Before purchasing my '05 TL, I was turned-off by its front wheel drive -- thinking that real cars are powered from the back.

Well, after owning the TL for nearly a month, I can honestly say now that I would not have it any other way. I've been deliberately gunning the TL on wet pavement and the stability of its FWD just blows away my old BMW and Mercedes' RWD. I could never do that on a wet road before.

Sure, on gravel and loose pavement there may be some issues, but these are not surfaces that I want hard acceleration on. I'm all in favor of keeping FWD on any new TL model.

 

i personally dont mind the fwd.

 

I don't either...For handling purposes, I like RWD (ie the G35 handles unbelievably!!), but for practical, common sense driving in cold whether climates, it's nice to have FWD. I have two friends at work who both drive BMWs (540 and Z3)...They BOTH just bought 4x4 pickup trucks for the upcoming winter weather. They have been so frustrated that they absolutely could not drive their BMWs in bad weather.

My buddy with the 540 complained to the dealer after he got it, and their response was "Sir, these cars are built for the Autobahn...." My buddy was like WTF??? I live in NEW JERSEY!!!!! Hahahahaha....

 

Those of us that grew up since 1985 or so have pretty much always driven FWD cars.
I know the downsides but IMO I'm used to it and it doesn't bother me.

 

I've owned RWD drive cars my entire life, including 450hp RWD cars. The TL was my first FWD car (well second, I had an 04 Accord for a month before the TL) and I can say that i'm very satisfied with it's predictable handling. The only downside is the occasional torque steer under hard acceleration. However, if Acura decides to release a TL with the SH-AWD system, look out!!!

 

I dont mind the FWD, but I think it would've been a lot nice if the TL was at least RWD. IMO

 

You (and I) would appreciate it even more if we lived in a snowy climate. Where Ice can make roads super-slick, it helps to have the weight of the engine over the power wheel(s).