Cornell77

Here it is:

http://www.thecarconnection.com/inde...&sid=183&n=157

larchmont

Nice get, C77!

Didn't read every word, but I can see that this is a very well done review -- well-informed, thoughtful, and shows good knowledge of the car market overall. Very favorable about the TL, although limited by a pro-RWD bias.

BTW this review confirms what had been my impression that as an Acura this car is "more unique" than any prior Acura (I mean in terms of whether it's basically the same as a Honda somewhere). This guy says it is indeed based on the new Inspire but differs a lot from it.

95gt

Kind of funny with the line "completely effective (and wholly unnecessary for most buyers) navigation system screen" That could be said about everything in the car. We all would be driving corrolla's(nothing agains them) if all we needed was necessary transportation. We pay extra for the things we don't need but that we want.

Overall very positive.

ryder1650

I'm not sure that it was that positive because they said that Honda is basically scrwed with the current design of the car and cannot improve it without major changes...

CTyler

I wasn't blown away by the review either...I thought it was just okay.

acura_driver

The authors assumption is that you can only develop a FWD car so far, and the TL is as good as it gets. I don't think that is valid. For a luxury/sporty class car I think that FWD cars will continue to improve as technology improves.

Personally, I prefer RWD, but it is just one of the factors I consider when shopping for a new car.

-r

neuronbob

Good find. I thought the article was pretty positive, but with the same criticisms others on this site have pointed out. They bemoan the lack of RWD, but fail to see that folks like me in the snowbelt prefer FWD. OTOH, AWD is the next logical step for Acura, it's not like they haven't done it before.

JeffPhx

So basically he is saying it is based on the US Accord.......?

larchmont

In the same sense that George Bush is based on George Washington.

Vans

You guys must remember that any magazine or car site or whatever is usually fond of cars because of the "total experience" and that mainly includes handling and excitement. And it all comes down to RWD vs FWD. RWD gives the driver much more excitement and for that reason the TL will get some ho-hum reviews. Thats just how it is going to be. Overall, I think the car is really nice, but performance and handling wise it's probably not going to beat out its competitors - but I don't know if Acura intended it to do so either. The people who buy this car are mainly interested in a very good value with some performance thrown into it. If you're looking to have the Bimmer experience as far as handling goes, go buy the bimmer. And most car enthusiasts know that already

larchmont

Basically right, except you and almost all the reviewers never seem to take into account that a lot of people prefer FWD (or AWD), and even insist on it. I certainly do -- I absolutely would not own a RWD. Neuronbob said he considers FWD a plus too, and elsewhere on this board many people have said likewise. It's not the majority of the market, but it's a sizable market.