CTC Review: 2009 Acura TL

[ovr50]

I just leased an '09 TL-Tech after driving a BMW 5-series for 3 years.  The TL is $25,000 less than the beemer and just as good, if not better.  It has virtually all of the features of the 5-series, if not more.  I am extremely happy with the TL.  I agree with j, there are a tremendous number of fine cars available in this price range.

I know this is the internet, and all posters are entitled to their personal opinions; but, most car enthusiasts would not agree with your assessment above. Most serious drivers will prefer RWD over FWD any day of the week. The TL is a decent car (ignoring whether or not you like the looks of it today), but it is no BMW and doesn't drive like one. For cruising the blvd, OK, but for serious driving, nope.

[Shnak]

95% of drivers on the roads, if not 99%, are not 'serious' drivers (whatever that means)... they're simply drivers, and the majority of them buy cars not because they handle well but because they come with the features they want, is comfortable/quiet, gives them the room they want/need and fits in their budget. So... for the 95% of the drivers out there, the TL can certainly be seen as a great purchase compared to a BMW for much less money.

You, and pretty much everyone else here on this forum, do not represent the majority of the car buyers...

[ovr50]

95% of drivers on the roads, if not 99%, are not 'serious' drivers (whatever that means)... they're simply drivers, and the majority of them buy cars not because they handle well but because they come with the features they want, is comfortable/quiet, gives them the room they want/need and fits in their budget. So... for the 95% of the drivers out there, the TL can certainly be seen as a great purchase compared to a BMW for much less money.

You, and pretty much everyone else here on this forum, do not represent the majority of the car buyers...

I know that, and am thankful. 

Expressions of opinion only.......

[Shnak]

You, and pretty much everyone else here on this forum, do not represent the majority of the car buyers...

I know that, and am thankful. 

Expressions of opinion only.......

Well then... why do you jump on a guy that says his new TL is just as good, if not better, than his previous 5-series? Isn't it entirely possible that someone would enjoy a TL as much than a 5-series when road manners aren't his primary concern?

[Jaeger]

95% of drivers on the roads, if not 99%, are not 'serious' drivers (whatever that means)... they're simply drivers, and the majority of them buy cars not because they handle well but because they come with the features they want, is comfortable/quiet, gives them the room they want/need and fits in their budget. So... for the 95% of the drivers out there, the TL can certainly be seen as a great purchase compared to a BMW for much less money.

You, and pretty much everyone else here on this forum, do not represent the majority of the car buyers...

Acura markets this car as a premium sports sedan - not as boulevard-cruising grocery-getter.  That's why we hold it to the standards of a sports sedan and bemoan the degree to which is falls short.  The world has enough Camrys.

And dude, nobody jumped on anyone.  Someone expressed a contrary opinion.  That happens here.

Jaeger

[Jaeger]

Re. "Acura does pile on the features in a $40,000 car...."

That got me thinking about the "base" version of one of the TL's closest competitors - the Infiniti G37.  For the buyer looking at an entry point import sports sedan, it makes for an interesting comparison.

Let me see if I get this right.  Going for the base G37 instead of the TL gets me:

• about an extra 50 hp
• a 7-speed auto instead of a quaintly retro 5 speed unit
• RWD like a sports sedan should be
• exterior styling that's not astonishingly ugly "polarizing"

I guess the downside would be that I would have to spend about $2k less to get the G.  Hey, wait a minute.. 

Jaeger

[Factger]

For room the tl would have the g37 beat and again that is a factor that some of the "99%" non serious buyers look for.

Jaeger you are right G37 is the best performance sedan deal though. (Genesis the best Lux Sedan Deal) I do not know why the G37 does not sell better in North America.

I think the new maxima is the closest competitor to the tl. The new maxima is stealing some sales of the tl as it was designed to do. The 09 max cannot compare with a tl with SHAWD but it can with the base model TL.

[ovr50]

Well then... why do you jump on a guy that says his new TL is just as good, if not better, than his previous 5-series?

I "jumped" on no one.

Are you the internet police?? Since when are opinions not allowed?

[Importwhore]

I love this car. It is as bold as brass, no if's or buts about it. oh yes sir, yes sir indeed.  

[Guy]

I found and bought a few DVD-Audio's on eBay. Tubular Bells is stunning on this.

[mac_powah]

You're right...the base TL is more of a Lexus ES in its comfort level, although, most likely sportier.  I would never, however, compare it with a Nissan maxima. The SH-AWD model is the sporty, athletic one.  SO, don't say to "look elsewhere" for a sporty drive.  Yes, it's controversial, but it has started to grow on me.  I much prefer the size and price of the TSX, but I am starting to like the new TL....well, I'm starting not to HATE it as much.  I love Acura, so I guess I just feel guilty for not loving it.  But it IS growing on me.

[rrocket]

Wing,

  You need to drive the AWD model it seems.  From all the reviews I've read, it handles exceptionally well, even if the "feel" is a bit lacking.  Will you get a chance to test one??


And I confess.  I LIKE the looks. 

[Jaeger]

Re."They went soft, large and cushy — not sporty, agile and fun-to-drive like the previous generation."

Exactly what I'm talking about.

rrocket - it was the SH-AWD version that finished last in the (ever-Honda-loving) Car and Driver comparison test.  And there's last and then there's DEAD LAST.  2 points separated the BMW from second place G-37 in the final rankings. 30 points separated BMW from 4th place Acura.

The TL was rated the "top highway cruiser" (hoo-freakin'-ray), but was described as having "relaxed reflexes" as compared with its competitors.  Unsurprisingly, it measured and weighed in as the largest and heaviest of the entries - apparently Acura didn't get the memo pointing out that excess bulk and mass are not exactly virtues in the sports sedan class.  It was criticized for having "indifferent" steering.  And acceleration, while slightly ahead of the 4-banger Audi, was described as "not within a sniff" of the 6-cylinder BMW and Infiniti.  And we're talking the 328 here, not the 335i.  About the only area in which it excelled was in braking.

If you step from an ES 300 into a TL, I'm sure the latter feels pretty sporty.  But drive the real sports sedan competition and it is quickly exposed as a big fat pretender.

Jaeger

[sharpC]

95% of drivers on the roads, if not 99%, are not 'serious' drivers (whatever that means)... they're simply drivers, and the majority of them buy cars not because they handle well but because they come with the features they want, is comfortable/quiet, gives them the room they want/need and fits in their budget. So... for the 95% of the drivers out there, the TL can certainly be seen as a great purchase compared to a BMW for much less money.

You, and pretty much everyone else here on this forum, do not represent the majority of the car buyers...

I agree with Jaeger. If that was the case and 99% of drivers aren't serious drivers, then Acura would be selling TLs like cupcakes. Fact is, if people were shopping using the spec sheet and price for comparison, BMW wouldn't sell a single vehicle. Now we all know that's not the case. So is the Acura comparable to a 5 series? Not for a serious driver. Not even close.

[Shnak]

So is the Acura comparable to a 5 series? Not for a serious driver. Not even close.

Not for a serious driver, sure... good thing for Acura not everyone is a serious driver then.

And besides, I don't think Acura has ever claimed to produce the sportIEST sedan... compared to boats like what Lexus produces, Acura is still pretty sporty.

[Jaeger]

So is the Acura comparable to a 5 series? Not for a serious driver. Not even close.

Not for a serious driver, sure... good thing for Acura not everyone is a serious driver then.

And besides, I don't think Acura has ever claimed to produce the sportIEST sedan... compared to boats like what Lexus produces, Acura is still pretty sporty.

Have you SEEN the Acura commercials flogging The. Most. Powerful. Acura. Ever. Built.? "We're slighlty sportier than a luxury limo" is decidedly NOT the message they're sending.

Jaeger

[ottawa_mike]

I often wonder why the strongly opinionated armchair automobile designers out there aren't gainfully employed as such but manufacturers like Acura, because it is patently obvious that these monday-morning quarterbacks would do a better job.

[Mitlov]

I often wonder why the strongly opinionated armchair automobile designers out there aren't gainfully employed as such but manufacturers like Acura, because it is patently obvious that these monday-morning quarterbacks would do a better job.

If nobody but high-end auto designers participated on internet forums, it sure would be a quiet place here.

You don't have to be an executive at Acura to have an opinion about car design.

[toolatecrew]

I often wonder why the strongly opinionated armchair automobile designers out there aren't gainfully employed as such but manufacturers like Acura, because it is patently obvious that these monday-morning quarterbacks would do a better job.

Yeah automotive designers always hit the mark and their car is love by all the world and sells tons. Look at the Aztec for example.

[Shnak]

I often wonder why the strongly opinionated armchair automobile designers out there aren't gainfully employed as such but manufacturers like Acura, because it is patently obvious that these monday-morning quarterbacks would do a better job.

Yeah automotive designers always hit the mark and their car is love by all the world and sells tons. Look at the Aztec for example.

Hey, if the Aztec had come out with a better engine, I would have bought one! I've always liked the look of the vehicle.