Hi everyone.
I know that if you blow past the redline you will hit the rpm governor -happens when s/s on the twisties and holding on to a gear to long -with my 99 4 speed, well...
So here is my question: what is the top speed of a 99 TL? I have a k&n in the stock airbox with 2 one inch holes ported to the bottom. The car is in perfect tune and pulls hard to redline through the gears. So why do I run up to 120 or so pretty strong and then it just sort of flattens out towards say 124? The engine is in the heart of the torque cure and should pull further. It just feels like it stops trying.

 

4th gear!?

 

basically the engine is not generating enough power to overcome the fact that 4th/top gear is so tall. you will need a really really long and straight road to get to the car's top speed of about 140.

 

I can hold it in 3rd to just past redline so it shifts into 4th (okay, stop laughing) at the meat of the torque curve. It pulls strong in 4th until about 124 and just stays there.
Not bad when making time on the turnpikes - I was just wondering.
And are we all so YOUNG that we don't remember EVERYTHING had a 3 speed auto and a 4 speed O/D was the rage?
Better my 4 speed than the new CVT Honda is going to toss into everything...

 

Well the Fact that the 4th gear is so Tall and the 99TL-p has so little WHP and Torque for its weight. Perhaps with Headers + Free Flow Cat + Exhaust might Help a little...

The fastest Ive been in my TL-S is around 140ish in a very very VERY Straight and Lonely road.... But that was me being reckless I have never tried that again And I think I will never do... to be Honest anything beyond 120 is very good for an Almost 3500lb Car..

 

my 2010 Forester still has a 4-speed auto

but it's not so bad, because the boxer engines make decent torque at very low rpms.

 

I was able to cruse pretty easily at a 120 in 5th gear, but in PA your lucky to find a road straight enough to do that on and not hit a pothole.

 

Oh, and Jersey is any better?!
Thanks for the perspective everyone- keep logging in with your stories of top speed!

 

^the tranny and 4th gear is your limiting factor.
you hit the dreaded 4th gear wall.

in my six speed manual 3G TL, i can hit about 140 in 4th.

 

consult your owner book for top speed www.owners.acura.com for free download version
its often limited electronically based on the OE tire spec..maybe 120mph tire
versus modern 150mph Z rated tires you may have installed now

also note: redline rpm shifts are not making you go faster
the torque drops off before that= so you are losing speed
again, consult book for shift points or take car to a dyno shop for real shift point determination

assuming valve adjustment done, egr system cleaned, new spark plugs NGK iridium, and fresh oil in engine and atf are done before speed test

for real top speed, claybar the car to remove grit from paint, then polishing compounds of 1200 1500 and 2000 till mirror finish-then wax whole car with synthetic car wax
do the windshield with claybar and carnuba wax too!
all that reducs aero drag,important at high speed

 

didnt 99s have a smaller engine,,3.0? some had the old type spark plug wires and cap system vs 6 coils
and that 4th gear isnt a drive gear is coast/cruise,,see book specs

 

 

Hey you forgot to say to helicopter tape all the body seams!