Comments: 1-15, 16
Cabin squeaks and rattles - to be fixed at dealer..
Great driving car - fast, responsive, comfortable, quiet, good mileage IF you keep your foot out of it :)
Fit and finish very good, materials and interior good, if styling a bit plain.
Styling is ho-hum, but Acuras look good over time.
Car is a wolf in sheep's clothing - can blow the doors off many "performance" cars, but looks plain.
Stereo is good, but could use a graphic equalizer instead of bass and treble controls.
I agree with all 5 comments. You are right on the money.
I also moved up from a 2001 Prelude to a 2003 CL type S with the 6 speed manual transmission. Needless to say I am very impressed with the car. It is without a doubt a sleeper. I pulled up beside a convertible M3 at a red light the other day and when the light changed we both punched it. I pulled on him all the way to 155 mph. The only things that I have added to the car are a Comptech Air Box, and a set of BF Goodrich G-Force T/A KDW Tires (245/45ZR17).
I am very satisfied and will buy another Acura when it is time to retire this one!!!
Two things. First, I find it hard to believe that there exists anywhere in the U.S. a road crowded enough to have a stoplight, yet open enough to get a car to 155 mph just afterwards. Second, an '04 BMW M3 gets to 60 in 5.1 seconds (Consumer Reports) with a 6-speed and a 3.2 litre engine. Your 3.2CL is fast, indeed faster than my own car, but consider this: a 2004 Acura 3.2TL (I know, but it's the same engine and tranny choice) gets to 60 in 6.7 with the 5-speed auto. Now, Acura makes a very good automatic, yet we are expected here to believe that your 6-speed achieved a time which must be at least 1.6 seconds better than the auto? Honestly. Your car is fast enough to easily beat most sedans; its only real competition in its category comes from Infiniti. But an M3?
Here's another funny story: my 1977 Civic with the Hondamatic 2-speed auto smoked a Porsche Carrera the other day. Yep, there he was in the parking lot, and I drove right past him! There was nothing he could do, but watch my taillights disappear as I parked on the other side of a Suburban! It's no excuse that the driver wasn't in the car. Then I posted my victory story on this website.
I do doubt the 155 mph claim, but the first M3's came with a 192 HP four cylinder, which means that it would be possible to beat one. Although beating a 3000 lb. 4-cylinder that is 15 years old does not constitute bragging rights.
I drive an Acura CL type S, 6 speed manual… and yes the 155MPH claim is tough to imagine as the car is governered at 145 MPH. Maybe he meant Kph? The 0-60 time on the 6MT can be under 6 seconds… but this is a function of driver skill as this is not the 2 pedal go cart automatic. There is no comparison between an automatic TL and a manual CLS… I know because my wife has a TL and it is a nice family car. The difference in transmission efficiency can be up to 20% in power transfer to the wheels. Having said that I have also gone up against an M3… and my CL is hardly stock and I still lost. The M3 is slightly faster than the CL, but it is also twice the price. The CL is a great car and will beat pretty much anything in its class… including a mustang GT.
I just purchased a 2003 CL 6-Speed w/64000 miles. Body is beautiful. There are no records in the Maintenance log that came with the car. Sorry for sounding so "dumb" (female) but I've never bought a used car before, couldn't resist this one even with the high mileage. Any problems I should look out for? I read about a recall? Help?
I just purchased mine ('03 Type-S 6MT) & boy does that thing move. I smoked my buddy's G35 coupe about 1 1/2 car lengths. his vehicle was manual. Type-S; definitely not a force to reckon with!
The acura cl-s is not governed it tops out around 150... and not at 145... either you can't drive it or you got scared.
Further on the topic of cl-s 6spd performance stories, when I blew the doors off my buddy's viper the other day for the sixth straight time, I noticed my acura only won by two car lengths instead of the usual three. So when I stopped for a victory celebration brew, I diagnosed my problem.. A hayabusa was stuck in my grill!!
"A hayabusa was stuck in my grill!!"
LOL, that image alone is priceless!
^ lol.
Mustang GTs you beat must be very old. And tired. With drivers that suffer from glaucoma. And very bad reflexes.
Newer mustang GTs beat Acura.
It is governed. I have one. This thing pulls hard right up to the limit and then gets a throttle cut-off.
Hey peeps... I got one.. haha I lucked out and found the CL I wanted. It's a charcoal gray color, leather interior, navigation, Type S, 6 speed manual, helical LSD, dual pipes, quick as hell MONSTER.. LOL.
This car drives me nuts. I just smoked my boys 2005 GT Mustang also stick.. haha.man I got him by a fender, but it was a tough run.. didn't think I was gonna win.. but I did. And believe me he knows how to drive that roaring V8.. but couldn't hang with the MONSTER.. Mad props for anyone who owns a six speed.. peace.
To comment on the 155 claim. It is true I have a Sundance gold Type-S auto-tronic tonicironictropicits stock except a cold air intake and not governed. I was pinned for quite some time and nearly buried the 160 mark. 158 to be exact. I have after market wheels but they are exact stock outside diameter. I also never got beat on the road, but there is always someone faster.