dug-mac

Assumption: 4th Gen. TL will be SH-AWD.

With that assumption, my question is which way would you guys go - RWD or AWD? This might be an easy decision for some of you in warmer climates - RWD cars weigh less, get better MPG, are probably easier to get to oversteer, etc. But for me living in the NE there are times when AWD would be advantageous. Not sure whether to make my decision based on the 5-10 times a year when the AWD would come into play, or the other 355 days or so when RWD probably has a small advantage? Does anyone think Acura will make the next TL RWD with SH-AWD as an option? If the next TL does not come RWD then I'm probably looking at IS350 or possibly the 3 series you-know-what...

acura tl 06

yeaaa i agree with u on the RWD ACURA relly need RWD

fsttyms1

RWD hands down. I dont want the added weight of AWD. Ill buy a good set of snow tires for the winter months

Bearcat94

^^ Listen to the man. They know snow in Appleton, WI.

I don't believe there is any way in hell that Acura will ADD enough power to an AWD TL to over-come the Weight and the ADDED LOSS in power transfer efficiency.

I'm talking 350 HP at the crank MINIMUM or you'll end up with an emasculated (i.e. its balls have been cut off) TL.

A weak-ass, AWD TL is the single most likely thing to put me in a BMW in 2010.

dug-mac

^^
Yeah, I agree with you guys. I've looked at the 08 Cadillac CTS and a lot of people are making a big deal of the 304 HP, but the car weighs over 4000lbs without the AWD option. It is a nice car, but there's no way it's going to tear up the road with those numbers. I think you're right, Bearcat. We're looking at 320HP tops in the 4th Gen, and a lot of that will be eaten up by SH-AWD...

ARX-01b

iTrader: (1)

RWD won't happen in the TL. I'm ok with it staying FWD.

dug-mac

Here in the NE there is this perception (probably amongst non-enthusiasts) that AWD is better than RWD. Like if you bought the RWD version of the car (here I'm thinking of BMW's mostly) you settled for something less. But I think that is nonsense. I also don't think RWD cars are as inept in light snow as they are made out to be. Snow tires would always help, but proper throttle control and a bit of sanity goes a long way, too...

TLType-s12

iTrader: (2)

Ive talked to My dealership and they assure me that the 09 redesigned TL will be coming AWD. But by speculation it seems that the TL will have a 3.7 Liter engine with over 320 hrs pwr. And yes the one and only thing that the TL lacks is the AWD. FWD just doesnt do it for me, but i still bought the car cause of everything else it offers. AWD is not that bad, but considering that the TL is one hell of a vehicle. That last piece of making it AWD is going to complete the circle and blow away the competition.(i.e. IS350, G37, 335i).

fsttyms1

not to go off topic but gms site lists it under 4, and its larger than the TL (5 series in size) It will need alot of power to over come the AWD (just look at the RL) and as the way things are growing in size (accord) the tl will most likely be larger as well

trancemission

RWD aint gonna happen. I can deal with SH-AWD.

dug-mac

I hope you're right, Kris, because I really want to like that car. I went to test drive one but they had already sold it. There is always the option of the forthcoming V, but that is BIG $$$$...

Bearcat94

With Reversing/Blind-Spot senors standard of course.

:wink:

type-s09

RWD all the way!..awd helps till bout the 60' mark and thats it in my opinion..yes some handling increases but this pic explores the opportunities..even tho i would never do that in my car..

trancemission

ggesq

iTrader: (1)

I really don't see RWD coming in the 4GTL. At some point, Acura may differentiate itself significantly by not sharing w/ the Honda product line and RWD may be an option for the 5GTL or 6GTL. I too can deal w/ AWD but I'm hoping it's mated to a 6MT.

lavo

whats sh-awd? i know all wheel drive but whats the sh stand for?

ggesq

iTrader: (1)

SH= super handling

HQTL6SPD

maybe Acura should get Audi's help to have a sport car like the S4 ... (340HP V8, AWD, about 3500lbs)

http://consumerguideauto.howstuffwor...-audi-a4-3.htm

dug-mac

^^
Yeah, that S4 is a sweet little car, but it is little. The new TL will probably be much larger... This thread is beginning to make me think that AWD might not be in my future...

gauravp123

uhh either way I don't care? as long as it isn't FWD...

dug-mac

I agree that AWD would be better than FWD, but I don't understand it from a marketing perspective. So much of the country has no interest or need for AWD, why not make it optional?...

Mizouse

is SH-AWD front rear or neutral biased in its drive wheels?

i personally wouldnt mind awd, but they better maintain the same weight or make it lighter from the current weight by 200lbs. ohh and keep the torque up there

csmeance

SH-AWD is forward biased, 100% to the front max or 70% to the rear max, 100% of both numbers to either wheel on that axle. Though there have been some rumors or a rear baised one in the next NSX.....
well, the new TL wil be the size of the current RL, since the new accord is the same size as the RL, and accord body = TL body. Also, the tl has a .2litre advantage over the accord counterpart, so 3.7 in the new tl-Base is possible with a 3.9 in the TL-S or a 4.2V8, but the type s isn't coming soon. the 3.7 can easily put out 320 HP with the proper tuning for a car, and coupled with an aggressively geared SH-AWD transmission, using aluminum and carbon fiber like the RL does, the next gen TL might be as fast as the current gen or maybe faster

Mizouse

would be nice if it was rear biased

that way you could have a little fun w/ it

csmeance

if acura made the wiring simple enough, we could simply change the wires around for the front and rear systems, and change the gear packs/clutchpacks into reverse order to make the car RWD, though you run the possibility of blowing up the back end as it was made to handle 70% power.

JD TL-S

iTrader: (1)

I was told by an Acura Dealer Owner about a year ago that Acura plans to make ALL

their cars AWD sooner or later like Suburu. This is what he told me, not MY opinion.

I agree about RWD and AWD as an option. BUT I don't think they will do that. It

makes alot of sense to make AWD as an option because alot of people don't need

it. Whats the use of AWD if you like where it never freezes? I guess rain, but good

tires take care of that. IS 350 doesn't offer a manual, which is another stupid mistake.

Why JAP cars can't offer options like BMW puzzles me? The 08 335i Coupe now is

available as a 335xi. WOW. Thats an awesome car, TOO bad its a piece of crap after

4 years.

camporealer

Acura pushes their SH-AWD as helping dry pavement handling as well as bad weather driving. Allocating the torque to the outside rear wheel puches the car around the corner better.

I think most people who buy an Acura (Other than those on this board ) are more interested in the handling on the road and not the brute force acceleration. They would probably trade a few 10ths acceleration for the better handling.

Going toward AWD for the entire line-up would be a plausible way for Acura to differentiate itself from Honda. The 2008 Accord has almost all the features of the TL-S for about $8,000 less. I don't know if this is their plan, but it could make marketing sense.

Just my

fsttyms1

chill_dog

I would've thought it was clear by now that Acura is going AWD.

What I don't understand is the aversion to RWD from people up north. Cars were RWD for decades and everyone seemed to be fine...now all of sudden you can't drive them there? Sure, FWD and AWD might be easier to drive, but you can still drive RWD in the snow. Hell, if it's really that big of a deal, work remotely on snow days...it's almost 2008, afterall...the technology's only been around for almost ten years.

HiTEC

If I didn't live in an area where it snows in the winter I'd be all for RWD. In my case I'd rather have AWD over RWD. My TL is my first non AWD car since I've had my drivers license. I love my car, but FWD is teh suck

Bearcat94

Chill, I've driven both "up north" and the introduction and proliferation of FWD was a HUGE benefit in drivability in snowy weather. In those conditions, I'll take FWD over RWD any day of the week.

In the "old" days of RWD, you'd load up the trunk with sand, salt or cement or anything to add weight to the back end for traction. Throw in a 50# bag of dog food for when you got stuck and you were set. Having the engine over the drive wheels was a God-send.

Remember that 20" snow we got about 4 years ago? It's like that ALL THE TIME (Dec - Feb) in some places.


Infinity and BMW have got this right. RWD with AWD as an option. The Infinity Gxx used to be FWD; They found a way to make the change in 2002.

mickey3c

I would say of all of them audi has it the best. I owned the g35x and while it was competent in the snow it was no audi when it came to awd. The issue with the g35x is/was the dam traction control coming on way too soon and we all know the rubber you have makes a huge difference. The EL42s on the G were horrible to the point where many people got blizzaks... The awd G was not much better than the TL.

the continentals on the audi were great this past winter. rubber makes a huge difference!

Jackygor

I think another reason why the quattro is better in the snow is because it front wheel biased.

drdug27

A Clutch.

mickey3c

check it out they are putting 60% to the rear...

TzarChasm

I've had several RWD, FWD, and AWD cars. While my favorite car was RWD ('89 Supra), it SUCKED in the snow. When I got an AWD, it was like night and day. Not only was routine handling better, but getting off the line was faster because of no wheel spin.

It's not whether you CAN drive RWD in the snow, most northerners CAN, it's just not fun (or smart) to do.

HiTEC

Not anymore... Audi recently has been going to a rear wheel bias. They first did this in the RS4, and it's starting to appear on more and more models.

gdfthr

My biggest complaint with my 07 TL-S is that it is FWD. And if it is true that they will be all AWD (especially a system that is FWD biased) this will be my last Acura. RWD is def. the way to go.

HQTL6SPD

Everything should be RWD. Whenever it snows, everyone should have off due school and work due to crappy weather anyway. THIS is how it should be, but I can't change the world now can I?

JD TL-S

iTrader: (1)

^^^YAH that would be great, but if you lived in upper Michigan along lake Superior

you would have to take 4-5 months off. In the old days RWD was the way it was,

but do you remember when any snow storm over 10" caused the streets to be FULL

of cars STUCK. Only trucks getting around. I much prefer FWD in the snow, but even

here in Northern IL. where we sometimes get big snows, it doesn't happen often

enough to be a big deal. AT MOST we get 2-3 large snow falls each winter. In that case

I could just call in and NOT go to work. NO BIG deal. SO RWD is what I really want. Last

RWD car I had was in 1991. The biggest problem with RWD cars is clearance and tires.

In which case get a great set of snow tires with soft compound rubber and put a few

sand bags in the trunk. If the snow is too deep, stay home. Then you won't have to worry

about getting stuck, or even BETTER, WON'T have to worry about ALL the people who

are from the DESERT who have NO IDEA how to drive in the snow. HELL, where I live,

when we get heavy rain there are accidents ALL OVER. MANY RETARDED people around

here with NO INSURANCE or DRIVERS LICENSE's.