Great sleeper deals? Not likely. A three-year-old Acura 3.2TL near luxury sedan is still holding, on average, about 71 per cent of its original price.

But trouble-free? Very likely. This Acura, based on the equally well made Honda Accord, has, as a general rule, suffered only a handful of noteworthy issues. And of the three recalls since 1999, two of them related to the same seat belt buckle issue and the third had to do with a relatively minor electrical contact issue in the ignition switch.

No wonder prices for the TL have held up well in the nearly-new marketplace. Prices have also been buoyed by the fact Acura and parent Honda are pretty careful about offering incentives on new cars and light trucks. No big giveaways, in other words.

The TL, of course, was reinvented for the 1999 model year, and what a smart reinvention it was. Back in the fall of 1998, a spanking new 3.2TL retailed for $35,000. That price covered everything from automatic climate control to power everything in the new model. And at the time it brought new meaning to the word "competitive" in near-luxury sedans.

Consider this: the 1998 Acura 3.2Tl sold for $42,000 brand new. And no, the re-engineering and re-styling of the '99 TL did not send this car backwards -- if you leave out the issue of pricing. Instead, Acura upped the ante in terms of performance, features, looks, build quality, roominess and the quality of the materials used.

Just compare the '99 car with the '98:

• horsepower up 11 per cent (to 225);
• torque up by three per cent;
• an engine 18 per cent lighter, with race-car inspired variable valve timing for more efficiency;
• 0-100 km/h performance of about 8.3 seconds;
• countless extra gussets, welds, doo-dads and reinforcements that have improved twisting strength (torsional rigidity) by 70 per cent and bending strength by 80 per cent.

Oh, and the '99 TL was made bigger inside than its predecessor, more quiet, more luxurious, with sharper steering and better handling.

So is the TL just a gussied up Accord, given that it's based on the Accord platform? Well, the 1999 made-in-the-USA TL was stretched and beefed up considerably compared to the Accord of that era. The TL's wheelbase (between the front and rear axles) is 30 mm. (1.2 in.) longer than the Accord's of that model year, with most of the extra room benefitting back seat passengers. The Acura also was given front-strut tower braces not on the 1999 Accord and extra stiffeners in the C-(or third) pillars.

The engine? Well, it too was derived from the Accord's V6, just made more powerful. Among other high-tech features, this V6 has direct ignition and Honda's VTEC or variable valve timing. Test a three-year-old TL and you should find no shortage of gusto going to the front wheels.

Ah, and the standard four-speed automatic transmission offers what Acura calls "SportShift, which allows for clutchless manual shifting along the lines of Chrysler's AutoStick. That allows the driver to hold a gear when climbing or navigating snaky roads.

The work of Honda/Acura engineers in making the TL more stout resulted in a solid-feeling car, one with a suspension able to do its work controlling ride motions, rather than damping chassis/body twitches. The ride is definitely comfortable, although there is body roll in the corners. The steering is accurate if a bit dead on-centre.

There's nothing flabby about this used car's road manners, although in all honesty it's not a BMW 3-series. For starters, the TL is a front-driver while the 3-series is rear-wheel drive. So, the TL is built more for comfort than sportiness, a fact that comes out when you hit the brakes hard and find a fair amount of nose dive.

The cabin? Posh, with a smart wraparound instrument panel that puts controls in easy reach. The exterior is pleasant, too, although nothing dramatic.

Buyer's alerts

Recalls

Road Test Access: B+
Driving position: B
Instruments/Controls: B
Visibility: B+
Climate Control: B
Steering: B-
Brakes: B+
Handling: B
Acceleration: B+
Engine: B+
Transmission: B
Interior space: B
Trunk/Cargo: B
Noise/Vibration/Harshness: B

Durability/Reliability
Overall: A
Mechanical: A
Hardware/Body/Paint/Trim: A

Safety
Anti-lock braking: yes
Airbags (driver/passenger): yes/yes
Traction control: yes
Driver/Passenger Front Crash Protection (0-5 stars with five stars the best): ****/****

Insurance history
Collision cost rating: worse than average
Comprehensive cost rating: worse than average
Theft claim cost rating: average