birkey

There's way too many good things to say about this car. I never considered buying an Acura before hopping a ride in my friend's '04 TL and I was smitten by the looks of this sedan but even more so with respect to the incredible amount of technology packed into this car. I'm a gadget freak so things like a Bluetooth module and XM radio really trip my trigger. The list goes on and on in this car.

Anyway, the point of my post is that there is only one thing I'm disappointed in regarding this car and that is the nagging torque steer effect when you nail the throttle at anything over about 8/10ths. It's downright spooky and I might add 'dangerous' - if you ask me. Maybe I'm just spoiled - having most recently owned a succession of rear while drive cars (95 M3, 00 M Roadster, MBZ C230K) but why on earth did Acura mate this much power with a FWD platform? It just seems a little nutty. Was it purely a cost of development consideration?

Related to the torque steer, I really don't feel that the throttle response is nearly as excellent as anything BMW has put out in recent generations. When i think of all the BMWs I've owned/driven (see above plus AWD X5 4.4i) - the words "stepless, linear, smooth" come to mind. However, with just a few days of TL ownership under my belt, words like "punchy, bursty, lag" come to mind when describing the throttle response on the TL.

At the end of the day, there is way too much to love about this car and I'm sure it will kill the BMW 5 Series sales; who can ignore a ~$20k price differential for a loaded 5'er??! I just wish the TL came with that magic BMW combination of RWD and perfect throttle response.

Happy motoring -
Birkey

GaleForce

I have NO torque steer at all. I guess its because of the 5AT

Ken1997TL

In the 6MT, I've noticed that what MAY be interpreted as torque steer was in fact the LSD kicking in. I'm referring to the non-drug related LSD by the way

Just a thought.

spidey07

could be. I feel I have to turn off VSA to get good throttle control/steering feel. Otherwise the throttle can feel a little laggy.

cliff

you should be getting torque steer in the 5at too, because i do, and yes the throttle is laggy might be because of drive by wire technology(not completely sure, but it sense to me), even though i think german cars have had it for a long time(correct me if im wrong). i believe that my mbz ML had DBW but im not completely sure.

TLGator

I also feel some torque. But I prefer FWD cars for snowy weather. I know some people don't agree that FWD is necessarily better in snow. I respect the difference of opinion but I happen to prefer FWD for that reason. So I'd rather have 270 HP of FWD with some torque than RWD and no torque. I find it's easy to adjust to the torque, to anticipate it, once you get used to the car. And on my TL at least it's not very noticeable anyway.

birkey

I can definitely appreciate FWD in the snow...definitely a case of YMMV. I should have mentioned a few things...

1) I have the 5AT.
2) I have not experimented with switching off the VSA
3) I live in SoCal (not very snowy) where the roads are buttery smooth. There really are not many nasty potholes or pavement seams to throw the car for a loop when accelerating hard.

spidey07

try VSA off and report back on throttle feel. With it on I feel like the car is trying to control it for me.

cutemp

Correct me if I am wrong, but even if you turn the VSA on, it is not doing anything unless you see the indicator on the dash blink ... it also means 95% of the normal driving in the normal weather, there is no differences whether you have the VSA on/off.

DopeTL04

Can some explain what exactly torque steer is?/ thanks

TBone2004

put both hands on the wheel. Floor the gas - you will feel the car pull left and/or right. Torque Steer IMO.

cM3go

you are actually not feeling torque steer as someone mentioned earlier but the car helping it into motion (or something to that effect), I forgot who posted it, but there was a video of the underside of the TL posted on vtec.net and they talk about the torque steer...

Ken1997TL

Yeah, both Jeff and Shawn on vtec.net have stated what I just did, that it is the LSD in action on those crazy corners. Yes, there is torque steer but when I test drove a 6MT and 5AT, it was very subdued.

By the way, I'm KenB on vtec.net

spidey07

You would think. But for me the throttle is MUCH more responsive with it off...so much so that whenever the car doesn't feel right I look down and sure enough...I didn't turn it off.

But that's just MHO and I could be completely off base.

Aegir

I do not believe the TL torque steers (at least not the 6MT). It does do some squirrelly stuff if traction is lost - especially to just one wheel. A RWD car does the same - but feedback is not through the steering wheel and is more manageable. You can't do much about torque steer, but the TL's response can be improved with better traction. For me, the biggest improvement in acceleration-related feedback through the steering wheel was produced by wider/better tires.

Tripp11

I concur with most, the TL does not have any torque steer...or at least in my opinion and off of the stuff I've read on vtec.net.

Want some torque steer? Go drive a turbo-charged FWD car....better hold on with both hands as those things really jerk the wheel out of your hand!

Harkov

i can attest to that...my previous car was a saab 9-3...

i know the true meaning of torque steer...the turbo kicks in, your knuckles turn white trying to keep the car in a straight line.

I haven't noticed much, if any torque steer in the TL, though, perhaps I'm just used to an enormous amount in the saab.

Tripp11

Perhaps that's what is....us coming from the 9-3. Although, my car prior to the was a Mitsu Eclipse GS-T and that thing jerked to the right like nobody's business too. I think it's just a natural trait of FWD turbo-charged cars.

History with your 9-3? Good/bad?

Harkov

2001 SE, Nice car, comfortable ride, nice seats, nice gas mileage...always felt safe. It had a few rattles and I had to have the electronic ignition 'module' replaced (ran through an enormous puddle during a rain storm), otherwise, mechanically it was in great shape. I actually miss the center console ignition...but I don't miss the extraordinarily loud turn signals

My lease was up, and I didn't particularly care for the new 9-3's. So I had been looking at 330's, the G35, even a WRX & lancer evo (if you've never taken that car for a ride...go take a test drive...that car rides on rails)...then a friend of mine mentioned I should look at the TL. Soon as I sat in the car, I knew it was the right one for me

Monte TLS,MAX

The Few TL's I have driven do exhibit Torque steer when pushed from a stop, people have complained about this since the 02 Maxima hit the street 2 years ago and it has more torque than the TL. For one who goes around gunning it from from a stop or low speed that much anyways for it to be a problem and once you get use to it its not a problem.

Dutchml

At the pre-delivery demo of my car, the sales guy even said to turn the VSA OFF if you want to really push the car. It does tend to handcuff all of the acceleration and try to steer the car for you.

jtruman

I used to think there's not much torque steer in this car, and why is everyone fussing about it. I tried to accelerate hard from a stop light, and after working through the lower few gears, I felt very little pull to the left or right.

HOWEVER, try to take a corner and ACCELERATE THROUGH AND OUT of it. The steering wheel has a mind of it's own. Also, the poor traction of the EL42 certainly does not help. Everytime I take a hard corner, I feel like I would lose control of the car. Next time when you take a left or right turn with no cars around you, try it. Now I understand why pure sports car enthusiasts does not like the handling...

takuyaah

i understand what you are saying...i have 4 FWD cars...and the last one was the TL type-s....to be honest...its not good to have torque steering..but...you can get used to it...what i do now is that...i go in corner high speed...then turn...and step on accelerator at the same time...the tires will spin and the car will slide into the corner.....now..its nothing like a true drifting...but it can make your driving a lot easier if you do that constantly....and let u know how far the car would slide =)

Aegir

I know exactly what you are describing. The front tires must maintain traction. If one slips, your arms effectively become part of the front suspension. The EL42's didn't do well at all in this scenario. Better tires and a wider tire patch do wonders to keep the tires planted and allow the full capability of the TL's suspension to be employed.

Makes me wonder if the suspension group designed and tested the car on great rubber, and then some purchasing manager came in after they were done with a "great deal from Bridgestone."

I no longer experience the negative response to hard cornering you describe. A-Spec fixes it. The car just digs in with a very neutral response and even some oversteer.

rets

IMO, doesn't need to try turbo-equiped vehicles, just try Maxima in any local dealers. That's the standard of Torque Steer. (anyone doesn't know it, please try to google it, thanks)

I wonder if anyone knows which high power FWD has completly no Torque Steer... I'd like to test-drive.



Unfortunately, I do feel Torque Steer in hard acceleration into the highway from the ramp. However, I agree my terrible EL42s may be part of problems and make me feel Torque Steer does all the fault.

Also, I have to agree Torque Steer is the issue you could get used to it and anticipate when it will happen.
:o

bunyip

Rets,

Try the latest Cadillac DTS. Last time I drove one, I didn't notice any torque steer, and it has 300hp going to the front wheels.

rets

bunyip,

Thanks. Since 90s' I have heard Cadillac has built some most powerful FWD monster vehicles in the world.

I should test-drive this Deville DTS in this month...

bunyip

Rets,

That Northstar engine is great. Was going to get an Aurora 4.0 before they pulled the plug on Oldsmobile and went back to Honda.

garylee55

Complaining about torquesteer in a fwd vehicle is like complaining that all the wheels move in an AWD vehicle.

TBone2004