The stars aligned and I just traded my 2010 Palladium TL 6 speed SH AWD with 101K miles in on a new 2014 Graphite L 6 speed SH AWD.

I have lurked here for years and finally wanted to take part in the discussions. I went with the replacement TL because there are so few options that have a manual and AWD, and most of those options are 15K - 20K more expensive (S4, 335 Xdrive). The fact the 2010 only required 12 total maintenance visits over 100K of enjoyment is another. I didn't "need" to trade because it still performed well, but the scheduled maintenance cost was going to increase rapidly. Also, since 2014 is going to be the last year they offer a stick I wanted 3 more years (100K) of enjoyment.

Initial Impressions: I didn't realize how much wear my 2010 actually had until I drove the new TL. I drive many rental cars and always thought my 2010 was tight and responsive in comparison. The 2014 is in another league. They may have added some sound deadening to the new model because it is much quieter as well. Also, it seems faster from 65 to 80 than the previous one but that may have to do with 100K on the old one.

Here is a pic of the old one and new.

 

Congrats!

Does anyone know what Acura did in the 12+ models to make them quieter? Is it just sound insulation in the doors?

 

Welcome to the forum and congrats on your purchase! I believe additional sound deadening was added to the 4g TL at the MMC. Not sure if they did anything else.

 

Congrats.....where in Ohio?

 

Cleveland area. I brought the car home and promptly put on the snow tires. It wasn't clean for more than 10 minutes. You have got to love lake Erie in the winter.

 

Why so few? And how much longer do you think Brown will last with his totally uninspired team?

 

The dealer was amazed when they saw the mileage because I had it less than 3 years (it was an early leftover) and I keep it clean. They gave me respectable money for the trade and there was truly nothing wrong with the 2010...

I saw the Cavs last week against the Wizards and it is a brutal watch. They are horrible. Kyrie against the world. They should ask for Bynum for their money back.

 

Congrats again! But I see no pics though. It's supposed to be 3-5 dBs quieter. I guess it makes that much of a difference. They also recalibrated the EPS.

 

I added the pics in the garage. The 3-5 db reduction is pretty significant even with my snow tires in place. Also, the new one seems quicker and more responsive. It may be because there may have been some clutch slippage at 101K, but the old one didn't seem to slip... I have driven nothing but manuals and never needed to replace a clutch.

I really like the new one, however I wished it had the quad exhausts from the old one.

 

 

New one.

Old one.

 

Believe you'd find that the only thing "quad" about the '10 were the tips ... a cosmetic divider which made it look like a "quad" exhaust.

 

True, but it was one more thing to keep clean and set-off the car.

 

GR 6 speed....You mention in your initial post that "since 2014 is the last year they will offer a manual..." Where did you hear that? I am not disputing it but Acura is so tight lip and I can't recall seeing anything about this.

 

I'm curious about this statement too.

OP, could you also elaborate on your statement "the scheduled maintenance cost was going to increase rapidly." I assume you were referring to the changing of the timing belt?

 

Haven't seen anything about this either, perhaps just another dealership salesman trying to seal the deal on another purchase? It wouldnt surprise me if it was true, I'm just hoping not!

 

About the manuals, I understand that Acura is releasing the TLX as a 2015 next year and the SHAWD on that car will be hybrid in nature. (2 electric motors powering the rear wheels.) It makes no business sense to have a manual transmission with as low a take rate as Acura has had with the current model and the complexity that a hybrid power train requires. Also, Acura's competition (Infiniti Q50 and Lexus IS) has actively went away from manuals as well. Even the Germans are reluctant to offer a manual option on all models. (BMW 3 series grand coupe and 5 series x drive for example) Currently, the only 300hp AWD Manuals sedans that remain as options are the TL, S4, 335 xdrive, WRX, and EVO. The last 2 are a little too hard core sport for family duty and the wings demand a little too much attention. The previous 2 are very expensive, however, I love the S4 with the Active Diff.

I want to be involved in driving and the manual requires your attention. In the winter with a stick, you can better determine the tire adhesion and slip.

 

Scheduled maintenance: I was going to need brakes, tires, and 100K service. The total cost would have been around $3k so instead I went with 4 yr 50K warranty and 3 more years to get the new one to 100K. Also, the timing was right because both dealers in town had the same color 6 speed delivered on the same week. I went to my original dealer and gave him the first shot. I had all my service completed there and they valued my business enough cut a good deal.

 

Your thought process makes sense re: manuals. MT/Hybrid combo would be quite an engineering feat. We'll see if Honda/Acura can pull that off, given that the CRZ is the only manual/hybrid vehicle currently on the market (though its FWD).

Also agree with you on the winter driving w/stick. No better way to go IMHO in the snow/ice/slush than with AWD/manual.

 

I predict the RLX differentiator from TLX will be the hybrid SH-AWD set up vs. conventional. The MDX staying conventional with direct injected Earth Dreams (ED) V6 gives me that hope. I am also quite sure the ED V6 hasn't changed the architecture from the last gen V6 to the point the SH-AWD transmissions bolt up differently - meaning very little non-recurring engineering costs to ensure the TLX could still offer MT. If not, I guess I will continue to drive my 2010 MBM/umber 6MT until someone (anyone) offers a largish sedan with MT, even if I have to go domestic (next generation Chevy SS based upon the new CTS architecture with an LT1 V8 7MT from the C7 Corvette would make a nice family truckster). If I'm lucky, they might offer it in colors other than a shade of black with black interior, too.

 

draph, If that logic holds true on the new TL, then I will be interested in the next generation. I thought with the CAFE fuel economy standards coming soon that Honda would have to be creative with their offerings to meet the requirements, and thus the Hybrid AWD package. I was unaware the CRZ was offered in a manual. I better get caught up on some reading.