well, this is a first year production model isn't it? well, not really but it is still pretty much new. so, does the CL-S have airplane-like reliability?

 

Well it is built in the US. so i don't think it will be as good as those honda'z built in jap.

------------------
CL-S
White/Ebony/Navi/Spoiler/Visor/Full Bra/Mud Guards/Cargo Net/Acura Car Cover/Tint 20%,35%, Rockford 250a2 Amp w/JL10w6 / K&N Drop in Filter. Comptech Springs. Swayz next... Finally Polarg m-6.

 

I don't think being built in the US has anything to do with it. It's the company's commitment to quality that matters.



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2001 Acura 3.2 CL Type-S
San Marino Red / Parchment
non-nav - wheel locks - splash guards

 

it's the design that makes a car reliable...being built in the u.s. will effect fit and finish, but fit and finish of our cars is still relatively excellent compared to most makes.

the is300 is imported from japan but has more and more major fit and finish problems, but i still wouldn't question the reliability of it or any other toyota or honda.

 

Agreed. Long-term reliability is a function of design, not country of origin!

 

Another consideration as far as the '01 CL reliability is that is based on the Accord platform which I believe is going on it's third year of production. Major mechanical failures will likely not be a factor though small fit/finish issues can and do arise with new models based on existing platforms. Personally, I feel really good about the mechanicals of this car, though I really starting to think Acura needs to work on their exterior finish quality. This paint scratches WAY TOO EASILY, IMO.

------------------
2001 3.2 CL-S San Marino Red/Ebony, Non-nav, Bone Stock

The Red Rocket

 

I think reliability won't be an issue with the CL. I do think Acura did cut corners with this car in materials. This is my second Acura, and as long as I'm pleased with them I'll probably make it a third also.

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'01 CLS Red/Parchment-all the goodies

 

NOVAwhiteTypeS,

FYI - the accepted abbreviation for Japan is JPN, not JAP. Thanks

------------------
'01 CL-S
Satin Silver

 

There's just the trim/fit finish. Only real problem I've seen with mine is that the door is not aligned with the body panel very well. Oh well....I'll live.

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2K1 CL-S since 6/13/00 named Laetitia! Quantum tint, hyper-white road lamps, and I just got a spoiler on baby!!

Former post count : 440-ish.

 

And just for the record, this is the accurate makeup of the vehicle:

US/CDN Parts Content: 70%
JPN Parts Content: 25%

Final Assembly Point: Marysville, OH
Country of Origin: Engine (US), Transmission (JPN)

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* 2001 Acura CL Type S * Blk/Blk * Navigator * Spoiler * Moonroof Visor *
* Since 3/31/2000 *
* Road Warrior *

 

hey, what ever happened to the rest of the 5%?!


------------------
YuppieCL
-Silver '01 CL-S w/ Navi
-Comptech springs
-35% Llumar tint
-Full nose mask

 

I too notice that both doors seem to protrude ever so slightly at the rear edge, kinda makes the door gap look big from the rear of the vehicle. The seal still seems tight and I cant discern any added wind noice in spite of this, though.


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2001 3.2CL-S San Marino Red/Ebony, Non-nav, Bone Stock

<A HREF="http://rrw.d2g.com" TARGET=_blank>The Red Rocket
</A>

 

The other 5% is water.


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MikeS 18
'01 CL-S #22,299 Black/Parchment with Nav, Spoiler, door guards, wood trim kit, fender guards, PIAA 19169 & Platinum 9005, V1, trunk tray, winter mats, Salt Coat Finish by Mass DOT

 

Mechanically we should be ok. Trim and Fit...spotty to fine. I had a climate control module replacement-mine freaked out and went to 20 degree setting, and a seat back replacement. Mufflers still peeling, dealer will repaint. All in all not bad for first year. Rattles starting to appear but the rear seat one was cured by stuffing a T-shirt between pass. rear seat and window panel on passenger side. Something in there reverberates. Spoiler rattles inside but I'm spraying in polyfoam ("Great Stuff") as soon as it gets above freezing.

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CL-S Sundance Gold, TR Typhoon Wheels, Solaris 9005, guards, nose mask
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?...493&p=31386570

[This message has been edited by bc01cls (edited 01-03-2001).]

 

Hey bc01cls-

You got to be kidding right? I hope my CLS doesn't exhibit your type of problems.

 

Like most everyone else, I'm not at all concerned about reliability with this car. However, I too have noticed quite a few fit/finish problems that are mostly aesthetic annoyances to me (since I'm an Anal-retentive car freak/perfectionist engineer type). What is starting to drive me nuts though are the rattles.

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'01 Pimp Daddy Gold CL-S - Comptech Springs
Coming Soon: new 17" wheels/tires (can't decide which yet), maybe Comptech Sways
My PimpinTypeS More pics of my PDG

 

DDT..........not kidding. I only had one rattle which for a 5 month old car is livable, especially after my 99 Cobra fiasco. The spoiler rattle is outside the car so you don't hear it unless you bang on it with your fist....annoying, but the loose wire will soon be silenced with polyfoam. As far as the climate control, that's really the only malfunction I've had which was quickly fixed under warranty. Seat back I'll put in the fit and finish column for a first year run. Car runs great...........I'll live.

------------------
CL-S Sundance Gold, TR Typhoon Wheels, Solaris 9005, guards, nose mask
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?...493&p=31386570

 

Wow... my car will be 3 years old in May and I have no rattles and the only problem I had was a fraid wire which caused my low gas light to come on. When I upgrade, hopefully these things will be ironed out. Maybe the TL-S will be better since it's not a total redesign.....



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1998 Iced Blue CL 3.0 ** Some mods, but who cares, I want a Type-S!!

 

don't get me wrong, i love our cars but this is the thing I was refrering too. un aligned door panels.
Also if you look at ford, or GM makes they usually have more problems and arn't that reliable. I just think that foreign cars like european and JPN cars have higher standards when building a car. IMO.


------------------
CL-S
White/Ebony/Navi/Spoiler/Visor/Full Bra/Mud Guards/Cargo Net/Acura Car Cover/Tint 20%,35%, Rockford 250a2 Amp w/JL10w6 / K&N Drop in Filter. Comptech Springs. Swayz next... Finally Polarg m-6.

 

Nuhuh, it's rice.

 

I also have concerns about the paint. Already have scratches on front bumper. Has anyone else noticed that the passenger side exhaust sits lower?

------------------
01 Silver 3.2CLs

 

My pipes are level but since day one I have had little nagging spots of rust on the crome no rust spots but acutal rust

 

well ratles to me are just not acceptable, my 4runner was 3 years old with 80K miles (i know i drive to damn much) never rattled from day one the only problem was an idiot at dealer spilled oil in the scratch plate, but my accord is 9 months old, and has had 2 airbag cpu's, and rattles like a damn tin can, the dealer says it is b/c of my stereo (2 12's) but they were in both cars

------------------
2001 acura cl type-s
comming soon
2000 accord v6 sedan
1997 4runner
1992 camaro
1993 volvo 850

 

I have not seen any rust. I'll take a close look when I wash it next. My pipes are off by a half inch. Dealer said "that's they way they come from the factory", he also offered to bend the bracket.


------------------
01 Silver 3.2CLs

 

My driver door at the front (where the hinges are) is set about 1/3 - 1/2 inch too low. Does anyone know if this can be easily adjusted? Can the hinge bolts be loosened and the door moved up just a little? Or would the front fender have to be taken off first?

 

it is nothing to do with build in usa or japan...so the same quality and reliability..

------------------
Red CL Type S.
Powered by HONDA
Powered by MUGEN

 

I had the same problem on my passenger side door. You could lay a straight edge along the belt line and see a significant gap. The dealer was able to adjust it, but you could probably do it yourself. Mark the current location of the latch, loosen the bolts and move it in a little less than the gap.



------------------
Cheers,

• Silver type S
• Spoiler
• No regrets

 

I must disagree. Too much experience tells me the US built cars do not have the same quality. Reliability maybe but certainly not the quality. Ask anyone who has had a US vs. Japan built Accord, there is a difference. Don't get me wrong, I love the car but the build quality is not the same as those cars made in Japan.

------------------
Rex -
'01 CL Type S - Satin Silver, Navi, BBS RK
Lic: THX CBOE

 

unless you are talking about build quality (ie fit and finish quality), i disagree. the quality of the car (besides fit and finish) are again based on the design (material selection such as leathers and plastics, paint, electronic components, etc.).

you can't just say quality 'cuz it's too vague.

but again, the fit and finish of the cl is still superior compared to many domestic makes, and even better than the is300 which is imported from japan.

 

You said it better than I did ... thanks.



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Rex -
'01 CL Type S - Satin Silver, Navi, BBS RK
Lic: THX CBOE

 

I don’t have any major complaints about my CL-S right now, but my “Made in Japan” 91 Legend Coupe had a much higher feel of quality.
It’s hard to describe, it’s just the feeling you get driving down the road.

The CL-S has many more electronic toys and a much more powerful engine under the hood, which is why I made the switch.

Sad to say, but I don’t think Acura will ever build a car like the Gen II Legend series again.

Shawn S


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&gt;&gt;&gt; 400+ posts on h/a.net &lt;&lt;&lt; &gt;&gt;&gt; 550+ posts “freak” on the “old” acura-cl.com &lt;&lt;&lt;

2001 CL Type S - NAV - San Marino RED / Parchment - Spoiler - 35% Tint - Roof Visor - PIAA Lamps
GOLD Emblems & Grill - V1 w/remote - KICKER ZR-360 w/(2) 10" Alumapro Subs - Shine by ZAINO
For Pictures see: PAGE 1 PAGE 2 PAGE 3 PAGE 4 V1 & SUBS

 

A Japanese or German built car just seems to have that feeling.....the work ethic in Japan and Germany is crazy.

It's all the minor things about an American built car. I haven't had ANY problems w/ my CL-S, but it's the random creaks and the door alignment that bothers me. I hear an annoying-@ss creak when I lean back on my chair, and when I push down a little on my arm rest(not the center console, but the one on the door near the handle). God that bugs the hell out of me. Anyone have a "fix" for this?

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~Phil~!
2K1 CL-S since 6/13/00 named Laetitia! Quantum tint, hyper-white road lamps, and I just got a spoiler on baby!!

Former post count : 460

 

Aircraft reliability?? Depends if you are talking B-747 or DC-10!! Seriously, Honda will have good QC, but I would prefer if it were made in Japan.

 

Oh yes it does. The work ethic between the US and Japanese is quite different.



------------------
01 CL Type-S, White\Black\Navi\Comptech Springs+Sways\Burl Shifter\Guards\Smokers Package

 

whether it was built in the u.s. or japan has little to do with reliability...the car is designed to be reliable, so it's gonna be reliable wherever it's made...the only thing that will change may be fit and finish.

if you design a shitty car, it'll be a shitty car whether it's made in the u.s. or japan or germany or wherever.

if you design a reliable car, it'll be reliable wherever it's made...sure the door panels may not line up exactly correct, but does that mean your car's gonna last 5 years less 'cuz of the doors?

 

i still can't believe people are second guessing honda/acura reliability...there's a difference between reliability and fit and finish.

and didn't want to bring this up again, but the is300 is made in japan, yet has more (and bigger) fit and finish problems than the cl (doors popping when open vs. our 1/8" misaligned doors, bottom engine covers cracking and popping off, when they accelerate hard, they get a fart smell in the car).

unless it was a rebadged isuzu, i wouldn't worry about honda/acura reliability, 1st year or not.

 

I beg to differ. Just because a worker in Japan works a 14 hour day doesn't mean that he will build a higher quality product. If you are over worked your are likely to be stressed and the quality of your work will drop.

------------------
2001 Acura 3.2 CL Type-S
San Marino Red / Parchment
non-nav - wheel locks - splash guards
#26519

 

and theoretically if we are saying that 'made in japan' is synonymous with reliability, then why can't mitsubishi, subaru, mazda, isuzu, and suzuki claim reliability on par with honda and toyota, even considering some honda and toyota models made outside japan?

 

This reminds me of the Volkswagen "Wolfsburg Edition" that was manufactured in Germany. Exactly the same car, however, the Wolfsburg Edition sold for a couple thousand more because it was better quality. You can say all you want about the design of the car being great, I totally agree that the design of the CL-S is spectacular, however, when Joe six-pack at the assembly plant had one too many lunch beers and misaligned your door by a quarter of an inch, that's a manufacturing defect and will probably mean a trip to the dealership for some warranty work.

In Acura's defense, a lot of car manufacturers have the same or worse problems. I own a Mitsubishi Galant and a month after I bought it the dome light fell down out of the ceiling. Turns out the assembly guys mounted the wrong size of dome light in several thousand Galants, and they all had to be replaced. Then, a couple of months later, I got a recall notice saying they hadn't torqued the steering assembly well enough and my steering could go out at high speeds...

In my experience, Honda and Acura are one of the best companies when it comes to a quality product, but all car manufacturers have isolated problems from time to time. I think it all depends on how strict their QA processes are.

------------------
2001 CLS or 2002 TLS coming soon...

 

but that brings us back to fit and finish, which i agree about concerning joe sixpack.

in my book, reliability (see topic title) is a different issue. we own 3 mercedes, and most with very excellent fit and finish and quality, but reliability is terrible (especially electrical problems).

i'd rather have my door be misaligned 1/4" than our sl500 stalling in the middle of the road due to misfiring and not start again for like 5 minutes (which actually happened and scared the heck out of me considering the thing was about $90k and cars in my rearview were getting closer really really fast).