BEAR-AvHistory

Car & Driver a few months back when they explained why most people can't match their published acceleration performance numbers at thier local track.

BEAR-AvHistory

This is the same TL-S that beat the Vette & the SS & runs with an M-3, must be some kind of a super car in disguise.

Excuse me if I have some trouble with this but my TL 6MTcan't stay with my stock 330Ci 6MT through the twisty & it can't stay with my old Vette 4MT either. This is not a driver issue as the result is regardless which one I am driving at the time.





BTW as for a twisty performance car the TL/TL-S did not even get invited to the last big C&D shootout at VIR a few months back.


This is a list of cars performance & prices published by C&D. All the cars are pure stock effectively driven from the dealers to the test facility Virginia International Raceway. The track is 4.2 miles long, fast & slow turns with good changes in elevation.

The cars are ranked by lap times not price

Corvette Z06 $77, 230 Lap 2.58.2
Porsche GT-3 $121,559 Lap 3.01.8
Corvette $56,056 Lap 3.03.6
*Lotus Exige-S $66,035 Lap?
*Audi R-8 $117,725 Lap?
Porsche 911 Turbo $141,510 Lap 3.05.8
Ford Shelby-GT500 $43,765 Lap 3.05.9
BMW 335i Coupe $ 46,200 Lap 3.10.5
Audi RS-4 $74,325 Lap 3.11.5
BMW Z4-M Coupe $57,500 Lap 3. 11.7
Pontiac Solstice GXP $31,096 Lap 3.13.5
Mazdaspeed-3 $24,650 Lap 3.15.0
Mini Cooper-S $ 26,170 Lap 3.22.9

*Overall finish position listed but not the lap times

U4ICTHEORY

before i get miss quoted on anything. let's get a few things straight...
i never passed up nor pulled close to the M3... i actually was roughly about 6-8 cars behind the whole time... and we wern't racing... just trying to get to so.cal in good time... 75-110 (on a some streches we did get up to about 130-135 but only for short periods of time when traffic broke loose) was our speed range the entire trip... niether of us were pushing it to hard... i did however manage a damn good 27 miles to the gallon on the way there and averaged 78 miles per hour. niether of our cars are supped up in anyway shape or form... it was just a drive, not a competition/race or anything like that... if i came out sounding like that, my appologies to you and your family... again, this wasn't a race, wasn't trying to pass up an M3... wasn't anything like that... not even close, just a benchmark i used... read what i put as far as taking a vette, S2K, M.C. SS... i never once said i kill these cars everyday... just so happend i did that day... why? who knows?... your guess is as good as mine.

Igor911

Obviously the person driving the TL-S cannot drive that car. I've seen 2004-06 TL 6mt's run constant low-14's here at the track. The TL-S (with a good driver) is very possible of low 14's or possibly high 13's. This car is pretty powerful for a FWD car (wheel hop/torque steer), but if all of these things are managed with a good 60', then the right times can be in reach.

I plan on taking my TL-S to the track here very shortly to see what I can do with it. I'm just waiting till I change the oil at least once before taking it there.

Fleet_king_at_va

Wow, well I will definitely have to take a look into that. I remember when I first bought my TL-S I tried to launch my car and the thing was wheel hoping like crazy. It took my a few times to learn how to feather out the clutch. The only thing I cannot stand is the FWD.

harddrivin1le

I have an '07 TL-S automatic.

I've had many other performance car as well.

My TL-S felt like a "high 14 second car" from the moment I first drove it. My '06 Accord V6 EX 6 speed manual was DEFINITELY quicker.

I didn't really buy the car to drag race people, though. Even the 6 speed manual TL is lame for that purpose in an age when base model Corvettes are running mid twelve second quarter miles.

I see the TL-S as "a nice luxury/sport cruiser."

People over on this thread are telling me how "fast" TLs are while calling 1992 LT1 Corvettes "slow."

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=166737

U4ICTHEORY

yeah, he's reffering to me...

(it's what happens when feelings are hurt...)

where did it ever say a corvette was slow?

(feelings hurt again...)

harddrivin1le

I don't know if it was you or not. Someone suggested that LT1 Corvettes (300 HP and ~ 3,350 pounds) are "slow" because LT1 Caprices (which made 260 HP and were 900 pounds heavier) were "slow."

Anyone who's interested can open the link to the thread and read it.

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=166737

Truth be told, a bone stock LT1 Caprice would give a regular TL automatic a damn good run, yet I'll bet you wouldn't call that TL "slow."

The fact of the matter is that when apples to apples are compared (i.e. both cars brand new and bone stock), an LT1 Corvette is CONSIDERABLY faster than ANY Acura TL.

Why is that? The Corvette makes a little more peak power, has more area under the power curve (thanks to all that extra torque), is 250 to 400 pounds lighter (depending on which TL is being compared) and is more aerodynamic.

That's the reality of the situation - regardless of what you or anyone else on the board owns/drives.

harddrivin1le

BTW:

The OP of that thread admitted that he didn't know what model year the Corvette was.

It therefore could have EASILY been an L98 'Vette (e.g. 1991), since all 'Vettes from that era look virtually identical. Those made 250 HP, weighed around 3,350 and could run 14.5 @ 98 MPH. That's in the same ball park as a TL/6 speed and is therefore the likely truth in the story.

An LT1 'Vette ('92 through '96) was a much faster car than the L98s.

BLACKURA_NY

iTrader: (6)

i agree on the tracking'. i modded the hell out of my last car, and loved street racing it... but never cared to take it to the track....

did you ever think of other things too? maybe the driver weighs 250lbs... hes got stuff in the trunk... all that stuff plays in on 1/4 times.....

i think the car is fast enough..... with a 330ciC (notice, conv.) (5AT) and a CLK 55 (conv) (5AT).. my new TL-S (and my old TL) were in the middle.... beats the pants off my buddies 330ci 2door... the 335i... well... thats a whole other ball park, and an additional $10,000+

U4ICTHEORY

what did the 92 geo metro hit in the 1/4?
bet it was hot as balls...

no hard feelings for anyone... may we all drive in peace... 1/4 mile time aside, top speed aside, driver vs car aside... and finally... ego's aside...

thank you and good night...

harddrivin1le

No idea.

I like my TL-S - for what it is. It's not a true high performance car, though, regardless of how Acura chooses to market it.

My baseline for "a true high performance car" has always been the Corvette. One has to go all the way back to the 1991 Corvette (last of the L98s) in order to find one that was about as quick as a new TL 6speed.

EVERY 'Vette built after that is faster. And comparing model year to model year (the only truly fair comparison), an '08, base model 'Vette will absolutely destroy any '08 TL (while providing very similar fuel economy).

That's not to say that the 'Vette is "better." Rather, it's market and intended mission are different.

U4ICTHEORY

AGREED... we shouldn't even compare the two... totally different classes of cars... what do domestics have that compare to the TL-S? after thinking for about 3 seconds... i couldn't think of any... LOL

IMO.... this is my competition...

LEX IS300
INF G35
VOL S60-R
JAG TYPE-S
BMW 330I
MBZ 320 KOMP
AUDI A4

what am i missing here?

Jackygor

Actually...

thats just me though.

Fleet_king_at_va

Exactly. Why are we comparing the TL to a american muscle? The only thing that makes the corvette a better car is the performance, Thats it. Here are the main competetors for the 2007/08 TL-S

Infiniti G35
Lexus IS-350
BMW 328/330
Mercedes C-Class
Audi A4

U4ICTHEORY

i have this feeling we're missing something?...
is there nothing from the domestics?

where is the TL-S sold at?
i know for sure here but where else?

Will Y.

Cadillac CTS, you shnooks!

Chrysler 300/300C
Saab 9-3 and 9-5

Maybe the Lincoln LS (now replaced by the MKZ).

U4ICTHEORY

-ah yes... the chrysler 300/300C does that include the charger? the lincoln LS is also a competitor to bad it's no longer around...

-any one know about the MKZ... isn't it a V6 W/ 260HP and AWD? sounds pretty nice....

-would anyone include the Mazda 6 in this line up?

-saab, jaguar, mbz... and yes... acura... are all american car companies... so my TL-S is technically not an import since it is from Acura of North America ...

JD TL-S

iTrader: (1)

NO thanks with the american made cars.......

U4ICTHEORY

as a honda fanatic and loyalist... i'm on your side with that...

but... i come from a background where 440 6-packs, 5.0 stangs and 454 bow ties are gods... so i can't diss the muscle...

Acura is an American Brand (but owned by honda)... it is not, i repeat, is not a full fleged japanese car... so the TL-S is american born but raised by a family of japanese with a racing heritage... hope that makes every domestic lover feel a little better about owning a japanese car...

to me i kinda feel like i got the best of both worlds... American muscle (Kinda) and Japanese inginuity (god knows i can't spell)...

it's like the best Sushi in Detroit...

XxAfG786xX

TL needs some serious weight reduction in order for it to go out in the track...

subbuzz

i thought i had a rocket

IMO: not slow,not fast, but more than enough power for me as a daily driver.

BEAR-AvHistory

Acura TL - designed in California Built in Ohio with mostly US sourced parts.

JsL138

As long as the interior doesn't look american...

Fleet_king_at_va

Even though the TL is assembled in Detroit and most of the parts are sourced from the US doesnt make the TL American. The TL made by Acura is still designed by the Japanese. Correct me if I'm wrong.

F23A4

Well, coming from an 02 Maxima (4AT), having driven the 3G TL (non-Type S 5AT) and now owning an 07 AV6 EX-L, I am fairly convinced that the Accord/TL is simply does not have the lowend prowess attributable to a good drag racing car (though an MT should make up some ground here).


With regard to domestic competitors to the TL-S, likely only the CTS comes close. While the 300C and Lincoln LSV8 could be considered so technically, I seriously doubt many folks are cross shopping them with the TL. Also, to some degree, the ES350 can also be considered a competitor despite its more plush orientation.

JD TL-S

iTrader: (1)

Don't get me wrong, if I WON a Lotto, I would have SEVERAL cars from 1965

thru 1971. Chevy, Ford, Dodge, I wish I was Jay Leno. But for new cars I won't

EVER by a Dodge or Ford, YUK SHIT, IMO. If I EVER buy another American car

it will BE A G.M. With 1 exception, the 2008 Dodge Challanger SRT Hemi. BUT

I don't have $50k or more for a car like this.

JD TL-S

iTrader: (1)

OK A JAP CAR, WHOM ever builds it. If I had a choice I would prefer it was

BUILT 100% IN Japan.....

BEAR-AvHistory

The TL was developed by a design studio in California called Honda R&D Americas, Inc. not in Tokyo.

U4ICTHEORY

we can only dream my friend... we can only dream...
word is, their selling the TL in china... with acura badging...
and i believe that there is one person on this site who lives in japan and has had his 3rd gen shipped there... so... one step closer... JDM here we come?....

I LIKE THE WHOLE 2:CENTS THING... nice nice...

spiike

Regarding these competitors, we're all talking about stock for stock right?

JD TL-S you said other cars had some minor bolt ons... so how would our TL-S fair at the track with the CAI and exhaust? Many of us have those.

U4ICTHEORY

just so everyone knows... what track do you reffer to?

drag? or circuit?
i believe that on the circuit the TL-S is a way better car then most would think.
going straight... hmm... i'd get a different car... 4 door, luxury cars shouldn't be dragging... it's almost tasteless...

pellepelle_10

of the current american cars available the only one I would even think of purchasing would be a Vette. Give me a Z06 and I'm happy.

Bearcat94

Wait a second ... MBZ is not an Amercian company, is it?









Since when is Detroit in Ohio? Here let me get you a map ( ):







j/k

:wink:

Fleet_king_at_va

I dont care. Acura is still a Japanese company. Wheather its made in the US or not.

Fleet_king_at_va

Opps my bad. For some reason I had detroit in my head. Marysville, Ohio is where everything is mostly done at.

mikejones23345

i know this is an old post. I’d chalk this up as a shit driver in an automatic. The type of driver with one foot on the brake until it’s go time. Then, and only then, release the brake and stomp the gas from an idle RPM. YouTube is littered with these types of drivers.

Acura TL Builder

Ya bone stock full interior type-s gets 13.9-14.1 all day.

08_TL-S_5AT

The TL-S is not a 1/4 mile car, but it does very well in traffic, when merging, etc. It's solid, quiet and powerful, but not crazy powerful.

Acura TL Builder

Not a 1/4 mile car, but can be a track car.