The current TL is virtually identical to the current CL on the inside. it also comes with the same options for the powertrain.

the CL had been dubbed "the first Acura completely designed and built in america"

well, ok, but didnt the TL come first? isnt the TL the same thing as the honda Inspire over in Japan? is the Inspire made here and exported to japan? or is there a factory over there making the exact same car (inspire) as the factory here making the TL and TL-S? how can the CL be completely designed in america if its got the exact same interior and powertrain as the japanese Inspire? is the Inspire considered a TRUE japanese car if the same thing is built in america as the TL? do people look at the TL as "more" of an import than the CL because the CL doesnt exist in japan? are the parts for the Inspire made here and exported to japan? or are there 2 totally independant manufacturing lines and assembly lines (one here and one in japan) for the exact same car with different badges? considering that the TL is made here, along with its 2 door twin, the CL, do japanese people frown on it like its some POS american car?

 

don't know what the scenario actually is, but my guess would be this:


the tl's interior was designed in america, but the exterior was designed overseas, hence not "completely" designed in america.

the cl's interior (same as the tl's) would also be from america, but considering no one else gets the cl, the cl's design is also from america, therefore completely designed in america.

then it was assembled in america. The parts can come from anywhere, but if it's assembled here, it's "built" here.

that's a guess, but that's the only way I can see it as the first acura designed AND built in america.

 

whats funny is the whole car aint built here either... well the parts at least.


the worst part of the car is the jap crap tranny.

 

The first generation TL was designed and built in Japan, while the first generation CL was designed and built in the USA. The second generations of both cars were designed and built in the USA. In fact, the second generation CL is basically a TL with 2 doors instead of 4 and both cars are manufactured at the same plant.

 

inspires come with this shift knob

it has an eagle on it and says "honda of america"

 

i think this is the funniest thing of all!!

 

so are you saying the INSPIRE is built here and exported to Japan???

 

isnt the CL on the Medium accord chassis and the TL is on the lareger accord chassis?

Also, its says designed and built, not designed, engineered and built. They take lots of liberities with how they word things. but thats what im getting from it. That designed the look of the car here.

BTW from what ive read and heard, the problem with the trannies seems to have stemmed from whoever honda had manufacture those trannys and has since moved on to using a different company for the 03s and everything else from now on. Dont know if its true but it seems to make sense.

 

Yup, I'm pretty sure Honda started tracking the problem with the '03 Models, and sometime during the '03 production time, they figured out exactly what was wrong and what manufacturer was to blame. Thats why some '03s are included with the tranny extension and some aren't. Honda knows which tranny was put into which car and therefore the ones with the bad tranny qualify for the extension. These aren't facts, this is just heresay that I've picked up from various threads, but it makes sense to me as well.