How much horsepower do you need/use? Do you feel that you would rather have less of it for better gas mileage? I don't know about you, but where I live (Washington, DC Metro area) you are hardly moving 'cause traffic is so bad. When the traffic thins out (yeah, right) the state troopers are out in full force. I know this is a wonderful automobile, but the previous generation TL with 225hp had enough pep for me.

 

I love my horses, would love it if there were a few more in the barn. Sorry for your DC traffic situation, but on the weekends, or weeknights when you just want to get out and get away from the television, hop in that car and go man go!

 

Dude, you can never have too much horsepower or money. What are you thinking? At least thats what my son always told me!!
Does bring up a point well taken however in that there really arent a whole lot of options to shop for on the TL. I think maybe that helps keep the price down (just a dumb guess) but it make shopping and choosing convenient for us decision impaired. A smaller engine option for less money aimed at fuel conservatives and tight fisted amongst us would be one of the missing options obviously.

 

In many cases, higher horsepower engines are often more fuel efficient than their lower horsepower cousins, due to the reduction of pumping losses in a higher horsepower engine (the airflow path is typically more efficient). This assumes, of course, that the appropriate design considerations were taken (e.g. cams not TOO big for useful low-end torque, etc).
Note that the 225hp motor is no more efficient than the current 270hp one. In fact, in the same car, I'd bet that the 270 hp motor would get better mileage, due to higher compression (more efficient production of power at ALL throttle positions) and better intake design.

The way to get better mileage would be through a reduction in engine size. Further reductions will be made with the upcoming inclusion of hybrid technologies, including IMA (integrated motor assist- electric motor power to the wheels), idle-off (shut the engine off at lights), and regenerative braking (capturing the wasted braking energy). All of these will net some quite large improvements coming up. In fact, using the current engine in the current car, I'd bet a MEELLLION dollars that Acura could get 30/30 city/highway mileage numbers using just those things I mentioned. And so they will, in just a few years.

Todd

 

Maxim, is this a reality show and you're trying to get us to admit that we are really women and you are going to publish the results and blackmail us or you'll release our name? Too much vitamin H? Get a Camry.

 

I need 'em, each and every one of 'em!

 

:lol1:

I can relate to what the OP says, in that I have other cars for me HP fix. However, if I only had the TL, you bet I would want every single one of those horses.

 

you never have enough!

 

You should probably be banned from the board for even having such thoughts. I have never owned a car with too much HP.. I agree DC traffic is awful. This is just one of 500000 other reasons not to live there.

 

Maxim must be kidding us...

 

acura increased power, lowered emissions, and maintained fuel economy...you can't complain

 

And of course, there's always the TSX...

 

300HP in a V6 would be great. I would pay an extra 5 grand to have a TL sedan that could do the 1/4 miles in under 14 seconds. I love the power!!!

 

One can never have too much horsepower! There are plenty of cars out there that have less horsepower and get worse gas mileage. The vrooom vrooom is part of the fun. Additionally, this car meets tougher emission standards. Extra horsepower is for faster acceleration, not just for higher speed.

An Acura trait is to offer cars "fully loaded". I'm sure this enables them to save money and pass it on to the consumer. The value the '04 provides is a huge selling point. It sure makes it easy to select a car- Navigation or no navigation. When I bought my car there were 12 on the lot; I could've picked just about any color/combination in a non-nav. version.

 

You're joking right? I believe "partagas" said it best. Get a Camry and the 4 cylinder at that. What a silly question from a person on this forum.

 

If it were a 4 door, I'd have an M3. No I don't want an M5. My last car like that was an '89 928 GT, too impractical. But, sign me up for 300 real HP in a sub 3500lb car.

 

Need is such a harsh word.

I've given her all she's got captain, and I can't give her no more.
Give me more d@mn horses Scotty!!!!

 

Get a 4 banger Accord.

 

Hey, you don't know what you're missing. The federal govt. NASA, NIH, Secret Service, CIA, FBI, AOL, Smithsonian, all the monuments. Don't diss this area.

Seriously, there are enough cops around here you can barely flinch before you get a ticket. I saw a guy get a ticket from Capitol Hill Police even though he was not that close to the Capitol!!! Just when I was wondering if they could give tickets. This place teems with law enforcement. Also wondering if, in your area, you get this kind of scrutiny. The cops know how powerful your car is. Here you get pulled over just for driving a RED car, it seems. Heck, it happened to me. Cop confirmed it too.

 

You must be playing with us.

To be serious though, I would think that almost everyone on this forum would love their car to be a 13 second 1/4 mile car.

 

I agree. But where are you going to USE it? Unless you live in Montana, you'd lose your license in a week.

 

Oh, I'm sure I'd use it ALL THE TIME... :think:

Like to merge onto an on ramp.
Like to merge into a passing lane.
Like to pass an 18-wheeler. (on the left, of course)
Like to pull away from a toll-booth. (yes, we still have them here in Jersey)
Like to get out of a dangerous situation.
Like to straighten out in a turn.

Like to blow the doors off 98% of the other cars on the road at almost every chance I got.

 

When I had my Solara, I often said to myself "whywould I need more than 200hp?" Now that I am driving the TL, the answer is obvious. It is NOT to go faster or to ZOOOOM away from lights. It is to have instantaneous response to needs to move into traffic or change lanes. Etc. The TL is so quick and responsive, it seems to respond to my thoughts. The engine is easily the best part of the car!

 

No I don't need it, but I sure do want it,

 

You can do all of these in a SAAB Linear with 175 horses.

 

Maxim: I thought you posted this with your tongue firmly implanted in your cheek. Now that I see it's not a gag, you may be beating a dead horse............power.

 

It's partly tongue in cheek, but for all the things CatchaWave wants to do, you need torque, not horsepower.