WHT04TL

i have came across today that a stock 2004 apec runs 0-60 in 5.6 and 1/4 miles in 14.2...how is the apec faster than a regualr TL's..i htought the regular was 6.3 0-60 and 14.4 1/4 miles.. this was from car and drivers magzine..did anybody measure there times yet physically??can someone post the times..

cM3go

A-spec will be able to corner better, but engine-wise, they are exactly the same car

05ACURATL

with aspec kit you get extra 60hp

Donte99TL

Better tires for better grip. Also with the suspension there is less weight transferring to the back of the vehicle. This helps with the front wheel drive TL. It hooks up better.

I also heard read in a magazine that body kit actually does help with the drag co-efficiency. It’s just not for looks.

WHT04TL

i know there the same exact engine and all..but why would they list different..BTW what are the 0-60 and 1/4 mile times on a auto and 6mt TL...

jhan1102

What is the weight differences between Tl vs A-Spec TL? Isn't A-Spec version little more heavey? Which means little slower?

PeterUbers

iTrader: (1)

Those bodykit pieces are superlight -- i installed the kit myself. The suspension swap makes that weight difference a wash, and the lip/decklid spoiler is a marginal bump in weight. I guess you could go on to argue that the a-spec emblem would add some weight (slowing down the car considerably) as well as the added stitching in the steering wheel.

The biggest difference in performance for daily driving is the 18" rims .. a slight loss of low-end "kick" .. however, the increased 1/4-mile times benefited from shorter tire wall size, better rubber on the 18" rims, and as mentioned above -- improved FWD launch thanks to the tighter suspension (less rear squat) ..

PoochaKannInc

Plus the regular TL & A-Spec version were tested on different days under different conditions. It might be "nominally faster" if anything.

subinf

The dealership was touting that the ASPEC had stickier tires, allowing for a better launch and more traction during acceleration. Whether that is true or not I dont think anyone will be able to tell the difference...good point on the different test days as well.

KJSmitty

ASPEC or not unless your a consistent superb driver under perfect conditions the 1/4 mile difference is a joke... Lets be honest folks, the biggest difference between an ASPEC TL and not is looks,, - and your wallet is much thinner. One would be better off getting the 6sp TL then installing the body kit if desired and or different rims/tires etc.

PeterUbers

iTrader: (1)

6-spd guarantees you another 20 to 25hp to the wheels over the 5AT, case closed. Not to mention 6 sweet, perfectly spaced gears versus 3 somewhat aggressive gears, and two overdrive gears.

WHT04TL

RIGHT ON.. just skimmed thru the mag and they said test is based on car and drivers that day with blah blah humid nad temputure..

dam..i wanted a 6MT just cuz of that reason..but my mother never took it serious when i asked for a manual..all i see in her face is

KJSmitty

One might think, but some of the dino results tend to represent less of a difference. Old AT's did tend to suck up power but modern high tech AT's are getting better and much more efficient.
Nothing however, will ever replace the good old feel of the left foot and right hand process.... If thats what you're in to.

ASPEC05

sry for the late post but what is the 0-60 on the a-spec in manual? is it still 5.7?

PeterUbers

iTrader: (1)

After having my A-spec suspension for a week -- now I realize what I have been preaching -- launching is much improved in the A-spec compared to the non-Aspec.

The rear of the car is lowered by 1" at this point w/ the A-spec and rear squat is significantly reduced. the front end seem very tacked down also -- when I gun it, i used to barely get the tires to break (I have a 5AT TL) and launching wasn't too impressive.

NOW!! When I gun it .. if I go WOT from a standstill .. the tires will peel out much longer ... but if I feather the throttle 1/2 WOT from a standstill .. the tires bite into the pavement much better and I just MOVE. I can already predict this will net me better 60ft. times at the track .. which of course correlates to a quicker 1/4-mile time.

Case closed for me. With all the low-end torque the 6MT provides .. it's a no-brainer to have the A-spec suspension if you want superior straightline performance (in the form of better launching for the strip) ..

Aegir

I'll second that. The difference is real apparent when you've spend an extended time with both the before and after (stock and A-Spec). Clearly the claims that this suspension was designed and track tuned by Makoto Tamamura were not just good marketing.

dsc888

Yup. R&T reports that the A-Spec suspension is 7% softer in the front but about 20-30% stiffer in the rear to help make the more neutral and will aid with straight line acceleration but keeping more load on the front wheels. You are killing 2 birds with one stone.

dsc888

PeterUbers

iTrader: (1)

I'm just sooo amazed that the ride during regular city or highway driving isn't jarring or typical of an aftermarket suspension -- IT'S ALMOST EXACTLY LIKE STOCK... except less sway of course, and less "boatiness" over big dips..

Love this mod!

RSB is on order.

Pro Stock John

I will respectfully point out that there are too many variables here to allow one to say that Aspec has a better 0-60 time:

1) 18's = less sidewall = better for handling, but not better for drag racing

2) Different tires, regardless of size might be stickiers or worse for racing. Drag radials have a wear rating of anywhere from 0 to 100, and some tires like F1's have a wear rating of like 300. I can tell you that any tire that is going to last 20,000 miles or more is hard like a hockey puck. Drag radials might only go 5,000 at the most. I only get like 50-60 passes on slicks.

3) Lowering a car does not necessarily improve 0-60, can improve cornering

4) Stiffer spring rates may hurt drag racing, but help handling

But generally speaking less sidewall hurts for drag racing, unless the new tires are stickier than stock. And heavier rims and/or tires can slow down a car for racing because of the increase in rotational mass. Going from a 30 lb wheel tire combo (example only) to 50 lb wheel tire combo will slow down a car's 0-60. It will even hurt on the dyno.

Just wanted point some of that stuff out.

Pro Stock John

Also, low profile tires tend to have stiffer sidewalls, so they would in theory not work as well for drag racing since a softer sidewall tire can absorb more of the shock when you dump the clutch at 4,000.

PeterUbers

iTrader: (1)

In all fairness John... you'd have to agree that there are also things that'll help a FWD, 270hp car that differ or perhaps hurt a 400hp RWD beast such as the Firebird in your Avatar. In the case of increasing stiffness of the rear springs -- it does in fact help plant the front wheels for a better launch, and the wider bite of the 18" rubber in addition to the fact that the rubber is better on the 18" wheel option probably also help the launch -- and all these improve ET and 60ft times.

In the end .. since the variables are .. just that .. variable... I can only truly rely on what I have experienced: I know what my car launched like before the A-spec .. and how it launches now .. and there is a differences in off-the-line quickness.

jdb8805

6 speed is more than likely 4 agressive gears and two overdrives.

Pro Stock John

Touche Peter, stiffer springs in the rear would help keep the car from squatting too much and unloading the front tires on launch.

mp3car

How the heck can anyone get 0-60 in 5.7 on a stock TL???

for comparison, a 95 Z28 with 275HP and 325tq, RWD, 6spd, weighing 3475... does 0-60 in 5.7, and 1/4 in something like 14.1. I specifically remember people getting 5.7 out of it b/c it's also 5.7L. A friend had one in HS. I suppose it MIGHT be possible to get 0-60 in 5.7 out of a TL, maybe... maybe, if it had slicks, and was launched very aggresivly. but with almost 100 less tq, and being heavier, and FWD, it just seems highly unlikely anyone could get 0-60 in 5.7 is anyone else with me??

Aegir

Ask C&D - they published the numbers. I'm sure they beat on the car to get them, too. 3472 lb sedan, 270 hp, aggressive gearing...yep, sounds do-able. Bottom line is that the car is fast - certainly a lot faster than anyone ten years ago imagined a factory four door sedan would be.

Pro Stock John

I've had a few Camaros and Firebirds, and I had a 1994 Z/28 A4. I never took it to the track but it was probably a low 14 second car. My 2005 TL 6MT feels like it has stronger top end.

I got my old 98 Camaro SS 6MT with some boltons to go 13.0@110mph.

Aspec suspension might help a bit, might do nothing. Wheels might be heavier, but tires might be stickier. I tend to doubt that a fully loaded Aspec will be faster than me, it's probably a wash.

brahtw8

It can be done. You just have to know how to launch a high-powered FWD well enough to attain a 2.0-2.1 second 60' time.

The TL's higher powerband allows the TL a gearing advantage over a car that makes its power at a lower RPM. The TL can stay in a lower gear longer and thus is able to apply greater power to the wheels at a given MPH as a result.

Assume two cars are geared identically and have similar power curves and peak power, but with the non-TL having a powerband that is 1500 RPM lower than the TL (not unlike a pushrod V8 from the mid-90s). Lets say the non-TL shifts to 2nd at 5500 RPM and 30 MPH. The TL stays in 1st until 7000 RPM and 37 MPH (just an example). From 30-37 MPH, the TL has a substantial mechanical advantage as a result of still being in 1st gear.

Pro Stock John

Like anyone else, a magazine writer is going to post the best 0-60 time. Might have taken him 10-20 shots at it. Having met a lot of writers in the last few years, my guess is that they beat on it and slipped the clutch out at a very high rpm.

I think a 2.0 60 ft time is about the limit for street tires, and even that I think would be a challenge.

My other car, the 98 Formula has gone 1.48 60fts and it should go 1.35's this year.

I will take my TL to the track once I install the Injen CAI.

Phillyboi

its still basic stock engine right? no super charger or anything? 60hp is a lot of extra power just for a suspension kit and all.

ndx2

^i hope to god you're joking, in which case you're just unfunny rather than "slow."

Phillyboi

hey I may be loosing my mind

Pro Stock John

To be honest, I don't see many TL guys hitting the dragstrip, so there is not much info out there. I might go to US41 this weekend.