My dealership had a contest so I took a test drive. Fun car. I want the new 8" NAV screen, I want the steering wheel with three spokes and better looking controls and I want the side view mirrors for my CL-S. The salesman knew I wasn't buying so he did most of the driving; like a maniac too. He took to the redline many times, took it at max around turns and pulled around traffic like a NASCAR driver. The car took it all in stride. My brief ride involved one 0-60 run and a brake test. The car has no problem with going to redline and is quite maneuverable with a pretty tight turn radius. It does need a bigger engine; I hate to say it but its too revvy for a higher end, four door car. I did not think the brakes were all that great, less responsive than the CL-S. The stereo isn't marked a BOSE and it actually had some decent bass. I think the interior looked really nice.

The dealership is charging $33,000 for the fully loaded one! WTF?! No way. Most of them did come with a $1400 side and front body cladding and a $600 'protection package' (pin-striping, trunk tray, wheel well plastic strips -rip off package more accurately).

 

Good car but too expensive

 

They're trying to get lucky with some suckers. I looked at one today and it was just under $29k with navi, wheel locks, mud guards. Decent car, but it needs the CL-S motor.

 

I didn't like the seats and the brakes. VTEC engine is good but it is not a V6 (lack of low/med-rpm power).

Interior/exterior design is great. 6 sp gearbox is excellent.

 

$33K? Sounds like that dealer loaded them up with every single installable dealer option which IMHO is not a good idea. This car is a great car for $27K non-navi. I am really enjoying the handling of this car and for it's competition - A4 1.8T FWD, IS300, and BMW 325 then engine is certainly competitive ... it seems from a dyno just done that the torque is more like 180 at the crank instead of 166 ... so those 6.6-6.8s 0-60 estimates for 6MT are looking doable with a "I don't like my tranny" kinda launch

 

I took my wife to drive one last Saturday. We really liked the fact that it is 100% made in Japan. Nice car, but kind of expensive for a 4 banger. Wife then wanted to stop at the Lexus dealer, BIG MISTAKE. We now have a 2003 IS300 parked next to my 2001 CL-S in the garage. Out the door price of $30,681.00 for the Lexus. I really like my CL-S, but the build quality of the Lexus is mind blowing. With what they are selling IS300's for I think Acura might have a problem on their hands. Kind of nice to have a back road racer in the family.
Dan

 

Jeez, $33 grand. For that price I'd stay with the TL-S.

 

Did you get the stick or auto is300?

 

I test drove one today too (no that I'm intested in it). But I loved the Navi and the more functional steering wheel.

 

Auto. My wife would get a stick, but last year she dislocated a knee and had to drive my CL-S for 5 months. One thing I will say is except for the transmission problems our cars sometimes have, the Acura trans is much nicer. No grade logic on the Lexus and in eshift it will still downshift if you floor it.
Just in the process of waxing it this morning, and all I can say is this thing is built like a tank!
Dan

 

16 days ago I traded my '98 Accord EXV6 for a '04 TSX. I still have the '97 CL & '99 Prelude. I absolutely love the TSX. I got the 6MT Meteor Silver with OEM kit, spoiler, tint, wheel locks, moodroof visor (off now), door edge guards for 27300 + tax. The tranny is sweet, close ratio, short throws. It does need a I6 but it does very well for an I4 (stock dynos for 180 HP & 166 tq).