go4heat

hey guys i was in my school library the other day being cool chillin with the ladies...and i came upon Consumer Reports magazine which just happened to have a huge review of all of the 2004 near-luxury cars. needless to say the TL is the highest ranked out of 15 cars...it beat the **** out of the g35 and is ranked one notch above the bmw 330i!!!
Their website doesnt let you see the article because apparently you have to have some sort of membership...but heres the list in case you were wondering:

1. Acura TL :worship:
2. BMW 330i
3. Lexus IS300
4. Lexus ES300
5. M-B C320
6. Lincoln LS (Premium V6)
7. Audi A4 (3.0 Quattro)
8. Cadillac CTS
9. Nissan Maxima (3.5 SE)
10. Infiniti I35
11. Saab 9-3 (Aero)
12. Infiniti G35
13. Jaguar X-Type (3.0)
14. Saab 9-5 (Arc)
15. Volvo S60 (2.5T)

Yeah i know the TL is sexy...oh yea and just as a side note...the TL was the LEAST expensive of the whole bunch!!!!

greenseed

If you check here:

http://www.a-c-u-r-aworld.com/forums...threadid=37335

You can download a scan of the article. (Remove dashes)

Nicki

I removed the dashes and the link does not work

greenseed

Well, actually I pasted it fine, but somehow when I'm posting the URL, this forum is editing it down somehow. I did this twice, but same results.

What you should do is mosey over to http://www.a-c-u-r-aworld.com and look in their forums for Third Gen TL and there is a recent thread for the consumer reports article. If you cant find it just search.

I'd post the scan here, but it’s too big to upload.

theslik1

I think the G35 really rates in the top 5 of the cars listed but oh well.
The interior quality really brings it down a few notches. I've heard that Infiniti is working diligently to upgrade it on the next "freshening". That and the brakes...

There's alot of wailing and gnashing of teeth among the Nissan crowd right now.

I find it surprising that the TL is still being compared to the 330i. Everyone I know who's in the market right now is cross-shopping it against the 5-series; the 3's aren't even in the game.

Z Factor

Good to hear, thanks.

99WDP

Here's a copy and paste from the Consumer Reports website:

Upscale sedans: Inside and out, the redesigned Acura TL is best in its class

Redesigned for 2004, the Acura TL is a significant improvement over the previous version. Overall, it scored well enough in our tests not only to top this month’s group, but to edge out the BMW 330i as the best upscale sedan that we’ve tested (see the Ratings chart). The 330i had held the top ranking for nearly three years.

The TL is based on the Honda Accord V6, which has also received excellent scores in our tests. It’s more fun to drive than its predecessor and feels more like a sports sedan. The TL also has a comfortable, impeccably detailed interior and a refined 3.2-liter, V6 engine that achieved both the quickest acceleration and best fuel economy of this group.

Most of the top models in the upscale-sedan category use rear-wheel drive, which typically helps a car‘s handling and steering. While the front-wheel-drive TL didn’t quite match the BMW 330i in at-the-limit handling performance, its agility and power make it invigorating to drive. At $33,150, it also costs about $7,000 less than a comparably equipped 330i.

The Lexus ES330 scored well in our tests and now ranks fourth in this category. The ES330 is basically the same as last year’s version except for a new 3.3-liter V6, which boosts horsepower from 210 to 225 and slightly improves acceleration and fuel economy. In contrast to the higher-rated sedans, the ES330 makes no pretenses about being a sports sedan. It is designed to provide a comfortable, quiet, relaxing driving experience, not one that’s exciting and fun.

The Saab 9-5 has not changed significantly since it was introduced in 1998. Although it is rated very good overall, this six-year-old model has been surpassed by more recently designed cars. The Arc version that we tested has a quick 220-hp, 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a spacious cabin and trunk. But the ride, refinement, and fit-and-finish aren’t up to competitive standards.

The Volvo S60, introduced for 2001, has received some engine and steering tweaks since then. We chose the midline 2.5T version, which comes with a turbocharged 208-hp five-cylinder engine. Like the other cars we tested in this group, our S60 was front-wheel drive, although an all-wheel drive version is available for about $1,800 more. The S60 performed well enough overall to get a good Rating. However, its stiff ride, tight rear seat, compromised visibility, and uninspired handling caused it to finish last in the category.

As a sign of how strong competition is in this class, all four of the cars we tested performed well enough to be recommended, even though two are ranked at the bottom of the category Ratings list. The as-tested prices of this group range from $33,150 for the Acura to $36,955 for the Saab.

The category we classify as upscale sedans consists of models that range from about $30,000 to $40,000. In the industry, they are often called “near-luxury” or “entry-luxury.” Compared with family sedans, which are usually priced in the mid-to-high $20,000 range for V6 versions, these vehicles typically have more features, a plusher interior, and newer technology.

Are upscale sedans worth the extra money? Not always. As an overall package, our highest-rated V6 family sedans, such as the Volkswagen Passat, Toyota Camry, and Honda Accord, scored higher in our tests than most of the vehicles in this category, and they cost about $3,000 to $9,000 less.

acuraddict

They don't mention the cool "vibration" mode that the car goes into when you hit 80 mph. Only some of us are lucky enough to have this feature

Norse396

My vibration mode is from 30 thru any speed, how lucky am I?

JeffS

I guess you are extra exclusive!

gldman

Norse396,

Have you gone for a Hunter GSP9700 balance. This is worth $75.
If this is a tire problem you will get all the information you need to get Bridgestone to replace them under warranty. If it is just a balance problem your problem will be corrected. If you go to the Hunter site you can find a local shop with the equipment.

I hope this helps.

G.

Mav

Great...now my car's head wont fit in the garage...thought I noticed it being a little more cocky than usual.

vothsc

The Consumer Reports people don't drive over the speed limit - THAT WOULD BE DANGEROUS!!!