Hey folks. Just picked up an 01 CLS. Nice car but I've never had an autotranny before. Might have to switch to the 03 6MT. Only problem is the 03 doesn't look so good to me. Has a few bad styling cues. Anyway, I already searched and found how to attach the license bracket below the bumper. My question is does anybody know if it causes any serious airflow blockage to the radiator? Doesn't seem like the chance of that's too high but I still had to ask...

 

Nothing noticable.

 

Preciate it.

 

as far as i know, the only physical difference in the 03's is the headlight housing, taillight colors, and no fogs. you'd be better off with the 6MT as many auto trannys have problems

 

mine came with the plate attached underneath rather than in front, but i took it off anyway. also the grill is colored i believe.

 

I hear you. I did a lot of research first. I knew about the tranny problems because of this forum. My ride has 62k on it so no worries for a minute. Still bought it because it was the most car for the money I wanted to spend. You're right about the differences but for some reason the 03 looks different. I like the 01 tails and rims better. No fogs aren't a big deal to me b/c the 01 fogs are pretty conservative anyway. I might still trade in the 01. I love sticks but I had to pick up a car right away and the price wasn't terrible...

 

Mine came with the plate off (little scuffed where the bracket was). Still haven't decided if it's going on. Did buy the bracket though. Looks great without it...

 

take the license plate off, it looks way sexier.... and do a custom grill, makes my girl wet everytime she looks at it. :P

 

What's wrong with this '03 6MT


Hotness!!

 

03 is much hotter and 6mt >*

 

LOL, I'll keep that in mind...

 

Nothin at all. I'm just gettin to be an old man (thirty now). If I was about 24, 25 I would have loved this car to death. But now I make decent money. Cars that look good now: Bimmer 650i coupe, E55 amg, CL55 amg, Maserati's Quattroporte Gransport or Coupe. But I'm cheap right now so I'll stay with the CL and stack it.

 

Couldn't agree more, just because of the 6sp. You really like the rims better though? Hey free country but I probably will end up in an 03 but I really, realy would like it to be black with parchment, fake wood trim with navi. That's not a bad looking car. So rare in that combo though...

 

Actually YES I love the rims on my CLS-6, just with they were 18"

 

If you live in DC, you'll need that front plate. MPD and DOT will ticket your car parked or driven. And you can't pass inspect without it. Just watch out

 

Old man of thirty... ... I'm twice 25 and have my cake and eat it too... got my CLS 6MT (CT *.*) for a daily driver and my X for weekends... So both my youthful side and old man :killer: get their car needs are met.

 

I hear that! I'm just joking bout the age. I really just mean mentally, you know, won't poke the first thing that moves anymore. Little bit more common sense now, you know? That kind of thing. I could keep the CLS as a daily driver but it'd still have to be an MT though. I would love to pick up an M3 (loved them since highschool) but it seems like everyone in the DC metro area has one...
So what's that X all about? I keep wishing they'd put 8 cylinders in there. I loved that car from high school too. I always thought it would fly but the 0-60 is about 5 seconds I hear. Beautiful though. Always has been...

 

Yep, that was the final factor. Looks good without the plate and all but I've already paid about 700 in random tickets since moving from DC in March, without this car. Just from random parking. So on went the front plate...

 

The X with a CT i/sc/h/e will be well under 5s. Also, can have as much as 425hp (370whp). Put in a different ring/pinion and it will be an absolute beast. BTW, fully stock 3.2L Xs do mid 13s.

 

Hm. I'll have to keep that in mind. I'll have to add her back to the list...

 

By the way, any good X forums...

 

NSX Prime!

 

thats why there are radiator fans, shouldnt cause a problem, if the CTS senses hotness, itll just turn the fans on, shouldnt have anythign to worry about, us hould be more worried about if u have crap stuck on ur radiator, and plus air can go around the plate.