thorton11

Hello all,

I am the owner of a Buick Regal GS.
Some of you may not know, but the Regal GS is a supercharged
car with 240HP & 280 ft-lbs torque stock.
Plus, it is somewhat of a luxury ride.

I have upgraded my car to a smaller supercharger pulley, new CAI, and new exhaust.
The car hits the 1/4 in a range from 13.8 - 14.3 , most of the time it is around 14.0.

It is really a nice car and shames a lot of so called "fast" cars on the road.

I am considering the TL-S type as my next purchase.

My concern is that the stock stats I have been reading on the TL-S puts it slower than what my GS ran when it was stock.

What I would like to know is anyone has some actual 0-60 & 1/4 times from the track that they can share.

Thanks

Beiruty

Stock CL-S would do low 15s (14.8s-15.4s) at 93-95 MPH.

Modded CL-S TL-S can do 14.4s or less like 14.2s at aroun 98-100 MPH.

Competech SC is due sometime next year and sure would put the Type-S in 13sec, Still coule mods are encouraging the RES and the MM-II. RES would add 15lbft all across the range, expected cost is $299. Same for the MM-II, cost $150.

2002 should be a boom year for Type-S mods: http://www.acura-cl.com/forums/showt...threadid=56821

PeterUbers

iTrader: (1)

Hey,

You would need nearly twice as many mods to allow your new TL-S to run those kinds of numbers, and you'd only get those numbers in very cool, dry weather. My friend has a GSE and we've raced (in very controlled circumstances) many times, head to head. In the summer, it's dead even, and since he hasn't changed the stock Goodyear Eagle RS tires, he has serious traction problems and thus a very poor launch. I'm assuming, based on your track times, that you've either improved the rubber on your front wheels, or increased you rim size to 17"s from the stock 16"s -- or both.

You'll hear similar things from others on this board and the CL-S board, but in order to run high 13's .. you'll need the following:

- Comptech headers: $1100.00 + installation
- Some type of Exhaust: $300+ + install
- Intake: $200.00 self-install
- Res kit: $300.00? (don't know the exact figure) plus install
- Pulleys: $200.00? + install
- Various: Plugs, wires, lighter rims, better tires: $1500.00

And you may contemplate yanking out the back seat, definitely throwing the spare out, and running on 1/4-tank or less.

Curious though, why are you replacing the GS?? It's a solid car and very smooth -- the suspension is not as tight as the TL-S's.. but it's a very good car for the money.

Pete

SilverKnight

I could attest a stock CL-S run 14.93@94.88 on a hot summer afternoon because that car is mine. However, it was a lucky run. The rest of that day, I did 15s up to 22s . I can post the time slips if you dont believe me.

thorton11

Thanks for the replies.

To answer the question about why I would move away from the Regal GS..........

The car is 4 years old, I figure another year or two and some 90k on the speedometer, it will be time for a new vehicle....maybe.

The GS is a very solid car and a good performer, nothing pleases me more the wipe the attitude right off the face of a Mustang GT owner. Don't misunderstand me, I think Mustangs perform well, but their owners seem to think that nothing can beat them.

The tires on my Regal GS have been upgraded from stock.
I believe stock were "S: rated, not much on traction.

What I have learned at the track and from other front wheel driver owners (Regal GS and Pontiac GTP) is that you can become very good at lauching the car, thus reducing your 1/4 mile time.

My first 1/4 time at the track was 15.3 - stock.
That was with full wheel spin at lauch.
I managed to knock that down a full sec by controlling the launch.

The trick is to bring the car up to about 2000 rmp, while holding the brake down.
Then gradually push the acclerator to the floor, once you are about 10 feet out and the car is rolling, you can stomp it and not
get the wheel spin.
I have found that keeping the traction control "on" works better.

The tires help a bit, but the real help was stopping the wheel spin at launch.

Thanks

typeSmaximum

That is one fast GS! any pics? I was also looking into that car, and the TL-S is a better car all around IMO. The seats, dash, ride, handling and many other aspects you will enjoy on the TL-S over a Regal GS. That V6 GM 3800 is also very dated technology, but buy does a SC wake that up with good ol american torque.

No problem the tranny now that your boost is up? I hear a lot of issues with the GTP owners that get that wheel as the max tranny power specs are already so close to what the stock car puts out. I think its even the exact same tranny as the none SC'ed versions of your cars, no?

If your just looking for a fast car that can be made even faster, I wouldn't select the GTP/GS or TL-S, move up to high power RWD or AWD sedan if you still need a 4 door or a 4th gen F body or Corvette.

thorton11

Hello,

I have never had any problems with the Tranny on the Regal GS.

Keep in mind, how often do you really put the tranny to the test?

When I go to the track and that is about 8-12 times a year.

When I get into an occasional street race (or more of a street sprint).

So, the tranny itself is not stressed on a consistant basis.

It has been about a month since a put any real stress on the tranny.

In my area it is cold right now, although there is an occasional street "sprint" here and there.

The last street sprint I was in was very funny.
I was headed east on a road Rt 29.
This is about a 50mph road with good 1/2 mile stretches between lights.
I pulled up to a light and there were these two guys sitting in a brand new Ford Tarus SES.
They had the radio up a few notches and were a bit wound up.
The passenger looks over at me and states, " My buddy said this car (the SES) would beat your car in a race".
The first thing I said to myself was, "You guys can't be serious".
I replied to the passenger, "Not this car".

Well the light changed, and I of course let the wheels spin for a little show.
The SES got about 3 - 4 cars up on me because I let the wheels spin.
Then it was like running down a slow moving target, the Regal just overtook the SES like it was nothing.

The guy in the passenger seat was laughing hard at his buddy.
I guess his buddy had just bought the car and thought he had a "fast" car.

Funny thing is, even after I laid waste to this SES, the driver still wanted to go again.

So I let him get a descent lead off the light again and just tracked him down again.

I checked out the 1/4 time of the Tarus SES and it is around 17secs. Not very good.

thorton11

Hello,

I don't think my GS is exceptionally fast.

GM High Tech Performance did an article about a year or so ago.

They took a stock Ponitac GTP and ran it on the track.

They removed the accessory belt and removed the restictive intake along with the left headlight.

That is all they did, the car was running 14.3's all day.

They did not even change the Supercharger pulley or mess with the exhaust.

They were suppose to do that in follow up articles, but I never saw them.....bummer

Daves01ss

I just traded in my wifes '98 GS on a 2002 TLS. Before I got my Camaro SS she had fun beating me in my '97 Mustang GT(auto). There are little things that I like about both the GS and TLS. The only gripes I have about the TLS is 1. no low washer fluid light(US) 2. it does not take the corners as good. The GS had more body roll but it would hang-on without the rear tires slipping or oversteer that the TLS seems to have. I have seen 0-60 figures from 6.6-7.4 for the GS and 6.2-7.0 for TLS. I test drove a few 2001 GS's. They do not seem to have the power of the 97.5-98 GS's. I think they have put a little weight on over the years. Overall I think the TLS has a little more pull on the streets, unless you drive the GS around in the performance mode all the time. In that case I think its upto the individual car or the first driver to hit the gas. Sorry for my long first post.

thorton11

The figures I have seen for the TL-S put the 0-60 in the 7 range.

I have not seen any below 7 secs.

I would be interested in seeing some 6.2 sec 0-60 for the TL-S.

The biggest concern was the 232-lbs of torque for the TL-S.

The car makes 260hp, but the torque is only 232.

The stock Regal makes 240hp, but the 280 torque is what gets the car moving so quickly.

Daves01ss

The July 2001 issue of Car and Driver had the 6.2 figure for the TLS.

AzNTL

Those figures that you're getting are the figures for the TL-P not the Type S. the type S will run around 6.2 - 6.4

AzNTL

check these figures on www.autosite.com

samkws

regal GS is a great car...i used to own a buick regal before i got my TL last month...i like both cars pretty much

although my old regal is a non-SC(205hp), but the throttle response is sooooooo gd....it has so much torque

their performance stats are similar but u have to know that both cars have DIFFERENT characters...the GS has torque but it has no more power above 5000rpm, TL-S has no torque at the low rpm but power doesn't come until 5000rpm....that's the difference...pure american muscle right off the idle vs the typical japanese high rpm VTEC power

so thorton11, u may get disappointed that the TL-S won't give u off the line power...but u will be happy to feel the HP above 5000rpm and to hear the sweet sound of this 6900rpm redline engine...the GS doesn't sound gd at all...haha

PeterUbers

iTrader: (1)

I never really liked that "whiny" supercharger ..

Daves01ss

Actually I could barely ever here the SC. TLS engine is louder from about 2500RPM to 4000RPM.

cedric_fl

My last car was the 1997 Pontiac GP GTP and boy did I lov that car. Well here it is, 2002 TL -S and all I can say is "What GTP." I think that the only thing I miss about the GTP is my Head Up Display. Other than that, the TL -s is a big upgrade in power, style, interior feel and handling. I do not regret the change and I think you wouln't either.

Ruski

Hey I used to drive a 98 Grand Prix GTP and I think that Acura TL-S is basically a more nicely built GTP. And that Head Up Display in the GTP was awesome!


Oh yeah, the GTP has the dual zone climate control.

Also GTP's doors lock automatically when in Drive and unlocked when in Park, AND that could be reprogammed.

Also GTP has automatic headlights

Also GTP's steering wheel controls were lit up at night and included following functions:
- stereo volume up and down
- tuner/CD seek up AND down
- tuner preset/CD random
- Mute stereo
- AM/FM switch


AND the head up display shows the selected radio station or CD track.

My only complaints about GTP - slow power windows and inefficient headlights.

I would love to see these features in the TL.

PeterUbers

iTrader: (1)

Don't forget horrible re-sale value for ANY pontiac.

Ruski

someone always has to butt in with resale values

of course Acura TL has a stellar resale value and no one is disputing it.

I was just talking about some nice features that would be nice to have in the TL. That's all.