I need to find reliable performance stats for the 6 speed TL, such as 0-60 mph time, 60 mph braking distance, etc. so I can compare them w/ known BMW 3-series stats. Any references? RSVP

 

Car and Driver - search thier site, and this one the info is posted both places.

Here is the link to Car and Driver:

http://www.caranddriver.com/article....&page_number=1

Sorry, the M3 is a full second quicker, but the S4 is only a few tenths quicker than the TL.

 

Directly from my C&D:

0-60: 5.7 sec
70-0: 189 FT (braking!)
Handling: .081g
Weight: 3521 lbs (Manual w/Nav)

 

Gotta love those 0-60 numbers...safe to assume those were 6 MT numbers?

 

I think it has been pretty much established that the above braking distance was the result of the crappy Turanza EL42s. Other tests by Motor Trend, and Motorweek, to name a few, have gotten very respectable 60-0 ft. braking distances with the HPTs.

I think the 5.7 0-60 is going to be as good as you will find in a magazine. C&D has been known to give a car a strong launch in their testing. Others are getting a few tenths slower.

The TL is slightly faster in a straight line than a 330, and considerably faster than a 325. It will get smoked by an M3. On a road course, it is probably slower than a 330, but not by a lot, and a little faster than a 325.

The 3ers have an edge in handling on dry pavement, owing to their better balance, suspension, and RWD. The TL is a much better choice than all E46 but an iX in the rain or snow.

Braking should be equal or better than the 330, at least with the 6spd/HPT combo, but perhaps not up to par with the M3.

I got my TL 6MT to replace a BMW 325i. Great car, but I wanted a more practical daily driver.

As much as I still love BMW, indeed, it is my favorite Marque, I have no regrets about getting rid of mine for the TL. Until I can replace it with an M5 and an X5, the TL is my choice.


Even then it would be a hard sell. The TL is very good, and a very good value. I think it may be the best FWD automobile ever produced. Any other contenders?

 

Yes

 

brahtw8, excellent summation.

I have the 6MT with HPT and agree that it is the best FWD ever made. Also from a value standpoint, I don't think it has ANY competion.

 

tee hee .....now that is funny

 

Thanks for the info brahtw8,

I'm especially pissed that Automobile Magazine (February issue) chose the BMW 3-Series for its "2004 All-Star" "Luxury Car Under $40k" category (page 68), when the TL kicks 3-Series ass, not only in athletic performance, but also especially in non-athletic performance such as cost, reliability, updated body design, fuel efficiency, etc. I'm writing them a letter objecting to thier myopic and lingering love affair with an out-of-date performer. They awarded the M3 in a different 2004 All-Star category, called "GT."

Part of this car mag myopia is probably the result of Acura's consistently poor marketing and communication with car mags, I'm sure. Acura should be flooding the car mags with freebee tricked out TLs (A-spec, etc.), long in advance of the annual best pick issues like this one. Acura marketing of the NSX is a well-known failure that IMO rivals the classic Edsel debacle of yore, and I'm hoping the TL has more success.