In the July 2002 issue of Car and Driver, there is a comparison of the '03 CL Type-S 6-speed vs. the 330Ci. The BMW narrowly won, but that isn't my point.

In the review, C/D says that the CL has "the best front-drive system, anywhere, any time, bar none." They also said that the CL is "simply the finest-handling front-drive car we've ever tested."

Now, that's saying something. I can only assume that the TL has the same front-drive system? If so, then we are in good company....

 

No, actually it doesn't. The CL 6-speed has a helical limited slip differental in the front and no VSA. It's that combinaton that makes it the best. The LSD really helps getting the power down to the pavement in the twisties.

Don't get me wrong--I love our set-up too but the auto TLs and CLs are definitely different than the 6-speed.

 

what he said

 

Oh well.

It still sounds pretty good for those with the 03 CL...

 

Also don't forget that the TL is longer and heavier than the CL.

 

by how much?

 

not much at all...200 lbs. maybe...that figure is probably off, but there is a small difference in the weight of the two cars.

 

If the TLS is longer and heavier then the CLS, how did motor trend get there 02 TLS to go a tenth faster then the CLS. In the 0-60 and Qtr?

 

It also has ATTS now the same system in the Prelude SH. C&D claimed the Lude SH was the best handling car under 30k a few years back as well.

 

It's not the actual weight of the car that makes a difference, its the distribution of the weight. The 6-speed has more weight in the rear as opposed to the auto CL-S/TL-S counterparts, which have more weight in the front. This is the key difference, in addition with the HSLD already discussed

 

What's even more impressive is that they finally dethroned the auto 330i w/ the G35 auto in their latest comparo. I find it hard to believe the G outhandles the 330i sport pkg. but reading is sometimes believing. These things can be soooo subjective oftentimes, eh?!

I'd have to drive the Cl-S 6-spd and compare it to the Maxima 6-spd w/ the similar helical LSD ... the maxi seems lighter on its feet than does the Cl-S auto that I drove. The Max, as has been mentioned many times on this board before... is more "tossable" in the turns.

JMHO though,

pete

 

many things can account for this. Like the weather, elevation, humidity, etc...

 

my father has a CL (Non-S), and it handles alot better then my 00 TL. It cuts corners so much better, and the steering is tighter.

 

You dont always get the same time every time you race.

 

Excellent review for sure, but don't forget the new 6spd Maxima also has HLSD

 

My car weighed at the track 3440 lb with 3/4 of gas.

 

True, the 6spd with its HLsd and the Max with the same thing would be very close. But in handling the Maxima will not come close to the CL-S. Don't forget the Maxima has a REAR MULTI-LINK BEAM suspension in the back. But it comes with better tires than our cars which help it.

 

The Bimmer beat the CL-S in 0-60 and the 1/4 each by I 'believe' a 1/10 of a second. If the CL-S had the kind of beefy rubber the Bimmer came with, then the CL-S for sure could have shaved another 1/10 - 3/10's of both 0-60 and the 1/4 and soundly beaten the Bimmer. You can see where in 0-100 and 0-130 the horsepower advantage of the CL-S is evident as it beat the Bimmer in both areas. What a most impressive performance by the CL-S!!!

 

Given the fact these cars aren't tire smokers, I don't think rubber would make that much of a difference (and who really cares about .1-.2 seconds in the 1/4 mile?). The BMW did not lose to the G35 until they factored in price. The BMW still won in the categories that are a high priority for me, handling, steering feel and slalom. I do like the G35 and this competition can be nothing but good. However, what if the next top 3 series is a 3.5? The 330i is the "oldest" of these cars in that it hasn't had any major changes in a couple of years.

I think the G35 will hurt Acura sales far worse than BMW sales. I will give kudos to Acura for fwd handling. They do make the best handling fwd cars. One thing that sucks about traction control is that all the newer cars, including many BMW's, aren't offered wtih an lsd.

 

better tires would make a HUGE difference.........both aceleration and handling............the stock tires on the cls SUCK

 

Well that is Acura's fault isn't it? Maybe they should install the same tires on all the cars. However, they drive what they are given for the roadtest. Often they can't dictate what equipment the test car comes with.

I don't think that tires would make a huge difference in a 1/4 mile for either of these cars. Of course, they would make a big difference in handling tests. With most BMW's you get Conti Sport Contacts or Dunlops.