Neuronbob,
Excellent review!
You have given me hope that the Aspec suspension is the answer to my issues with the TL. I have the 6MT and flat cornering with the larger sway bars is not a problem. My two biggest irritations are the soft and insensensitive steering and the poor damping on rough surfaces. From your review it appears both of this issues are much improved, with little loss in ride comfort. I sure hope they offer the Aspec suspension soon, or I may start looking at Ebay myself. I also like that the drop is only 0.5 inches. I feel the car is low enough as it is.

Thanks again for a great review.
Lakeman

 

I used EVERY excuse in the book to drive the car over the last few days. ("uhhhhh....yeah, honey, I'll get some milk. See you in an hour!") I have driven on rough city roads, smooth freeways, and sped around curves. I have a few more comments.

I must say....the car should've come from the factory with this level of steering sensitivity. Some people like the numb spot in the center of the steering, it's very American, think Cadillac. I think it sucks, and thankfully the A-Spec has taken most of that feeling away. The steering is simply much more precise. The best way I can describe this is that it's much easier to keep the car in the center of a lane of freeway than it was before. In this regard, the A-Spec suspension is helpful even with routine driving (e.g. not driving at the limits).

High-speed freeway curves are a dream. I have had to totally readjust in this regard. With the stock suspension and EL42s, I had to slow considerably when I saw a freeway curve coming to avoid understeer and a sense of instability at the apex of the curve. With the Falkens and A-Spec, I can wait a little longer to slow down prior to the apex, and can accelerate faster right in the apex. The car can clearly handle more speed in the turns than I'm giving it, I just don't want to wreck my new--OK, 8-month-old--car.

The ride quality is really not bad at all. On rougher Cleveland streets, as I said in my original post, I did feel the potholes more. Otherwise, there appears to be adequate damping. I don't feel every single tar strip on either freeway or city street. I still squat slightly on acceleration and dip slightly on deceleration, but these movements are clearly better-controlled than with the stock suspension.

Bottom line: A-Spec is a keeper. I'm glad I waited. Acura did a good job. I'll be comparing with as many similar cars as I can at the "Auto show in Motion" that GM is doing in a few weeks here in Cleveland.

 

Well than you better stick with her, cuz you will look a lot better doing so! :sqntfawk:

 

So Dope would rather have me ride his sister than my "ugly" 18" A-SPEC wheels!

I got to hand it to you Dope...I appreciate a man with an opinion...

....even if it's totally wrong!

I jus luv ma wheels! ...and that's what makes markets.

Sorry bout your sister bro....

 

first of all I dont have a sister so you can ride her all you want!! It does seem like you dont have good taste though, so If I did have a sister Im sure she would be pretty good looking and I dont think you would realize that.......

Apsec 18" wheels look like :shit:

 

If she was good looking I'd be riding her just like my beautiful 18" A-SPEC wheels...because I'm the one with the good taste!

 

Funny, guys......

 

I see a lot of thought was put into that one....just like that thought you put into getting the Aspec wheels!

 

Look Dope...I'll be the first to admit that the standard 17" wheels are pretty good looking. I'm glad you are happy with them. I think you should keep them and use one for a pillow.

The A-SPEC wheels, howerver are 18", distinctive, great looking, come with great Yokahama tries and most importantly the A-SPEC suspension mods.

And you are right, my decision didn't take a lot of thought...the A-SPEC wheels were so obviously superior it was no contest.

 

Back on track.
Neuronbob, your comments are music to my ears, especially the "better controlled than stock" comment. Of all my concerns, the soft shocks were my biggest.

I also plan to keep my stock 17's (prefer them to the 18's myself) and will likely go with Falkens also. I am considering the ST-115's (?) rather than the all seasons and thinking about the 245 section width. Any thoughts?

Lakeman

PS Please report in on the GM autoshowinmotion and how you "A-Spec" TL compares.

 

I wonder how the 18" rims and the A-spec will increase the harshness of the ride.... anyone w/ both care to comment?

 

Great review. Who did you get the kit from? I am not able to locate it on Ebay at this time.
Thanks

 

Thanks neuronbob, very good review for A-Spec suspensions. I will likely get the A-Speck suspensions as soon as I have a bit more money to spend on the car. I was also thinking about asking a dealer to install 6MT Stabilizer Bar on my 5AT to further improve the corner handling. Any thoughts?

Here are the specifications for both stabilizer bars:


Automatic
Front: 1.0 in. diameter (25.4 mm) x (4.5 mm)
0.18 in. wall thickness
Rear 0.67 in. diameter, solid (17.0 mm)



Manual
Front: 1.07 in. diameter (27.2 mm) x (5.0 mm)
0.20 in. wall thickness
Rear: 0.79 in. diameter, solid (20 mm)

 

I have seen only one other person talk about switching out the sway bars. The main effect would presumably be to minimize the already minimal body roll in turns, so it might not add much to the ride.

Has anyone made the change?

 

Did I read this correctly, you put the A-Spec suspension on with the stock 17"s? Is this true? If so, I am on it. The car handles like a Oldsmobile now, I want A-Spec suspension!

 

Great reveiw and you may have saved me from a costly mistake. I was considering the comptech springs alone, but your review provided the extra "nudge" towards A-Spec that I needed. Thanks.

 

Yes I did. New/better tires would help but the improvement was still very noticeable.

 

I sure did. A-Spec + Stickier rubber on stock 17"s = excellent balance of handling and ride quality. I didn't upgrade to 18"s because

a) didn't want to spend the money right now
b) didn't want to diminish ride quality too much

and I must say I succeeded. All I need now is the Comptech rear sway bar and I will be done with suspension mods for the car. Well, maybe I'll do better brake pads, but that's really it. (No engine mods for me, 270 hp to the front wheels is quite enough, thank you!)

 

Great review! Thanks

 

Holy bump

Props for searching instead of making a new thread

 

, it's kinda cool reading about the 3G TL when they first came out, too.