May 11, 2006

Used Vehicle Review:
Acura Vigor/2.5TL/3.2TL, 1992-1998

1992 Acura Vigor. Click image to enlarge

By Chris Chase
Discuss this story in the forum at CarTalkCanada

The 1992 Acura Vigor was the fourth model added to Honda's luxury brand lineup, following the Integra, Legend, and NSX. The Vigor was aimed at German models like the BMW 3-series and Audi 90 (and later, the popular A4 that debuted in 1996), as well as competitors from its home country, like the Lexus ES300, Infiniti J30 and Mazda 929.

Loosely based on the Honda Accord, the Vigor used a longitudinally-mounted five-cylinder engine displacing 2.5 litres and making 176 horsepower. Transmission choices were a five-speed manual, or a four-speed automatic. The Vigor disappeared in 1995 and was reincarnated in 1996 as the TL, offered with the original five-cylinder engine as the 2.5TL, and with a new 3.2-litre V6 as the 3.2TL. With the 1996 renaming, the manual transmission was dropped, leaving the automatic as the sole transmission choice. The Vigor was offered in LS and GS trims, while the TL was sold in base and premium trim in both 2.5-litre and 3.2-litre versions.

Compared to the ES300 of the time, the Vigor/TL was markedly sportier, but not as spacious inside; Acura's intent was to create a car that combined German handing and roadholding with Japanese reliability.

1997 Acura TL. Click image to enlarge

While the Vigor and 2.5TL/3.2TL are generally mechanically reliable, there are a number of very common problems that crop up. Watch for some electrical problems like lazy power windows and door locks and faulty heater fans. Also, the windows tend to develop scratches due to contact between the glass and components inside the doors. Many owners also report door handles that break easily.

Mechanical problems include starter failures and harsh-shifting automatic transmissions, though owners report that a transmission fluid flush often eliminates that problem. Engine oil leaks from the area surround the distributor stem from bad distributor o-ring seals, and another common oil leak happens when the oil cooler seal goes bad.

For a complete rundown on problem areas, check out www.acuravigorclub.com, and follow the link to the FAQs, where you'll find a list of things to look for when buying a used Vigor; for TL models, go to http://tl.acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=66766 to see what issues owners of these newer models have dealt with on their cars.

1997 Acura TL. Click image to enlarge

Where fuel consumption is concerned, five-cylinder models use less of it: about 11.7 L/100 km in the city and a little more than 8 L/100 km in highway driving. For six-cylinder models, expect consumption to increase to about 12.5 L/100 km in the city and 9 L/100 km on the highway.

In terms of crash safety, the 1992 Vigor earned two stars each from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for driver and front passenger protection in frontal impacts, while the TL scored four stars each in the same test. No side impact data is available from the NHTSA or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which never crash tested these cars, period.

Price-wise, Canadian Red Book prices for the Vigor range from $4,050 for a 1992 LS to $5,500 for a 1994 GS, while the TL is valued at between $6,950 for a 1996 2.5TL to $9,450 for a 1998 3.2TL.

1997 Acura TL. Click image to enlarge

Compare those values to real-world figures and most sellers' asking prices stick pretty close to Red Book values, so you shouldn't have much trouble finding a nice example at a fair price.

The Vigor/TL never quite lived up to its promise of Teutonic driving satisfaction with Japanese dependability, but used values tend to be lower than those of its Lexus, BMW and Audi competitors. Therefore, a nicely-maintained Vigor or TL at a price close to its Red Book value is a good buy for drivers looking for an entry-luxury sedan on a budget.

Pricing

Red Book Pricing (avg. retail) April 2006:

Year	Model	Price today	Price new
1998	2.5TL Premium	$8,800	$37,000
1997	2.5TL Premium	$8,000	$36,600
1996	2.5TL	$6,950	$34,900
1995	n/a	n/a	n/a
1994	Vigor GS	$5,500	$35,000
1993	Vigor GS	$4,825	$34,400
1992	Vigor GS	$4,250	$31,500

Online resources

www.acurazine.com - AcuraZine is probably the most comprehensive Acura-specific website on the Internet. The site is divided into communities for each Acura model, and while the first-generation TL is covered, the Vigor isn't.

www.acuraworld.com - This site claims to have the "only dedicated Vigor forum on the Internet." The first-generation TL is covered here too, though neither gets as much attention as the newer cars.

www.all-acura.com - Maybe the gang at AcuraWorld.com missed this site in telling everyone their Vigor forum was the only one; All-Acura.com has one too. There's less activity here too, and while the first-gen TL gets its own section at AcuraWorld.com, here it gets lumped in with the far more common newer versions, so finding detailed info here will be a little more difficult.

www.honda-acura.go.cc - This is a busy-enough forum in general, but all three generations of TL are lumped into a section with the CL, RL and EL, and good luck finding any Vigor topics, buried in a section called "other Acuras."

www.honda-acura.net - This site's not related to the previously listed one, despite the similar URL. Vigor and TL information can be found in a forum they share with the CL coupe.

www.acurainspired.com - This is a busy-enough forum in general, but all three generations of TL are lumped into a section with the CL, RL and EL, and good luck finding any Vigor topics, buried in a section called "other Acuras."

www.acuravigorclub.com - There's lots of technical information here, but unlike the other sites listed, no forums. There is a link, however, to the Clubhouse, a Vigor-dedicated Yahoo Group with 3,000 members.

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