By Ryan Douthit
Driving Sports

You may have noticed the country is in a bit of recession. If you still have a job, you’re wondering for how long. If you already lost your job, well, sucks to be you. Either way, you’re probably not shopping for a luxury sedan. Because of that, I will assume only bankers will keep reading this review.

Thanks to the Fed’s recent bailout of Wall Street, and since no one seems to be able to track where, exactly, all that money is being spent, I will therefore suggest to our banker friends it’s an ideal time to consider a new executive sedan.

There is a possible problem with this, however. If you roll up to the office in a Bentley, The New York Times would certainly run your photo and pluck you out as the fall guy for the misappropriation of bailout funds. Your banker buddies would be more than happy to supply the press with made up tales of your faux financial philandering, to divert attention from their own recent purchases: like that island in Cuba Brokerage Bob just bought.

Therefore propriety demands you buy something sensible. Problem is, you want something sporty. That is a pickle… or is it?



There are actually quite a few of cars that fit the sporty yet practical bill. Audi offers a very nice Quattro A4, but Top Gear officially designated it a car driven by “cocks,” so that’s out. BMW and Lexus have great models in the sporty and sensible universe, such as the 335i and GS 350, respectively. Problem is, they’ve worked so hard to build their brand cachet, even if you are being sensible, everyone will think you splurged.

No, I think one of the few cars that is genuinely perceived as being sensible, and has any measure of sporty pedigree would have to be the 2009 Acura TL we’re looking at this week.

Let’s look at just how sensible this car is: SatNav, good for finding those business meetings at remote country clubs. Mileage? The TL pulls 26mpg on the freeway, that’s pretty sensible. Rear-view camera to avoid running over tykes – not just sensible, downright humanitarian; Traditionally good safety ratings, a button for everything, ULEV2 low-emissions, Bluetooth phone integration and a bland exterior? These all add up to one ridiculously sensible ride.

Fact is, nobody will ever think you’re anything but boring for buying a Honda, even if it does have an Acura badge on its nose. That’s not to say this car is actually boring. To see what I mean, you just push the big red button next to the steering wheel. It’s the one labeled “start.”



With the first rev, you’ll notice that it is, indeed, a properly sporty motor. Under the sharply creased hood is Honda’s 3.5liter, V6 VTEC engine. It’s a smooth revving 24-valve plant that puts out 280 horses. It’s a mill that is quite good at doing one very impractical thing: Putting a smile on your face every time you punch the throttle. (Followed immediately by your cranium pressing into the headrest.)

For our review, Acura provided us with a model equipped with a 5-speed slushbox that is actually quite good. In fact, it even has a Sport mode in addition to paddle shifter buttons on the sides of the steering wheel. But if Acura is going to go so far as adding paddle-shifters, I would like them to at least include a trottle-blip on the downshift. For sporty driving, that would be a very practical addition.

Don’t worry, that oversight isn’t a total buzzkill. Because when you lay in the throttle, the TL lets out a properly sporty wale to cover up any sadness you may feel. It sounds almost like a real sports car. The suspension is pretty decent, too. This is a good thing, since even brokers want to keep their cars on the road.

So, Mr. Monty Moneybroker, since you’re the only person that can afford a $40,000 car these days, I would recommend you take a look at the 2009 Acura TL. It’s a great choice if you want to seem economically sensitive around reporters but occasionally wouldn’t mind blasting through some mountain roads. No doubt, with your supermodel girlfriend lounging beside you, in the soft-hewn leather passenger seat, and all the money from my now bankrupt 401k in your very spacious trunk.

This car is the featured vehicle on the January 21 episode of Driving Sports TV Live. To watch the show, and be part of the live online audience, visit www.drivingsports.com at 10pm (pst) every Wednesday night.

Source: http://blog.cardomain.com/2009/01/21...nkers-delight/

 

 

^^^ driven by cocks

 

Buttons? I wouldn't call them buttons.



Regardless, the car does "blip the throttle" on down-shift or so Acura says:

http://www.hondanews.com/categories/735/releases/4679


Did they even actually drive the car? Gotta wonder sometimes.

 

They feel like buttons, not proper paddles. "click - click"

If it blips the throttle, I sure didn't feel it.

Here's the video review. Proof we actually did drive the car
http://www.drivingsports.com/site/20...a-tl-reviewed/

 

Sidenote: my first 'new' car was a fresh-off-the-lot 1998 Acura GSR. I modded it with a Greddy exhaust, OZ F1 wheels in gunmetal grey, DC headers, RS Akimoto intake and some other toys. Still was one of my favorite cars I've owned.

 

Bland exterior? I dunno man, I kinda feel like the exterior is a bit out there lol. Anything but bland if you ask me. Are they comparing it to, say, a frigging Ferrari? Yeah then it's bland. Sheesh lol.

 

Umm...drivingsports - I don't think you used the paddles properly man. You actually have to shift down into "S" mode for it to operate in Sport Shift mode. From your review in the video, it sounds like you used them while in "D", which only keeps the shift mode active for like 3 seconds.

Decent video overall, should've reviewed the SH-AWD though...with a painted beak, lol.

 

Well, at least they drove the car.

Unlike the guy from TechnoPutz magazine that did the 3G review last year.

In their video they actually *back the car up* about 25 feet, then *run the tape backwards* to make it look like they are driving off.

You can tell because people in the background are walking *backwards*.

 

I remember that

 

Well at least someone else agrees with me about the "Bailout" Part 1 went into banker's and other executives' off shore bank accounts.

 

Top Gear is NEVER wrong.