Drove an Acura TL 6MT

"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa)
06/20/2018 at 09:41 • Filed to: None

This is the only manual Acura TL for sale in Wichita. I went for a test drive yesterday and was super pleased.

This particular example wasn’t in stellar shape. Beyond the typical cracked dash it had peeling clear coat, a hastily reassembled and squeaky dash after an aux jack modification install, the left side door speaker wasn’t working, a /!\ light was on on the dashboard, an eBay cold air intake, and 200k miles. I wasn’t going home with it by any means, but I !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! of driving an utterly beat to hell example of the car I want because if one that’s been through the wringer is good imagine how nice a taken-care-of example will be!

The seats were comfortable and had the most up-down adjustment I’ve ever seen in a power seat. Far more bolstering than I expected. Not quite the couch that the Chrysler 300 has but it did feel far more modern. Back seat was spacious and comfortable. Trunk was fairly large with a large plastic tray in it with “TL” embossed to keep the carpet clean. Snazzy.

Shifter was very VERY Honda. Exactly what I expected. Slightly mushy, but very smooth and went through all the gears fine. Clutch felt fantastic.

Fun fact! The doors have pockets that expand outwards to hold... largeish things? I’m not sure what, exactly. There are also cupholders in the doors as well as the center console, which is always a plus. The center armrest slides forward and backwards which, in concert with the ludicrous amount of adjustment offered by the seat means this car feels like it was designed to fit people my size.

The car started enthusiastically and the A/C cooled the roasting hot black leather interior down by the time I puttered my way out of the dealership parking lot and headed down the road. Steering was nicely weighted and felt intuitive. The Brembo brakes were fantastic. As I meandered around side streets to get to an on-ramp I passed over many manhole covers and railroad tracks and despite the large amount of “give” the molested interior had when pressed on nothing rattled over bumps and the chassis itself felt stiff as a lump of granite. The car felt solid and just sporty enough.

Once I got to the onramp I stuffed the car in first and quickly rolled onto the throttle. The steering wheel pulled a bit to the left and I thought “ooh, that’s kind of fun!” as the salesman in the passenger seat exclaimed “oh, SHIT” as his relaxed leaned-forward seating position suddenly met the headrest. I guess he doesn’t hoon the cars much. The car quickly attained license-losing speeds by the top of the expressway on-ramp and I slowed down to more legal speeds and cruised for a second before remembering I was still in 4th. Popped over to 6th gear and watched the car cruise nicely at 2000rpm with the V6 silently whizzing along. Dropping down to 4th and matting the pedal was an entertaining endeavor on the highway, watching things in the rear view mirror get smaller rather quickly. The J32 V6 is a fantastic motor. Everything it does is enthusiastic. Starting up, revving, accelerating, all done with a sense of yes, push me harder which is a bit unexpected in an unassuming entry-lux car like this.

So, yeah. 10/10. Exactly what I’m looking for in a car. Lots of nifty features, a stereo that, stock, shouldn’t need any screwing with other than the addition of a USB/aux port, 6-speed shiftyboi, looks fantastic, goes pretty well, and can haul a lot of stuff and people. Hopefully I’ll be able to park one in my driveway this fall if I can figure out financing.

DISCUSSION (23)

punkgoose17 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
06/20/2018 at 10:21

Someone at my work has a black one in nice condition. It is the only car in the parking lot I would really want to own.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
06/20/2018 at 10:22

This doesn’t fit the whole “dumb stuff” angle, but hopefully a good reliable vehicle like this would allow you to finance your dumb stuff while said dumb stuff is not running.

Derpwagon > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
06/20/2018 at 10:26

Chuckled at ‘shiftyboi’

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
06/20/2018 at 10:28

Yes, the idea here is to have a foil for my Mazda. A reliable comfy daily that is quick and entertaining vs my “reliable” uncomfortable miniscule racekar.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > punkgoose17
06/20/2018 at 10:28

They have aged phenomenally well. I don’t like the facelift near as much.

Ash78, voting early and often > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
06/20/2018 at 10:29

Possibly the best modern car Honda has ever built, IMO.

punkgoose17 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
06/20/2018 at 10:35

Agreed. I wonder if the ‘08 grille would fit in an ‘09 car? That would get rid of the chrome nose.

gmctavish needs more space > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
06/20/2018 at 10:42

I like these a lot, I’ve always sort of wanted one as a daily, but figure in that price range I’d go for an E39 528i or 530i if I could find one with a manual

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > gmctavish needs more space
06/20/2018 at 10:59

I would not trust any BMW as cheap as you can find these Acuras in good condition ($4000-6000) personally

gmctavish needs more space > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
06/20/2018 at 11:42

Really? That translates to $5300-7900, which is about as expensive as I6 E39s get around here, it has to be a 540i to be more expensive. As long as it’s be serviced properly I’d trust an E39 in that price range no problem. I can understand wanting the more reliable option though, I don’t doubt that a TL would be more reliable on average.

T3CHSUPP0RT > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
06/20/2018 at 14:40

I had a 2007 TL with the 5AT... Amazing car, and I had just redone the interior with the EndlessRPM covers. Sadly, it was written off two weeks ago due to a fender bender... She will be missed.

T3CHSUPP0RT > punkgoose17
06/20/2018 at 14:41

I recall reading of a company that does the nose delete but it’s like... 800 bucks or something... Can’t remember the name atm.

punkgoose17 > T3CHSUPP0RT
06/20/2018 at 14:44

Ouch that is a lot of $$.

84 GM Turbo > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
06/20/2018 at 17:04

I don’t think those small compartments in the door pocket are cup holders, I’d never put a cup in mine. The pop out side pocket function is a great feature, means you can actually reach your hand inside to retrieve things/clean. And store bigger things inside. Again I’d suggest the non-satellite/navigation cars, the navigation screen is old, and integrated 8ntonthe audio system = a pain. Mine is non navigation and I’m glad. I use my phone for directions anyway, like most humans. Stock radio is nice, I installed a modest 10" subwoofer 8n the trunck, took the signal from the stock subwoofer some can still.control the sub with the stock head unit in the “subwoofer” setting. Alternators are easy to swap.....and reinstall ...... when you realized it’s just a dead battery. I’ll try to share a pic of mine.

The (!) Light on the dash could just indicate your low on gas or due for service, i.e. oil change, cycle through setting and it will tell you, it’s not a check engine light. How were the leather seats? Hard and brittle? This era of Acura leather was poor.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > 84 GM Turbo
06/20/2018 at 17:27

Yeah, kind of hard. Definitely not the best but it looks like it’s $500 for some high quality recovers.