mph, you are running right at 2k rpm. And it's quiet as hell.

 

That's not many. Have to special order or something. Shawn...you still waiting?! Tomorrow (fri)?!

But again.....VERY impressed and as more of you drive this auto, you'll be thoroughly disappointed sitting back in your car.

HOWEVER.....didn't like the titanium trim on the interior.

 

I’m going up there tonight to bang some heads together and get some final numbers down on paper.
I also want to make sure they have my spoiler on order for when the car gets here.
I don’t care about any other options right now, but I want that on there when I pick it up.

Shawn S

 

The one I got to drive was the owner's sons. (the new grey) He was picking it up today. The dealer told me to lay off and take it easy. BITE ME!!! He was driving a '91 NSX prior to that, so he can kiss my ass. Just playin' but still.....must be tough being an owner's son/daughter.

 

Damn, I shoulda done that. I did tell them to not put the front license plate bracket on or any of the dealer badges....

 

i just came from the dealer and he said one car per dealership, per color. i'm not gonna buy a car if i can't drive it. if it's not worth it, i not gonna spend that kind of money.It's like buying a bed or a couch and not sitting on it!!!!!!

 

It looks like there MAY be more to this “Limited Edition” thing then people originally thought.

Shawn S

 

Nice review thanks.

 

Hey there are black people on here?? :P

 

Alright I will start off by mentioning the differences. First off is the taillights. If you look at it from the side and it has a spoiler it really reminds me of a porsche. The next is the headlights and grill. Those look good, and I like that they did away with the driving lights(replaced by plastic with holes). The interior, the cupholder is a slide door, the door handles on the inside are curved differently, the carpet says 3.2CL the door has perforated leather, and the seats have perforated leather on the front corners. Those are the differences I noticed. Oh yeah, IT HAS A SIX SPEED. The gate is well aranged. The shifter is very, very smooth, and the throws are nice and short. I was the first person to drive the car on the road. It has noticably more pull from a start. Those of you who have preordered are going to love the new car. Oh, I forgot the new rims look alot better in person, and from the looks, are alot lighter.

If anyone is interested and lives around Memphis, they have a silver and black w/ parchment six speed at Acura of Memphis. They have great service, I got a new bumper under warranty when the paint chipped, and a new fog light when it broke, again under warranty.

 

I just frove one yesterday too. My thoughts below.....

http://www.acura-cl.com/forums/showt...threadid=63958

 

Shhhh. We don't want to advertise it.

 

Shaddup, Jew. :P

 

OK Fellas, I just got home from driving a 6mt. The salesmans were cool. He let me red line it and guess.....tons of Tourque Steer, infact it was SO bad, I all but lost control of the vehical and I was doing NOTHING different from the Slush box ! Esp. on the uneven pavement, this was with substantial throttle, had the steering wheel pulling left to right. Even the salesman noticed me struggling to maintain this car on the road.

Hate to say it guys, I'll stick to the SLUSH and VSA, cause I then took my car on the exact road and mine handled with NO, I MEAN NO TOURQUE STEER issues like the 6MT did.......Otherwise, it did ride stiffer. The quality of the center control area is CHEAP ! Can you say F A K E allumininininummm, cheap looking big time, again, my salesman noticed it also, we both commented how you could C L E A R L Y see the rush job acura did on this car........Don't like the rims either and not to wild about the lack of Chrome !
All in all, it looks like they are phasing this puppy out ! Salesmans said MDX and TL are hot sellers, CL is not doing so well he said.........

Please NO flames, each his/her own, I was NOT impressed and will keep my S L U S H O M A T I C and wait for the rear wheel drive manuals coming...............

 

Which dealer did you go to? Pleasanton?