Hey CL-S Owners,

I'm not a CL-S owner yet but I've been monitoring this site for approx 9 months; love the the car. I have driven the six-speed twice and the automatic three times. Anyways, I understand that production of an 04 CL-S is probably not going to happen. Does anyone know when the last of the CLs will roll off the line and/or when they will shut down the assembly line. I plan on buying 1 May. Can you all help so that I can get in where I fit in? Does anyone think they will keep building until Sep 03?: confused:

 

Actually,

No one know wherther or not the CL will be made next year (other than Acura, of course). The rumors are from a redesign to a complete discontinue.

Sorry but I don't think the answer is there yet.

 

can't remember which one, that Honda had planned to take the CL through '06 with no "major" re-designs. At that time, they would either give the entire car a design overhaul or end the CL line. Take it with a grain of salt... came from an interview with a Honda spokesperson at a recent car show I believe.

 

That makes the most sense. Redesigns must cost a shitload of money. And if the car's not selling, that's an investment they won't make back any time soon. So just keep selling the current model longer to spread out the design costs over more model years.

 

That's right.

Acura (and Honda) have a 5 year design plan for all their cars. [1]The CL is in the 3rd year of the 2nd generation, so to pay off the redesign of the 2001 model, they probably will have the CL for another couple of years (till 2005??).

http://www.vtec.net/modelmatrix/ has the CL being redesigned or canceled in 2004 (2005 model year). If Acura followed the 5year plan for the CL, the next redesign would be due for the 2006 model year.

I think that you'd be safe waiting till September 2003. I don't know, and nobody except Acura knows, if the CL 2004 model will come out in the spring of 2003 or if they'll wait till September to release the 2004 model.




[1] The exception being the eight year run on the Integra.

 

Thanks party-people for responding and especially you Greenmonster for that insight. I was hoping to get more replies but I'm new on the block so I still have to be unofficially accepted. I keep up with cars quite a bit and my past vehicles were a 3rd and 5th gen Prelude. I'm pretty familiar with Hondas but I learned a couple more things from your reply. Man...it'll be a bitch trying to wait until September for the 04 to come out though. I thought that Acura introduced their new models in Feb/Mar as they did last year with the 6-MT. Anyways, thanks again bro. I'll try to "wait my horses" before I get one but it'll be tough. I'm in the Air Force and presently in Kosovo until approx 1 Mar; being here is the biggest reason I can't buy one now. Anyways, I know that's "too much information" but that's my story.


Peace

Shug

 

Why would they keep making a car that they can't sell and try to make up money they spent on it for? This is not this case of "loss less or loss more." Stop making the car completely. Wasting their resources to keep it on the market would probably cost more. Honda would be better off make other hot selling cars.

There's always exceptions to every rule. Integra, NSX, Lexus SC 300/400. Why fix it, if it isn't broken huh?

 

Well, here's the interesting thing about the CL. It's made in the same plant as the good selling Accord, (and maybe its made on the same production line, Hmm... where's the TL made again??).

The CL uses enough components from the Accord and TL (another good seller) that Acura can probably afford to have a low production numbers on the CL. The overall costs to produce the CL is less than some other makes/models because of the shared components. Acura probably doesn't have to sell many CL's per year to get back their redesign investment.

Since the 2nd generation CL is based on the 6th gen Accord, I'm sure Honda has made some money off of that platform.

 

The thing is Honda the Manufacter can keep on making it...but if the dealers don't see consumer interest in the car...the dealers aren't going to buy them.

 

I also believe the current tooling will be around for a while longer. If anything, they may do some slight changes to the front or rear to keep cost down. Also, you may see a larger engine in the same body style. No one knows for sure, just a few rumors.

 

Thanks Pappy and AcuraTLSFan for the replies; any and every little bit helps. I'm getting my aftermarket ideas together for hooking it up and I'm about 80% sure I'm going with the Acura CL-S. I was debating between the G-35 and the Type S but the Type S is a little more classier and unique, I also think it fits my personality. Additionally, I've always been a Honda man until I bought the 2001 Jetta GLX that I presently have now. It has the V6 automatic trans in it and it runs ok but just doesn't quite fit me. I've also had some problems with it since I've had it and I'm not happy with the service I got from VW.

My other dilemma is whether to go automatic or 6 MT. It appears that the tranny problems for the 03 models are few and far between. I've driven both and love the 6 MT but I'm still torn between the two.

I have researched numerous message boards and this by far is the best one I've seen for any vehicle. I'll admit that folks do get a little carried away ocassionally but other than that it's cool.