Motorweek -- Acura TL Type S

[DPritchett]

This weeks episode of Motorweek featured the 2007 TL Type S. It was generally favorable, but I couldn't help noticing how they kept referring to almost every feature as it compared to the TL's mysterious and unnamed 'German competitor'.

In a backdoor compliment to i-Drive, they showed the center console with the Nav unit and radio, and lot's and lot's of buttons -- they said it was too complicated.

MSRP is just under $39k US.

[just4kickz]

it looks allright with its quads (looking at the spy pics)...

[BMW F22]

it's the same thing...I saw this a few months back and thought nothing of it.

[KUweatherman]

Originally Posted by just4kickz

it looks allright with its quads (looking at the spy pics)...

Why not just look at pictures on the Acura site or other sources? The thing has been out for over two months now, lol.

[MBrown1003]

At one point, I was thinking of replacing both my cars -- getting the 335i coupe and a different sedan to replace my 5-year-old geezer. (The M5.) The TL Type-S was the front-runner for a while. I never did get to drive one. The salesman I talked to -- let's call him Mr. Attitude -- never called me back after I'd visited him.

Anyway, I started evaluating the Type-S. Very cool nav, some nice features, too, including the rear camera. Don't remember if it had rear sensor (park distance control) or not. Has Xenons, but fixed focus -- no auto-leveling, and I don't think it had anything like adaptive lighting.

But ... would you believe that the thing that finally turned me off was a rain sensor for the wipers?

About a year ago, several friends and I went on a trip. Two carloads of us coordinated to meet in the middle for dinner. It was a FOUL Friday night -- alternating between pouring and no rain, with everything in between. I got into my car (the M5), activated the rain sensor, turned on the stereo, and drove. Oh...and talked with the guy who was riding with me. Set the cruise at a reasonable speed (ahem) and a couple hours later met up with the other carload. My friend -- the driver -- gets out, and first thing he says is how aggravating the drive was. "Huh?" I asked. He said he was CONSTANTLY futzing with the wipers for the whole trip. "Umm...I just put mine on sensor and ignored it."

Cute story, right? Here's the clincher...

About a month ago, I'm driving home late at night. It's been raining heavily, but isn't raining right now. I am in the left lane on a high-speed road, cruising right along. I hit a MONSTROUS puddle...car hydroplanes; rear starts to come around. Hitting the puddle covers the windshield. All I can see is water. Between the traction control, the ABS, and me, I managed to get the car back under control and avoid the concrete barriers. By the time I finished sorting all that out, the rain sensor had fired the wipers, and I could also see that I needed to make a steering correction to stay off the concrete barrier. By this time, I've regained traction, and I steer back into the lane. Other than the adrenalin hit, all is well.

The kicker? This was in my $21k, three-year-old GTI. How come VW can put a rain sensor in a GTI, and Honda can't find the pennies to put one into a car engineered to a $40k price point? The rain sensor made a difference that night in keeping me and my car safe. The TL has the high-zoot stereo and the gee-whiz backup camera, but neither of those things make a difference when the car's on the hairy edge and I'm in a dangerous DRIVING situation.

That was about the time I decided to keep the M5.

[KUweatherman]

The TL DOES have auto sensing windshield wipers. I work at one of our local Acura dealerships (boy do I miss my job at BMW). They are really nice cars and all, but the FWD is what kills it for me.

[wj4]

They are really nice cars and all, but the FWD is what kills it for me.

Bingo. This was the biggest turn off for me.

[Majikthese42]

Originally Posted by KUweatherman

The TL DOES have auto sensing windshield wipers. I work at one of our local Acura dealerships (boy do I miss my job at BMW). They are really nice cars and all, but the FWD is what kills it for me.

I looked at the '07 TL brochure, and it says the wipers are speed sensing, not rain sensing.

[MBrown1003]

Originally Posted by wj4

Bingo. This was the biggest turn off for me.

That was a HUGE issue for me as well. I find it to be problematic on the GTI in some situations, and the TL is about 85 HP more, so I was very concerned about it. Of course, since the sales guy -- the aforementioned Mr. Attitude -- never bothered calling me back as he'd promised, I never got to test drive one and find out for myself.

[Viral]

I was on the hwy next to a black TL-S for about 15 minutes once.......nice car for the money. The subtle cues that disctinguish it from other TLs are nice, not ricey or tacky at all.

I'd have to drive one to really become a believer, but the price is a no-brainer.

[mmm def]

I used to like the TL a lot, then I drove the TSX and liked it less. Now they just don't do much for me, although I think it's an excellent car. Just not for me.

[Viral]

Originally Posted by mmm def

I used to like the TL a lot, then I drove the TSX and liked it less. Now they just don't do much for me, although I think it's an excellent car. Just not for me.

yeah, the TSX is a great car.............I'd buy that over ANY 3-series lower than a 330.

[BlueLion]

i like the TL's always have....but then i liked the Legends too.....i owned a 2000 TL for 5 years.....put on 90K miles on it......not one problem

[mmm def]

Originally Posted by BlueLion

i like the TL's always have....but then i liked the Legends too.....i owned a 2000 TL for 5 years.....put on 90K miles on it......not one problem

That's Honda reliability for ya.

[herbz]

Acura... looks nice, goes slow

[MBrown1003]

Originally Posted by herbz

Acura... looks nice, goes slow

There's one web site where I saw a GREAT signature -- might have been www.VWVortex.com. It said:

Speed kills. Drive a Honda, live forever. :rocks:

[voltron1011]

TL = FWD

I'm more happy with a less powerful RWD car.