charliemike

I'm trying to remember what the Auto turns at that speed. I think it's low 2ks?

Crazy Bimmer

I mean its OK.

Chrisbert

The new rims are 7.0 inches wide. Aren't the old rims 7.5 inches?

codehead

I think you're right on there. I saw the pix before reading the complaints, and my first thought was "BMW"...

Overall, the new model is pretty much as I guessed, except I was hoping for just a little more from the front end redesign... mine's still on order tho, and happy about the LSD

KavexTrax

KavexTrax predicts you will all like the new taillights
and will program into your mind for the next several months
that you will like them so much that KavexTrax should get
credit for photoshopping them on Nov. 15, 2000



oh and by the way, HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY A-CL.com!!!

soopa

nope. always been 7.0 wide.


the stock TLS rims are only 6.5" wide losers.

Nashua_Night_Hawk

No VSA for you 6-speed lovers...

Why one step back? the 6-speed will not solve the inherent understeer and the rare oversteer....
Booo Acura...... give us an SMG!

Moog-Type-S

I would have thought that Acura would have done more with the headlights...perhaps similar to TL lights with lower "eye" lids similar to BMW. Body colored grille surround...looks cheap. Chrome is nice...especially on black... The front of the '03 CL in Black is gonna look too blacked out! :P

vince

I though I saw those taillights somewhere before...

Zapata

WHAT!!!!! BOO! what the heck are you talking about, one thing at a time man.....smg will do nothing for understeer or oversteer. Maybe when the car is redesigned but those two things have to do with weight distribution man.....

Zapata

at 75 in 5th you will be right at 2k and at 80 you will be at 2.2

charliemike

Well if it's 2.2 at 75mph in 6th that's about 1300RPM LESS than my current car

Thanks for the response Zap.

What do you think about acceleration to 60mph? 5.9 secs or so?

Speed_Racer

This seems to be a step backwards. As soon as I saw the new Type S wheels I thought of the original '97 2.2 CL rims. . . Not good. . .

Zapata

oh hmmmm will in the 6MT i think 75 in 6th will be between 2.2 and 2.5.

What kind of car are you driving now? Interesting......3.5 in 6th @ 75 must be NICE car

5.9 with a good driver yes because of the LSD and higher gearing for 1st-3rd gears. ALthough it'll be interesting how badly people chirp the tires with the new setup Actually the final drive has been reduced so it'll be ok. Now its 4.4 and the 6mt is 3.2 so

MyBigBlack S

The only bad thing about the gearing is the possibility you will be wearing out your right arm from shifting every two secs.. but so it is with a manual...

BakedWafer

Other than the 6-speed this is no difference, car is exactly the same. The .3 second 0-60 gain for a 6-speed doesn't really make me smile. Unimpressed. :o :o :o

Same Engine with a few modifications. Oh yippe! Lets get rid of the excitement. AWD, no. RWD, no. Just a 02 with a 6-speed.
WOHO!

Later

EricL

When and if you see a drive-by-wire throttle control, you know the good stuff will be coming (SMG city)...

JSuppi

Um anyone have a clue of what that Antenna thingy on the rear Window is on the 03' Type S??

Is it part of the On-Star system?

I was glad when BMW got rid of their's on the 3 series, it looks kinda useless

WebToker

Onstar...

Chaptorial

I think Acura did a fairly decent job. If they leave it like the 99-01 TL and not have any fog lights thats gonna suck big time however.

We'll have to wait and see....

NOVAwhiteTypeS

I think acura R&D did most of their homework from this site.
remember the clear photoshoped red/clear tail lights.?

and brushed alluminium, 6 speed, gear ratio, lsd, almost everything we wine about on this site, ACURA has listened.

all I gotta say is I'm taking my road lamps out since they already don't have bulbs in it and starting the conversion to an 03. but I"m keeping my 01 typeS rims. I'll onlyl swap if those rims are reallly light weight.

Can't wait to see the competition.!!!!

Scrib

Good lord!

I started reading this post when it was 4 pages long, now it's 12!!!

Ok, just back back home after being in the air for the last 2 hours. Just finished reading the specs.

My thoughts...

NICE gearing ratios. This car will fly! Absolutely fly!!! Question though... How are the gear ratios in the automatic CL-S?

Not all that big on the rims. I like the ones on my '02 CL-S much better.

HLSD.... mmmmm giddie up!!!

Exterior changes aren't all that great. And damn it, there better be fogs on that car!



All in all, not bad but I thought it would be better. I was gonna be pissed if Acura came out with something much different than the '02 model, considering I bought it in early December. Although, I don't think a 6-spd would work out for me, as the wife would want to drive it, and that would be a HUGE disaster.

silverstarr

Yes, with all the hype on this board, I thought there were going to be more dramatic changes to the 2003 design.

The black holes where the road lamps used to be is sorta weird. When I looked at the pictures, i thought maybe they had darkly tinted the lense, but that wouldn't make any sense.

The aluminum trim might be interesting, but it looks like they just painted over the bowling ball trim. It would look more classy with real brushed aluminum. This stuff is just painted plastic...sorta tacky IMO.

The wheels aren't as nice as the current models. I like the style of the 2001-02 stock rims on the type S and like the TL Type S rims better since they don't stick out.

Onstar is nice, but I agree that the antenna ruins the sleek line of the car.

I guess I'm happy that the changes aren't overly dramatic. I don't know why it was such a big secret!

Do you guys think this new model will help CL sales??? I was thinking the changes would be more drastic to help sales. I'm not convinced that the market for manual cars in this class is that large. I mostly see old men driving CLs and I'm not sure if these changes are enough to appeal to younger buyers who would opt for a stick shift.

JSuppi

Yeah and it appears also a shameless plug at that Geez making all of us with scratched rim fever envious as hell

One of the things I haveto say (if it hasn't been said already) is chances aer those rims are seriously lighter than the stock ones we have right now. Until we can get some to weight, who knows. Someone had mentioned a weight difference between the 01' and the 03' CL Type S. Probably 60% of that was the reduction in weight because of the transmission, but also 40% may be because the rims are lighter as well??

typeR

...so...what do you think of the possibility of the LSD fitting our auto...

Scrib

No clue... I wouldn't be hopeful, if you want my honest opinion...

Wxguy95

I like everything except the smoked front lights. Something about lights like this scream Bonneville or New Cheap Impala or something. I had been waiting for the 6-sp to come out, and now they changed the design enough to put me back on the fence.

Perhaps is they were color matched to the paint it would look better. I don't know. I'm hoping this car looks better in person than in photo.

davo-cls

I ran the numbers through a car test program that I have and it's not so good.

0-60 : 6.2 seconds
1/4 mile : 14.6@96.3

It's pretty accurate since the numbers from the slushbox came up
0-60 : 6.4 seconds
1/4 mile : 14.8@96
The same numbers that Motor Trend came up with when they tested.

The final gear ratio of 4.428 is the same as the 5 speed automatic. Are you sure that's correct? Or is it the 3.286?

If so, then it improves 0-60 to 5.9 seconds but keeps the 1/4 mile at 14.6.

Loseit

iTrader: (1)

BODY KIT??????
Atleast our cars won't look like "last years model"!!
Can we put that 6-speed, brake in our cars? I mean once my aoto gives out

silverstarr

hmmm...that's pretty horrible if it's accurate...considering that manual altima gives a better time...

one would hope that with the manual, the 0-60 would be in the high 5s and maybe 1/4 mile in the high 13s???

tankmonkey

3.286 is the final for the 6 speed (4.428 remains the final on the auto).

droideka

To all the dumbasses crying about the foglights,

I know why Acura did this... BRAKE DUCTING!!! The "road lamps" sucked so much ass anyway, Acura figured they could rip 'em out, vent the front brakes and VOILA! No more warped rotors!

Now they will only have to worry about engine replacements on the '03 CL-S because the six-speed ratios are too tight.

H@mmerm@n

Me too!!!!

provench

I think I have figured it out after 12 pages of posts. If you get enough people in one place everyone can find SOMETHING that they can b!tch about Seriously - I think we have taken opposite sides on EVERY aspect of the CL - new or old

In either case - I am quite happy and I plan to make the move on this car as planned. It is going to look smokin' in Aegean Blue (I think even better with the new headlights).

I am not lookin for a racer, but this is gonna be one comfy and fun car to drive !!

Iridium130

holy crap I cant believe I just read this whole thread

I'm suprised nobody mentioend this (or maybe I just missed it) but when I was looking at pics of it from the front, it was screaming "RSX!!!" at me!

Dunno, I like it...if I could switch it up I would be I dont gets no $$$

DtEW

I hate to say this from a position of the outsider, but I believe it needs to be said.

IMHO, you guys should be more supportive of this CL-S 6-speed, since it's obvious that Acura has been listening directly to you folks on this board. They have listened to the criticisms and have made all reasonable (and one unreasonable, IMO) modifications to this current platform.

1. Having a new tranny (6-speed) designed and produced for a low-volume car whose original (and main) appeal is to Empty-Nester Boomers is an incredible coup. I can only guess that the cost will be defrayed by use in the 7th-gen Accord.

2. Helical LSD is also a coup, and will add greatly to the car's potential as a sporting machine, assuming that Acura/Honda has decided to endow the car with the racy (read: hard and unbefitting of a luxury car) suspension tuning similar to that of the ITR. (In case you weren't aware, the ITR is one of the few FWD cars that can predictably call upon oversteer to point it into a turn.) Although that's unlikely, it still means that drag racers will be able to put power to the ground as well as the ITR. And hard-core modders will have a good basis to for power delivery as they mod for handling.

3. If it hasn't been made clearly enough, converting a FWD-only platform to AWD is absolutely unlikely. It's not as simple as just running a driveshaft. The monobody has to be drastically re-designed to accomidate a subframe (which also means the rear suspension will have to be completely redesigned to accomidate halfshafts and the geometry of the subframe) and the forces channeled through that subframe's hardpoints. Of course, the tranny would also necessitate a full redesign to accomidate two differentials (or at the very least a viscous coupling). All the FWD/AWD car models that you see out there were originally conceived with both drive configurations in mind. The only FWD-only platform that has been converted to AWD configuration is the Mondeo-to-X Type transformation, but that only came about because they had to thoroughly rework the platform anyways, which was only possible with the funds allocated to designing a new car model.

4. The unusal (and lukewarmly received) "bowling ball" simulated wood finish is gone. Acura obviously believes that there's crossover between the audience for the RSX-S and the CL-S 6-speed, and I think that's a very reasonable assumption.

5. The protruding, easily scratchable rims have been replaced by a recessed design that they can cast. You guys gotta remember that Acura rim designs are subject to more significant cost constraints (takes a bit of time to explain the business theory of that) than aftermarket designs, which impinges on casting techniques and die designs.

6. The weak, almost useless (your words, not mine) foglamps have been axed altogether. Performance purists might justifiably welcome that as mass reduction off the front of a front-heavy car. The space is still free for dealers to retrofit the OEM foglamps or projector-type foglamps for customers that require such functionality.

I like it. I've become too much of a drift/oversteer junkie to really consider anything but a RWD car anymore, but I think it truly gives the CL-S some real performance (all-around, not just accelerative) credentials. I look forward to seeing this CL-S 6-speed at a local AutoX/track day.

The only thing they forgot was bigger brakes.

briancl

omg it's looking good....i see that some ppl have mixed opinions, but trust me....at least acura is improving....it takes time to adjust to new changes and i think im gonna love em when i see it in real life. especially with the rear lights, it looks sweet like that....it's good to finally find out what acura has been hiding.

-briancl

proactive

*whistles*

That explains a lot, thanks.

Loseit

iTrader: (1)

gotta agree w/ DtEW

soopa

I am with DteW...


While I'm not a big fan of the changes to the CL... I must say I applaud Acura for making an effort.

And most importantly... they remained loyal to current owners while giving a nice refresh to the car.


... it is apparent to me that ACURA IS LISTENING. Pretty much everything done to this car seems to be pulled straight from the requests of people on this forum and other Acura forums (such as the RSX guys)

The tailights... WE DESIGNED THEM.

The headlights... they are simply our headlights with a painted black housing. It is something that many manufacturers are doing... but more interestingly... many enthusiasts are doing. Countless RSX owners have painted their stock housings black to replicate the JDM cars. I personally don't think it looks great on the CL... but I may change my mind when I see it in person. Point is, its a definate step in OUR direction. Meaning, its a styling trait that was definately aimed at appealing toward the crowd that makes up the majority of this forum.

The non-fogs... we all bitched that they sucked anyway! countless numbers of you have said "why did Acura bother with these things". Granted, they should have just given us real fogs, but... who knows... maybe they will as a dealer option. Point is... we cant fault Acura for taking them out... cuz it doesnt make a difference either way.

The body color accents... you guys all worship the CLK430, and pretty much any car with a tuner package. The thing is... most of those cars all have body color accents included in the "sports" package. It is, yet again, geared toward the sporty crowd. Look at the Jaguar S-Type R and the new X-Type sport, they both have the same treatment, body color grill/handles. This is a clear sign that Acura is trying to keep up with trends.

The interior trim... you all hated the bowling ball anyway. The painted trim is not a BAD thing. You don't see many other manufacturers putting in REAL aluminum trim. Almost all of them have PAINTED trim. Especially for this and coming model years. Most new cars, even high-end ones like BMW, have either "titanium look trim" (which this is) or body color trim. Either way its all painted plastic. Were not alone.
(although most others have the OPTION of real wood)


most importantly, they gave us the 6spd, and the great gear ratios we all feared it would lack.



What Im saying is. Be happy, they made it significantly sportier, without alienating other new buyers. They gave us something fresh to read about until the COMPLETE REDESIGN comes in a year or two.


And best of all... THEY LISTENED TO US.

There is no doubt in my mind that these changes are a direct result of the "focus group" that is Acura-CL.com

end rant.