Acc-Rite

As I read along this thread, I've come to wonder if the limitier is set @128 to compensate for the "extra" speed you could possibly pick up. Hills, direction of wind, etc.... So when these factors come into play, you wont exceed that safety rated tire and thus saves consumers money by not having to buy an upgraded tire that might cost twice as much as standard tires.

Pete2010

Get the 6MT - I'm pretty sure I heard the 6MT version has a limited in the 150's

HeartTLs

iTrader: (5)

You've yet to test it ?

Slithr

As nearly as I can tell the mower seems to limited by gearing. As bad as it looks aerodynamically, I don't think it is drag limited.

Slithr

As previously noted the OEM tires are rated for 149 mph. It would have to be a darn steep hill to pick up 19 mph considering the wind resistance at that speed.

The only reason I can figure out for limiting the car at approx. 130 is lawyers. Unless someone from Honda wants to come forward with an engineering reason.

IMHO the limit should be revealed in the technical information on the Acura website by and/or in the brochure. That would be a help to potential customers with the purchase decision.

fsttyms1

Mostly due to tires, but they are likely also put on from a legal standpoint

Slithr

Can someone confirm whether the manual tranny car has a 150 mph speed limiter?

According to the Acura website, all models have V rated (149 mph) tires and the base 17 inch tires have the highest load carrying ability.

So, assuming the website is correct, tire specification is not the reason for the lower speed limit on the car.

Is there a problem with the automatic transmission? I don't have much history with these cars, so - just asking.

Pete2010

Sadly haven't found a long enough track to try it out on.

john-germany

Hi,
the TL is also in China. Perhaps there is an other speed limit to this car.
Does anyone know a person from China, who can ask there.

Acc-Rite

between Oklahoma and northern Texas are lots of stretches of open land and large hills. I've taken my 01 Accord, slightly modded of course , and been able to pick up about that much extra speed. So I wouldn't doubt if it was ever possible in the TL. One day i'll have to try and see how much I can pick up and post a pic of the speed I gain. Hopefully I won't blow a gasket or cause my baby to overheat.....or worse!

Slithr

Turner Falls is about the only place I can think of that has any significant grade. With the wind resistance at 130+, you would almost have to drive it off a cliff to pick up any significant speed if the car is otherwise limited to 130. However, I encourage you to try, just for fun.

omgthedonny

Nope same stupid annoying limiter on my 6mt shawd

Very annoying when ur trying to pwn noobs only to look like the noob and get pwnd after 130

omgthedonny

Ps 5th and 6th gear are kinda shit anyways so even in OPs situations u wouldn't be able to out run someone I'm those gears they are made for mpg it seems

Slithr

Thanks for checking it out. Takes a little of the fun out of life doesn't it?

gmax9000

Hello everybody I am new to the forum, I purchased a 2012 Acura TL SHAWD last year, and the reason I am posting a message here today is because I am ashamed and seeking a shoulder to cry on.

From the previous posts I've seen here a lot of you are against the ludicrous speeds the TL is capable of reaching but are happy with the anemic limiter placed on the car. I disagree with you for the simple fact that last night, I got chased down and embarrassed at 125 mph by a Kia Optima turbo in its stock form. I was sad because I bragged about my car's performance for months and the one chance I get to prove it first hand I was let down.

Now for the rant; If Acura values its so called performance they claim is on par with BMWs and Audis who's limiters are set to 155 mph they need at least approach similar limits otherwise its all hype, if the tires are rated to 149, at least limit the car to 140. I had plans of installing a CT icebox intake and a nice cat-back exhaust, maybe even a supercharger if that ever manifests but after last night, I'd be stupid to spend the money and still be limited to the same speed as my Tundra.

I get that the car isn't a sports car but Acura didn't do their homework on their midsize competitors if their brand icon is being outperformed by an econo brand car.

I'm hurt, hold me...

HeartTLs

iTrader: (5)

You raced someone up to 125mph on a public road? Smart. Not that I condone racing on public streets but next time you might want to start from a stand still and see what happens. SH-AWD TL isn't a straight line speed demon.

dirtyo2000

I would think it maybe more mechanical safety reason than anything. My 07 F150 was speed limited at 99. Was racing a buddy of mine with a Cadillac and holding him off until I hit 99 when he went by me. Started walking away crossing the bridge. Called me to let me know he hit another gear and speedometer buried itself.

Supercharded the truck and moved the limiter to 150, changed the tires of course. Another guy at the shop that tuned mine was having his done. Few weeks later while at the shop I noticed the truck in the back looking like a it was dropped off a cliff.

Tuner stated that he was racing the truck and around 155-160 the driveshaft seperated. The trucks all came with a 2 piece DS with a splicer bearing in the middle. After 130 they start to seperate and come apart. Not meant to be turned that fast. Main reason the Lightnings and Harley Davidson's came with 1 piece aluminum DS.

Sure the car probably has the motor to do it but you have to think about the drive train in the car. Never see to many all wheel drive cars that are reaching crazy speeds unless they way up in the price range and most are exotics. You want a 4K lb car with AWD to run 150-160 mph. Think about the trans speed, converter, axle speed and the rest of the rotating assembley. Converters and prop shafts are already having problems and most of them hardly ever see 100. Just my belief and I'm known to be wrong when it comes to hypotheticals

gmax9000

Not legal on pulic roads, agreed. Smart? not so much, necessary? ahh hell yeah! Whats the point of buying a sporty car if you can't play outside the sand box.

I beat him off the line, pulled away from him along the on ramp, now I'm thinking he just drafted me up to the point I hit the limiter then he started getting up next to me.

After reading the post below this one, I see the other dangers involved with mechanical integrity coming into play, I have a wise friend that is completely against tuning who says if you want a fast car buy one don't rengineer a perfectly fine car in a weekend..

PeterPort

They put a limiter on them because of people like you who do foolish things on public roads.

dirtyo2000

Lol, I wouldn't take it to that extent because you have to realize there are plenty of cars out there he can buy that limiters are set much higher. My Z06 top speed is advertised as 211, the Shelby is 189 on the 2011 and 201 on the 2013.

Lots of cars can go much faster and by stating they didn't want people cutting the fool with them all cars would be governed at 80-90 mph. Not that I condone it but people are going to cut the fool. Looking under the TL at the transfercase and the way it's designed, just doesn't seem like it's set up for crazy top end speeds

Edward'TLS

The TL, as well as all Honda/Acura products, are designed for superb handling, and never for top speed.

It is handling performance, not top-speed performance that Acura is on par with Audi, BMW, and the like.

As up to now, Acura still doesn't have 320+hp V6, high-power V8, nor high-performance division (such as Audi's S/RS and BMW's M) to compete, let alone on par, with Audi and BMW in terms of maximum vehicle top speed.

jnc2000

Not to mention the driveshaft is a two piece STEEL design with a center yolk. Most of your high power (high 1/4 mile trap cars) will see a single aluminum drive shaft, or even more exotic a CF driveshaft.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

great points, gentlemen

dturboman

http://vimulator.com/#/v5/sim/8827

there go pretend you're racing him with no limiter

dturboman

Even better

http://vimulator.com/#/v5/drag/17731+8827

ChaiLatte

I don't think this is accurate. My 2012 Optima SX 2.0T was limited to 152, and it only had 274HP. It came with V rated tires good for 149+. We guys at the Optima forums never quite figured that one out.

dturboman

a GPS confirmed 152 or a speedometer 152? - if the speedometer is showing 152 its more like a true top speed of 148-149

my E60 M5 claimed it was limited to 155 but the limiter would not kick in till 174mph - ( which is more like 168-169 true speed)

BMW "required" W rated and up tires

W- 168mph speed rating

Slithr

I don't know that exotic materials are needed. I didn't have any problems running 165 in a 1970 Plymouth. One piece steel driveshaft, bias ply tires.

dturboman

You can hit 160 on H rated tires and slow back down without failure.... the speed ratings are for an extended period of time not just a top speed run and cool down. - I believe the DOT did a test on speed ratings and tire failure sometime back, it took anywhere from 25-40+ minutes above the rated speed to cause some of the tires to fail.

Edward'TLS

^^^^^

Did the DOT test new tires or used tires ?

Tires, that have been on the road for some time, will never be as resistant to failure as brand new tires, due to the extended exposure to the elements and mechanical stresses.

The ozone and the UV are constantly degrading the rubber compound, and the imperfections on the roads are constantly stressing out the internal belts and plys. Over time, the structure of an used tire will be weakened in various degree, depending on the severity of punishments it has been through.

Slithr

In this part of the country tire temps as driven by speed, but primarily road surface temperature are a big factor in tire failure.

Once again I have a hard time believing the limiter was placed on the cars for an engineering reason. I think the lawyers have been at work. They need to remove the "performance" moniker from the brochure and classify the car as a nice mid-sized sedan for old ladies.

Shoot2Thrill

COMPLETE BULLSHIT POST BY A TROLL. That car is a complete paper tiger. Carry on...

Edward'TLS

Back in the 70/80's, GM had a design problem with it's popular C/K trucks with "sidesaddle" fuel tanks. Side impact collisions would often rupture the tanks, start a fire, and would even explode; resulting in human fatalities.

That was when the cost of human life came in. GM did some calculations, using the cost of human life to weigh against the total cost required to redesign the C/K trucks. The lawyers estimated how many people would die or injure from the fuel tank fires, then worked out the total payout that would be required to settle the resulting lawsuits and compensations.

The result was that human life was cheaper, so GM continued to churn out the dangerous C/K trucks as is, for many more years.

Presumably, if it can happen to GM, it can also happen to other auto makers.

So, some auto makers may have predicted that not many plaintiffs are "brave" enough to drive their vehicles above 150mph; so the total human cost payout for resulting fatalities and injuries, is calculated to be much cheaper than equipping the entire model line with higher speed-rated tires.

Thus, cheaper tires are used throughout.

I guess this gamble is well worth taking, because no one in the right mind, will drive at 150mph on public roads other than on race tracks, endangering themselves and other third parties. But then when the vehicle is raced on tracks, all factory warranty/liability and even regular insurance coverage will become void.

speedingbulletl

I guess it is a blessing, I hit that 128 mark a few times, I just wrap it over and then slow down before the troopers see me... I guess if it was any higher I would just wait to find how out quickly it can get there.

HeartTLs

iTrader: (5)

I don't see many in my area and have never raced one before, but how so? The specs sound like it might be quick, especially with mods.

If there were any troopers nearby you'd be covering distance too quickly to slow down before they clocked you, even if you had a lasar/radar detector. A false sense of security can only keep you warm for so long...

Slithr

The exploding GM fuel tanks were brought to you by CBS, who attached incendiary devices to the trucks to make sure that they blew up/caught fire for their "documentary". There were no wide spread problems with the GM fuel tanks. Were there better design alternatives? Yes, and I believe that they were adopted on the next version of the trucks. Back in the really old days, many pickups had the fuel tanks inside the cab. The side-saddle tanks were a big improvement over that alternative.

You may be confusing this story with the Pinto fuel tank problem. Those tanks, in a rear end collision, could be pushed forward into the 3rd member and rupture. The fix was a $5 plastic shield. Ford decided it was cheaper to kill people. As it turned out, not so much.

There are plenty of people in their right minds who can and do safely exceed 150 mph on public roads on a regular basis. The model line is already equiped with tires rated at 149. The additional cost for more highly rated tires would be minimal. Plenty of other auto makers have decided that 155 is a reasonable cut-off. I would be ok with that.

As for insurance/warranties, most policies/warranty coverages that I've seen void coverage if the vehicle is entered in a sanctioned event. HP driving schools, etc., where you have your car on a track in an educational setting are generally not prohibited. Check the fine print.

Edward'TLS

Not just in a sanctioned event, illegal racing will also void everything.

Slithr

If you are talking about a contest for speed, racing another vehicle, I guess that is possible for the insurance, depending upon your carrier. If parts on your vehicle break during the warranty period, I'm not sure that your activity really matters unless the manufacturer can substantiate abuse.

davensd

for the adventurous types you can try using CROME..

http://www.tunewithcrome.com/

otherwise you can inquire these guys if they have a unit suitable for your needs

http://www.phearable.net/shoppingcar...vtec-p-31.html

You are fully responsible for your own actions. Try not to blow up the engine..

Davensd

jctmrm

The 130 top end is disappointing. A Jaguar and I where on I80 in Iowa pushing up from 90. We stayed side by side until 130.. Then bye bye Jaguar.