2001 Acura CL review from North America

At around 70k or 4 years old, one headlight bulb 'outgassed' requiring replacement of both lamps due to different intensities at $100 each.

90k, paint on top of steering wheel wearing off revealing black underneath tan color. Found a new one on Ebay for $40.

My car has been a pleasure to own the last 3 years. I've owned it the last 3 years and its close to 100k, and as far as I'm concerned, it still runs and drives like new.

I've used this car to deliver pizzas for like 40k miles. I have a trailer hitch installed and haul 2000 pounds up and down the west coast from time to time.

I rarely ever run the engine up, but when I do, the car is quick, smooth, and misleadingly quiet.

I replaced the front brakes when I bought the car and again very recently. Both times I went with dealership pads ($50) and autozone rotors. I recommend the dealer pads mainly because I believe non-OEM pads are sub par at dissapating heat. Many seem to complain about warped rotors, this could be partially to blame. I changed rotors with pads because they are cheap at Azone and this will aid further to prevent warpage, having a rotor with the maximum amount available.

I bought the car with Michelin tires on it. Belts separated (2nd time with Michelins) so new tires were in order. I went with Yokohama YK420s. These tires deserve a lot of praise. First off they are quiet. Braking and cornering are good in wet and dry weather. With 25k on them, they still look new.

I've never owned a car for longer than 2 years. The fact that I've owned this for 3 years, speaks volumes. It is a good mix of styling, reliability, performance, and economy, but it is not great in any of these areas. If the exterior styling would have been more exciting when it came out, maybe they would have sold more cars and it might exist still today. The interior styling has not aged well at all. It looks like it could pass for 1990, not 2001.

At this point, I'm at a crossroads. I'd like to get a newer TL, but this car has done so well, I'd like to see if I can get 200k out of it. I'm just bored of the styling inside and out, though. I don't know what to do.