Comments on: Review: 2009 Acura TL SH-AWD

By: shadowthecat

shadowthecat — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 10:32:45 +0000

I’ve always been a fan of the TL; if i see one on on the road i think “hey, a TL.” i was a little undecided about the front grill at first, but ive grown to like it with a few more looks. A darker body colour may make the grille stand out too much. i like the previous look more, but will likely grow to like this one. I would likely chose a TL over the competitors. i dont know why, but something about the styling i just like more. I hope to see a SH-AWD TL on the road soon. Great review by the way.

By: jackjimturkey

jackjimturkey — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 16:24:52 +0000

It’s just an accord

By: beatusmongous

beatusmongous — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 17:36:39 +0000

Are you sure it isn’t short for “Full Monte”?

By: 350Zed

350Zed — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 17:29:31 +0000

@02WRXPSM

Arguing with a guy with an alias like “Monte” is pointless. Assuming that’s short for “Monte Carlo”, clearly we’re dealing with someone who will buy one of the most laughable examples of the failing American auto industry. Let him wallow in his ignorance, bigotry, and love for NASCAR.

By: rhythmsticks

rhythmsticks — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 00:53:17 +0000

I have the 06 T L with manual and love the car and I like the AWD that they are offering, but I will need a manual tranny to buy this car. Other wise I’m going German.

By: VictorRaikkonen

VictorRaikkonen — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 22:58:44 +0000

At the risk of being chastised, and hereby going back on what I have previously espoused… after youtubing several videos of the car I actually like it and its huge grill. Yea, I just said that. The interior set up of the outgoing model however is superior in design.

By: 02WRXPSM

02WRXPSM — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 20:30:27 +0000

Someone’s who’s ignorant to call Japanese people “japs” is also most likely too ignorant to realize that Japanese automakers have been making 300+ hp motors with 3.0 (or less, in most cases) for decades, on motors that can handle double the power (600hp+) with factory stock internals once you open up the breathing a little and add more fuel.

By: monte

monte — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 17:40:57 +0000

Crackerhemi, this thing won’t touch a cts-v and shouldn’t even come into question. And also gm has a 300 HP 3.6. If you notice, it says this is the most powerfull engine acura has ever built at 305 HP. Something gm did 60 or 70 years ago. So much for that puny jap muscle.

By: beatusmongous

beatusmongous — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 04:52:49 +0000

ZoomZoomer, you don’t HAVE to put your info in each time. Leave it blank, and if you’re logged in, it will fill out the rest for you.

However, you may be right. Someone may be putting in false names and info.

By: zoomzoomer

zoomzoomer — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 01:12:43 +0000

?dehtoomS

By: zoomzoomer

zoomzoomer — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 01:11:58 +0000

Smoothed?

By: zoomzoomer

zoomzoomer — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 01:10:47 +0000

Slightly off topic, but relates to a previous comment and the new site design.. I’m wondering why we now have to fill in our user name in the comment box when the “toolbox” below shows we are already signed in as our user name. That allegedly fraudulent Deanster comment was probably someone else trying to put a different name in the comment box to see if it went through!

By: tyler_is_aero_tt

tyler_is_aero_tt — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 18:33:48 +0000

SMOOTHED!!!!

By: DeansterTJ

DeansterTJ — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 15:20:53 +0000

That one-word comment, “smoothed” was not written by me. I’m not sure what’s going on here

By: twobolt

twobolt — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 12:28:10 +0000

I think that Acura styling is at an all-time low. The new front grill looks like a giant tooth or a chrome Joker’s smile from the recent Batman movie, depending on perspective. ALL of their vehicles seem to have weird panels, odd contusions and a real design-by-committee look (similar to the awful styling of the recent BMWs). The Acura styling on the nose is as bad as the fish-mouth on Infinitis.

This miserable styling effort has crept over to Honda in the form of the new Honda Accord, which has enough spare creases in the side panels to look like they were ironed in by an apprentice dry cleaning student.

If Acura were to take any cues from Honda they should take a look at the Accord coupe. It may be too smooth for some, but at least it’s consistent and well-integrated.

Just my two cent worth.

By: zoomzoomer

zoomzoomer — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 07:21:33 +0000

Deanster, I totally agree Acura doesn’t have the cachet to pull this dramatic look off. I don’t even think BMW pulled it off completely.. they Bangled the 7, then the Z4 and the 5, but backed off noticeably on the X5, 3 and 1.. arguably their higher-volume models (though the 5 is pretty crucial to BMW’s bottom line). The grilles on the new TL and RL are ugly, but not overwhelming.. why Acura decided to make their most radical statement on their highest-volume vehicle is a risky move at best.. I’m guessing by 2011 there will be a completely new beak and a toned-down butt.

By: sharpie

sharpie — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 02:37:40 +0000

Say NO to Acura grille!

By: DeansterTJ

DeansterTJ — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 17:22:54 +0000

Zoomzoomer, there’s original style and then there’s totally out of left field to differentiate the image. In this case, they don’t have the brand cachet to pull it off. Some can (BMW/Bangle) and others can’t. I think this is the latter.

By: tyler_is_aero_tt

tyler_is_aero_tt — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 16:46:56 +0000

I really like it.

By: zoomzoomer

zoomzoomer — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 15:57:19 +0000

While I tend to agree with you, DeansterTJ, I’m afraid if Acura had “smoothed out” the design, we’d instead all be complaining how the “morons” once again are just copying everyone else’s styling, and how much the grille looks like an Audi, and how much the rear looks like a Maxima. Because they took a chance, we’re instead complaining how fugly the grill and how enormous the as$ is!
Either way, Acura made a conscious decision to abandon the distinctive, dare I say iconic styling of the current TL and go for something bolder if not prettier. Whether that is something we will have to grow to love due to runaway success, or something they will retreat dramatically from in two years because nobody is buying it, is now up to the consumer.

By: DeansterTJ

DeansterTJ — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 13:30:02 +0000

smoothed

By: DeansterTJ

DeansterTJ — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 13:29:40 +0000

Guys, who gives two ****s about the nature of the SH-AWD and whether dedicated 4WD from other companies are superior.

The 800 lbs gorilla in the middle of the room here is that fugly grill and and enormous as$. If they wanted to get some sales they should have smoother out the design a little. What grown man with $50k burning a hole in his pocket is going to pick this study-hall anime-design over the sophistication of an A4 or 3-series? Morons at Acura have done it again.

By: 350Zed

350Zed — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:32:53 +0000

@GaryAnderson

I know, but the article author made it sound like SH-AWD was something completely different, when in fact it is not. It may be a _good_ system, but due to its FWD-biased nature it is still inferior to other AWD systems as used in other performance sedans (e.g., 335xi, G35x, Legacy).

By: GaryAnderson

GaryAnderson — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 01:04:42 +0000

Responding to 350zed: Nearly all awd systems start and end with a front-to-rear clutch, and usually it’s a “viscous-coupling” (i.e. no physical connection) clutch. The SH-AWD starts with a multi-plate clutch in the middle (physical connection when engaged) and then adds to it the additional multi-plate clutches on the two half-shafts to the rear wheels.

Responding to jumpoffit: the gloved hands belong to Genie (she bought them in Rome.) and she finds driving with them more comfortable on an all-day tour. Note the correct hand position for the curve, btw. Hasn’t forgotten her Skip Barber training.

By: edac2

edac2 — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 23:57:47 +0000

Blah, blah, blah, blah, ugly grill, blah, blah, blah, blah, Saturn rear end.

By: crackerhemi

crackerhemi — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 23:11:56 +0000

Give Acura a break, coolguy8157. Remember that puny “American Muscle” requires a 4.6L V8 to even come close to 300HP. So much for puny american muscle.

By: Madcapp

Madcapp — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 22:05:27 +0000

chinpokomon car!!!

By: coolguy8157

coolguy8157 — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 21:33:45 +0000

I still dont understand when Nissan, Toyota crossed the 300+ hp limit with just 3.5 lit…why was Honda using 3.7 for 300+ hp…so much for the VTEC ?…Boring style..nothing new…Could have been better….:(

By: brassmonkey

brassmonkey — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 21:01:20 +0000

Looks like those snaggle lipped kids on the pop up ads.

By: Don

Don — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 20:31:33 +0000

I saw the grill on the TSX and I actually liked it. Looking forward to seeing this car in person.

By: jumpoffit

jumpoffit — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 19:53:12 +0000

wow you know things are changing when ktulu is getting edited by LLN

By: 02WRXPSM

02WRXPSM — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 19:20:47 +0000

I’ve got an RDX and I can tell you, like the review says, SH-AWD is no joke, it absolutely delivers as promised.

By: travis0017

travis0017 — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 19:14:06 +0000

For years, I’ve liked the idea of Acuras, but have anxiously been waiting for them to ditch the lame beak-looking grill. It ruins the look of an otherwise pretty nice-looking car. Really? Another year? When does it end!?!

By: Mugen

Mugen — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:42:01 +0000

nice car and beautiful…

By: mayer_ray_nagin

mayer_ray_nagin — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:16:39 +0000

Yeah ktulu, Y ditn U try 2 put werk N2 ur posts so oui can reed th-M?