I'm sure this has been discussed before, but since picking up my new 6-speed this week it's gotten me wondering again about why the CL didn't make it and Acura canned it.

Sure, we're all big fans of the car (otherwise we wouldn't be here) and are biased towards it. But, strictly objectively (IMHO) the CL seems to have so much going for it that I still can't figure out why there were so few sold, little enough that Acura killed it. Compared with other coupes out there, the CL seems to offer a unique package: fast, comfortable (nice balance between luxury and sport), well-built, practical enough to be a daily driver (good back seat and big trunk) front-wheel drive, and reasonably priced. (To me the FWD is a plus. Here in the NE, we have to drive in snow and rain, and despite all the traction control and stability assist systems I've driven, I still prefer FWD in the slippery stuff. And with the HLSD, you can't complain about torque steer).

Yeah, I know the G35 coupe is a hot looking, hot driving car. I looked at it and loved it too. But for me it wasn't practical enough as daily transportation (no headroom in back seat, small trunk, worries about RWD in the snow). Other companies seem to be selling enough coupes to stay in the game (G35, Solara, Mercedes CLK, Accord, RX8 (the tiny rear doors don't count, it's a coupe), even some American iron).

The car mags (and even dealers) criticized the CL for "bland" styling. But styling is a matter of persnal taste (maybe it's not "dramatically" styled, but I think it's a fine looking car that will still look good in 5 years). I would have thought that somewhat conservative styling would appeal to more US buyers (take a look at what sells out there...).

So why didn't the CL make it?

 

A new coupe wll be introduced in 2 years. Come back in September 2005.

 

Try thinking of other cars in the CL's class: Mid-sized, FWD luxury sport coupes... i can't really think of any right off the bat.. the CL is sorta in a bad category, honestly. Most people considering the FWD vs. RWD issue are in the market for a sedan, not a coupe ...

Those toying w/ the idea of buying a coupe are most probably looking into RWD due to its aggressive performance nature.. that we all can appreciate. It just seemed to me that the CL is in a very unique, unpopular category .. despite the fact that it's the BEST car in that particular category.

 

#1 Manual wasn't offered right away
#2 introduction of more powerful cars that are close in price

 

advertising was shit poor too

 

No RWD/AWD killed that car, with decent snows, you can drive in the slick stuff, and traction control helps too. But look at all the other coupes. I see way more of each G35c (though limited in numbers), 330Ci, CLK, MB CL, and even SC430's than either the Slowara , and CL combined. Zapata, you are right also, it took way to long for the manual. Drivers in the coupe market want to row their own.

 

Don't get me wrong, I love my car... but when I found out that Our CL is designed and build in the US only.. that sort of was a downer for me... If I wanted to buy an American car, I would buy it from an American Car dealer (used to have a LT1 Z28 Six-speed), but in this case, I feel jipped... don't know if I'm the only one who feels that way....

 

This is a good moot subject but frankly, I don't care.

I've picked alot of stuff that went bye-bye: Beta over VHS; Amiga PC; 2 Taurus SHOs, now a CL.

However: The Beta still works; the Amiga lasted 14 years until it died (still better technology than Winblows XP); 1st SHO lasted 100K miles, second one still runs great; the CL I'm keeping for 10 years.

I buy what I think is best for me at that time and I don't worry about the fallout.

BTW, the G35 is fugly with a spoiler and has no trunk for trips. It isn't going to have any sales "legs".

The market is tough for coupes.

 

What I still dont understand is why Acura quality diminished since Acura Legend.... Acura Legend was the best car ever made, CL can't even be compared. Legend's quality is far more superior, I thought that CL/TL was a replacement for Legdend which is supposed to have the same quality, but its not.

 

....and styling and marketing.
When I bought my GS-R I hardly even knew what a CL was. IMO all of the Acura passenger cars are lacking in eye-catching style.

 

1) marketing was horrible, my family had a tl for 6 months before i even knew there was a cl.
2)no manual right away
3)needed for power to compeat against other cars. if acura would of just put on better factory header and airintake, theres almost 300hp. this is what nissan does. in car and driver (i believe) then tried swapping headers and exhaust, and actually lost power.
4) tranny problem got people scared.

 

Congrats on your CLS6. I love mine. The CL failed because of what was offered in 96, 97, 98, 99. and even on 01, and 02. Boring, nothing special, 4 cylinder and 6 cylinders (automatic only). The first CLs were not like Legend coupes at all.

Legend buyers never came back to Acura after a drought of 8 years for a Legend coupe replacement. I had 2 Legend Coupes but I came back for the CL 6 speed. It's better than the Legend Coupe, except in Styling and build quality. The Legend cost $10,000 more in 1995.

 

Who said the CL failed?

I would agree that it was not as successful as a Toyota Camry, but the CL is a beast in a different and somewhat unique category. The coupe market is not as large as other car markets. Furthermore, the CL was designed for specific duties: it's a grand tourning coupe. It wasn't designed as a sports car to take right hand turns at 50 MPH; it wasn't designed to blow away some muscle car when the light changed green. It was designed to be comfortable, somewhat luxurious, and powerful when compared to other cars (what few there are) in it's class. I think that Honda/Acura did a good job with it.

The CL went through two generations of vehicles with a variety of engine and transmission types. It's time was over. I guarantee that Acura will make another coupe in the upcoming few years to replace this loss in the line-up.

The cancelling of this car doesn't phase me. It's a normal decision made by corporate types. There are very few cars that have survived essentially unchanged over several decades.

Sometimes it really seems like there are way too many whiners here!

 

Lack of 6 speed (before G35 was offered), a bit more agressive styling, RWD would have helped.

 

It seems that Acura like to leave thier cars alone too long...then they become to conservative. When I bought my CL in November of 2000....everyone would look at it when I'd drive by.....now if you park a CL next to a 350Z or G35 Coupe.....not many people would "oooooh ahhhh" over the CL. Gotta keep up with the times

 

let me put it to you this way my friend just bought a 2000 clk 430 for 36K and all he kept saying is how his V8 was going to kill my car....the look on his face when my car not only kept up but was pulling on his clk....that was priceless. Not to mention he doesnt say anything more than hey I drive a Benz I dont need speed..:roll:

the cl-s 6 speed fail not in the least at least not in my book.

 

People didnt know about the car, and when they knew, there were a G35C and a 350Z already. With 260 HP, at that point, it was not enough to compete.

 

There is a very simple answer to this question:

The CLS is the Jack of all trades, Master of none.

And, in the luxury-coupe category, that simply doesn't cut it for most. Case closed.

Now, in the 4 door category, that combination is all the rage, i.e. the TL.

Coupe buyers don't want practicality, they want style, uiqueness and ooomph.

Now, the nails in the coffin were:
1. No manual at introduction
2. No bodykit support (why put your buyers in a "Type S" and then hang us out to dry by not even giving us a bodykit option that even the TL has). This alone would have made the car more notable.
3. And, while I don't think FWD is necessarily a bad thing, it precluded us from taking part in many coupe comparisons due to this fact. Once again, coupe buyers are not after practicality.
4. Lastly, the marketing for this car was absolute GARBAGE and all of their marketing department should be canned!

 

PERFECTLY stated!!!!

 

Yo--thanks KID!

 

Yep, JZ said it all.

The Marketing sucked. Most of the people on here weren't targeted by Acura's CL marketing campaign. They were trying to sell the car to aging babyboomers, instead of single guys (your usual coupe buyers). How many of you actually remember a CL commercial ?? [1]

That being said, I think the CL kicks ass, and that there are alot of stupid people out there who never considered the CL because they don't do research and just buy into a vehicles marketing hype (which the CL never had).





[1] There was the couple looking for a house w/ a long twisted road commercial, the guy that drove to maine for chowder at lunchtime from NY ??), and I think the same guy on a date w/ a westcoast chick (on the westcoast) who lived in NY ??

Yep, I remembered them, but only 'cause I bought a CL.

 

One car that 'kind of' close the CL is the Toyota Solara, BUT it was never offered with a powerful 6 cylinder w/ manual shift either or as many features. Don't know about the new design Solara out in the fall.
The CL failed as a commercial success, I heard also because of low sales and slim margins, and the tranny cost was killing any profits on such a small volume model.
I love my 6 speed and I still want another one with diff color and Navi, but it has never worked out for me, due to high cost to trade.

 

the solara was offered w/a 5spd manual

 

5 speed manual with a 6 cylinder?? I didn't think so.

 

EXACTLY!

 

Sorry but yes it was. I test drove one sometime in 02. The trans sucked and the handeling was terrrible but they did sell it. In 03 it was discontinued.

 

I knew the CL was being discontinued when I bought. Was an oppurtunity. They finally got it right with the 6 speed and HLSD combo. I'll keep it 12 - 14 years. Got it a bargain price.

Some seem concerned that is was discontinued. I think those are more worried about "status" than the performance of the car they are driving. Pretty silly.

 

Right on.....

 

Yeah, I think JZ is on the right track. The car never really found it's "niche."

 

JZ, I think you nailed the reason. You're absolutely right, the CL is a jack of all trades and master of none, and like Pappy said, as a result it never really found its niche. When I tell people I bought another CL-S, most of them get kind of a blank look on their face and either don't know what the CL is, or don't know what kind of car it is. Marketing is all about creating an image, an impression (whatever it may be), and Acura never did that with the CL.

I don't care at all. I love this car, and hope to keep it for 10+ years (as long as it stays reliable). I'd MUCH rather have this car than a BMW 330, which is less desirable to me, more common, and much more money.

 

I think you all are right in why they didn't sell many and it had to be discontinued, but I don't really think it failed. I see a lot around town, and most of us here really love our cars! Failed is such a harsh word!
You wanna talk about failure? Talk about the Vigor and the Acura/trooper thing! how many of those things did they sell?

 

I reject the question.

I think it DID succeed.

It's just that it's treated like an "option" on the TL.

If you consider cars like the Audi S4, or Volvo V70R, they are not brought out every model year. They test the waters first with their core models and then introduce the others down the road.

Hold your heads high! The Acura CL Type S was and still is one of the great luxury coupes of it's time!

Yes, competition is steep but I have faith in Acura to step up to the plate.

 

I don't think the CL failed at all. I think ACURA failed the CL. 2 years for a 6 speed that should have come on the original 01 release....bad handling of the Auto Tranny issue, S L O W reaction time for GIVING THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT!!!! God dammit....I HATE what Acura is doing these days. I never wanted to own anything but Acuras but after 4 of them, they aren't making anything that turns me on anymore and it's sad.