Anyone who wants to flame can start their own thread about how fast the TL is, frankly, I think my stock TL had better driving dynamics.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE this car for its luxury, its appearance, and it's handling, however, as far as the 5AT is concerned, it just ain't got that same punch.

Perhaps I'm just missing my modded TL-S, or perhaps the ECT is really just not suited to aggressive driving. I seems that anytime I floor the car, it has to wind up to gain some substantial power, and i'm always seemingly caught in the low part of the torque curve...

Any thoughts from other 5AT owners (also my 18's could be slowing me down)

 

Don't panic. (Douglas Adams, RIP)

1) The power just ain't there until 3k rpm. A low torque monster this beast is not.

2) Drive by wire takes some getting used to. You just have to mash the pedal harder to get past 3k rpm. I've had my car for six months and I'm just used to it. There are several threads on this issue alone, mostly in October and November when people were just getting used to a brand new model.

This puppy really unwinds after it's been well broken in. Any other 5ATers with lots of miles have anything to add? (I've got almost 8k miles on mine now.)

 

suprised that it seems slow. the 5AT is suppose to be a little bit slower than the 6MT. i floored my car today(6MT) and it took off. it was pretty fast, not porsche fast but pretty fast. are you using the SS mode they have in the autos?

 

I don't like the ECT in my '03 Maxima for the same reason -- I always seem to get caught in a dead spot in the power curve. For some reason, the cable-link throttle in my TL-S just seemed MORE responsive, and more driver-friendly. I don't necessarily like the computer to do much thinking for me in a sports sedan. I can totally see the advantage of ECT in a nice, cush, luxury ride, like the RL.

Perhaps the car does need to get broken in some more -- man, I wish Acura didn't weld the damn headers onto this engine -- I would have headers in a heartbeat!

 

I initially drove the 6spd when it came out. Two weeks ago when I ordered, I drove the auto. Yes it feels slow until it winds up if you are lazy. I almost went for the manual until I decided to use the auto shift/SS mode and downshift to get the revs up. Using SS mode on the auto vs the manual, you miss a tiny almost unnoticable amount of power, but you do not miss the clutch. The auto is really a dual personality car. Smooth quiet luxo cruiser or powerful sport sedan if you shift her.

 

you have to really break it in. It does go, believe me. When I first test drove the TL I felt the same way, but that one had 10 miles on it. The second one had 4000 miles and the difference was REALLY noticeable. Like the other person said, it's not a torque monster but it will throw you back a bit. Also the car adjusts to your driving style. give it time, and you will be taking off with a smile on your face.

 

Our 04TL does not have the same feel as our prev 01 CL-S; I believe they programed the shift parameters differently to protect the Transmission. Seems to me the old CL-S would drop to lower gear/higher rpm easily the 04Tl does not.:smackhead Anyone else notice this?

 

I have a beach towel. That guy was a genius!

Back on topic...if someone truly wanted speed on their car, why not just buy an NSX, Porsche, etc? The TL is a very well balanced car and deserves much accolades being a rounded out car. Breaking in the car, is very important...after that, you can mash the pedal all you want.

 

I wrote a post almost identical to yours way back when.

I think they're are numerous factors that make you feel what/how you feel:

1. Car is not broken in yet
2. Fly by wire, not speed friendly
3. Type-S had "pipes" which does add to the senses of speed
4. 04 TL is super smooth, thus harder to feel the power

My 04 TL has 3000 miles on it, I feel more power than was new.

Mike Smeezy,

 

Mine doesn't feel as if it likes to drop to the best gear right away when you floor it. At 55 mph it will drop to third, then about 1.5 seconds later it drops to second, by then you're pissed.

If I want to have fun with down-shifting and flooring it I use SS mode, this is the only area the SS mode isn't useless.

 

Yes!! this is EXACTLY my point! The electronic throttle "thinks" way too much for my liking .. but i'm not gunna sit here and bitch. When gently accelerating from a stop, the TL is super smooth and you can't feel any shifts.

I'm just missing the 1st-2nd gear chirping TL-S .. boy were those the days! Leaving patches all over the place... hehe

 

I wonder if a VAFC would help matters with tuning auto or manual.

 

V-AFC is pointless unless you're on the track (I know from experience). It does not change tranny shift points.

 

Keep those RPM's up!

I chased an ES300 on a hill climb today on the way home, and my 5AT car was ripping and snorting up to his bumper with great power. I love the VTEC surge!

 

I'm not bitching and didn't expect to be buying a road rocket, but with 700 miles, I've already floored my car about 10 times and cranked it up to about 105 on one occassion, but think the car could really use about 30 or 40 more horses. The shifts are super smooth (have auto), and maybe that masks some of the power. Example of how more power whould be nice, I had a some crappy work van behind me on the expressway and cranked it up to about 90-95 and pulled away about 20 car lengths, he obviously was trying to keep up and be an annoyance so I moved over a lane, slowed and let him catch up, I decided I was going to use the manual shift mode for the first time since I got the car. Believe I was going about 75 moved into 4th, waiting for van to pass, he's obviously got the hammer down, I get on it right as he's alongside, but not getting the catchup passing I expected, dropped down to 3rd hammer for a sec, back to 4th, and I'm around him and pulling, but still that seemed like excessive use of power just for some chevy v8 work van flooring it down the expressway. I don't know, maybe he had more speed coming up on me than I anticipated before I got on the gas, but still. Just one example. Hell, I think my LS1 Formula needs more power as well, but that's another story.