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Premium Sport Sedans may be the most competitive segment in today's red-hot automotive market. And my pick as one of the very best is the absolutely flawless 2004 Acura TL. Value priced between $32,650 and $34,850 the Acura TL gives you more bang for the buck than any mid-size four-door sedan. Acura charges the same for either the 5-Speed Automatic or the close-ratio 6-Speed Manual Transmission. With the manual specified, High Performance Bridgestone Potenza tires are available for $200 and the best of class Navigation system is well worth the $2,000 additional price on either model. I first drove the 5-Speed Automatic TL last winter and have just spent the last several days with the manual. I must confess; I like the automatic version better. This is a highly sophisticated vehicle and for me the manual is an unwanted distraction for a Luxury Sport Sedan. I realize the 270hp and 238 lbs-ft of torque clearly puts this 3,482 pound vehicle in the "high-performance category", but to me it's a Sports Sedan not a Sports Car. Even though I can clock the quarter mile in 14.8 seconds and accelerate from zero to sixty in only 6.3 seconds with the manual transmission, I still like the convenience and luxury of the automatic. To me the 3.2 Liter V-6 produces so much power under initial hard acceleration that the front wheel drive "torque-steer" and shifting requires too much concentration. I also preferred the standard tires, which are exceptional P235/45R17 93W Bridgestone Turanza All Season. They ride better and have better traction for the winter. Huge 17" alloy wheels and 4-wheel disc antilock brakes give you full control of traction. Drive by wire throttle control gives you power control while the 4-wheel independent double wishbone suspension gives you driving control. Safety is not optional luxury here and staying in control during challenging environments is the best safety feature any vehicle can have. Technology to keep you alive really is the ultimate luxury and should be a necessity when buying a new car. Last winter I had the opportunity to really try out the 4-channel Vehicle Stability Assist System with Traction Control standard on the new 2004 Acura TL. The ability to do figure 8's in full control on a solid ice covered parking lot still has me impressed. Exterior styling is fresh and modern with a muscular stance. The Xenon high intensity headlights frame the distinctive Acura grill and trim hood. Heated memory side mirrors and heat rejecting green tinted glass are functional design features. Rectangle dual exhausts give a not-so-subtle hint of the power resting at the other end of the pipes. Standard heated perforated leather seats are noticeably more comfortable than most with superb lateral support and infinitely adjustable memory settings. A perfect driving position can always be obtained with the tilt/telescopic steering wheel. Dual Zone Automatic Climate Control helps keep your eyes on the road. Blue and white backlit LED gauges make for one of the best instrument cluster of any vehicle and the 8-speaker 6-channel Surround Sound System with DVD-Audio provides concert hall quality. Acura Navigation system with the large 8" touch screen and voice recognition is one of the best in the industry. The 293 pre-programmed voice commands control Navigation, Climate, Audio and even Bluetooth® mobile phone functions. The 2004 Acura TL inspires confidence and control as the benchmark for near-luxury performance sedans. Engineering this level of performance, safety, and luxury features into a prestigious driving machine priced under $35,000 is nothing short of phenomenal. Dollar for Dollar you won't fine a better near luxury sport sedan on the market than the 2004 Acura TL.
2004 Acura TL 6-Speed Manual with High Performance Tires and Navigation System
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©2003 - Stan Risener