As the thread title implies, how does one properly drive a 2nd generation Acura CL?

I come from a history of cars that required a lead foot to operate (Kia Rio, Honda Civic, Plymouth Breeze etc..) and am unsure of how to properly "gas-it".

What RPM range do you guys usually keep at when driving on straight, semi flat roads and even hills? I maintain something like 2200-3000 but I think that it is my lead-footedness that is keeping my RPM so high.

I also have absolutely no clue how to "properly" use the semi-automatic transmission, when to shift up or down or how to use it when (hypothetically) I would race someone (again, hypothetically).

Last question for tonight, I swear...

How do you guys have your seats setup, I know that this is something that is to each persons preference, but is there some standard setup for driving a coupe?

Even if I look like an idiot for asking these questions, I am only trying to "better" my driving...and bring up my MPG from 19ish...

(I think that I will start a "Help Dspr_02" thread next time since I have started quite a few threads here so far...)

 

Not completely sure (I am let's say "young" and just started driving on my permit... And got a 2nd gen CL for my first car!) but I would say 3000 on a flat road is high... I haven't really noticed but I know when I get up to speed my rpm doesn't go over 2500... I would say more about 2200... For the semi auto I was told just to drive in auto... For the mpg... My parents were even surprised at the mpg... They thought it would get a lot better mileage but it doesnt... 19 might be a little low probably from your lead foot but i would say 25 is probably tops if you drive conservatively and that's probably high... As to how the seat should be positioned... I would say what ever is comfortable to you... I have my seat a little leaned back and all the way from the pedals but that's just because I am tall... Hope that helped

 

I usually shift at 3000 RPM, I drive a manual. I go over 3000 whenever I am going up a steep hill or feel the need for speed. The car has enough power to shift even as low at 2500 if your really trying to save gas. If you have an automatic just put it in drive. Drive the car and over time you will grow to know it. You wont even think about all that. As for the seat make yourself comfortable and adjust the seat even now and then, your back will thank you.

 

Just enjoy the cars power upgrade from your previous cars. Don't worry about RPMs and all that crap. Like everyone said the seat is up to you there is no standard position for it. Everyone has their own driving style. Just enjoy the car man

 

On side streets I shift around 3500rpms. Some times I skip gears, it depends.

On the highway, I put it in 6th and keep it steady around 2500-3000rpms (70-80mph). Its got plenty of torque for passing people without downshifting.

As far as the seat goes, it depends on your build.

 

Put it in drive and forget about it. I wouldn't use the sport shift until you get to know the car. Shifting it at the wrong times could cause premature transmission wear, as if we need anymore of that.

 

rip it... pedal to the metal

 

My car spends most it's life in 2nd and 3rd ss mode around town. You will feel the most torque from your engine.

but I'm hard on my car.
I love riding/holding in 2nd ss and then take it to about 3500-3800 rpm and then floor it and shifting into 3rd right before redline.
Try it like that.
You will have to change tranny fluid alot more often but if your wanting to get the car going on the move, that's how.

From a dead stop I would gate shift it from 1st threw 3rd.

if your just cruising use drive.

 

Does anyone know of any abandoned runways or similar long, straight and empty stretches of road in the washington/ british columbia area? I wanna see what my CL can do...

Until then, I will stick to D5. Oh, and now that I mention it, my D5 light is out, what LED's can I put into the cluster that wont fry the cluster like LED Automotive's stuff? (looking to do a full LED conversion)

 

You put in in D and drive it. That automatic transmission will keep it right where it needs to be.

You want to know how fast it will go? Check the air in the tires, hook up your seat belt, and head out on the Interstate at about 6:00am on any Sunday morning and stick your foot into it. If you have a GPS clear its memory and then set it up on the dash, it will record your actual top speed down to 0.1mph and it will allow you to keep your eyes on the road rather than on the speedometer.

How do you drive a CL? Well, take a look at what it is and that should tell you. First off its a front wheel drive car. That means that no matter what you do it will never handle really well and if you push it hard at all you will quickly learn just what that means. Basically what will happen is that when you try to go around turns at high speed you won't. Well, if it won't go around corners all that well then what is it good at? I think the answer is obvious. Its first and foremost a car with many luxury creature comforts and it is a car with plenty of power. So when you put those things together just what kind of driving car do you get? You get a car that is a real delight to drive on relatively fast and mostly straight roads. Its not made for the real twisties, but its like being in heaven on better quality rural roads and of course its the king of the sporty interstate cruisers. If you really want to enjoy the car take advantage of its strong points and avoid situations where it is weak. The car will never be able to touch a front or mid engine rear-wheel-drive car in the turns, its got way way too much weight on the front end and too little on the rear to even approach them.