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Car Forum / Acura Cars / May 2004C&D TL A Spec and BMW 545i Review
Car & Driver just reviewed the new TL A Spec. They gave it only a mediocre review. However, they also tested the new BMW 545i which is about $30K more money. The TL went 0 to 60 just 0.1 second slower than the BMW 545i and 0.2 sec slower in the quarter mile. So is the BMW worth the additional $30,000? You decide ... - Russ in Santa Barbara Here's the summaries: Acura TL A Spec Vehicle type: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan Price as tested: $40,895 (base price: $38,895) Engine type: SOHC 24-valve V-6, aluminum block and heads, port fuel injection Displacement: 196 cu in, 3210cc Power (SAE net): 270 bhp @ 6200 rpm Torque (SAE net): 238 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm Transmission: 6-speed manual Wheelbase: 107.9 in Length/width/height: .186.2/72.2/56.7 in Curb weight: 3543 lb Zero to 60 mph: 5.6 sec Zero to 100 mph: 14.5 sec Zero to 130 mph: 28.4 sec Street start, 5-60 mph: 6.2 sec Standing 1/4-mile: 14.3 sec @ 99 mph Top speed (drag limited): 152 mph Braking, 70-0 mph: 174 ft Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.90 g EPA fuel economy, city driving: 19 mpg C/D-observed fuel economy: 20 mpg BMW 545i Vehicle type: front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan Price as tested: $62,620 (base price: $55,695) Engine type: DOHC 32-valve V-8, aluminum block and heads, port fuel injection Displacement: 268 cu in, 4398cc Power (SAE net): 325 bhp @ 6100 rpm Torque (SAE net):330 lb-ft @ 3600 rpm Transmission: 6-speed manual Wheelbase: 113.7 in Length/width/height: 190.6/72.7/58.0 in Curb weight: 4000 lb Zero to 60 mph: 5.5 sec Zero to 100 mph: 13.2 sec Zero to 130 mph: 23.5 sec Street start, 5-60 mph: 6.0 sec Standing 1/4-mile: 14.1 sec @ 103 mph Top speed (governor limited): 150 mph Braking, 70-0 mph: 156 ft EPA fuel economy, city driving: 17 mpg C/D-observed fuel economy: 16 mpg > Car & Driver just reviewed the new TL A Spec. They gave it only a mediocre > review. However, they also tested the new BMW 545i which is about $30K more [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > - Russ in Santa Barbara For as long as I can remember, the automotive press has been carrying a torch for certain brands, deeming them superior. BMW, the *gold standard* of sporting sedans, has certainly benefitted from this practice. Don't get me wrong, I like BMWs and think they are often wonderful cars. But the fact remains, the blinders are on. Same seems to be true of Mercedes. I recall a road test (R&T ?) of about a decade ago. A mid-sized Mercedes, 0-60 maybe 8 secs? okay brakes mundane handling, not bad, not great (even for the time period) styling ... well, how about "lack of styling" fuel economy - fair at best price? $50,000+ The author called it "the perfect car". Yes, we might agree that it integrated all aspects well, and was quite enjoyable to drive, but --- perfect? The author went on to say that there was basically nothing more to be done. Ha ha. In my book, perfect would be: 0-60 sub-5 seconds phenomenal brakes (60-0 100 feet or less) outstanding handling drop-dead gorgeous styling 50 mpg price? $10,000 Is it gonna happen? Of course not. But to call that rather mediocre Mercedes of the past "perfect", is just as ludicrous. Really surprising then to read the latest R&T, and see where the BMW 530i came in 6th out of 7, ahead of only a Volvo S80 T6. Reviewers really dinged it on styling ("flame-surfacing" courtesy Mr. Bangle) and ergos (the typical dread I-Drive). Also rather odd to see no Acura TL in this line-up - inexplicable. Gee, what would folks in this NG rather have, a Cadillac CTS or the TL? Oh wait, maybe the BMW has $25K worth of extra "soul". More ha ha.  SignatureRick K asking questions >> Car & Driver just reviewed the new TL A Spec. They gave it only a >> mediocre review. However, they also tested the new BMW 545i which [quoted text clipped - 46 lines] > TL? > Oh wait, maybe the BMW has $25K worth of extra "soul". More ha ha. :-@ >Acura TL A Spec >Zero to 60 mph: 5.6 sec [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >Standing 1/4-mile: 14.3 sec @ 99 mph >Top speed (drag limited): 152 mph ... >BMW 545i >Zero to 60 mph: 5.5 sec [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >Standing 1/4-mile: 14.1 sec @ 103 mph >Top speed (governor limited): 150 mph This is very hot performance for driving around town. Amazing what you can get now, for not all that much money (in the Acura version, anyway). Beemers aren't what they used to be versus the competition, and maybe not in absolute reliability (or ergonomic) terms, either, but the 545i being a V8 and ... oh wait, it's all-aluminium too, hmm? I was going to say it might be more reliable if run hard every day, though exactly where do you drive every day, where you can wring out cars like this to their full capabilities? J. >anyway). Beemers aren't what they used to be versus the competition, ...But at least they're not front wheel drive. The new TL has terrible problems getting its power down onto the road under 'spirited' driving conditions - something that a well sorted rear drive can do with ease. Sure, small front drives like the old Alfas and Minis were a blast, but anything with serious power? Forget it. I bought a TSX late last year, but I'm about to trade it for a 2 year old 540. The TSX is a nice car, but the front drive destroys it. I tried a new TL and it's even worse. The TSX was my mistake, I went against my gut feel and I paid for it. Honda needs to get with the program and go rear wheel drive if they *really* want to run with the big boys. SignatureDan Drake >>anyway). Beemers aren't what they used to be versus the competition, > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >drive can do with ease. Sure, small front drives like the old Alfas >and Minis were a blast, but anything with serious power? Forget it. Did Alfa ever sell a fwd car in the states? My Alfetta had that fine old deDion rear axle, but it was certainly the *rear* axle. >I bought a TSX late last year, but I'm about to trade it for a 2 year >old 540. The TSX is a nice car, but the front drive destroys it. I >tried a new TL and it's even worse. The TSX was my mistake, I went >against my gut feel and I paid for it. Honda needs to get with the >program and go rear wheel drive if they *really* want to run with the >big boys. Yes, I think they know that, and it's why they haven't done a V8 yet, but the new RL will be 4WD, so stay tuned! The newer Hondas with fwd are amazingly neutral around town, compared to stuff from twenty years ago, but just the weight distribution puts a limit on handling. I guess there is the S2000, if you want a good-handling roller skate. J. And don't forget the best exoticar ever built ... The NSX (New Sportscar eXperimental); mid-engine, RWD - Russ in Santa Barbara (1997 NSX, 2004 TL) > >>anyway). Beemers aren't what they used to be versus the competition, > > [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > > J. ahhh, hence a TL-S should come back. honda should build a TL-S that is different in TL only by rear drive and manual trans, the rest can be common. got my 04 TL yesterday, nice car !!! oh, i'm not wanting to do indy around town, simply can't. and for head wrenching torque i take my 76' Pontiac TA out for a spin...... > >anyway). Beemers aren't what they used to be versus the competition, > [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > program and go rear wheel drive if they *really* want to run with the > big boys. >ahhh, hence a TL-S should come back. > >honda should build a TL-S that is different in TL only by rear drive and >manual trans, the rest can be common. 2005 RL 4WD. >got my 04 TL yesterday, nice car !!! oh, i'm not wanting to do indy around >town, simply can't. and for head wrenching torque i take my 76' Pontiac TA >out for a spin...... Torque, maybe, but how much faster is it 0-60, 1/4 mile? Won't even ASK about mileage, pollution, or reliability! J. 1/4 mile in my TA. well, it'll blow the doors off any showroom car..... > >ahhh, hence a TL-S should come back. > > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > J.
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